United Church of God

Do Our Ways Please God?: Of All the Ways in Which We Can Live, Which Truly Please God?

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Do Our Ways Please God?

Of all the ways in which we can live, which truly please God?

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Do Our Ways Please God?: Of All the Ways in Which We Can Live, Which Truly Please God?

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From the beginning of civilization mankind has devised its own ways of living. God is quite clear on His requirements for a life that pleases Him. The Scriptures contain testimony of some whose ways pleased God. Let us explore and learn.

Sermon Notes

An incomplete set of notes and Scriptures used: 

Last week I spoke about 3 steps of faith.

(Heb 11:6)  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(Heb 11:5)  By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Would we not want our name in Scripture...  that WE PLEASED GOD?

Pleasing God is a culmination of so many steps in the Bible.

1Th 4:1  Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 
1Th 4:2  for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 

(Pro 16:7)  When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

DO WE, OUR WAYS please GOD?

(Joh 4:23)  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
(Joh 4:24)  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
LET us NOT worship in a place and worry about it. HE wants worship IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH, not just any way one wants to... 

Worship from  gk
Worship from Websters: 

(Mat 5:21)  "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
(Mat 5:22)  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
(Mat 5:23)  Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
(Mat 5:24)  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

WE MUST MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN TRADITION AND TRUTH.
EXAMPLE: Why do Catholics worship on Sunday? The CC recognizes that The Sabbath is the 7th day... but by its "own authority" ... changed it to Sunday. But it is NOT the Truth.  HE demands to be worshipped in SPIRIT & TRUTH.

(Joh 12:20)  Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.
These FEASTS are NOT just for "Jews". The GREEKS knew that and sought the audience.

WE should go out of our way to attend the FEAST.

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 
Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 
Heb 10:25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 

(Lev 1:1)  Now the LORD called to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying,
(Lev 1:2)  "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of the livestock—of the herd and of the flock.
(Lev 1:3)  'If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD.

(Lev 2:1)  'When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it.
1Th 2:1  For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 
1Th 2:2  But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 
1Th 2:3  For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 
1Th 2:4  But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 

Lev 3:1  'When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. 
Lev 3:2  And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. 
Lev 3:3  Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 
Lev 3:4  the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; 
Lev 3:5  and Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is on the wood that is on the fire, as an offering made by fire, 

(Lev 7:16)  But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice; but on the next day the remainder of it also may be eaten;
THREE reasons for a Peace Offering.

Fearing GOD means to be TESTED by God and willing to accept that.

(Psa 33:18)  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,
(Psa 33:19)  To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
(Psa 111:10)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

IF we are to share the Gospel as Paul states here. We need to understand that GOD will test us because HE does not just wants someone... but someone tested and true and with integrity...

(Deu 8:1)  "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers.
(Deu 8:2)  And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
(Deu 8:3)  So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
(Deu 8:4)  Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.
(Deu 8:5)  You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.
(Deu 8:6)  "Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
(Deu 8:7)  For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills;

This is what Paul was talking about in Thesalonians...
(Rom 8:28)  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Once heard a POWERFUL preacher spend an hour in this verse... but NEVER mentioned HOW GOD defines LOVE FOR GOD.
(1Jn 5:3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
(Job 1:8)  Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

(Joh 12:42)  Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;
(Joh 12:43)  for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

(1Co 4:3)  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
(1Co 4:4)  For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
(1Co 4:5)  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

(2Sa 11:1)  It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

Bathsheeba was the Grand daughter of his adviser  Ahithophel.  She was not unknown... 
2Sa 11:2  Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 
NOT a random event...  RESEARCH.
Fundamentally pleasing GOD is about the 1st Commandment.
Psa 51:1  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David When Nathan the Prophet Went to Him, After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 
(Psa 51:2)  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
(Psa 51:3)  For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
(Psa 51:4)  Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
(Psa 51:5)  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
(Psa 51:6)  Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
(Psa 51:7)  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
(Psa 51:8)  Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
(Psa 51:9)  Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
(Psa 51:10)  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
(Psa 51:11)  Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
(Psa 51:12)  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

(Psa 51:13)  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
(Psa 51:14)  Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
(Psa 51:15)  O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
(Psa 51:16)  For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
(Psa 51:17)  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
(Psa 51:18)  Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
(Psa 51:19)  Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.