On Pleasing God: The Blueprint for Life

Curtis Gordon

Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

Deuteronomy 10:12–13

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Notes

Transcript

Preliminary:

Introduction:

Breakpoint’s Podcast for today was inspiring, and I want to read the transcript tonight to begin my message:

What better way to start the New Year than to remind ourselves how God is at work in His world and in our lives? That’s what John Newton did in 1773, and we’ve been singing his words ever since. In this classic Breakpoint commentary, Chuck Colson told the story of the beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace,” the unlikely man who wrote it, and the hymn’s connection to New Year’s Day.

At the end of December 1772, an Anglican priest in the poor parish of Olney worked by candlelight on his New Year’s Day sermon. He would preach on the text of 1 Chronicles 17, verses 16 and 17. That passage was David’s response to God after Nathan informed him that his descendants would be enthroned forever as kings of Israel. David, the once poor shepherd boy, the man who had repented of adultery and murder, responded to the news by saying, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me thus far?”

That pastor was John Newton, and those words struck a deep chord in his heart. In those last days of 1772, Newton found himself running out of empty pages in his journal, a bound book of 300 pages holding 16 years’ worth of entries. As he came to finish that journal and start another, his mind was drawn to the pages of his past—the story of his life from his days as an unregenerate slave-trader to becoming a child of God. Newton would have remembered when his rebellious spirit got him thrown off numerous ships, publicly flogged, and ousted from His Majesty’s Navy. He would have remembered the shipwrecks and the mutinies—and then the transformation of his heart by the power of the Gospel.

As Newton considered those days gone by, he would have asked as David did, “Who am I, O Lord . . . that you have brought me this far?” As was his habit, Newton set to work composing a hymn to illustrate his New Year’s Day sermon. In that hymn, he would tell his poor congregation of lace-makers and low-paid artisans about the dangers and snares he had faced. He would reflect on the amazing grace that had saved a wretch like him.

Those now-famous words of “Amazing Grace,” first sung in the small parish of Olney on New Year’s Day, 1773, lingered in obscurity for many years. Even as Newton counseled the young William Wilberforce and encouraged him to stay the course in the long battle against the slave trade, the words to “Amazing Grace” were little sung in England. But the Olney hymnal, later published by Newton, caught on in the Americas.

The words of “Amazing Grace” would surface again some 80 years later in a book that would change the course of this nation, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” In it, the slave, Tom, at his lowest point, sings the words of “Amazing Grace.” Two verses hardly sung today were sung by Tom: “And when this mortal life shall fail/ And flesh and sense shall cease,/ I shall possess within the veil,/ A life of joy and peace.”

These words of the ultimate hope in God, even in the face of deep injustice, forever entwined the words of “Amazing Grace” with the plight of the slaves. But it all began in that dark little study in the waning days of a year gone by, when one man took the time to reflect on God’s goodness to him. This New Year’s Day we’d all do well to pay tribute to Newton by imitating his gratitude to God and his heart for the lost. We would do well also to set aside some time to reflect on what God has done in our lives—how He has delivered us from slavery to sin. And we would do well to consider how we, in this new year, can sing God’s praise with our lips and with our lives.

For many of our friends and neighbors, we live in an age of anxiety. The only answer is God Himself, whose grace is indeed amazing.

“Amazing Grace”

John Newton (1725–1807)

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.

That is a lead in to what I want to talk about tonight: Not about Grace, not about, John Newton, not even really so much about the New Year although it can begin there - but about what we are going to do

David asked 1 Chronicles 17:16-17 “Who am I, O Lord God...”

Tonight I want us to ask what does God want?

Let’s turn to Deuteronomy 10 to find that answer.

Sometimes I’m afraid there is a danger with those who are mature Christians to begin to feel safe, secure, almost invincible spiritually.

