23-0709a Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(1:11) Good morning. Good morning.

(1:13) We welcome our visitors as well. (1:18) We want you to be welcome. (1:24) And it is my pleasure once again to present a message from God’s word.

(1:37) Now, whether you have caught it or not, my lesson is on pleasing God. (1:49) You know, one time I greeted a sister in Christ at her worship service back home. (2:05) I said, good morning, how are you doing? (2:11) And she snapped back, as I please.

(2:17) You know, man has the, he is bent on doing things that pleases him. (2:29) But it should be our desire to please God. (2:36) After all, he is our maker, and he is the one that supplies our every need.

(2:50) Proverbs 16, 7 says, when a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (3:08) You know, it is easy to please God, because he says what he means, and he means what he says. (3:19) He is very straightforward.

(3:24) What he wants us to do, he doesn’t change what is in his will. (3:35) He doesn’t change. (3:38) But man, he is always changing things.

(3:46) And it seems as if he changes the rules in the middle of the game. (3:54) So, it is really easy to please God. (4:01) But trying to please man, sometimes it just, it is not possible.

(4:12) Before we go into what is pleasing to God, let’s talk about what doesn’t please God. (4:25) The things that do not please God are those things which are abominations to God. (4:35) Now, I am not going through the Bible and picking out where it says this or that is an abomination.

(4:45) I want to go to Proverbs 6 and verse 16 and reading through verse 19. (4:57) It says, these six things the Lord hates, yet seven are an abomination to him. (5:07) And an abomination is something that is hated.

(5:12) And in this case, it is what the Lord hates. (5:21) What he hates is a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, (5:30) a heart that divides wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, (5:39) a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among the brethren. (5:50) These things do not possibly please God.

(5:57) In Proverbs 16, 18, it says, pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall. (6:09) So someone that has and is really proud and has a proud look and is being proud (6:18) is soon to meet with destruction and a lying tongue. (6:28) There is a lot of falsehood that is going on in the world.

(6:33) And we know that God is not pleased with lying, hands that shed innocent blood. (6:47) We have had a lot of that, including aborting unborn children. (6:56) They may not think, or at least they want to make out like killing an unborn child is nothing, (7:09) but it is murder.

(7:13) It is what God is not pleased with. (7:20) A heart that divides wicked plans. (7:28) I have been watching this program called Forensic Files, (7:35) and sometimes the suspect has been known to, (7:43) before he commits a crime, and it could be a murder, (7:49) mostly it’s a murder, (7:51) that this suspect has plotted and planned this killing, (8:01) and went through with that.

(8:09) And then there are other wicked plans that people will make (8:16) that certainly isn’t pleasing to God. (8:21) Feet that are swift in running to evil. (8:26) Oh, this is something that is really plaguing the world and this nation.

(8:36) We have people that once someone can even speak out and say, (8:45) I am uncomfortable with this, (8:50) that those who are for whatever makes this person uncomfortable, (9:00) they seek to do something harmful to the individual, (9:09) and they are swift in running to do this evil. (9:14) But you know, when someone says that, (9:22) even the President of the United States is guilty of saying (9:28) that that person is using language that is provocative. (9:35) I don’t see anything provocative in that.

(9:39) That person is uncomfortable with what is going on. (9:45) Why not listen to that person? (9:48) Why not let that person speak his mind? (9:54) That person is not inciting a riot. (9:58) We can go even in the Bible, in the New Testament times, (10:06) when the disciples, the apostles, (10:08) were teaching the gospel to the people in control of the nation, the leaders.

(10:24) This was provocative, but really it was the gospel. (10:32) A false witness who speaks lies. (10:36) Someone that tells lies against another person.

(10:44) And speaks these things to the hurt of that person. (10:50) God is not really pleased with that. (10:55) And one who sows discord among the brethren.

(11:00) Now that is a frightening part. (11:07) There are those that will cause discord among those in the spiritual family. (11:18) Among the spiritual family.

(11:22) And set up strife. (11:26) And sad to say, some preachers will do that. (11:33) Will set up discord.

(11:37) And that is what is really disturbing. (11:43) But then, the other thing that is displeasing to God, (11:57) is to be in the flesh. (12:00) That means to do things that are fleshly.

(12:10) To be carnal minded. (12:12) It’s enmity against God. (12:16) And God says in Romans 8, (12:21) that these things that are in the flesh cannot please God.

(12:29) And in the Bible, the first chapter of Romans, (12:37) 1 Corinthians 6, verse 9, 10 and forward, (12:46) we find another list of things. (12:52) It says that those who do such things cannot inherit the kingdom of God. (13:02) We have a list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, 19 through 21.

