Sermon
May 6, 2018
Lanier Christian Church – David Simpson
How to Please God
Hebrews 11:6
How can I please God today? More than likely, you did not wake up this morning with that on your mind. For most of us, our first waking thought is: “What do I have to do today?” with the emphasis on “I.”
On Sundays, you may think – “I am going to church first, then………..” I know most Sundays, I’ll ask Faith (my wife) after church, “What’s the plan for today?” No offense to my wife, but she has never responded, “David, we’re going to please God today!”
If we are committed believers, we will most likely start our days by saying a brief prayer and then get on with our work. We will check our calendars for appointments, check off the tasks of the day, make needed phone calls, conduct business, chat with friends and family. But, I must be honest; I have rarely started my day with the priority of simply wanting to please God, but I should.
Throughout the Bible there are several references to what pleases God.
Integrity – 1 Chronicles 29:17
Praising God in song and with thanksgiving – Psalm 69:30,31; Prayers of the upright – Proverbs 15:8
Wicked people repenting – Ezekiel 18:23
Jesus – at his baptism and transfiguration – Matthew 3:17; 17:5
Preaching the gospel – 1 Corinthians 1:21
Peaceful, quiet, godly and holy lives – 1 Timothy 2:2-4
Sacrifices of Praise – Hebrews 13:15
Doing good and sharing with others – Hebrews 13:16
All of those are great examples of what is pleasing to God. Though not listed, I am certain there are other attributes of God’s creation that are pleasing to Him. Yet, there is one attribute in Hebrews 11:6 that clearly states what we must have in order to please God.
FAITH
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
It is absolutely impossible to please God without faith.
By the way, most people have some type of faith every day.
We trust in our money. We have confident faith in our abilities. We even have faith in others to do their job. We trust that our cars will start each day and get us to our destination. We have faith that other drivers will stop at traffic lights. We have faith that the caffeine in our morning coffee will wake us up for the day. We place great faith in our smart phones to work throughout the day. We trust there will be food and water and oxygen to supply our daily needs.
So, anytime someone tells you they are not a person of faith, then you need to correct them and tell them that they are!
What they are missing out on is saving faith, strengthening faith, hopeful faith, forgiving faith, loving faith, joyful faith, lasting faith, life-changing faith.
So what is this faith the Bible speaks of? Well, the Hebrew writer described faith in Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. - NIV
Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. – NCV
Biblical faith is placing our trust in the promises of God and knowing that He is real, even though we can’t see Him. Now, many people in our world today, and many you are exposed to every day, do not believe in the reality of Almighty God. Yet, even atheists have faith. It is simply misplaced faith. They have faith in themselves!
That’s why the Hebrew writer challenges us to move beyond ourselves and place our faith in the one who has proven himself over and over again – the one true God. We must believe in Him, the creator of all things, the one who loved us so much that He gave His son for us, the one who forgives and forgets, who restores and redeems, who has never once failed on a single promise.
I believe that God exists. Most of you here today do too. That’s the starting point of faith; to believe that there is a God. But, the next part is where we often stumble. Do you believe that God will reward you for earnestly seeking him?
When I think of rewards, I think of the treasure chest at my dentist’s office when I was a kid. If I was a good patient and didn’t cry or squirm, then I was rewarded for good behavior with a prize from the treasure chest.
So, because we often think that way in life, we often translate this verse improperly. We think it’s like a trip to the dentist. If I’m a good boy or girl when I come before God I’ll receive a prize: more money, better health, success, perfect relationships, no stress, no troubles. God will reach into his treasure chest and reward us with impressive gifts.
But look at the passage again, because when we read, “God rewards those who earnestly seek him,” do you know the reward God is really talking about here?
He’s talking about the reward of Himself.
Galatians 3:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Acts 2:38 New International Version (NIV)
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The gift, the reward, that we receive when our faith is placed in the one who loves us most, is the presence of God himself. Faith, and repentance and baptism is the way that we yield ourselves before our Father God. We are saying, YOU gave all for us in Christ, and now we die to self and live for you.
Sin no longer has mastery over us, you do, God! Romans 6:11 after talking about faith and baptism says: “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
There is new life when we come before God with a believing faith. It is His life working with us. His mercy and grace. His love and forgiveness. His joy and hope. His peace and help. His strength and endurance. His promise and deliverance.
Believing faith is life-changing faith. You are never the same again. The reward – the gift – is God’s Holy Spirit. Faith is the only way to please God, because it’s the only way to have a relationship with Him!
It is impossible to please God without faith. It is the one spiritual ingredient of our lives that absolutely must be present every – single – day! Faith is our spiritual vitamin for every day. We need it to stay spiritually healthy. Without connecting to God through faith, we are spiritually deplete.
Faith is so vital that the only times the New Testament speaks of Jesus being amazed is in regard to faith.
He is amazed at the faith of the gentile centurion in Matthew 8:10, where it says,
“…he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
And…he is amazed at the lack of faith in his own hometown!
Mark 6:5-7
5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
To this very day, I believe that our savior looks at us in one of two ways. Either we have faith or we have a lack of faith.
It is the one sure thing that pleases and amazes him.
But, I would rather my Savior be amazed by my faith in him rather than my lack of faith, wouldn’t you?
Hebrews 11 is called the “Hall of Faith” because it is a listing of Bible heroes that offered their lives before God with great faith. Some examples – Noah – who built an ark on faith believing what God promised; None of the evidence pointed to the need for such a thing – but God promised a flood and Noah was prepared; Abraham – who didn’t know where he was going – but followed God’s lead – and it led him to establish the family and nation of Israel. Sarah – who was past child-bearing years, yet gave birth to Isaac. Moses – who by faith crossed through the red sea on dry ground; Gideon, Samson, David and others who all approached God in faith believing that God was who he said he was and he would do great things through them – when the evidence around them seemed anything but possible.
Is your faith in Almighty God so obvious that someone would notice? Has someone ever complemented you for your faith? Hebrews 11 is filled with the names of those who lived by faith. Could your name be among them?
I have grown weary of listening to those who call themselves believers who have more doubt than belief. This should not be!
Do you believe that God is actively working in your life? Do you believe that God can and will use you in some way for his glory? Do you believe that God is the guiding hand for his church? Do you believe God can and will use Lanier Christian Church to accomplish his will? Are you are person of faith?
Do you want to please God today?
Then, approach him with faith.
Let your faith shine, so that others will see God.
Let your faith be evident so that others will know where you stand.
Let your faith guide you in every decision.
Let your faith be such a guide for your life that all you do is marked by faith.
Let your faith be so overwhelming that your family and your place of work is impacted by your trust in God.
Let your faith be so powerful that others will desire to have that same faith.
Let your faith be so invasive that you walk your talk and talk your walk.
Let your faith be so dependent on God that there is less of you and more of Him.
It is impossible to please God without faith, but all things are possible to the one who believes in Him. After all, Jesus himself said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)
So today, my challenge to you and me both is to …choose what pleases God. Have faith!
