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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