Are We God-pleasers?

I greet you in Jesus' precious Name. It is Sunday morning, the 16th of July 2023, and this is your friend Angus Buchan with a thought for today. We start in the first book of Thessalonians 2:4:

"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so, we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts."

This morning, we need to ask ourselves the question: Are we men-pleasers, or are we God-pleasers? You know, if you look at the book of Revelation, the last book in the New Testament, 3:16, Jesus says:

"So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

The truth can make us very unpopular, but it's the truth alone which will stand at the end of the day. John 17:17 Jesus says:

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

Like never before, the world is looking for men and women who are prepared to speak the truth in love because with the truth comes healing. We can no longer sit on the fence; it is a very uncomfortable place to be, especially if it's a barbed wire fence! People need the truth spoken to them in love. Telling a white lie is unacceptable. Living together and not being married will not bring a blessing from the Lord Jesus Christ. The truth sets the captive free.

Many years ago, I was preaching in London, England, at the famous City Temple just down the road from Saint Paul's Cathedral. I was not even speaking about marriage; I was talking about holiness. At the end of the service, as I was leaving, a young man with his girlfriend came up to me and said: "Sir, you cannot leave. You need to marry us first..." I said, "I have to catch a plane, young man." He said: "Sir, please do not leave without marrying us. We are not going home to that flat to live together out of Matrimony." So I came back into the church, the congregation came back into the church, and do you know that that night was one of the most amazing church services I have ever had? I married no less than 12 couples - 24 people. They were in their jeans and casual clothes, coming up weeping. They had no rings, and the congregation lent them Rings. The minister was running around, red-faced with marriage contracts, trying to keep everything in order. There was an old couple who said: "We are marriage counsellors. We will counsel them every single Wednesday night after that."

It was one of the highlights of my life; why? Because we spoke the truth, people were convicted, and they started to live in a godly manner. Today, speak the truth and stand up for Jesus!

Have a wonderful Sunday; God bless you, and goodbye.