Why Must God Be Pleased? Lesson 1 Series

A. GOD WAS PLEASED WITH HIS CREATION: GENESIS 1:1-31

Day 1 – light, “It was good.”

Day 2 – separate waters and create atmosphere, “It was good.”

Day 3 – vegetation, giving life, “It was good.”

Day 4 – sun and moon, “It was good.”

Day 5 – animals, fish, and birds, “It was good.”

Day 6 – male and female, “It was very good.”

B. TO PLEASE GOD OR PEOPLE

1. Giving others your attention.

2. Initiating what the other wants or needs.

3. Accommodating the needs and desires of others.

4. Focusing on the other and not self.

5. Synonyms: To give pleasure, to accommodate, to delight, to satisfy or give what the other needs.

C. HUMANS LOST THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

1. Man refused God and disobeyed. “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world, Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone” (Romans 5:12, NLT).

2. God’s holiness separates Himself from us. “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

3. We cannot approach God. God said, “Do not come any closer” (Exodus 3:5). “No one comes to the Father, except by Me (Jesus)” (John 14:6).

D. HOW WE CAN PLEASE GOD AND APPROACH HIM

1. We come to salvation through Christ’s death. “Christ came at just the right time and died for sinners” (Romans 5:6, NLT).

2. Begin with yieldedness. “It is impossible to please God without faith… anyone who wants to come … must believe God exist … and He rewards those … sincerely seek(ing) Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

E. WHO PLEASED GOD AND FOUND HIS FAVOR

1. Abel, son of Adam and Eve. “Abel brought a better sacrifice … God was pleased” (Hebrews 11:4, CEV).

2. “Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven” (Hebrews 11:5, CEV).

3. The believers in Thessalonica by their life. “To live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you” (1 Thessalonians 4:1, NLT).

4. The believers who serve properly. “Do good and share with those in need … that pleases God” (Hebrews 13:16, NLT).

F. THE “IF/THEN” PRINCIPLE

1. God says, “If My people please me, then I will favor them.

2. The conditions for revival: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV).

3. The condition of intimacy, “Draw near to God, (then) He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

4. The prayer of Moses. “If I have indeed found grace in Your sight, then teach me Your ways, and show me Your favor” (Exodus 33:12, ELT).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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