Is Good Good Enough for God? [Video]

How To Bring Joy to Our Heavenly Father's Heart

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, October 9, 2011

Matthew 6:5-13, “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

      Our Father in heaven,
      Hallowed be Your name.
       Your kingdom come.
      Your will be done
      On earth as it is in heaven.
       Give us this day our daily bread.
       And forgive us our debts,
      As we forgive our debtors.
       And do not lead us into temptation,
      But deliver us from the evil one.
      For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

How to bring joy to the heart of your heavenly Father.  Last Lord’s Day we began a look at this important, expansive and yes, provocative topic, as I introduced to you this thought, this theme: there’s NOTHING we can do to bring joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart MORE than to do that which pleases Him!  To do what HE desires us to do!  As far as my family is concerned, my wife and I, we only have one Abigail, only one daughter whose name means my father’s joy.  But, listen – this father’s desire, that all six of our children choose, above everything else, to please, to bring joy to their Heavenly Father!  The world tells us differently!  I mean, day-in-and-day-out the world and its satanically oriented value system SCREAMS at us this message: “Delight yourself, please yourself, indulge in what brings YOU pleasure!”  But, listen, are you a Christian?  Have you not only been made BY God, but begotten OF God?  If you have, then your mission, your purpose, your calling is to bring DELIGHT to Him!  To bring Him PLEASURE…

But, how do we go about doing that?  What steps must we take to do that?  The passage I read a moment ago undoubtedly is familiar to virtually all of us.  It is one that, likely, many of us have memorized.  It is taken from that passage we often call the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ or, what some have called the ‘Model Prayer’.  In it, Jesus, our master, our teacher, instructs us not only in the discipline of proper prayer, but in the direction He intends for our lives.  In other words, He not only tells us: ‘This is how you should pray,’ but also, He shows us, instructs us: ‘This is hoe you should live, how to bring joy to your Heavenly Father.’ 

Now, before we look closely at the three-fold description Jesus supplies for us here, I’d like to have you think with me about some related matters first. 

Prayer – a prayer with specific ingredients included in it, a prayer with a specific focus or orientation to it.  How does prayer and, in particular, this ‘model prayer’ relate to the subject of PLEASING God, the topic of bringing joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart?

While you are mulling that over, allow me to point out two or three things to you from the larger context of this passage.  First of all, please notice with me that – well – a lot of people pray!  Verses 5 and 6 – hypocrites pray.  Standing in the synagogues, stationed out on the street corners, long and loud; hypocrites pray.  But, does that mean that God hears them, pays attention to them, is DELIGHTED to respond to them, is pleased with their prayers?  A lot of people pray.  Pagans pray.  Yes, Jesus says, in verses 7 and 8, even pagans, when their car’s broke down, when they get the pink slip at work, when the doctor informs them that they only have a few weeks to live, even the pagans pray.  Babbling on and on, thinking that with a multitude of words, surely they’re bound to say something right, somewhere along the way.  Yes, even pagans pray.  But, does that mean that God hears them?  That His heart is overjoyed at their prayers? 

Listen, my Loved Ones.  A lot of people pray.  RELIGIOUS people, CHURCH people pray.  Many of them using these very words, in kind of a rote memory recitation.  Sunday after Sunday, year after year, at the designated time in the service, and in perfect unison.  But, does that mean that God hears that prayer?  Does that mean that He rejoices in those who are praying it? 

Yes, a lot of people pray; that is, a lot of people speak words, string together sentences and even paragraphs, supposedly aimed upward, toward the throne of God.  But, listen – is it the praying, the saying of certain words in certain ways, the going through the motions, bowing the head, closing the eyes, folding the hands, that gets God’s attention, that stirs Him to rejoice, or is it something else?

What does it mean to bring joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart?  What must we do to be our Father’s ‘Abigails’?  It may not be completely clear to us, yet, but listen, I think it is extremely powerful, and provocative - penetratingly provocative – to see HERE that prayer, this prayer, has everything to do with pleasing God, with bringing Him pleasure.  But, how is that so?  Again, what is the connection between prayer – THIS prayer – and bringing delight to God’s heart?

One more time, verses 5 and 6, and verses 7 & 8, a lot of people pray: hypocrites, pagans, the religious, even church people pray; that is, they speak certain words, aimed in the direction of heaven.  But, Jesus urges us, He instructs those who truly are His followers, not to be like them, verse 8, and instead to follow a different procedure when we pray – verse 6. 

