WHO DO YOU PLEASE
Galatians 1:10-17 NASB
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it;
14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
Introduction
Have you stopped to ask yourself who am I pleasing? There are times in life when it is good to please others. There are times in life when it is good to please yourself. The time is always right to please God. Hen what about saying I am going to please myself by allowing God to please me. If we accept the plan God has for our life we will allow God to please us.
Paul talks about these matters in these verses.
1. You Can Seek To . . Please God. v 10-12
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
The word translated please.
Strongs # 700 aresko (ar-es’-ko); probably from 142 (through the idea of exciting emotion); to be agreeable (or by implication, to seek to be so):
142 airo (ah’-ee-ro); a primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Hebraism [compare 5375] to expiate sin: KJV-- away with, bear (up), carry, put away, remove, take (away, up).
A. Please God By being a . . Bond-Servant. v 10 b
If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
B. Please God By being a . . Biblical Servant. v 11-12
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
ILLUSTRATION Topic: Pleasure Subtopic: Worldly Index: 3200-3201 Date: 6/1987.15
The author Oscar Wilde was one who paid scant attention to his spiritual life. William Barclay quotes Wilde’s confession:
The gods have given me almost everything. But I let myself be lured into long spells of senseless and sensual ease.... Tired of being on the heights, I deliberately went to the depths in search for new sensation. What the paradox was to me in the sphere of thought, perversity became to me in the sphere of passion. I grew careless of the lives of others. I took pleasure where it pleased me, and passed on. I forgot that every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and that therefore what one has done in the secret chamber, one has some day to cry aloud from the house- top. I ceased to be lord over myself. I was no longer the captain of my soul, and did not know it.
I allowed pleasure to dominate me. I ended in horrible disgrace.
APPLICATION WHO DO YOU PLEASE
1. You Can Seek To . . Please God.
2. You Can Seek To . . Please Some Men. v 13-14
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it;
14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
A. Please Some Men By . . Persecuting of the Church. v 13
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it;
B. Please Some Men By . . Practicing the Traditions of Men. v 14
14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
ILLUSTRATION Topic: Pleasure Index: Date: 12/1986.16 Title: Self-Destructive Freedom There is no slave like the man free to do as he pleases because what he pleases is self-destructive. A California psychiatrist recently complained that four out of every ten teenagers and young adults who visited his medical center have a psychological sickness he can do nothing about. According to the Los Angeles Times it is simply this: "Each of them demands that his world conform to his uncontrolled desires.
Society has provided him with so many escape routes that he never has to stand his ground against disappointment, postponement of pleasure and the weight of responsibility -- all forces which shape character." The psychiatrist adds, "If the personality disorder persists far into adulthood there will be a society of pleasure-driven people hopelessly insecure and dependent."
APPLICATION WHO DO YOU PLEASE
You Can Seek To . . Please God.
You Can Seek To . . Please Some Men.
3. You Can Seek To . . Let God Please You. v 15-17
15 But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
The word translated "pleased"
2106 eudokeo (yoo-dok-eh’-o); from 2095 and 1380; to think well of, i.e. approve (an act); specially, to approbate (a person or thing): KJV-- think good, (be well) please (-d), be the good (have, take) pleasure, be willing.
2095 eu (yoo); neuter of a primary eus (good); (adverbially) well: KJV-- good, well
1380 dokeo (dok-eh’-o);
a prolonged form of a primary verb, doko (dok’-o) (used only in an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of 1166) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly): KJV-- be accounted, (of own) please (-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow.
1166 deiknuo (dike-noo’-o); a prolonged form of an obsolete primary of the same meaning; to show KJV-- shew.
A. Let God Please you In . . Revelation. v 15 - 16 a
15 But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,..."
B. Let God Please you In . . Retreats. v 16 b - 17 a
"...I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia,..."
C. Let God Please you In . . Returning. v 17 b
"...and returned once more to Damascus."
ILLUSTRATION Let God Bless Us
I told my grandson Brandon I would like to buy a brand new Mustang Convertible, and keep it until he turned 16 and then give it to him. He liked the idea, and when I told him I did not have the money to do it he said "you could sell the two cars you have and buy one of those."
Similar to that story is this one as a mother and father wanted to buy their son a brand new Mustang Convertible. Dad and Mom wanted to give this gift to their son as a graduation present and to have a car to take to college.
They also wanted him to read a book about Christian values so they placed a check for the car in the book and told their Son when you read this book you will be greatly surprised with the contents.
Ever so often they asked have you read the book. They only got a grunt. They parents were eager to give to this young man but they also wanted to educate him. They had some requirements for the blessings.
The young man finally trudged through the book a few weeks before time to leave for college. One night his parents heard him scream and come running down the stairs. He found the check. Dad, Mom, and son were all very happy. Dad said son this could have been a reality in your life several weeks ago, We wanted you to have the pleasure if this car but we also wanted to share some Biblical truth with you.
APPLICATION
God has gifts he wants to give to His children. They will unfold to us in our reading of scripture and our obedience to the principals spelled out in that book.
Conclusion
WHO DO YOU PLEASE
1. You Can Seek To . . Please Some Men.
2. You Can Seek To . . Please God.
3. You Can Seek To . . Let God Please You.
For more sermons by James McCullen go to:
www.preachhim.org
