Pleasing God - Part 2

Continuing Michael's message: Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, where your treasure there will your heart be also. We invest our efforts and our energy in the things and the people we love. Therefore, don’t accumulate things of this world, instead lay up for yourself treasures in heaven through eternal investments with a heart to love and serve God above all. In Ephesians 5 we are told that we were born into the darkness of this fallen world. Jesus Christ himself is the light of the world. We who have been born-again of God’s Spirit are His photo-multipliers … we are the lights in a world of darkness, who reflect the light of Christ. The light eliminates the darkness. Light reveals and makes clear the truth of the Word of God and exposes what is in the dark. Jesus Christ is the Word of God … He is the revealed word of God made manifest.  

Prior to receiving God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, we were blinded by the darkness of this world; you cannot see in the dark. Our fallen nature we inherited from Adam was the nature of sin and death. However, we have received new life in Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit. We were children of darkness, but now we are children of light. Jesus Christ himself is the light. He is the truth of the Word of God made manifest. The Light of Christ illuminates the eyes of our spiritual understanding, so we can see from God’s heavenly perspective. Now that we have been born-again of God’s Spirit, we can live in the newness of life in Christ. As King David said, Create in me a new heart O Lord. With the born-again regeneration of our spirit within us, the desire of the new heart of in Christ in us is to please God. 

True prayer is Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed three times for God to remove the impending cup of God’s wrath … of taking upon himself the pain, torture, shame, beating, crucifixion and death as just retribution for the sins of the world. He prayed, if there be any other way, Please Father, take this cup of wrath from me. His ultimate prayer, however was “Not my will but thine be done.” True prayer is not please, please, please me. Instead the essence of prayer is the diplomatic French phrase: “S’il vous plait.” This means, “If it pleases you.” In other words, “Not my will but thine be done.” The blessing is not in seeking the blessing, instead the blessing is in seeking the Blessor and in doing that which is well-pleasing and acceptable unto Him.

Here are some other verses to understand from the perspective of Christ’s eyes behind our eyes what it means to be well pleasing unto our Heavenly Father…

Psalm 147:10-11 - His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 - On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

Galatians 1:10 - Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

John 8:29. Jesus said, And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that the exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Psalm 69:30-32 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. 

Our prayer is according to Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my Redeemer. That, we may be well-pleasing in thy sight O Lord, offering up continually a sacrifice of praise from a heart of love to thy honor and glory!

Your brother in Christ, Michael