How to Please Your Father

I Thessalonians 4: 1-12

Be ReadyChapter 6

Warren Wiersbe

• Christian life can be compared to a walk– “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith

ye are called” Eph 4:1– “Walk not as other Gentiles” Eph 4:17– “Walk in love” Eph 5:8– “Walk as children of light” Eph 5:8

• Christian life begins with a step of faith which leads to walk of faith– “For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 cor.

5:7

• Walking suggests progress and demands strength

• At the end of the walk, we will enter in the presence of the Lord (heaven)– “And Enoch was walking with god, and

he was not, for God took him (Gen. 5:24)• Threefold walk for Christian to follow:

holiness, harmony, and honesty– Walk in Holiness (I Thess. 4:1-8)

• Immorality was a way of life in Roman Empire

• Reasons to live a holy life– To please God (4:1)

» Everybody live to please somebody, even themselves

» Pleasing God should ne the major motive of the Christian life

– Holy Spirit works in our lives “both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil 4:13)

– Example: Enoch “had his testimony that he pleased God” (Heb. 11:5)

– You can obey God, but not please God like Jonah– “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as

servants of God from the heart” Eph 6:6– How do we please God?By listening to Him and living with Him

• To obey God (4:2-3)– Paul gave commandments concerning personal

purity– Commandment is a military word– Sexual immorality doesn’t please God as seen in v. 3– “Marriage should be honored by all, and the

marriage bed kept pure.” Heb 13:4– God’s commandments relating to sex is for the

purpose of protecting them that they ought not to lose joy.

– “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” creates safe haven and beautiful garden for marriage

» Abstain from fornication” No need to seek god’s will on sex.

» God’s purpose: sanctification living spiritual life in purity of mind and body.

– To glorify God (4:4-5)» To be different from the unsaved» “Possess his vessel” (4)» Control our body for our bodies are the vessels of

God (2Cor.4:7 & 2Tim. 2:20-21)» Christian who commits sexual sins is sinning

against his own body (1Cor. 6:19-20)– To escape the judgment of God (4:6-8)

» The judgment on Christians is worse for God is not a respecter of persons (2 Peter 2:20)

» Example: David» God can forgive, but He will not change the

consequence.

» Excuse: “I am one of God’s elect”» Election is not an excuse, but an

encouragement for holiness.» For God hath not called us unto uncleanness,

but unto holiness. (4:7)» But as He which hath called you is holy, so be

ye holy.” (1 Peter 1:15)» Holy walk involves a right relationship with the

Father who called us, Jesus Christ who died for us, and the Holy spirit who lives in us.

» Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

» Walking in Spirit gives us victory over the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:16ff)

» Holy Spirit gives us the desire for God’s pure Word (1Peter 2:1-3)

» Holy Spirit teaches us the Word (John 14:26)

» Critical problem at the church in the past and today

» Divorces even among the believers, gay churches, premarital sexes, and pornography as well as incest

– Walk in Harmony (4:9-10)• Transition from holiness to love

– God’s love is holy and it should motivate us to holy living.

• 4 basic words for love in Greek language– Eros: physical love– Storge: family love– Phila: love of deep affection as in friendship or

marriage– Agape: love God shows toward us, love is not

based on feeling, but in will

• Philadelphia: brotherly love; having the same Father and family, therefore, they should love one another

– John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.

– Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

• Nature determines action– Example: fish’s nature, bird’s nature, & God’s nature– 2Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding

great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

• How can God cause our love to “increase more and more”?

– Circumstances that force us to practice Christian love

– Love is “circulatory system” of the body of Christ– The difficulties that the believers have with one

another are the opportunities for them to grow in love

– Walk in Honesty (4:11-12)• Honestly: properly, decently• Purpose: believer’s witness to those who are

unsaved– Testimonies

» The believers earn their own wages» Quietness of mind and heart, inner peace» Hard work; Paul was a tentmaker; works were

done by the slaves

» Prevent from being busybody who is idle and gossip (Mind your own business, v.11) Also 2 Thess. 3:11

» Misunderstanding of the doctrine of Christ’s return– Reasons why Christians should work

» Provide for their own families (1Tim.5:8)» Christians shouldn’t be exempt if unsaved work and

pay bills» We can give to those in need » We shouldn’t eat if not working» The work is blessing, not curse

• Summary– The obedient Christian will have holy life by abstaining

from sexual sins– The obedient Christian will have a harmonious lif by

loving the brethren– The obedient Christian will have an honest work by

working with his hands and not meddling with others’ affairs