Do We Have David’s Desire?

DO WE HAVE DAVID’S DESIRE?

Ps. 27:4

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A man was telling about an exciting experience in Russia. His sleigh was pursued over the frozen wastes by a pack of at least a dozen famished wolves.

2. He arose and shot the foremost one, and the others stopped to devour it. But they soon caught up with him, and he shot another, which was in turn devoured. This was repeated until the last famished wolf was almost upon him with yearning jaws, when…”

3. "Say, partner," broke in one of the listeners, "according to your reckoning that last famished wolf must have eaten the other eleven. So how was he still famished?"

4. "Well, come to think it over," said the story teller, "maybe he wasn't so famished after all."

5. That’s the subject of our message tonight; having a hunger for God.

B. TEXT

1. “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple” Ps. 27:4, NKJV.

2. “[God’s Words] are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” Ps. 19:10, NASB.

3. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When shall I come and appear before God?” Ps. 42:1-2, NKJV.

4. “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” Ps. 84:2, NKJV. [Although Psalms 42 & 84 were written “for the sons of Korah,” most commentators believe David wrote both.]

C. THESIS

1. “Desire” is defined as “a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen;” “to long for or to hope for.”

2. David was esteemed by God because he desired the things of God. I want us to examine our hearts and see how our desires compare to those of David.

3. The title of this message is “Do We Have David’s Desire?”

I. THERE ARE GOOD & BAD DESIRES

A. WHAT DO PEOPLE DESIRE?

1. Forbes Mag. (5/24/16; Kathy Caprino) had an article on “The Top 8 Things People Desperately Desire But Can't Seem To Attain.” 771 Americans responded.

2. Their answers were, in order, Happiness, Money, Freedom, Peace, Joy, Balance, Fulfillment, Confidence. The problem is, people try to achieve these through THINGS or PEOPLE. All things and people will not last, and they have limits on what they can do for us.

3. The Bible makes clear that we have “evil desires” (Rom. 7:8, Col. 3:5; Gal. 5:24; Eph. 2:3) or good desires, such as desiring to live godly lives (2 Tim. 3:12) or desiring spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:31).

4. Paul made lists of the evil desires and their deeds in Rom. 1:29; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Col. 3:5; and Gal. 5:19-21 so we can know for sure if we find ourselves heading in the wrong direction. If our desires are centered on money, pleasure, entertainment, selfish desires, pride, human achievements – then we’re way off track from following God.

B. WE MUST CULTIVATE THE DESIRE WHICH RULES US

1. PROBLEM: WE ARE RULED BY OUR DESIRES. The Bible tells us we will follow what our hearts desire (Ezek. 11:21; Mark 8:34; etc.).

2. That’s why we’re told to “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” Prov. 4:23.

3. If we choose evil desires, they will steer our life away from God and down to ruin. If we choose to set our desires on the things God says, our lives will be filled with satisfaction and fulfillment, with joy and happiness.

4. Paul said, “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” Col. 3:1-2.

5. YOU MUST CHOOSE TO SET YOUR HEART AND MIND ON THE RIGHT PLACE: ON GOD, HIS WORD, & HIS WORK.

II. DAVID WAS MADE GREAT BY HIS EXCELLENT DESIRES

“I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” Acts 13:22.

A. DAVID DESIRED GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE

1. DAVID BECAME A MAN HUNGRY, THIRSTY FOR GOD. By seeking Him, David discovered that God was a real, living Person. David communed with God out on the hills of Bethlehem as a shepherd in the solitude & stillness.

2. David became a WORSHIPPER of God with his harp. He discovered the presence of God in worship and God became a real Person to him, his best Friend, the Lover of his soul!