Well Pleasing To God

Author: Jennifer Hallmark

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” II Corinthians 5:9 NKJV

A sermon at church preached on this verse brought it to the forefront in my mind. To be well pleasing to God…hmmm…is that really possible? Paul, who is writing a letter to the church at Corinth, tells them that he is making it his aim so it is possible. It is not only possible but should be our aim also. How do we become well-pleasing to God?

Two different times in scripture we see where God spoke aloud to Jesus saying He was pleased with Him.

“And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in who I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 NKJV

In this first scripture we find Jesus getting ready to begin his public ministry. He goes to John to be baptized, saying it must be done. Jesus is obedient to the will of the Father.

“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Matthew 17:5 NKJV

The second scripture is during what is called “the Transfiguration.” Jesus has let the disciples know that He is the Messiah and has rebuked Peter for wanting to stop His journey to the Cross. He then tells the disciples that they must not try to save their life but follow Him. Jesus takes Peter James and John afterwards to a mountain and is transfigured or shown in His glory. Peter speaks but is interrupted by God who again is pleased. Jesus is still being obedient to the will of the Father.

Obedience to what God would have you to do is a key to pleasing God. He is not looking for a great preacher or teacher. God does not necessarily want you to go to Africa or sell all you have. God desires obedience to whatever He asks you to do.

Many times we try to figure out what we think God would want by looking at others and acting like them. More Christians “burn out” by doing works that they are not anointed to do. You may want to sing on the praise and worship team at your church but if God has not anointed you and instead is calling you to a season of intense Bible study, guess what? You better get your Bible, concordance and highlighter and go to it. God knows everything that is in store for us and only He knows when we should study, minister, rest or simply be.

It all comes down to trusting God while we are taking time to listen. We hear from Him while we are praying, reading, praising, singing or worshiping and then obey. We trust that God knows what is best for us. Ask for patience and wisdom while you wait and when He lays something before you, obey quickly.

Make it your aim today to be well pleasing to Him.

About the Author:

Jennifer Hallmark is a writer, artist and ministry leader who works with women’s ministry groups. Her love of writing is evident in over 130 articles she has written on several different article websites. She has finished her first in a series of novels, Journey of Grace: A New Beginning.Check out her websites at www.jenniferhallmark.com and www.aclarioncall.com .

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Well Pleasing To God

The Church

Author: Joshua Sparks

Written by Bro. Josh Sparks.

Praise the Lord Jesus our soon coming King.

Today I am going to just post several thoughts about the church, God’s Ecclesia, locally and abroad. Though the Ecclesia (the church) meets in various ways, and in various places; the one thing that gives the church identity is the fact that is is built by Jesus. The Psalmist declared Psalm 127:1 (NKJV) Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. Jesus told the Apostle Peter in Matthew 16:15-19 (NKJV) 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The bible teaches that the church are to be built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, but that Jesus is the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20-21 (NKJV) 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. The Apostle Paul, the very same one who wrote the Epistle to the church at Ephesus, also wrote the Letter to the Corinthians and in 1 Corinthians 3:10-12 (NKJV) 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw.

Jesus is the rock the church is built upon and by no means was Jesus telling Peter that the church would be built on him. Jesus is the founder and foundation of His church. He is the head of the body and from that head the body is fitly framed together and grows unto a holy habitation unto the Lord. Colossians 1:17-18 (NKJV) 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

The church is the Lord’s building and yet so many try to build the church by their own means. The Lord and He alone can add to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:47 (NKJV) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. In spite of popular teaching Water Baptism in Jesus Name is obedience to Jesus command. Mark 16:16 (NKJV) He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Water baptism is not what officially makes one a member of the church of the Lord Jesus. What then does make us members of Christ’s Church? Being baptized into the one body by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NKJV) 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

The Lord adds to His church by baptizing them into the body by and through the Holy Spirit. We will look at some very important facts concerning the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. God does not dwell in temples made with the hands of men.
   Acts 17:24-25 (NKJV) 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. Acts 7:48 (NKJV) “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says.
2. We are God’s Holy Building that is made to be a Holy Habitation for the Spirit of God.
   Ephesians 2:20-22 (NKJV) 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Those who reject the truth that the church is not a man made, brick and mortar building but a spiritual building that is God’s house made up of lively stones. 1 Peter 2:5(NKJV) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. These have rejected that precious stone that was set at nought of the builders, because God is the builder of His house and man cannot build God’s Church and God will not take second place to what we call the church. I have heard so many say are you going to church tomorrow? I say no I am the church and wherever I am there God has a house and I can as a lively stone function in my calling in His Kingdom because I was fashioned to be a fit in the building blocks of His Church.

