Introduction:
Pleasing God Not Man – Finding True Peace, In life, we often seek approval from others, trying to meet their expectations and gain their admiration.
However, there’s something more profound and meaningful than seeking human validation – it’s finding peace and fulfillment by pleasing God.
This simple concept urges us to prioritize God’s will and obey His commands, rather than being swayed by the opinions of people around us.
By making God’s pleasure our primary goal, we can experience true contentment, lasting happiness, and a life that aligns with our Creator’s purpose for us.
Let’s explore the beauty and significance of living to please God, not man.
The Story of the Beggar and the Wealthy Man:
Once upon a time, there was an elderly beggar who lived a life of hardship and poverty.
Whenever he asked for help, he would repeatedly blame Adam, for all the difficulties he faced.
Day after day, he would utter the words, “Adam caused all this.”One fortunate day, a wealthy man happened to pass by the old beggar.
He was moved by the man’s distress and decided to take him under his wing. The wealthy man invited the beggar into his opulent mansion, a place filled with unimaginable luxury and comfort.
As soon as the beggar stepped inside, he was mesmerized by the grandeur of the mansion.
The servants treated him with utmost respect, leading him to a beautiful washroom where he refreshed himself after his long days of begging.
They provided him with new clothes, replacing his old tattered garments. The wealthy man made it clear to the beggar that he was welcome to stay in the mansion and enjoy all its facilities.
He generously offered everything he had, ensuring the beggar lacked nothing. As days turned into weeks, the beggar transformed into a changed person, grateful for the kindness he received and humbled by the lavish life he now led.
The wealthy man saw the positive impact his generosity had on the old beggar. However, the time came when the wealthy man had to leave, as he was a traveler and not a permanent resident in his mansion.
But he reassured the beggar that the servants would take care of him.Feeling a sense of loneliness, the beggar expressed his desire for companionship.
The wealthy man understood his plight and decided to marry him to a beautiful woman to provide him with lasting happiness.
Before his departure, the wealthy man made a request to the beggar and his new wife. He asked them not to enter one particular room in the mansion.
Though curious, they agreed to abide by his wish, respecting his kindness and generosity. As the days passed, the couple lived a comfortable and luxurious life in the mansion, but curiosity about the forbidden room grew within them.
The woman began to wonder if the room held the secret to the wealthy man’s immense riches, and she convinced her husband to explore it.
Unable to resist his wife’s persistence, the man opened the door to the forbidden room.
However, as soon as they entered, they were astonished to find themselves back where they were before – the place of the old beggar’s constant lamenting,
wearing the same beggarly clothes and holding the same sick. Suddenly, the wealthy man appeared before them, expressing his disappointment.
He explained that the room represented the temptation to go back to their old ways of blaming others, just as the beggar had done with Adam.
Despite all the blessings and abundance they had been given, they had failed to resist the temptation and fell into the same mindset as the old beggar.
The moral of the story is that living a life to please God and appreciating the blessings He provides is the key to true transformation and fulfillment.
By avoiding temptations and staying grateful, we can experience a life filled with peace, contentment, and spiritual growth. Just as the wealthy man had shown kindness to the beggar,
God’s love and mercy are always ready to transform us into better individuals if we prioritize pleasing Him over blaming others for our circumstances. The Bible Said In Genesis 2:16-17:
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (GENESIS 2:16-17 (KJV).
Living a God-Pleasing Life:
Living a God-fearing life means honoring and revering God, and to achieve that, we must follow His commandments as outlined in the Bible, in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 and Exodus 20:1-17.
These commandments serve as divine guidelines for righteous living and are essential for our relationship with God.
By adhering to these principles, we demonstrate our love and devotion to Him, acknowledging His authority and wisdom.Here are some of God’s commandments from the Bible:
1. You shall have no other gods before Me: Acknowledge God as the only true God and put Him first in your life.
2. You shall not make idols: Avoid worshiping or creating false gods or representations of God.
3. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy: Set aside one day a week to rest and dedicate time to worship God.
4. Honor your father and mother: Respect and obey your parents and those in authority.
5. You shall not murder: Value and preserve human life, avoiding harm to others.
6. You shall not commit adultery: Cherish the sanctity of marriage and remain faithful to your spouse.
7. You shall not steal: Don’t take things that don’t belong to you..
8. You shall not bear false witness: Speak truthfully and avoid spreading lies or falsehoods.
9. You shall not covet: Be contented with what you have and avoid envying others.
Following these commandments is not merely a set of rules to obey; it is an expression of our love and trust in God.
Through obedience, we show our commitment to His divine plan for our lives and we receive the blessings that come from living in alignment with His will.
When we make pleasing God our ultimate goal, we find joy and fulfillment that transcends the temporary approval of men.
By living a God-fearing life and obeying His commandments, we strengthen our bond with Him and experience the peace and purpose that only He can provide. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:7:
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7 (KJV).
The Bible also says in 1 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 (1 John 3:22 (KJV).
The Faith of Enoch:
In a time when most people were walking a crooked path of sin, Enoch chose to walk faithfully with God.
His life was a testament to the rewards that come from pleasing God with steadfast devotion.
Enoch’s faithfulness and commitment to God led to a remarkable outcome – he did not experience death like other mortals. In (Genesis 5:24, KJV), (GENESIS 5:22, KJV).
Instead, God was so pleased with Enoch that He spared him from the fate of mortality, taking him directly to heaven.
(Jude 1:14-15 KJV) recounts that Enoch lived for 365 years (Genesis 5:23, KJV) and during all those years, he actively walked in unwavering faith, and that made a significant impact.
Regardless of any circumstances, Enoch actively placed his trust in God and faithfully obeyed His commands. God’s love for Enoch was so profound that He spared him from experiencing death, as mentioned in (Hebrews 11, KJV).
