WHEN A MAN’S WAY PLEASES GOD…

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22

One thing to take from 1John 3:22 is that there is a reward for pleasing God. Our God loves to give reward. Hebrews 11:6 calls God a Rewarder. Reward is a thing given in recognition of a service, effort or achievement. Jeremiah 17:10 says I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Jesus says in Revelations 22:12 “and behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give everyone according to his work. For everything we do there is a reward.

 According to James 4:8, the reward for drawing near to God is that He will draw near to you. The reward for honoring God is that He will honor you in return - 1 Samuel 2:30.1 John 3:22 say when we please God whatever we ask we receive from Him. When we please God He gives up peace all around. Proverbs 16:7 says when a man’s ways please the Lord; He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

A typical example of what happens when a man’s way pleases God is found in 1 Samuel 27:1-7. Of all places to run to, David ran to Gath when Saul began to seek to kill him. Earlier he had killed Goliath, Gath’s champion – 1 Samuel 17:4.Because David’s way was pleasing to God, Achish the king of Gath allowed David to live with him .David lived In the country of the Philistine for sixteen months and no one raised a finger against him even Goliath’s four giant brothers were at peace with him while he stayed In Gath.

How does God make one’s enemy to be at peace with him?

·         He makes the enemy favorable disposed to the individual. He gives them favor in the sight of the enemy. According to Leviticus 26:9-11, God’s favor brings fruitfulness, multiplication, abundance, His presence, signs and wonders. The favour of God brought more than peace to the Israelite. Exodus 12:36 says and the Lord had given favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

·         He makes His fear fall on the enemy. Psalms 33:8-9 says let all the earth fear the Lord and the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him, for He spoke and it was done. Psalms 68:1 says let God arise, let His enemies be scattered. It is His fear that causes His enemy to run when He arises. Jehoshaphat lived in peace because the fear of God fell on his enemies.  2 Chronicles 17:10 says and the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.

·         He can make the leader or boss of your enemy to order your enemy to look after you. Jeremiah found himself at the mercy of Nebuzaradan in Jeremiah 39:8-14.Nebuzaradan was the captain in charge of the captives from Jerusalem and Jeremiah was not his friend. The Lord made Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) to order Nebuzaradan to take Jeremiah and look after him. He specifically warned him not to harm Jeremiah but do to him just Jeremiah says. Nebuzaradan had no choice than to take care of Jeremiah. I pray that the Lord will make the boss of your enemy to command him to take good care of you in Jesus name.

·         He can make your enemy be at peace with you by showing you mercy. Lamentations 3:22 says through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fails not. Psalm 103:11 says for as the heavens are high about the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear him. The Lord’s mercy on a life causes the whole world to show such a life mercy. The Lord told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 42:12 that He would show him mercy so that the king of Babylon will have mercy on him.

·         He can also touch the heart of your enemy. Esau hated Jacob with a passion because he stole his blessings. He hated him to the extent he planned to kill Jacob and Rebekah heard of the plan in Genesis 27:41-42.She advised her son and that one ran away. Several years later, Jacob decided to return home. Esau heard of his coming and he took four hundred bodyguards to go and meet Jacob on the road and consume him. On his way the Lord touched the heart of Esau and when he saw his brother he began to cry. Genesis 33:4 says but Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

·         Another way He makes one’s enemy to be at peace with him is by personally warning the enemy. Hebrew 12:29 says our God is a consuming fire. Exodus 15:3 calls Him a man of war. Psalm 97:3 says fire goes before Him and consumes His enemies. Laban did everything in his power to keep Jacob with him because he knew that the Lord blessed him for the sake of Jacob –Genesis 30:27.Because of this, Laban wanted Jacob to be in his house forever and serve him as his slave. Anyway Jacob decided to leave with his children and wives .Laban heard of this and went after Jacob. Because Jacob’s way pleased the Lord, He personally went and warn Laban. Genesis 31:24 says but God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad”.

The Lord can make one’s enemy to be at peace with him or her in various ways .Isaiah 55:9 says for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. One way the Lord gives peace is by keeping one’s enemy busy. Once your enemy is busy and occupied, you will have peace. That is why Jesus admonishes us to pray for our enemies in Matthew 5:44. An idle enemy is a terrible one to have because he or she will keep himself or herself busy with causing us grief. Every time Saul closed in on David, the Philistines would invade the land and Saul would have to return to war against the Philistines-1 Samuel 23:26-29. The Lord adopted this method to give David peace. Once the Philistine s left he would return to chase David again. I pray that the Lord will keep your enemy permanently busy so you that can peace in the name of Jesus, amen.

This brings us to an important question, how can I please God? How can I make my ways pleasing to him? 

1.    By working according to the rule of His word. Joshua 1:8 says this book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written it. For you then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

2.    By walking after the spirit not after the flesh. Romans 8:5 says those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the spirit. Romans 8:7 say carnal mind is enmity against God. Romans 8:14 says those who are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

3.    By walking by faith. Hebrew 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith. Romans 1:17 says the just shall live by faith. Genesis 15:6 says Abraham believed in the Lord and the Lord accounted it to him for righteousness .Romans 14:23b says whatever is not from faith is sin.

4.    When our actions and ways are directed to the glory of God.

The glory of God should be the motivating factor for our actions. We must do things to glorify God. Jesus says In John 10:17 “therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  The death of Christ was for the glorification of God. Colossians 1:20 says and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. The death of Christ was to bring us to Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19 says God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not inputting their trespasses to them.

The bible said in Romans 3 v 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 v 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be saved? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 v 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague. Remember Matthew 10 v 32 which say whoever confesses me before me, him I will confess before my father who is heaven.