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How to Please God

PLEASING THE LORD.

There are several ways by which we as believers in Christ may please the Lord.

Ⅰ. By not pleasing ourselves (Romans 15:1).

Ⅱ. By walking worthy of the Lord (Col.1:10).

Ⅲ. By suffering wrongfully (1.Peter 2:19 20).

Ⅳ. By walking with God (Heb.11:5).

Ⅴ. By believing in God (Heb.11:6).

Ⅵ. By ministering to the need of others (Heb.13:16).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

PLEASING GOD

How do we Please God?

1. By exalting Jesus Christ His Son (Matt 3:17; Col 1:15-19)

2. By proclaiming the message of the cross (I Cor 1:18-2:5)

3. By believing in God and his promises (Heb 11:6)

4. By asking for wisdom (1 Kings 3:10 Col 1:9-14; James 1:5-8)

5. By staying away from sexual sin (Eph 5:3 4 10; 1 Thes 4:1-8)

6. By sharing the gospel with unbelievers (I Cor 9:14-27 10:31-33)

7. By giving to others in time of need (Phil 4:10-20; Heb 13:16)

8. By submitting to authority (Rom 8:7-8 Col 3:20; 1 John 3:22)

9. By praising God for all things (Ps 69:30-31; Heb 13:15-16)

── David Hocking Pleasing God.

 
Seeking To Please God
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Remember that growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ requires...
 a. The development of eight graces
 b. In conjunction with each other
 c. With all diligence
 -- Where we gradually produce a Christ-like character
 
2. Reasons to grow in this knowledge include...
 a. Grace and peace are multiplied in this knowledge
 b. All things pertaining to life and godliness are provided through
 this knowledge
 c. Spiritual myopia and amnesia are avoided by this knowledge
 d. We will never stumble if we abound in this knowledge
 e. An abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom will be ours!
 
3. Thus the development of a Christ-like character...
 a. Begins with the foundation of faith (conviction and trust)
 b. To which we add the quality of virtue (striving for excellence)
 c. Manifested by increasing in knowledge (regarding God's will)
 d. To which we add the grace of self-control (mastering one's desires
 and passions)
 e. Along with the perseverance to bear up trials and temptations
 
4. As we continue with our text (2 Pe 1:5-8)
we see that we are to add
 godliness....
 a. Note that it is connected with perseverance
 b. We shall observe that this is a very logical connection
 
[As we've done previously
let's first seek to discern the meaning of
the word...]
 
I. THE DEFINITION OF GODLINESS
 
 A. THE GREEK WORD IS EUSEBIA...
 1. Literally
it means "to worship well"
"to be very devout"
 2. Vine describes it as denoting "that piety which
characterized
 by a God-ward attitude
does that which is well-pleasing to
 Him"
 3. ISBE describes it as "character and conduct determined by the
 principle of love or fear of God in the heart"
 -- We might summarize it as pious conduct done with a desire to
 please God
 
 B. CONTRASTED WITH HYPOCRISY...
 1. There is pious conduct or godliness that is hypocritical
 a. Against which Paul warned - 2 Ti 3:1-5
 b. Displayed by those who are "lovers of pleasure" rather than
 "lovers of God"
 1) Such piety or godliness is just an outward form
 2) Done only to be seen by others
to impress them
for the
 purpose of self-glorification
 c. Against which Jesus warned - Mt 6:1-18
 2. True godliness is characterized by a "God-ward attitude"
 a. I.e.
seeking to be seen and approved by God
not man
 b. Devoted to the will of God
desiring to please Him
 -- Unless we have this "God-ward attitude"
any act of piety is
 simply hypocrisy
 
 C. CONNECTED WITH PERSEVERANCE...
 1. Perseverance (bearing up under trials) is commendable
if done
 for the right reason - cf. 1 Pe 2:18-20
 2. The right reason to persevere is godliness!
 a. Persevering out of a desire to please God
 b. Not to please man or ourselves
 
[Therefore it is essential that we add godliness to perseverance
or we
will be bearing up under trials for all the wrong reasons! There is
more to be said about...]
 
II. THE DEMAND FOR GODLINESS
 
 A. NECESSARY TO BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST...
 1. Remember that godliness is pious conduct done with a desire to
 please God
 2. Jesus had this desire to please His heavenly Father - Jn 8:29
 3. If we are to be Jesus' disciples
we must seek to please God

 not men - Ga 1:10
 4. The apostles' taught the disciples that they might please God 
 - 1 Th 4:1-2
 -- Unless it is for the purpose of pleasing God
all our piety is
 in vain!
 
