THE BEST LIFE HAS TO OFFER: Psalm 37:1-8
I saw a statement the other day that said, “I’m having a rough day. What I need is a hug ~ and a check for two million dollars.”
• So often we are taught that somehow we deserve the best that life has to offer.
• What if I told you this morning that you do!
• I want to offer you PEACE, POWER, PLEASURE, PROSPERITY, AND A PROMOTION this morning.
• Okay, the truth is that you don’t deserve it, but I’m going to offer it to you anyway.
• I want to offer you the best life has to offer.
Psalm 37:4, “Be happy with the Lord, and He will give you the desire of your heart!
I). You can have PEACE:
A). Jesus told us, in John 14:27, My peace I give to you;”
• Too often we define peace as the lack of trouble or struggle.
• The problem is that, in this life, that’s probably not going to happen very much!
B). Jesus is offering real peace, and He explains it at the end of the verse: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
• Peace is NOT the lack of trouble, peace is the confidence and courage that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives that assures us that no matter what we are going through God is still in control and has our best interests in mind.
• That’s the peace I have to offer you this morning.
II). You can have POWER: Again, Jesus promised it: “You will receive power…”
A). The desire for power is universal.
• Nations want it ~ businesses want it ~ and people want it.
• And we can have it ~ guaranteed!
B). But there is a stipulation: “When the Holy Spirit comes to you”
• Your power is not your own (in your power you can’t do much of anything)
• The power has to come from God, who is all-powerful!
• The problem with power isn’t the desire to have it ~ the problem is whose power do you desire to have?
• Frankly, I want it all! And that’s what God has to offer.
III). You can have PLEASURE:
A). I’ll be honest with you this morning: I’m tired of hearing about Lamar Odem.
• I’m glad he’s alive and recovering ~ but I’m tired of hearing about him.
• At the same time, he does make a great sermon illustration this morning.
• In case you don’t know: Lamar Odem is a former pro basketball player who spent thousands of dollars in order to spend the weekend with two women; overdosed on drugs, and almost died.
B). What was he looking for: pleasure!
• We live in a world that is seeking pleasure.
• People are trying to find something ~ anything ~ that will satisfy the emptiness in the their lives.
C). In Psalm 36:8, David wrote about the LORD: “They are refreshed with the rich foods in Your house, and You make them drink from the rivers of Your pleasure.”
• Folks, there is pleasure to be found, but it’s not in money, sex, drugs, alcohol, or anything else this world has to offer.
• We have to park ourselves in God’s house and eat from His food, and drink from the rivers of His pleasure.
• It’s the joy of the Lord that gives us pleasure ~ it’s about serving Him with gladness.
IV). You can have PROSPERITY:
A). We live in a materialistic age.
• People want it all ~ and when they talk about having it all they mean money!
• Because they believe that money can get them anything else they need.
B). But true prosperity is not in the stuff we have here.
• It’s not in money, or silver, or gold, or possessions.
• Prosperity is found in Jesus, who tells us to “store up treasurers for yourself in Heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)
C). And then Jesus said, “Your heart will be where your treasure is.”
• What is your treasure this morning? What do you hold most dear in your life?
• That’s where your heart truly is! Is it on Jesus?
V). Finally, You can have a PROMOTION:
A). Everybody wants a promotion ~ so many people are trying so hard to make it to the top!
B). Jesus offers you a promotion that you wouldn’t hardly believe:
• From struggle to peace ~ from weakness to power ~ from pain to pleasure ~ from poverty to prosperity;
• From sin to righteousness ~ from guilt to innocence ~ from death to life ~ from Hell to Heaven.
C). Jesus wants to take you to the top, and it won’t cost you a dime!
• All you have to do is ask Him to take away all those things that are holding you back: your sin!
• Ask Him to come into your life, and to be your Savior and Lord.