So, is it the praying that pleases God, that brings joy to our Heavenly Father’s heart, or is it something else? 

I’d like to suggest to you, that what Jesus intends for all His followers to learn from this passage, is not simply a text, a prayer, to be memorized.  But, a prayer, a petition that is the overflow of a heart that is in sync, a life that desires to be in lie with this prayer’s requests.  In other words, I believe Jesus’ focus here is not so much on the words, the precise words, He wants us to say, but the direction, His direction for our lives, the direction He was us to go! 

Take a look with these three petitions with me, one-at-a-time, will you please?  Verse 9 – Addressing our Father, our Abba, our Heavenly Daddy, Jesus tells us that the first priority of our prayers, and, by extension the first priority of our lives, is to be:  “Hallowed be Thy name…”  As I said earlier, those four words, “Hallowed by Thy name”, and the remaining words of this prayer, are exceedingly familiar to most of us.  And, to an extent, that’s good.  But, listen, as we’ve seen, we must go father with this prayer, than just to merely memorize its words.  No, it must become the yearning of our hearts, our deepest desire, to hallow, to sanctify, to set ABOVE and APART from all other names, God’s wonderful, incomparable name!

And, how do we do that?  Keep in mind what we have observed already: praying this way, praying sincerely, fervently this way, coupled with a determination to live this way, that’s what God delights in!  That’s what HE’S looking for… Hallowing God’s name – how do we do that?  Take a look again at the fifth and sixth verses of this chapter, and at what Jesus says about the hypocrite’s prayers.  “Look, God.  I’m standing up to pray.   Look, God.  I’m stationed on the street corner to pray.  Surely, You’re going to notice my prayers.”  That’s the hypocrite’s prayer, and does God notice?

What does Jesus say?  Because their love, their yearning and longing, is for other PEOPLE to notice and congratulate them on their apparent spirituality, God gives them what they want, men’s applause.  But He, well, He looks the other way!  Do you understand where I’m going with this?  The hypocrite’s prayer is a prayer intended to make him famous, to hallow his name! 

But, the true disciple’s prayer and the direction of his life, modeled after Jesus’ word and life is what?  “I want to make YOUR name famous!  I intend to hallow YOUR matchless name!” 

Now, if you think about it, that petition, that request, that heart and life direction, ‘Hallowed be Thy name!’ has everything to do with the other petitions of this model prayer, doesn’t it? Because I want God’s name to be famous, set apart, lifted up above all others, because through my life I want His reputation to be honored, and be held in highest esteem, what am I going to ask Him to do, in me and through me?  What am I going to pursue, if His fame is what I am all about?

In aiming to bring joy to Him, in striving to cause Him to be pleased, I am going to pursue His kingdom, His kingly rule in and over every area of my life.  And, twin sister to that pursuit, I am also going to humbly submit to whatever He want me to do, in every area of my life. 

Whew!  This prayer, if it is to be MORE than just an empty recitation Sunday after Sunday, year after year, if it is to be as it was for Jesus, the game plan for our lives, then we must stop right now, not another word, and think, “Am I ready to LIVE OUT this prayer?”  And, “Have I truly entered in to relationship with Abba, Father, which is the only way – listen – being in genuine, saving relationship with ‘Abba, Father’, is the only way to be able to live out this prayer. 

You see, for Jesus, this was His prayer AND His life. 

John 12:27-28, “Now is My soul troubled: and what shall I say?  ‘Father, save Me from this hour’?  [No,] But for this purpose I came to this hour…”  What purpose, Jesus?  Verse 28 – My life, my goal for being here on earth, is this one purpose, “Father, glorify Thy name.”  Bringing God, His Father, fame; that was Jesus’ prayer!  That was His life!  And, so was doing God’s will and extending His kingdom on earth.  He prayed it in Gethsemane, “Not My will, but Thine be done…”  And, He died, on Calvary’s cross, carrying out that prayer!  And God was pleased!  His Father rejoiced! 

What does it mean to bring joy to the heart of your Heavenly Father?  How are we to bring Him pleasure?  To me there’s no more simply, but powerful answer to that question than these three petitions: ‘Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…’ 

Children – God’s children – for them, that’s their prayer, their life direction.  May it be ours also. 

