INTRODUCTION
What pleases God?
1. Praise and Thanksgiving
Psalm 69:30-31
I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves. (NKJV)
2. Holiness
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
NKJV)
Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: (NKJV)
3. Perseverance
2 Timothy 2:4
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (NKJV)
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
NKJV)
Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: (NKJV)
3. Perseverance
2 Timothy 2:4
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (NKJV)
4. Spiritual mindedness
Romans 8:6-8
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (NKJV)
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (NKJV)
5. Faith
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (NKJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (NKJV)
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)
Faith is applying one's knowledge of the Scriptures, obeying its precepts, and anticipating its results.
HE IS!!
Faith is the irreducible minimum to pleasing God.
Jude 20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (NKJV)
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (NKJV)
2 Peter 1:5-7
…add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (NKJV)
…add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (NKJV)
Isaiah 33:15
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: (NKJV)
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: (NKJV)
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (NKJV)
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (NKJV)
Isaiah 56:1
…Keep justice, and do righteousness… (NKJV)
…Keep justice, and do righteousness… (NKJV)
Habakkuk 2:4
…the just shall live by his faith. (NKJV)
…the just shall live by his faith. (NKJV)
John 8:24
“…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (NKJV)
“…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (NKJV)
John 6:28-30
“What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (NKJV)
“What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (NKJV)
SUPPORT
God is attracted to faith.
We don't need all of the answers. We just need faith in God!
Faith acts as a spiritual lightning rod.
Daniel 3:16-18
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (NKJV)
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (NKJV)
APPLICATION
Matthew 15:22
“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” (NKJV)
“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” (NKJV)
Matthew 15:27-28
“Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (NKJV)
“Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (NKJV)