Love For God
Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. [Colossians 3:2]
Last week I began teaching on Perfected Love, beginning with the love God has toward us. Now that we have an understanding of His love for us, this week I'll discuss how we are to demonstrate our love toward Him. The inherent nature of love--even human love--is the desire to please the object of our affection. The same is true with God. As His children, we should desire to please Him in all things. Similar to the relationship one has to their natural parents, a child seeks to please his or her parents, to gain their approval and acceptance, fulfilling a person's greatest need--to be loved.
So, if we know that God loves us unconditionally, why must we seek to please Him? After all, the revelation of His love should be enough to fulfill the need to be loved, right? These two statements are correct; however while correct, they are devoid of the fullness of God's love, which are the promises He made to His children. The Bible says: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. [1 Corinthians 2:9]
Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been adopted into the family of God, being grafted into the seed of Abraham. Therefore, as heirs of the promise, we are entitled to the inheritance God has promised in His Word. Psalms 103:2 says: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. In the subsequent verses, David lists many of the benefits from God. The Bible is filled with benefits of being in Christ, from eternal life and physical healing, to abundant life and power over the devil. The promises are there, but it is up to us to receive them. Obviously, if you wanted to show God how much you love Him, you would make an effort to please Him. So let's examine what pleases God.
I want to mention one point about us being pleasing to God. God said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The phrase "in whom" is vital because when we consider someone being pleasing to us, we always phrase it this way, “I am pleased with you—not pleased in you.” And while I’m certain that God was well pleased with Jesus, but this passage says that God was pleased in Him, which refers to whosoever is in Christ. That’s us, my brothers and sisters, which correlates perfectly with Romans 8:8-9 that says 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 dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Additionally, this fits perfectly with Hebrews 11:6 that says, But without faith it is impossible to please him…
Therefore, we see that God’s pleasure with us is based entirely upon your position in Christ, whom you received by faith; and as long as you remain in faith, you will abide in Christ and will be well pleasing to God. The revelation of this one truth set me free from trying to perform for God in order to be pleasing to Him. My prayer is that it will set you free as well.
Faith
First of all, faith pleases God. The Bible 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. [Hebrews 11: 6] Since God is a Spirit, it first takes faith to comprehend His existence; and also faith to receive His love and promises. Faith in God comes before loving God [not in importance but in order], because as the scripture said, For he that comes to God must [first] believe that he is. In other words, by faith we love God (1 John 4:20). Every promise, every benefit, and every ounce of God's power are utilized by faith. We are even saved by grace through faith. Without faith in Jesus Christ, we would not be able to receive this grace.
If faith pleases God, then its opposite, fear, displeases Him. As I have mentioned several times before, fear is faith in the devil and his lies, instead of faith in God and His Word. As faith sets a person free, fear casts them into prison. As faith brings joy and peace, fear brings torment and confusion. Faith steps into the water; fear stays on the boat. I wrote in the previous teaching: the knowledge that God loves you as much as He loves the Lord Jesus should cast out all your fears.
Obedience
If you love me, keep my commandments. [John 14: 15]
Obedience to His Word is very pleasing to God. God didn't give us commandments to demonstrate His reign over us. Rather, He gave them for our own good, knowing what toll sin takes upon life. The Bible says: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. [1 John 5: 3] God has given us a free will and because of His love, He has also given us a set of rules to follow so that we may prosper and be in good health. Most importantly, the benefits and promises of God are released as a result of obedience. For example, by being obedient in paying tithes or giving, you will receive the promise of Luke 6: 38. Keeping away from sin will prevent the consequences of sin (destruction, disease, poverty, shame, condemnation, etc.) from touching you. The Bible says: He that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not. [1 John 5: 18] Another reward of obedience is given in Psalms 103: 18-19: To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord has prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rules over all.
Walking in the Spirit
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [Romans 8: 8]
Being spiritually minded pleases God. When we walk according to the Spirit, we will remain in faith and obedience to God's Word. Walking in the Spirit will also lead to doing the works of Christ, which also pleases God. Being able to walk in the fullness of the Spirit is a process that is not accomplished quickly. However, with an intense hunger for God's Word and presence, commitment to prayer, fasting, and renewing of your mind, one can reach a level where the manifestation of God's anointing is that of Jesus. We have been given the same Spirit as Jesus received, and Jesus promised in John 14:12 that His followers would do the same and greater works than He did. In order to accomplish this, one must do as Jesus did, which was constantly walk in the Spirit.
