How to live a life that is Pleasing to God in Every Way!
Pastor Bill Nichols - August 1, 2010Today's Scripture reference is Colossians 1: 9 - 14
Introduction
Becky and I have been married for 38 years, but we have been together now for over 41 years. I know what you are thinking, I robbed the cradle!
If there is one thing that I have come to know over the past 41 years it is this. I am not always going to please Becky in everything I do and or say. The same holds true in converse, Becky is not always going to please me in everything that she says or does. No matter how hard we try, we cannot always please one another. And I would imagine that I would be correct in saying that the same is true for all of you in the relationships that you are in, whether husband and wife, parents and children, family and friends, and so forth.
It is not that we do not try, but as the saying goes, we are, after all, human. As humans we live in a fallen world that has been corrupted by sin, and as humans, we also are born with a sin nature. Because of this we are naturally alienated from God until such time that we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and receive forgiveness of sins in His name.
That being said, in our message today from Colossians 1: 9 - 14, the Apostle Paul infers that Christians can indeed live a life that is pleasing to God.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 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, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
A Life Pleasing to God!
In verse three Paul infers that he often prays for the believers in Colosse. Last week we saw the reason for Paul's love and faithfulness in praying for them was because of their faith in Christ Jesus, their love for the saints, and the hope that they had stored up in heaven. So it stands to reason that one really big pre-requisite for living a life pleasing to God is a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
As we begin verse nine Paul begins to tell them what it was that he was praying for their lives specifically. Paul prayed that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. He wanted them to know God's will in order that they "may" live a life worthy of the Lord and "may" please Him in every way: We will get back to the specifics about that in a little while, but first, let us take a look at this thought of being filled with the knowledge of God's will.
In the Christian world today, there are those who believe and teach that you should test everything you do against God's will. I have heard of some people who would not get out of bed until they have consulted with God to see if He wants them to or not. Then, they pray over what clothes they should wear that day or what route they should take to work. Any decision that they need to make through the day needs to be taken to God to insure that they are doing exactly what God wants them to be doing.
I do not know about you but I believe that there are some things that just do not matter to God. While it may matter to my wife that I wear white socks with black shoes, I do not think God is too concerned about that. Not only that, God did give us a brain to use to help us make reasonable and responsible decisions about a lot of things in life. If I have to decide between two colleges to go to or two job offers to choose from or which house to purchase or what to eat for lunch, those are things that are personal choices that I can make. Of course I would pray about them, well, maybe not about what I am going to eat for lunch, and maybe God would open or close doors for me. But if He did not, then I would still be able to make a responsible decision on my own concerning many of these things.
What the Apostle Paul seems to be writing about here has to do with a believer's testimony in the world. Verse 10 says, "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way." In other words, Paul is praying that they will have knowledge of God's will concerning how to live their lives pleasing unto God.
He prayed that God would fill them (to completeness) with the knowledge of His will by two specific things: Spiritual wisdom and Understanding.
Spiritual wisdom - Sophia (in the Greek) equals as Vines calls it "human wisdom in spiritual things." Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) says of Sophia that it is "practical knowledge that comes from God." That is what I want, practical knowledge.
Spiritual understanding - Sunesis (in the Greek) equals as Vines calls it "reflective thought" and the BKC says of Sunesis that it "speaks of clear analysis and decision-making in applying this knowledge to various problems."
Having practical knowledge with clear analysis and decision making when applying that knowledge in life is what Paul is referring to.
Barclay's commentary says of this passage that when we pray, we are trying not to persuade God to do what we want, but to find out what He wants us to do.
He goes on to say that he (Paul) is praying that they may understand the great truths of Christianity and may be able to apply them to the tasks and decisions which meet them in everyday living.
If and when we do this, then our lives will please God.
The Results of a Life Pleasing to God
So what are the signs that a Christian is living a life that is worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him in every way? Paul mentions several in verses 10 - 12.
The first sign that you are pleasing God is you are bearing fruit in every good work.
In verse 6 Paul uses this same illustration of "bearing fruit" to refer to the growth of the church by leading others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I believe here that Paul extends that illustration to having success in every good work that they seek to do in the name of God. While we are saved by faith through grace, not as a result of works, I believe that we are saved to do good works for God. James 2:26 even states: "Faith without works is useless."
In his companion letter to the church in Ephesus Paul clearly states that the people of God are to be built up for works of service. So living a life that is pleasing to God entails getting involved in the body of Christ with the spiritual gifts that God has given you through His Holy Spirit.
The second sign that you are living a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him in every way has to do with personal spiritual growth. Paul says in verse 10 "growing in the knowledge of God." The Greek word for knowledge here means "to be fully acquainted with." (Strong's Concordance)
You cannot just accept Jesus as Savior and then go about living life as you always did. Paul chastised the believers in Corinth saying
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. . . Are you not acting like mere men?" First Corinthians 3: 1 - 3
In Second Timothy 2: 15 Paul writes; "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
Growing in your faith and knowledge of God is critical to living a worthy life that pleases God.
A third sign that you are living a life worthy of the Lord and are pleasing to Him in every way is that you are strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. Now what exactly does Paul mean by this? When you read on a little further to get the context of Paul's words, it seems to mean that Paul is referring to the power to endure trials, to have patience and to joyfully give thanks to God in all things.
Before Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection He told His disciples that they would receive "power" to be His witnesses. That power comes from the Holy Spirit who takes up residence in a believer when they accept Christ. Paul writing to Timothy says
"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me His prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life." (Second Timothy 1: 8 - 9)
Although it is stated a little different, and it is to a different person, is not Paul saying the same thing in these two passages? Holy living is His plan for us, and it is His power that enables us to endure trials and suffering, to develop endurance and patience with joy in our lives.
One more passage on this, from James 1: 2 - 5. James writes:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
Notice how maturity, trials, faith, power, joy, are all bound up together with one another. Maturity leads to holy living. Trials lead to maturity. The wisdom and power to not only endure trials and suffering, but to do so with joy and a growing faith come from God. And it all stems from the decision to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life.
Conclusion
In verses 12 - 14 Paul tells you to give thanks to God, "who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." Throughout the Bible light usually refers to good while darkness usually refers to evil. In this passage Paul contrasts two kingdoms that are in the world. Here the kingdom of light is identified with the "kingdom of the Son He loves." The kingdom (or dominion) of darkness is identified as a place that believers are rescued from. In Ephesians I believe that Paul identifies this kingdom when he states:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6: 12)
and he tells Christians to take put on the full armor of God and prepare for battle.
Why are we to give thanks to God? Because in His Son, we "have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1: 14)
I do not know about you, but I struggle daily with living a life that is worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him in every way. But there are two things that seem to help. The first is the conviction that the Holy Spirit brings into my life when I sin. When I go to God in confession, He forgives me and cleanses me and helps me to get back on track. (First John 1: 9) The second is time and maturity. Like children who grow up and eventually mature into responsible adults, we grow and mature in our faith through the trials that come into our lives. The growth that we have depends on our own efforts and desires, and upon how we deal with the trials that God allows into our lives.
But it all begins with having a real faith in the living God and in His Son Jesus Christ. Without faith it is impossible to please God.