BIBLICAL FOCUS | PLEASING GOD (4)
1. Pleasing God.
a) There
are many key terms and concepts in Scripture like faith, hope, love,
joy, grace, peace, pleasing the Lord, etc. that we come across as we
read our Bibles, but often these are just vague concepts for many
people.
b) Here we have some biblical
focus on what it means to please the Lord as it is found in the Word of
God.
2. When we fail to please the Lord, we ultimately become hostile or at least useless not only to God, but to men.
a) The only way to meet the needs of men is by first seeking to please the Lord by putting His agenda first (note the carry over in Romans 14:17-18).
Romans 8:8
“And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Please note, 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 4:5 must be linked together. When men do not know God, they will be controlled by their lust patterns without any concern for pleasing God.
1 Thessalonians 4:1, 5
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God just as you actually do walk, that you may excel still more.… 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.
3. Those who are in the flesh and who do not know God (unbelievers), or those who are walking by the flesh (carnal believers) are incapable of pleasing God.
a) Spirit filled believers are the only ones who have the spiritual capacity to please the Lord. These are those who manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:3-4
For you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
Romans 15:1-6
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not {just} please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached Thee fell upon Me.” For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:33
Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.
a) The only way to meet the needs of men is by first seeking to please the Lord by putting His agenda first (note the carry over in Romans 14:17-18).
Romans 8:8
“And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 14:17-18
For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Please note, 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 4:5 must be linked together. When men do not know God, they will be controlled by their lust patterns without any concern for pleasing God.
1 Thessalonians 4:1, 5
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God just as you actually do walk, that you may excel still more.… 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.
3. Those who are in the flesh and who do not know God (unbelievers), or those who are walking by the flesh (carnal believers) are incapable of pleasing God.
a) Spirit filled believers are the only ones who have the spiritual capacity to please the Lord. These are those who manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:3-4
For you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
Romans 15:1-6
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not {just} please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached Thee fell upon Me.” For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:33
Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.
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