(13:13) Now the works of the flesh are evident, (13:17) which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (13:23) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, (13:29) outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, (13:35) heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. (13:43) Of which I tell you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, (13:50) that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (13:59) It is because God is highly displeased (14:04) when we work these works that are listed here.

(14:10) Now this isn’t exhaustive. (14:13) We go through, just like I say in Romans 1, (14:18) and 1 Corinthians 6, 9, 10, and that area, (14:28) we have those lists of things that will keep us from inheriting the kingdom of God. (14:36) These things certainly God is not pleased with.

(14:43) Next it is that doesn’t please God is vain worship. (14:55) Now we could have someone say, (15:01) don’t we all worship the same God? (15:08) Well, you know, Cain and Abel went to worship God, (15:11) offered their sacrifices, (15:15) but God had respect for one, (15:18) and he rejected the other one. (15:21) Why? (15:23) He accepted one that was offered by faith.

(15:28) The other one did not offer by faith. (15:33) And he didn’t accept it. (15:36) Yet they were worshiping the same God.

(15:41) But one pleased him and one did not. (15:45) So we need to understand that vain worship does not please God. (15:55) In Matthew 15, it is in this setting that the scribes and pharisees (16:10) approached Jesus and asked him, (16:14) why do your disciples transgress the traditions of the elders (16:20) when they do not wash their hands when they eat bread? (16:25) Now I’m going to elaborate on that in just a minute.

(16:31) But Jesus in verse 8 says, (16:35) These people, well, verse 7, let me read that. (16:40) Hypocrites, where did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying, (16:48) These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, (16:56) but their heart is far from me. (16:59) In vain do they worship me, (17:02) teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

(17:07) So there is such a thing as vain worship. (17:13) Now what was the trouble here? (17:18) They had a tradition and a ritual of going through a ritual (17:24) and really washing their hands and making sure and such, (17:33) because they had a belief that with unwashing hands (17:39) or that is going through the ritual would defile a man. (17:46) But then when Jesus was asked, (17:53) why did the disciples transgress the tradition of the elders (17:59) when they do not wash their hands when they eat bread, (18:05) this is Jesus' answer.

(18:08) He answered and said to them, (18:10) Why do you also transgress the commandment of God (18:15) because of your tradition? (18:20) For God commanded, saying, (18:23) Honor your father and your mother, (18:26) and he who curses father or mother, let him be put to death. (18:32) But you say, whoever says to his father or mother, (18:38) Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God. (18:46) Then he need not honor his father or mother.

(18:51) Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your traditions. (18:59) Now, some traditions may be handed down from God. (19:09) But there are traditions that come from man.

(19:15) And well, here is one of them. (19:18) And then there is a release from what the word of God said. (19:27) And he was serious about it.

(19:30) You know, God is serious. (19:32) He wanted father and mother to be honored. (19:39) And he was serious.

(19:40) Now, this evidently applies to an older person that was of age, (19:53) where they make up their mind what they’re going to do. (19:57) They refuse to listen to father or mother. (20:03) But then they curse their father or mother.

(20:08) Well, when father or mother gets old, they don’t take care of them. (20:18) Now, the way to get away and around taking care of father and mother, (20:27) these leaders would bring up this, (20:34) that if you say to your father and mother, (20:37) whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift from God. (20:44) I’m going to give it to God.

(20:48) And therefore, that doesn’t go to father and mother. (20:53) It takes for the children to look after their elderly father and mother. (21:06) And so with that, he said, then he need not honor his father or mother.

(21:16) Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect. (21:20) You see, God is really serious when he wants his people to do right. (21:35) Now let’s look at what pleases God.

(21:39) Now, we talked about the commandment being not obeyed. (21:46) God intended for the children to honor father and mother. (21:57) Colossians 3.20. (21:59) And I appreciate the reading that Roger and Scott gave this morning.

(22:08) The scriptures that were read. (22:14) Here in Colossians 3.20, he said, (22:21) Children, obey your parents for this is well-pleasing in his sight. (22:31) This is well-pleasing to God.

(22:34) Now, Ephesians 6, beginning with chapter 1, or verse 1. (22:47) Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. (22:54) Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, (22:59) that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. (23:07) Children need to be obedient to their parents, (23:12) as long as what the parents tell them is not conflicting with God.

(23:21) And the children should obey. (23:27) It says it’s well-pleasing to God when they do. (23:32) When the children obey the parents.

