For His Pleasure

By Keith D. Wallace

I. Introduction  

            A. World asks lot of questions  

1. Every major religion tries to answer “Why are we here”  or “What is the meaning/purpose of life?”

 2. Some say:

            a. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die

            b. Look out for #1

            c. Live a good life and help others

            d. He who dies with the most toys wins

            e. There is no meaning

f. The big-time Woodstock cooks say, “Are we really even here, man?”  

3. God says:

a. Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.  

                        4. So the answer to the world’s question is that we are here to please God  

5. Many, if not most, Christians do not realize that this is their purpose in life

            a. Those who do tend to follow the world’s pattern though

1. Prayer is pleasing to God—so by praying you are pleasing God—right?

i. But if you are following the world’s pattern when you pray you are not really pleasing God

ii. Over the last week or even month how many times have your prayers been about how God could make YOU happy?

-          God, can I have…

-          God, help me to…

-          God, give me…

II. How to be a pleasure to your Creator  

            A. Be born  

                        1. Must start your physical life as a baby  

2. Must also start your spiritual life as a baby by getting saved and being born into the family of God as a baby Christian

            a. John 1:12  

            B. Grow  

                        1. Feed yourself

                                    a. Read your Bible

i. 1 Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

                                    b. Go to church and hear preaching

c. Common argument against these is that the Christian doesn’t see any changes

i. What did you have to eat three weeks ago today?  Can’t remember?  You’re still here so it must have had some effect on you.

ii. Even if you can’t see changes it’s happening

iii. Over time you will grow by immersing yourself in the things of God and your ability to please Him will also grow

            - Dress will change

            - Language will change

            - Music will change

            - Desires will change  

            C. Suppress your flesh  

                        1. Greatest enemy to a Christian is not the Devil it’s his own flesh

                                    a. Reading your Bible and hearing preaching will help

                                    b. Don’t give in to fleshly desires

c. Fight off temptations and urges by quoting scripture and praying for help

            i. Pray out loud for help

d. Fast

i. Will give you power over your flesh by showing you that you CAN control it  

            D. Separate yourself  

                        1. Get out away from the world and worldly influences

a. 2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you

b. One good apple in a bushel of bad apples will not make the rest good but it will turn bad like the rest           

                        2. Get close to church and church members

a. The more time you spend around other Christians you will be affected by them

            i. It will encourage you

            ii. It will strengthen you

            iii. It will give you an example to follow

            iv. It will give you accountability

            v. It will keep you busy thus helping keep you from sin  

                        3. Separate yourself from the world and unto God

a. Don’t just separate yourself from worldly evils but separate yourself UNTO the work of God

b. This means that when you separate yourself from worldly evils you have to replace them with something

            i. Replace your cigarette pack with a New Testament

- Bob Gray put a Gideon NT in place of his cigarettes and would read it anytime he had the urge to smoke

            ii. Replace your beer with lemonade

iii. Replace your steamy novels with the Bible or a good Biography of some Christian

iv. Replace your filthy movies with visitation

v. Replace your rock music with good Godly music  

            E. Work  

1. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

            a. Everything you do should be done for God

            b. Your work at your job

                        i. Christians should be the best employees at their jobs

            c. Your work at or for the church

                        i. Volunteer to work

                                    - Be a soul winner

                                    - Teach classes

                                    - Clean the building

                                    - Fix things

                                    - Give toward the ministries and missions

                                    - Sing

                                    - Help other Christians in need

                                    - Do something!  Don’t be a moocher!  

            F. Live by faith  

1. Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  

2. All that we do should be done by faith

            a. Birth

            b. Growth

            c. Overcoming flesh

            d. Separation

            e. Work  

III.  Conclusion  

A. Our goal should be to get up every morning determined that we will lay our head on the pillow that very night knowing that our purpose in life for that day was accomplished—we pleased God.  

B. Make a conscious effort daily  

C. Strive to always to more and do better at it  

D. Always remember

1. Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.