 B. PROFITABLE FOR ALL THINGS...
 1. Paul wrote how godliness was profitable for all things - 1 Ti
 4:7-8; 6:6
 a. Profitable for the life that now is - cf. Mt 6:33; Mk 10:
 28-30
 b. Profitable for the life to come - cf. Mk 10:30; Ro 6:22
 2. Peter wrote of how it was beneficial in view of the things to
 come - 2 Pe 3:10-14
 a. The universe
the earth
and all its works will be destroyed
 b. For this reason we should focus on holy conduct and
 godliness
which gives promise of the life to come (the new
 heavens and new earth)
 -- Godliness is the only true wealth worth striving for!
 
 C. A SOURCE FOR POWER...
 1. Paul warned about those with a form of godliness
but denying
 its power - 2 Ti 3:5
 a. Implied is that there is true godliness
 b. And this true godliness contains "power"
 2. Indeed
if our conduct pleases God
He empowers us!
 a. He works in us as we strive to do His will - Ph 2:12-13
 b. He strengthens us by His Spirit in the inner man - cf. Ep
 3:16
 c. With a power beyond comprehension - Ep 3:20
 d. Enabling us to stand strong in the strength of His might 
 - Ep 6:10-13
 -- Do we desire power from God in our daily living? Then
 godliness is necessary!
 
[How does one go about the task of "adding" godliness to their life...?]
 
III. THE DEVELOPMENT OF GODLINESS
 
 A. REQUIRES EXERCISE...
 1. As Paul counseled Timothy - 1 Ti 4:7-8
 a. Just as physical exercise provides benefit for healthy
 living
 b. Even more so
spiritual exercise provides benefit for godly
 living
 2. The type of spiritual exercise needed - cf. 1 Ti 4:12-16
 a. Set a good example for others
 b. Give attention to reading (esp. the Word of God)

 exhortation
doctrine
  c. Make good use of your abilities and opportunities
 d. Focus your efforts on such things
and your progress will be
 evident
 -- As Peter would say
it requires "giving all diligence" - cf. 
 2 Pe 1:5
 
 B. REQUIRES ABSTINENCE...
 1. From disputes and arguments over words - 1 Ti 6:3-4
 2. From men who wrangle over words - 1 Ti 6:5
 3. From materialism and the love of money - 1 Ti 6:6-10
 -- Yes
we must flee these things
all the while pursuing
  godliness! - 1 Ti 6:11
 
[Finally
a few thoughts about...]
 
IV. THE DISPLAY OF GODLINESS
 
 A. WE MUST GUARD OUR MOTIVES...
 1. Many people are pious
having a form of godliness
but for the
 wrong reason
 a. They view it as a means of gain - cf. 1 Ti 6:5
 b. For some
to get wealthy
 c. For others
to get healthy
 d. For others
to get popularity
 2. There is only one proper motive for pious conduct
 a. To please God!
 b. This is the motive that pleases God
 -- The display of true godliness will be for one reason
to
 glorify God!
 
 B. WE MUST NOT DENY ITS POWER...
 1. Some have a form of godliness
but deny its power - cf. 2 Ti
 3:5
 a. They think that they can do it on their own
 b. They do not acknowledge the need for God's help
 2. As we seek to be godly
we must acknowledge God's help - cf. Ph
 4:13
 a. By His grace we can become what He wants us to be
 b. By His Spirit we can become godly - cf. Ro 8:13-14
 -- What degree of true godliness we may attain
is possible only
 with God's help!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. It is God's desire that we live godly lives
and for this end we are
 told to pray:
 
 "...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
 reverence." - cf. 1 Ti 2:1-3
 
2. It is our desire to please Him that sanctifies our conduct...
 a. Making our efforts holy conduct
 b. Rather than self-righteous acts done to earn salvation
impress
 others
or some other personal gain
 
3. Can we see why we must add godliness as we seek to grow in the
 knowledge of Christ?
 a. As we strive for excellence (virtue)...
 b. As we increase in knowledge...
 c. As we display self-control...
 d. As we bear up under trials (perseverance)...
 -- It is godliness (pious conduct seeking to please God) that ensures
 that our efforts will not be for the wrong reasons
 
May we therefore add godliness to perseverance as we seek to grow in
both grace and knowledge while waiting for our Lord's return:
 
 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all
 men
teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts
we
 should live soberly
righteously
and godly in the present age

 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great
 God and Savior Jesus Christ
" - Ti 2:11-13

－－《Executable Outlines》