Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today we’ll examine God pleasing faith.

Today’s scripture, Hebrews 11:5-6 (NLT) testifies…
[5] It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. [6] And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Consider…
Verse 6 from today’s scripture is one of the two most famous verses about faith, in my opinion. The other famous verse is the very familiar Hebrews 11:1 (NLT), which says…
[1] Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

This is probably one of the most quoted verses in the Bible. Yet, it’s merely a working definition of what pleases God.

The Holy Spirit inspired the following acronym for what pleases God…

Fellowship
Alignment
Inline with
Trusting
Him

This is underscored by 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV), which emphasizes…For we live by faith, not by sight.

I like this version of that verse, because faith is a lifestyle.

This brings us to verse 5, which gives us an example of God pleasing faith.

We read the story of Enoch in Genesis 5:21-24 (NLT)…
[21] When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. [22] After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. [23] Enoch lived 365 years, [24] walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.

In this short-story we see the lifestyle of faith that I referred to. Notice, all we’re told is that Enoch lives, and walked, in close fellowship with God.

The key to Enoch being a person is that pleased God was his…

Fellowship
Alignment
Inline with
Trusting
Him

I imagine Enoch’s theme song being…

Woke up this mornin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Woke up this mornin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Woke up this mornin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.

Walkin’ and talkin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Walkin’ and talkin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Walkin’ and talkin’ with my mind, stayed on Jesus.
Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.

And I can hear him whistling while he walked…

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Regardless of what song was playing in his mind, we know Enoch was tuned into God. His life’s radio dial was permanently set on God.

In case you think my imagination is unfounded, the Holy Spirit gave me Ephesians 5:18-19 (NLT) to prove my hypothesis…
[18] Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, [19] singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

This begs the question, what music are you making to the Lord in your heart.

You see, God doesn’t focus on what we do outwardly, but instead He hones in on what He sees inside our hearts.

Jeremiah 17:10 (NLT) makes it clear…But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

David is the poster child of God’s search criteria. In 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) God tells us…But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

And Acts of the Apostles 13:22 (NLT)
confirms…But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

As you can see, God focuses on the ‘heart of the matter’.

At this point you may be wondering, what does this have to do with Enoch, and how does it illustrate God pleasing faith?

Well, the answer is possibly found in Romans 10:10a (NLT)…For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God…

The Holy Spirit showed me that Enoch illustrated God pleasing faith because he believed He existed and lived accordingly!

Do you believe God exists, and live accordingly?

In my opinion, Enoch epitomized Psalms 37:4-7 (NLT)…
[4] Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. [5] Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. [6] He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. [7] Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

I believe what pleases God is seeing our our soul, and sole, focus being Him.

That why Romans 12:2 (NLT) exhorts us…
[2] Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

God wants all of our attention!

As I hasten to a close, the Holy Spirit led me to look up the definition of fellowship, since the Bible says Enoch, who pleased God, lived in close fellowship with Him.

Oxford Languages defines fellowship as friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests.

And synonyms of fellowship include:

• Companionship
• Company

Reading the definition and synonyms makes me hear Jesus say in John 15:4 (AMP)…Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.

And reiterate in John 15:7 (AMP)…If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.

And triple down in John 15:9-10 (AMP)…
[9] I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. [10] If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

Notice Jesus emphasizes remaining (lingering, abiding) in Him. I believe that’s what Enoch living closely in fellowship with God looked like.

This is the context to today’s famous verse 6…
it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

So today, believe God exists and live accordingly!

Which looks like God pleasing…

Fellowship
Alignment
Inline with
Trusting
Him

Lastly, the Holy Spirit is telling me that it pleases God to spend continuous one-on-one time with you.

Today’s song is…
1 On 1

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)