Works and Good Works - Labor Day 2010

Image credit.

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, September 5, 2010.

Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The subject of work and good works is a subject that, every once in a while, at least, ought to appear on every preacher's sermon schedule. It's a subject that has deep Scriptural roots, going all the way back to God's grand design for mankind in Creation – Genesis chapter two - and also a subject, therefore, that has broad application, as each one of us, as human beings, and as Christians, are called and commanded to work, and to pursue and produce good works.

Even though recently I have been leading you in a study of the first letter of John, I wanted to take this opportunity today, on the Lord's Day, before that holiday we call 'Labor Day', to examine this two-fold subject, work and good works. I trust that our time today in doing so will be well spent.

First of all, to lay the groundwork for this study, and, to remind you of what I trust you already know and are convinced of, take a look at what our Scriptural starting point has to say regarding this matter. Ephesians 2:8-10.

Number one, work or good works, human effort or achievement – '[our own] works of righteousness which we have done” - as Paul describes them in Titus chapter three, verse five, none of these things have the ability to save us. God's powerful grace has that ability, our wholehearted trust in that ability of God unlocks the door, activating that ability. But work, our good works, don't enable us to attain to or achieve salvation. Why? Simply put, because it is God's gift to us! Why? Because if it was, if salvation was the result of our work or good works, who would get the glory? Who would receive the praise? We would! We would undoubtedly boast that we – WE – had saved ourselves!

Salvation is not of works, we didn't effect I or bring it to pass! No! Ephesians 2:10 – everyone who truly is a Christian, go that way because of the workmanship, the new creation in Christ Jesus workmanship, of God Himself! The praise belongs to Him, and Him alone!

Nevertheless, look at the remainder of that tenth verse with me, will you? Though you and I are saved by our God, who is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4), even though our salvation is an expression, a marvelous demonstration of the “exceeding riches of God's grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” - Ephesians 2:7. Notice with me what the rest of verse 10 has to say about good works. We are not saved BY good works – no! But, we are saved FOR good works!

In other words, included in God's eternal plan to save us, is a plan to USE us to carry out His work here on earth! “For we are God's workmanship - His handiwork – created in Christ Jesus, for good works.” That is God's new creation in Christ purpose for saving us – “for good works... that we should walk in them.”

Now, having laid that foundation, let's take a look at what God's Word has to say about this subject. Colossians chapter three – How many of you enjoy the look and, perhaps, even the feel and the smell of a new set of clothes? More than once I have been the unsuspecting recipient of a fellow Christian servant's generosity in this area of clothing. “David, it's time for you to have a new suit of clothing,” they'd say. And off we would go to the clothing stores in order to out-fit this preacher from head to toe!

Colossians chapter 3 – Did you know that there's a 'clothing store' by the name, 'Put on Christ'. The 'Put on Christ Clothing Store' – (see Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 6:10-20, Romans 13:11-14). Take a look with me at what awaits you and me there.

First of all, notice that at this 'store' there is a 'changing room', a place, a sacred place before the God who made you, and who, in Christ, is remaking you into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), to 'take of' and forever leave behind your old 'clothing'.

Colossians 3:8,9 - “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.”

The 'changing room' is a place to take off the old 'clothing' that pertains to the 'old you'. And 'old you', by the way, who died – yes, died – (Colossians 3:3) and who is to be put-to-death, executed, along with all that has anything to do with him.

Colossians 3:5-7 – In this place called the 'Put on Christ' and 'Put on Christ-likeness Clothing Store,' where all those who enter are charged and challenged to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God,” and to “set their minds on things above, not on earthly things.” In that place, where all who enter must do so, having first DIED to the old way, to an old life and the wicked works that go with it, you and I, if that IS the case with us, what do we find in that place? And, how are we to be dressed once we leave that place? Colossians 3:12-14 – Would you read it with me, please?

Colossians 3:12-14, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Beloved, what is the point of this passage? You see it, don't you? We are saved FOR good works. That's one of the purposes God had in mind when He sent His Son to Calvary. But now, realizing that that is what God had in mind for us, what are we to do? Colossians 3 - We're to make a trip to the 'Clothing store', we're to enter the 'changing room', we're to PUT ON good works, and the Christlike qualities that are the ingredients that are necessary for good works!

