"Pleasing God 101"

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place
Pulpit Series Volume 16 Issue 45 12/10/2006

Psalms 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of your house; and you shall make them drink of the river of your pleasures.

Did you ever stop to think that God has likes and dislikes? (Green and blue) If I can prove to you this morning that certain things are pleasing in His sight, would you be willing to learn to do those things that are pleasing to Him?

There is more in the Word about God’s pleasures than you may think. A good question would certainly be: What pleases the Lord?

For some years our family has been treated as missionaries ... different Women’s ministry groups would take on our family for a year at a time and send us little gifts at birthdays and Christmas. They’d send out a questionnaire to see what we liked and disliked.

This was wonderful and saved a lot of disappointment. Picture a young child - a boy opening a box at Christmas and discovering he received a dress. It is his colour but??????

I love to read “How to books” but only if they are about something I’m interested in. Don’t buy me a “How to line Dance” book. I like Dodge trucks so why would you want to give me a Chevy T Shirt? I’m probably not explaining this right but - I think you know what I mean.

It is not always the thought that counts. I believe we could be a lot more sensitive to the likes and dislikes of others. And especially when it comes to God - His Word is clear!

So lets get back to our question: What pleases the Lord?

He has pleasure in the beauties of creation. Revelation 4:11 .....you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 33:11 As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked;

We can conclude God takes pleasure in repentance. “but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

God takes no pleasure in wickedness. Psalms 5:4 For you are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness:

We conclude God has pleasure in uprightness. I Chronicles 29:17 I know my God that you test the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness.

See what Proverbs 11:20 says. ... such as are upright in their way are his delight.”

The Lord takes no pleasure in those who break their vows. Ecclesiastes 5:4 When you vow to God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay that which you have vowed.

God takes pleasure in His people. Psalms 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: Who are His people?
Those who trust Him and are satisfied by Him alone.

God delights in those who fear (respect) Him. Psalms 147:11 The LORD takes pleasure in those that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

He takes pleasure in those who trust in His mercy and put their hope in Him. In other words God’s delights in hopefulness.

We ought to cultivate the spirit of hopefulness.
Some people are naturally hopeful, others need to be encouraged. We were without God and without hope. You cannot cultivate what you do not possess.

The way to get hope is to
grab hold of faith!
What you possess you can cultivate.

God delights in those that live in obedience to His Word. Malachi 1:10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors..or light a fire on my altar... I have no pleasure in you And see what God ‘s Word says regarding obedience:
I Samuel 15:22.Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, to listen than the fat of rams.

If there be any doubt read Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

God delights in our prayers. Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.
Not just acceptable - but His delight!

What a contrast the great sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord. Because the motives are wrong. But the feeblest cry of His own are His delight!

God delights in integrity. Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD but a just weight is his delight.

Do not overlook this point!

God notices the honest and just in this corrupt world. Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what the LORD requires of you, to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

This just weight is not only regarding secular matters... it shows that we should render full measure of devotion and service to the Lord.

Are you giving just weight to Him?

The Lord delights in our prosperity. Psalms 35:27 Magnified the Lord who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

What kind of prosperity? Prosperity in earthly things, and in heavenly things.

God’s ideal is found in III John 1:2 prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

Don’t be confused when the ungodly prosper, the ungodly never get the twofold prosperity. Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins shall not prosper

Prosperity is knowing and possessing the presence of God.

Genesis 39:2 the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man.

God’s people prosper when they give proper place to the Word! Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may obey it, for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

Psalms 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

God delights in truthfulness. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

No sin so common as lying today. It comes natural to us. Many parents have wondered who taught their children to lie.... but it comes with us right from the womb. Psalms 58:3 .... they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Even God’s children need to be exhorted... Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;

Satan is distinguished by his title of liar. John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

It is the exact opposite to God’s nature. Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good? And Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

God is pleased by those in the Spirit. Romans 8:8 they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

God is pleased by Faith. Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please him:

God takes delight in those who endure and don’t turn back! Hebrews 10:38 the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

So today we learned that God delights in:
Repentance, Uprightness, His people, Those who fear (respect) Him,

He delights in Hopefulness, Them that live in obedience to His Word, Our prayers, Integrity, Truthfulness, Those in the Spirit, Faith, Those who endure and don’t turn back!

I John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.