Tuesday, June 12, 2012

FINDING OUT WHAT PLEASES GOD --A search into the Scriptures


Our connection with God is a relationship and it is more than any relationship in the world and has to be given the first priority.  Understanding the individuals is vital for any healthy relationship.  The longer you get to know someone, the more you should know about what makes that person happy. It is evident that you do not know a person well if you do not know what he/she likes. God will let you know what He likes, what pleases Him, if you just want to know.  In Ephesians 5:10 Paul commands us to find out what pleases God and live accordingly.  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.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Today, let us dig deeper to learn more about God and what pleases Him from the pages of Bible for the word of God says in Ephesians 5: 9 and 10 "Live as children of light  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord."

I. GOD IS A CREATOR AND HE ENJOYS CREATING THINGSRev. 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

II. GOD THE FATHER IS PERFECT AND IT PLEASED GOD THAT ALL THINGS BE COMPLETE IN JESUS:
 
 Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
 
III. GOD IS SO COMPASSIONATE AND IT PLEASES GOD TO SAVE THE SINNERS--Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

 Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 
 

1 Cor. 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

IV. GOD IS ZEALOUS AND FAITHFUL AND IT PLEASES GOD TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE---Numbers 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness

V. GOD IS PLEASED IN THE WELL-BEING OF HIS SERVANTS -Psalm 35:27 “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”


VI. GOD IS PLEASED WITH THOSE WHO FEAR HIM AND WHOSE HOPE IS ON HIM----Psalm 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

VII. GOD IS PLEASED TO DISCIPLINE THEM THAT HE LOVES –----Proverbs 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

VIII. GOD IS PURE AND IS PLEASED WITH THE BLAMELESS WALK---Proverbs 11:20 -- The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

IX. GOD HATES LIES AND IS PLEASED WITH TRUSTWORTHY PEOPLE---Proverbs 12:22 ---The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

X. GOD IS PLEASED WITH INTEGRITY ---1 Chronicles 29:17 --I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity

XI. GOD IS THOUGHTFUL AND IT PLEASED GOD TO DESIGN BODIES FOR US
--- 1 Corinthians 15:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

XII. GOD IS GENEROUS AND IT PLEASES GOD TO GIVE US THE KINGDOM---

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:


XIII. GOD IS THE BOSS AND IT PLEASES GOD TO DESIGNATE JOBS FOR US -
1 Cor. 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace.

Hope this has been a blessing to you all.  Please feel free to share with me your thoughts based on the scriptures the things that please God that we can apply in our daily walk with God!!
 
- by:  Shanta S. Daniel
      [Copyright@ Permission is g ranted to duplicate this article in its entirety, but only without additions, alterations or omissions of any kind, including the author and ministry name at the end]


21-Day Prayer Focus: Praying Like Daniel


July 20, 2004
I greet you and thank God on a daily basis on your behalf. 
Dutch Sheets and I are in Rhode Island finishing our 49th State Meeting. I fly from here to Washington DC to be with Robert Stearns at the East Coast Conference
      Prayer is moving across this nation.  However, we must shift into a different way of praying.  If you will remember, when I was in DC in May, the Lord gave a prophetic word and confirmed it with hail falling from heaven.  He said that we would have to pray for 21 days to see changes in this land, especially in the governmental arena.
The following prayer focus helps you to understand a new way of praying and warring like Daniel, which opened the heavens and released future revelation.
      I am also including a pre-order offer for "Prayers that Outwit the Enemy". This is a key, different book for this hour. Please preorder. It will be released the 2nd week of August. We will send it to you for $10, and we will pay the postage for US orders.
Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce


Praying Like Daniel: A 21-Day Prayer Focus to Help Overcome Adversaries in Babylon
We are entering into a season of Harvest praying! This is the time that we are to be watching NEW DOORS FORM.  To “form” means to develop or mold the shape or outline of something, or to give meaning, character or nature to something.
      Another way of thinking about a season of formation is to see something (including the conditioning of our mind and body in regard to their mental performance) as it will be in days ahead. A forming season includes conceiving, training, and disciplining. This phase denotes the arrangement of the part of a thing that gives its distinctive appearance. 
A key scripture reference during this Season of Pentecost, the festival where a first-fruits offering of the Harvest was made, is 1 Corinthians 16:8. Paul purposed to stay at Ephesus until Pentecost, because an effectual door was opened to him for his ministry.
This was what the Lord showed me when He visited me in December:
Many enemies are behind this door that is forming, but the Lord says: “Do not focus on your enemies during this season, but watch the door form and be ready to enter into this new opportunity. I will give you grace over your enemies.” This is the time for a major conversion of souls.
     Ephesians 6:12
reminds us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 
Not only should we be praying for our cities and nations at this time, but we are at the peak of praying for our mission to the 40/70 Window. This is the time to pray in a way that the Spirit of God will invade nations. As we pray, new doors form!
The person in the Bible that has affected my prayer life the most, other than Jesus, is Daniel. I just love how he operated in victory in Babylon. He was truly “in the world, but not of it.” He was disciplined, sensitive, consistent, uncompromising, bold, supernatural, attentive to the past, but always pressing toward God’s expected end for the people of Israel.
      He understood how prophecy was important in our prayer lives. He knew we had to use the prophecies spoken, to war for our future! Take, for example, the situation when Jeremiah prophesied that the people of Israel would go into captivity, but would be released in 70 years. Daniel uncovered the prophetic writings of Jeremiah while Israel was still held captive in Babylon. He learned that Jerusalem must lie desolate for 70 years, and that 70-year period had now come to an end.
      Because of Jeremiah’s prophetic declaration, Daniel knew that now was the time to act. Jeremiah’s understanding of the future had turned into a “now” word for Daniel.  So, Daniel did four specific things to bring an end to Israel’s captivity:
1.  He prayed and fasted.  Jeremiah was specific in saying that the Lord would turn a deaf ear to His people for 70 years.  Now, however, Daniel knew that the kairos time had come to beseech the Lord for an end to captivity. 
2.  He repented for himself and his people.  Daniel confessed and repented not only for his own sin, but for the sins, iniquities, and failures of the Israelites that resulted in their captivity in the first place.
3. He received an angelic visitation.  God honored Daniel’s efforts and sent His archangel, Michael.  After three weeks of prayer, fasting, and repentance, an angel appeared to Daniel to tell him what was written in the “Book of the Future.” In other words, he told Daniel what would happen to his people.
4.  He received revelation of the future.  Because of Jeremiah’s prophecy, Daniel understood the times in which he was living.  Because he understood the times, he saw his window of opportunity and began to seek the Lord with great fervency.  When he did, he gained an understanding of the future God had for his people, and through obedience to God’s commands, could move them forward, out of their captivity.
When the word of God is released through prophecy, it is never forgotten.  It is stored in heaven until God is ready to release it back into the earth.
In the Body of Christ, we have received many prophetic words, both through Scripture and through modern-day prophets, that are about to come to pass on earth.  We need to understand the times, seize our kairos opportunities, and move into the future with victory!
      Even though times ahead will change rapidly and may be difficult, we have great confidence that God will give us the revelation we need to move forward.  When we are overwhelmed by our present circumstances and apparent defeats, we must hear the Lord speak to us, just as He did to Jeremiah,Is there anything too hard for Me?”
Daniel has also been a model for me in training my children. I know we need to protect our children from evil. However, I also believe we need to train our children in the release of the anointing, discerning of evil spirits, and how to operate in receiving divine revelation from the Throne Room. I feel this is a time to train our children in a supernatural dimension that will give them authority in days ahead on this earth.
      I do not want my children, of which I have several, to be afraid of the supernatural. We find in the first two chapters of Daniel that he was trained to understand the supernatural. When the magicians and diviners could not interpret the king’s dream, Daniel knew that he could enter into a higher dimension of divine revelation.
      Therefore, instead of Daniel and all the diviners being killed, he not only saved their lives but his also, by knowing how to receive divine revelation. He knew how to seek the Lord in almost any situation. The Lord is going to require us to parent our children like this in days ahead. 
In Daniel 7, we also find revelation of the Ancient of Days. I believe this is very important and needed revelation for us to be victorious in prayer in days ahead. In Daniel 7:9-14 we find that Daniel had a revelation of God’s everlasting reigning power. He states:
I watched until thrones were put (set) in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated...One like the Son of Man came to the Ancient of Days…Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion and His kingdom shall not be destroyed.”
This name of God, “Ancient of Days,” is a phrase that describes the Everlasting God, One advanced in days or knowledge, the Father of Years, and One who forwards time, or rules over it.  The name implies dignity, endurance, judgment, and wisdom. His number of years is undiscoverable (Job 36:26).
The Ancient of Days has a covenant with the earth. In this covenant, the earth will be full of His purposes and He will be long-suffering until all have heard. The heart of God is to form covenant with all peoples on the face of earth and establish a house of prayer for each one (Is. 56:5-8) including those in your city. That is why we must learn how to prophecy to that which has been scattered through these thrones of iniquity
      Just as Ezekiel did in Ezekiel 37, we must speak to the dry bones and command them to be brought back to life. This kind of prophetic declaration not only reestablishes God’s covenant purpose for a territory, but also brings those within the territory out of their hope deferred, causing them to rebuild that which the enemy has destroyed.
The Ancient of Days releases ancient wisdom for present day victory.  A Scripture that has revolutionized my prayer life has been 1 Corinthians 2:6-10:
We speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of the age, nor the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew, for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.  Eye has not seen or ear heard…the things prepared for those who love Him.  But God has revealed them to us through the Spirit.” 
God gives us several keys as we pray:
  • God has wisdom greater than any worldly wisdom we see.
  • Powers and principalities do not have access to this wisdom.
  • The authority of demonic forces is limited.
  • There is wisdom that has been hidden since the beginning of time, for His glory.
  • Through the redemptive cross of Jesus Christ, you have access to this wisdom.
  • God is prepared to release this wisdom to us as we get to know Him intimately, through prayer.
  • This wisdom will overthrow high places and release captives.
  • Wisdom dismantles demonic structures and dethrones thrones of iniquity.
When the Lord showed this to me, I knew any demonic force holding a territory captive could not withstand the wisdom that God will release to His people. I knew if the Spirit of the Lord burdened me to pray for a city, I had authority to gain the keys for the release of its inhabitants.
      This is a day when the Lord is extending a fresh call of prayer to His people. He is going to show us our city as it really is and say to us:
“Overcome every obstacle that is keeping these people from coming to know Me. Open the door for My House to be built within them so they may experience My Love throughout eternity. Through prayer, gain wisdom that will dethrone the thrones of iniquity wherever they have been established. Then establish My Throne that many may worship Me and gain life everlasting!”
This is how entire cities will experience conversion. This is how we will overthrow thrones of iniquity and see God’s covenant plan for whole territories flourish in days ahead. In Daniel 10, we find Daniel seeking God with intensity for 21 days. At that point, the Ancient of Days sent the aid of Michael, the Archangel.  Revelation was then released into the earth realm - revelation that we are walking in today.
To understand lawlessness and how it works in the antichrist system, we can look at the book of Daniel. This was a man who had a revelation of the Ancient of Days. Daniel’s vision is recorded in Daniel 7:21-22: 
“I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”
In this passage we see that the Ancient of Days is going to favor us (the saints) in days ahead and the time will come for the saints to possess the Kingdom. That means we will take dominion, govern, prevail, and dominate the world powers around us.
However, in verses 24 and 25 we find this:
“The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom.  And another shall rise after them, He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.” 
Notice what scripture says the enemy does. It says here that he will attempt to change both times and law. He will attempt to redefine law and pull us out of God’s timing. We must understand timing and God’s spiritual boundaries He has given us through law. If not, deception will easily enter into our lives.
There is then that famous story about Daniel and his lion’s den experience. The thing I like about Daniel most is his consistency in praying and seeking the Lord in the midst of adversity.
      What got him in that hard and trying place was his consistent prayer life. He prayed three times a day. When decrees and governmental shifts occurred that forbade seeking a Higher Source, he did not change his communion with his God, but kept his consistency in seeking revelation.
      When jealousy and devised evil came against him, he consistently prayed. When he got in the lions’ den, I do not think he changed his consistent praying. Therefore, God sustained him in the face of what could have been catastrophe. Consistent praying overcomes our adversary!

The following prayer focus has SEVEN purposes:
  • First, may you understand covenant in a way you have never understood before.  
  • Second, may your faith be built and connected to your experiences from the past.
  • Third, may your prayer life become more consistent. 
  • Fourth, may you press through in that hard situation that seems overwhelming. 
  • Fifth, may you break through for revelation in the future. 
  • Sixth, may you gain peace in the midst of the “lions” around you. 
  • Seventh, may our Lord reveal to you that open door for your future!
How to Pray!
I want to suggest during these 21 Days that you allow the Lord to choose a fast for you and that you pray three times a day. (We have not assigned dates to each day. Please feel free to begin at Day 1 whenever you receive the prayer focus.)
Day 1: Read Jeremiah 25. Define types of captivity that seem to burden you (individuals, ministries, cites, and nations).
Day 2: Read Jeremiah 29. Praise God for His plan for the future. Let HOPE spring forth. Thank Him that He has an expected end.
Day 3: Read Jeremiah 32. Notice that Jeremiah had to buy a field as an act of faith. Ask the Lord to reveal any act of faith that He would have you do at this time in your life. Answer the question in your life: “Is there anything too hard for God?”
Day 4: Read Jeremiah 33, Romans 8. Know that God has a plan to surprise you. Call unto Him and watch Him do things you would not expect. Know that His covenant will stand. He can pray through you when you do not know what to pray.
Day 5: Read Jeremiah 31. He has many blessings for us in the new covenant.
Day 6: Read Hebrews 8. Let Him define your priestly service for the future.
Day 7: Read Genesis 12.  Understand the power of covenant.  As born again Believers, we are grafted into the covenant that God made with Abraham.  The war in the earth realm is over God’s covenant blessings.  Covenant involves promise, commitment, faithfulness, and loyalty, even unto death.  God is a covenant keeping God.  He will war through His people to maintain His covenant in the earth.  The blood of Jesus says to the enemy, “Hands off!  This is not your territory!”  Declare the same. 
Day 8: Read Genesis 15 and Romans 9.  Let faith arise and feel God’s agreement over your life. Understand how you are grafted into God’s covenant purposes.
Day 9: Read Genesis 17 and Romans 11.  See how the Lord can surprise you even when you think things seem dead. Also, know that covenant connects you to the blessings of the generations.
Day 10: Read Daniel 1. Daniel obeyed God and separated himself. Ask the Lord how to separate yourself from anything that is making you common in the world.
Day 11: Read Daniel 2. Let the Holy Spirit train you to assist in revealing supernatural wisdom to others.
Day 12: Read Daniel 3. Ask the Lord about compromise in your life. Ask for help to stand firm.
Day 13: Read Daniel 4. Let the Lord remind you of the power of dreams; may He activate the gift of interpretation in you.
Day 14: Read Daniel 5 and Psalm 37:1-5. Do not fret over evil doers around you. God has a plan.
Day 15: Read Daniel 6. Ask the Lord to reveal any plot of evil devised against you. Be at peace with your lions.
Day 16: Read Daniel 7. Bless the Ancient of Days. Let your enemies see the court that the Lord is preparing on your behalf.
Day 17: Read Daniel 8. Let angelic forces aid you in bringing Divine understanding into your situations.
Day 18: Read Daniel 9. Understand the power of identificational repentance and prayer. This is important for your bloodline, your city, our nation, etc.
Day 19: Read Daniel 10. Withstand, and embrace breakthrough.
Day 20: Read Daniel 11. Do not be afraid to see the future that the Lord has for you.
Day 21: Read Daniel 12 and Revelation 4. See your future door.

Special Pre-Release Offer

Prayers That Outwit the Enemy by Chuck D. Pierce and Rebecca Wagner Sytsema
This is a unique, timely book - a book that everyone, young and old, should read. One of God’s commands is to understand our enemy. By knowing God, we can know our adversary. Not only can we know and understand the ways of the enemy of our soul, but God gives us the ability to OUTWIT and OVERCOME the enemy’s plan in our life.
      This is a book that can help you pray in a way that you have never prayed before! This is a time to walk in victory.  Prayers that Outwit the Enemy will help you gain overcoming truth that will set you free.
You can pre-order this book for $10.00
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Changing Church by Dr. Peter Wagner
This book explains how the Church is changing and becoming the new wineskin for the future. This is the wineskin that will defeat the enemy and bring in the Harvest. This is a revolutionary book concerning the reformation of the Church today. Every leader should read this book.
You can purchase this hardcover book for $14.00 and we will pay the postage (US orders only).

Praying with Authority
by Barbara Wentroble
This a powerful book on apostolic praying that will give you great insight! Praying with Authority is very helpful in teaching you to pray in a new way and in a new dimension.
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There are many other books including The Future War of the Church and The Queen’s Domain that are available to help you make key spiritual shifts in your life. You can go to our website at www.glory-of-zion.org to order these.

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