Go with me now to Acts chapter nine, and the record of the resurrection, the restoration to life of a woman named Tabitha.

Acts 9:36-42, “At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

Now, you may be wondering in this sermon about work and good works, why we would stop to read and study this passage. My Loved Ones, we read it quickly, but look at it once again with me. Ladies, what does this passage tell us about this woman, this follower of Christ named Tabitha? Verse 36 – It says that she was, “full of good works!” That her life overflowed with the “charitable deed which she did.” Now, listen. Those two statements about this woman tell us a great deal! They do! But, listen... Who was it that knew the truth of those descriptions about her? Verse 39 – the needy! The helpless! The hurting! “Then Peter arose and went with them,” the text says, “[and] when he had come, they brought him to the upper room. [And there in that upper room] stood all the widows weeping, and showing [Peter] all the tunics and garments which Tabitha had made...”

Do you see it, Ladies? Do you see it, Fellows? This rather unknown Christian woman, WAS known, at least in and around her hometown of Joppa. And it wasn't for being a gossip or a busy-body! No! She was known! Tabitha was loved and appreciated because she was “FULL of good works!” Ladies, that's a reputation, with the good Lord's help, for which we all should strive! Amen? Amen!

But, how do you and I get that way? This passage that illustrates what Paul means in his instructions to Christian women in places like Titus 2 and 1 Timothy 5 – how is it that you and I are to come to be known for living lives FULL of good works?

Titus 2:11-14 - “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

You see that flow of thought, the order of things Paul lays out for us here, don't you? Good works – to be like Tabitha – what a model! What an example she is to all of us, man or woman! To be FULL of good works, as Tabitha was, we must first be zealous for good works. The things that God enabled Tabitha to fill her life with, these kinds of things must be what we eagerly desire and pursue! But, how is that possible?

Earlier, I suggested that you and I must travel to the 'Put on Christ Clothing Store', and that we must enter the 'Changing Room' so as to PUT ON good works! In this passage, however, the directives, though similar, go about describing the process of becoming zealous, eager for good works, like this... Verses 11-14 – Instead of entering the 'changing room', so to speak, in this text Paul exhorts us to join God in His 'Saving Grace Class Room!' “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

To be and become “zealous for good works,” we must, first of all, be ready, attentive 'STUDENTS' of God's grace. Learning the lessons His saving grace is meant to teach us. Lesson like saying, 'No! No!' to ungodliness and worldly lusts, and, 'Yes! Yes!' to a life that is lived soberly, righteously, and in a godly manner – a life redeemed FROM, bought out of slavery TO lawless deeds, and a life prepared and purified FOR God – zealous – eager to do His will!

“Zealous, fervent and eager, for good works!” That's what God's 'Saving Grace Classroom' has as it's 'learning outcome' – it's 'curriculum goal'!

Work, and good works – there's a great deal more to study and learn regarding this subject. But, allow me to wrap up what we need to know in this way. Work and good works.

This book – this Holy Book, breathed and inspired, as it is, BY God - to the end that God's people might be “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) – what does it tell us, what does it teach us about the subject of work and good works? Three things: number one – Colossians 3:17, Work and good works are to be performed in Christ's name! “And whatever you do in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him!” (See Ephesians 6:5-8).

Second – work and good works, how do they come about? Ultimately, how do these kinds of works come about? Oh, that's easy! It's my muscle, my mind, and my money that makes it happen! Right? Right? Take a look at Philippians 2:12-13.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Work and good works – my muscle? My mind? My money? No! “It is God who works in us both to will (them) and to do (them), for His good pleasure!” Which, leads us, then to number three – last thing we must always remember regarding this subject: Philippians 1:9-11. Paul's prayer for the Philippian believers and for us. What does He ask God to do in us and through us? By the way, beloved, that right there ought to be a huge clue, correct? What does Paul ask God to do in us, and through us?

Verse 9 – He asks God to cause our love to abound in knowledge and all discernment. Verse 10 – He asks God to help us prove and a-pprove the things that are excellent, that we might be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. And... And – verse 11 – that we might be, Paul asks God to fill us with the fruits of righteousness. Good works – the “fruits of righteousness” - How? And, why? Good works – the “fruits of righteousness which are BY Jesus Christ” - that's the how. “To the glory and praise of God” - that's the why?

Work and good works – Allow me to close with this benediction taken from Hebrews 13:20-21.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.