9. WHAT INDICATORS ARE THERE ABOUT PLEASING THE ALMIGHTY?
There are some verses that give indications of individuals who have pleased the
Almighty.
Hebrews 11:1-40 provides quite a lengthy catalogue of people for reference and
indicates that FAITH is a vital component of pleasing the Almighty:
"1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
Yah {God}, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do
appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto Yah {God} a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, Yah {God} testifying of his
gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not
found, because Yah {God} had translated him: for before his translation he had
this testimony, that he pleased Yah {God}.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
Yah {God} must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of Yah {God} of things not seen as yet, moved
with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he
should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing
whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same
promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker
is Yah {God}.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was
delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who
had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as
the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore
innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came
out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore Yah {God} is not ashamed to be called their Mighty One
{God}: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that
had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that Yah {God} was able to raise him up, even from the dead;
from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and
worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the
children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,
because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's
commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of Yah {God}, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of the anointing of the Spirit of Yah {Christ}
greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the
recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he
endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that
destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the
Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about
seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when
she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and
of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the
prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies
of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea,
moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were
slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins;
being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts,
and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the
promise:
40 Yah {God} having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect." (KJV, adjusted)
It is really important to notice that at times ALL of these people suffered for their
faith and made sacrifices. Some more than others.
NONE of them lived according to the standards of the world in which they lived.
ALL of them chose to live life differently to those around them, NO MATTER
WHAT it cost them, even if they were stoned or sawn apart while alive.
There is a reasonable basis to conclude that the people mentioned above, at least
at some level, represent overcomers. We may not understand why some names
are on this list and others are not. That is not the point.
We can learn lessons and we can learn that service to Yah demands a PRICE in
this life!
Following are a few specific cases:
James 2:23 "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed Yah
{God}, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the
Friend of Yah {God}." (KJV)
Abraham was called the FRIEND of Yah.
So the life of Abraham is certainly a frame of reference.
Even if we may think he missed it a few times or there are things we do not
understand.
Genesis 32:28 "And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with Yah {God} and with men, and hast
prevailed." (KJV)
Jacob (Israel) had POWER with the Almighty.
Another frame of reference, even if there are things we think he may have
missed or which we do not understand.
It is really important that in considering all these people that we remember
Romans 14:4 "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own
master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for Yah {God} is able
to make him stand." (KJV, name adjusted)
It really is NOT our place to judge ANY of these people.
A few more examples:
Exodus 33:11 "And Yah the eternally self existing {the LORD} spake unto
Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again
into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed
not out of the tabernacle." (KJV, name adjusted)
This is a remarkable testimony with regard to the relationship between Moses
and the Almighty.
In 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel, speaking to Saul and referring to David states "But
now thy kingdom shall not continue: Yah the eternally self existing {the
LORD} hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Yah the eternally
self existing {the LORD} hath commanded him to be captain over his people,
because thou hast not kept that which Yah the eternally self existing {the LORD}
commanded thee." (KJV, adjusted)
David is referred to here as a man after the Almighty's own heart! And Saul is
rejected after only a few years as king.
Again, a useful frame of reference. David is not a man whose life it is wise to
condemn or preach against. He may have done some things which we
understand to be mistakes, however, there is considerable evidence that the
Almighty was well pleased with David.
1 Kings 15:5 confirms this "Because David did that which was right in the
eyes of Yah the eternally self existing {the LORD}, and turned not aside from
any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the
matter of Uriah the Hittite." (KJV)
This brings us to Yahooshua of whom it is written in 2 Peter 1:17 "For he
received from Yah {God} the Father honour and glory, when there came such
a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased." (KJV, adjusted)
Insofar as the Almighty saw fit to say of Yahooshua on at least one occasion
publicly that He (the Almighty) was WELL PLEASED with him (Yahooshua) it is
clear that Yahooshua provides a valuable source of information regarding what
is required to please the Almighty and, therefore, by extension, what is required
to overcome and sit on a high throne for eternity.
Colossians 1:18-20 states the following about Yahooshua:
"18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his stake {cross}, by
him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in
earth, or things in heaven." (KJV)
Yahooshua is the FIRSTBORN from the dead.
Yahooshua is THE example of how a person can overcome in this life in order to
triumph, please the Almighty and sit on the HIGHEST throne next to the
Almighty for eternity.
Yahooshua is therefore THE example to follow. He has gone before and he has
shown us how it can be done.
And, Yahooshua did this by suffering and DYING voluntarily despite having
NEVER committed ANY sin as stated in Hebrews 4:15-16:
"15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (KJV)
So Yahooshua WAS tempted in ALL points like we are and yet he was able to do
so without sinning.
In considering this point, it is really important to recognise that Yahooshua was
a created being, the result of a creative miracle, and he lived life ENTIRELY as
a human being.
The ONLY divinity in Yahooshua was the anointing of the set apart {Holy} Spirit
of Yah that came upon Yahooshua when John immersed him.
Matthew 3:16 "And Yahooshua {Jesus}, when he was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and
he saw the Spirit of Yah {God} descending like a dove, and lighting upon
him:" (KJV, adjusted)
Yahooshua also repeatedly went apart to pray to the Almighty. Mark 6:46 "And
when he [Yahooshua] had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray."
(KJV)
Clearly, Yahooshua is not the Almighty, if he was he would not need to pray to
the Almighty and he would not have said what he said in Matthew 27:46 "And
about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani? that is to say, My Mighty One {God}, my Mighty One {God}, why
hast thou forsaken me?" (KJV, adjusted)
It is therefore POSSIBLE that we can aspire to live life to the standard that
Yahooshua set. We will may not succeed. However, we CAN aspire.
After all, Yahooshua stated in John 14:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (KJV)
We CAN do GREATER works than Yahooshua did, IF we aspire to.
IF we are willing to pay the price!
We CAN overcome to the end.
We CAN sit on high thrones for eternity.
IF we are willing to PAY the price.
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