LIVING TO PLEASE GOD
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
FIRST DESIRE: PLEASE GOD
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
A. The prime objective of believer in Christ Jesus is to please God.
1. God will always be pleased, when we are obedient to His commands and
follow His directions.
2. The apostle Paul urges us to live to please God.
B. Paul is not complaining, because he commend them for doing just that.
1. Paul reminds the Church not to be satisfied with where they are,
but continue to excel in pleasing God.
2. God has already done a good work in us by drawing us to Himself
and accepting us into the body of Christ.
3. It is up to us to work on ourselves to imitate Christ.
4. Paul says we ought to do more and more,
5. There is no end to more
STUDY THE WORD OF GOD WITH YOUR FAMILY
2 -3a. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is
the will of God, your sanctification:
A. It is good to be reminded of what we have been taught about the Lord.
1. Each day we need to be reminded of the will of God for our lives.
2. As parents, we need to teach our children what God expects of them.
3. Our teaching should agree with God\’s Word.
B. Sanctification means to be set apart by God for His Glory.
1. Once we accepted Christ as our personal Savior, the process of sanctification
began.
2. Sanctification is a progressive process.
3. It is up to us to want to please God.
4. If we want to please God, we must devote ourselves to His Word to
determine what He has command us to do.
LIVE TO BE AN EXAMPLE FOR JESUS
V:3b-6. that you abstain from sexual immorality; 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; 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.
A. Self improvement requires a change in attitude and habits.
1. Each of us know what we are doing that does not please God.
2. We have to first examine ourselves.
3. Improvement in the Christian Church starts with you.
B. We cannot follow the world around us.
1. We have to set the example for the world to follow.
2. We follow God\’s commands.
C. Paul list the sin of not controlling one\’s self.
1. Abstain from fornication.
a. Sex outside marriage is prohibited.
b. A man or woman must honor the marriage with
fidelity. Heb 13:4
c. A married man or woman having sex outside the marriage is adultery.
d. Those who are unmarriaged should refrain from sex. 1 Cor 7:2
D. Self control can only be obtained through the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. If we look around us we will quickly discover that world is out of
control when it comes to sexual relationships.
2. To be accepted and not ridiculed by the world, we are pushed to
accept all sorts of habits that are not pleasing to God.
3. In the media, TV, internet, news papers and magazines the projection
of family opposes God\’s will.
4. The make up of marriage, the foundation of family has been changed
by popular vote and put into law across the country and the world.
5. Even in some Churches an alternate makeup of marriage is tolerated.
E. Concupiscence is the Greek word epithumia which means longing for
that which is forbidden.
1. Our lustful desires, if left unchecked will leads us in to actions that
opposes God\’s will.
2. The Church, that is true believers cannot compromise on God\’s Word.
a. The situation in the US is no different than the cities of Paul\’s time.
b. We live in an environment where the Church has to be the
example of Godliness and holiness for the world to follow.
CALLED BY GOD TO BE LIKE JESUS
V:7-8. 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.
A. The Church should no better than the world because we have the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit.
1. It is the Holy Spirit that guides us into all truths.
2. The law my approve all kinds of relationships and actions, but we are under
commands of God, which is a narrow road that leads to purity and holiness.
B If we follow the ways of the world then we set aside the God of our life.
1. The one who does not follow God\’s command, despises God.
2. When we are disobedient, we are enemies to the cross.
3. The only way a Christian can follow the world is to grieve the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30
LOVE MORE AND MORE
V:9-10. 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, 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,
A. Jesus is the prime example of love. He gave us two great commands
1. Matthew 22:37-38
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.\’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
2. Matthew 22:39
The second is like it: \’Love your neighbor as yourself.
B. Your neighbor is any one you meet. He/she could be your enemy
1. Matthew 5:44
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
2. We have to be kind to everyone no matter how they treat us.
3. We never know who God has called to the body of Christ
before the foundation of the earth. Ephesians 1:4
4. The Apostle Paul was an enemy of the Church until Jesus
knocked him off his high horse.
5. We can start our love with our families, but we must move to
loving everyone.
MIND YOU OWN BUSINESS AND WORK
V:11-12. 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 live properly before outsiders
and be dependent on no one.
A. In order to live quietly, you have to be content with what you have and who
you are.
1. We must learn to be appreciative of every thing God is doing for us.
2. The best we can do is handle our own affairs, and work to take care
of our families.
3. We must depend on God to provide a way for us to take care of our
needs.
4. God will give us the desires of our hearts.
B. Living a Godly life affects those out side the body of Christ.
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041
For More Lessons follow me on facebook
and visit my blogs: remmitchell.com and
goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
