Eph 5:8-10 ~ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Colossians 1:10 ~ And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...
1 Thessalonians 4:1 ~ Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
THE TYPE OF PEOPLE GOD LOOKS FOR...
1) People after God’s own HEART
What about them ==> They position their hearts (in ALL seasons and situations), to pursue God's heart - to seek to know what God wants, and yield to it. To recognise fleshly un-crucified old-self that's still alive, subject them to God's sovereignty (His timing and ability to help them die to it), and lean on God to see them through the journey.
As a result, when God's word and ways become flesh in them, they will grow to also feed others with knowledge and understanding of God, ie lead them to intimacy with God.
Who it reminds me of ==> King David
Verse to pray ==> Jer 3:15 "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."
2) People who seek to understand and know God
What about them ==> They fill their minds with things of God, they seek to understand the why's and what's of God's mind, His attributes etc, and to know Him deeply and intimately.
Who it reminds me of ==> Daniel (Daniel 10:12 ~ “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words."
Verses to pray==> Jer 9:23-24 ~ But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.
Psalm 53:2 ~ God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3) People who set their hearts to be voluntary lovers of God
What about them ==> love is not love if it is programmed, or forced. Which means we are all given a choice to love or not love. So it's the same with loving God. He gives us free will to choose to love Him. He is looking for voluntary lovers!What happens when we love God ==> God is totally overcome with emotions of joy & delight; fascinated and captivated by a believer who turn their eyes/hearts towards Him in love.
SoS 4:9 ~ "You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart. With one look of your eyes (desire), With one link of your necklace (will)."
SoS 6:5 turn your eyes away from me for they have overcome me.
In our own human ability, we are unable to love God automatically. God already knows that, and has provided the way!
Rom 5:5 ~ "because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Jesus is saying that there will be people who will love Himself (Jesus) the way God the Father loved Jesus. Jn 17:26 ~ "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
4) People who are whole-hearted towards God
What about them ==> Whole-heartedness is not an attainment or achievement. Rather, it is the pursue and posture of the heart, to seek God diligently, with ALL their hearts... As a result, we can see good fruits in their lives! God IS priority and everything and central in their lives!
Verse to pray ==> 2Chron 16:9 ~ "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
5) People who are poor and of a contrite spirit
What about them ==> Blessed are the poor in the spirit (realised that there's so much more they want from God, hungry & thirsty to be right before God, meek, merciful, pure in heart, persecuted for God's sake, those who mourn..., those who has the fear of the Lord - they cherish and take God (and His word) seriously!
Verses to pray ==> Matt 5: Beattitudes; Isaiah 66:2 “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word."
6) People who put their faith in the Lord
What about them ==> They walk by faith, not by sight. They choose to put their unwavering confidence and trust in the Lord in the face of difficult circumstances -- for God to deliver them or press in for an eternal reward.
Verses to pray ==> Hebrews 11:6 ~ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7) People who live their lives in godliness and holiness, with a knowledge of truth
Verses to pray ==> 1Tim2:1-4 ~ "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
Paul urges Timothy in 1Tim1 to stay in Ephesus to "charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. " Paul is concerned that some have strayed from the knowledge of truth - that teaches them to have a pure heart and sincere faith, and "have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm." Paul thus emphasises in 1Tim2 to call the people back to a life of godliness and holiness, with a knowledge of truth.
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