The Shaping of Our Desires
PSALM 107:23-30
23 ¶ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
(These people are in the shipping business (that is their business environment), and in their business environment they get to see the greatness of God in the mighty storms of the ocean just as we get to see the storms in the personal environment of our own lives)
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. (God is in the storm – he uses the power of the storm to show man something)
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. (If you have ever been on a really rough sea, you will know that is it can be a very frightening thing)
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. (There is a purpose that God allows storms to rise up in your life, and then there is a scriptural response of how we are deal with them, and that is though prayer – Jonah prayed, and that is what brought him out of his storm)
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
The Shaping of Our Desires
Subject - Their Desired Haven
Everyone in this natural life has a desired haven, a place of rest at the end of the day and at the end of the journey, and at the end of the ocean voyage of this life’s trip.
For some, their desired haven is a house with a white picket fence and a little fruit orchard with a few chickens and a couple of cows and some sheep.
For others it is a large retirement fund that they can afford to go on holidays and site seeing tours and coffee mornings and walks along the beach at sunset.
Everyone’s desires in the natural world are shaped different, and in this age (and because of the darkness of this age), we know that people’s desires are being shaped by the evil of this age in ways that they have never been shaped before until (as the bible tells us) many people are without natural affection.
Opening scripture
PSALM 107:23-30
23 ¶ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. (The bible is giving us a scriptural answer and a sure way of how you are to come out of your distresses, it is by prayer “cry unto the Lord”, this word cry means to “seek help”, not from man but from the Lord)
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
***According to our scripture reading, before we can arrive at our desired haven, we must first experience the troubles of the storm, because it is by the storm that you come to the haven.
*Look at any person’s life that came to some kind of greatness, they never got there without first passing through some storms and destresses.
Hebrew word “Desired”= “chephets” {khay'-fets} 1) delight, longing, good pleasure, that in which one takes delight
We all want to arrive at a place of delight, a place of good pleasure and rest and peace, sheltered from all the storms, a harbour and a haven of rest.
A haven is a place where ships can shelter and are safe from the storms of the sea - The “Haven of Rest” we sing.
The word “Haven” means (in ships terms), a harbour, a dock, a refuge, a retreat, a shelter, a port, a sanctuary. For us as human beings, it is a place of safety, a place of security and peace and rest, an oasis, a sanctuary, a place of safety in times of trouble.
We must not get this word “Haven” confused with the word “heaven”- heaven is the sky (the atmosphere), and space (where the stars are), and the 3rd heaven is a dimensional place that we go to after this earthly journey has ended.
As you came to this earth at the beginning of this journey of life, you will then go that world at the beginning of that life’s journey.
So your “desired haven” is your destination of peace and joy and rest and contentment that you desire to arrive at.
*But then what if a person’s desire has been perverted and changed by the evil influence of this age into a destination that is not a haven of rest.
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**The Garden of Eden was not heaven, it was a haven of rest, a place of safety of peace and shelter for God’s beloved children Adam and Eve.
GENESIS 2:1-3
1 ¶ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
GENESIS 2:21-23
21 ¶ And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
*Man came out of God, and woman came out of man (Woman coming out of man was just a reflection of man coming out of God).
So now you have God and man and woman, living in Eden and all in agreement and oneness together, a haven of rest, a desired haven where no storm could ever reach them in that haven, no trouble could ever reach them, they could know no sorrow in that haven, they could never get sick of feel pain in that haven, there was no death in that haven, all was peace and joy and perfect contentment – it was truly a desired haven.
***But Satan wanted to bring them out of that haven, so before he could do that, he had to first change Eve’s desire, he had to shape her desire away from that Eden to another Eden that she thought would be greater than God’s Eden.
***What has brought about the Satan’s Eden of this age?, it is because that Satan has been shaping the desire of man away from God to an unbelieving life of sinful pleasures that can never bring peace and rest to the human life.
GENESIS 3:1-7
1 ¶ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (This is the first time that someone suggested that God didn’t really mean what he said – it was a brand new thought for Eve, it was like a revelation to her, “maybe God doesn’t really mean everything that he says, and she began to reason about that)
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 ¶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Notice that as soon as their eyes became opened to sin, they also had a change of dress. This is why that with every new movement there is always a change of dress to match that movement. Look at the hippy movement, look at the fashion industry – dress code always declines with unbelief and sin.