I will close with these very powerful inspired words written by God’s Inspiration, penned down by the Apostle Peter. 1 Peter 2:6-10(NKJV) 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “ Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “ The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “ A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Today we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. So many have gathered together today to remember the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the church and 3,000 souls were added to the church. I felt led of the Lord to write this article today in honor of what Jesus began to establish when the comforter came to the church. Not a brick and mortar building or building system, but a spiritual house made up of lively stones (people) who are the very temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

In the Name of Jesus Christ I post this article.

Bro. Josh Sparks.

About the Author:

Bro. Sparks is a bible teacher who has been involved as a Pastor, Evangelist and International Radio Missionary. He has reached many through radio programs and the printed page for over 18 years. Bro. Sparks is a bible student and is only concerned with preaching the truth of God's Word.

Bro. Sparks is married to his best friend and faithful companion and fellow laborer of the Gospel Sis. Melissa Sparks and they have two sons, Ronnie age 7 and Elijeh 1 years old.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Church

Mysterious Meanings of God’s Name

If you look up God’s name in ancient Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, you might be surprised at what you find.

Ancient Hebrew was what I would call a picto-metaphoric language. It was constructed of little pictures that are similar to hieroglyphics. Every letter was a picture, and the meaning of every word was based on the metaphorical significance of the pictures that constructed it. As a result, each word had deep, intrinsic meaning.

The root word for “God” is El. For example: El Roi (God Who Sees Me), El Shaddai (The All-Sufficient God) and El Elyon (The Most High God).

El is made up of an ox head and a shepherd’s staff. The ox head represents strength because back in the day, people plowed their fields with oxen, and just as a shepherd would use his staff to order and direct his sheep, the picture of the staff means “authority” and “order.” So in Hebrew, the root of God’s name inherently means “strong order.”

To complete this line of thought, when we pray to God, we’re asking that whatever we’re praying about would come under his “strong order.”

People often refer to God as their father. The Hebrew word for “father” is ab, which is represented by an ox head and a tent. The ox head again means “strength,” and the tent means “family” or “covering.” In other words, ab is the strong one, or strong covering, of the family.


That is what God is for you, in your life -- your strong one.

We’ve talked about only two of God’s names here, but already you can see how knowing or studying ancient Hebrew could change your opinions about him -- and your judgments, should you have them. You might be surprised.

Learn to study the Bible

True understanding of any subject takes time, exploration, questioning, and reflection. Robert R. Moton, president, Tuskegee Institute writes, “When you eat fish, you don’t eat the bones. You eat the flesh. Take the Bible like that.” True understanding takes delving into the written words for insight and appreciation. A reader must flesh out the meanings and innuendos of words and passages. There is more than one approach to studying and understanding the Bible. One method for Bible study is more suitable than another depending on personal learning styles and goals. With close and analytical reading, you can read and study Scripture to enhance understanding to more completely embrace God’s Word. As understanding matures and grows, so will your grasp of The Word grow and mature. With the correct Bible study method, your faith will grow and mature as well. With the suitable reading approach, you can delve into Scripture and better comprehend and apply His Word into your spiritual and daily life.

Charles H. Spurgeon states, in How to Read the Bible, "...[one] can read a great deal and not read anything." He continues, "The eye glances, but the mind never rests. The soul does not light upon the truth and stay there. Understanding the meaning is the essence of true reading. Reading has a kernel to it, and the mere shell is little worth." Clearly, simply reading the Bible is not enough. Those looking for rewarding Bible study must become involved in the process. For complete comprehension, the reader must take time to be nourished by the Word.

Pastor Andy Deane serves as an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge in central New Jersey where he oversees a vibrant junior high ministry and has written a study guide for those wanting a better understanding of the Bible. Learn to Study the Bible offers forty different step-by-step Bible study methods to facilitate discovery, application, and enjoyment of God’s Word. Chapter topics include study methods such as: question, rethink and restate, verse by verse, chapter study, themes, and word studies. He suggests focused study by Bible types, prayers, miracles, parables, and Psalms. Pastor Andy Deane believes that you must slow down and patiently and prayerfully reflect as you read. Anyone interested in furthering their knowledge and understanding of the Bible will find this book to be an invaluable Bible study tool.



