Sermon Tone Analysis

! Introduction:

Hebrews 11:5-6

In our last study, /Pleasing God Part I”, /I asked the question /“//Have you ever thought about what most pleases God?”/  Or what things He most desires to see in the lives of His believers?

What pleases God?

And what displeases Him? 

Also, we asked ourselves /“Does He expect anything?”/

As Christians, we are called to imitate Christ; we are called to live our lives to please God.

Do you?

Is your life structured in such a way as to please God by all you do?

Is pleasing God important to you?

Last week we looked at…

 

!! A.            Those Who Have Faith In God (Hebrews 10:38).

!!! /1.             //To please God we must trust God *(*/*/Hebrews 11:5-6/**/)/*/./

!!! /2.             //To please God we must walk in faith (//Hebrews 11:5-6//)./

!! B.            Those Who Desire the Right Heart (1 Kings 3:5-10).

!! C.            Our Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:1-5).

!!! /1.             //“How you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk)…”  (v.1 //NASB//).//

/

!!! /2.             //Keep your life pleasing to God (v.1-2).//

/

!!! /3.             //Keeping your lust under control (//1Thess.4:3-8//).//

/

 

This week we will go over several other areas that the Scripture would tell us that pleases God or displeases God.

Again, last week we looked at the /inward attitudes /that pleases the heart of God.

This study focuses on our outward lives and in what ways we should please God.

The key verse for all of this is (Philippians 2:13)…

*This is where the Apostle Paul says to *“work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

We see from this verse that God is working within us – on our will so that we would want to do what is pleasing to Him.

Our part in all of this is to work hand in hand with God so that the inward workings of our salvation can be manifested out through our lives for all to see.   

 

!! A.           Those Who Have A Worthy Walk (Col.1:10-11).

!!! 1.            Having an unceasing or recurring prayer life (v.9a).

!!!! a)            This demands having an attitude of God-consciousness.

!!!!! (1)           This is what Paul would call in (1Thess.5:17)…

/praying without ceasing.

/

!!!!!! (a)           That does not mean to be constantly in the act of verbal prayer, but to view everything in life in relation to God.

!!!!!! (b)           For example, if we meet someone, we immediately should consider where they stand with God.

!!!!!! (c)           If we hear of something bad happening, we react by praying for God to act in the situation because we know He cares.

!!!!!! (d)           If we hear of something good that has happened, we respond with immediate praise to God for it because we know He is glorified.

!!!!!! (e)           When Paul looked around his world, everything he saw prompted him to prayer in some way.

When he thought of or heard about one of his beloved churches, it moved him toward communion with God.

!!!!! (2)           */Nehemiah is an example of one who prayed without ceasing (Neh.2:4):/*

!!!!!! (a)           After King Artaxerxes demanded the reason for his sadness, Nehemiah told him of the destruction of Jerusalem.

!!!!!! (b)           As the king asked him for his request, he prayed a quick, brief prayer before replying (Neh.2:4).

In the midst of a stressful situation, Nehemiah was conscious of God’s character and purposes.

!!!!!! (c)           You can also do this in church when the Pastor is teaching.

\\ !!!! b)            This demands having an attitude of people- consciousness.

!!!!! (1)           We cannot effectively pray for people unless we are aware of their needs.

*Paul exhorted the Colossians to keep alert in prayer (4:2), while to the Ephesians he wrote, *“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Eph.

6:18).

!!!!! (2)           The two elements of praying without ceasing came together in Paul’s prayer life.

!!!!!! (a)           His love for God led him to seek unbroken communion with Him.

!!!!!! (b)           His love for people drove him to unceasing prayer on their behalf.

!!! 2.            Having a knowledge filled with His will, wisdom and understanding (v.9b).

!!!! a)            To be under the control of what filled you.

!!!!! (1)           Paul’s petition is that the Colossians *be filled with the knowledge of His will.

Filled* means to be completely filled, or totally controlled.

!!!!!! (a)           The disciples’ hearts were filled with sorrow when Jesus told them of His departure (John 16:6).

!!!!!! (b)           Luke 5:26 tells us the crowd was filled with fear after Jesus healed the paralytic.

!!!!!! (c)           The scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage after Jesus healed on the Sabbath (Luke 6:11).

!!!!!! (d)           The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31), while Stephen was full of faith (Acts 6:5).

!!!!!! (e)           In each case they were totally under the control of what filled them and in this case Paul wants the Colossians to have a deep and thorough knowledge of God.

!!!!! (2)           Knowledge is a central theme in Paul’s writings:

*He said of the Corinthians, *“In everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge” (1 Cor.

1:5).

*He prayed that* “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” would give the Ephesians “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph.

1:17).

*To the Philippians he wrote,* “This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Phil.

1:9).

*In Colossians 2:3* we learn that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ.

*Our new self *“is being renewed to a true knowledge” (Col.

3:10).

!!!!! (3)           So, having the knowledge of God’s Word control our minds is the key to righteous living.

!!!!!! (a)           What controls your thoughts will control your behavior.

!!!!!! (b)           Self-control is a result of mind control, which is dependent on knowledge.

!!!!!! (c)           Knowledge of God’s Word will lead to *all spiritual wisdom and understanding.*

!!!!! (4)           *And all spiritual wisdom and understanding will lead to a walk worthy of the Lord FULLY PLEASING HIM!*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\\ !!! 3.            Having a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him (v.10a).

!!!! a)            Five purposes that are fulfilled in having spiritual knowledge.

!!!!! (1)           *First – /A worthy walk /(v.10a)*.

*Paul desired the Thessalonians to *“walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess.

2:12).

*He exhorted the Ephesians to *“walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph.

4:1).

*He told the Philippians to* “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil.

1:27).

!!!!! (2)           *Second – /A fruitful life /(v.10b)*

– Fruitfulness also results from knowledge.

Fruit is the byproduct of righteousness.

It is the mark of every redeemed individual.

*Jesus said in John 15:8,* “By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (cf.vv.

2, 5–6).

*Paul told the Romans,* “You also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God” (Rom.

7:4).

!!!!!! (a)           What produces fruit in believers’ lives?

(i)             First, union with Christ.

*Jesus said in **John 15:4–5**, *“Abide in Me, and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

(ii)            Second, wisdom is a necessary prerequisite for bearing fruit.

*James says* “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

(iii)           Finally, diligent effort on the Christian’s part is required (2Pet.1:5-8).

!!!!! (3)           *Thirdly – /An increase in growth/* (v.10c) – A third result of knowledge is spiritual growth.

Spiritual growth is progressing *in the knowledge of God.*

*The knowledge of God revealed in His Word is crucial to spiritual growth.

Peter wrote, *“Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet.

2:2).

!!!!!! (a)           The marks of spiritual growth include the following:

(i)             First, a deeper love for God’s Word.

/“Oh how I love Thy law!

It is my meditation all the day” (Ps.

119:97)/.

(ii)            Second, spiritual growth is reflected in a more perfect obedience: /By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected/.

(1 John 2:3–5)

(iii)           Third, spiritual growth will result in an enlarged faith.