Praying That Pleases God

3). Insight “spiritual understanding”—Spiritual understanding is) is the special faculty of intelligence or insight which discriminates between the false and the true, and grasps the relations in which things stand to each other. This means one has the capacity to assemble facts into an organized whole or the faculty of putting "2" and "2" together so to speak. It’s the ability to understand concepts & see relationships between them. It is defined as “insight depending on judgment and inference.” This understanding is the ability to assess any situation & decide what practical course of action is necessary w/in it.

Illus: "To find God’s will is the greatest discovery; To know God’s will is the greatest knowledge; and to do God’s will is the greatest achievement."

II. A DESIRE FOR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE (v. 10) “that you may walk worthy of the Lord”-- The goal of knowledge is conduct as far as God is concerned. Not knowledge for knowledge’s sake. But for the believer it is not knowledge for knowledge’s sake, since the end of knowledge is a new conduct.

1. The aim “You may walk worthy of the Lord”-- "Worthy of God" was a popular formula archeologists have discovered on ancient pagan inscriptions to their gods. If pagans appreciated the importance of lending worship which was worthy of the deities to whom they were devoted, how much more should Christians render spiritual service of obedient lives to the true God & to His Son Jesus Christ!

2. The attitude “fully pleasing Him”—“To please Him in every way" means: "to anticipate and to do His will in every aspect of life." It refers to perfect, implicit obedience. It implies a radical commitment to the authority of Jesus Christ in every sphere of life." J.C. Ryle has written: "Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted & fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing…& that one thing is to please God."

3. The action “being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”-- The figure of a growing tree (v. 6) is used again. The present tense means that the Christian life is to exhibit continual fruitfulness.

Illus: Jay Kesler, former Pres. of Youth for Christ and Pres. of Taylor University, was on a flight. When lunch was served the young man next to him declined a lunch tray. During the whole lunchtime this man sat with his head bowed, apparently in prayer. Kesler was impressed by the man’s devotion. He commented to the young man that he wondered if he was a Christian because it appeared that he was fasting. The young man replied with words that shook up Kesler. "I am a Satan worshiper & the members of my church have agreed to fast every Fri. at noon. During that time we pray that the leaders of the Chrn. world will fall. We pray that they will fall into sexual sin, & that their family life would crumble."