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
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