Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
Note to the reader:
If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God that all over the globe the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God. Many thanks. Herman Abrahams, Cape Town, South Africa.
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BE A GOD-PLEASER or FIND OUT WHAT PLEASES THE LORD !
Ephesians 5:10 “And find out what pleases the Lord.”
1. The example of Jesus.
The Lord Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father: John 8:29 “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”.
His life was entirely determined by the will of God for Him, and in doing that will, He found pleasure: John 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 5:30 “For I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”
2. The believer must test everything in life so that he can learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:10 “And find out what pleases the Lord.” The thought in this verse expands on Eph. 5:8b in that to live as children of light one must discern what pleases the Lord. The words find out literally means, “putting to the test,” “approving,” or “discerning”.
3. The key to living a transformed life is cultivating a renewed mind.
The aspects of “putting to the test,” “approving,” or “discerning” are brought out further in Romans 12 vs 2:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
Paul commanded in Rom 12:2, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. Living according to the lifestyle of “the present evil Age” (Gal. 1:4; cf. Eph. 1:21) must now be put aside. Then Paul commanded, But be transformed by the renewing of your mind. This speaks of a continual renewing of the mind, not a once-off event. The Greek verb translated “transformed” is seen in the English word “metamorphosis,” a total change from inside out (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). Just as the caterpillar becomes a butterfly and the tadpole transforms into a frog, so the Christain man or woman must undergo a complete transformation. The key to this change is the “mind”, the control center of one’s attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions. As one’s mind keeps on being made new by the spiritual input of God’s Word, prayer and Christian fellowship, one’s lifestyle keeps on being transformed. As a Christian is transformed in his mind and is made more like Christ, he comes to approve (ascertain) and desire God’s perfect will; not his own will for his life. Then he discovers that which is good and pleasing unto the Lord. Only by being renewed spiritually can a believer ascertain, do, and enjoy the will of God.
4. Pleasing God was the goal and controlling ambition of Paul’s life.
2 Cor 5:9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. (NIV)
Motivating Paul was his goal to please his Lord, a desire which was in effect during his earthly journey (at home in the body) and which would be undiminished in heaven (away from it).
Contributing to this goal was Paul’s knowledge that he would one day be evaluated by his Master (vs.10). He wanted to please Him and to hear from Him, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).
Illustration: David Brainerd was an American colonial missionary to the Indians who died at the age of twenty-nine. His diary reveals a young man intensely committed to God. Brainerd once said to Jonathan Edwards: “I do not go to heaven to be advanced but to give honor to God. It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven, whether I have a high seat or a low seat there. My heaven is to please God and glorify Him, and give all to Him, and to be wholly devoted to His glory.” (Today in the Word, November 19, 1997)
5. Believers must please God in every aspect of life.
Col 1:9-10 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Paul’s aim in this petition (vs.9) was practical: in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord. A genuine knowledge of Christ reveals itself in transformed character, in Christlikeness. The aim of believers in all their worthy conduct should be to please Him in every way, to anticipate and do His wishes in every aspect of life. Indeed, Paul made it the ambition of his life to please God. Four things result from such a God-pleasing life: “bearing fruit” and “growing” (Col. 1:10), “being strengthened with all power” (v. 11), and “giving thanks” (v. 12).
6. Merely pleasing people is incompatible with being a servant of Christ.
Galations 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (NIV)
A man should never live to please people by making their approval of more importance than God’s. Paul was determined not to gain the affection of man or to avoid their resentment at the expense of approving himself to God. These he knew were utterly inconsistent, and that no man could serve two such masters; he dared not allow himself to satisfy man at the expense of his faithfulness to Christ.
7. A further prerequisite for pleasing God is faith.
Heb. 11:6 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.
To live a life that’s pleasing unto God, believers must believe God’s Word and the promises contained therein.
Memory Verse: Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (NIV)
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