(23:37) But now, let’s not put all of this load upon just the children. (23:46) Because Ephesians 6.4 says, (23:51) And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, (23:59) but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (24:06) It is the father’s or the parent’s responsibility (24:13) to teach the children to be obedient to God and be well-pleasing to him.

(24:25) A parent will tell a child to do something and the child says, (24:29) No, I’m not going to do it. (24:32) That child needs to be taught that that’s no way to respond to that, (24:44) to command whatever has been told to them. (24:50) They do what they are told to do.

(24:56) And certainly, as that particular thing that they are to do does not displease God. (25:10) Notice that children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (25:21) Now, I haven’t explained that this was according to what the Word says, (25:31) which is that if a child understands that the parent is telling them to do something like stealing things, (25:47) and he’s not to obey the parent in that, (25:55) because that would be doing what God is not pleased with.

(26:03) But a parent should be willing to teach. (26:11) It is to the fathers that he said to bring them up in the training and the admonition of the Lord. (26:29) Somewhere in Proverbs it says, (26:33) Train up a child in the way in which he should go, (26:38) and when he is old he will not depart from it.

(26:43) Training is not just giving him training, letting him see. (26:52) No, but this is what is the parent’s responsibility and not the school’s. (26:59) You know, the schools seem to have taken over the education of the students.

(27:11) And even in spite of what parents may not want their children to have, (27:22) schools will put things there that a young child should not have. (27:37) I was looking at something, some things that a school board was faced with. (27:48) This 11-year-old was reading a book that was right in his school.

(27:55) He read from that book. (27:59) You know what he read from that book was smut. (28:04) You know, an 11-year-old, younger, should not be exposed to smut, (28:12) should not be exposed to such things.

(28:16) It’s not fit for an adult to see that. (28:21) And I get disgusted if I borrow a book from the library, (28:29) and it seems like it’s a good book, (28:32) but then right within the pages they’ve got to use some profanity. (28:41) That disgusts me.

(28:45) I’m an adult. (28:47) I don’t like that. (28:49) Well, suppose that we…​ (28:52) And this is a book that is supposed to be for young people, (29:03) 11 years old, just like this boy, (29:07) reading what was there.

(29:10) And I know that on one occasion, (29:13) there was a father that was talking to a board of education, (29:21) and they turned his microphone off (29:23) because of what he was protesting, (29:28) that these schools had…​ (29:32) He didn’t want his child or children to be exposed to it. (29:39) Now, they get older, (29:41) and afterward they make their own decisions. (29:46) You know, you can’t say anything.

(29:50) But in the schools, that should not be. (29:53) It should be the parents that teach the children, (29:59) and keep the smut away from young people. (30:06) And then, on top of that, (30:10) they want to ban the book, the Bible, (30:16) that would do good for everybody, (30:21) saying that it was full of violence and vulgarity.

(30:29) You know, we got what’s in the Bible. (30:32) There’s certain stuff that you can teach a child. (30:35) You don’t have to tell them everything that’s there.

(30:41) As we get older, they can read those things. (30:45) But there are just certain things (30:47) that children should not be exposed to. (30:53) But yet, they’re there, (30:55) and we want to take the Word of God out, (30:59) but they want to keep whatever it is (31:04) that the child can get his hands on.

(31:10) Well, I applaud the parents for speaking up (31:14) to the boards of education, (31:17) and letting them know that they don’t appreciate (31:21) the things that are happening. (31:25) But you know, they do that. (31:33) You know what? (31:33) We still, those who are parents, (31:37) we still have the responsibility (31:41) to teach their children.

(31:46) It doesn’t belong to anybody else. (31:48) It belongs to them, (31:49) because God made them parents, (31:55) and the parents were given those children. (31:59) It is up to them.

(32:02) Well, it’s up to each one of us (32:06) to desire to please God. (32:10) Now, do we want to please God, (32:13) or do we just go along with doing what pleases me? (32:23) Well, we’ve got a choice to make, (32:27) whether we’re going to serve God (32:29) or serve the world. (32:33) And that’s our choice.

(32:38) Hopefully, it’s everyone’s desire to please God. (32:45) And right now, the invitation is, (32:49) please God. (32:52) Do what He wants.

(32:54) Come to Him. (32:56) Be pleasing in the things that you do. (32:59) Yes, we’re going to continue to make mistakes, (33:06) but He is just to forgive us (33:10) if we will confess those faults.

(33:15) So now, in whatever way that you are subject (33:19) to the gospel invitation to put Christ on, (33:24) if you haven’t done so, (33:26) or whatever need that you have, (33:30) why not do so now, (33:32) while we stand and while we sing?