PLEASING

GOD

He had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Hebrews 11:5

Howard Barnett

    "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."1 To please God should be the goal of every child of the King. Jesus used himself as the pattern for the church. He pleased the Father by fulfilling all righteousness when walking into Jordan with John the Baptist, who was Elijah in spirit. The heavenly voice proclaimed "this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."2 He was fulfilling that which was spoken by Isaiah, the prophet saying "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust."3 Peter testified that "we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."4

   The three levels of pleasing God through one Lord, one faith, and one baptism were revealed by the voice of the spirit as Jesus walked in obedience to the cross. He revealed Himself at Jordan as the baptizer that was to come - One Baptizer. He revealed Himself as the name that the Gentiles could trust - One Faith. And He revealed Himself as Lord, when transfigured at the mountain top - One Lord.

   Many have not the knowledge that Jesus is the element of baptism. Remission of sin, at each level of baptism, comes only through him. The Greek word for baptize means ‘to whelm’ and represents the cleansing by His presence in baptism. The spiritual eye would have seen a marvelous event when Jesus walked into the Jordan, the symbol of death: for it was rolled back at the presence of Elijah and Jesus. When we begin walking with Him into the water of the word our feet, as His feet, step from death into life. Our spirit is united with His spirit. The water would be only symbolic without the presence of Jesus. We know Him as Father, Son and Holy Ghost. All the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth in Him. His divine nature comes upon us as we honor His name in the first level of baptism. As we are led into the walk of obedience, we begin crucifying our unbelieving carnal mind. We are putting on the mind of Christ. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the rebirth of our mind/soul. The soul is cleansed at this baptism/whelming. Our speech with his leadership quickens us to the spiritual understanding of the hidden treasures of God. We are building faith to receive Him as Lord and we are changed as we are cleansed.

   The beginning of all creation is the word. As we are a new creation of God, we are begotten by the word and "the entrance of thy words giveth light."5 We submit ourselves to the living word, asking and receiving Him into our hearts. Upon receiving Him, we discover that we have always been His. We continue receving Him as our cleansing renews us and we see darkness removed from our day. "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God"6 fills us. As the Christ is formed in us, we realize we are the day of the Lord. We have been appointed to sit under governors and tutors called and sent of God, as we follow only those leaders that "have received the promises."7

   We begin adding "virtue to our faith; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity."8 These are the levels of preparation to fulfill the high calling and to be judged worthy to be chosen for the high prize.

   We prepare ourselves to please Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him. Our transformed and renewed minds seek to "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."9 Just as it has required faith to receive Jesus as Christ, it also requires faith to receive Jesus as Lord. If you recognized Him as the Holy ghost and the gift of eternal life, the next step is knowing Him as the consuming Fire that carries the sacrifice of yourself unto Him. We should not be fearful, as perfect love casteth out all fear, and He has bid us come to this level in Him. Paul who saw this high calling, prayed always for us, "that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."10

