October 9, 2005 Summit AM

A Life That Pleases God

Introduction

A. 1 Thess.4:1-8

B. How interested are you in pleasing God?

            1. Is it really important to you?

            2. Is it something that you would like to do – yet not sure if you can?

            3. Is it of little or no importance to you?

C. Paul’s concern in text – walk so that you will please God

            1. To Paul – pleasing God is of utmost importance

            2. Scripture

                        Eccles.2:24-26 – Blesses the man who seeks to please God

                        1 Jn.3:21,22 – answers prayers of those who please God

D. Question – How ought we live so that God is pleased?

            1. Paul mentions several things in this chapter

            2. Will focus this morning on one of those things

E. Prayer

 

I. God’s Will – Our Sanctification

            A. Sanctification = to be set apart

                        1. Qualifiers in text

                                    a. Abstain from sexual immorality

                                                1) General word for immoral sexual activity

                                                            (premarital sex; homosexuality; prostitution etc.)

                                                2) 1 Cor.6:9 – not inherit kingdom of God

                                                3) Eph.5:3 – must not even be a hint of it in life

                                    b. Other qualifiers

                                                1) Control your own body – holy & honorable

                                                2) Don’t wrong others in this or take advantage of them

                                                3) Not called to be impure – live a holy life

                        2. God has a higher standard for His children

                                    a. Mt.5:20 – our righteousness to exceed Scribes & Pharisees

                                    b. Mt.5:27,28 – not just act itself = not look to lust

                                    c. 2 Cor.7:1 – purify self of any contaminate

                                    d. Eph.4:17-19 – no longer live as Gentiles do

            B. Urge you – do this more & more

                        1. Excel in this

                                    a. Get better & better – walk more & more closely to God

                                    b. Make this the goal of your life – main ambition

                        2. Of supreme importance

                                    a. Mt.5:8 – blessed pure in heart = see God

                                    b. Heb.12:14 – without holiness no one see Lord

                                    c. Rev.22:14,15 – sexually immoral remain outside

 

 

 

II. Lessons We Must Learn From Text

            A. Reasons to live a pure life

                        1. Immorality defrauds others – wrongs them

                                    a. Means – take advantage; defraud; make a gain

                                    b. To feed our lust means another must be defrauded

                                                1) Use them – abuse them – cheat them – steal from them

                                                2) No concern for their welfare – just our lust - selfishly use

                                    c. Take from them what can never be recovered

                                                1) Innocence

                                                2) Purity

                                                3) Trust

                                    d. Notice – God will avenge them

                                                1) Our society mocks this command – payback is coming

                                                2) Rom.1:18 – God’s wrath is being revealed

                                                            (become reprobate – a slave to depravity)

                                                3) Heb.13:4 – God judge adulterer & sexually immoral

                        2. Immorality also destroys us – 1 Cor.6:13-20

                                    a. Vs.13 – body not made for sexual immorality

                                                1) Would you take a luxury car off road?

                                                2) To misuse – destroys

                                    b. Vs.15 – Our bodies are members of Christ = His bride

                                    c. Vs.16,17 – doing so makes us one with a harlot

                                    d. Vs.18 – are sinning against our own body

                                    e. Vs.19 - Body has become a Temple for the Holy Spirit

                                    f. Vs.20 – Were bought with a price – blood of Jesus

                        3. Foolishness of excuses people make

                                    a. Everybody doing it = must be right – Prov.14:12 (ends in death)

                                    b. As long as don’t hurt anyone = OK – 1 Thess.4:6 (defrauds)

                                    c. We love each other – can’t be wrong – Gal.6:7,8 (deceive self)

                                    d. Just looking – Mt.5:28  (in God’s eyes same As doing)

            B. Sexual immorality is a sin against God

                        1. Are rejecting His command = rejecting God

                        2. Point – not just Paul’s opinion

            C. How to live a pure & holy life

                        1. Seek God’s help – Ps.51:10 – create in me a pure heart

                        2. Avoid temptation

a. Prov.4:14,15 – not set foot on their path

b. Rom.13:14 – make no provision for the lust of the flesh

                        3. Endeavor to renew your mind

                                    a. Rom.12:2 – be transformed

                                    b. Phil.4:8 – think on these things

                        4. Be obedient to the word of God – 1 Pet.1:22 – purifies soul

 

Conclusion

A. Remember – purity of life is a must if you want to see God

B. Prayer