In a letter to Madame Perier {peer-ee-a} Pascal profoundly wrote, “‘It is a prejudicial but too common error among Christians, and even among those who make a profession of piety, to believe that there is a measure of perfection sufficient for safety, beyond which it is not necessary to aspire. It is an absolute evil to stop at any such point, and we shall assuredly fall below it if we aim not to advance higher and higher”

(Source - Quote taken from The Expositor’s Dictionary of Texts, Volume One: Genesis to St. Mark (God’s Requirements))

Pascal is arguing that it's a common but flawed belief among Christians to think there is a fixed level of spiritual perfection that ensures their salvation.

He asserts that stopping at any perceived point of “good enough” is harmful, as it can lead to spiritual decline.

Instead, believers must continually aspire to grow in their faith and righteousness, always seeking to advance to higher levels of spiritual maturity.

This statement highlights the importance of ongoing spiritual development and the dangers of complacency in one's faith journey.

Moses gives to those under the Old Covenant a four step blueprint for pleasing God.

Let’s read it Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Deuteronomy 10:12–13 KJV 1900

12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

Something in humanity wants to revolt and rebel at the thought of God requiring something of them.

But right off the bat Moses reminds us that a covenant relationship is built not on equity, but on one party who is superior giving blessings, for something in return.

Now the word “required” in this context is highlighting the fundamental relational nature of God’s interaction with Israel.

Unlike a legalistic demand from an impersonal deity, this "asking" reflects God’s desire for a covenantal partnership:

God’s Covenant as a Relationship:

God is not portrayed as a tyrant issuing decrees, but as a loving and just covenant partner.

The verb שאל communicates that what God “requires” comes from His relational commitment to Israel as His chosen people (Deut. 7:6-9).

It is no doubt familiar to those ancient hearers who would hear ti as an echo of the suzerain-vassal treaty model of the Ancient Near East, where the greater party, in this case God, lays out terms of a mutual relationship, not merely demands.

God’s requirements of people are never for their repression and discomfort. In fact when we look at God’s requirements we find they are beneficial:

1. Not Burdensome: God's commandments are not meant to be burdensome or grievous. They are given out of His love for us and are designed for our well-being (1 John 5:3).

2. For Our Good: God's requirements are intended for our benefit, helping us to live fulfilling and righteous lives (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).

3. Rooted in Love: The foundation of God's commands is His love for us. We are called to love Him and others, reflecting His love (Matthew 22:37-39).

4. Transformative: Following God's requirements leads to transformation and renewal of our minds, aligning us more closely with His will (Romans 12:2).

5. Empowering: God provides the strength and grace needed to meet His requirements, enabling us to live according to His standards (Philippians 4:13).

6. **Peaceful**: Obedience to God brings peace and stability into our lives, as His guidance leads us away from chaos and strife (Isaiah 26:3).

7. Protective: God's commandments serve as a shield, protecting us from harm and leading us on the path of righteousness (Psalm 119:105).

8. Joyful: Living according to God's requirements brings true joy and contentment, as we experience the blessings of walking in His ways (Psalm 16:11).

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Faith acquires what the Law requires; nay, the Law requires, in order that faith may acquire what is thus required; nay, more, God demands of us faith itself, and finds not what he thus demands, until by giving he makes it possible to find it.

Lord, give me what you are requiring of me.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

7 Nothing is required of man that is not first in God. It is because God is perfect that we are required to be perfect.

George MacDonald

“The Child in the Midst” sermon (19th century)

George Macdonald (Scottish Novelist and Poet)

3096 If a man does only what is required of him, he is a slave. If a man does more than is required of him, he is a free man.

Anonymous

We are then given five simple requirements along with an intensifier

God’s requirements of his people are stated first of all in summary form and then serve as the basic texts for the portion of the sermon that follows.

Fear God

Walk in God’s Ways

Love God

Serve God

Keep commandments

I want to look briefly at these five requirements with a challenge that you intentionally, daily, pursue these this coming year.

1. Fear God

Deuteronomy 10:20 “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.”

When we talk about fearing the Lord we are not talking about a terror-stricken fear like a slave has for a harsh master - this is called “servile fear”

But we are talking about a filial fear - this type of fear is like a child’s loving respect and reverence for a parent which includes awe, veneration, and honor.