   The hard hearted world is rejecting his authority as Lord. The watered down church is denying His power. And the Pentecostal is happy with the middle ground. The fire of His presence, as Lord of the mountain, is shoved back on the shelf as some future event for backsliding Jews, by most doctrines. We run the race to receive the reward and Jesus is the rewarder. The call of all creation is urging us forward in this race. "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."11 The word ‘adoption’ in the Greek refers to the ‘placing of the mature sons into the authority of the Father’. We reach a point of adoption, which means we are endued with authority, not just an experience called prophetically the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We are empowered with a new nature. The heavens are opened unto us as we begin walking in a new level with God. This compares to the bar mitzvah of the Jews. At an age of accountability, the Jewish father holds a banquet, inviting the family and friends, and confers authority to his son among witnesses with the understanding that when he is not present the son has the power of attorney to act for the father. This is the meaning of adoption on the Hebrew level. As we receive Jesus through the fellowship of the word, there comes a time when we have grown to a place of spiritual accountability that is measured by obedience more so than sacrifice. When our asking, along with our heart reaches a level of spiritual, not natural, maturity - we are empowered. As we overcome the seven levels of the one church, we are granted the authority of Sonship in the throne. It gives the Father good pleasure to award us the rod of iron. We leave the "room of the unlearned"12 as the spirit leads us to our purpose or ministry. We may be separated for a time of fasting and prayer, to pour out the old to make room for the new. At this level we experience the responsibility of a son of God and "unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."13 Our ‘Abba Dad’ (see Romans 8:15), who has corrected us with the rod in times past, places the rod into our hands. Handled correctly, the ‘rod’ will allow us to divide the sea and walk fully out of Egypt. This rod will bring water from the wilderness rock. When lifted up this rod will defeat any enemy we engage in battle. When cast down it will consume any serpent in our path. This rod is able to blossom and bare fruit, to reveal God’s directed will for His ministry in you. This rod will find a resting place in a golden cubicle protecting the hidden manna reserved for the overcomer at the mercy seat. This level of the spirit, reserved for those "led by the spirit"14, requires a "trying by the fire" of the works that are recorded in our ministry. Our true works were those things accomplished in the "will of the Father" or per Dad’s instructions. All that we thought was good, as we were side-tracked by form and fashion, doesn’t count. You may have led ninety-nine to Jesus, but if you missed that one that your ministry was given to get, your assets are zero. Doing our Father’s will honors the Father. The perfect will is accomplished on a very narrow path that allows no deviation. We haven’t been called to set down and marvel over heaven, but to do the "will of the Father". We were tested in the dominions of the church, being refined seven times as each level of the eye of God revealed His purpose. We have ascended as His body to the level of authority to bring forth the feet, that once cleansed in the fire will bring salvation to the body. The heavenly city has come out of the new heaven to witness this birth of the feet which represents the coming forth of the manchild anointed by the Fire of God.

   Our goal is the voice that will say "well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord."15 Now that you have arrived, know that unto whom much is given, much is required. Your new anointing only works with love. It doesn’t make you a superperson. You were amazed to discover that the throne room wasn’t behind the moon. You were surely caught up, but to the natural eye you are still here. But don’t worry, the enemy knows where your spiritual feet are. You have been granted glorious liberty. All bondage has been loosened. You are bringing the angels of God to judgement. The travail and prayer of all creation that has labored in God’s will, has looked for this appearing in the earth. The brightness of the morning star, signifying this event brings a consuming of the antichrist, that man of sin, the son of perdition, the opposition of truth has had his stronghold in the temple of God, working signs and lying wonders. Many have worshiped this lying mystery of iniquity, because they received not the love of the truth. The strong delusion has caused the tabernacle of the flesh to believe a lie. This false anointing will cause many to experience a drunken pleasure, as they revel in unrighteousness. But "fear not little children, even as I reveal this beast you will overcome by my presence in you. You have not denied my nature in you and have esteemed me above your own life. Therefore, I have handed you the authority to manifest my glory in a wonderous way."16 The tares of many generations are cut off with the rod of God. The increasing fire is a wall around you. You are able to shout unheard by the natural ear, preach without any man’s natural podium, reveal that ‘man of sin’ and consume and destroy the antichrist. And at the same time you will only be meek and lowly to the carnal mind. But, you are pleasing God!! "Come forth my beloved, for I have prepared and adorned you with my righteouness. My glory is your glory. Fear not the Fire that I am raising around you. My cleansing rain will cover the earth that I have purchased with my passion. It is my will that you inherit a new earth, unblemished by the flesh and the limits thereof. Flow together, my children and I will amaze you with the work of faith in power."16

 

He who hath an ear to hear, let him hear.

REFERENCES

 

1 Hebrews 11:5-6

2 Matthew 3:17

3 Matthew 12:17-21

4 II Peter 1:16-18

5 Psalm 119:130

6 II Corinthians 4:6

7 Hebrews 6:12

8 II Peter 1:5-7

9 Romans 12:2

10 II Thessalonians 1:11-12

11 Romans 8:22-23

12 I Corinthians 14:16

13 Luke 12:48

14 Romans 8:14

15 Matthew 25:23

16 Thus saith the Lord

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