New Day of Hope Podcast
New Day of Hope Podcast
Pleasing God: The Heart of Christian Living
What does it really take to please God? This pivotal question forms the heart of our exploration into the conditions that make our lives pleasing to our Creator. Building on previous teachings, we delve deeper into the essential ingredients of a life that brings joy to God's heart.
Faith emerges as the cornerstone of pleasing God. As Hebrews 11:6 powerfully states, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." This faith isn't merely intellectual assent but a dynamic trust that shapes our daily decisions and responses to life's challenges. When we exercise faith, whether for salvation, provision, or guidance, we demonstrate our confidence in God's character and promises.
Beyond faith, we explore the transformative power of being large-hearted. Scripture reveals that God is "well pleased" with those who do good and share with others. This generosity of spirit reflects God's own nature and creates a beautiful cycle—as we receive God's blessings, we become channels through which others are blessed. The practical outworking of this principle touches every relationship and interaction in our lives.
The rewards of pleasing God prove both profound and practical. When our ways please the Lord, we experience answered prayers, peaceful relationships (even with former enemies), and supernatural power to overcome temptation. Yet perhaps most significantly, we gain the immeasurable treasure of God's smile upon our lives—His divine approval and pleasure. Just as Jesus declared, "I always do those things that please Him," we too can live in ways that bring joy to our heavenly Father's heart.
Join us as we unpack these truths and discover how to align our lives with God's desires. Subscribe to New Day of Hope for more insights that will strengthen your faith and transform your walk with God.
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You are listening to the New Day of Hope broadcast with Helena and Glynis Langley. Enjoy.
Speaker 2:Well. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord. My friends, we are so happy to welcome you back one more time to the new Day of Hope broadcast. You know who we are your host Glenise and Helena Langley.
Speaker 1:And my friends, we are happy that you have joined us one more time to enjoy the blessings of the Lord more time to enjoy the blessings of the Lord and, like we always say, now would be a good time to call a neighbor, call a friend, and let them know that the New Day of Hope broadcast is on the air and we are inviting them to join us once again. And we know that they will be blessed because there is a word from the Lord today.
Speaker 2:All right. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my friends. Last Thursday night we began a great study in the word, making it our desire to please him. So if memories serve you well, you will recall that we were talking about the conditions for pleasing God. We said in the conditions, first things first, that we must be born again. And we emphasize the fact that Nicodemus, as he came to Jesus to find out the way of salvation and light, jesus told him in plain truth that you have to be born again. That's the first condition in pleasing God.
Speaker 2:Then we talked about we must separate ourselves from all sinful and doubtful things, my friends. Sinful and doubtful things, my friends, sinful and doubtful things, will definitely hinder you in your Christian walk. We also make mention of the fact that we must dedicate our lives to God. And what a way to live your life, my friends. A life that is fully committed, a life that is completely dedicated to the cause of Christ.
Speaker 2:And at that time we told you about every part of us. Every part of us needs to be dedicated to the Lord. Our hands, our feet, our eyes, our lips, every part of us needs to be dedicated to the Lord. Then we said that we must be good witnesses. We must be good witnesses. We must be good witnesses Because the scripture says you shall be witnesses unto me. Jesus said that you will be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Every child of God ought to be a good witness for the Lord, because the outside world, my friends, is looking at us and knowing that, then we ought to be good witnesses for him. And then we concluded last Thursday night by talking about how we must be obedient. We must be obedient because obedient is a good thing unto the Lord. It's well pleasing unto the Lord.
Speaker 1:And so today we want to continue by saying we must have faith in God, and we all know that scripture in Hebrews 11, 6. It says but without faith, it is impossible to please him. Without faith it is impossible to please him. For he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. So we are told that unless we have confidence in God, we cannot please him. Thank God, we can trust him not only for forgiveness. 1 John 1, 9 says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But we can also thank him for food, because Psalm 34 and verse 10 says the young lions lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. That's a time to shout those who seek the Lord shall have no lack. You shall not lack for anything. That's why Psalm 23 also says the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want, we shall not want for anything, because we know whom we believe and he is able to do more than we can even ask or even think.
Speaker 1:So we must have faith in God not only for salvation Acts 4 and verse 12, it says nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name on the heaven given among men by which we must be saved, so no other name, buddhahammad. The only name that can save you is the name of jesus. Because we know, a couple couple days ago we were, we were in the christmas season and we had a christmas story, and in matthew he said she shall bring forth a son and shall call his name jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. And that's the only name that can save, that's the only name that has power to heal, to forgive and to cleanse. So we must have faith in God, but for the supply of our every need.
Speaker 1:Philippians 4, 19,. We can all say that from memory. And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. So the God we are talking about is a God who supplies our needs, not just physical needs, but material needs also. Whatever need you may have in your life right now, he can supply it, he can fulfill your need amen, so so my wife was just talking about that.
