Covenant Youth Mission
April, 1995
A Life That Pleases God
I was talking with Steve the other day and we were sharing about how we feel that we have come to the end of a cycle here at Covenant Youth Mission. Since I arrived here at Christianview Church and started C.Y.M. we have had:
- 330 Monday Night Youth meetings
- 95 services at Paradise retreats
- 104 meetings around the campfire at Ponhook and Stewiake River
- Besides those there were innumerable morning sessions at Ponhook
- Early Morning Prayer at the church every weekday at 6:30 attended by many of you
- Home group meetings which have run off and on over the last six years
- Sleep-over’s and other functions here at the church
- Plus all the Sunday services you have attended.
All of that adds up to a lot of seed sowed, but to what end? What’s it all about Charlie Brown?
Why do we do it? What am I hoping to see for all of this labour?
I want the same thing for you that I want for my own sons.
I want to see you living a life that pleases God.
So then, what is a life that pleases God?
1. A prayerful life.
These words of the apostle Paul express what I am talking about here.
Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
When I say a prayerful life I am not talking about rhyming off some memorized vain repetition everyday. I am talking about honest prayer.
I’m talking about relational prayer, about following and listening.
I’m talking about having a changeable life, where God can speak and direct and opinions can change and line up with His will.
There are no dead ends for a man of prayer.
The situation is never hopeless for a man of prayer.
A prayerful life is a life that can grow into all that God intends it to be, unhindered by prejudice or doctrinal stubbornness, or humanistic ideas.
If you have not been doing it – START NOW!
The best time to plant an oak tree is twenty years ago, the second best time is today!
2. A holy life.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
I’m not talking about self righteousness here, looking down noses at others who are not living the way you do.
Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ’God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ’God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.
It is not our job to bring conviction on people for God, He does that job Himself.
When I say a holy life, I’m talking about a life that is separated to God, a life committed to God and pursuing His purposes.
Holy conversation should be more evident in what you do not say (gossip) than in what you do say. (witnessing)
3. A faith life.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
What is a faith life? Clearly a life that pleases God will have to involve faith, but how?
A faith life is a life of obeying God and doing the things He directs us to do, even, or especially when they are beyond our ability.
I’m not talking about doing every foolish thing that pops into your head, but God does call us from time to time to do things that defy human reason.
At those times, with prayer and wise council, even if it seems impossible – do it!
That is the faith life, step out of the boat, go out on the limb, refuse to bow down, get yourself thrown in the fire - put your life in God’s hands and follow Him in spite of all natural reason to the contrary.
These are the places where you will be stretched to your limit and beyond, you will face doubt, you will meet your own demons and wrestle with them and you will gain victory if you do not quit!
4. The abundant life.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
What is the abundant life Jesus came to secure for us?
Is it a life of wealth, women, and song?
Is it a problem free life?
Does it have anything to do with the “American dream”?
The abundant life is the life hidden in Christ, the life of knowing and being known of Him.
The abundant life is the life at the center of His will.
For some the abundant life will be a family life in the “burbs” with a spouse and kids, for some it will be corporate life or teaching or building with your hands, for some it will be a life on the mean streets giving to the hungry or trying to help the victims of drug abuse.
Where are you when you can feel His pleasure?
For you this is the abundant life. It will be anything but easy because our God is a God of action who does not suffer His children to sit in comfort and inactivity.
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
This is my prayer for you tonight and always,
May you know what it is to live a life that pleases God.
