What Gives God Pleasure
That is a question, that everyone should ask (Psalms 147:10-11) says “He delights
not in the strength of the horse, He takes not pleasure in the legs of a man. The
Lord Yahweh takes pleasure in them that fear (reverence) Him, in those that hope
in His mercy”. Psalms 35:27 says “let them shout for joy and be glad that favor my
righteous cause, yea, let them say continually, let the Lord Yahweh be magnified,
which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant”. Psalms 149:4 says “for the
Lord Yahweh takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with
salvation”. Luke 12:32 says “fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good
pleasure to give you the kingdom”.
God took pleasure in our redemption (Isaiah 53:10-11) says “yet it pleased the
Lord Yahweh to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief, when you shall make His soul
an offering for sin. He shall see His seed. He shall prolong His days, and the
pleasure of the Lord Yahweh shall prosper in His hand”. God promised the devil in
Genesis 3:15 that the seed of the woman would prevail “and I will put enmity
between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise
your head; and you shall bruise his heel”. Ephesians 1:3-9 says “blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as He has chosen us in Him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
Him in love. Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. To the praise of the glory of His
grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of
His grace. Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
Having made know to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure
which He has purposed in Himself”. And in Philippians 2:13 it says “for it is God
which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure”.
We see God’s redemption plan in Ephesians “and you has He quickened who were
dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past you walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now works in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But
God, who is rich in mercy; for His great love where with He loved us. Even when we
were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, by grace you are saved.
And has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, less any man should boast. For we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before
ordained that we should walk in them”.
Our uprightness gives God pleasure, David prayed as he was making preparations
for the building of the temple, saying “O Lord Yahweh our God, all this store that we
have prepared to build You an house for Your holy name, come of Your hand, and
is all Your own. I know also, my God, that You try the heart, and have pleasure in
uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all
these things, and now have I seen with joy Your people, which are present here, to
offer willingly to You. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers,
keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Your People,
and prepare their heart to You. (I Chronicles 29:16-18).
God wants all of us to walk uprightly, in Ezekiel 18:23, 32 “have I any pleasure at all
that the wicked should die? Says the Lord God; and not that he should return from
his ways, and live? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies says the
Lord God, wherefore turn yourselves, and live you”. Psalms 5:4 says “for You are
not a God that has pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with You”.
Remember that God does no want any to perish, but that all should come to the
knowledge of the truth.
Obeying God’s word pleases God (Ecclesiastes 12:13) “let us hear the conclusion
of the whole matter; Reverence God and keep His commandments; for this is the
whole duty of man”. It is our Christian duty, the apostle Paul exhorts us in I
Thessalonians 4:1 “furthermore then we beseech you, brethren; and exhort you by
the Lord Jesus that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to
please God, so you would abound more and more”. And in II Thessalonians 1:11-
12 “wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith
with power. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ”. In
Ephesians 6:1-9 obedience is spelled out for all. Samuel tells Saul “behold, to obey
is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (I Samuel 15:22).
Psalms 68:11 says “the Lord gave the word, great was the company of those that
published it”.
Doing His will, pleases God; Noah pleased God, in Genesis chapter 6, Noah was
told by God to build an Ark and even though it took 120 years, he built the ark and
saved mankind from total destruction. In I Peter 2:11-15 it says “dearly beloved, I
beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against
the soul. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that, whereas they
speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall
behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of
man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be to the king as supreme. Or to governors, as
to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of
them that do well. For so in the will of God, that with well doing you may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men”. Jesus said in John 8:28-29 “then said Jesus
to them; when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall you know that I am He
and that I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father has taught Me, I speak these
things. And He that sent Me is with Me; the Father has not left Me alone; for I do
always those things that please Him”. We are instructed in Ephesians 5:1-2 to be
followers of God as dear children and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us”.
Psalms 82 warns us that if they don’t apply His word, they will fall as meer men.
Faith pleases God, faith is acting on what you believe, believing and acting on the
word of God. In Hebrews 11:6 it says “but without faith it is impossible to please
Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him”. Romans 8:5-9 says “for they that are after the flesh
do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they, that are in the flesh cannot
please God. But you are not in the flesh; but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His”.
Many times in the Bible, we can see what God loves and what He hates. By doing
the things He loves, we will be giving Him pleasure. Remember that we are told to
study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth”. Hebrews 13:15-16,20-21 says “by Him therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips
giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased. Now the God of peace that brought again from
the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the
everlasting covenant. Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working
in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen”. As we yield ourselves to Him, He does the work.
Remember that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.
Preaching His word pleases God; Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:22-24). In
Jude 14-15 we see that Enoch preached and warned the people before the flood,
and in Hebrews 11:5 we see that Enoch pleased God, “by faith Enoch was
translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had
translated him, for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased
God”. Jesus commissions us to preach to the world (Matthew 28:18-20).
