A Life That Pleases God

What is the will of God for your life?

We tend to think about the big decisions. Should I take that job? Should I marry that person? Should I go to that school? Should I become a member of that church? We want God to tell us what to do because we want to please the Lord.

But in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, Paul gives us something that God has already revealed. He shows us how we ought to walk and to please God. And he urges us to do so more and more.

There are three marks of a life that pleases God.

Submit to the Lord

A life that pleases God submits to the Lord.

You cannot live a life of rebellion to God and please God at the same time. We like our freedom, and we tend to assume that the feelings and desires of our heart can automatically be trusted.

But the Word of God tells us that the heart is deceitful. Even those who are born-again believers have a battle being waged in the heart. Are we going to listen to our flesh, or are we going to listen to the Spirit?

The way we can know we are in-tune with the Spirit inside us is by submitting to God’s authority outside us.

Keep your heart close to the Lord by doing what he says in His Word.

You do not do this to earn God’s love. You cannot earn any more of God’s love than you already have. You read your Bible and do what God says to please God.

If you are not actively learning about what God tells you to do in His Word, how do you intend to please him? It is hard to submit to the Lord Jesus when you are ignoring his orders.

The only way you can begin to please God is by submitting to the Lord.

Seek Holy Living

A life that pleases God seeks holy living.

Paul writes, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”

Have you ever wondered what the will of God for your life is? This is God’s answer. Your sanctification. That you would be made more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. That you would grow more and more holy.

God is concerned about how you live out his revealed will. He does not expect you to figure out his mysterious will. He wants to see how you are doing with the things he has already revealed in Scripture.

Are you doing what he has told you to do?

Paul tells believers to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. We know this is the will of God because it has been revealed to us in Scripture.

And in 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul gets specific about sin. He tells the church to abstain from sexual immorality and to control the body in holiness and honor.

God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

Where do you need to seek holy living specifically? If Paul was writing this letter to you, what would he specify after declaring, “this is the will of God, your sanctification”? Would he tell you to abstain from something? Or is there something you should be doing that you are not?

Listen to what God is telling you in His Word. Seek his holiness. It is the will of God.

Swell With Love

A life that pleases God swells with love.

The Thessalonians had been taught by God to love one another. They were already doing it. But Paul did not tell them to coast or take it easy.

He urged them to do it more and more.

Do not stop growing in your love for others.

Paul gives the church some very practical commands: aspire to live a quiet life, mind your own affairs, and work with your hands. Keep your focus on yourself, your family, and your local church. Do not let whatever divides outsiders divide those in the church.

And get to work.

Stop consuming and start contributing. The world is watching. Walk properly before outsiders.

Love should compel us to work, to contribute, and to care for one another. It is a labor of love.

Make It Your Aim to Please God

Submit to the Lord. Seek holy living. Swell with love.

Make it your aim to please God. Just as you already are, do so more and more.

Do not disregard your calling to grow in holiness and love. This is the will of God, your sanctification. Eliminate the sin that creeps in the corner of your life. Keep a close watch on your relationships with others.

Please God by constantly pursuing his holiness and love in specific areas of your life.

And remember this: it is impossible for God to love you any more or any less than he does right now.

You do not do what you do to earn any more love from God. Your aim is to please God because he already loves you.

And that love has changed you into someone who wants to become more holy.

You can watch this sermon in its entirety on our YouTube page.