Seeking the Praise of God instead of needing the approval of men.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16, ESV
Who really wants to please God?
Who really believes God is truly pleased with you?
Union and Communion
People-pleasing is a well-worn scheme and trap of Satan.
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? John 5:44
For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:43
How can we expose our tendency to people-please and stop it’s seduction?
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
Ephesians 6:5-8, ESV
1. Love God with _fear_ and _trembling_.
Ephesians 6:5a- “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling”
Trembling can be described as vital tremors any healthy believer feels before an awe-inspiring wonder of God.
2. Always to the _will_ of God.
Ephesians 6:6c- “doing the will of God”
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 4:3
3. Sacrifice _superficiality_.
Ephesians 6:6d- “doing the will of God from the heart”
4. Obey God in public and in _secret_.
Ephesians 6:6a- “not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers”
One of the surest ways to damage your soul is to try to use God to gain attention and approval for ourselves.
5. Seek your _reward_ from God.
knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
Ephesians 6:8
3 But when you give to the needy, you do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:3-4
Challenge: How can we starve the craving for the temporary praise and approval of people?
++By striving for what we can only get from God- peace, joy, contentment, acceptance, mercy, and eternal rewards.
Please God, love people
How can we please God?
1. Having _faith_ pleases God.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
2. Being spiritually minded pleases God.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:6-8
3. The _fear_ of the Lord pleases God.
But the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Psalm 147:11
4. Following _Jesus’ example_ pleases God.
He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Matthew 17:5
And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
John 8:29
5. Obeying and doing God’s will please God.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2
6. Giving the sacrifices God wants pleases Him.
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:15-16
What if we haven’t been pleasing to God?
++’Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10