Faith: The Key to Pleasing God and Finding Fulfillment

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we are reminded that the ultimate purpose of our existence is to please God. This is not only our duty but also the path to true happiness and fulfillment. Pleasing God is intrinsically linked to our well-being, both in this life and the next. When we align our lives with God's will, we receive His blessings, grace, and the promise of eternal life. Conversely, a life that does not seek to please God leads to sorrow and eternal separation from Him.

The foundation of pleasing God is faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Faith is not merely about performing good deeds or living a moral life; it is about trusting in God and His promises. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates this truth. Abel's offering was accepted because it was made in faith, while Cain's was rejected because it lacked this essential element. Faith is the key that unlocks the door to God's favor.

Faith is composed of three elements: knowledge, assent, and trust. First, we must know the truths of Scripture. Without knowledge, belief is impossible. Second, we must assent to these truths, accepting them as the very words of God. Finally, true faith involves trust—leaning on Christ and His promises for our salvation. It is not enough to acknowledge Christ as Savior; we must personally trust Him to be our Savior.

Faith is also essential because it unites us with Christ. Without this union, our prayers and efforts are in vain. Just as a rope connects a drowning man to safety, faith connects us to Christ, who is our refuge and strength. Without faith, we drift aimlessly, relying on our works, which cannot save us.

Moreover, faith is necessary for perseverance. In times of trial and persecution, it is faith that sustains us. It is the anchor that holds us firm when the storms of life rage. Without faith, our commitment to God falters, and we become like fair-weather Christians, swayed by circumstances.

Key Takeaways:

- The Purpose of Life: Our primary purpose is to please God, which leads to true happiness and fulfillment. Pleasing God aligns us with His will and brings blessings in this life and the next. [00:33]

- The Necessity of Faith: Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is not just about good deeds but trusting in God and His promises. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the importance of faith in our offerings to God. [02:15]

- Components of Faith: True faith consists of knowledge, assent, and trust. We must know the truths of Scripture, accept them as God's word, and trust in Christ for our salvation. [05:22]

- Union with Christ: Faith unites us with Christ, making our prayers and efforts effective. Without this union, we rely on our works, which cannot save us. [25:02]

- Perseverance Through Faith: Faith is essential for perseverance, especially in trials. It anchors us in God, preventing us from being swayed by circumstances. [28:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - The Chief End of Man
- [00:52] - Pleasing God and Happiness
- [01:25] - Consequences of Not Pleasing God
- [02:15] - The Importance of Faith
- [03:03] - Cain and Abel's Offerings
- [05:04] - What is Faith?
- [06:12] - Knowledge as the First Step
- [08:10] - Assent to Scripture
- [12:20] - Trusting in Christ
- [15:57] - Argument for Faith's Necessity
- [19:40] - Faith as the Stooping Grace
- [24:45] - Union with Christ
- [28:54] - Perseverance in Faith
- [35:10] - The Vital Question: Have You Faith?

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "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."
- Genesis 4:3-5 (ESV): "In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the chief end of man, and how is it related to our happiness? [00:17]
2. How does the story of Cain and Abel illustrate the necessity of faith in pleasing God? [03:03]
3. What are the three components of faith mentioned in the sermon, and why is each important? [05:22]
4. How does faith act as a connection between us and Christ, according to the sermon? [25:02]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is faith considered the foundation of pleasing God, and how does it differ from merely performing good deeds? [02:15]
2. How does the sermon explain the role of faith in uniting us with Christ, and why is this union essential for our prayers and efforts to be effective? [25:02]
3. In what ways does faith help believers persevere through trials and persecution, as discussed in the sermon? [28:54]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faith and humility, and why is humility necessary for salvation? [20:49]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are trying to please God through actions without faith? How can you shift your focus to trust in God and His promises? [02:15]
2. Consider the three components of faith: knowledge, assent, and trust. Which of these do you find most challenging, and what steps can you take to strengthen this aspect of your faith? [05:22]
3. Think about a recent trial or challenge you faced. How did your faith help you persevere, and what can you learn from that experience to apply in future situations? [28:54]
4. In what ways can you actively seek to unite more closely with Christ in your daily life, ensuring that your prayers and efforts are aligned with His will? [25:02]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where pride might be hindering your faith. How can you practice humility to deepen your relationship with God? [20:49]
6. How can you encourage others in your community to develop a faith that is not just about knowledge but also involves trust and personal reliance on Christ? [12:20]
7. Reflect on the story of Cain and Abel. Are there any offerings or sacrifices in your life that might be lacking faith? How can you ensure that your actions are rooted in genuine faith? [03:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning Life with God's Will
In our journey of faith, the ultimate purpose of our existence is to please God. This is not only our duty but also the path to true happiness and fulfillment. Pleasing God is intrinsically linked to our well-being, both in this life and the next. When we align our lives with God's will, we receive His blessings, grace, and the promise of eternal life. Conversely, a life that does not seek to please God leads to sorrow and eternal separation from Him. [00:33]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life can you align more closely with God's will today, and what steps will you take to do so?