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About the Author: Learn To Study The Bible (www.LearntoStudyTheBible.com), teaches you 40 Bible study methods to approach both difficult and familiar passages and help you to absorb more of their meaning. Visit author Andy Deane's website at www.andydeane.com.

The Purpose Of Prayer

Many people pray to make themselves feel better
when they are down. They enjoy the sense of
comfort received after they have poured out
their hearts to God. While encouragement is
an answer to prayer in and of itself, the purpose
of prayer goes further.
Jesus tells us in John 16:24 to ask. Why? So that
we can receive. Why? So that our joy can be made
full.
"...but now ask and keep on asking and you will
receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight)
may be full and complete" (Amplified Bible).
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit that gives us
strength (see Nehemiah 8:10). Strength is what
we need to live in this world victoriously.
Answered prayer gives us joy as we experience
the love of our Heavenly Father who cares enough
to hear us when we pray and to move in our lives.
We should also ask and receive so that the
Father may be glorified.
"And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever
you ask in My Name [as] presenting all that I AM],
so that the Father may be glorified and extolled
in (through) the Son" (Amplified Bible).
I remember once reading a testimony about a couple
who were so low in finances they could not afford
orange juice. It so happened that the wife was
getting over an illness and craved the juice. As
they walked down the street one day, a can of orange
juice rolled towards them. The husband picked up the
can and looked around to see where it came from. No
one was in sight. The man turned to his wife and
said, "Honey, I think this is for you."
That couple's spirit was boosted as they witnessed
first hand the attention of a loving God.
It proved He was with them in the midst of a
difficult situation. I'm sure as they related this
story to others, their hearts were boosted as
well.
God doesn't want to only make you
feel better when you pray. He wants to give to you
your specific requests so that your joy will soar
and be converted into power and strength. He wants
to be show Himself strong so that others can see
His faithfulness.



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About the Author: Karin Peavy uses her pen to help change lives. Her inspirational and faith-boosting writing can be found in her book, Hot Chocolate For the Spirit and her ezines titled What is God Up to Today? and Words of Encouragement. To discover how Karin's writing can help you live your best today, visit http://www.karinpeavy.com.

Children Bible Games

Children Bible Games


In today’s fast paced life, most of the parents are always worried about the influences of media and communication in the lives of their kids. Information is accessible to the children, for any subject they want and this is a cause of concern especially with the world that we live in. Presently; children can be a soft target for many inappropriate influences. And this scenario is increasing the worries of parents. However parents can combat such influences by making sure that children find the inspiration from the correct sources. One such source, that many of us will agree, is the Bible. Introducing Bible to the children can endow them to look at life and judge outside influences.


But Bible can be quite an effort for children to comprehend. But this usual problem can be corrected by Bible games that are educational for your children and helps the firm footing of Biblical teachings in their hearts. The Bible games will teach your children more about the Bible and in turn more about keeping faith in life and on the other hand you will be able to have great time together as a family. When you look for Bible games for your children, you will find that there are hundreds of games available in the market. Making a choice can be difficult considering the large assortment, but you can always keep in mind your child’s interest and inclinations. Moreover, you can also choose the Bible game depending on the age of your child. One of the popular Bible game is the Settlers of Canaan. This game is centered on a Bible story and makes the children to use strategy and team work as well. The game is designed in such a way that children will enjoy the competition, and you will also enjoy the fun of coming up with strategies together and making treaties with each other as well.


Not only the Bible games provide fun, but many of them also teach the children a great deal. One great learning game based on the Bible is the Ten Commandments Board Game. This game is premeditated to help you children learn more about the Ten Commandments and some basic biblical beliefs and values. Apart from the board games, you can also consider Bible computer games as many children enjoy computer games more than board games. Moreover the Bible computer games are fun and fresh-faced. It is for sure that the Bible computer games are a great way to teach your kids more about the Bible. If you want to be sure that your kids get a spiritual education that is based on the Bible, then you need to start educating them about the Bible and what it has to offer. It is better to remember that there is more to education than what is taught at school. Therefore you can always check out the educational Bible games that are available for your kids.




About the Author
Looking for more information on Children Bible Games check out www.ChildrensBibles.Net your guide to Children Bible Games.