Pleasing God
Posted: March 14th, 2009, 1:38 am
HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #131ah Re-Written 14MAR09
Save Me Today—Part Thirty Four: Pleasing God
by rev dave c
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord (Ep 5:8-10, NIV). ...And find out what pleases the Lord. What an interesting directive from Paul. I’m reasonably certain that all Believers want to please the Lord, but how do we know what pleases Him? We need to rely on daily prayer and conviction through the Holy Spirit for guidance, of course, as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Ph 2:12&13), but as children of light (Ep 5:6-10) we must also search the Scriptures for answers to this vital question, “What pleases God?”
As Jesus, Moses, and Elijah appeared in glory on the Mount of Transfiguration before Peter, James, and John, ... a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Mt 17:5, NIV). Just as the Eternal Son says of His Almighty Father, The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him" (Jn 8:29, NIV)—Paul urges children everywhere, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord (Co 3:20, NIV). The Apostle continues in First Timothy 5:3, Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God (NIV). Respectful obedience to, and loving care for, our parents pleases God.
While Ecclesiastes 2:26a assures us, To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, Romans 11:33-12:2 cries out, Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship [a more accurate translation reads, “reasonable act of worship”]. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will (NIV). Worshipping Him by living humble and holy lives pleases God.
During this time of great national and global trials, my hope is that we may especially take to heart First Timothy 2:1-4, I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (NIV). Proverbs 15:8b states, the prayer of the upright pleases him (NIV). Praying for others, and specifically prayer for all leadership everywhere, pleases God.
First John 4:18-24 teaches us to use our hands as well as our heads and our hearts in the practice of our faith. John exhorts us, Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us (NIV). Regarding love offerings as practical service, Paul says, They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Ph 4:18-20, NIV). Making a real commitment to “the Great Commandment” and “the Great Commission” through good works done in Christ’s name and for His glory pleases God.
Finally, Romans 14:17&18 states, ...the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men (NIV). Being filled with unspeakable joy, that is due to a peace that is beyond understanding, and that is the result of living righteously through the Holy Spirit pleases God—because the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth (Ep 5:9; NIV). We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad (2Co 5:7-10; NIV). Let us close with the Writer of Hebrew’s prayer in 13:20&21, May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Save Me Today—Part Thirty Four: Pleasing God
by rev dave c
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord (Ep 5:8-10, NIV). ...And find out what pleases the Lord. What an interesting directive from Paul. I’m reasonably certain that all Believers want to please the Lord, but how do we know what pleases Him? We need to rely on daily prayer and conviction through the Holy Spirit for guidance, of course, as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Ph 2:12&13), but as children of light (Ep 5:6-10) we must also search the Scriptures for answers to this vital question, “What pleases God?”
As Jesus, Moses, and Elijah appeared in glory on the Mount of Transfiguration before Peter, James, and John, ... a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Mt 17:5, NIV). Just as the Eternal Son says of His Almighty Father, The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him" (Jn 8:29, NIV)—Paul urges children everywhere, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord (Co 3:20, NIV). The Apostle continues in First Timothy 5:3, Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God (NIV). Respectful obedience to, and loving care for, our parents pleases God.
While Ecclesiastes 2:26a assures us, To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, Romans 11:33-12:2 cries out, Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship [a more accurate translation reads, “reasonable act of worship”]. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will (NIV). Worshipping Him by living humble and holy lives pleases God.
During this time of great national and global trials, my hope is that we may especially take to heart First Timothy 2:1-4, I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (NIV). Proverbs 15:8b states, the prayer of the upright pleases him (NIV). Praying for others, and specifically prayer for all leadership everywhere, pleases God.
First John 4:18-24 teaches us to use our hands as well as our heads and our hearts in the practice of our faith. John exhorts us, Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us (NIV). Regarding love offerings as practical service, Paul says, They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Ph 4:18-20, NIV). Making a real commitment to “the Great Commandment” and “the Great Commission” through good works done in Christ’s name and for His glory pleases God.
Finally, Romans 14:17&18 states, ...the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men (NIV). Being filled with unspeakable joy, that is due to a peace that is beyond understanding, and that is the result of living righteously through the Holy Spirit pleases God—because the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth (Ep 5:9; NIV). We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad (2Co 5:7-10; NIV). Let us close with the Writer of Hebrew’s prayer in 13:20&21, May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.