Delighting in God: The Joy of Genuine Faith
Summary
In the heart of Psalm 37:4 lies a profound truth that challenges the world's perception of religion: "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." This verse reveals two remarkable insights. First, it describes the believer's life as one of delight in God, a concept foreign to those who view religion as mere duty or obligation. For the true believer, faith is not a burden but a source of overflowing joy and happiness. The world may see religion as a dreary obligation, but those who know Christ understand that delight and faith are inseparable, like root and flower. Our faith is not a chain but a source of freedom and joy, a recreation rather than a prison.
The second insight is the promise that God will grant the desires of the heart to those who delight in Him. This is not about self-denial but about aligning our desires with God's will. The believer's desires are transformed, becoming holy and heavenly, and thus God can safely fulfill them. This promise is not about material gain but about spiritual fulfillment, about being free from sin and living in communion with Christ. It is about being useful in God's kingdom and seeing others come to faith.
Delighting in God is a perpetual duty, not limited by time or circumstance. It is challenging to delight in God when life is either too comfortable or too difficult. In prosperity, we risk delighting in God's gifts rather than in God Himself. In adversity, we may struggle to see God's goodness. Yet, true delight in God transcends circumstances, bringing joy and strength even in trials. This delight is rare because many lack genuine or deep-toned religion. True delight in God is a mark of genuine faith, a source of strength, and a testimony to the world.
Key Takeaways:
- True Religion as Delight: True religion is not a burden but a source of joy and happiness. For believers, faith is a delight, not a duty. This joy is rooted in a deep relationship with God, where faith and delight are inseparable. [03:24]
- Desires Aligned with God: When we delight in God, our desires align with His will. This alignment allows God to fulfill our desires safely, as they become holy and heavenly. This promise is about spiritual fulfillment, not material gain. [07:36]
- Perpetual Delight: Delighting in God is a continuous duty, not limited by time or circumstance. It is challenging to maintain this delight in both prosperity and adversity, but true delight transcends circumstances, bringing joy and strength. [26:58]
- Genuine Faith and Delight: True delight in God is a mark of genuine faith. It is rare because many lack genuine or deep-toned religion. This delight is a source of strength and a testimony to the world, showing that faith is not a burden but a joy. [33:47]
- Path to Delight: To delight in God, one must first believe in Christ and be reconciled to God. This reconciliation allows us to experience true joy and fulfillment in God, as our desires align with His will. [50:06]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to Psalm 37:4
[00:37] - The Joy of True Religion
[01:36] - Misconceptions of Religion
[03:24] - Delight and Faith United
[07:36] - God Grants Desires
[13:13] - Precept and Promise
[18:54] - Meaning of Delight
[19:08] - Source of Delight
[26:58] - Continuous Delight
[33:47] - Genuine Faith and Delight
[36:59] - Promise of Fulfilled Desires
[40:06] - Desires of the Heart
[46:00] - Worldly Desires vs. Godly Delight
[50:06] - Path to True Delight
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 37:4: "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 37:4 suggest about the relationship between delighting in God and receiving the desires of one's heart? [00:09]
2. How does the sermon describe the world's perception of religion compared to the believer's experience? [00:54]
3. According to the sermon, what are the two main insights revealed in Psalm 37:4? [07:36]
4. What challenges are mentioned in the sermon regarding delighting in God during different life circumstances? [26:58]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the transformation of a believer's desires when they delight in God? [07:50]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that true delight in God is a mark of genuine faith? [33:47]
3. How does the sermon address the misconception that religion is solely about self-denial? [08:05]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of prosperity and adversity in a believer's ability to delight in God? [27:10]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt that your faith was more of a duty than a delight. What changed, or what could change, to make it a source of joy? [00:54]
2. How can you actively align your desires with God's will in your daily life? What steps can you take this week to ensure your desires are holy and heavenly? [07:36]
3. Consider a current life circumstance that makes it difficult for you to delight in God. How can you find joy and strength in God despite this challenge? [26:58]
4. Identify one area in your life where you might be delighting more in God's gifts than in God Himself. What practical steps can you take to shift your focus back to God? [27:50]
5. How can you cultivate a deeper, more genuine faith that naturally leads to delight in God? What spiritual practices or habits could support this growth? [33:47]
6. Think of a desire you have that you believe aligns with God's will. How can you pursue this desire while ensuring it glorifies God and benefits others? [38:19]
7. What is one specific way you can be more useful in God's kingdom this week? How can you contribute to seeing others come to faith? [42:28]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as a Source of Joy
True religion is not a burden but a source of joy and happiness. For believers, faith is a delight, not a duty. This joy is rooted in a deep relationship with God, where faith and delight are inseparable. The world often views religion as a set of obligations or a list of rules to follow, but for those who truly know Christ, faith is a source of overflowing joy. It is not a chain that binds but a source of freedom and recreation. This perspective transforms the believer's life, making faith a journey of delight rather than a mere obligation. [03:24]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your perspective of faith from duty to delight today? How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God that brings joy?
