THE PLEASURE OF THE LORD
(Isaiah 53:10)
It is the pleasure of the Lord, that man do and fulfil His will for creation.
A. Instruments that brings pleasure to God:
1. Man
2. Materials
The greatest and most important is Man. Materials will be useless without the Man. God is constantly looking for a Man (Eze 22:30) as a usable vessel (2 Tim 2:20-21) that will bring pleasure to Him
B. God’s expectations for any man he uses are:
- Availability
Bringing pleasure to God start from when we are available for His use (2 Cor 8:5) as God only uses the available to accomplish his plans (John 6:9-14). Availability are the key issues in presenting ourselves as living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-2); Where are thou? (Gen 3:9); and Whom shall I send? (Isa 6:9).
God’s move and his work progresses when men are available (Matt 4:18-22, Act 6:3-7, Exo 18:25-27).
Law of multiplicity (John 6:9-14), and increase (2 Kings 4:1-7) only thrives on the principle of availability. Transference of grace, power and spirit works on law of availability (2 Kings 2: 12-13, Num 11:16-30, Act 6:6)
Do not despise the available either Men (1 Sam 16:10-11) or Materials (Matt 25:18), God turns the despised, but available into glory (Psl 118:22). Using the available, brings pleasure to God and blessings to us (2 Kings 4:1-7, 1 Kings 17:8-16)
- Right Heart
Condition of the heart of those available is germane to bringing pleasure to the Lord. God tries the reins of the heart (and not the physical – 1 Sam 16:7) to know if our venison will be pleasurable to Him or not (Jere 17:10, 2 Chro 25:2). David, a man after God’s own heart (Act 13:22) constantly desires a right heart before the Lord (Psl 51:10). Right heart must be free from offenses, sincere, tender, obedience, trustworthy, and honest
- Commitment
God’s pleasure is that we prefer no other to Him even as He demands our absolute allegiance and trust to Him. God wanted a commitment from Israelite through Moses to use their freedom to serve him (Exo 3:12). Commitment is not holding back anything from the Lord, it endears us to God’s heart, triggers eternal blessings (Gen 22:15-18, 2 Sam 7), and it is force behind vows and pledges (Judges 11:30-40, 1 Sam 1:10-11,24-28)
Our commitment must be willing (1 Chro 29:5), purpose driven (Act 11:23), in love, and sacrificial.
Pastor Reuben Adeleye
RCCG Jesus House For All Nations