January 10-11, 2004    24/7 ADVENTURE! 2 Corinthians 5:9, Selected

MY REASON TO BE!

THE FIRST FOUR WORDS: IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!

*** Col. 1:16 “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible…everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” [Message]

*** Eph. 1:11 “It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and in everyone.” [MSG]

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME, IT’S ALL ABOUT GOD!

WE WERE PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE! And that is: WORSHIP!

*** Rev. 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created." [New Living Translation]

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN KNOW IS THAT GOD LOVES ME and THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN DO IS TO LOVE GOD BACK!

*** 2 Cor. 5:9 “Our only goal is to please God whether we live here or there….”

[NCV]

HOW TO LIVE A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD:

·               Following the Holy Spirit pleases God – 2 Peter 1:3 [CEV]

·               Accepting Christ pleases God – Romans 6:18; Galatians 2:16 [CEV]

·               Living in Goodness, Peace and Joy pleases God – Romans 14:17-18 [NLT]

·               Sharing the Good News pleases God – 1 Thessalonians 2:4 [TEV]

·               Exercising Patience pleases God – Hebrews 10:36 [CEV]

·               Being Thankful pleases God – Hebrews 12:28 [LB]

·               Building up the Church pleases God – 1 Peter 2:5 [CEV]

1. WE PLEASE GOD WHEN WE DO WHAT HE SAYS!

*** Proverbs 14:9 “Fools don't care if they are wrong, but God is pleased when people do right.” [Contemporary English Version]

*** Psalm 37:23 “When a person's steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with his ways.” [New Century Version]

*** Hebrews 11:7 “Because Noah had faith, he was warned about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat…. Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone who pleases God.” [CEV]

GOD IS PLEASED WHEN THE ACTIONS DONE AND THE ATTITUDE DISPLAYED HONORS HIM!

2. WE PLEASE GOD WHEN WE GIVE AS HE GAVE!

*** Phil. 4:18 “At the moment I have all I need--more than I need! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent…. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that pleases God well.” [Living Bible]

*** Hebrews 13:16 “But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.” [CEV]

Acts 10:4 "God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you.” [Today’s English Version]

3. WE PLEASE GOD WHEN WE MEET AS FAMILY!

*** Acts 10:35 “God is pleased with everyone who worships him….” [CEV]

*** Hebrews 12:28 “Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that will please him….” [Today’s English Version]

*** Hebrews 10:25 “Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.”

[CEV]

*** Acts 2:42 “They spent their time learning the apostles' teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together.” [NCV]

·LEARNING AND ENCOURAGED BY GOD’S WORD!

·CARING AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER’S NEEDS!

·REMEMBERING CHRIST IN COMMUNION!

·LIFTING UP THERE NEEDS IN PRAYER!

*** Psalm 69:30-31 “Then I will praise God's name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. For this will please the Lord….” [New Living Translation]

4. WE PLEASE GOD WHEN WE WALK IN FAITH!

*** Hebrews 11:6 “So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith.” [NLT]

*** Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” [New International Version]

FAITH IS TRUSTING THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS!

*** 1 Peter 2:19-20 “For God is pleased with you when…you patiently endure unfair treatment… if you suffer for doing right and are patient beneath the blows, God is pleased with you.” [NLT]

5. WE PLEASE GOD WHEN WE STAY IN TOUCH!

*** 1 Tim. 2:1-3 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone….. This is good, and pleases God our Savior….”

2. Acts 10:4 "God is pleased with your prayers….” [TEV]

*** 1 Thes. 5:17 “…pray continually.” [NIV]

*** Eph. 6:18 “Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people.” [CEV]

“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You are doing this already, and we encourage you to do so more and more.” 1 Thessalonians. 4:1 [NLT]