Day 2: Aligning Desires with God's Will
When we delight in God, our desires align with His will. This alignment allows God to fulfill our desires safely, as they become holy and heavenly. The promise of God granting the desires of our hearts is not about material gain but about spiritual fulfillment. It is about being free from sin and living in communion with Christ. As our desires are transformed, they become aligned with God's purposes, allowing us to be useful in His kingdom and to see others come to faith. This transformation is a profound aspect of the believer's journey. [07:36]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: What desires in your life need to be aligned with God's will? How can you begin to seek spiritual fulfillment over material gain today?
Day 3: Continuous Delight in God
Delighting in God is a continuous duty, not limited by time or circumstance. It is challenging to maintain this delight in both prosperity and adversity, but true delight transcends circumstances, bringing joy and strength. In times of prosperity, there is a risk of delighting in God's gifts rather than in God Himself. In adversity, it can be difficult to see God's goodness. Yet, true delight in God is a mark of genuine faith, providing strength and a testimony to the world. This delight is rare because many lack genuine or deep-toned religion. [26:58]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: How can you practice delighting in God regardless of your current circumstances? What steps can you take to ensure your joy is rooted in God and not in His gifts?
Day 4: Genuine Faith and Delight
True delight in God is a mark of genuine faith. It is rare because many lack genuine or deep-toned religion. This delight is a source of strength and a testimony to the world, showing that faith is not a burden but a joy. Genuine faith is characterized by a deep and abiding delight in God, which stands as a powerful witness to others. This delight is not superficial but is deeply rooted in a relationship with God that transforms the believer's life. It is a source of strength that sustains through trials and challenges. [33:47]
1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
Reflection: In what ways does your faith serve as a testimony to others? How can you cultivate a deeper delight in God that reflects genuine faith?
Day 5: The Path to True Delight
To delight in God, one must first believe in Christ and be reconciled to God. This reconciliation allows us to experience true joy and fulfillment in God, as our desires align with His will. The path to true delight begins with a relationship with Christ, which transforms our desires and aligns them with God's purposes. This transformation leads to a life of joy and fulfillment, as we live in communion with God and seek to fulfill His will. It is a journey that requires faith and commitment but results in profound spiritual fulfillment. [50:06]
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with Christ to experience true delight in God? What steps can you take today to align your desires with God's will?
Quotes
Delight thyself in the lord now first, what is this delight? I have been thinking the word delight over, and I cannot explain it. You know it is a word by itself, a delightful word. I cannot use anything but its own self to describe it. If you look at it, it is flashing with light. [00:14:42]
Ah, but believers who know Christ understand that delight and faith are so blessedly married that the gates of hell cannot prevail to divorce them. They who love God with all their hearts find that his ways are ways of pleasantness and all his paths are peace. [00:03:24]
When delight becomes a duty, then certainly duty is a delight. When it becomes my duty to be happy, when I have an express command to be glad, then indeed I must be a sinner if I refuse my own joys and turn aside from my own bliss. [00:14:03]
The thought of delight in religion is so strange to most men that no two words in their language stand farther apart than holiness and delight. Ah, but believers who know Christ understand that delight and faith are so blessedly married that the gates of hell cannot prevail to divorce them. [00:03:16]
The Christian also feels that he may delight himself in all that God has done in the past. Those psalms which end with, "His mercy endureth forever," where we find such divisions as these, Og king of Bashan, for his mercy endureth forever, Sihon king of the Amorites, for his mercy endureth forever. [00:22:20]
It is hard when the wine that is full to love God more than the vineyard. It is hard when there is a fine harvest to think more of God than of the sheaves. It is hard when you are growing rich still to say this is not my treasure. [00:28:34]
The ungodly man is not qualified to have the promise because he would desire something that would neither glorify God nor profit himself. But when a man's delight is in God, then his desires are of such a sort that God may be glorified in the granting of them. [00:37:08]
Delight thyself in the lord. If these that I have already mentioned were not enough, we might delight ourselves in all that God is to do, in all the splendid triumphs he has yet to achieve, in all the glories of the latter days, in all the splendors of his throne. [00:23:41]
The real which rattles over the stones dries up in the summer, but the deep flowing river speeds on, come drought or heat, and yet glideth silently along the meads. We do not talk so loudly of our joys as you of your merriments because we have no need to do so. [00:05:00]
The joy of the lord is your strength. It is good for the ungodly, for when they see Christians glad, they long to be believers themselves. It is good for our fellow Christians; it comforts them and tends to cheer them, whereas if we look gloomy, we shall spread the disease. [00:36:00]
The believer feels that God is his native element. He does not escape from his God or from his master's will and service, and if for a time he were taken out of it, the sooner he could get back to it, the better. [00:10:52]
The rivers of worldly men run away from the sea, but the rivers that Christian men have run into the sea. If a worldly man sails along the stream of his mercies, he gets further and further from God and becomes more and more an idolater. [00:40:02]
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