Speaker 2:One of the conditions of pleasing god is that we must have faith, because she read from Hebrews it said. It says without faith it is impossible for any of us to please God, because he that cometh to God, the text says he must believe that God is and that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. So we must have faith, and in verse 1 of Hebrews 11 she said that that that faith is a is a now thing. Now. Faith is now right at this moment. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Another condition of pleasing God is we must be large-hearted. Hebrews 13, 16 says and I hope you are following with us right now again, Hebrews 13, 16,. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. One translation render this like this Don't forget to be kind and liberal, full of love, full of understanding, readiness to help, encouragement, unselfishness. That's what the scripture is saying, that we, as believers, ought to be like that. You know, we we have to be, we have to have love in our hearts, and so on, because jesus said it is. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one to another.
Speaker 2:There's another scripture that I would like to read from Romans 12, 13. It says that we must distribute to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. That's part of being a child of God. You have to be kind, you have to have love, you have to give encouragement, you have to be ready to help, and so on. Because because god, god, loves that when we, as his people, behaves like that.
Speaker 2:And then in in galatians 6 and verse 6, he says let him who is taught in the word share in all good things with him who teaches and that's where my friends are. I'm sure you are a member of some church, then you ought to know. When your pastor share the word of God with you, then you too should do as the scripture says and share with him also. So that is what we need to do, because this is the successful Christian life in action we need to do because this is the successful Christian life in action. The successful Christian life in action when we have a large heart, when we love to give my friends, giving of ourselves to the Lord and giving of what God has blessed us with, share it with somebody else, because there is somebody somewhere who is not as fortunate as you are. And so if God has bestowed blessing upon us, what's so hard about sharing that with somebody else too, as we journey in this Christian pathway?
Speaker 1:and I like to also inject this when God blesses you, you ought to be a blessing to someone else, because when you give, it brings joy to you, ought to be a blessing to someone else, because when you give, it brings joy to you and it also brings joy to the receiver. So we see that. You may ask what are the results of pleasing God? What happened? The most wonderful result is that if we make it our ambition to please him, we shall have his smile upon our life. So it should be our ambition to please the Lord. John 8, 29 says and he who sent me is with me. The father has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him. Amen. Jesus saying that he always, he's always doing the things that please his father. That should be our ambition also. And Matthew 3, 17 says and suddenly a voice came from heaven saying this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. So we see, the Lord Jesus is the son of God in a unique sense. But every Christian is a son of God through faith in him.
Speaker 1:Galatians 3.26 says for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And when the Bible uses the word son. It doesn't just mean son, it includes male and female. So we are all sons or we are all children of God, because John 1 says but as many as receive him, to them give he power to become children of God. And that's a privilege, that's the benefit. When you've trusted Christ, you are now a son, you are now a child of God and you have rights to everything. My friends, how wonderful to have God smile upon our life. There are three practical results of pleasing God.
Speaker 2:Amen and amen, boy, I tell you that's so wonderful. And so my wife asked the question a minute ago what are the results of pleasing God? And she gave you a lot of good stuff, a lot of food for thought, things to feast on, and she did mention about the Son of God and we being in him through faith in Christ. Now, one of the results of pleasing God is answers to prayer. I say one of the results of pleasing God is answers to prayer. Let's go to 1 John 3, verses 21 and 22. He says we have confidence toward God and whatsoever we ask, we receive from him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Speaker 2:Listen, if you do not get anything else from this lesson, I want you to get this particular verse of scripture. He says and whatsoever, whatever we ask, we receive from him, because the Bible says ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find Knock and the door shall be opened unto you. And the scripture says door shall be opened unto you. And the scripture says everybody who asks receives, everybody who asks. If you ask in faith, believe in, but notice carefully what the text says. It says and whatever you ask, we receive from him Because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. So that's why we are encouraging you to follow the precepts of the word of the Lord, and so, when you give your life over to Christ, when you have faith in God, when you have a large heart unto the Lord, he answers your prayer. And whatsoever you ask, whatever you ask, you will receive of him.
Speaker 2:I tell you, man, I have found this to be true the God that I am serving is a God who hears and is a God who answers our prayers. He answers prayers, my friends. So we have to pray in faith, believing, knowing that God will answer our prayers. So we must notice why we are so sure that God will hear and that God will answer our prayers. Notice also the word anything, for this covers all our needs. This promise is very challenging, for it does not only tell us the way to get our prayer answered, but it explains why some, some of our prayers are not answered, because we, our hearts, sometimes condemn us. We are not doing, we are not doing the commandments of the Lord, we are not keeping the word of the Lord in our hearts, and so on. We, we hear it, we read it, but we are not putting the word of God into action, and that's why our prayers are sometimes hindered.
Speaker 1:Okay. Also, we see that the result of pleasing God is that our enemies will be at peace. Your enemies will be at peace. There is a wonderful promise in Proverbs 6, 17, which says when a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Wow, when your ways please the Lord, your enemies will be at peace with you. And we know all of us have enemies. It doesn't matter how good you are. There's somebody out there who just hates you for no reason at all. They do not like you. That's an enemy. But keep on doing good and eventually something will change. Keep on doing good and eventually something will change. Note again that the blessing promise is conditional upon our way pleasing in his sight. It's conditional. Your way must please the Lord for your enemies to be at peace with you.