There are some things children will not do because Mommy or Daddy doesn’t want them to do it.

The fear of the Lord involves

A correct understanding of God’s holiness, majesty, and justice

Awareness of His constant presence (There’s an all seeing eye watching you)

A commitment to love, obey, and trust God completely

Ir is not a self-centered fear - this type of fear is focused on personal shame, rejection, or fear of exposure and will draw us away from God.

Filial fear will draw us to God.

Characteristics and Benefits:

Hatred of Evil: A key sign of fearing God is hating all forms of evil (Proverbs 8:13).

Wisdom: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10).

Great Value/Treasure: It is a valuable treasure (Isaiah 33:6).

Fountain of Life: It is a fountain of life, leading away from death (Proverbs 14:27).

The Fear of the Lord is something you CHOOSE to do.

Proverbs 1:29 speaks of those who "did not choose the fear of the LORD."

Psalms 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

We fear men so much because we fear God so little.

William Gurnall

The fear of the Lord is something that must be taught (Ps. 34:11) and something we must desire to do (Ps 86:11)

And we are told it is one of the requirements of pleasing God.

I hope you will follow the blueprint this coming year of intentionally fearing God appropriately.

Not only are we told to fear God, we are also told to...

2. Walk in God’s Ways

Walk in all his ways

Look also at Deuteronomy 11:22 “22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;”

Deuteronomy (4) Love of the Lord and Love of Humankind (10:12–22)

The sequence of fearing and walking is logical enough, for one’s behavior must be predicated upon attitude

We are talking about being devoted to God.

To walk in all of His ways.

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church The Spirit of Devotion

The spirit of devotion puts God in all things.… The spirit of devotion removes religion from being a thin veneer, and puts it into the very life and being of our souls. With it religion ceases to be doing a mere work, and becomes a heart, sending its rich blood through every artery and beating with the pulsations of vigorous and radiant life.

E. M. BOUNDS

To truly walk in the way of God is "to walk in all his ways." Israel was to live after God's ordinances rather than according to their new neighbors' customs, or even according to their own inclinations. To walk in all of God's ways means that I shall never choose one of my own ways in preference to one of God's ways.

A. F. Harper Holiness and High Country (Holiness and High Country)

3. Love God

Love him (see also 11:1, 13, 22; compare 10:15, 18, 19).

of the five requirements listed in the present context, love for God is the central one.

A Compendium of Christian Theology (Entire Consecration or Perfect Love)

I. The commandment of the entire Scriptures, from beginning to end, is that of perfect consecration to God; and the spring and energy of that consecration is love.

1. The love of God is the same in the Old Testament and in the New.

It is not a sentiment of the mind alone,

nor an affection of the sensibility alone,

nor an energy of the will alone;

but it is the devotion of the man,

in the integrity of all these, to God as the one Object and Rest and Center and Life of the soul.

Here perfect love stands between perfect fear and perfect service as the bond and complement of both.

Deuteronomy (4) Love of the Lord and Love of Humankind (10:12–22)

covenant relationship between the Lord and Israel had to be expressed in both a vertical and horizontal dimension. To love God is to love one’s neighbor, and to serve God necessitates societal obligation

4. Serve God

Serve the Lord your God

see also Deuteronomy 10:20“20 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.”

Deuteronomy 11:13 “13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,”

Holiness and High Country Holiness and High Country

I serve Him because I love Him;

I love Him because He first loved me;

I give Him my heart's devotion

For time and eternity.*

-- Haldor Lillenas

This word “serve” is associated with work, labor, but it is connected to worship

Our work for God shouldn’t be out of a sense of duty, or because no one else will, or because it is expected of us, or because we have to.

But because it is an offering of worship to God.

True worship isn't just singing hymns or attending church services. It's expressed through our actions, how we live our lives, and how we serve others.

5. Keep God’s Commandments

Keep the commandments of the Lord