People Pleaser Or God Pleaser? Series

Opening illustration: While I was doing the Rapture series a number of years ago, one evening on not finding me in the house, my wife thought I was raptured. She had a panic attack …

Let read Hebrews 11: 5 – 6 and see what was the second testimony of Enoch that raptured him.

Introduction: Implied in the declaration in Genesis 5: 22 that he “walked with God.” This denotes a state of friendship between God and him, and of course implies that his conduct was pleasing to God. The apostle appeals here to the sense of the account in Genesis, but does not retain the very “words.” The meaning here is not that the testimony respecting Enoch was actually “given” before his translation, but that the testimony relates to his having “pleased God” before he was removed. The man who professes that it is his duty to worship God, must, if he act rationally, do it on the conviction that there is such a Being infinite, eternal, unoriginated, and self-existent; the cause of all other being; on whom all being depends; and by whose energy, bounty, and providence, all other beings exist, live, and are supplied with the means of continued existence and life. He must believe, also, that he rewards them that diligently seek him; that he is not indifferent about his own worship; that he requires adoration and religious service from men; and that he blesses, and especially protects and saves, those who in simplicity and uprightness of heart seek and serve him. This requires faith, such a faith as is mentioned above; a faith by which we can please God; and now that we have an abundant revelation, a faith according to that revelation; a faith in God through Christ the great sin-offering, without which a man can no more please him.

Ref: Romans 8: 8 (Galatians 1:10; 1Thes 2:4 men pleaser); Hebrews 13: 16

A clean heart is shaped / stirred by keeping the commandments of God and doing the things that please God. If a child disobeys his father, he displeases his father. The only way he can please his father is by obeying him. The same is true with God. If we are going to please God, we must obey God.

Note another fact as well. A father cannot reward his child if the child disobeys. The father just cannot grant the child’s request, not if he wants to teach him good behavior. Neither can God. The only way we can receive the things we ask is to obey God. He cannot reward our unfaithfulness and disobedience.

If we please God then we must do that what pleases Him. We cannot just choose anything and say, “this is to please God.” OR “Such & such thing pleases God.”

And the reason why, is because there are certain things that don’t please him. Through His Word and the Spirit he shows us what is pleasing:-

How can we please God? [What does the Bible say as to how we can please God?]

1. ASK GOD FOR THE RIGHT THINGS [1 Kings 3: 9 - 10]

“Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.”

Ref: King Solomon asked God for wisdom to be able to judge the people rightly.

2. SEPARATED FOR GOD [2 Timothy 2: 1 - 4]

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

Ref: God had desired to keep Samson separated for Him but Samson out of his own will and wish had blown it.

3. PRAISING GOD [Psalm 69: 30 - 31]

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.”

Illustration: It is intriguing to see Muslims praising God for everything and in everything. Job praised God even after he had lost everything which pertained to the physical world. Bro. Mohan was in a bad car accident. He had multiple fractures, lost his young son, wrecked his car and the family was wounded, yet he praised God.

4. YIELDED TO THE SPIRIT [Romans 8: 4 – 8]

“That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”