Proverbs-Related Topical Wisdom

Giving God Pleasure

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2020-06-06

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver introduces the topic of giving God pleasure, focusing on the negative aspect: what does not please God. He argues that while society is pleasure-oriented, Christians should be concerned with pleasing God. He identifies five things that do not bring God pleasure: sin, fools (those who make vows and do not keep them), quitters (those who draw back from faith), those with a mercenary spirit (serving only for money), and the death of the wicked (though God judges, He does not delight in their death). The sermon is part one of two, with the positive aspects to be covered the following week.

[John Weaver] Job 22 that's right before the book of Psalms Job 22 verses 1 through 3 Now let me make a statement before we actually Before we get into the message. I will deal with the text of Next Lord's Day, the message day is going to be in two parts. So although I'm going to be reading our text today, I will explain it Lord willing next Sunday. The title of the message is giving God pleasure, giving God pleasure. So look in Job 22, beginning there with verse one. Bible says, Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect? The truth of the matter is that we are a pleasure-oriented society.

[John Weaver] We wish to be pleased, pampered, and coddled. It's absolutely amazing to me how much money is thrown away on that which could only be described as pleasure. or simply recreation. And recreation certainly is indeed a booming business. There are pleasure cruises, there are pleasure vacations, and there are pleasure-oriented pastimes. Even retirement communities are now offering everything that will please the senior citizen, from golf to tennis to whatever. And it's astounding to me that everywhere you turn, is something has to do with pleasure. Pleasure is often defined as a feeling of satisfaction, enjoyment, or gratification. And oftentimes, pleasure is also associated with entertainment. So we want to be entertained because it simply pleases us. So it should be obvious that our entire society basically has degenerated into a pleasure and an entertainment oriented society. We actually live for pleasure.

[John Weaver] We're kind of like the rich farmer in Luke chapter 12. He had so much, and yet at the same time, he said, what in the world am I going to do? He said, I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and I'll build bigger barns to store all my stuff. And God said to him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.

[John Weaver] And then who shall all these things be? So many people are just so happy to please themselves and do as they please. And they never, ever think of eternity whatsoever. Unhappily today, Not only many Americans, but many Christians had much rather play than work. And they'd much rather be pleased than to accomplish anything. And basically most individuals, they spend their money on toys, expensive toys and then complain and whine because they're in debt up to their eyeballs and don't have enough money to live on. And you look around at some of these RVs that are traveling down the road and some of the low prices on them are $100,000 and they're pulling Boats are pulling other cars that are worth a good bit of money as well I know a lot of people may have money but all the people certainly in debt as well But the Bible says this in Proverbs 21 in verse 17 he that loveth pleasure Shall not be shall be a poor man and he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

[John Weaver] Oh So God said if you love pleasure, you're going to end up being a poor man. And if you love oil and wine, you're not going to be rich at all. In other words, you're going to blow your money on that which you think pleases you as well. So we often define pleasure then as that which is pleasing to us and we know what we like and we know what we enjoy. And we always want to plan on what is going to bring us the most pleasure. Unhappily, most Christians have never ever thought or given thought to the truth of giving God pleasure. We know that which we like and that which pleases us, but very few really know what pleases God and what He likes. How in the world can you bring God pleasure if you do not know that which displeases Him? How can you bring God pleasure if you do not know that which pleases God if you do not even know the difference between that which displeases Him and that which pleases Him.

[John Weaver] Now here's the pressing question. Are you concerned enough and love the Lord enough to desire to please Him? Obviously if you're going to please Him, Then you're going to be bringing him pleasure. And if you're going to bring him pleasure, you have to know that which pleases him. And you also have to know that which he hates and despises and detests.

[John Weaver] Now I'm going to give you very quickly three words that are used over and over in the old Testament and in the new Testament. Two of them are Hebrew, one of them are Greek. The first Hebrew word is the word kafetz. It is translated in our Bibles as delight, pleasure, and that which one takes delight in. The second word is the Hebrew word rasal, and it actually means that which is acceptable, that which is favorable, that which is approvable, and that which is pleasurable. And then when you get to the New Testament, you have the word Yudokeo, and it literally means to be pleased in and to have pleasure in and to prefer and choose and to be favorable. Now, there are other words, but these are three of the main words that are translated in our Bibles as pleasure over and over and over. When we think of pleasure, again, we tend to think of that which pleases us.

[John Weaver] And you know, an interesting thing is this. We cannot always do that which pleases us. There's a little something called work that usually gets in our way, and it's a necessity unhappily because we also like to eat. But it's not only work that gets in our way. A lot of times it's just simply lack of money and lack of funds. Sometimes it's even lack of ability. I mean, we may be sick. But have you ever stopped to think the only individual that can always do as he pleases is God. Because God is absolutely sovereign.

[John Weaver] We as creatures are finite. We are limited. We are impotent, powerless in and of ourselves. But since God is absolutely sovereign, he is infinite and he is omnipotent. I want you to listen to what he said in Isaiah 46 in verse 10. He said, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times of things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. God is the only one who can do all of his pleasure. And when you get to Psalm 115 in verse three, David said, Our God is in the heavens. He's done whatsoever he has pleased. And the only reason the world exists is because it pleased God to create it. The only reason you and I are alive, it pleased God to create us and to allow us to live. The only reason we're saved is because it simply pleased God to save us.

[John Weaver] Now, stop and think about this. Since we are God's creatures, since he created us, we owe him worship and honor and praise and pleasure. He created us for his pleasure. Moreover, since we have been redeemed by his grace and mercy through Jesus Christ, we now doubly owe him because we're not only his creatures, we're also his servants. We're also his slaves. You remember that passage in 1 Corinthians 6 verses 19 and 20?

[John Weaver] Where the apostle says what? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God? You're not your own. You have been bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are his. He owns us. He redeemed us. He saved us. He bought us out of the slave market. And now we have become his servants. So we not only owe God glory and honor and praise and pleasure by virtue of being his creatures. We owe him that by being his redeemed as well. And thirdly, we owe him honor, glory, praise, worship and pleasure by virtue of the fact that we're now his children. Children should always want to please their father. That's why I said honor thy father and thy mother. So we are his children. We should know that which pleases him, but we should also know that which displeases him.

[John Weaver] Now, this message is going to be divided into two parts. The part today is the negative.

[John Weaver] Next Sunday is the positive, and I want to encourage everyone. to hear the message next Sunday as well, because I think it will be an eye opener when we find out some things that actually brings God pleasure. But today, I'm just going to cover one point, and that is what does not bring God pleasure or what does not please God. And I'm going to begin with the very simplest and the very Obvious and that is sin Obviously sin does not please God. It cannot please God because sin is disobedience. It's wickedness. It's rebellion It's transgression. It is iniquity.

[John Weaver] It is completely totally contrary to God God is infinitely holy righteous and pure and therefore anything that's contrary to God is God hates and God despises. Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles just a few pages over to Psalm 5. Psalm 5. And let's look at verses 4 through 6. Psalm 5, verses 4 through 6. I want you to see what God says very, very plainly. Look in Psalm 5.

[John Weaver] Notice if you would verse 4. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness. Neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing or lying. The Lord will abhor the bloody and the deceitful man.

[John Weaver] Now, the psalmist here is referring to a well-known and well-understood characteristic of the divine being that God is infinitely holy and pure and that he cannot have any pleasure in sin or furthering the wicked devices of wicked men. Now, I've quoted this passage before. I'm going to quote it again. the book of Habakkuk chapter 1 in verse 13 God says avowed of pure eyes and behold evil and can't not look upon iniquity I told you recently God does behold and God does look upon iniquity to condemn it and to judge it and to punish it. But what Habakkuk is saying, God cannot look upon iniquity approvingly or condoningly. Why? Because he is absolutely pure. Now, I want you to look, beginning in verse four, and I want to read a quote to you from Joseph Carl. Joseph Carl is going to point out six steps that show very clearly God's hatred of sin. Listen, if you would, to what Joseph Carl said. Here, the Lord's alienation from the wicked is set forth gradually and seems to rise by six steps.

[John Weaver] First, he hath no pleasure in them. That's found in verse four, when he says, for thou art not a God that hath pleasure in foolishness. Secondly, they shall not dwell with him, that's found in verse 4, neither shall evil dwell with thee. And then he says thirdly, he casteth them forth, that is, in verse 5, the foolish shall not stand in thy sight. And then he says, fourthly, his heart turns from them because they're in verse five. He says, they'll hate his tall workers of iniquity. And then fifthly, his hand is turned upon them because he says, I'll show up, destroy them to speak leasing.

[John Weaver] And then sixthly, His spirit rises against them and is alienated from them. The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man." And then he says this, this estrangement is indeed a strange, yet a certain punishment to the workers of iniquity. When you just stop and think about this passage, to be hated by God, and yet that's what the Bible says. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing. The Lord will abhor the bloody and the deceitful man." And the word abhor is a very, very strong word for hatred.

[John Weaver] John Gale said that sin and ungodliness is contrary to God's nature, who is holy, just, and good, and to his will that is revealed in his law, which is the same as his nature, and sin is a transgression of it. Then he goes on to show and demonstrate the very fact that God permitted or allowed sin to enter does not mean that God delighted in it at all. And he could not delight in it, although he had to have allowed it because he is sovereign. Otherwise, it could not have entered into. And then he went on to say that God even despises the sin in his people, even though he has redeemed us and has forgiven us. God cannot delight in sin whatsoever.

[John Weaver] Now, there's a wonderful passage that would be well for us to memorize. It's found in Jeremiah chapter 44 and verse 4. God says, Howbeit I send unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, O do not this abominable thing which I ate. And he's talking about sin. God says, oh, do not this abominable thing, which I hate. So God hates sin perfectly. God is holy, all holy, only holy, altogether holy, and always holy. When you think about sin, sin is sinful, only sinful, altogether sinful, and always sinful, and is an abomination to God, and is hated by God. So obviously God cannot abide sin. Sin is wickedness and a violation of God's law.

[John Weaver] I want you to listen to what Thomas Brooks said. Think about this. He said, a holy man knows that all sin strikes at the holiness of God, the glory of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the law of God, And therefore his heart rises against all. Now listen to this. He that is the holy man looks upon every sin as the scribes and the Pharisees that accused Christ and Judas who betrayed Christ and Pilate who condemned Christ and those soldiers who scourged Christ and those spears that pierced Christ. So Thomas Brooks is saying a man that is holy cannot look upon sin and cannot think about sin without thinking of everything that sin has done to the Lord Jesus Christ. And our heart then, of course, should indeed rise up against it. So it should be obvious that God could never, ever have pleasure in sin. He may control it. He may punish it, but he has no pleasure in it. He cannot have pleasure in it because he's infinitely holy and wise and righteous.

[John Weaver] Now, the very first thing that God has no pleasure in is sin. I want you to turn from the book of Psalms over just a few few books to the book of Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Proverbs and the Song of Solomon. No, Ecclesiastes after Proverbs and then the Song of Solomon, but it is Ecclesiastes chapter five and verse four. Here's the second things that God has absolutely no pleasure in. God only has no pleasure in sin. He has no pleasure in fools.

[John Weaver] Look at what he said. Ecclesiastes five, verse four. When thou vows to vow unto God, defer not to pay it. For he that, for he hath no pleasure in fools, pay that which thou hast vowed. Now watch that again. I've got a number of things to say on this. He said, when thou vows to vow unto God, defer not to pay it. For he hath no pleasure in fools, pay that which thou hast vowed.

[John Weaver] Now fools in the Bible are not mentally deficient persons. A fool in the Bible is someone who is wicked, vile, rebellious, who refuses instruction, rebuke, and reproof. He is someone who simply will not listen.

[John Weaver] Now let me just show you. I'm going to give you a couple of verses. And Proverbs 14, not Proverbs, but Psalms. Psalm 14, verse 1. The Bible says, The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Then he goes on. They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none that doeth good. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.

[John Weaver] Now, whether you want to argue that he's a theoretical atheist or a practical atheist, it doesn't matter. What he is basically saying is just, no God for me. I'm gonna do what I want to do. I'll live my own life. I'll be my own law Therefore he is indeed corrupt Abominable, and he does not do good The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 15 in verse 5 a fool despiseth his father's instruction, but he that is righteous regardeth reproof So a fool then is one who despises instruction. When you get to Proverbs 17 in verse 10, the Bible says, a reproof enters into a wise man, more than a hundred stripes into a fool. So one reproof will enter into a wise man. More than a hundred stripes into a fool.

[John Weaver] In other words, you can beat him and beat him and beat him. And he still won't listen. That's why in Proverbs 26 and verse three, the Bible says a whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass and a rod for the fool's back. The only way you can control a horse is with a whip. A bridle, same thing with an ass, and the only way you can control a fool is with a rod. That's what God is saying. Now, I want you to look back at Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 4, because according to our text, a fool is not only one who is rebellious and wicked, not only one who refuses instruction, but he's also deceived. He's a hypocrite.

[John Weaver] and he thinks that he could deceive God and escape the consequences of his actions. He says in verse four, when thou vowest to vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed. I believe that this text would probably support our old adage that a man's word is his bond. We've certainly lost the impact of that in this society in this day and age. But God is telling us that a truthful person is going to perform that which he has promised. He's going to be a man of his word.

[John Weaver] Now, let me share with you some things that I have seen, and I can give you a good illustration of this. When God says, when thou hast a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed. I've preached for 55 years. I have no idea how many times I've been called to the hospital when people have been on the deathbed.

[John Weaver] Sometimes as a child, sometimes as a husband, sometimes as a wife. or sometimes someone is just seriously ill and they're thinking that there's no possible way that they can recover. And I get to the hospital and they'll say, oh preacher, pray, please pray. I've told God if he'd heal my child or heal my wife or heal my husband, I've promised him that I'd be in church and I'd do this and I'd do that and I'd be faithful and I would pray. And God in his sovereignty would miraculously raise that person up. And guess what? They did come to church for about two weeks.

[John Weaver] And then it was over. They just totally, absolutely forgot all their vows, forgot all their promises. And, you know, we try to do that. We'll make a vow. We'll make a promise. And then we just simply forget it or we simply violate it. God calls us fools. Also have to remember this. We should never be making vows and promises that are impossible to keep. I have known people who've made vows. Then it's just humanly impossible. I've known the people said, well, I'm a witness to everybody I ever see. No, you're not. It's impossible. I'm just simply saying God says do not make promises and vows that you cannot keep. Because God says once you make a promise, once you make a vow, I expect you to keep it. Okay? You know what the Bible says in Psalm 76 in verse 10? Vow and pay unto the Lord your God And let all that be round about him bring presence unto him that ought to be feared. God says, vow and pay. So we ought to be men and women of our word.

[John Weaver] When we give our word, we're to keep our word. Now, let me just show you. Suppose I told Steve, I will meet you tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. And so Steve is here at five minutes to 10 ready for our meeting. But I don't show up until 1030. Not only have I broken my word, I've just stolen 35 minutes of his time. That means I'm a thief, as well as a liar.

[John Weaver] Now we understand, you know, if I have a flat tire on the way here, If I run out of gas, of course, that could be poor planning. If I had a medical emergency, all that's understandable. But when we give our word, we should keep our word. That's exactly what God is selling us. So he says, when we make a vow, especially on him, we're to pay it. We're to be men and women of our word. Our word is to be our bond. So God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools.

[John Weaver] If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10 and look if you would please at verse 38. Hebrews 10 verse 38. Here's the third thing. God has no pleasure in quitters. God has no pleasure in quitters. Watch this. Hebrews 10 verse 38.

[John Weaver] Now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. God says, if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. I have always been exasperated with people, children and adults as well, who begin to whine and complain and cry, I can't, I can't, when they've never even tried. How about people who begin and never finish. Alice and I have passed several houses that had begun to be built and were never finished. We passed one castle that began to be, and now I realize the man could have died. I understand that. But you look around today and there are carpenters that will begin a job and quit. Plumbers that will begin a job and quit. I'm just simply saying, you look around today and you see all of this.

[John Weaver] Now, the Greek word for drawback here is the word hubostello, and it refers to one who withdraws, one who hesitates, one who is unwilling, or one who basically shrinks back. Now, the withdrawing or turning back or quitting or shrinking back could be from fear. It could be from persecution. It could be from laziness, ignorance, apathy, or multitude of things. But the point is this, when the going gets tough, most people just quit. You heard the old adage, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Well, that may be true, but there's very few tough today because most people just basically quit. When the circumstances and situations become difficult and pressing, they just simply give up and they quit.

[John Weaver] God says, I have no pleasure in quitters. Old John Trapp said this. He said, talking about these quitters, they steal from his colors, run from his captain, revolt from Christ and turn renegade. relinquishing his religion as did Julian, Lucian, and other odious apostates. And then he goes on to say this, My soul shall have no pleasure. Christ hath no delights in dastards, turncoats, runaways. He will not employ them so far as to break a pitcher or bear a torch.

[John Weaver] So he's referring to Judges chapter 7 there. We're getting you remember had the the lantern and And the torches and and the and the trumpet and those who were fearful they went back They left so he says God will not even use such a one now. I want you to see this I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 9 Luke chapter 9 Luke chapter 9 And I want us to begin reading with verse 57, Luke nine, verse 57. I'm just pointing out the fact now that God has no pleasure in sin. He has no pleasure in fools. He has no pleasure in quitters. Look what he says. Luke nine, verse 57.

[John Weaver] And it came to pass, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. Now, here's a man that comes to Christ and says, Lord, I'm just going to follow you wherever you go. Our Lord said, you better think about this. He said, the foxes, they have holes in the ground. They have a home. The birds of air have nests.

[John Weaver] They have a place they can lie down in. The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. In other words, if you follow me, it's going to be tough. There's going to be pressing and trying circumstances and situations. You better think about this. Don't be a quitter if you're going to follow me. Times will get tough. Now notice verse 59. And he said unto another, follow me.

[John Weaver] But he said, Lord, suffer me first. You won't bury my father.

[John Weaver] Now, we're not told too much here, but I can tell you this. That does not necessarily mean that his father was dead. What he was saying was, Lord, I want to stay around until my father dies and get my inheritance, and then I'm going to serve you. Hmm. Our Lord said. Hmm. Follow me and let the dead bury their dead, but go down and preach the kingdom of God.

[John Weaver] No, he said, no, you don't do that. If you're going to follow me, you follow me now. It doesn't matter. Then look in verse 60. I just read that verse 61. Another also said, Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first go and bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, no man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. Now listen to this. No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.

[John Weaver] Now, you may not know much about farming. And not everybody in this room was raised on a farm, I can assure you. but I was. And I have plowed many, many miles. And I have planted many fields in my younger days. One thing I can do is I can plow a straight row. I can make my row as straight as an arrow. And I learned how to do that as a child.

[John Weaver] And I'm going to tell you how just so I can explain this text. The first row I lay out in a field. I point my tractor at a tree at the other end of the field. I line that tree up or that post or pole or whatever it is with the middle of my tractor. And once I put the plow down, And I give the gas to the tractor. I do not stop. I do not look back until I get to the end of that field. And when I turn around and look back, my row is just as straight as it can be. If you ever start toward the end of a field pointed at a tree and you keep looking back, you're going to be turning and your row is going to be as crooked as the day is long. This is what our Lord meant when he said he that put in this hand of the plow and looks back. In other words, you can't look back and say, wow, I wish I could do what I used to do.

[John Weaver] I wish I could do like the world. No, no, no. You can't look back. It doesn't matter what the situation is. Doesn't matter what the circumstances are. You cannot look back. Adam Clark said on this text, he said, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. My very heart shall be opposed to him who makes shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience. He says the word Hubostello signifies not only to draw back, but to slink away and hide through fear.

[John Weaver] In this sense, it is used by the very best Greek writers, as well as Josephus and Philo, as dastards and cowards are hated by all men. So those that slink away from Christ and his cause for fear of persecution or secular loss God must despise in them. He cannot delight and his spirit grieve with their conduct must desert their hearts and lead them to darkness and hardness Wow Wow God has absolute no delight in quitters and there are people today There are preachers today.

[John Weaver] I Heard them say I'm not trying to deny scripture. I'm just trying to be a little wise so I can draw a lot of people into the church. But what they're doing is denying scripture. They're doing it for secular gain.

[John Weaver] Now, while I mentioned that, I want to point this out and include it in this point. I want to include it along with the quitters that God despises. There are those who are willing to help and work and serve only if they can be paid or recognized.

[John Weaver] Now, I understand, and so do you, that there are those who preach the gospel that God has ordained who are to live by the gospel. That's what he said in 1 Corinthians 9 in verse 14. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. Obviously that is the truth, but unhappily many pastors as well as Christians in general develop a mercenary spirit and are only willing to serve and minister in reference to money, favor, or advancement. And God is absolutely displeased with such attitudes. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, Malachi chapter 1. And one of these days, I hope to be able to preach through this book. I've been studying and working on outlines, but I don't know just when I'll get to it, but it's a wonderful book. But look in verse 10. Look what God asked his people, his ministers. He says in verse 10, Malachi 1, who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught? Neither do you kindle a fire on mine altar for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. He said, you won't even close the doors for an organ. You expect to get paid for closing the door. That's like people expect to get paid for playing the piano in church, playing the organ in church.

[John Weaver] Now, I understand if you were a full-time Christian musician, that might be a position, but for just a volunteer to play, I mean, you know, Here's the point. If something is ministry, then it is ministry. One does not charge for the ministry.

[John Weaver] Now, let me tell you, anybody with one eye and half sense understands there are expenses involved in the ministry. Love offerings are one thing, but charging is another thing. Want you to turn in your Bibles to first Corinthians chapter 9 first Corinthians chapter 9 Look if you would beginning there with verse 16 Look what the Apostle Paul says first Corinthians chapter 9 verse 16 First Corinthians 9 verse 16 the Apostle says For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to

[John Weaver] glory of, for necessity is laid upon me. Yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward. But if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me, what is my reward then? Verily that when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. Now the apostle Paul says, I have to preach. I've got to preach. He says necessity is laid upon me. Woe is me if I don't preach. God called me. Then he said, but I want to do this willingly. And he said, my reward in just ministering is that I make the gospel of Christ without charge, and I have power in the gospel.

[John Weaver] I have preached for 55 years. I have never asked for money to preach. I preached all across this country. I have no idea how many churches I've preached in. Most of the time, the churches give a love offering, which will cover my expenses. If I have to fly out there, obviously there is a plane expense. If I have to drive, there's a driving expense, motels, food. Most of the time, whatever my expenses are, they're covered. However, there's been plenty of times, a number of times, that my expenses were not covered. Sometimes a smaller works and they can't afford much of a love offering. You know, the truth is inevitably, invariably, Whenever there's not a sufficient amount in the love offering to cover my expenses, God always has someone to send it in from another source. It's never failed. It's never failed.

[John Weaver] So I don't come and say, well, I have to have a thousand dollars a night or I can't come. That's wicked. That's a mercenary attitude. What did Paul say? Paul said, I'm going to preach. I'm gonna make the gospel without charge. Did folks take up love offerings for Paul? Yes! Did Paul receive them? Yes! Did Paul use them? Yes! But he didn't go around charging people to preach. I'm just simply saying, I have to laugh at this one. I marry, I bury people, I marry people. Somebody says, what do you charge? Well, this one, one last one was a friend of mine when, when he married his girl. He said, what do you charge, Brother Weaver? I said, well, just whatever you think she's worth.

[John Weaver] And of course, I was laughing. Well, that was dirty, wasn't it? Because he just got married to her. He better think she's worth a lot. But I said nothing, son. Whatever you want to give is wonderful. I don't care, you know. But I'm just simply saying, you know, God says we cannot develop a mercenary spirit. What we must understand is ministry is ministry. And if you're charging for it, it's not ministry. Is it? No.

[John Weaver] Brother David asked me to pray for him. Brother, I'm going to pray for you, but it's going to only be 50 bucks for the first prayer and thereafter 25. Is that ministry? No, no. You know, we get so wrapped up in the world. Let me tell you something. Maybe this will put it in the proper perspective. I don't know about you, But I am thankful, I'm grateful, and I'm appreciative that Jesus Christ did not charge us for his ministry.

[John Weaver] How many of us could have paid him to minister to us? He said in Mark 10 in verse 45, for even the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. So we have to understand God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools. God has no pleasure in quitters. And God has no pleasure with those who have a mercenary spirit.

[John Weaver] One last thing, and I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 18, Ezekiel chapter 18. Ezekiel 18.

[John Weaver] And I will show you several verses. I've told you God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools. God has no pleasure in quitters and those with mercenary spirits. And God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Will he judge them? Yes. Will he destroy them? Yes. But that does not mean that he has delight and pleasure in their deaths. Notice Ezekiel chapter 18 and verse 23. God asked this question. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should return from his ways and live? Skip down to verse 32. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God. Wherefore, turn yourselves and live ye. Notice what he says. I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. I have no pleasure that you're going to die. Turn ye. Look in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter 33 and verse 11. Ezekiel 33 and verse 11. Again, God says it like this Ezekiel 33 and verse 11 Say unto them as I live said 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 you die?

[John Weaver] Oh house of Israel God said I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked This caricature that so many people make of God of being some old meanie, some old vengeful man up in heaven, just waiting to throw somebody into the pit of hell and and torture them for eternity. That's not God. God says, as I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Will God judge them? Yes. Will God punish them? Yes. He is holy. He is righteous. He is just. But that does not mean that he has pleasure in their deaths. Now, let me just show you.

[John Weaver] To demonstrate this truth from the New Testament, I want you to turn to two passages. The first one is Acts chapter 17, and the second one is first John chapter three. If you would turn to those two passages, first of all, Acts chapter 17. Acts 17, and then we're going to turn to 1st John chapter 3. I want you to see these two verses. So when someone tries to say, well, God is just an old meanie and God delights in the death of the wicked. No, he does not. Yes, the wicked will die and yes, he will judge them, but that does not mean that he delights in their deaths. Let me show you. If God delighted in the death of the wicked, He would not have commanded men to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 17 verses 30 and 31, look at what the scripture says. And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent. God commands men to repent. Why? Look in verse 31, because he, that is God, hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, that's Jesus Christ, watch, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, and that he hath raised him from the dead.

[John Weaver] Now God says just as surely as I raised Jesus Christ from the dead, there's going to be a judgment. And since I'm going to judge everyone, I command you to repent. Wow. Now, if you disobey his command, that's your problem. But he commanded you to repent. Then if you look in verse John three and verse twenty three, he says this. And this is his commandment. That we should believe on the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us his commandment. Wow. So God then has commanded men to repent And He has commanded men to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 3 verse 23, which demonstrates the fact that God does not have pleasure in the death of the wicked. The wicked will die. Yes. The wicked will be judged. Yes. The wicked will be punished. Yes. But God does not delight in doing that. Therefore, He commands men to repent and believe.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make just two quick applications. The first one is this. As children of our heavenly father, we must avoid those things which displease him. We must act in faith. We must obey and live our lives in accordance to his commands. We must avoid sin. We must avoid foolishness. We must avoid being quitters. We must avoid having a mercenary spirit.

[John Weaver] Now you're going to say, but brother Weaver, I'm still a sinner. I understand that. And so am I. And so let me give you a scripture. First John chapter two, verse one. Here's what God said, my little children, These things I write unto you that you sin not. But. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. He said, I'm writing these things so you won't sin. But if you do sin. We have the perfect advocate, we have the perfect attorney, Jesus Christ, the righteous, who pleads our cause and pleads our case. Okay. The second is this.

[John Weaver] We have to learn to be men and women of our word. Our word must be our bond. I'll cover this more next week. But the Bible tells us in Psalm 15 in verse four, that a godly man is he Who sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not. So here's a good illustration. Let's suppose Gary came to me and said, I would like to buy an ounce of silver. I said, Gary, I've got an ounce. I'll sell you. And it's 15 bucks an ounce. He said, good. I'll buy it.

[John Weaver] I just need to go home and get my money. I said, that's fine. And so I turned the radio on. Or check the internet. Wow. Silver is going up to 50 bucks an ounce. And I just told him I'd sell it to him for 15. When he comes back with 15, I can't look at him as a Christian and say, Hey, wait a minute. I just checked and it's going up to 50 bucks an ounce. You owe me 50.

[John Weaver] No, I gave him my word. I'd sell it for 15. That's what I want to do. I'll just lose a 35. You got that? What's a man do? He's a godly man that swears to his own hurt and changes not. In other words, if it hurts him, he's still going to keep his word because his word is his bond. That's why God says when we vow, when we promise, and especially to him, we're to keep our word. We're to be men and women of our word. Let's pray.

[John Weaver] Father, thank you again for this day. Help us, Lord, not to displease thee by sinning, by being foolish, by being a quitter, by being a mercenary and by, Lord, doing those things which are contrary to thee and thy word. Help us, Lord, to be obedient. Help us to be men and women of our word and bring honor and glory and pleasure unto thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] you you

Giving God Pleasure

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	BE4YvtdVNBM
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs-Related Topical Wisdom
Genre	Sermon
Date	2020-06-06
Dictation Name
Book	Book 110: Giving God Pleasure — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	71

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: A Pleasure-Oriented Society

Weaver observes that modern society is obsessed with pleasure and entertainment, often at the expense of spiritual priorities, and contrasts this with the biblical warning that loving pleasure leads to poverty.

Job 22, that's right before the book of Psalms. Job 22, verses 1 through 3. Now let me make a statement before we actually get into the message. I will deal with the text next Lord's Day. The message is going to be in two parts. So although I'm going to be reading our text today, I will explain it, Lord willing, next Sunday. The title of the message is "Giving God Pleasure." So look in Job 22, beginning there with verse 1. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Job 22:1-3

"Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect?"

The truth of the matter is that we are a pleasure-oriented society.

We wish to be pleased, pampered, and coddled. It's absolutely amazing to me how much money is thrown away on that which could only be described as pleasure or simply recreation. And recreation certainly is indeed a booming business. There are pleasure cruises, there are pleasure vacations, and there are pleasure-oriented pastimes. Even retirement communities are now offering everything that will please the senior citizen, from golf to tennis to whatever. And it's astounding to me that everywhere you turn, something has to do with pleasure. Pleasure is often defined as a feeling of satisfaction, enjoyment, or gratification. And oftentimes, pleasure is also associated with entertainment. So we want to be entertained because it simply pleases us. So it should be obvious that our entire society basically has degenerated into a pleasure- and entertainment-oriented society. We actually live for pleasure.

We're kind of like the rich farmer in Luke chapter 12. He had so much, and yet at the same time, he said, "What in the world am I going to do?" He said, "I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and I'll build bigger barns to store all my stuff." And God said to him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." And then who shall all these things be? So many people are just so happy to please themselves and do as they please. And they never, ever think of eternity whatsoever. Unhappily today, not only many Americans, but many Christians had much rather play than work. And they'd much rather be pleased than to accomplish anything. And basically most individuals, they spend their money on toys, expensive toys, and then complain and whine because they're in debt up to their eyeballs and don't have enough money to live on. And you look around at some of these RVs that are traveling down the road, and some of the low prices on them are $100,000, and they're pulling boats or pulling other cars that are worth a good bit of money as well. I know a lot of people may have money, but all the people certainly in debt as well. But the Bible says this in Proverbs 21 and verse 17: "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: and he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."

So God said if you love pleasure, you're going to end up being a poor man. And if you love oil and wine, you're not going to be rich at all. In other words, you're going to blow your money on that which you think pleases you as well. So we often define pleasure then as that which is pleasing to us, and we know what we like and we know what we enjoy. And we always want to plan on what is going to bring us the most pleasure. Unhappily, most Christians have never ever thought or given thought to the truth of giving God pleasure. We know that which we like and that which pleases us, but very few really know what pleases God and what He likes. How in the world can you bring God pleasure if you do not know that which displeases Him? How can you bring God pleasure if you do not know that which pleases God if you do not even know the difference between that which displeases Him and that which pleases Him?

The Importance of Pleasing God

He emphasizes that Christians rarely consider what pleases God, and that knowing what displeases Him is essential to bringing Him pleasure. He introduces key Hebrew and Greek words for pleasure.

Now here's the pressing question. Are you concerned enough and love the Lord enough to desire to please Him? Obviously if you're going to please Him, then you're going to be bringing Him pleasure. And if you're going to bring Him pleasure, you have to know that which pleases Him. And you also have to know that which He hates and despises and detests.

Now I'm going to give you very quickly three words that are used over and over in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Two of them are Hebrew, one of them is Greek. The first Hebrew word is the word kafetz. It is translated in our Bibles as delight, pleasure, and that which one takes delight in. The second word is the Hebrew word ratson, and it actually means that which is acceptable, that which is favorable, that which is approvable, and that which is pleasurable. And then when you get to the New Testament, you have the word eudokeo, and it literally means to be pleased in and to have pleasure in and to prefer and choose and to be favorable. Now, there are other words, but these are three of the main words that are translated in our Bibles as pleasure over and over and over. When we think of pleasure, again, we tend to think of that which pleases us.

And you know, an interesting thing is this. We cannot always do that which pleases us. There's a little something called work that usually gets in our way, and it's a necessity unhappily because we also like to eat. But it's not only work that gets in our way. A lot of times it's just simply lack of money and lack of funds. Sometimes it's even lack of ability. I mean, we may be sick. But have you ever stopped to think the only individual that can always do as he pleases is God? Because God is absolutely sovereign.

We as creatures are finite. We are limited. We are impotent, powerless in and of ourselves. But since God is absolutely sovereign, He is infinite and He is omnipotent. I want you to listen to what He said in Isaiah 46 and verse 10. He said,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 46:10

"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure."

God is the only one who can do all of His pleasure. And when you get to Psalm 115 and verse 3, David said, "Our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased." And the only reason the world exists is because it pleased God to create it. The only reason you and I are alive, it pleased God to create us and to allow us to live. The only reason we're saved is because it simply pleased God to save us.

Our Obligation to Please God

Weaver explains that as creatures, redeemed servants, and children of God, we owe Him pleasure and should desire to please Him.

Now, stop and think about this. Since we are God's creatures, since He created us, we owe Him worship and honor and praise and pleasure. He created us for His pleasure. Moreover, since we have been redeemed by His grace and mercy through Jesus Christ, we now doubly owe Him because we're not only His creatures, we're also His servants. We're also His slaves. You remember that passage in 1 Corinthians 6 verses 19 and 20? Where the apostle says what? "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God? Ye are not your own. Ye have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are His." He owns us. He redeemed us. He saved us. He bought us out of the slave market. And now we have become His servants. So we not only owe God glory and honor and praise and pleasure by virtue of being His creatures, we owe Him that by being His redeemed as well. And thirdly, we owe Him honor, glory, praise, worship and pleasure by virtue of the fact that we're now His children. Children should always want to please their father. That's why He said honor thy father and thy mother. So we are His children. We should know that which pleases Him, but we should also know that which displeases Him.

Now, this message is going to be divided into two parts. The part today is the negative.

What Does Not Please God: Sin

God has no pleasure in sin because He is holy. Psalm 5:4-6 is expounded with Joseph Caryl's six steps showing God's hatred of sin.

Next Sunday is the positive, and I want to encourage everyone to hear the message next Sunday as well, because I think it will be an eye opener when we find out some things that actually bring God pleasure. But today, I'm just going to cover one point, and that is what does not bring God pleasure or what does not please God. And I'm going to begin with the very simplest and the very obvious, and that is sin. Obviously sin does not please God. It cannot please God because sin is disobedience. It's wickedness. It's rebellion. It's transgression. It is iniquity.

It is completely, totally contrary to God. God is infinitely holy, righteous and pure, and therefore anything that's contrary to God, God hates and God despises. Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles just a few pages over to Psalm 5. Psalm 5. And let's look at verses 4 through 6. Psalm 5, verses 4 through 6. I want you to see what God says very, very plainly. Look in Psalm 5.

Notice if you would verse 4. "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man."

Now, the psalmist here is referring to a well-known and well-understood characteristic of the divine being that God is infinitely holy and pure and that He cannot have any pleasure in sin or furthering the wicked devices of wicked men. Now, I've quoted this passage before. I'm going to quote it again. In the book of Habakkuk chapter 1 and verse 13, God says, "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." I told you recently God does behold and God does look upon iniquity to condemn it and to judge it and to punish it. But what Habakkuk is saying, God cannot look upon iniquity approvingly or condoningly. Why? Because He is absolutely pure. Now, I want you to look, beginning in verse 4, and I want to read a quote to you from Joseph Caryl. Joseph Caryl is going to point out six steps that show very clearly God's hatred of sin. Listen, if you would, to what Joseph Caryl said. Here, the Lord's alienation from the wicked is set forth gradually and seems to rise by six steps.

First, He hath no pleasure in them. That's found in verse 4, when He says, "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness." Secondly, they shall not dwell with Him, that's found in verse 4, "Neither shall evil dwell with thee." And then He says thirdly, He casteth them forth, that is, in verse 5, "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight." And then He says, fourthly, His heart turns from them because in verse 5 He says, "Thou hatest all workers of iniquity." And then fifthly, His hand is turned upon them because He says, "Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing." And then sixthly, His spirit rises against them and is alienated from them. "The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man." And then he says this, "This estrangement is indeed a strange, yet a certain punishment to the workers of iniquity." When you just stop and think about this passage, to be hated by God, and yet that's what the Bible says. "Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing. The Lord will abhor the bloody and the deceitful man." And the word abhor is a very, very strong word for hatred.

John Gill said that sin and ungodliness is contrary to God's nature, who is holy, just, and good, and to His will that is revealed in His law, which is the same as His nature, and sin is a transgression of it. Then he goes on to show and demonstrate the very fact that God permitted or allowed sin to enter does not mean that God delighted in it at all. And He could not delight in it, although He had to have allowed it because He is sovereign. Otherwise, it could not have entered in. And then he went on to say that God even despises the sin in His people, even though He has redeemed us and has forgiven us. God cannot delight in sin whatsoever.

Now, there's a wonderful passage that would be well for us to memorize. It's found in Jeremiah chapter 44 and verse 4. God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 44:4

"Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate."

And He's talking about sin. God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 44:4

"Oh, do not this abominable thing, which I hate."

So God hates sin perfectly. God is holy, all holy, only holy, altogether holy, and always holy. When you think about sin, sin is sinful, only sinful, altogether sinful, and always sinful, and is an abomination to God, and is hated by God. So obviously God cannot abide sin. Sin is wickedness and a violation of God's law.

I want you to listen to what Thomas Brooks said. Think about this. He said, "A holy man knows that all sin strikes at the holiness of God, the glory of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the law of God, and therefore his heart rises against all." Now listen to this. "He that is the holy man looks upon every sin as the scribes and the Pharisees that accused Christ, and Judas who betrayed Christ, and Pilate who condemned Christ, and those soldiers who scourged Christ, and those spears that pierced Christ." So Thomas Brooks is saying a man that is holy cannot look upon sin and cannot think about sin without thinking of everything that sin has done to the Lord Jesus Christ. And our heart then, of course, should indeed rise up against it. So it should be obvious that God could never, ever have pleasure in sin. He may control it. He may punish it, but He has no pleasure in it. He cannot have pleasure in it because He's infinitely holy and wise and righteous.

What Does Not Please God: Fools

From Ecclesiastes 5:4, Weaver defines a biblical fool as one who makes vows to God and does not pay them, emphasizing the importance of keeping one's word.

Look at what He said. Ecclesiastes 5, verse 4.

Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:4

"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed."

Now watch that again. I've got a number of things to say on this. He said,

Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:4

"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed."

Now fools in the Bible are not mentally deficient persons. A fool in the Bible is someone who is wicked, vile, rebellious, who refuses instruction, rebuke, and reproof. He is someone who simply will not listen. Now let me just show you. I'm going to give you a couple of verses. In Psalm 14, verse 1, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 14:1

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

Then he goes on,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 14:1

"They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

Now, whether you want to argue that he's a theoretical atheist or a practical atheist, it doesn't matter. What he is basically saying is just, "No God for me. I'm gonna do what I want to do. I'll live my own life. I'll be my own law." Therefore he is indeed corrupt, abominable, and he does not do good. The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 15 and verse 5,

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 15:5

"A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent."

So a fool then is one who despises instruction. When you get to Proverbs 17 and verse 10, the Bible says, "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool." So one reproof will enter into a wise man more than a hundred stripes into a fool.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 17:10

In other words, you can beat him and beat him and beat him, and he still won't listen. That's why in Proverbs 26 and verse 3, the Bible says, "A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back." The only way you can control a horse is with a whip. A bridle, same thing with an ass, and the only way you can control a fool is with a rod. That's what God is saying. Now, I want you to look back at Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 4, because according to our text, a fool is not only one who is rebellious and wicked, not only one who refuses instruction, but he's also deceived. He's a hypocrite. And he thinks that he could deceive God and escape the consequences of his actions. He says in verse 4, "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." I believe that this text would probably support our old adage that a man's word is his bond. We've certainly lost the impact of that in this society in this day and age. But God is telling us that a truthful person is going to perform that which he has promised. He's going to be a man of his word.

Now, let me share with you some things that I have seen, and I can give you a good illustration of this. When God says, "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." I've preached for 55 years. I have no idea how many times I've been called to the hospital when people have been on the deathbed. Sometimes as a child, sometimes as a husband, sometimes as a wife, or sometimes someone is just seriously ill and they're thinking that there's no possible way that they can recover. And I get to the hospital and they'll say, "Oh preacher, pray, please pray. I've told God if He'd heal my child or heal my wife or heal my husband, I've promised Him that I'd be in church and I'd do this and I'd do that and I'd be faithful and I would pray." And God in His sovereignty would miraculously raise that person up. And guess what? They did come to church for about two weeks.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 76:10

And then it was over. They just totally, absolutely forgot all their vows, forgot all their promises. And, you know, we try to do that. We'll make a vow. We'll make a promise. And then we just simply forget it or we simply violate it. God calls us fools. Also have to remember this. We should never be making vows and promises that are impossible to keep. I have known people who've made vows. Then it's just humanly impossible. I've known people said, "Well, I'm a witness to everybody I ever see." No, you're not. It's impossible. I'm just simply saying God says do not make promises and vows that you cannot keep. Because God says once you make a promise, once you make a vow, I expect you to keep it. Okay? You know what the Bible says in Psalm 76 and verse 10? "Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared." God says, vow and pay. So we ought to be men and women of our word.

When we give our word, we're to keep our word. Now, let me just show you. Suppose I told Steve, "I will meet you tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock." And so Steve is here at five minutes to 10 ready for our meeting. But I don't show up until 10:30. Not only have I broken my word, I've just stolen 35 minutes of his time. That means I'm a thief, as well as a liar.

Now we understand, you know, if I have a flat tire on the way here, if I run out of gas, of course, that could be poor planning. If I had a medical emergency, all that's understandable. But when we give our word, we should keep our word. That's exactly what God is telling us. So He says, when we make a vow, especially unto Him, we're to pay it. We're to be men and women of our word. Our word is to be our bond. So God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools.

What Does Not Please God: Quitters

Hebrews 10:38 teaches that God has no pleasure in those who draw back from faith. Weaver illustrates with Luke 9:57-62 and the analogy of plowing a straight row.

If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10 and look if you would please at verse 38. Hebrews 10 verse 38. Here's the third thing. God has no pleasure in quitters. God has no pleasure in quitters. Watch this. Hebrews 10 verse 38.

"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." God says, if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. I have always been exasperated with people, children and adults as well, who begin to whine and complain and cry, "I can't, I can't," when they've never even tried. How about people who begin and never finish? Alice and I have passed several houses that had begun to be built and were never finished. We passed one castle that began to be, and now I realize the man could have died. I understand that. But you look around today and there are carpenters that will begin a job and quit. Plumbers that will begin a job and quit. I'm just simply saying, you look around today and you see all of this.

Now, the Greek word for draw back here is the word hupostello, and it refers to one who withdraws, one who hesitates, one who is unwilling, or one who basically shrinks back. Now, the withdrawing or turning back or quitting or shrinking back could be from fear. It could be from persecution. It could be from laziness, ignorance, apathy, or a multitude of things. But the point is this, when the going gets tough, most people just quit. You heard the old adage, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Well, that may be true, but there's very few tough today because most people just basically quit. When the circumstances and situations become difficult and pressing, they just simply give up and they quit.

God says, I have no pleasure in quitters. Old John Trapp said this. He said, talking about these quitters, "They steal from His colors, run from His captain, revolt from Christ and turn renegade, relinquishing His religion as did Julian, Lucian, and other odious apostates." And then he goes on to say this, "My soul shall have no pleasure. Christ hath no delights in dastards, turncoats, runaways. He will not employ them so far as to break a pitcher or bear a torch."

So he's referring to Judges chapter 7 there, where Gideon, you remember, had the lantern and the torches and the trumpet, and those who were fearful they went back, they left. So he says God will not even use such a one. Now, I want you to see this. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 9. Luke chapter 9. And I want us to begin reading with verse 57, Luke 9, verse 57. I'm just pointing out the fact now that God has no pleasure in sin. He has no pleasure in fools. He has no pleasure in quitters. Look what He says. Luke 9, verse 57.

"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Now, here's a man that comes to Christ and says, "Lord, I'm just going to follow you wherever you go." Our Lord said, "You better think about this." He said, "The foxes, they have holes in the ground. They have a home. The birds of air have nests." They have a place they can lie down in. The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. In other words, if you follow Me, it's going to be tough. There's going to be pressing and trying circumstances and situations. You better think about this. Don't be a quitter if you're going to follow Me. Times will get tough. Now notice verse 59. "And he said unto another, Follow me."

But he said, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father." Now, we're not told too much here, but I can tell you this. That does not necessarily mean that his father was dead. What he was saying was, "Lord, I want to stay around until my father dies and get my inheritance, and then I'm going to serve you." Hmm. Our Lord said, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." No, He said, "No, you don't do that. If you're going to follow Me, you follow Me now. It doesn't matter." Then look in verse 61. "And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Now listen to this. "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Now, you may not know much about farming. And not everybody in this room was raised on a farm, I can assure you. But I was. And I have plowed many, many miles. And I have planted many fields in my younger days. One thing I can do is I can plow a straight row. I can make my row as straight as an arrow. And I learned how to do that as a child.

And I'm going to tell you how just so I can explain this text. The first row I lay out in a field, I point my tractor at a tree at the other end of the field. I line that tree up or that post or pole or whatever it is with the middle of my tractor. And once I put the plow down, and I give the gas to the tractor, I do not stop. I do not look back until I get to the end of that field. And when I turn around and look back, my row is just as straight as it can be. If you ever start toward the end of a field pointed at a tree and you keep looking back, you're going to be turning and your row is going to be as crooked as the day is long. This is what our Lord meant when He said, "He that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back." In other words, you can't look back and say, "Wow, I wish I could do what I used to do."

"I wish I could do like the world." No, no, no. You can't look back. It doesn't matter what the situation is. Doesn't matter what the circumstances are. You cannot look back. Adam Clarke said on this text, he said, "My soul shall have no pleasure in him. My very heart shall be opposed to him who makes shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience." He says the word hupostello signifies not only to draw back, but to slink away and hide through fear.

In this sense, it is used by the very best Greek writers, as well as Josephus and Philo. As dastards and cowards are hated by all men, so those that slink away from Christ and His cause for fear of persecution or secular loss God must despise. In them He cannot delight, and His Spirit, grieved with their conduct, must desert their hearts and lead them to darkness and hardness. Wow. God has absolutely no delight in quitters. And there are people today. There are preachers today.

I've heard them say, "I'm not trying to deny Scripture. I'm just trying to be a little wise so I can draw a lot of people into the church." But what they're doing is denying Scripture. They're doing it for secular gain.

What Does Not Please God: A Mercenary Spirit

Using Malachi 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-18, Weaver argues that God is displeased with those who serve only for money or recognition, rather than as ministry.

Now, while I mentioned that, I want to point this out and include it in this point. I want to include it along with the quitters that God despises. There are those who are willing to help and work and serve only if they can be paid or recognized. Now, I understand, and so do you, that there are those who preach the gospel that God has ordained who are to live by the gospel. That's what He said in 1 Corinthians 9 and verse 14.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 9:14

"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel."

Obviously that is the truth, but unhappily many pastors as well as Christians in general develop a mercenary spirit and are only willing to serve and minister in reference to money, favor, or advancement. And God is absolutely displeased with such attitudes. Let me show you.

I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, Malachi chapter 1. And one of these days, I hope to be able to preach through this book. I've been studying and working on outlines, but I don't know just when I'll get to it, but it's a wonderful book. But look in verse 10. Look what God asked His people, His ministers. He says in verse 10, Malachi 1,

Scripture Reading — Malachi 1:10

"Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand."

He said, you won't even close the doors for nought. You expect to get paid for closing the door. That's like people expect to get paid for playing the piano in church, playing the organ in church.

Now, I understand if you were a full-time Christian musician, that might be a position, but for just a volunteer to play, I mean, you know, here's the point. If something is ministry, then it is ministry. One does not charge for the ministry. Now, let me tell you, anybody with one eye and half sense understands there are expenses involved in the ministry. Love offerings are one thing, but charging is another thing. Want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 9. Look if you would beginning there with verse 16. Look what the Apostle Paul says. 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 16. 1 Corinthians 9 verse 16, the Apostle says, "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"

"For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel." Now the apostle Paul says, "I have to preach. I've got to preach." He says necessity is laid upon me. Woe is me if I don't preach. God called me. Then he said, "But I want to do this willingly." And he said, "My reward in just ministering is that I make the gospel of Christ without charge, and I have power in the gospel."

I have preached for 55 years. I have never asked for money to preach. I preached all across this country. I have no idea how many churches I've preached in. Most of the time, the churches give a love offering, which will cover my expenses. If I have to fly out there, obviously there is a plane expense. If I have to drive, there's a driving expense, motels, food. Most of the time, whatever my expenses are, they're covered. However, there's been plenty of times, a number of times, that my expenses were not covered. Sometimes a smaller work and they can't afford much of a love offering. You know, the truth is inevitably, invariably, whenever there's not a sufficient amount in the love offering to cover my expenses, God always has someone to send it in from another source. It's never failed. It's never failed.

So I don't come and say, "Well, I have to have a thousand dollars a night or I can't come." That's wicked. That's a mercenary attitude. What did Paul say? Paul said, "I'm going to preach. I'm gonna make the gospel without charge." Did folks take up love offerings for Paul? Yes! Did Paul receive them? Yes! Did Paul use them? Yes! But he didn't go around charging people to preach. I'm just simply saying, I have to laugh at this one. I marry, I bury people, I marry people. Somebody says, "What do you charge?" Well, this one, one last one was a friend of mine when he married his girl. He said, "What do you charge, Brother Weaver?" I said, "Well, just whatever you think she's worth."

And of course, I was laughing. Well, that was dirty, wasn't it? Because he just got married to her. He better think she's worth a lot. But I said nothing, son. Whatever you want to give is wonderful. I don't care, you know. But I'm just simply saying, you know, God says we cannot develop a mercenary spirit. What we must understand is ministry is ministry. And if you're charging for it, it's not ministry. Is it? No.

Brother David asked me to pray for him. "Brother, I'm going to pray for you, but it's going to only be 50 bucks for the first prayer and thereafter 25." Is that ministry? No, no. You know, we get so wrapped up in the world. Let me tell you something. Maybe this will put it in the proper perspective. I don't know about you, but I am thankful, I'm grateful, and I'm appreciative that Jesus Christ did not charge us for His ministry.

How many of us could have paid Him to minister to us? He said in Mark 10 and verse 45, "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." So we have to understand God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools. God has no pleasure in quitters. And God has no pleasure with those who have a mercenary spirit.

What Does Not Please God: The Death of the Wicked

From Ezekiel 18:23,32 and 33:11, Weaver clarifies that while God judges the wicked, He takes no pleasure in their death, as evidenced by His commands to repent and believe (Acts 17:30-31; 1 John 3:23).

One last thing, and I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 18, Ezekiel chapter 18. Ezekiel 18.

And I will show you several verses. I've told you God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools. God has no pleasure in quitters and those with mercenary spirits. And God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Will He judge them? Yes. Will He destroy them? Yes. But that does not mean that He has delight and pleasure in their deaths. Notice Ezekiel chapter 18 and verse 23. God asked this question. "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" Skip down to verse 32. "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." Notice what He says. "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. I have no pleasure that you're going to die. Turn ye." Look in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter 33 and verse 11. Ezekiel 33 and verse 11. Again, God says it like this. Ezekiel 33 and verse 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?"

God said, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." This caricature that so many people make of God of being some old meanie, some old vengeful man up in heaven, just waiting to throw somebody into the pit of hell and torture them for eternity. That's not God. God says, "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." Will God judge them? Yes. Will God punish them? Yes. He is holy. He is righteous. He is just. But that does not mean that He has pleasure in their deaths. Now, let me just show you.

To demonstrate this truth from the New Testament, I want you to turn to two passages. The first one is Acts chapter 17, and the second one is 1 John chapter 3. If you would turn to those two passages, first of all, Acts chapter 17. Acts 17, and then we're going to turn to 1 John chapter 3. I want you to see these two verses. So when someone tries to say, "Well, God is just an old meanie and God delights in the death of the wicked." No, He does not. Yes, the wicked will die and yes, He will judge them, but that does not mean that He delights in their deaths. Let me show you. If God delighted in the death of the wicked, He would not have commanded men to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 17 verses 30 and 31, look at what the Scripture says. "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." God commands men to repent. Why? Look in verse 31, "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

Now God says just as surely as I raised Jesus Christ from the dead, there's going to be a judgment. And since I'm going to judge everyone, I command you to repent. Wow. Now, if you disobey His command, that's your problem. But He commanded you to repent. Then if you look in 1 John chapter 3 and verse 23, He says this. "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." Wow. So God then has commanded men to repent and He has commanded men to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 3 verse 23, which demonstrates the fact that God does not have pleasure in the death of the wicked. The wicked will die. Yes. The wicked will be judged. Yes. The wicked will be punished. Yes. But God does not delight in doing that. Therefore, He commands men to repent and believe.

Applications and Conclusion

Weaver applies the message by urging believers to avoid sin, foolishness, quitting, and mercenary attitudes, and to be people of their word, even when it hurts. He closes in prayer.

Now, let me make just two quick applications. The first one is this. As children of our heavenly Father, we must avoid those things which displease Him. We must act in faith. We must obey and live our lives in accordance to His commands. We must avoid sin. We must avoid foolishness. We must avoid being quitters. We must avoid having a mercenary spirit.

Now you're going to say, "But Brother Weaver, I'm still a sinner." I understand that. And so am I. And so let me give you a Scripture. 1 John chapter 2, verse 1. Here's what God said, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." He said, "I'm writing these things so you won't sin. But if you do sin, we have the perfect advocate, we have the perfect attorney, Jesus Christ the righteous, who pleads our cause and pleads our case." Okay. The second is this.

We have to learn to be men and women of our word. Our word must be our bond. I'll cover this more next week. But the Bible tells us in Psalm 15 and verse 4, that a godly man is he "that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not." So here's a good illustration. Let's suppose Gary came to me and said, "I would like to buy an ounce of silver." I said, "Gary, I've got an ounce. I'll sell you. And it's 15 bucks an ounce." He said, "Good. I'll buy it."

"I just need to go home and get my money." I said, "That's fine." And so I turned the radio on, or check the internet. Wow. Silver is going up to 50 bucks an ounce. And I just told him I'd sell it to him for 15. When he comes back with 15, I can't look at him as a Christian and say, "Hey, wait a minute. I just checked and it's going up to 50 bucks an ounce. You owe me 50."

No, I gave him my word. I'd sell it for 15. That's what I want to do. I'll just lose 35. You got that? What's a man do? He's a godly man that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not. In other words, if it hurts him, he's still going to keep his word because his word is his bond. That's why God says when we vow, when we promise, and especially to Him, we're to keep our word. We're to be men and women of our word. Let's pray.

Father, thank you again for this day. Help us, Lord, not to displease Thee by sinning, by being foolish, by being a quitter, by being a mercenary and by, Lord, doing those things which are contrary to Thee and Thy word. Help us, Lord, to be obedient. Help us to be men and women of our word and bring honor and glory and pleasure unto Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Pleasure-Oriented Society vs. Pleasing God

Summary: Modern culture is obsessed with self-pleasure, but Christians are called to prioritize pleasing God.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'We actually live for pleasure... Unhappily today, not only many Americans, but many Christians had much rather play than work... most Christians have never ever thought or given thought to the truth of giving God pleasure.'

God's Hatred of Sin

Summary: Sin is utterly contrary to God's holy nature, and He cannot have pleasure in it.

Evidence: Psalm 5:4-6 is cited: 'For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness... thou hatest all workers of iniquity.' Weaver adds, 'God hates sin perfectly.'

The Importance of Keeping Vows

Summary: God has no pleasure in fools who make vows and do not fulfill them; believers must be people of their word.

Evidence: Ecclesiastes 5:4: 'When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools.' Weaver illustrates with deathbed promises and broken appointments.

Perseverance in Faith

Summary: God is displeased with those who draw back or quit when following Christ becomes difficult.

Evidence: Hebrews 10:38: 'If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.' Weaver uses the plowing analogy from Luke 9:62.

Rejecting a Mercenary Spirit in Ministry

Summary: Serving God for financial gain rather than as a calling displeases Him.

Evidence: Malachi 1:10: 'I have no pleasure in you...' and 1 Corinthians 9:16-18 where Paul preaches without charge. Weaver shares his personal practice of not charging for ministry.

God's Reluctance in Judging the Wicked

Summary: Though God will judge sin, He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, desiring their repentance.

Evidence: Ezekiel 18:23,32; 33:11: 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.' Acts 17:30-31 and 1 John 3:23 show His command to repent and believe.

Key Arguments

Knowing What Displeases God Is Essential to Pleasing Him

Summary: To bring God pleasure, one must first understand what He hates.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'How in the world can you bring God pleasure if you do not know that which displeases Him?'

Sin Is Incompatible with God's Holiness

Summary: God's absolute holiness means He cannot delight in sin, even in His redeemed people.

Evidence: Citing Habakkuk 1:13 and Psalm 5:4-6, Weaver says, 'God cannot delight in sin whatsoever.'

A Fool Is Defined by Unkept Vows

Summary: The biblical fool is not mentally deficient but morally rebellious, especially in breaking promises to God.

Evidence: Ecclesiastes 5:4 and Proverbs 15:5, 17:10, 26:3 are used to define a fool as one who despises instruction and does not keep vows.

Drawing Back from Faith Is Apostasy

Summary: Quitting the Christian walk under pressure is a serious offense that displeases God.

Evidence: Hebrews 10:38 and Luke 9:62 are explained; John Trapp is quoted: 'Christ hath no delights in dastards, turncoats, runaways.'

Ministry Must Not Be Commercialized

Summary: Charging for spiritual service corrupts ministry and displeases God.

Evidence: Malachi 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-18 show that God rejects mercenary service; Weaver states, 'If you're charging for it, it's not ministry.'

God Commands Repentance Because He Desires Life, Not Death

Summary: The universal call to repent proves God takes no pleasure in punishing sinners.

Evidence: Acts 17:30-31 and 1 John 3:23 are cited: 'God commands men to repent... which demonstrates the fact that God does not have pleasure in the death of the wicked.'

Scripture References

Job 22:1-3

Context: The opening text for the sermon series, posing questions about man's profitability to God and God's pleasure in human righteousness.

Luke 12:16-20

Context: The parable of the rich fool is referenced to illustrate a pleasure-oriented life that ignores eternity.

Proverbs 21:17

Context: Cited to show that loving pleasure leads to poverty.

Isaiah 46:10

Context: Demonstrates God's sovereignty: He does all His pleasure.

Psalm 115:3

Context: Affirms God does whatever He pleases.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Context: Believers are not their own; they were bought with a price and should glorify God.

Psalm 5:4-6

Context: Key passage showing God has no pleasure in wickedness and hates workers of iniquity.

Habakkuk 1:13

Context: God is of purer eyes than to behold evil approvingly.

Jeremiah 44:4

Context: God calls sin an abominable thing He hates.

Ecclesiastes 5:4

Context: God has no pleasure in fools who defer paying vows.

Psalm 14:1

Context: The fool says in his heart there is no God.

Proverbs 15:5

Context: A fool despises his father's instruction.

Proverbs 17:10

Context: A reproof enters a wise man more than a hundred stripes into a fool.

Proverbs 26:3

Context: A rod is for the fool's back.

Psalm 76:10

Context: Vow and pay unto the Lord your God.

Hebrews 10:38

Context: If any man draw back, God's soul has no pleasure in him.

Luke 9:57-62

Context: Jesus' teaching on the cost of discipleship, including the plow analogy.

1 Corinthians 9:14

Context: Those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Malachi 1:10

Context: God has no pleasure in priests who serve only for payment.

1 Corinthians 9:16-18

Context: Paul's example of preaching the gospel without charge.

Historical References

Joseph Caryl

Context: Quoted on Psalm 5:4-6, outlining six steps showing God's alienation from the wicked.

John Gill

Context: Cited on the nature of sin being contrary to God's nature and law.

Thomas Brooks

Context: Quoted on how a holy man views sin as striking at God's holiness and as the instruments of Christ's crucifixion.

John Trapp

Context: Quoted on Hebrews 10:38, describing quitters as dastards and turncoats whom Christ will not employ.

Adam Clarke

Context: Quoted on Hebrews 10:38, explaining 'draw back' as slinking away through fear.

Julian, Lucian, and other apostates

Context: Mentioned by John Trapp as examples of those who revolted from Christ.

Josephus and Philo

Context: Cited by Adam Clarke as using the Greek word hupostello for drawing back through fear.

Important Quotes

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Significance: This is the foundational Scripture for the point that God has no pleasure in sin, directly quoted from Psalm 5:4-6.

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

Significance: Key verse from Ecclesiastes 5:4 establishing that God is displeased with those who break vows.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Significance: Hebrews 10:38 quoted to show God's displeasure with those who quit the faith.

No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Significance: Jesus' words from Luke 9:62 used to illustrate the danger of quitting or looking back.

Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Significance: Malachi 1:10 quoted to condemn a mercenary spirit in ministry.

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Significance: Ezekiel 18:23 quoted to show God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

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?

Significance: Ezekiel 33:11 reinforces God's desire for repentance rather than judgment.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Significance: Mark 10:45 used to contrast Christ's free ministry with mercenary attitudes.

Discussion Questions

In what ways has our society become pleasure-oriented, and how does that affect our spiritual priorities?

Context: Weaver describes society as living for pleasure, citing examples like expensive toys and debt.

Why is it essential to know what displeases God in order to please Him?

Context: Weaver argues that most Christians do not know what pleases or displeases God.

How does Psalm 5:4-6 deepen our understanding of God's attitude toward sin?

Context: The passage is expounded with Joseph Caryl's six steps of God's alienation from the wicked.

What does it mean to be a 'fool' in the biblical sense, and how can we avoid foolishness in our vows?

Context: Ecclesiastes 5:4 and Proverbs are used to define a fool as one who breaks promises.

What are some modern examples of 'drawing back' from faith, and how can we persevere?

Context: Hebrews 10:38 and Luke 9:57-62 are discussed with the plowing analogy.

How can we guard against a mercenary spirit in our service to God?

Context: Malachi 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 9 are used to warn against serving for money.

If God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, how should that shape our evangelism and view of judgment?

Context: Ezekiel 18 and 33, Acts 17, and 1 John 3 are cited to show God's desire for repentance.

What practical steps can we take to be men and women of our word, even when it hurts?

Context: Psalm 15:4 is applied with the silver illustration.

Applications

Avoid Sin

Summary: Believers must actively avoid sin because it is hated by God and contrary to His holiness.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'As children of our heavenly Father, we must avoid those things which displease Him... We must avoid sin.'

Keep Your Vows

Summary: Christians should be people of their word, fulfilling promises especially those made to God.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'We have to learn to be men and women of our word. Our word must be our bond.'

Persevere in Faith

Summary: Do not quit or draw back when following Christ becomes difficult; keep your hand on the plow.

Evidence: Weaver warns against being quitters, using Luke 9:62: 'No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'

Serve Without Mercenary Motives

Summary: Ministry should be done willingly and without charge, following Paul's example.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you're charging for it, it's not ministry.' He cites 1 Corinthians 9:16-18.

Repent and Believe

Summary: Since God commands all to repent and believe, we should respond to His call and share the gospel.

Evidence: Acts 17:30-31 and 1 John 3:23 are given as commands demonstrating God's desire for life.

Rely on Christ's Advocacy When We Fail

Summary: Though we are to avoid sin, when we do sin, we have Jesus Christ as our advocate.

Evidence: 1 John 2:1 is quoted: 'If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:52:39Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T01:33:21Z

Clean Transcript

Giving God Pleasure

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Job 22, that's right before the book of Psalms. Job 22, verses 1 through 3. Now let me make a statement before we actually get into the message. I will deal with the text next Lord's Day. The message is going to be in two parts. So although I'm going to be reading our text today, I will explain it, Lord willing, next Sunday. The title of the message is "Giving God Pleasure." So look in Job 22, beginning there with verse 1. The Bible says, "Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect?" The truth of the matter is that we are a pleasure-oriented society.
#1 | 0:11 to 1:18 | cleaned
We wish to be pleased, pampered, and coddled. It's absolutely amazing to me how much money is thrown away on that which could only be described as pleasure or simply recreation. And recreation certainly is indeed a booming business. There are pleasure cruises, there are pleasure vacations, and there are pleasure-oriented pastimes. Even retirement communities are now offering everything that will please the senior citizen, from golf to tennis to whatever. And it's astounding to me that everywhere you turn, something has to do with pleasure. Pleasure is often defined as a feeling of satisfaction, enjoyment, or gratification. And oftentimes, pleasure is also associated with entertainment. So we want to be entertained because it simply pleases us. So it should be obvious that our entire society basically has degenerated into a pleasure- and entertainment-oriented society. We actually live for pleasure.
#2 | 1:19 to 2:32 | cleaned
We're kind of like the rich farmer in Luke chapter 12. He had so much, and yet at the same time, he said, "What in the world am I going to do?" He said, "I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and I'll build bigger barns to store all my stuff." And God said to him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee."
#3 | 2:33 to 2:54 | cleaned
And then who shall all these things be? So many people are just so happy to please themselves and do as they please. And they never, ever think of eternity whatsoever. Unhappily today, not only many Americans, but many Christians had much rather play than work. And they'd much rather be pleased than to accomplish anything. And basically most individuals, they spend their money on toys, expensive toys, and then complain and whine because they're in debt up to their eyeballs and don't have enough money to live on. And you look around at some of these RVs that are traveling down the road, and some of the low prices on them are $100,000, and they're pulling boats or pulling other cars that are worth a good bit of money as well. I know a lot of people may have money, but all the people certainly in debt as well. But the Bible says this in Proverbs 21 and verse 17: "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: and he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."
#4 | 2:54 to 4:04 | cleaned
So God said if you love pleasure, you're going to end up being a poor man. And if you love oil and wine, you're not going to be rich at all. In other words, you're going to blow your money on that which you think pleases you as well. So we often define pleasure then as that which is pleasing to us, and we know what we like and we know what we enjoy. And we always want to plan on what is going to bring us the most pleasure. Unhappily, most Christians have never ever thought or given thought to the truth of giving God pleasure. We know that which we like and that which pleases us, but very few really know what pleases God and what He likes. How in the world can you bring God pleasure if you do not know that which displeases Him? How can you bring God pleasure if you do not know that which pleases God if you do not even know the difference between that which displeases Him and that which pleases Him?
#5 | 4:04 to 5:10 | cleaned
Now here's the pressing question. Are you concerned enough and love the Lord enough to desire to please Him? Obviously if you're going to please Him, then you're going to be bringing Him pleasure. And if you're going to bring Him pleasure, you have to know that which pleases Him. And you also have to know that which He hates and despises and detests.
#6 | 5:11 to 5:38 | cleaned
Now I'm going to give you very quickly three words that are used over and over in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Two of them are Hebrew, one of them is Greek. The first Hebrew word is the word kafetz. It is translated in our Bibles as delight, pleasure, and that which one takes delight in. The second word is the Hebrew word ratson, and it actually means that which is acceptable, that which is favorable, that which is approvable, and that which is pleasurable. And then when you get to the New Testament, you have the word eudokeo, and it literally means to be pleased in and to have pleasure in and to prefer and choose and to be favorable. Now, there are other words, but these are three of the main words that are translated in our Bibles as pleasure over and over and over. When we think of pleasure, again, we tend to think of that which pleases us.
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And you know, an interesting thing is this. We cannot always do that which pleases us. There's a little something called work that usually gets in our way, and it's a necessity unhappily because we also like to eat. But it's not only work that gets in our way. A lot of times it's just simply lack of money and lack of funds. Sometimes it's even lack of ability. I mean, we may be sick. But have you ever stopped to think the only individual that can always do as he pleases is God? Because God is absolutely sovereign.
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We as creatures are finite. We are limited. We are impotent, powerless in and of ourselves. But since God is absolutely sovereign, He is infinite and He is omnipotent. I want you to listen to what He said in Isaiah 46 and verse 10. He said, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." God is the only one who can do all of His pleasure. And when you get to Psalm 115 and verse 3, David said, "Our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased." And the only reason the world exists is because it pleased God to create it. The only reason you and I are alive, it pleased God to create us and to allow us to live. The only reason we're saved is because it simply pleased God to save us.
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Now, stop and think about this. Since we are God's creatures, since He created us, we owe Him worship and honor and praise and pleasure. He created us for His pleasure. Moreover, since we have been redeemed by His grace and mercy through Jesus Christ, we now doubly owe Him because we're not only His creatures, we're also His servants. We're also His slaves. You remember that passage in 1 Corinthians 6 verses 19 and 20?
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Where the apostle says what? "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God? Ye are not your own. Ye have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are His." He owns us. He redeemed us. He saved us. He bought us out of the slave market. And now we have become His servants. So we not only owe God glory and honor and praise and pleasure by virtue of being His creatures, we owe Him that by being His redeemed as well. And thirdly, we owe Him honor, glory, praise, worship and pleasure by virtue of the fact that we're now His children. Children should always want to please their father. That's why He said honor thy father and thy mother. So we are His children. We should know that which pleases Him, but we should also know that which displeases Him.
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Now, this message is going to be divided into two parts. The part today is the negative.
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Next Sunday is the positive, and I want to encourage everyone to hear the message next Sunday as well, because I think it will be an eye opener when we find out some things that actually bring God pleasure. But today, I'm just going to cover one point, and that is what does not bring God pleasure or what does not please God. And I'm going to begin with the very simplest and the very obvious, and that is sin. Obviously sin does not please God. It cannot please God because sin is disobedience. It's wickedness. It's rebellion. It's transgression. It is iniquity.
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It is completely, totally contrary to God. God is infinitely holy, righteous and pure, and therefore anything that's contrary to God, God hates and God despises. Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles just a few pages over to Psalm 5. Psalm 5. And let's look at verses 4 through 6. Psalm 5, verses 4 through 6. I want you to see what God says very, very plainly. Look in Psalm 5.
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Notice if you would verse 4. "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man."
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Now, the psalmist here is referring to a well-known and well-understood characteristic of the divine being that God is infinitely holy and pure and that He cannot have any pleasure in sin or furthering the wicked devices of wicked men. Now, I've quoted this passage before. I'm going to quote it again. In the book of Habakkuk chapter 1 and verse 13, God says, "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." I told you recently God does behold and God does look upon iniquity to condemn it and to judge it and to punish it. But what Habakkuk is saying, God cannot look upon iniquity approvingly or condoningly. Why? Because He is absolutely pure. Now, I want you to look, beginning in verse 4, and I want to read a quote to you from Joseph Caryl. Joseph Caryl is going to point out six steps that show very clearly God's hatred of sin. Listen, if you would, to what Joseph Caryl said. Here, the Lord's alienation from the wicked is set forth gradually and seems to rise by six steps.
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First, He hath no pleasure in them. That's found in verse 4, when He says, "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness." Secondly, they shall not dwell with Him, that's found in verse 4, "Neither shall evil dwell with thee." And then He says thirdly, He casteth them forth, that is, in verse 5, "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight." And then He says, fourthly, His heart turns from them because in verse 5 He says, "Thou hatest all workers of iniquity." And then fifthly, His hand is turned upon them because He says, "Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing."
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And then sixthly, His spirit rises against them and is alienated from them. "The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man." And then he says this, "This estrangement is indeed a strange, yet a certain punishment to the workers of iniquity." When you just stop and think about this passage, to be hated by God, and yet that's what the Bible says. "Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing. The Lord will abhor the bloody and the deceitful man." And the word abhor is a very, very strong word for hatred.
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John Gill said that sin and ungodliness is contrary to God's nature, who is holy, just, and good, and to His will that is revealed in His law, which is the same as His nature, and sin is a transgression of it. Then he goes on to show and demonstrate the very fact that God permitted or allowed sin to enter does not mean that God delighted in it at all. And He could not delight in it, although He had to have allowed it because He is sovereign. Otherwise, it could not have entered in. And then he went on to say that God even despises the sin in His people, even though He has redeemed us and has forgiven us. God cannot delight in sin whatsoever.
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Now, there's a wonderful passage that would be well for us to memorize. It's found in Jeremiah chapter 44 and verse 4. God says, "Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate." And He's talking about sin. God says, "Oh, do not this abominable thing, which I hate." So God hates sin perfectly. God is holy, all holy, only holy, altogether holy, and always holy. When you think about sin, sin is sinful, only sinful, altogether sinful, and always sinful, and is an abomination to God, and is hated by God. So obviously God cannot abide sin. Sin is wickedness and a violation of God's law.
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I want you to listen to what Thomas Brooks said. Think about this. He said, "A holy man knows that all sin strikes at the holiness of God, the glory of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the law of God, and therefore his heart rises against all." Now listen to this. "He that is the holy man looks upon every sin as the scribes and the Pharisees that accused Christ, and Judas who betrayed Christ, and Pilate who condemned Christ, and those soldiers who scourged Christ, and those spears that pierced Christ." So Thomas Brooks is saying a man that is holy cannot look upon sin and cannot think about sin without thinking of everything that sin has done to the Lord Jesus Christ. And our heart then, of course, should indeed rise up against it. So it should be obvious that God could never, ever have pleasure in sin. He may control it. He may punish it, but He has no pleasure in it. He cannot have pleasure in it because He's infinitely holy and wise and righteous.
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Now, the very first thing that God has no pleasure in is sin. I want you to turn from the book of Psalms over just a few books to the book of Ecclesiastes—Psalms, Proverbs, and the Song of Solomon. No, Ecclesiastes after Proverbs and then the Song of Solomon, but it is Ecclesiastes chapter 5 and verse 4. Here's the second thing that God has absolutely no pleasure in. God not only has no pleasure in sin, He has no pleasure in fools.
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Look at what He said. Ecclesiastes 5, verse 4. "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." Now watch that again. I've got a number of things to say on this. He said, "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed."
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Now fools in the Bible are not mentally deficient persons. A fool in the Bible is someone who is wicked, vile, rebellious, who refuses instruction, rebuke, and reproof. He is someone who simply will not listen.
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Now let me just show you. I'm going to give you a couple of verses. In Psalm 14, verse 1, the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Then he goes on, "They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."
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Now, whether you want to argue that he's a theoretical atheist or a practical atheist, it doesn't matter. What he is basically saying is just, "No God for me. I'm gonna do what I want to do. I'll live my own life. I'll be my own law." Therefore he is indeed corrupt, abominable, and he does not do good. The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 15 and verse 5, "A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent." So a fool then is one who despises instruction. When you get to Proverbs 17 and verse 10, the Bible says, "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool." So one reproof will enter into a wise man more than a hundred stripes into a fool.
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In other words, you can beat him and beat him and beat him, and he still won't listen. That's why in Proverbs 26 and verse 3, the Bible says, "A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back." The only way you can control a horse is with a whip. A bridle, same thing with an ass, and the only way you can control a fool is with a rod. That's what God is saying. Now, I want you to look back at Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 4, because according to our text, a fool is not only one who is rebellious and wicked, not only one who refuses instruction, but he's also deceived. He's a hypocrite.
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And he thinks that he could deceive God and escape the consequences of his actions. He says in verse 4, "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." I believe that this text would probably support our old adage that a man's word is his bond. We've certainly lost the impact of that in this society in this day and age. But God is telling us that a truthful person is going to perform that which he has promised. He's going to be a man of his word.
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Now, let me share with you some things that I have seen, and I can give you a good illustration of this. When God says, "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." I've preached for 55 years. I have no idea how many times I've been called to the hospital when people have been on the deathbed.
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Sometimes as a child, sometimes as a husband, sometimes as a wife, or sometimes someone is just seriously ill and they're thinking that there's no possible way that they can recover. And I get to the hospital and they'll say, "Oh preacher, pray, please pray. I've told God if He'd heal my child or heal my wife or heal my husband, I've promised Him that I'd be in church and I'd do this and I'd do that and I'd be faithful and I would pray." And God in His sovereignty would miraculously raise that person up. And guess what? They did come to church for about two weeks.
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And then it was over. They just totally, absolutely forgot all their vows, forgot all their promises. And, you know, we try to do that. We'll make a vow. We'll make a promise. And then we just simply forget it or we simply violate it. God calls us fools. Also have to remember this. We should never be making vows and promises that are impossible to keep. I have known people who've made vows. Then it's just humanly impossible. I've known people said, "Well, I'm a witness to everybody I ever see." No, you're not. It's impossible. I'm just simply saying God says do not make promises and vows that you cannot keep. Because God says once you make a promise, once you make a vow, I expect you to keep it. Okay? You know what the Bible says in Psalm 76 and verse 10? "Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared." God says, vow and pay. So we ought to be men and women of our word.
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When we give our word, we're to keep our word. Now, let me just show you. Suppose I told Steve, "I will meet you tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock." And so Steve is here at five minutes to 10 ready for our meeting. But I don't show up until 10:30. Not only have I broken my word, I've just stolen 35 minutes of his time. That means I'm a thief, as well as a liar.
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Now we understand, you know, if I have a flat tire on the way here, if I run out of gas, of course, that could be poor planning. If I had a medical emergency, all that's understandable. But when we give our word, we should keep our word. That's exactly what God is telling us. So He says, when we make a vow, especially unto Him, we're to pay it. We're to be men and women of our word. Our word is to be our bond. So God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools.
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If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10 and look if you would please at verse 38. Hebrews 10 verse 38. Here's the third thing. God has no pleasure in quitters. God has no pleasure in quitters. Watch this. Hebrews 10 verse 38.
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"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." God says, if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. I have always been exasperated with people, children and adults as well, who begin to whine and complain and cry, "I can't, I can't," when they've never even tried. How about people who begin and never finish? Alice and I have passed several houses that had begun to be built and were never finished. We passed one castle that began to be, and now I realize the man could have died. I understand that. But you look around today and there are carpenters that will begin a job and quit. Plumbers that will begin a job and quit. I'm just simply saying, you look around today and you see all of this.
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Now, the Greek word for draw back here is the word hupostello, and it refers to one who withdraws, one who hesitates, one who is unwilling, or one who basically shrinks back. Now, the withdrawing or turning back or quitting or shrinking back could be from fear. It could be from persecution. It could be from laziness, ignorance, apathy, or a multitude of things. But the point is this, when the going gets tough, most people just quit. You heard the old adage, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Well, that may be true, but there's very few tough today because most people just basically quit. When the circumstances and situations become difficult and pressing, they just simply give up and they quit.
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God says, I have no pleasure in quitters. Old John Trapp said this. He said, talking about these quitters, "They steal from His colors, run from His captain, revolt from Christ and turn renegade, relinquishing His religion as did Julian, Lucian, and other odious apostates." And then he goes on to say this, "My soul shall have no pleasure. Christ hath no delights in dastards, turncoats, runaways. He will not employ them so far as to break a pitcher or bear a torch."
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So he's referring to Judges chapter 7 there, where Gideon, you remember, had the lantern and the torches and the trumpet, and those who were fearful they went back, they left. So he says God will not even use such a one. Now, I want you to see this. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 9. Luke chapter 9. And I want us to begin reading with verse 57, Luke 9, verse 57. I'm just pointing out the fact now that God has no pleasure in sin. He has no pleasure in fools. He has no pleasure in quitters. Look what He says. Luke 9, verse 57.
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"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Now, here's a man that comes to Christ and says, "Lord, I'm just going to follow you wherever you go." Our Lord said, "You better think about this." He said, "The foxes, they have holes in the ground. They have a home. The birds of air have nests."
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They have a place they can lie down in. The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. In other words, if you follow Me, it's going to be tough. There's going to be pressing and trying circumstances and situations. You better think about this. Don't be a quitter if you're going to follow Me. Times will get tough. Now notice verse 59. "And he said unto another, Follow me."
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But he said, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father."
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Now, we're not told too much here, but I can tell you this. That does not necessarily mean that his father was dead. What he was saying was, "Lord, I want to stay around until my father dies and get my inheritance, and then I'm going to serve you." Hmm. Our Lord said, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God."
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No, He said, "No, you don't do that. If you're going to follow Me, you follow Me now. It doesn't matter." Then look in verse 61. "And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Now listen to this. "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
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Now, you may not know much about farming. And not everybody in this room was raised on a farm, I can assure you. But I was. And I have plowed many, many miles. And I have planted many fields in my younger days. One thing I can do is I can plow a straight row. I can make my row as straight as an arrow. And I learned how to do that as a child.
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And I'm going to tell you how just so I can explain this text. The first row I lay out in a field, I point my tractor at a tree at the other end of the field. I line that tree up or that post or pole or whatever it is with the middle of my tractor. And once I put the plow down, and I give the gas to the tractor, I do not stop. I do not look back until I get to the end of that field. And when I turn around and look back, my row is just as straight as it can be. If you ever start toward the end of a field pointed at a tree and you keep looking back, you're going to be turning and your row is going to be as crooked as the day is long. This is what our Lord meant when He said, "He that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back." In other words, you can't look back and say, "Wow, I wish I could do what I used to do."
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"I wish I could do like the world." No, no, no. You can't look back. It doesn't matter what the situation is. Doesn't matter what the circumstances are. You cannot look back. Adam Clarke said on this text, he said, "My soul shall have no pleasure in him. My very heart shall be opposed to him who makes shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience." He says the word hupostello signifies not only to draw back, but to slink away and hide through fear.
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In this sense, it is used by the very best Greek writers, as well as Josephus and Philo. As dastards and cowards are hated by all men, so those that slink away from Christ and His cause for fear of persecution or secular loss God must despise. In them He cannot delight, and His Spirit, grieved with their conduct, must desert their hearts and lead them to darkness and hardness. Wow. God has absolutely no delight in quitters. And there are people today. There are preachers today.
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I've heard them say, "I'm not trying to deny Scripture. I'm just trying to be a little wise so I can draw a lot of people into the church." But what they're doing is denying Scripture. They're doing it for secular gain.
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Now, while I mentioned that, I want to point this out and include it in this point. I want to include it along with the quitters that God despises. There are those who are willing to help and work and serve only if they can be paid or recognized.
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Now, I understand, and so do you, that there are those who preach the gospel that God has ordained who are to live by the gospel. That's what He said in 1 Corinthians 9 and verse 14. "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." Obviously that is the truth, but unhappily many pastors as well as Christians in general develop a mercenary spirit and are only willing to serve and minister in reference to money, favor, or advancement. And God is absolutely displeased with such attitudes. Let me show you.
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I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, Malachi chapter 1. And one of these days, I hope to be able to preach through this book. I've been studying and working on outlines, but I don't know just when I'll get to it, but it's a wonderful book. But look in verse 10. Look what God asked His people, His ministers. He says in verse 10, Malachi 1, "Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand." He said, you won't even close the doors for nought. You expect to get paid for closing the door. That's like people expect to get paid for playing the piano in church, playing the organ in church.
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Now, I understand if you were a full-time Christian musician, that might be a position, but for just a volunteer to play, I mean, you know, here's the point. If something is ministry, then it is ministry. One does not charge for the ministry.
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Now, let me tell you, anybody with one eye and half sense understands there are expenses involved in the ministry. Love offerings are one thing, but charging is another thing. Want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. 1 Corinthians chapter 9. Look if you would beginning there with verse 16. Look what the Apostle Paul says. 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 16. 1 Corinthians 9 verse 16, the Apostle says, "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
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"For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel." Now the apostle Paul says, "I have to preach. I've got to preach." He says necessity is laid upon me. Woe is me if I don't preach. God called me. Then he said, "But I want to do this willingly." And he said, "My reward in just ministering is that I make the gospel of Christ without charge, and I have power in the gospel."
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I have preached for 55 years. I have never asked for money to preach. I preached all across this country. I have no idea how many churches I've preached in. Most of the time, the churches give a love offering, which will cover my expenses. If I have to fly out there, obviously there is a plane expense. If I have to drive, there's a driving expense, motels, food. Most of the time, whatever my expenses are, they're covered. However, there's been plenty of times, a number of times, that my expenses were not covered. Sometimes a smaller work and they can't afford much of a love offering. You know, the truth is inevitably, invariably, whenever there's not a sufficient amount in the love offering to cover my expenses, God always has someone to send it in from another source. It's never failed. It's never failed.
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So I don't come and say, "Well, I have to have a thousand dollars a night or I can't come." That's wicked. That's a mercenary attitude. What did Paul say? Paul said, "I'm going to preach. I'm gonna make the gospel without charge." Did folks take up love offerings for Paul? Yes! Did Paul receive them? Yes! Did Paul use them? Yes! But he didn't go around charging people to preach. I'm just simply saying, I have to laugh at this one. I marry, I bury people, I marry people. Somebody says, "What do you charge?" Well, this one, one last one was a friend of mine when he married his girl. He said, "What do you charge, Brother Weaver?" I said, "Well, just whatever you think she's worth."
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And of course, I was laughing. Well, that was dirty, wasn't it? Because he just got married to her. He better think she's worth a lot. But I said nothing, son. Whatever you want to give is wonderful. I don't care, you know. But I'm just simply saying, you know, God says we cannot develop a mercenary spirit. What we must understand is ministry is ministry. And if you're charging for it, it's not ministry. Is it? No.
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Brother David asked me to pray for him. "Brother, I'm going to pray for you, but it's going to only be 50 bucks for the first prayer and thereafter 25." Is that ministry? No, no. You know, we get so wrapped up in the world. Let me tell you something. Maybe this will put it in the proper perspective. I don't know about you, but I am thankful, I'm grateful, and I'm appreciative that Jesus Christ did not charge us for His ministry.
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How many of us could have paid Him to minister to us? He said in Mark 10 and verse 45, "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." So we have to understand God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools. God has no pleasure in quitters. And God has no pleasure with those who have a mercenary spirit.
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One last thing, and I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 18, Ezekiel chapter 18. Ezekiel 18.
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And I will show you several verses. I've told you God has no pleasure in sin. God has no pleasure in fools. God has no pleasure in quitters and those with mercenary spirits. And God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Will He judge them? Yes. Will He destroy them? Yes. But that does not mean that He has delight and pleasure in their deaths. Notice Ezekiel chapter 18 and verse 23. God asked this question. "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" Skip down to verse 32. "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." Notice what He says. "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. I have no pleasure that you're going to die. Turn ye." Look in your Bibles to Ezekiel chapter 33 and verse 11. Ezekiel 33 and verse 11. Again, God says it like this. Ezekiel 33 and verse 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?"
#61 | 45:39 to 47:25 | cleaned
God said, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." This caricature that so many people make of God of being some old meanie, some old vengeful man up in heaven, just waiting to throw somebody into the pit of hell and torture them for eternity. That's not God. God says, "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." Will God judge them? Yes. Will God punish them? Yes. He is holy. He is righteous. He is just. But that does not mean that He has pleasure in their deaths. Now, let me just show you.
#62 | 47:25 to 48:07 | cleaned
To demonstrate this truth from the New Testament, I want you to turn to two passages. The first one is Acts chapter 17, and the second one is 1 John chapter 3. If you would turn to those two passages, first of all, Acts chapter 17. Acts 17, and then we're going to turn to 1 John chapter 3. I want you to see these two verses. So when someone tries to say, "Well, God is just an old meanie and God delights in the death of the wicked." No, He does not. Yes, the wicked will die and yes, He will judge them, but that does not mean that He delights in their deaths. Let me show you. If God delighted in the death of the wicked, He would not have commanded men to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 17 verses 30 and 31, look at what the Scripture says. "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." God commands men to repent. Why? Look in verse 31, "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."
#63 | 48:08 to 49:41 | cleaned
Now God says just as surely as I raised Jesus Christ from the dead, there's going to be a judgment. And since I'm going to judge everyone, I command you to repent. Wow. Now, if you disobey His command, that's your problem. But He commanded you to repent. Then if you look in 1 John chapter 3 and verse 23, He says this. "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." Wow. So God then has commanded men to repent and He has commanded men to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 3 verse 23, which demonstrates the fact that God does not have pleasure in the death of the wicked. The wicked will die. Yes. The wicked will be judged. Yes. The wicked will be punished. Yes. But God does not delight in doing that. Therefore, He commands men to repent and believe.
#64 | 49:42 to 50:55 | cleaned
Now, let me make just two quick applications. The first one is this. As children of our heavenly Father, we must avoid those things which displease Him. We must act in faith. We must obey and live our lives in accordance to His commands. We must avoid sin. We must avoid foolishness. We must avoid being quitters. We must avoid having a mercenary spirit.
#65 | 50:55 to 51:30 | cleaned
Now you're going to say, "But Brother Weaver, I'm still a sinner." I understand that. And so am I. And so let me give you a Scripture. 1 John chapter 2, verse 1. Here's what God said, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." He said, "I'm writing these things so you won't sin. But if you do sin, we have the perfect advocate, we have the perfect attorney, Jesus Christ the righteous, who pleads our cause and pleads our case." Okay. The second is this.
#66 | 51:32 to 52:27 | cleaned
We have to learn to be men and women of our word. Our word must be our bond. I'll cover this more next week. But the Bible tells us in Psalm 15 and verse 4, that a godly man is he "that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not." So here's a good illustration. Let's suppose Gary came to me and said, "I would like to buy an ounce of silver." I said, "Gary, I've got an ounce. I'll sell you. And it's 15 bucks an ounce." He said, "Good. I'll buy it."
#67 | 52:29 to 53:13 | cleaned
"I just need to go home and get my money." I said, "That's fine." And so I turned the radio on, or check the internet. Wow. Silver is going up to 50 bucks an ounce. And I just told him I'd sell it to him for 15. When he comes back with 15, I can't look at him as a Christian and say, "Hey, wait a minute. I just checked and it's going up to 50 bucks an ounce. You owe me 50."
#68 | 53:15 to 53:44 | cleaned
No, I gave him my word. I'd sell it for 15. That's what I want to do. I'll just lose 35. You got that? What's a man do? He's a godly man that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not. In other words, if it hurts him, he's still going to keep his word because his word is his bond. That's why God says when we vow, when we promise, and especially to Him, we're to keep our word. We're to be men and women of our word. Let's pray.
#69 | 53:44 to 54:20 | cleaned
Father, thank you again for this day. Help us, Lord, not to displease Thee by sinning, by being foolish, by being a quitter, by being a mercenary and by, Lord, doing those things which are contrary to Thee and Thy word. Help us, Lord, to be obedient. Help us to be men and women of our word and bring honor and glory and pleasure unto Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
#70 | 54:21 to 54:53 | cleaned
you you
#71 | 55:23 to 55:24 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T13:52:39Z

Giving God Pleasure

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver introduces the topic of giving God pleasure, focusing on the negative aspect: what does not please God. He argues that while society is pleasure-oriented, Christians should be concerned with pleasing God. He identifies five things that do not bring God pleasure: sin, fools (those who make vows and do not keep them), quitters (those who draw back from faith), those with a mercenary spirit (serving only for money), and the death of the wicked (though God judges, He does not delight in their death). The sermon is part one of two, with the positive aspects to be covered the following week.

Introduction: A Pleasure-Oriented Society

Scripture Reading — Job 22:1-3

"Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect?"

The truth of the matter is that we are a pleasure-oriented society.

The Importance of Pleasing God

He emphasizes that Christians rarely consider what pleases God, and that knowing what displeases Him is essential to bringing Him pleasure. He introduces key Hebrew and Greek words for pleasure.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 46:10

"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure."

Our Obligation to Please God

Weaver explains that as creatures, redeemed servants, and children of God, we owe Him pleasure and should desire to please Him.

Now, this message is going to be divided into two parts. The part today is the negative.

What Does Not Please God: Sin

God has no pleasure in sin because He is holy. Psalm 5:4-6 is expounded with Joseph Caryl's six steps showing God's hatred of sin.

Now, there's a wonderful passage that would be well for us to memorize. It's found in Jeremiah chapter 44 and verse 4. God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 44:4

"Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate."

And He's talking about sin. God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 44:4

"Oh, do not this abominable thing, which I hate."

What Does Not Please God: Fools

From Ecclesiastes 5:4, Weaver defines a biblical fool as one who makes vows to God and does not pay them, emphasizing the importance of keeping one's word.

Look at what He said. Ecclesiastes 5, verse 4.

Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:4

"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed."

Now watch that again. I've got a number of things to say on this. He said,

Scripture Reading — Ecclesiastes 5:4

"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 14:1

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

Then he goes on,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 14:1

"They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 15:5

"A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent."

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 17:10

In other words, you can beat him and beat him and beat him, and he still won't listen. That's why in Proverbs 26 and verse 3, the Bible says, "A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back." The only way you can control a horse is with a whip. A bridle, same thing with an ass, and the only way you can control a fool is with a rod. That's what God is saying. Now, I want you to look back at Ecclesiastes 5 and verse 4, because according to our text, a fool is not only one who is rebellious and wicked, not only one who refuses instruction, but he's also deceived. He's a hypocrite. And he thinks that he could deceive God and escape the consequences of his actions. He says in verse 4, "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed." I believe that this text would probably support our old adage that a man's word is his bond. We've certainly lost the impact of that in this society in this day and age. But God is telling us that a truthful person is going to perform that which he has promised. He's going to be a man of his word.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 76:10

And then it was over. They just totally, absolutely forgot all their vows, forgot all their promises. And, you know, we try to do that. We'll make a vow. We'll make a promise. And then we just simply forget it or we simply violate it. God calls us fools. Also have to remember this. We should never be making vows and promises that are impossible to keep. I have known people who've made vows. Then it's just humanly impossible. I've known people said, "Well, I'm a witness to everybody I ever see." No, you're not. It's impossible. I'm just simply saying God says do not make promises and vows that you cannot keep. Because God says once you make a promise, once you make a vow, I expect you to keep it. Okay? You know what the Bible says in Psalm 76 and verse 10? "Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared." God says, vow and pay. So we ought to be men and women of our word.

What Does Not Please God: Quitters

Hebrews 10:38 teaches that God has no pleasure in those who draw back from faith. Weaver illustrates with Luke 9:57-62 and the analogy of plowing a straight row.

What Does Not Please God: A Mercenary Spirit

Using Malachi 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-18, Weaver argues that God is displeased with those who serve only for money or recognition, rather than as ministry.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 9:14

"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel."

Scripture Reading — Malachi 1:10

"Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand."

He said, you won't even close the doors for nought. You expect to get paid for closing the door. That's like people expect to get paid for playing the piano in church, playing the organ in church.

What Does Not Please God: The Death of the Wicked

One last thing, and I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel chapter 18, Ezekiel chapter 18. Ezekiel 18.

Applications and Conclusion

Weaver applies the message by urging believers to avoid sin, foolishness, quitting, and mercenary attitudes, and to be people of their word, even when it hurts. He closes in prayer.

Giving God Pleasure

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	BE4YvtdVNBM
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Proverbs-Related Topical Wisdom
Genre	Sermon
Date	2020-06-06
Dictation Name
Book	Book 110: Giving God Pleasure — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	71

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: A Pleasure-Oriented Society: Weaver observes that modern society is obsessed with pleasure and entertainment, often at the expense of spiritual priorities, and contrasts this with the biblical warning that loving pleasure leads to poverty.
The Importance of Pleasing God: He emphasizes that Christians rarely consider what pleases God, and that knowing what displeases Him is essential to bringing Him pleasure. He introduces key Hebrew and Greek words for pleasure.
Our Obligation to Please God: Weaver explains that as creatures, redeemed servants, and children of God, we owe Him pleasure and should desire to please Him.
What Does Not Please God: Sin: God has no pleasure in sin because He is holy. Psalm 5:4-6 is expounded with Joseph Caryl's six steps showing God's hatred of sin.
What Does Not Please God: Fools: From Ecclesiastes 5:4, Weaver defines a biblical fool as one who makes vows to God and does not pay them, emphasizing the importance of keeping one's word.
What Does Not Please God: Quitters: Hebrews 10:38 teaches that God has no pleasure in those who draw back from faith. Weaver illustrates with Luke 9:57-62 and the analogy of plowing a straight row.
What Does Not Please God: A Mercenary Spirit: Using Malachi 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-18, Weaver argues that God is displeased with those who serve only for money or recognition, rather than as ministry.
What Does Not Please God: The Death of the Wicked: From Ezekiel 18:23,32 and 33:11, Weaver clarifies that while God judges the wicked, He takes no pleasure in their death, as evidenced by His commands to repent and believe (Acts 17:30-31; 1 John 3:23).
Applications and Conclusion: Weaver applies the message by urging believers to avoid sin, foolishness, quitting, and mercenary attitudes, and to be people of their word, even when it hurts. He closes in prayer.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Knowing What Displeases God Is Essential to Pleasing Him

To bring God pleasure, one must first understand what He hates.

Weaver asks, 'How in the world can you bring God pleasure if you do not know that which displeases Him?'

Sin Is Incompatible with God's Holiness

God's absolute holiness means He cannot delight in sin, even in His redeemed people.

Citing Habakkuk 1:13 and Psalm 5:4-6, Weaver says, 'God cannot delight in sin whatsoever.'

A Fool Is Defined by Unkept Vows

The biblical fool is not mentally deficient but morally rebellious, especially in breaking promises to God.

Ecclesiastes 5:4 and Proverbs 15:5, 17:10, 26:3 are used to define a fool as one who despises instruction and does not keep vows.

Drawing Back from Faith Is Apostasy

Quitting the Christian walk under pressure is a serious offense that displeases God.

Hebrews 10:38 and Luke 9:62 are explained; John Trapp is quoted: 'Christ hath no delights in dastards, turncoats, runaways.'

Ministry Must Not Be Commercialized

Charging for spiritual service corrupts ministry and displeases God.

Malachi 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-18 show that God rejects mercenary service; Weaver states, 'If you're charging for it, it's not ministry.'

God Commands Repentance Because He Desires Life, Not Death

The universal call to repent proves God takes no pleasure in punishing sinners.

Acts 17:30-31 and 1 John 3:23 are cited: 'God commands men to repent... which demonstrates the fact that God does not have pleasure in the death of the wicked.'

Scripture References

Job 22:1-3: The opening text for the sermon series, posing questions about man's profitability to God and God's pleasure in human righteousness.
Luke 12:16-20: The parable of the rich fool is referenced to illustrate a pleasure-oriented life that ignores eternity.
Proverbs 21:17: Cited to show that loving pleasure leads to poverty.
Isaiah 46:10: Demonstrates God's sovereignty: He does all His pleasure.
Psalm 115:3: Affirms God does whatever He pleases.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Believers are not their own; they were bought with a price and should glorify God.
Psalm 5:4-6: Key passage showing God has no pleasure in wickedness and hates workers of iniquity.
Habakkuk 1:13: God is of purer eyes than to behold evil approvingly.
Jeremiah 44:4: God calls sin an abominable thing He hates.
Ecclesiastes 5:4: God has no pleasure in fools who defer paying vows.
Psalm 14:1: The fool says in his heart there is no God.
Proverbs 15:5: A fool despises his father's instruction.
Proverbs 17:10: A reproof enters a wise man more than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Proverbs 26:3: A rod is for the fool's back.
Psalm 76:10: Vow and pay unto the Lord your God.
Hebrews 10:38: If any man draw back, God's soul has no pleasure in him.
Luke 9:57-62: Jesus' teaching on the cost of discipleship, including the plow analogy.
1 Corinthians 9:14: Those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Malachi 1:10: God has no pleasure in priests who serve only for payment.
1 Corinthians 9:16-18: Paul's example of preaching the gospel without charge.

Historical References

Joseph Caryl: Quoted on Psalm 5:4-6, outlining six steps showing God's alienation from the wicked.
John Gill: Cited on the nature of sin being contrary to God's nature and law.
Thomas Brooks: Quoted on how a holy man views sin as striking at God's holiness and as the instruments of Christ's crucifixion.
John Trapp: Quoted on Hebrews 10:38, describing quitters as dastards and turncoats whom Christ will not employ.
Adam Clarke: Quoted on Hebrews 10:38, explaining 'draw back' as slinking away through fear.
Julian, Lucian, and other apostates: Mentioned by John Trapp as examples of those who revolted from Christ.
Josephus and Philo: Cited by Adam Clarke as using the Greek word hupostello for drawing back through fear.

Important Quotes

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

This is the foundational Scripture for the point that God has no pleasure in sin, directly quoted from Psalm 5:4-6.

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

Key verse from Ecclesiastes 5:4 establishing that God is displeased with those who break vows.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 10:38 quoted to show God's displeasure with those who quit the faith.

No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Jesus' words from Luke 9:62 used to illustrate the danger of quitting or looking back.

Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

Malachi 1:10 quoted to condemn a mercenary spirit in ministry.

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Ezekiel 18:23 quoted to show God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

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?

Ezekiel 33:11 reinforces God's desire for repentance rather than judgment.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45 used to contrast Christ's free ministry with mercenary attitudes.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways has our society become pleasure-oriented, and how does that affect our spiritual priorities?

[Context]

Weaver describes society as living for pleasure, citing examples like expensive toys and debt.

[Question]

Why is it essential to know what displeases God in order to please Him?

[Context]

Weaver argues that most Christians do not know what pleases or displeases God.

[Question]

How does Psalm 5:4-6 deepen our understanding of God's attitude toward sin?

[Context]

The passage is expounded with Joseph Caryl's six steps of God's alienation from the wicked.

[Question]

What does it mean to be a 'fool' in the biblical sense, and how can we avoid foolishness in our vows?

[Context]

Ecclesiastes 5:4 and Proverbs are used to define a fool as one who breaks promises.

[Question]

What are some modern examples of 'drawing back' from faith, and how can we persevere?

[Context]

Hebrews 10:38 and Luke 9:57-62 are discussed with the plowing analogy.

[Question]

How can we guard against a mercenary spirit in our service to God?

[Context]

Malachi 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 9 are used to warn against serving for money.

[Question]

If God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, how should that shape our evangelism and view of judgment?

[Context]

Ezekiel 18 and 33, Acts 17, and 1 John 3 are cited to show God's desire for repentance.

[Question]

What practical steps can we take to be men and women of our word, even when it hurts?

[Context]

Psalm 15:4 is applied with the silver illustration.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T01:33:21Z