Sermon: Uncontrolled Desires
Ps 106:1 “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? 3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. 4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; 5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
6 We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. 7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. 8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. 9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. 10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left. 12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. 13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”
Introduction: Psalms 105 and 106 conclude the fourth division of Psalms. While Psalms 105 is a summary of God’s faithfulness to His people; Psalms 106 is a summary of the sinfulness of God’s people. Psalms 105 covers the exodus out of Egypt, while Psalms 106 covers the wildness journey to the Babylonian captivity. Psalms 106:15 should serve as a warning of uncontrolled desires. God gave them abundance of food, according to their desire, but with it, God spiced it with judgment; causing it not to prosper with them; so as they did eat to they were filled, but it did not cause them to thrive.
Whenever we consider all that God did to provide for Israel, we can be assured that God will take care of his own. God know what’s best for us and exactly how to meet our needs. Israel’s main problem was a short memory. Verse 7 reads, “Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies…” When I think of all God has done for me individually, from my earliest existence, my personal growth and development, my friends, salvation, healings and deliverances in my life, through ways that didn’t even know existed, I celebrate God. Israel, God’s chosen people experienced so many blessings, so more protection and so many miracles, yet they did not remember or appreciate them. 3Jo 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” John reminds us that God is concerned about our whole life; the health of our bodies, health of our souls, and even prosperity in secular affairs. God desires us to prosper in every area of life. God is for us and not against us. If we obey His word and seek first His kingdom, all these things will be added to us. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, God promises to give us the desires of our heart.
We are His people and the sheep of his pasture. We only need to wait on the Lord and allow Him to lead us, guide us and enrich our lives as He sees fit. He knows what’s best for us. During the wilderness journey, the Israelites were tempted to complain. They became dissatisfied with God’s provisions. God gave them manna , but craved meat! If God has not given us meat or money or more, we must resist the temptation to think we know what’s best for ourselves. Yielding to temptation caused Israel to crave things that were not good for them. We must remember, in every situation, God knows how to sustain us and take care of us. The Prosperity Message causes some to desire prosperity at any cost. There are some things that cost too much. God led His people with provision and protection, not a feeble person was among them. Their clothes did not wear out, not did their feet swell. Yet the people were so intent on getting what they wanted, they became blind to what they had. They wanted immediate gratification, they needed lasting spiritual fulfillment. They refused to be satisfied with God’s provisions. So they grumbled and complained. We must learn to trust God’s care and provision. Verse 12 said, at one time they believed His words; they sang His praise. Israel was like a child who receives a new toy, excited for a while, but quickly becomes bored and tosses it aside. They desire something new! There is a danger with uncontrolled desires. Uncontrolled desires will cause you to forget what God has already done, how good He has been and how much he has given you.
1. Uncontrolled Desires Can Cloud Our Memory. “They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:” Somehow they forgot His works! How can you forget 400 years of slavery and oppression? How can you forget about Pharaoh’s army drowning in the sea? How can you forget the bitter waters that were made sweet? How can you forget manna every day, protection from every foe, perfectly healthy bodies with no sickness to be found? How can you not wait for His counsel? God alone knows the way. Uncontrolled desires caused them to forget and to become impatient!
2.Uncontrolled Desires Can Cause You to Run Ahead of God. “They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:” They lost appreciation for what they had and refused to enjoy what God had given them. Those who refuse to wait for God’s counsel are left to themselves and will follow their own heart. Uncontrolled desires, even for lawful things, become sinful without the counsel of God. God has a right time, a right way, and God knows what we can handle. They were God’s choice to inherit a land flowing with milk and honey. They would live in houses they did not build, eat from vineyards they did not plant and inhabit a land of more than enough. But they wanted what they wanted and they wanted it now!
3. Uncontrolled Desires Can Lead From Bad to Worse. Verse 14 “But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.” In a place where they were totally dependent on God for every detail of their lives, they tried to force God’s hand. Like a spoiled brat or an un-weaned child, they murmured and constantly complained. They did not care about God or His wisdom. They wanted God to supply their sensual appetite; they wanted miracles to satisfy their lust. Ps 78:18-21 “And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? 21 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;”
4. Uncontrolled Desires lead to Full Bellies and Empty Hearts. 15 “And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” They received an answer to their prayers, but it did not satisfy. Somehow they had meat, but had no mercy! Though their bodies were filled with quail, their minds were uneasy, and their conscience was filled with terror. They are like many people who live the so-called good life, money in their pockets, with leanness in their souls. This generation is the richest/poorest generation ever existed. We have more stuff and lest peace! We take more medication and have less health. Mt 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Israel gained the fleshly world, but loss more than they gained. For the first time, sickness invaded the camp. People who were to live in divine health, begin to die. Believers must be careful that their uncontrolled desires donot lead down the road of judgment instead of blessing. The scripture says, “It is the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed.” Satan would love to tempt us to desire what God does not desire for us. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, who had everything, but lost everything trying get what they already had. Like Esau who lost his birthright for a bowl of soup! Israel received a curse with the blessing of meat in their mouths. Ps 78:29-31 “So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.”
5. Uncontrolled Desires Leads to an Uncertain Future – Notice they lust was never satisfied. While the meat was in their mouth God slew the healthiest and the chosen nobles among them. How much we suffer for the lack of prosperous and successful leaders! God slew those who the people were most pleased and impressed. One can only imagine the grief, terror and sadness that entered the camp. Ps 37:3-5 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” We should desire and delight in what God delight in and nothing but what pleases God. God wants to lead us to a certain future and a delightful outcome. How peaceful and blessed their journey should have been. Their uncontrolled desires led them astray. Following their own desires, their own mind, their own ways, led to chastisement, judgment, worry and frustration. The only certain future is to follow God’s counsel with humility and prayer. Ps 106 ends with a prayer. Israel like the prodigal who came to him, says, 47 “Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. 48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.”
Finally, they had cast off their uncontrolled desires and figured out that only God can save us. Save us from Satan, from sin, from our enemies, and most of all from our selves. Mt 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” In this verse, Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Deny his uncontrolled desires, his selfishness, and self exaltation, then he is ready to follow me.
