Desiring God

• So much selfishness and self-will.

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The closer you get to God the more wickedness you see of self.

I do not believe there ever existed a Christian yet, who did not now and then doubt his interest in Jesus.

• Your simple lifestyle of self in evident of this.

I think, when a man says, "I never doubt this?"

• it is time for us to begin to say

• "Ah, poor soul, I am afraid you are not on the road at all

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A Second remark to the confirmed Christian is…

Men will follow Christ when everyone cries "Hosanna! Hosanna!"

But, like that seed on the rock/spring up/green/heat comes/they wither away

• Temptations/troubles/overcome them.

• The best test of a Christian is the night?

• In times of temptations/persecutions.

If you can sing at temptations/sing in trouble/sing when driven to despair—this is what proves your sincerity.

A Christian’s piety is shown in adversity not prosperity.

Put a trouble/on/Christian/his endurance/will prove him to be of the true seed of Israel.

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A third remark to the confirmed Christian is:

• The other side of the metaphor:

• All the Christian wants in the night is his God. "

• Our text: With desire have I desired thee in the night."

By day there are many things that a Christian will desire besides his Lord

• But in the night he wants nothing but his God.

• Think of your days? Do you think of God during the day?

• Were busy, preoccupied with the things of the world.

• This can only be through the corruption of our own spirit.

• When everything goes well we are setting our affection on everything but Christ.

• We always want something, desiring other things beside God.

• When things are going smoothly

• He wants this and that comfort.

• Striving to gain self

But when trouble/distress arise…

Can we say, “with desire, I desire thee in the night.”

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II. The second part of my sermon is to be occupied by speaking to newly awakened souls;

I will endeavor to answer three questions to those who are newly awakened.

• The first question you may ask.

• How do I know that my desires are proofs of a work of grace in my soul?

• you may say

• I think I can go so far as the text says.

• I have desired God;

• I have desired to have an interest in the blood of Jesus

But how am I to know that it is a desire sent of God?

Hear me, then, while I offer one or two tests.

1. First, you may tell whether your desires are of God by their fidelity.

When many hear a stirring sermon, they have a very strong desire to grow in the Lord; but they go home and forget it.

They are like a man who sees his face in a mirror, goes away, and forgets what he looks like.

• Has it been so with you?

• Have you had such a desire?

• Will tomorrow's busyness take it away?