Day 2: Faith as the Foundation of Pleasing God
The foundation of pleasing God is faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Faith is not merely about performing good deeds or living a moral life; it is about trusting in God and His promises. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates this truth. Abel's offering was accepted because it was made in faith, while Cain's was rejected because it lacked this essential element. Faith is the key that unlocks the door to God's favor. [02:15]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a promise of God that you struggle to trust fully. How can you actively choose to trust Him in this area today?


Day 3: The Threefold Nature of Faith
Faith is composed of three elements: knowledge, assent, and trust. First, we must know the truths of Scripture. Without knowledge, belief is impossible. Second, we must assent to these truths, accepting them as the very words of God. Finally, true faith involves trust—leaning on Christ and His promises for our salvation. It is not enough to acknowledge Christ as Savior; we must personally trust Him to be our Savior. [05:22]

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17, ESV)

Reflection: Which of the three elements of faith—knowledge, assent, or trust—do you find most challenging, and how can you strengthen this aspect of your faith today?


Day 4: Union with Christ Through Faith
Faith is essential because it unites us with Christ. Without this union, our prayers and efforts are in vain. Just as a rope connects a drowning man to safety, faith connects us to Christ, who is our refuge and strength. Without faith, we drift aimlessly, relying on our works, which cannot save us. [25:02]

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your union with Christ today, ensuring that your actions and prayers are rooted in faith?


Day 5: Perseverance Anchored in Faith
Moreover, faith is necessary for perseverance. In times of trial and persecution, it is faith that sustains us. It is the anchor that holds us firm when the storms of life rage. Without faith, our commitment to God falters, and we become like fair-weather Christians, swayed by circumstances. [28:54]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a current trial you are facing. How can you allow your faith to anchor you, bringing perseverance and joy amidst the challenge?

Quotes



The chief end of man we believe in this life and in the next is to please God, his makeup. If any man pleases God, he does that which conduce his most to his own temporal and eternal welfare. Man cannot please God without bringing to himself a great amount of happiness. [00:00:45]

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. That is to say, do what you may, strive as earnestly as you can, live as excellently as you please, make what sacrifices you choose, be as eminent as you can for everything that is lovely and of good repute, yet none of these things can be pleasing to God unless they be mixed with faith. [00:02:26]

Cain had brought his best, but he brought it without faith. Abel brought his sacrifice, but he brought it with faith in Christ. Now then, which shall best succeed? The offerings are equal in value so far as they themselves are concerned; they are alike good. Upon which will the heavenly fire descend? [00:03:45]

The first thing in faith is knowledge. A man cannot believe what he does not know. That is a clear, self-evident axiom. If I have never heard of a thing in all my life and do not know it, I cannot believe it. And yet there are some persons who have a faith like that of the fuller. [00:06:06]

It is necessary then to true faith that a man should know something of the Bible. Believe me, this is an age when the Bible is not so much thought of as it used to be. Some hundred years ago, the world was covered with bigotry, cruelty, and superstition. We always run to extremes. [00:08:10]

True faith gives its full assent to the Scriptures. It takes a page and says, no matter what is in the page, I believe it. It turns over the next chapter and says, here, something's hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable do rest, as they do the other scriptures, to their own destruction. [00:10:52]

True faith in its very essence risks in this: a leaning upon Christ. It will not save me to know that Christ is a savior, but it will save me to trust him to be my Savior. I shall not be delivered from the wrath to come by believing that his atonement is sufficient. [00:12:44]

Without faith, it is impossible to please God, and I gather it from the fact that there never has been the case of a man recorded in Scripture who did please God without faith. The 11th chapter of the Hebrews is the chapter of the men who pleased God. Listen to their names. [00:15:54]

Faith is the stooping grace, and nothing can make a man stoop without faith. Now, unless man does stoop, his sacrifice cannot be accepted. The Angels know this. When they praise God, they do it veiling their faces with their wings. The redeemed know it. When they praise God, they cast their crowns before his feet. [00:19:32]

Without faith, it is impossible to be saved and to please God because without faith, there is no union to Christ. Now, union to Christ is indispensable to our salvation. If I come before God's throne with my prayers, I shall never get the mansard unless I bring Christ with me. [00:24:49]

Faith is a connection with Christ. Christ is on the shore, so to speak, holding the rope of faith, and if we lay hold of it with the hand of our confidence, he pulls us to shore. But our good works, having no connection with Christ, are drifted along down the Gulf of fell despair. [00:27:05]

What a multitude of Fairweather Christians we have in this age. Many Christians resemble the Nautilus, which in fine smooth weather swims on the surface of the sea in a splendid little squadron like the mighty ships, but the moment the first breath of wind ruffles the waves, they take in their sails and sink into the depths. [00:29:00]

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Transcript
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