INSIGHT
 

   Everyone who has been baptized into Christ has become a child of God (Gal. 3:26-27). A loving child is characterized by his desire to please his parents. In the like figure, a child of God seeks to please his heavenly Father and will therefore submit to His will! This attribute comes from a true understanding of the cross and its saving  power for the penitent believer.

 

Romans 8:14 says, “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” True believers  are guided by the Holy Spirit though the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). Jesus said those who abide by His teachings are His true disciples (John 8:31-32). This is because the true child of God will want to walk in the steps of his Lord.

 

   Divine favor rests on such! Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” A Christian’s goal is to live by the Spirit of Christ; he will be reap the benefits of peace with even his enemies. It is the duty of every true disciple to live a life pleasing to his Creator, Savior, Lord, Teacher and God!

 

   Christ is the greatest example of a life pleasing to God! Matthew 3:17 quotes the Father saying to Jesus, “‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” Jesus said in John 8:29, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” Christ had the confidence in knowing that the Father was always with Him because He did what pleased His Father. For He loved His Father and His Father loved Him! God’s children may expect God’s presence with them when they choose and do those things that please Him because they love Him! Let your faith in God be made evident: Seek to please God in all you do! Love Him by keeping His commands (1 John 5:3) and do good to those around you (Heb 13:16). Praise God for His unspeakable love! AMEN!
The Life in Christ
A Life Pleasing to God

Key Text:          1 Thessalonians 4:1

"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”

 

Theme:

As children of God, we are called to live a life centered on pleasing God. The jobs we take, the work that we do, the things that we say, the things we ask for, and the reasons why we do should all be for the sake of Christ and to the glory of God. The design of the gospel was not only to teach us what we should believe, but also how we should walk! The Christian’s life is not a walk of the flesh, but rather a walk of the Spirit. In all you do, let it be done to the glory of God!

 

Application:

Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Be at the assemblies of the saints! Do not

    let any minor circumstance stop you from

    being at services! Be willing to take the

    train if you can’t get a ride to services or

    meetings!

2. Let God be in all your decisions! Get into

    the habit of saying “What would Jesus do?”

    or “What would be pleasing to God?”

3. Let kindness reign in your life! God is

    pleased with those who show kindness and

    generosity (Heb. 13:16). Be known as one

    who possesses such a spirit!

4. Pray for everyone! God is pleased with

    those who take the time to pray for those

    in the world (1 Tim. 2:1). Pray for the

    church, for those in authority like the

    president, the government, etc.

 

May the Lord richly bless you!

 

Sermon Outline

A Life Pleasing  To God

 

I. Jacob

 

 A. Before Meeting God

 

      1. Son of Isaac

 

         a. Crafty--Gen. 25:29-33

             --Cheats his brother out of his

                birthright

 

         b. Deceptive--Gen. 27:18-29

             --Tricks his aged father into blessing

                him instead of Esau

 

         c. Reaped what he sowed--Gen. 27:42-43

             --forced to flee from his brother’s rage

 

 B. After Meeting God

 

   1. God calls him through a vision

 

     a. Becomes a new man (Gen. 28:10-21)

 

         --he acknowledges God’s presence

         --he vows to make God his Lord

 

     b. Seeks God’s in prayer (Gen. 32:9-12)

         --alarmed by his brother’s coming

 

     c. Peace made between him and his brother

         Esau (Gen. 33:1-4)

         --He has an affectionate meeting with his

            brother (Prov. 16:7)

 

     d. He was part of the Honor Roll of Faith

         (Heb. 11:21)

 

II. Conclusion--Hebrews 11:6

 

   1. Walk with God: let your faith be active!
Small Group Study

Warm-up:

If you were (or are) a parent, what would  make you very proud of your child?

 

See To It                        Hebrews 11:1-16            

 

1. Explain the definition of faith in light of the

    gospel. What is hoped for and what is unseen?

 

2. Why was Abel more pleasing to God than Cain?

    Explain with Scripture.

 

3. What kind of man was Enoch? We don’t have

    much detail about Enoch’s life, yet what was he

    known for?

 

4. Why is Enoch’s example important for the

    Christian? What is God teaching us?

 

5. How did Noah’s life reflect a life pleasing to

    God?

 

6. How did Abraham’s life reflect a life pleasing

    to God?

 

Seeing It Closer:

 

1. Read verse 13. What is meant by the

    phrase “...they did not receive the promised

    things; they only saw them and welcomed them

    from a distance”?

 

2. Read verses 14-15. How does this apply to the

    true child of God? What should our attitudes be

    in Christ?

 

3. Who does God prepare a city for? Who does

    God call His children?

