Focus: Doing His Pleasure

Text: Phil.2:13

"For it is God which worketh IN you both to will and to do of his GOOD PLEASURE."

Two days ago we talked about the pleasure of God. One thing we noted is that God takes pleasure in His people. Yes, He delights in us!

Today, let's look at doing the pleasure of God. God says of Christ: "The pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand" (Isa.53:10). And I pray also that the purpose and pleasure of God will prosper in our own hands.

The Scripture makes clear that we were created to glorify and pleasure God (Isa.43:7; Rev.4:11). The psalmist declares, "Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye MINISTERS of his, that DO HIS PLEASURE" (Ps.103:21).

Ezra encouraged God's people to do God's pleasure (Ezr.10:11). In the same vein, I say to you today: be a doer of God's pleasure.

Now how do we pleasure God? It is by doing what He wants. Prophet Haggai says, "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" (Hag.1:8). God's people should take interest in supporting, building and advancing God's church. God takes pleasure when we are consumed with the zeal of His house.

You can become another Cyrus, of whom God says, "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall PERFORM ALL MY PLEASURE: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid" (Isa.44:28). God wants more than worshippers; He wants builders, laborers and leaders. God takes pleasure in those who use their energies, resources, riches and wherewithal to build and advance His cause - 'those who put their money where their mouth is.'

God wants us to be vessels of His pleasure. He is pained in His heart when we are not. He says of Israel, "Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as A VESSEL WHEREIN IS NO PLEASURE" (Hos.8:8). God wants us to be vessels of honor, not a vessel of displeasure.

As we pleasure God in all we do, the Word says, "Thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures," and remember too that at the right hand of God are pleasures forever more (Ps.16:11; 36:8).

In conclusion, God knows it is not in us to do His pleasure, so He commits Himself to working in us to desire, decide and do of His good pleasure. Step into action now and do His pleasure. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter