In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of walking with God and being open to Him in every area of our lives. He encourages listeners to not be ashamed of the gospel and to boldly share their faith with others. The speaker also warns against the danger of spiritual pride and the desire to please men rather than God. Ultimately, the message reminds us of our humble position as dust before the eternal and holy Creator, and the need to surrender ourselves completely to Him.

I'm thankful that I can be here again. It's been a long time since I've been able to share here. God is so good. Blessed be his name. You know, we heard about coming. He read that verse that says, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this he spake, he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive. For the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified. Before we start, let's just take a time of prayer, brethren. Maybe we could be quiet for a few minutes. And if there's any brothers that are touched. Because I don't know how many of us, I'm not going to speak on this theme today. I don't know how many of us can give testimony of the rivers of water, truly flowing from our inward being. Our sister gave a testimony. She thought there was rebirth, and then she experienced rebirth. Sometimes we think we've got the rivers flowing, but maybe they're not flowing. So let's just take a little time. Just a little quiet prayer. And then some brothers that are touched, they can pray. Ephesians 5. Ephesians 5, verse 8. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, proving what is acceptable or what is pleasing unto the Lord. Let's just pray once more. Our Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, He that is ascended now to thy right hand, that ever lives to make intercession for us. He is our hope. He is our life. He's entered within the veil. He's our forerunner. He offered himself, pleasing you, pleasing you in all things. Oh, Father, you know what you have for us today. You know each person here. We just would ask in your mercies that we would hear your voice and come to thee. That we would learn of Jesus, who is meek and lowly. That we might find rest for our souls. Oh, that it might be for your glory. Father, you know where the Word is being preached today. Where it's already been preached. Sanctify thy children through thy truth. Jesus was sanctified, Father. That we might be sanctified through thy truth. Give us a hunger. You know, if there's anybody here that doesn't have a hunger for your Word, convict them of a sinfulness. That's terrible. You're the only one who can convict us. You're the only one who can speak to us, Father. Give us a hunger and a longing to please thee. Oh, Father, how many times have we sinned against thee. Seeking to please men, ourselves, and not you. We just thank you that we can come before you. That we can seek your mercies upon us. That you would speak to our hearts. For you love us. You gave us your Son, Father. That we might be made into his image. That he might be the firstborn among many brothers. We thank you that that's what you want for us. And that's what we want. We want Jesus. We want to be like him. And we confess that we're not like him. Like we should be. Thank you for what you've done in our lives. Every gram of growth and grace that you've showed towards us in your mercies and your love. Oh, Father, you know what you want to do. We pray for the couple that's going to go to Ghana. Glory be unto you. Might their one passion be Christ and Christ alone. Father, might they just know thy presence. Bless all the brothers there in Ghana. All the ones in Indonesia. Daniel's family going there. Grant them grace, Father. You know how many people in the Muslim world have never heard of Jesus Christ. We just would ask that you would speak. Use the radio. Father, grant grace. The internet. Whatever means. Raise up labors. People that love you more than they love themselves. That's a supernatural work that only you can do by thy spirit. So we just would ask you. Please in your mercies. You can use this church in a way that you've never done before. And they all want that, Father. All those that know you. We just would ask your mercies. Your intervention. We thank you. We praise you. Thou art most blessed. We just bow. We've already said, Father. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. I believe that each born again believer has a desire in their heart. Because they have Jesus in their heart. The desire they have is to please the Father in everything that we do. If that desire is not in our heart, then I don't know if we know Jesus. And in that, that we're still here on this earth. We sin. We have a desire sometimes to please ourselves. And to please men. Last night I couldn't sleep. I don't know if it was because I drank a coffee in the evening. Or because God wanted to speak to me. I don't know. I didn't hear anything so clear. I would have liked to speak deeper in my heart. But I was thinking of this theme. I don't know your needs here. I was at Ephraton where our brother spoke. One word really touched my heart. The danger of pride. And I would never want to see a gathering here or at Ephraton. Or all the other places. Damaged by a spiritual pride that could destroy us. And it comes from wanting to please men. And not God. Jesus isn't a reality in our lives. But what's a reality are the ones that are before us. And what is man? So what is man that thou art mindful of him? What is that a man? God has taken notice. Bless his name. And he gave us a son. We're dust. We're going to die. What are we? He's eternal. Holy. Creator. He made us in his own image. He sustains us by the word of Jesus Christ. We are sustained today. Should we not want to please him? Above every other thing. And person. And our own stupid self. The fruit of the spirit of the fruit of light. Is it all goodness and righteousness and truth. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. When the Holy Spirit. Is working in our heart. He wants to lead us. To prove to know. What is acceptable. What is pleasing unto him. In verse 1 and 2 it says. Be ye therefore followers of God. As dear children. And walk in love as Christ also loved us. And has given himself for us. An offering. And a sacrifice to God. A sweet smelling savor. Jesus Christ was a continuous. Sweet smelling savor on earth. But then he came to that final moment. As we read in Hebrews 10. You don't have to look for it. In Hebrews 10. Then said I. Lo I come in the volume of the book. As it is written of me. To do thy will O God. Above when he said. Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings. And offerings for sin thou wouldest not. Neither had pleasure therein. Which are offered by the law. Then said he. Lo I come to do thy will O God. Lo I come. That was the burning desire. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. To do the will of the Father. Even though it meant. Death on the cross. There was one burning passion and desire. To please the Father. You know as you read through the scriptures. You see Jesus. On a Sabbath day. A man with a. Withered hand. And they are watching him. Is he going to heal? And the question was. Is he going to please the Father? Or is he going to please man? He didn't please man at all. He didn't ever. He pleased the Father. He said stretch out that hand. He knew that they were going to go out. And speak how they could destroy him. If he did that. But it didn't matter. He spoke the truth. You know in Luke. He comes into the synagogue. And he gives them a portion. To read. It means that he says this day. Is this scripture fulfilled. In your hearing. Prophecy out of Isaiah. And everybody was looking at him. All the marvelous words. That came out of his mouth. You know they were. Enthralled with him. It was wonderful. But then he. He ruins it all. As far as pleasing man. And what is he saying? He talks about. A leper. That was a Gentile. That God healed. Through a prophet. Talked about a widow. That was a Gentile. And they didn't like it. He was taking the mask off of them. He was showing them. That they weren't. As they should be. When they heard that. They were enraged. All the religion was vain. And they took Jesus. Up to the hill. To push him off the cliff. He didn't care. He had one passion. That was to please the Father. He didn't care. It didn't matter to him. I wish I could say that. I don't know how many times. I find myself saying a word. Or two or three. Or whatever. To please others. Might be something funny. Why do you say that? It's for myself. To please others. The Father didn't have any pleasure in it. Jesus never did that. He had one passion. And that was to please the Father. We go back in time. We think of Adam and Eve. I could be wrong in this. It doesn't say it like this. But I see. Eve. Offering Adam. The fruit. And Adam having to make a decision. Am I going to please. God. That said don't eat of this fruit. Or am I going to please my wife. That's offering it. Am I going to be with my wife. Or am I going to be with God. Jesus said any man that loves. Father, mother, wife or children. Above me is not worthy of me. Adam had to make a decision. And he made a decision. To listen to the voice of his wife. And willingly. Please her. Do any of you ever have that problem. Pleasing men. Jesus said some strong words. In John. Chapter 5. Very piercing words. 544. You know them. How can you believe which receive honor one of another. And seek not the honor that comes. From God alone. How can you believe. How can I believe. If I receive honor. The applause. The praise. Of man. And we seek not the honor that comes from God alone. The only one who truly knows our hearts motive. We don't even know our hearts motive. That's why we need to be in the word of God. Because the word of God in Hebrews 4 says. It's quick and powerful. Sharper than any two edged sword. Piercing to the abiding. And it's a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. And sometimes it's impossible for us to know. What the thoughts and intentions of our heart are. But by the word of God. Whether we're seeking to please God. Or seeking to please man. And let me tell you. If you please man. You're not pleasing God. And so it's urgent. That this word is filled. Continuously. He that doesn't have a hunger for the word of God is sick. Or is dead. This is the word of the Holy One. The creator that has spoken to us. Christianity is in the state that it's in. Because the word is not loved and read. Memorized. Thought. So how is God going to speak to us. And reveal those secret things in our hearts. I remember saying something to my wife in the kitchen one day. And going out and delivering them. Some verse comes to my mind you know. That's not good. I had to go back. Ask forgiveness. The word of God. Can just take that mask off of us. And show us the reality of what's in our heart. Adam. Chose to please his wife. Who are you living for? We read in John 7. Once again our Lord Jesus. I'll start in verse 16. Jesus answered them and said. My doctrine is not mine. But his that sent me. He always spoke of his father. Gave all glory to his father. If any man will do his well. He shall know the doctrine. Whether it be of God. Or whether I speak of myself. He that speaks of himself. Seeks his own glory. But he that seeks the glory. His glory that sent him. The same is true. And no unrighteousness is in him. Let's just read that again. He that speaks of himself. Seeks his own glory. But he that seeks his glory. That sent him. The same is true. And no unrighteousness is in him. Jesus Christ never sought his own glory. He sought the glory of the father. And therefore. His word was true. And there was absolutely no unrighteousness in him. Every time we speak our own words. And seek our own glory. We are false. And unrighteous. Because we've not been made for that. We've been made for the glory of God. And Jesus Christ. Sought. Continuously. The glory of the father. And he was pleased. Well pleased. Let's be praying brethren as we're listening. Some might sleep. It bothers me. I see somebody sleeping. I say oh. Maybe it's me. Preaching. Maybe the person worked all night. Paul said in Galatians 1. Verses that we know. Galatians 1 10. He said. For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I please men. I should not be the servant of Christ. For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet please men. I should not be the servant of Christ. A brother told me once. He was. In this temple. It was called Temple. I think it was. And he was sweeping. You know. Cleaning. And he said somebody came in. And saw him. And he did it. A little bit better. I appreciated his frankness. His openness. You know. He wasn't doing it for anybody. But the Lord. But then. Somebody saw him. And now. That temptation to please others. I've fallen into that. Might be praying. Might be. Wanting to praise the Lord. Lifting my hand or something. Then all of a sudden. Somebody looks at me. And there it is. Phil. Is this for God? Or is it for yourself? Do you want to make a good show? Do you want to please men? You know. We got that battle in our heart. I remember. In Spain. When I sinned against the Lord. We wanted. Everybody to love Jesus. Of course. That's my whole goal. Love Him. You know. Be crazy. For Jesus. There's nothing greater than that. As you know. He's your whole thing. He consumes you. You love Him. You seek. As you heard. The children's meeting. You seek the kingdom of God. Diligently. Well. In that process. There was another brother. Who lived. In another place in Spain. And. He was a very. Good teacher. Of the word of God. And he had a desire. To please God. And he had a very high standard. And. There were some things. In the meeting. Where I was. Irresponsible. You know. That wasn't reaching the standard. That this brother had. And without realizing it. I didn't realize it afterwards. That I was sort of putting pressure. The Holy Spirit is supposed to do that work. How many times I. Mistake. Make a mistake. And try and do His work. Putting pressure on them. You be conformed. You dress this way. Don't do it another way. Putting pressure. But it wasn't for Jesus Christ. I wanted. This brother to see. How good. How these Christians. Love the Lord. And how they were separated from the world. And you know. Just think. If I would accomplished. My task. Very well. And had a lot of hypocrites in the church. Just a lot of hypocrites. And all they wanted to do was please man. You know. And oh how many people have done things for me. Oh it's terribly dangerous. I just want to please you. And it's good in one sense. But if it's not for God. If that heart. Isn't. I love you. That's why I'm going to do this. I don't care what anybody says. Or does. Or doesn't do. Whether I'm criticized. I'm not criticized. It doesn't matter. What I want to do is please you. And I had to repent of that sin. It's a great danger. That we can see somebody. We can imitate them. And we want them to be pleased with us. By the way we are. By the way we pray. Brethren have you ever prayed. Or found yourself praying maybe. It sounds good. And others might be pleased. Oh how spiritual. You are because you pray that way. I've found myself doing that. Terrible. It stinks before God. He's not going to listen to a prayer. For others. He listens to prayers that are for him. That brings a delight to his heart. Oh he loves to hear his children pray. I hope you're praying right now. He was. That kind of heart. That's the kind of heart that Jesus had. He had one heart. To please the Father. Nothing else. Joah is in the Old Testament. We don't have time to turn to it. But you know. When Jehoiada the high priest was with him. It says he sought the Lord. He was pleasing. The priest had protected him. Gave his life for him really. Raised him up. And then the high priest dies. And we read in 2 Chronicles. That the princes came and bowed down to this king. And he acknowledged them. And he turned from the ways of God. To please these men. And they deviated from the truth of God's word. To the point where the high priest's son. The Spirit of God comes upon him. And he rebukes them. He calls them to repentance. And what did they do? By the king's order they stoned him. They killed him. The son of the priest that saved the king. When he was a little boy. That made him king. That directed his steps. That's a frightening story to me. Why? Because the heart of that young man. Was never revealed. Until it was too late. He was pleasing the priest. And he died. And then these others came. That had a different direction. And he sought to please them. And it was manifested what was truly in his heart. That's frightening. Terribly frightening. And how many Christians in that day. So called. Are going to say Lord, Lord. Lord, Lord. Convinced it says many shall say in that day Lord, Lord. But what was their heart? It's good to say now Lord. Search me. Show me. What is the thrust. The motive. Behind all that I do and say. Am I any different? At home? Am I any different at work? Am I any different? When I'm alone? My mind, my thoughts. How are they? Nobody sees them. My wife at different times has said. Oh Philip, you're a little bit different here and over there. In the home you're a little bit more quiet. Out there you're a little bit more outgoing. She said. Oh Lord, what's in my heart? What's in my heart? What's in my heart? And he that searches the heart. That tries the rain. He loves us. Oh he loves us dearly. And all he wants to do. Is tell us. Because the true Christian all he wants is to please Jesus. Jesus has borrowed us by his precious blood. We're no longer our own. We're his. So we don't need to fear. And I don't care who you've been living for or trying to please. The blood of Jesus can cleanse you totally and completely from all sin. We can never cleanse ourselves. But we can turn from sin and turn to Jesus. The one who ever lives to intercede for us. And he can do it. He can make you, give you a perfect conscience. Make you perfect. It says in Hebrews 10. Where you have a free access to enter into the holiest. To taste and see how good God is. Because you've been cleansed by the blood. And you start to taste the Lord in a new way. And you start to see that wow. As we've heard this morning. There's nothing more pleasing than being in the actual presence of God. Somebody gave you a million dollars today. Would that make you really happy? I hope not. Or maybe you want to send it to Ghana. Amen. You know. That'd make you happy, very happy. Or wherever. You know. But if getting a big chunk of money is going to make you happy. Then where's your happiness? Have you found it in money? So that's what makes you happy? Give you a new house? New car? New divan? New whatever? New clothes? That makes you happy? You're deceived. Is there any greater happiness? Than to have the smile of God upon you? To know that His face is looking upon you. That you've pleased Him. And He's given us everything to be able to please Him. He's given us His Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ within us. And that we can please Him. And when we stumble. We can confess that He's faithful and just. To forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So that we can walk in the light as He is in the light. And as we walk in the light. We have fellowship one with another. With all true Christians. Oh. With all true Christians. I found I don't know how many people that. You know I might think. Wow they're not like me. But you know they might love the Lord more than I love Him. Praise God. And you see that love for Jesus. And we have fellowship one with another. And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. That's God's will. To please Him. I wonder. About Ananias and Sapphira. What do you think brethren? What was their desire? Oh we know don't we? They wanted to make a show in the church. They sold their property. Everybody else was selling their property. They sold their property. Why do we do something? Because everybody else is doing it. So we fit in. Is that our goal? That others accept me? They sold their property. You know the story in Acts 5. And they brought it up and they laid it at the feet of the apostles. Wonderful. But they were acting like they were giving it all. Just like Barnabas did. Oh there's Barnabas. Hallelujah. Son of consolation. There were many others. There's a lot of true Christians that love Jesus. Even though they might make the mistakes that we're going to read about one in just a minute. But you know. They had to be thinking. At least it doesn't say it. That's what I understand from the scriptures. And they were trying to please. Man. And Peter said. The money. You know the land was yours. And the money was yours afterwards. You know. He would have given. A thousand dollars. Ten thousand dollars. Whatever it would have been. A hundred thousand. And he kept the other part. Praise God. But there was just something. That wouldn't allow him to do that. Why? Because his eye wasn't on Jesus. There wasn't that sweet fellowship. That Lord I want to please you and you alone. It doesn't matter. Whether they think of me. Or they don't think of me. What counts is what you think. Lord I love you. And when you're in that sweet relationship with him. That's when you can please him. Because he's the most important one to you. But you know what happened. How many of us would be alive. If God did that every time. If every time. Our heart was to please man. And not God. And we told a little lie. And made others think that we're very spiritual. Oh spiritual. I just see how far I am from Jesus Christ. I just keep learning that man. I've got a long, long ways to go. But I'm just so thankful that. I can still have fellowship with God where I'm at. He doesn't deny that to you. He's the bind dresser. He's working in our lives. To correct us. To prune us. He's the father. Giving us those spankings. That we need. That we might be partakers of his holiness. We might be far away. But we're seeking. That holiness. But how many of us would be alive. This brother's got some gray hair. He shakes his head. He probably knows that. None of us. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe some would. But you know it's a very. Very dangerous thing. And just to go to God right now. As you're sitting there. And just say Lord. What has been the focus of my life. Who have I tried to please. Am I seeking. Is the fruit of the spirit working in me to please you. Or to please man. And we're talking about. A tremendous battle. If you haven't had this battle. Either you're. Got to a very wonderful level. Or you're deceived. In Galatians. So what do we see about Peter. You know the story. But when Peter was come. Galatians 2.11 But when Peter was come to Antioch. He was stood him. I was stood him. Paul speaking. To the face. Because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James. He did eat with the Gentiles. But when they were come. He withdrew and separated himself. Fearing them. Which were the circumcision. And others Jews. Dissimulated likewise with him. In so much that Barnabas. Also was carried away with their. Dissimulation. But when I saw that they. Walk not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel. I said unto Peter. Before them all. If thou being a Jew. Livest like the manner of Gentiles. And not as do the Jews. Why compels. Thou the Gentiles to live as the Jews. This is shocking. The Bible tells us the truth. A great Peter. That stood up at Pentecost. And said you crucified. The Lord of glory. Who had no fear. Who stood up. When the high priest and all of them were against him. They said it's. We've got to obey God and not man. And now some brethren comes down from James. And he wanted to please them. And he withdrew. Oh you Christians aren't quite like us. We're better. And he withdrew. We're circumcised. The denial of the gospel. Boy. To draw away from a true Christian. Brother. As Peter did. Jesus lived in that. True Christian brother. He lives. And what I do to the least of these my brethren. Jesus said. What you do to the least of these my brethren. You do unto me. Peter. And Barnabas. Paul's faithful companion. Barnabas. Also withdrew. Because the majority was withdrawing. And there was a Jew. His name was Paul. And he was alone all by himself. Do you think these things are easy? We're talking about a tremendous, tremendous spiritual battle. Because the devil doesn't want us to love God with all of our heart. He wants us to love ourselves. He wants us to love the praise of men. He wants us to live for the praise of men. He doesn't want us to live for the absolute and total praise of God. It's a spiritual battle. You cannot do it on your own. But that we have the rivers of living water. The Holy Spirit of God. Filling us. Controlling us. Jesus Christ in us. The hope of glory. There is no hope. But we have him. We have him. He's with us. And he loves us. And he knows how we are. He was tempted in all points. Just as we are. Yet without sin. That was one of the purposes of God. That Jesus Christ would come down. And become a man. Like you and me. If you read the Hebrews. You get a chance to memorize that book. It's beautiful. And just see who Jesus Christ is. It's so full. Some people say it's not for us today. I'm sorry if you believe that way. But I think that's crazy. It's one of the sweetest books that I know. Along with the other beautiful ones in the Bible. But I really like Hebrews. But it talks about Jesus Christ. Showing him to have partaken of flesh and blood. To the point he tasted death. He went through everything. Why? He was tempted sorely. To please man. And not please his father. To please himself. And not please his father. But what did Jesus do? Jesus always was dependent upon the Father. Always, always, always looking to the Father. Maybe he needed nights in prayer. We don't reach that. At least I don't reach that level. I don't realize. Why did Jesus pray? Why did Jesus spend a night in prayer? Why did he go out early in the morning to pray? You think he conquered sin as God? No. He didn't conquer sin as God. He conquered sin as man. Dependent upon the Spirit of God. And he had victory. And he gives it to us today. He gives it to us. Stars. Christ in us the hope of glory. And he was tempted. So we can know that in the moment of temptation. We can turn to him. Say Lord let me be satisfied with you. And not with the smiles and applause of men. Let me be pleased with you. And let me be pleasing to you. Because you know one day your brothers are happy with you. And the next day they don't want you anymore. And don't ever blame the brethren for that. Just say thank you Jesus. That you've allowed the brethren to reject me. To step on me. Because you're working in my life. You love me. And the brethren are just so lovely. And you love them. And I love them. And you're just using these gentle wonderful instruments. In my life. To make me like Christ. And boy you're free from all bitterness. You know because if you believe that God is sovereign. He doesn't allow anything, anything to happen to you. But that is from his love. And his mercy. And his kindness. Because he knows you need to be rejected. Wasn't Jesus Christ rejected? Wasn't it his own brothers that didn't even believe on him? What did Jesus go through? Things that we can't even imagine. But he went through it for us. And he's ready to strengthen us. And we can come boldly to the throne of grace. To find mercy. Grace. To help in a time of need. He's there. Because he went through it. We need him. You think of Pilate. Pilate. We could read through this one too. I'll just quote it to you. Pilate. Saw who Jesus was. They saw him. He heard about a dream that his wife had. Heard that he was declaring himself to be the son of God. Pilate had determined to free him. But then they said. If any man makes himself a king. You know. He's going against Caesar. Pilate's position. And Pilate had to weigh it out. Am I going to be identified with this king? You know, I don't know if he's a king or what he is. He was sure a different man. Pilate couldn't understand him. Or am I going to be a friend of Caesar? He knew Jesus was innocent. Oh brethren. Pilate chose to be a friend of man. To seek the smile of a man. Just a little bit before. You can imagine when Jesus was before Herod. And Herod wanted to see some miracles from Jesus. You know, I marvel that Jesus didn't open his mouth. How frustrating that would have been to Herod. You know, he could have pleased Herod. Just a couple words. But the father didn't give him a couple words. All that we would pray and say, Father, should I speak? Father, what I'm going to say, is it going to be pleasing to you? Is it for your glory? Is that extremist? But when you get to heaven, it won't be. God is going to say, You were such a sweet, pleasing child. You wanted to say every word for me. Maybe the people might think you're funny. I don't know what Herod thought of Jesus. Didn't think too much of him, did he? Jesus didn't keep up his reputation before Herod, did he? He lost it all. They mocked him. We don't like to be mocked. We don't like to be ran down. That's why many people are ashamed of the gospel and the words of Jesus Christ. When was the last time you opened your mouth in a store? Or at the gas station? Or where you work? Did you say the Lord Jesus blessed you or something? To speak to somebody. How many people are ashamed of the gospel? Oh, they wouldn't say that. They give, you know, but reality. You know, have you ever experienced that? Or just the circumstances, you're afraid. Is it not because you want to please these people that are in front of you? You don't want them to be offended with you? To mock you? And put you down? Ridicule you? And so we're ashamed. We're not really ashamed, but we're ashamed. Because we seek to please man at that moment. Instead of the Father. Can you imagine how sweet it is for the Father? When he hears you open your mouth to talk about Jesus Christ. To lift up the knowledge of the Son of God. Just that sweet-smelling savor. That you're not afraid, you're not ashamed. But the trap of trying to please man. Will squelch that. And how can you believe if you receive glory one from another and seek not the glory that comes only from God? There's no faith to do it. There's no faith, there's no strength. How can you believe? It should be as easy as anything. We're strangers, we're pilgrims, we're not from this land. We see the people, they're dead, going to hell. There should be great compassion upon them. They're lost. But how many Christians don't open their mouth? Hardly ever. For Jesus Christ. Now some people they can't, they're always at home. But when you've got an opportunity, as Jesus said, from the abundance of the heart, what does the mouth do? Amen. And when there's that desire to please the Father, there's going to be a heart's desire. Brethren, Paul said, I am crucified with Christ. That's the only hope. I am crucified with Christ. Once we see that there's no hope for us, Jesus died so that we could die. It's very clear. He died so that you and I can, so that we can die to self. Paul said, I'm crucified to the world, the world to me. By faith, we can die to self, to the pleasing of men. I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. We have Jesus. We have the Savior. The One who spoke no words, but for the Father's glory. Who did no action, but for the Father. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God. Is He going to disappoint you, when you put your faith in Him? He's not going to disappoint you. He's faithful. As you trust Him, go to Him, look to Him, pray, Father, reveal. Every time I seek to please man, every time I seek to please myself, show me my heart's desire, and He's going to be faithful to you. I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ lives within me. And glory be to God that we're crucified, because there's nothing absolutely, nothing good that God can get out of us, in our state. It's only Jesus in us. And the life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I was watching two lovebirds yesterday. They were crazy. Crazy. Just crazy, you know. They had such an intense love, it seemed, for one another. And you know, the other didn't want to offend or displease the other. That's what it's all about. That motive of love. He loved me. He gave Himself for me. So now, I love Him. And I give myself for Him. For His people. For all those that He loves. That's when we know, that Christ is living in us. Because now we are loving and giving ourselves for others. To please God. He says, come unto me. He says, come unto me. And learn of me. For I am meek and lowly. The humble person is the only person that will be more consistent in seeking to please God. And Jesus says, come unto me. He'll teach you. He's teaching me. He's working in my life. And He's waiting. So as we heard this morning, come. Come unto Jesus. And if you're in your sins, and if you see that your life has had a focus of just trying to please yourself, and when things don't go well, you get frustrated, you get angry with other people, you blame other people. Come to Jesus. Turn unto Him. Repent. And believe on the Son of God. Who loved us and gave Himself for us. Who's risen from the grave. Who's conquered death and sin and the devil. Who's reigning eternally. Who's going to come. Go to Jesus. Go to Jesus. He says, come. And all of us that believe we know the Lord, we've got to go to Him too. He's calling us to come. Let's pray. Father, we come. We come in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We come asking Your mercy, Your grace. We come asking You to search our hearts. To know our ways. To see if there be any wicked way in us. And to lead us in the way everlasting. We come unto You because You've called us to come. Oh Lord Jesus, we want You to come. But we're coming now to You and asking that You would work in our lives. That You would free us from all desire to please men. Oh Father, we know that it's a battle. We know that we've all failed and sinned against You in trying to please men. We just would ask You, You who are powerful and mighty, grant us Your grace and Your mercy that we might be freed from pleasing men. And that everything we do, the way we speak, the way we dress, where we go, what we say. Oh Father, that it might be with one desire. To have Your smile. As Jesus said, the Father is always with me. He's never left me. Because I do always those things that are pleasing. As Paul said, that he, whether in the body or out of the body, he wanted to be pleasing to You. Father, we know we're going to come before the judgment seat of Christ. We know we're going to have to give an account of ourselves. And we just would pray that You would bring to our hearts and minds now all those things, all those times even that we've just been self-seeking or seeking to please others and not You. That we might confess it and forsake it. Oh, we just thank You. Blessed be Your name. Thank You for the blood of Jesus. Thank You that it cleanses us from all sin. We love You and we praise You. We bow before You. Thank You, Father. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you, Brother Phil, for preaching the Word of God and your heart to us. I believe you do love Jesus. Amen. I guess I could say lots of things, but I rather than add to the message, I just want to say that I thank God for His Word. His Word is good. His Word is good to me. The message was very challenging to me. I had to think of my own needs and I had a subtle desire that creeps up and wants to please men. I know that God is able to work in our own hearts and lives in this area. And maybe you're here this morning and you couldn't even identify with what He was saying. Or maybe you're here this morning and you you realize that that is who you are. You're faced with that all the time. Or maybe you've gone beyond that to where the Lord has done a deep work of brokenness over your own needs and and you've yielded yourself to Christ and there is a place of freedom from that desire to please men. There's a place of freedom there. And that place is being crucified with Christ. So I don't know where you're at, but I just want to open up here allow you to share a little testimony maybe ask a question as the Lord leads you. Be mindful of the Lord. Maybe everyone's afraid to get up and give a testimony because maybe they'll think people will think that I want to be seen of men. That's not necessarily true. Yes, back here. Yeah, the message this morning really caught me to the heart, I guess. I really feel like I am one of those people who really wants to please men. It's just kind of the natural man in me wants to do that. But I was really convicted about that and I just prayed that the Lord would help me just have my eyes on Him completely. I was really blessed with the example of Jesus, how the brother said that he didn't he didn't care about what man thought. He was only wanting to please the Lord and I want to be more like that. Just to serve Him with a pure heart. Because Jesus said that blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. And I have hope. I feel like the Lord is really working in me and there's been different issues I've been examining in my life and putting before the Lord and I've really been tempted to worry about, you know, if I change this in my life, what what is my family going to think? They're going to think I'm crazy, you know. Or friends. And I've taken some steps to to change my life. Even though I feared that and I just want to continue forward on that. To just be focused on the Lord. To please Him and not even my family, you know. Because like someone had said if we love our family more than the Lord we're not worthy of Him and we want to love Him the most of all. Thank you sister. It's our desire that each one here have the freedom to wait on the Lord to speak to each one of our hearts about areas that we need to change. It's very difficult for me to change the area of my life that I can't see. It's virtually impossible. Sometimes it seems like we expect others to change even though they can't see it when we ourselves are unable to change when we do see a need in our life. What I'm trying to say is that if I recognize that I have a need in my life my character, my nature but I'm unable to change that I still find myself in that same spot. Why should I be expecting others to change if they don't even see it? I want you to hear me. I want you to hear me. Don't expect others to change in areas of their life when they don't see it. When you yourself cannot change in areas that you do see. You have to realize that it's only Christ that enables me to be changed. I can't change myself. I praise the Lord for His faithfulness in speaking to my heart this morning and I just want to be open about the need in my own heart that I see this morning for humility and I don't know how to explain myself but I saw this morning two tendencies in my own heart. Sometimes I please man. Then sometimes I am obedient to Christ and in love for Him I'm willing not to please man. But then Satan comes to me from the other side and there's this martyr-like spirit that can come into us. This critical heart that just says, well, I don't care what they think. You know, and in fact then you start criticizing me and then I start criticizing and I've had to learn to walk alone sometimes in some things that God has called me to but I've at times been in the sin of pride there. And so I want to seek Christ's humility. I really appreciated what the brother said that we need to love people and realize God may be using them to do a work in our heart. So whether I'm called to stand on my own like Paul may have been when Barnabas and those wouldn't associate with Gentiles or whether I'm called to be in the body of Christ and exercise myself in humility. I want to be humble. So if you think about Brother Weston, you can pray for me. Thank you. Thank you, Brother Weston. I also appreciate that picture of Peter there and Barnabas being drawn away. That's an awesome picture. How these men of God were drawn away by the desire to be seen of men, by the desire to please men. Awesome picture. Yes. I'd just like to say that the message this morning really spoke to me. The Lord really showed me how much I desire to be seen of men in what I do or say in so many areas that it's not to please the Lord. And you know what you said, Brother Emmanuel, about wondering why other people don't change when they can't see something and not changing when you do see something. That's been me so much. I just I've been a really proud person trying to please people and myself. But I thank God that there's victory in Christ. Please pray for me that I would live only for Jesus and that He could be lifted up. Thank you, Brother, for that message. Amen. The Lord grant you the desire of your heart. I just want to say that I am very convicted and yet very encouraged by both messages today. I'm convicted because I realize how much I fall short of all that God has for me, especially in the thing of having mixed motives and wanting to please people and at the same time wanting to please God. And I realize that that's not where God wants me to be. And yet I'm also very encouraged because through both of the messages I'm seeing the Father heart that God has toward me and that He's not giving up on me and He's still drawing me and He's still wanting to bring out the good in me and wanting to keep working. That is so encouraging to me. And I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support. I feel your support really strongly as a church family in getting ready to go to Ghana. And I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for that and to say God bless you all. Amen. God bless you. Thank you for sharing. Have a hand up front here, Dave. I want to thank God and the Brother this morning for the message. I'm sure we all feel that it was for us, but for me, I just feel it was for me. I needed the encouragement and to be strengthened in the Lord. In some ways my life has been rather smooth sailing the last while and it's been a blessing. But figuratively as I stand on the bow of the ship that my captain's steering, it looks like some rough water ahead for me and I find myself trembling and wanting to pull back and yet knowing that that's not His will for me and I just feel like the message this morning, it was given to me to strengthen my fainting heart and to make me strong. I just bless God. Also on a slightly different note, I want to thank God also in the congregation for answered prayer. Have Glendon back with us again. Turning his way and there's a lot of things to work through. You can pray for us that are counseling him and working with him for wisdom. Pray for him that he continues to walk in the grace the Lord is giving him. But we are rejoicing and we would ask that you would rejoice with us. Amen. Thank you for sharing that. I want to praise God for His love and His mercy to us and how clearly He speaks to us through His word that He doesn't speak vaguely, but He speaks specifically to the needs of our hearts. I want to confess that my heart is needy this morning and I was especially blessed by the first message by Brother Daniel and just that clear invitation to come to Jesus and be with Him. I've been noticing in the last several weeks how somehow that river of life and that river, that flow in my heart, was somehow it seemed like it was plugged or it just wasn't flowing as much as I wanted it to be. And it became so clear that my focus hasn't been on Jesus and my focus hasn't been on coming and being with Him. You know, Weston and I are here on furlough and it seems like there's so many things that I want to do and accomplish and experience while we're here. You know, because after all, we're going back to Ghana soon and you know, physically we won't be able to do some of those things and just spiritually sometimes the demands in our life don't allow some of those things. But, I see that my focus has been so wrong and just focused on the things that I wanted to do and I confess that as a need and I need to be closer to Jesus. And I also realized how the second message that Brother Phillip shared with us about having a passion of just pleasing Him. You know, it's so closely connected that when we want to be with Jesus and we will hear that come because we want to please Him. So I praise God for speaking to my heart this morning. Thank you for sharing. Appreciate that. I can remember a time in my life I think it was soon after I was saved that all I wanted to do was what God wanted me to do. He would ask something of me and I would do it and after a bit I began to realize that I don't have any close friends anymore. And all my friends think I'm weird. I would do well to find that place again I believe. Also I just, I want to publicly thank the Lord for the way that He has been watching over me and caring for me and blessing me in the last month or two. I didn't know how everything was going to come together and how I would be able to pay my bills and still be able to go to Ghana. The Lord blessed me abundantly above all that I needed. I was able to pay my bills and I'm able to go. I want to bless Him for the way that He has watched over me and provided what I needed and the way He's been fathering me. I just feel so blessed. Thank you Sarah for sharing. Some of these youth are preparing to go to Ghana this coming week. It's good to hear from you. Thank you for sharing. I just want to testify of the Lord's work in my heart. He is faithful to me and delivering me from fear and depression. He is sovereign and I just want to testify of that. Thank you. Thank you sister. May the Lord give you grace to continue on. It's good to hear from you. Is there anyone else that the Lord is prompting to share something? Someone up here? Put your hand up a little higher. When Brother Phil first asked the question if there's rivers of living water flowing out from us, my heart immediately convicted me because I know that there's not rivers of living water flowing out of my life. There is sometimes a trickle here and there but I sense a real need of just pleasing the Father. So many times in my life I have the motive to please men and not to please the Father. I don't take the time that I should many days to seek the Lord. I'll find myself reading other things instead of the Word of God and just living up to the demands of schedule and the expectations of others and not having my eyes on the Lord Jesus anymore. I look at my life and I long to see rivers of water, of God's water flowing out to others and I just don't have it. And I see this morning that it's because my focus has been on myself and on doing my way and on pleasing others. I thank the Lord for showing that to me and I just pray that He'd continue to work in my heart that I could be, that I could have my heart fixed on Him like it was when I first saw the Lord Jesus. I would ask for your prayers. Thank you. I just want to say what a blessing it's been to be here this morning. I've been gone a lot lately and they say the absence makes the heart no fonder and I just want to let you all know what a blessing you are to me and that I'm glad I have sisters and brothers in Christ like you. Thank you. I also confess that need in my life and I just want to thank the Lord for the rivers of living water that have came out of these brothers this morning and I just feel it was an answer to my prayers and I also feel a need to pray for those young men being baptized in my parents district today. I just had to think of when Sarah shared her testimony and also my own testimony I just think it would be good if we could all pray for them and I just want to thank you for praying for me. To know the voice of the shepherd that's so much my heart to just know the voice of Jesus because when I sense a stirring in my heart that I should speak or to be quiet to have all the earthly crucified within me so that when I speak it's not for myself or for the praise of men and I just confess that need in my life, I really desire to allow the Lord to purge and to divide between that which is soulish and that which is spiritual as he says there in Hebrews as our brother quoted the scripture. It's the spirit of God and the word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart and you know it can be a carnal thing too to get up and say I don't care what men will say or think about me I'm just going to obey the Lord but if there's flesh in that that can also be selfish and I really appreciate the word this morning and confess that I need I need the Holy Spirit to do his work in my heart so that I will not be afraid to speak when God wants me to speak and say what he wants me to speak and also to have that wisdom to be quiet and not speak but to wait upon the Lord. God also gave us a warning today about spiritual pride and so I receive that as well and I thank the Lord for his word to us today. Thank you Aaron. There was a verse that was read that had the word acceptable to God I'm still trying to find out what is acceptable to God and there was one thing at the tent meetings that the Lord spoke to me about and I got rid of that and it was amazing to me but our son called and said he also did the same and what Brother Emanuel said before that we don't realize the impact that we have in the spiritual realm for one thing the Lord was speaking to him about the same thing so that was praise the Lord, I do praise the Lord for that. Thank you. It shows a little bit of our own personal responsibility to respond to what the Lord is saying in our own hearts and we do need to respond to that because there are maybe others who are watching and waiting to see how we respond. So may God help us. Alright, thank you each one of you for sharing thank you all for your attention this morning for listening let us keep our hearts open every day not just on Sunday morning let us learn to walk with God let us learn to come in every area that he calls and the purpose that he wants us to come for is so that we could be with him and once we've learned to be with him, he will also begin to use us for his glory and his kingdom. Thank you for listening we hope this message has blessed you if you would like additional messages or a catalog please visit our website at ccfsermons.org call us at 855-55-charity 855-55-charity or write to us at Charity Christian Fellowship 59 South Groffdale Road Leola, PA 17540 This ministry is supported by your donations. May Jesus Christ be Lord of all.