REVELATION 3:17-18
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Nakedness is to do with a lack of dress)
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed (Clothing is again mentioned – Adam and Even because naked when that supernatural clothing of God left them), and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
DANIEL 4
We find that King Nebuchadnezzar also had a change of garment and a change of desire, and a storm that God sent into his life.
1 ¶ Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. (He is going to tell of an experience in his life that brought him to a knowledge of God that he would never had come to had he not gone though that experience, and it was no doubt a very painful storm for him)
3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
(Notice carefully - Look at the revelation of God that came to him after this experience – he is referring to God as one God and not many gods as do the heathens)
DANIEL 4:4
4 ¶ I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: (It was a place of what he perceived as a Haven of rest – he felt that he had made it in life, his house was paid off, his car was paid off, he could afford a nice holiday with his family, he was in good health, everything was going well, life was good, everything was seemingly at peace, he had all the best of what this world could offer, but there was something very wrong with this man, his desire had been shaped wrong and he was soon going to find out that what he thought was a safe haven was not a safe haven at all, and that he was still out on the sea of life where the storms could still reach him, and reach him they did, because the safe haven is reach after the storm and not before it)
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. (All the self-help books etc.)
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: (Look at his revelation of God before the storm – “the holy gods”) and before him I told the dream, saying,
9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. (Seven years of raging storm)
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. (All the wisdom of Babylon could not counsel the king in this matter of his life, it took a prophet of God that God had sent to that age)
19 ¶ Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. (In other words – “I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you!”)
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (He lost his mind – he went insane like the people of this age are doing because of pride, because pride cometh before a fall)
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. (There was a good reason for God sending this storm into his life – it would work out for the good and not for evil)
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. (This is telling us of the spiritual condition of this man, he was very successful on the outside, but on the inside in his spirit he was not a merciful man, he was full of sinful desires that could never bring him into a true desired haven, so he was about to go through the storm, he was about to do business on great waters that God had arranged for him so that it would reshape his desires and bring him into a true desired haven of rest and peace)
28 ¶ All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? (Look at the pride that was still in his character)
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. (He thought he was in a safe haven, but he didn’t realise that he was actually still out on mighty waters of the deep, and now a big tempest was coming his way because his desires had been shaped wrong in life, and that where his comfort zone was, was not actually a desired haven after all – it was the middle of the sea)
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. (Can you imagine seven long years of eating grass in a field along with cows and sheep – he had lost his mind because of pride and wrong desires, his desires had been shaped wrong by Satan. Just like Satan had shaped Eve’s desires wrong, and that took her out of the Haven of God’s rest.
***When our desires are shaped wrong by the devil, it takes us out of Eden, but when our desires are shaped right by the Holy Spirit, then God can bring us back into the true desired haven again – the storm is required to shape our desires so that we can come into a true desired haven)
34 ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
(Look at the revelation of God that came to him because of the trial – not “the holy gods” but “One God”)
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Many times we go through things in life to humble us because we are born out of shape, and then life bends us even more out of shape, and so we end up with desires that are out of shape.
EXODUS 10:3
3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
All the suffering and troubles that Pharaoh was about to go through was because he was proud, he was bent out of shape, and so these troubles were designed by God to humble him.
DEUTERONOMY 8:2-3
2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
BELIEVE.FROM.THE.HEART_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 57-0623
E-66 …I once loved the things of the world; I hate it now. I once cared not for God; I love Him now. Something happened to me. Something happened to you.
What is it? It's God's Word declaring His character. He loves us. He's interested in your welfare. He's interested in your healing. He's interested in your soul. Won't you let Him have His way in your life? Don't you doubt Him for nothing. You go believing Him, and God will give you the desire of your heart, for it's His good will to do it. He longs to do it.
The Shaping of Our Desires
God is dealing with us in ways so that he can reshape our desires back to the real haven of rest that he had designed for us from the beginning.
If our goal is just to be rich and have a great kingdom in this life like King Nebuchadnezzar, then we are in for some tempests and some humbling, because God cannot deal with us any different to how he has always dealt with man.
**We want God to shape our desires according to what will truly bring us into a desired haven of rest.
Opening Scripture
PSALM 107:28-30
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
MATTHEW 11:28
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.