What does God prefer?

As I was studying Galatians 5:22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Back to "Love". Love, what God prefers. 

As I started thinking about WHAT GOD PREFERS, I had to stop and really think about what I know about God, and what I know God's Word says. 

This love is not a feeling that changes with the seasons. God does not change. He is holy. He is just. He is righteous. What God prefers is not something that I can change because I want to justify my actions, attitude, or what I want in life. What God prefers, is based on God Himself. 

First and foremost, I need to make sure that I am setting the standard for my life based on "what God prefers".  That means, that I have to filter what the World tells me is ok, through God's Word. Looking at our Nation and what is "acceptable" in lifestyles, dress, conduct, music, actions, attitude, mind-sets — one can clearly see that we have left God out of our decision making. 

What God prefers is not a suggestion of conduct. No, what God prefers is the solid foundation on which our lives should be built. What God prefers is steadfast, unchangeable, and truth. 

What God prefers. What does God prefer? Here are two verses the immediately come to mind. 

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8  

These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19

What God prefers. That should impact every aspect of my heart, mind and soul. Am I choosing "what God prefers"? 

Power is Readily Available

As I was studying Galatians 5;22, 23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

After I finished studying Galatians 5:22-23, I decided to see what other verses used the same words. I don't think I ever noticed how often God tells us to live — the "Fruit of the Spirit". I think that God knew that we needed many reminders and explanations of how He wants to live our lives. 

Today, I'm studying 2 Peter 1:5-7. It starts with "for this very reason" — for this very purpose.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 2 Peter 1:5-7 (NKJV)

I've been thinking about the meaning of "for this very reason". It's not haphazard. There is a very specific purpose that we are — giving all diligence.

Giving all diligence: from speudo; "speed", with eagerness, earnestness.

But before we get to 2 Peter 1:5-7, we should stop and look back at the very specific reason we should quickly with earnestness proceed.

2 Peter 1:1-4

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The two thoughts that stand out to me in these verses are: 1. I owe my live to Jesus Christ. I am his bondservant — because without Him, I would be left in my sin and separated from God. 2. God gives me the power and wisdom needed to live the life He asks me to live. I don't have to do it alone. 

Because of those two facts, for that very reason — and am to speedily with earnest, ADD........ 

Add: "bring deeply into," to carrying through with real personal involvement (energy). This strongly stresses the need of the believer's deep, personal involvement in the faith-life

Faith: Faith is only (exclusively) given to the redeemed. It is not a virtue that can be worked up by human effort.

Virtue: moral excellence, which is displayed to enrich life

Knowledge: moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living

Self-control: dominion mastery, proceeding out from within oneself, but not by oneself — only be accomplished by the power of the Lord.

Perseverance: steadfastness, constancy, endurance, the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

Godliness: reverence, respect, piety toward God

Brotherly kindness: the love which Christians cherish for each other as 'brethren'

Love: love which centers in moral preference;  typically refers to divine love = what God prefers

http://biblehub.com/interlinear/2_peter/1-5.htm

There is a theme that runs through the meaning of these words — moral. And that morality is not based on feelings, or what I perceive to be moral on any given day. No, these are all based on what God says is morality. 

And since they are each based upon the Holy and Upright God, God Almighty, there is no way I, as a sinner, could even begin to achieve or live out any of these characteristics — EXCEPT for the fact that God says that HE gives me the power and wisdom needed to do so! 

The focus for this particular study is "self-control". Before I can have dominion mastery, I just first make sure that I'm accepting God's faith, virtue, and knowledge. For those are the foundation necessary to having self-control. 

Dominion Mastery — can only be accomplished by the power of the Lord. And that power is readily available. The question is, am I willing to accept it? 

For. Benefit. Betterment.

Hebrews: Jesus Christ is better - 

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

Made lower: to be made less or inferior, in dignity

Suffering: an enduring, undergoing, suffering

Crowned: to crown as victor

Glory: infinite, intrinsic worth (substance, essence)

Honor: a value, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself, precious, price

Grace: contains the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved

Taste Death: experience

For: or one's safety, for one's advantage or benefit; one who does a thing for another, is conceived of as standing or bending 'over' the one whom he would shield or defend;  "for the betterment (advantage) of," i.e. focusing on benefit

Everyone: "each, every" means "all" in the sense of "each (every) part that applies." The emphasis of the total picture then is on "one piece at a time."

http://biblehub.com/interlinear/hebrews/2-9.htm

As I read Hebrews 2:5-9 this morning in preparation for hearing Sunday's message, I focused on verse 9. As I studied verse 9, the word "for" caught my attention. 

For: one's safety, for one's advantage or benefit; one who does a thing for another, is conceived of as standing or bending 'over' the one whom he would shield or defend;  "for the betterment (advantage) of," i.e. focusing on benefit

Jesus Christ suffered and died — for MY benefit. For the betterment of me! There is NO way I could pay for my sin. There was no way for me to enter the presence of a Holy God. So for my benefit, Jesus died. 

So, thankful that Jesus is God and overcame death and hell! Because He lives, I too will live forever! 

God's plan of salvation is only possible, because Jesus Christ was willing to be made less and endured the cross and death. 

For. Benefit. Betterment. 

To hear Pastor Osborne's sermon on Hebrews 2:5-9, visit this website: 

http://www.faithbaptistwh.org/watchservice/