 

Getting To It:

 

Pray that we always seek His will in all circumstances. That our faith will be the result of a genuine love for God. Encourage one another to live a life pleasing to God--a life of faith, seeking that which will glorify the Lord!

 

This week's Quiet Times:

A Life Pleasing to God

 

MONDAY

Many seek pleasure for themselves in this life only to fill themselves with bitterness, anger and disappointment. Let’s see what we can learn from the Master about living to please the Lord. Read John 4:34-38. What did Jesus want to fill himself with? From verses 35-38, what do you suppose is the work God wants us to finish? Did Jesus put the work of God (will of God) on the backburner? Let’s see how Jesus accomplished completing the will of the Father. Read John 5:30. Could Jesus do it on His own? The confidence Jesus radiated lied in the fact that He sought the Father’s will and not His own. Write John 6:40 on an index card and memorize it. God’s will for you is to believe in Jesus; to look toward His example and way of life. Make Him your Lord!

 

TUESDAY

Submission in humility and dependence on God’s grace shows a life that is pleasing to God.  We see these qualities in action at the Garden of Gethsemane on one dark and gloomy night. Read Mark 14:32-36. In verse 36, what was the first thing Jesus acknowledged? Since God is in control and everything is possible for Him, doesn’t it make sense then to surrender everything to Him? Even thought Jesus made a plea for Himself, He remained subjected the will of the Father. He willingly pleased God by experiencing alienation from God to save our souls from eternal condemnation. Since He subjected Himself to the point of spiritual alienation (beyond death) God affirms His pleasure in Jesus by pointing you toward Him: LISTEN TO HIM! (Mat. 17:5)Write Heb. 10:38-39 on an index card and memorize it. Since Jesus didn’t shrink back for our sake let us imitate Him by walking in a way that pleases the Lord-----> by FAITH!

               

WEDNESDAY

During the rest of the week we are going to examine several attitudes and accompanying actions that must be present in a life that will be pleasing to the Lord. Spend some time carefully reading Eph. 5:15-21. Take in carefully each of the pointers that Paul gives as to how you should live. Here’s a brief outline on Understanding God’s will (Living wisely): (1) Be a good steward of time/make the most of the opportunities God gives you (2) Don’t get drunk on the spirit of the World/Don’t conform (Rom. 12:1-3) (3) Be filled with God’s Spirit! Renewed in mind! Controlled by the Spirit! (Rom. 8:6-8) When you are filled by the Spirit it shows by your humility in singing, thankfulness, and submission to each other. I have a tough time believing that someone claims to be filled with the Spirit of God and yet refuses to sing! That is not humility! Don’t make it your goal to please yourself, make it your goal to please Him! (2 Co.5:9) Write Heb. 11:6 on an index card and memorize it. Seek a life, an attitude, a language, habits, etc. that please the Lord! He saved you!

 

THURSDAY

Acknowledging God in the way you think and speak is a testimony toward a dedication to please Him. Read carefully James 4:13-17. How does James teach that you should acknowledge Jesus’ Lordship in your life? Why does he call it boasting and bragging when you say “I’m going to do this and that...”? (See 1 Co.10:1-6)  Is your manner of speaking tainted with your arrogance? Are you full of yourself when you give advice or speak to someone? Maybe you need to be listening more! (James 1:19) “Lord willing” should not become a cliché in your vocabulary but a testimony of your faith.  It will be shown for what it is by your actions. Look up in your concordance all the instances where in the New Testament the writers used the phrase “if the Lord is willing...”.  Next to each verse that you find, write down the attitude you felt the writer expressed by that statement. Write Heb.13:15-16 on an index card and memorize it. See to it that you purify yourself!

 

FRIDAY

Finally brethren... can you sum up what it means to live a life pleasing to God? Read 1 Thess. 4:1-5. According to verse 3, what is God’s will for you? What is sanctification? (Ans.: self-control, or actually, God-control. Not lust-controlled!) Living in passionate lust is equated to not knowing Who? Are you craving anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ right now? Do you desire something material that you don’t have, or a kind of relationship you can’t have at this time? Be honest with yourself, now! Learn to control your body by seeking the Lord through these passionate moments. Superimpose His will over your own. Do not be controlled by your desires or by your body, unless you want to make yourself miserable! And if you are miserable, WAKE UP! Have you not been washed in the blood? Have you been given grace? Have you shed blood? Give thanks for what you have!------> Col.1:10-12. You are living in the light!--------> Eph.5:8-12. BE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE WORD OF GOD!!! Write Psalm 19:14 on an index card and memorize it. Your words and your heart will reflect what you put in them!  God bless!