Speaker 1:In Romans 12, 17 to 21, it says Repay no one, evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceable with all men. So you have to do with us. If it's possible, live peaceable with everyone Beloved. Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath. For it is written vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Speaker 1:You may say well, that sounds easy, but it's not easy. Like I said a while ago, all of us have enemies. People have done bad things to us and it's hard for you to do good to them. But if we are to please the Lord, then this is one of the conditions that you must live peaceable with all men. You must do good. If you're trying to show the God in you to someone else, you got to do good. It may be, it may well be, that in the matter of human relationships, you need to prove the Lord on these verses. So we have to prove the Lord. We have to do what the verse says we call the scriptures that we like. We like to say my God shall supply my needs. I am blessed and highly favored, but when it comes to doing these what I just read, it's hard. So we got to prove the Lord the same way he can supply our need, the same way he can make our enemies to be at peace. But it all depends on us.
Speaker 2:Amen and amen. So we are talking about the results of pleasing God, and you recall what my wife said earlier in the broadcast tonight and then I came along and we talk about. We get answers to our prayers. She just dealt deeply with the fact that our enemies will be at peace with us. When a man's ways please the Lord, he make even his enemies to be at peace with him. Now there's also another, another result. We have special overcoming power. I say we have special overcoming power. Glory to his name, because in ecclesiastes, chapter 7 and verse 26.
Speaker 2:Listen to what the scripture says and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets and whose hands are bent. Whoso please of God, watch this. Whoso please of God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. Who so please of God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. There is another verse I'd like to read on. It is also in in first Corinthians, chapter 10 and verse 13,. It says there hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear. But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will make for you a way to escape that you may be able to endure it. That's what the scripture is telling us, my friends, that God will also make a way for us to escape. Temptation is referred to, but if deliverance is promised from this evil, surely it is promised from every evil. Temptation is promised, but I is there, but deliverance is promised to us. And so when we stand on the authority of the word of the lord, my friends, god will deliver us.
Speaker 2:Look at, look at second timothy, chapter 4 and verse 18. He says the lord will deliver us from every evil work and will save, save me unto the heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory forever and ever. God will deliver, because God is able to deliver us. A songwriter says it is the grandest thing. Tell the world again that our God is able to deliver you, my friends. He delivered Shadrach, meshach and Abednego from the burning fiery furnace. He delivered Daniel from the lion's den. God can deliver you. God will deliver us today if we allow him to do so, my friends.
Speaker 1:Amen. So what are the motives which should constrain us to please him? What should the motive be? We see, even the Lord did not please himself, and the Lord always lead by example. So we see, in Romans 15, 3, it says For even Christ did not please himself. But as it is written, the reproaches of those who reproach you fell on me.
Speaker 2:So only then can we glorify him. According to 1 Corinthians, 10, 31,. It says 10 31. It says, therefore whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Whatever you are doing, you must do it to the honor and glory of our God so what are the motive?
Speaker 1:we should constrain us to please him. The judgment seat of Christ. Romans, Romans 14.10 says but why do you judge your brother or why do you show contempt for your brother, For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. That is serious. 1 Corinthians 3.13 also says. Corinthians 3.13 also says Amen.
Speaker 2:So, my friends, we need to let you know this for sure. We cannot please him in our own strength. I cannot please God in my own strength. You cannot please God in your own strength. It must be done in the strength of the Lord. Look at Philippians 2.13. Philippians 2.13 says for it is God who works in you, both to will and to do his good pleasure. It's not my good pleasure, but it is God who works in us so we can do God's good pleasure. We cannot please God in our own strength, but we can please him in his own strength. It's not by might, it's not by power, but it's by his spirit. Saith the Lord of hosts.
Speaker 1:I want to encourage you today to strive to please the Lord. You know, we please men and we have no problem in trying to please them because we want to be friends with them, we want to be close to them, but our desire, our aim, should be to please the Lord In everything that we do. It will not always be easy but, like I said, we can strive to please the Lord.
Speaker 2:Amen, and that is so true. That's a very good point my wife brought there. We can strive to please him. We got to make a step higher and higher Every day in the Lord, and that's how our lives will be blessed In God today, my friends. So my friends, you know we never bring our broadcast to a close without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. I trust this lesson was a blessing to you and that you too will strive this year to please God in everything that you do and say May God bless you, father, god in everything that you do, and say May God bless you, father. We thank you and we praise you for your words today In Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 1:Amen. And like I always say, if this program has been a blessing to you, you can reach out to us at newdayofhopeatlanta at gmailcom. Once again, that's newdayofhopeatlanta at gmailcom, so until then, let your heart go on singing Until then.
Speaker 2:Oh, my friends, with joy, you must carry on. Bye now. God bless you, is our prayer.