WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PLEASE GOD?

An honest heart seeks to please God in all things and offend Him in none. — A.W. Pink

Romans 8:8
They who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Hebrews 11:6
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.

Romans 8:6-7
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Hebrews 10:38
But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.

John 8:14-15
If you love me, you will obey what I command.

THREE EXHORTATIONS TO PLEASE GOD

I Thessalonians 4:1-2
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.

I Thessalonians 4:3-4
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

I. ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY

I Thessalonians 4:5-6
not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 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.

I have become convinced that the largest single factor impeding the growth of men and women in Christ is the sexualization of our culture. This change has reoriented identity foundations, produced addictions, and created a constant struggle with violated consciences. And almost every person in our churches is affected to a much greater degree than they generally acknowledge. The portion of young people in our church who have consistent habits of impure behavior is very high, not because they are less spiritual than an older generation, but because they have been victims of a level of sexual exploitation that is unparalleled in human experience. — John Meyer

I Thessalonians 4:7-8
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.

I Thessalonians 4:9
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

II. LOVE ONE ANOTHER

I Thessalonians 4:10
for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,

I Thessalonians 4:11-12
11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

III. MIND YOUR OWN AFFAIRS AND WORK HARD

Read the Bible. Work hard and honestly. And don’t complain. — Billy Graham

Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.