Good morning, everyone. What does the Lord take pleasure in? What does the Lord take pleasure in? In from the beginning and from ancient times, the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. If you look up the word pleasure, it's an interesting definition. What it pleases, what pleases a person. What does it please God to do? What does God get satisfaction and enjoyment from? What does he enjoy doing? What does he enjoy accomplishing? Deriving satisfaction from doing certain things. God gets satisfaction from doing certain things. He gets pleasure from doing certain things. You know? The word pleasure is mentioned a lot in the Bible. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts, ye ministers of his that do his pleasure. Do we do those things that please the Lord? Psalm 105, 22, to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his senators wisdom. Isaiah 48, 14, All ye assemble yourselves, and hear which among them hath declared these things. The Lord hath loved him. He will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans. He shall do his pleasure on Babylon. Ephesians 1 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himself, I have often said we cannot thwart the will of God. we cannot change the will of God. Ephesians 1.9, having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himself. God's pleasure is purposed in himself, not in man. There's a song we sing, Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to know you. Philippians 2.13 For it is God which worketh in you both the will and the do of His good pleasure. If you don't like what's going on in your life, maybe you ought to realize that God is doing his own good pleasure in your life. Because it's God that works in you both the will and do of his good pleasure. We might not like what's happening in our life. We might not like the fact that we're living in the last days. We might not like the fact that we're getting ready to face tribulation and persecution. But Philippians 2.13 says it's God which worketh in you both the will and do of His good pleasure. 2 Thessalonians 1.11 Wherefore also we pray always for you that God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power. Fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power. Psalm 147 11 the Lord take of pleasure and them that fear Him, for those that hope in His mercy." God is pleased when we fear Him. God is pleased when we hope in His mercy. God is pleased when we don't take any credit for anything in and of ourselves, but give all the glory to Him. Psalm 149, for the Lord taketh pleasure in his people, he will beautify the meek with salvation. Where does God get his pleasure? Ephesians 1.5, having predestinated us on the adoption of children by Jesus Christ himself according to the good pleasure of his will. God is pleased that his will is to predestinate us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ himself. Isaiah 53 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief, when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Speaking of Cyrus in Isaiah 45, 28, That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built into the temple thy foundation shall be laid. Isaiah 46 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done saying my counsel shall stand I will do all my pleasure God always accomplishes everything he sets out to do He says, I will do all my pleasure, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done. My counsel is then, I will do all my pleasure. Revelation 4, 11, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. Well, that's kind of what's on my mind this morning. It's the pleasure of the Lord. God's pleasure is... His will will always be satisfied. His will cannot be thwarted or circumvented. We can make all of these plans. We can try to strategize. We can have all these... Ideas about how we're gonna survive and make it through this world But you know Luke 12 32 Fear not little flock where is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom? It's God's pleasure to give his elect kingdom You know I'm glad that God gets all of His will done and accomplished, and it can't be thwarted. I'm glad that His pleasure is on His lap, His people. I'm glad that He gets delight in His people's worship of Him. and that there's nothing we can do to circumvent what He has ordained. Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever. He sought me and bought me. He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory. You know? Pleasure. God takes pleasure in all those that fear him. Those that trace his name. Well, this morning let's realize that God takes pleasure in his people. Look what he's done for them. He's died on a cruel and rugged cross for them. He's rose from the dead for them. He's ascended back to heaven. He's coming back home. He's coming back to this earth. He said, if I go away, I prepare a place for you. And if I go away to prepare a place for you, I will come again. If it were not so, I would have told you in my father's house are many mansions. We have the satisfaction of Christ's purpose and pleasure will soon be revealed in all of Israel forever. May the good Lord be with you today in a special way is my prayer. God bless.