Title: Romans 12:1-2 Please God
Content to please God
Romans 12:1-2
In this world, there are people who live to please themselves, there are people who live to look good in the eyes of their boss at work, and there are people who live to please their boss. There are people who live only to please. All of these are good things, but we who believe in God must, above all, lead a life that pleases the Creator God who made us who we are.
Please think carefully about today's text. "In worship, offer a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God, which is good, pleasing, and perfect." It's about living every day.
Above all else, it should be our life that pleases God the most.
When you please God, you, your family, and your workplace will also be happy.
Even if it is not pleasing to me, how can we please our God the most even if it is not pleasing to others?
We must do our best here. Then, I would like to share some grace with you by telling you some things that please God.
First, the first thing that pleases God is faith.
God is pleased with those who have faith. Paul makes a plea in the text.
“I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” If there is only one condition for worship, it is faith.
Because without faith, we cannot worship.
Hebrews 11:6, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
Even among us people, if there is no doubt and trust, there is nothing more unfortunate. Likewise, our God is pleased with those who believe in him.
It is pleasing to those who believe that God exists, believe the word of God as it is, and believe that if we pray to God, He will do it.
When I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who shed His blood on the cross for me, redeemed me, and rose from the dead, I will be saved and become a child of God that pleases God.
Genesis 15:6 says, "Abraham believed the LORD, and the LORD counted it as his righteousness."
God did not please Abraham because he did many good deeds. Because he had only one faith, he considered that faith as justice and rejoiced.
Do you know who our Lord Jesus praised the most while he was on this earth?
He was a centurion with good faith in Matthew 8.
“Heal me, my servant is sick and dying.”
When Jesus was ready to go and heal him, the centurion rebuked him and said, "Lord, I do not dare to come into my house. Just tell me, and I believe that it will be healed." Jesus was moved by these words. That's why he said, "I have never found such great faith in any of the people of Israel." He exclaimed, "Go, let it be done according to your faith!" It is said that immediately his servant was healed.
Jesus rejoiced the most when he saw someone who had better faith than someone who was rich, learned, or morally good.
You must believe in God's creative work.
We must believe that He is a good God, a God of justice and judgment.
We must believe that He is a God of love, the God who gave salvation and hope by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
If you have great faith, you can greatly please God, and if you have little faith, you can only slightly please God. Therefore, above all else in prayer, pray, "Give me the faith that pleases God" and I hope that you will have faith that pleases God.
Second, the thing that God is most pleased with is repentance and returning to God.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It means repent and turn to God.
Ezekiel 33:11, "As I live, saith the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his ways and live." It is saying that no matter how heinous sinners are, they do not rejoice in the destruction and death of their sins, but in turning from their sins and being saved.
There are three parables in Luke 15.
These are the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost drachma, and the parable of the prodigal son.
In the parable of the lost sheep, a man had 100 sheep and lost one. The 99 left in the pen and wandered through the mountains and fields to find the lost sheep. Finally found one sheep. It is said that the owner was so happy that he carried the sheep on his shoulders and rejoiced even as he returned home and held a feast.
God is most pleased with the return of one sinner like this.
Even if it is a murder robber, a thief, or a prostitute, when they repent and return, God has no greater joy than this.
Repentance must be immediate and thorough.
It will be the same in the future. If there is something wrong in your life, immediately repent thoroughly and turn around. Our God is most pleased.
Some say that they will not be able to repent because of face.
If we lose face, turn and repent, our God will be pleased and forgive us.
Others keep procrastinating.
Jesus said, "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
God is pleased to repent and return.
We want you and I to be the ones who please God the most by immediately repenting and repenting when we make a mistake in our daily lives.
Third, what pleases God the most is fairness and truth.
The second half of verse 2 says, “Let us discern what is the will of God, which is good, pleasing, and perfect.”
It is a message to discern the will of God and live with fairness and truth. Because God is most pleased with His children living fair and truthful lives.
Proverbs 21:3 says, “It is more pleasing to the Lord to do justice and justice than to offer sacrifices.”
We must be fair and truthful in all things.
It should be said that what is righteous is righteous, but God is not pleased with what is wrong with being drawn into personal emotions.
Governor Pilate wrote the Apostles' Creed saying, "He suffered from Pilate and was crucified and died" over the past 2,000 years, because over 2000 years, billions of Christians "suffered and died on a cross" because people were afraid of the sinless Jesus Christ. I have confessed.
One of the major reasons for temptation in the church is when the believers themselves do not handle things fairly. We should always strive to be fair and truthful.
Fourth, what pleases God the most is worshiping in spirit and truth.
In verse 1 of the text, “Offer a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship,” emphasizing that it is the living sacrifice and spiritual worship that God is pleased with.
John 4:23 says, “The hour is coming, and now is the hour, when true worship of the Father is sought, because the Father is looking for those who will worship him like this.”
God is pleased by receiving all of these praises, prayers, offerings, and worship offered in spirit and truth.
No matter how great a church building is, our God is not pleased if there is no spiritual worship service.
God is most pleased with worship, but He is not pleased with worship offered in formality or outward appearance.
We are not pleased with worship that has a form of godliness but denies the power of godliness.
Through worship, we realize two things.
① Worship is offering.
We sing hymns, pray, and give offerings. At this point, you need to be careful when giving.
② There is something to receive.
We receive grace, receive the Word, and receive blessings. The thing to pay attention to at this point is the attitude of receiving. All things must be received with Amen.
The Sunday worship service held once a week should be a time to worship in spirit and in truth, a living sacrifice that is pleasing to our God.
Fifth, the thing that pleases God the most is that our church grows day by day and the gospel of the kingdom expands.
The revival and growth of the church is God's plan, God's will, and God's earnest desire. It is God's greatest joy to grant this plan, will, and wish.
I hope that the ever-growing youth department of the Mokyang Church will keep the dream and vision of worshiping together with thousands of young people.
As Daniel 12:3 says, “He who turns many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.” I hope that you will become the young people that God is most pleased with.
Dear Mokyang Church youth,
In the name of the Lord, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will be truly recognized and blessed by God by becoming people of faith, repenting, living with fairness and truth, offering living sacrifices and putting all your heart into evangelism.