Preaching the Gospel
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. [1 Corinthians 1: 21]
God is pleased when we obey the Great Commission, and share the good news of Jesus Christ. Additionally, the gospel includes testimonies that give God glory and bear witness of His love and power. By his own admission, the apostle Paul wasn't a great preacher, according to what many view today as great. He wrote: And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. [1 Corinthians 2:1, 4-5]
The complete gospel isn't only the message of the cross and remission of sins, but includes as Paul wrote, in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. As faith comes by hearing the word of God, the manifestation of God's power comes by faith and is always the greatest testimony and confirmation of the word. If you study the ministry of Jesus and also of the apostles, they always confirmed what they preached or taught with a manifestation of power, i.e. healing, casting out devils, giving words of prophecy. The Lord Jesus said: If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though you believe me not, believe the works. That you may know, and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him. Believe not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself. But the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. Or else believe me for the very works' sake. [John 10: 37-38; 14: 10-11]
These two times when the Lord spoke (one to the Jews and the other to His disciples) He was stressing the importance of recognizing a person who is walking fully with God--that power will always follow their speaking of the Word. Jesus reiterated this truth in Mark 16: 17-18, as how to recognize the disciples who obey the Great Commission (Mark 16: 15-16): And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Praise & Worship
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 [fellowship] forget not. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased. [Hebrews 13: 15-16]
A great way to demonstrate your love for God and to please Him is with praise and giving thanks. Many people associate worship with singing hymns and spiritual songs, but this is not total worship. Total worship begins and ends with praising and honoring God--not only through singing, although this is one way. But more so with denying ourselves and magnifying God in the way we live our lives. John the Baptist said it perfectly: He must increase, but I must decrease. [John 3:30] We worship in our prayers, our songs, our words, and our actions. Everything we do for the glory of God is worship.
God looks not upon the outward appearance of a person, but looks inside the heart. Even the most wicked person can look "spiritual" in church, singing the loudest, raising his hands, and getting excited about God. However, God sees inside his heart and if his heart isn't connected with God, the Lord will not be pleased. In fact, Jesus spoke of these type of people: Woe unto you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. [Matthew 23: 27]
Simply put, God is pleased when we, from our hearts, give Him praise and thanks. Praise is considered a sacrifice to God because we could very easily take credit for any good work or righteousness, when in reality the Lord should get all the credit. This is what humility is all about, friends: denying ourselves and lifting up the name of Jesus.
Sanctification
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [John 2: 15]
The Bible commands all believers to separate themselves from the ways of the world (2 Corinthians 6: 14-18). The Lord Jesus said that we are not of this world and that we are sanctified by the word of God (John 17: 13-19). Therefore, we are commanded to live our lives according to God's word, and not according to the world system. According to the Bible, the world is filled with the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which are not of God. [1 John 2: 16] Followers of Christ are supposed to be different, which is the essence of sanctification. Jesus was certainly different; the apostles too. Living by the word of God and walking in the Spirit separates you from the carnal aspects of the world. Yes, we must live here and operate within the boundaries of the system, but the world must know that we are different by the way we live. The Bible says that no soldier of Christ entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier. [2 Timothy 2: 3-4]
This is why all the things that please God can be wrapped up this truth: Be sanctified. Because if we walk by faith, in obedience to His Word, in God's love, constantly praising and giving thanks to God, preaching the gospel, doing good, and not living according to the flesh, we will be different from the world, and He will be well pleased.
Love Your Neighbor
And this commandment we have from him, That he who loves God loves his brother also. [1 John 4: 21]
The greatest way we can display our love for God is to love each other. There are many people in the Church who profess they love God with all their hearts, but they are walking in unforgiveness, malice, and hatred toward their brother. Jesus even went as far as to say that it is more important to resolve an issue with your neighbor than making an offering to God. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought [something] against you. Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. [Matthew 5: 23-24] Our relationships with other people, although less important than our relationships with God, is the greatest testimony to the love of God. When we love each other, it provides the greatest witness to Jesus Christ. Jesus confirmed this truth in John 13: 35: By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another. Our love for one another is the true test of sanctification--the living Christ revealed through the way we love each other.
God created man in His own image and likeness, and when we fail to love something that represents His image and likeness, we are failing to truly love Him. The freedom Christ has given us is rightly demonstrated by the ability of us to love each other regardless of who they are and what they have done. If you want to show God how much you love Him, love Him through someone else.
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. [1 John 3:14]
