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#6.
Pleasing God.
pp. 198, 199
I.
THE STANDARD.
(1)
God (I Thess. iv. 1).
(2)
Not man (Gal. i. 10; I Thess ii. 4; Eph. vi. 6; Col. iii. 22).
(3)
Neighbour (Rom. xv. 2).
(4)
Not self (Rom. xv. 1).
(5)
Theo enopion. To God. In presence of God (Heb. xiii. 21; I John iii. 22).
(6)
Unsaved cannot please God (I Thess. ii. 15; Rom. viii. 8).
II.
THE POSSIBILITY.
(1)
Our Lord realized it (Rom. xv. 3; John viii. 29).
(2)
So did Enoch (Heb. xi. 5).
III.
THE AIM.
Whether present or absent (II Cor. v. 9).
IV.
THE SCOPE.
Everything (John viii. 29).
V.
THE MANIFESTATION.
(1)
Surrender ("acceptable", Rom. xii. 1).
(2)
Obedience (I John iii. 22; Col. iii. 20).
(3)
Worship (Heb. xii. 28 "acceptably" same as xiii. 21).
(4)
Self sacrifice (Heb. xiii. 16; Phil. iv. 18).
(5)
Service (Rom. xiv. 18: "acceptable" same as Heb. xiii. 21).
(6)
Walk (Eph. v. 8, 10; Col. i. 10; I Thess. iv. 1).
VI.
THE RESULTS.
(1)
God's testimony (Heb. xi. 5).
(2)
Answer to prayer (I John iii. 22).
(3)
Personal experience (Rom. xii. 2; Eph. v. 10: proving and approving).
VII.
THE SECRET--HOW.
(1)
The Divine side. A work within (Heb. xiii. 21).
(2)
The Human side. Faith (Heb. xi. 6). Surrender (II Tim. ii. 4).
As we have already explained, we have no record of the author of these outlines--
neither do we know how far they are the result of our own studies; we pass them on in
the hope that they may be used afresh in the service of Him Who was ever well pleasing
in the eyes of Him that sent Him.