Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the thirds section of our theme and pertaining to the submissiveness to God’s pleasure. First of all let’s subdue ourselves to the heavenly Father’s pleasure and all will be right for us:
To God’s pleasure :
Matthew 6: 10 reads: Let your kingdom come. Let your pleasure be done, as in heaven, so on earth. And Matthew 26: 39 also reads about Jesus himself: And he went forward a little, and falling down on his face in prayer, he said, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup go from me; but let not my pleasure, but yours be done. Moreover, in Luke 1: 38 we read: And Mary said: I am the servant of the Lord; may it be to me as you say. And the angel went away. And in Luke 1:74-75: 74 That we, being made free from the fear of those who are against us, might give him worship, 75 In righteousness and holy living before him all our days.
And Apostle James to conclude on this point in James 4:7: For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you.
- The submissiveness to divine pleasure, means bearing the fruit of interior law: Psalms 40: 8 reads: My delight is to do your pleasure, O my God; truly, your law is in my heart.
- Being subdued to him is to make our essential prayer the backbone of his pleasure. For Psalms 143: 10 reads: Give me teaching so that I may do your pleasure; for you are my God: let your good Spirit be my guide into the land of righteousness.
- It establishes a relationship that brings us to join the divine family: Matthew 12: 50 : For whoever does the pleasure of my Father in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
- It leads to spiritual growth: John 7:17 If any man is ready to do God’s pleasure he will have knowledge of the teaching and of where it comes from–from God or from myself. Acts 21: 14 reads: And as he might not be moved we did no more, saying, Let the purpose of God be done. And 1 John 2: 15 reads: Have no love for the world or for the things which are in the world. If any man has love for the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Being subdued is wholeheartedly required: Hebrews 13:20-21 reads: 20 Now may the God of peace, who made that great keeper of his flock, even our Lord Jesus, come back from the dead through the blood of the eternal agreement, 21 Make you full of every good work and ready to do all his desires, working in us whatever is pleasing in his eyes through Jesus Christ; and may the glory be given to him for ever and ever. So be it.
- It determines the rule of our daily life in James 4:15 as follows: But the right thing to say would be, If it is the Lord’s pleasure and if we are still living, we will do this and that. And 1 John 2: 17 reads: And the world and its desires is coming to an end: but he who does God’s pleasure is living for ever.
- The possession of approval is identified as being well-pleasing to God, so that:
- It makes life sure Proverbs 16:7: When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
- It is a characteristic of Christ : Matthew 3:7 But when he saw a number of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come? And in John 8:29 we read: He who sent me is with me; he has not gone from me, because at all times I do the things which are pleasing to him.
- It’s an objective of the true servant of God: James 4: 4 O you who are false to God, do you not see that the friends of this world are not God’s friends? Every man desiring to be a friend of this world makes himself a hater of God.
- God’s pleasure remains a duty for the Christian: Acts 16:1-2 1 And he came to Derbe and Lystra: and there was a certain disciple there named Timothy, whose mother was one of the Jews of the faith, but his father was a Greek; 2 Of whom the brothers at Lystra and Iconium had a high opinion.
We should behave like Timothy, having a sinless life.
- Enoch is an example of divine approval : Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up to heaven so that he did not see death; he was seen no longer, for God took him away: for before he was taken, witness had been given that he was well-pleasing to God. And in Hebrews 13:16 we read: But go on doing good and giving to others, because God is well-pleased with such offerings. And in 1 John 3:22 we also read: And he gives us all our requests, because we keep his laws and do the things which are pleasing in his eyes.
- A few examples of godliness
- Enoch: Genesis 5:24 And Enoch went on in God’s ways: and he was not seen again, for God took him.
- Noah: Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was an upright man and without sin in his generation: he went in the ways of God.
- Jabez: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez made a prayer to the God of Israel, saying, If only you would truly give me a blessing, and make wider the limits of my land, and let your hand be with me, and keep me from evil, so that I may not be troubled by it! And God gave him his desire.
- Hezekiah : 2 Chronicles 31:20 This Hezekiah did through all Judah; he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God.
- Job: Job1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. He was without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil.
- Daniel: Daniel 6:11 Then these men were watching and saw Daniel making prayers and requesting grace before his God.
- Simeon: Luke 2:25 And there was then in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon; and he was an upright man, fearing God and waiting for the comfort of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was on him.
- Anna: Luke 2:37 She had been a widow for eighty-four years); she was in the Temple at all times, worshipping with prayers and going without food, night and day.
- Nathanael: John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said of him, See, here is a true son of Israel in whom there is nothing false.
- Christ: John 8:29 He who sent me is with me; he has not gone from me, because at all times I do the things which are pleasing to him.
- Cornelius : Acts 11:24 For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and a great number were joined to the Lord.
- Ananias: Acts 22:12 And one Ananias, a God-fearing man, who kept the law, and of whom all the Jews in that place had a high opinion.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that we should subdue ourselves to God’s pleasure by going on doing what is pleasant to him. Let’s therefore reject any mockery and any trickery, dissimulation and envy, and any malicious gossip, and let’ desire, like newly-born children, spiritual and pure milk, so that through it we may grow for salvation, since we have noted that the Lord is good. So, let’s receive from the Most High God our reward, for he is pleased with all that is true, good and upright, and above all, He loves us and wants that we all be saved. Please try to do the needful; our prayers are supporting you.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to revert on your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing next week on the last section of our theme and pertaining to Christ‘s perfection.
May the Almighty God bless you in abundance.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.