As we renew our minds to the word of God, Paul tells us “I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed
to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may
prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God”. Renewing our
mind is our responsibility, and it is done by our applying the word of God to our
every day life (Colossians 3:12-17) “put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. And above all
these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of
God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you
thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: October 9, 2009
That is a question, that everyone should ask (Psalms 147:10-11) says “He delights
not in the strength of the horse, He takes not pleasure in the legs of a man. The
Lord Yahweh takes pleasure in them that fear (reverence) Him, in those that hope
in His mercy”. Psalms 35:27 says “let them shout for joy and be glad that favor my
righteous cause, yea, let them say continually, let the Lord Yahweh be magnified,
which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant”. Psalms 149:4 says “for the
Lord Yahweh takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with
salvation”. Luke 12:32 says “fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good
pleasure to give you the kingdom”.
God took pleasure in our redemption (Isaiah 53:10-11) says “yet it pleased the
Lord Yahweh to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief, when you shall make His soul
an offering for sin. He shall see His seed. He shall prolong His days, and the
pleasure of the Lord Yahweh shall prosper in His hand”. God promised the devil in
Genesis 3:15 that the seed of the woman would prevail “and I will put enmity
between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise
your head; and you shall bruise his heel”. Ephesians 1:3-9 says “blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as He has chosen us in Him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
Him in love. Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. To the praise of the glory of His
grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of
His grace. Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
Having made know to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure
which He has purposed in Himself”. And in Philippians 2:13 it says “for it is God
which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure”.
We see God’s redemption plan in Ephesians “and you has He quickened who were
dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past you walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now works in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But
God, who is rich in mercy; for His great love where with He loved us. Even when we
were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, by grace you are saved.
And has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, less any man should boast. For we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before
ordained that we should walk in them”.
Our uprightness gives God pleasure, David prayed as he was making preparations
for the building of the temple, saying “O Lord Yahweh our God, all this store that we
have prepared to build You an house for Your holy name, come of Your hand, and
is all Your own. I know also, my God, that You try the heart, and have pleasure in
uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all
these things, and now have I seen with joy Your people, which are present here, to
offer willingly to You. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers,
keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Your People,
and prepare their heart to You. (I Chronicles 29:16-18).
God wants all of us to walk uprightly, in Ezekiel 18:23, 32 “have I any pleasure at all
that the wicked should die? Says the Lord God; and not that he should return from
his ways, and live? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies says the
Lord God, wherefore turn yourselves, and live you”. Psalms 5:4 says “for You are
not a God that has pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with You”.
Remember that God does no want any to perish, but that all should come to the
knowledge of the truth.
Obeying God’s word pleases God (Ecclesiastes 12:13) “let us hear the conclusion
of the whole matter; Reverence God and keep His commandments; for this is the
whole duty of man”. It is our Christian duty, the apostle Paul exhorts us in I
Thessalonians 4:1 “furthermore then we beseech you, brethren; and exhort you by
the Lord Jesus that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to
please God, so you would abound more and more”. And in II Thessalonians 1:11-
12 “wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith
with power. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ”. In
Ephesians 6:1-9 obedience is spelled out for all. Samuel tells Saul “behold, to obey
is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (I Samuel 15:22).
Psalms 68:11 says “the Lord gave the word, great was the company of those that
published it”.
Doing His will, pleases God; Noah pleased God, in Genesis chapter 6, Noah was
told by God to build an Ark and even though it took 120 years, he built the ark and
saved mankind from total destruction. In I Peter 2:11-15 it says “dearly beloved, I
beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against
the soul. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that, whereas they
speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall
behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of
man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be to the king as supreme. Or to governors, as
to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of
them that do well. For so in the will of God, that with well doing you may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men”. Jesus said in John 8:28-29 “then said Jesus
to them; when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall you know that I am He
and that I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father has taught Me, I speak these
things. And He that sent Me is with Me; the Father has not left Me alone; for I do
always those things that please Him”. We are instructed in Ephesians 5:1-2 to be
followers of God as dear children and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us”.
Psalms 82 warns us that if they don’t apply His word, they will fall as meer men.
Faith pleases God, faith is acting on what you believe, believing and acting on the
word of God. In Hebrews 11:6 it says “but without faith it is impossible to please
Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him”. Romans 8:5-9 says “for they that are after the flesh
do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they, that are in the flesh cannot
please God. But you are not in the flesh; but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His”.
Many times in the Bible, we can see what God loves and what He hates. By doing
the things He loves, we will be giving Him pleasure. Remember that we are told to
study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth”. Hebrews 13:15-16,20-21 says “by Him therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips
giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased. Now the God of peace that brought again from
the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the
everlasting covenant. Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working
in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen”. As we yield ourselves to Him, He does the work.
Remember that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.
Preaching His word pleases God; Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:22-24). In
Jude 14-15 we see that Enoch preached and warned the people before the flood,
and in Hebrews 11:5 we see that Enoch pleased God, “by faith Enoch was
translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had
translated him, for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased
God”. Jesus commissions us to preach to the world (Matthew 28:18-20).
As we renew our minds to the word of God, Paul tells us “I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed
to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may
prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God”. Renewing our
mind is our responsibility, and it is done by our applying the word of God to our
every day life (Colossians 3:12-17) “put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. And above all
these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of
God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you
thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: October 9, 2009
