“How to please God” message outline

“How to please God”
1 Thes. 4:1-8
September 14th , 2014

Our ultimate purpose should be to Please God
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

How to please God.....

I. Nurture the Passion to Please God.  (1-2)
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (ESV)
1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

A fascinating spiritual dynamic is illustrated in
Exodus 33:13 (ESV)
13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”


II. It God’s will for you to be Holy and  Avoid Sexual Immorality (3)
1 Thessalonians 4:3 (ESV)
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

A.  Reinforcement #1.  If you don’t, you are living like those who don’t know God.(4-5)
1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 (ESV)
4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

B.   Reinforcement # 2   If you don’t, God will punish you    (6)
1 Thessalonians 4:6 (ESV)
6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

III  God empowers his call to Holy Living by His Holy Spirit.  (7-8)
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (ESV)
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Feed the nature that you want to have control....

The Spiritual Nature
Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

The Sin Nature
Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Conclusion
You don’t have to be anyone other than the person God created you to be.
Your uniqueness empowered by the Spirit God is what pleases God.

Remember to....
Please God by seeking Him.
Seek God by Pleasing Him.