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What Pleases God In The Scriptures?

December 21, 2008

Our ambition

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For [because] we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

To learn what is pleasing to the Lord

Ephesians 5:8-10 For you [the elect v.4] were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, 9 for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. 10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. (NAB)

My beloved SON

Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

He always did the things that pleased his Father

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

In Him all the fullness dwell

Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him [His beloved Son v.13] should all the fulness dwell;

The Messiah’s sufferings

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand

God’s chosen servant

Matthew 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Election is according to the good pleasure of God’s will

Ephesians 1:4-5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children [the placement of sons] by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us [His elect v.4] the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

It is pleases God to call His elect

Galatians 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

The Lord takes pleasure in His people

Psalm 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

The congregation of saints

Psalm 149:1Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

Psalm 16:3 As for the saints that are in the earth, They are the excellent in whom is all my delight.

To make you His people

1 Samuel 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

Adding members to His body

1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

In the building of His house

Haggai 1:8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.

To bless Israel

Numbers 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness

To bring His people in to the most glorious of all the lands

Numbers 14:8 “If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey.

Ezekiel 20:6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.

The Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

To save by the foolishness of preaching

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe [present active].

Our faith pleases God

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Serving Christ with righteousness, peace and joy

Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.

That the wicked turn from his way and live

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Uprightness is His pleasure

1 Chronicles 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.

The way of the upright

Proverbs 11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

The prayer of the upright

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Separation

Ezra 10:11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.

In those that fear Him and hope in His mercy

Psalm 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Obedience

1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams. (NLT)

Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering. (BBE)

The steps of a good man

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

To do good and share

Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

The honest

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

A just weight

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

Praise and thanksgiving

Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

Giving to those that minister to you

Philippians 4:18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

A widows care by her own family

1 Timothy 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. (NIV)

Obedient children

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

In exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness

Jeremiah 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

In mercy

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

In the prosperity of His servant

Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.