This remarkable passage in the Hall of Fame of Faith, (Hebrews 11:5-6, KJV), emphasizes that Enoch’s exemplary faith greatly pleased God and he was commended as someone who delighted in God’s will.
Pleasing God Not Man:
Prioritizing God’s Pleasure Over Human Approval The fundamental principle of life’s purpose lies in the pursuit of pleasing God not man.
This concept emphasizes the significance of aligning our actions, choices, and values with God’s will,
rather than being swayed by the opinions and expectations of people around us. In various passages of the Bible, we find explicit guidance and encouragement to make pleasing God our primary goal.
These verses serve as a compass, directing us toward a life filled with true contentment, inner peace, and spiritual fulfillment.
1. Galatians 1:10 (KJV) states,
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10 (KJV).
Here, the apostle Paul stresses that being a servant of Christ requires prioritizing God’s approval above pleasing others. It highlights the distinction between seeking human praise and serving God wholeheartedly
2. In 2 Corinthians 5:9 (KJV),
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him (2 Corinthians 5:9 (KJV).
This verse urges us to be accepted by God, not by men. It emphasizes that our labor and efforts in life should be aimed at gaining God’s approval, which ultimately determines our spiritual worth and purpose.
3. Hebrews 11:5-6 (KJV)
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 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 (Hebrews 11:5-6 (KJV).
Enoch’s life serves as a powerful example of one who pleased God through unwavering faith. This verse motivates us to pursue a life of faithfulness and devotion to God, recognizing that such actions bring pleasure to Him.
4. Proverbs 16:7 (KJV) states
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7(KJV).
Here, we understand that when we prioritize God’s pleasure in all aspects of life, we can experience His favor and protection, even in the face of adversity.
Embracing the idea pleasing God rather than seeking approval from others leads to a life filled with spiritual growth, meaning, and divine guidance.
By following God’s commandments, living with integrity, and nurturing a deep relationship with Him, we find lasting fulfillment and the assurance of being on the right path.In summary,
making pleasing God our primary goal requires us to place God’s will above human opinion, seeking His approval in all that we do.
The Bible’s verses firmly support this notion, guiding us towards a life of purpose, divine favor, and genuine contentment, which can only be found when we prioritize pleasing God above all else.
Prayers for Spiritual Growth:
The blog wraps up by providing a valuable set of 25 prayers designed to nurture and enhance spiritual growth.
These prayers serve as a guide for readers, inspiring them to deepen their connection with God and earnestly seek His guidance in every aspect of their lives.
Emphasizing the importance of pleasing God not man, the blog encourages individuals to turn their hearts towards God’s will and prioritize His approval over the opinions of others.
It emphasizes that true peace and fulfillment can only be found when we align ourselves with God’s purpose for our lives and live in obedience to His commands.
In offering these prayers, the blog aims to empower readers to experience a transformative journey with the Almighty.
By praying through problems and seeking revelation from the Holy Spirit, they can strengthen their spiritual resolve and overcome the challenges they face.
The prayers also focus on breaking free from spiritual hindrances, cleansing the soul from contamination, and empowering believers to resist the lies and deceptions of the enemy.
Ultimately, the blog’s conclusion seeks to inspire readers to take intentional steps in cultivating a thriving relationship with God.
Through prayer and a commitment to please Him above all else, individuals can experience true peace, contentment, and a profound sense of purpose in their lives.
The bible say in Galatians 4
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected;
but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes,
and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They zealously affect you, but not well;
yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants;
the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not:
for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free (Galatians 4 (KJV).
Here Are 25 Prayers For Spiritual Growth:
1. I destroy the power of every satanic arrest in my life, in the name of Jesus.
2. All satanic arresting agents; release me and die, in the name of Jesus.
3. I command every spiritual contamination in my spiritual life to receive cleansing by the blood of Jesus.
4. Let the brush of the Lord scrub out every dirt in my spiritual pipe, in the name of Jesus.
5. I destroy everything that is representing me in the demonic world with the fire of God, in the name of Jesus.
6. O Lord, let all strangers flee from my spirit and let the Holy Spirit take control, in the name of Jesus.
7. Every rusted spiritual pipe in my life, receive wholeness in the name of Jesus.
8. I command every power eating up my spiritual pipe to be roasted, in the name of Jesus.
9. Spirit of the living God, quicken the whole of my being, in the name of Jesus.
10. I command every hole in my spiritual pipe to be closed, in the name of Jesus.
11. Lord God, stretch me and renew my strength, in the name of Jesus.
12. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see beyond the visible and make the invisible real to me, in the name of Jesus.
13. Lord, ignite my calling with Your fire.
14. Let my spiritual pipe receive the strength of God against any contamination, in the name of Jesus.
15. Holy Spirit, open my eyes and let me have a revelation vision of Christ, in the name of Jesus.
16. Lord, liberate my spirit to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
17. I receive heavenly flushing in my spiritual pipe, in the name of Jesus.
18. I confess that my spiritual power shall be effective throughout my life, in the name of Jesus.
19. Holy Spirit, teach me to pray through problems instead of praying about them, in the name of Jesus.
20. Lord, deliver me from the lies I tell myself, in the name of Jesus.
21. Every evil spiritual padlock and chain hindering my spiritual growth; be roasted, in the name of Jesus.
22. I rebuke every sprit of spiritual deafness and blindness in my life, in the name of Jesus.
23. Lord, deliver me from the lies the enemy tells me.
24. Lord, empower me to resist Satan so that he would flee from me.
25. I bind the strongman behind my spiritual blindness and deafness and paralyze his operations in my life, in the name of Jesus, AMEN.