I was sorting through some old stuff and came across a sermon outline from Richard M. Cassity. His friends called him Dick, but our entire county knew him as “Preacher Cassity.” He befriended me when my days as a young pastor were just beginning and his as an elderly one were coming to a close.

To give you an idea how great a man of God Preacher Cassity was, allow me to list some facts that were included in a couple of little booklets that were produced about his life and ministry. Over the course of his ministry, he served as Supply or Interim Pastor in 30 churches, performed over 300 weddings, conducted over 1,400 funerals, and preached over 200 revivals. Most importantly, his ministry produced over 5,000 conversions to Jesus.

I was privileged to hear the last sermon Preacher Cassity preached for our local pastors’ conference. The date was February 3rd, 2003. The sermon was entitled “My Desire,” and the opening text was Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (K.J.V.).

After Preacher Cassity’s death, a fellow pastor gave me a copy of the simple, handwritten outline Preacher Cassity had with him at the podium the morning he preached that sermon. That’s the outline I still have, and I’d like to name for you the nine desires listed on it. After each desire, I’ll cite an appropriate passage (all references from the N.K.J.V.). Some of these were passages Preacher Cassity referenced in his sermon, but others are ones I’ve included myself. I’ll also add an application question after each desire to drive home the point of the desire.

#1: A Closer Union With God: Psalm 42:1: “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to have a deeper fellowship with God?)

#2: A Deeper Compassion for the Lost: 1 Corinthians 9:22: “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to win others to Jesus?)

#3: A Spirit-Filled Life: Ephesians 5:18: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to filled with — controlled by — the indwelling Holy Spirit?)

#4: A Committed Life That My Prayers Be Answered: Psalm 37:5: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in him; and He shall bring it to pass.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to live a life committed enough to the Lord that He will be able to bless you by answering your prayers?)

#5: To Be Kept from Care: 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to reach a spiritual state wherein your life is free from worry because you so consistently cast all your care upon the Lord?)

#6: To Fulfill My Ministry: Acts 20:24: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to faithfully fulfill all the acts of ministry to which God calls you in service to Him?) 

#7: To Thank Him for “The Calling”: 2 Timothy 1:8-9: “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to live the kind of life by which you show the Lord daily how thankful you are to Him for calling you to salvation?)

#8: To See All the “Family” Saved: Acts 16:31-32: “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to see your entire family experience the salvation offered in Jesus?)

#9: Most of All to See Jesus: Philippians 1:21-23: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” (As a Christian, do you have a burning desire to depart from this life and go to be with Jesus?)

Well, after reading Preacher Cassity’s list, it isn’t hard to see why he was such a wonderful servant of God. Instead of desiring money, fame, power, or status, his desires were all wrapped up in Jesus. Tell me, Christian, can the same be said of your desires? If not, what better time could there be than right now to change your desires? And if you need a good list to get you headed in the right direction, I’d say the one you just read is a worthy one.

I miss my friend, Preacher Cassity. To me, he was a role model, a mentor, and an inspiration. I’ll see him again one day, though. I know exactly where he is: in heaven with Jesus. That was, after all, the one desire he prefaced with the words “Most of all.” As I read that last and greatest desire on his list, I couldn’t help but think, “That one is being fulfilled at this very moment.”