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  THE DELIGHT OF GOD
  by David Wilkerson
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Summary: God delights in Jesus Christ, who provides the perfect
sacrifice for our sins and reconciles us to Himself.

Topics: "Delight in Christ", "God's Plan of Salvation"
Scripture References: Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 3:16

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DESCRIPTION
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David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound delight God has in His Son,
Jesus Christ, as illustrated in Isaiah and Matthew. He explains that
while countless animal sacrifices failed to please God, Jesus came to
fulfill God's will and provide the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's
sins. This act of love and humility demonstrates God's singular plan to
reconcile humanity through Christ, who is the only one that brings
delight to the Father. Wilkerson highlights that God recognizes only the
perfect obedience and sacrifice of Jesus, underscoring the importance of
relying on Him for salvation.

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CONTENT
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God spoke to Isaiah about a certain servant who delights his heart:
"Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul
delights" (Isaiah 42:1). Who is this one whom God sustains and upholds,
guarding his every step? Who is his chosen, his elect -- the one in whom
he so delights?

We find the answer in Matthew's gospel: "When He had been baptized,
Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were
opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and
alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This
is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'" (Matthew 3:16-17). The
original word for "I am well pleased" here is "delight." God was saying,
"My soul delights in my son, Jesus Christ!"

Throughout the Old Testament, untold numbers of sheep and cattle were
offered to the Lord as sacrifices, yet the Bible says none of these
sacrifices brought the Lord any pleasure: "In burnt offerings and
sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure" (Hebrews 10:6). Yet, in the very
next verse we read these wonderful words from Jesus: "Then I said,
'Behold, I have come ... to do Your will, O God'" (10:7).

Christ came to earth to do what no animal sacrifice could do. God had
prepared a physical body for him here on earth -- a body that would
provide the final, perfect sacrifice. In short, God abased himself for
our sake. Encasing himself in a human womb, he took on our nature. He
gave up the riches of heaven to become poor for us, giving his life to
ransom us.

From the foundation of the world, God had only one plan: to reconcile
fallen, sinful humankind and bring us back into his good graces. God's
plan for doing this was simple. He said, "I'm going to send forth my son
as a deliverer and after he has died, risen, and stands before me, I
will recognize only him."

The Lord said, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the
unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). God would never
accept any works by human flesh, no matter how good they might appear.
He would recognize only Christ, the servant who perfectly pleased and
delighted him!

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/david-wilkerson/the-delight-of-god/
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