Go! And Walk to Please God
A Call to Live a Life that Brings Joy to Our Heavenly Father
Introduction:
"The Lord is pleased with those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love." – Psalm 147:11 (NLT)
Church, let me ask you something personal and powerful: Is God pleased with your walk? Not your Sunday best, not your public worship, but your walk—your daily life, your private moments, your thoughts and intentions?
We live in a world that constantly urges us to please ourselves, please others, chase popularity, position, and pride—but Scripture calls us to something higher: to walk in a way that pleases God. Today, we’re going to explore how we can go—and walk to please God.
This sermon will challenge our hearts, illuminate God’s Word, and point us to the One who perfectly pleased the Father—Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and transform our steps.
Proverbs 6:16–19 (NLT)
“There are six things the Lord hates—
no, seven things he detests:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,
a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,
a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.”
These seven sins are not arbitrary—they are deeply relational. They are sins against others, but ultimately, they are sins against God.
“Haughty eyes” – Hebrew: rûm (pride, arrogance) – speaks of prideful independence from God.
“Lying tongue” – Falsehood distorts God’s truth.
“Hands that kill” – A life-devaluing heart; remember Jesus equated hatred with murder (Matthew 5:21-22).
“A heart that plots evil” – Planning sin; intentional rebellion.
“Feet that race to do wrong” – Eagerness to sin.
“False witness” – Injustice through deception.
“Sows discord” – Division; the opposite of the unity Christ prayed for (John 17).
Each of these is the opposite of a life that pleases God. These are warnings, but praise God—He also shows us how to walk in His pleasure!
1. Go! And Walk by Faith — Hebrews 11:5–6 (NLT)
“It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—‘he disappeared, because God took him.’ For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith.”
Enoch walked with God. Genesis 5:24 says: “Walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.”
Enoch wasn’t a preacher, a prophet, or a king—he was simply someone who walked closely with God in faith.
Jude 1:14-15 shows Enoch prophesied about God's coming judgement—he stood for righteousness in a wicked generation.
Greek for “pleased” in Hebrews 11:5 is euaresteo – to be well-pleasing, acceptable, to bring delight.
:
John Piper once said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
Walking by faith isn’t merely believing in God—it’s being satisfied in Him, trusting His promises, obeying His voice, delighting in His will.
2. Go! And Crucify the Flesh — Romans 8:6–8 (NLT)
“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”
The flesh—our sinful nature—is not neutral. It is hostile to God. We cannot please God while living in the grip of the flesh.
Romans 6:9 reminds us: “Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.”
If we are in Christ, death has no power over us either—so we must live as those set free!
R.T. Kendall wrote: “Victory over the flesh is not willpower; it’s surrender to the Holy Spirit.”
We don’t win the battle by trying harder—we win by trusting deeper. The Spirit empowers us to crucify the flesh.
3. Go! And Repent — Acts 2:38 (NLT)
“Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Repentance is more than sorrow—it is turning. Turning from sin to God. Turning from pride to humility. Turning from flesh to Spirit.
Imagine a GPS that keeps saying, “Recalculating… Recalculating…” every time you ignore its directions. Repentance is finally making the U-turn—and heading in the right direction.
4. Go! And Obey From the Heart — Romans 7:25, Romans 8:16–17 (NLT)
“Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
“For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs…”
Divine Sonship: If we are children of God, then we must walk in a way that reflects our Father.
Luke 15:7: “There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents…”
Heaven rejoices in repentance—and we, as heirs, should rejoice in obedience.
5. Go! And Be Like Jesus — Matthew 17:5 (NLT)
“This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”
Jesus pleased the Father—always. John 8:29: “I always do what pleases him.”
Matthew 5:48: “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Luke 22:42: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
To walk like Jesus is to say: “Not my will but Yours.”
6. Go! And Live to Please God — 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)
“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”
Psalm 145:2-3 reminds us: “Every day I will bless you… Great is the Lord!”
Our lives should bless Him every day—in what we think, say, and do.
Gospel Presentation:
Church, there is One who walked perfectly to please God—Jesus Christ. He lived sinlessly. He died sacrificially. He rose victoriously.
Jesus died in your place for your sins.
Jesus was buried, confirming His death.
Jesus rose again, defeating sin, death, and the grave.
Romans 6:9: “Death no longer has any power over him.”
He calls you to repent, believe, and follow Him. Salvation is not earned—it is received by faith.
A father watches his toddler take his first shaky steps. He doesn’t scold him when he falls—he reaches down and lifts him up with joy.
God delights when we take steps toward Him—not perfection, but direction.
Max Lucado: “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
Friends, God is not looking for perfection before He loves you—He is looking for faith and surrender. But once He has you, He will shape you to be like Christ.
Call to Action:
Repent of anything that displeases God.
Walk by faith, not by sight.
Live to please God, not people.
Surrender daily to the Spirit.
Rejoice in your identity as a child of God.
Invitation to Salvation:
If today you know you're not walking with God—now is the time. Repent. Turn to Jesus. Trust in Him as Lord and Saviour.
Pray: “Lord Jesus, I turn from my sin. I trust in You. Forgive me. Make me new. I want to walk with You and please You. Amen.”
Benediction:
May the God who loves you, who saved you through Christ, and who empowers you by His Spirit, strengthen you to walk in a way that pleases Him. Go—and walk to please God—by faith, with love, and for His glory. Amen.
