Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Text: Acts 25
Theme: Understanding the Mind of People-Pleasers
Notes:
People-Pleasers
- They are trying to find something in people that can only be found in God
- They please people so they can ultimately please themselves
What Are They Looking For?
- Satisfaction
- Not in itself wrong
- Can be wrong when we want it more than when we want what God wants
- Security
- Significance
But a person cannot give you satisfaction, security, or significance–and it is unfair to place the burden on providing these on them
People Pleasers:
- Want the approval of man more than the approval of God
- Fear the displeasure of man more than the displeasure of God
- Choose the easy way rather than the right way
We must each decide if we are going to live to please God or live to please people.
Is Pleasing People Ever Right?
- It can be right when our motive is to please God, not man
- Loving our neighbor
- Having integrity
- Being honest
- Galatian 6:9-10, “…as you have opportunity let us do good to all…”
- It can be right if you desire a good reputation for the cause of Christ
- Proverbs 22:1, “…a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…”
- Ecclesiastes 7:1, “…a good name…”
- 1 Tim 3:7, “…elders should have a good reputation
- It can be right if you are following Christ’s command to please God-given authority
- Ephesians 6, “…honor your father and mother…”
- Ephesians 6, “…not with eye-service as men-pleasers, doing service as to the Lord and not to men…”
- 1 Peter 2, “…submit yourself to every ordinance of man…for the praise of those who do good…”
- Hebrews 13:7, “…let them do so with joy and not with grief…”
- It can be right if you are following Christ’s command to please your spouse
- 1 Corinthians 7
- It can be right if you are limiting your liberty in order to evangelize
- 1 Corinthians 9
- 1 Corinthians 10
- It can be right if you are limiting your liberty in order to avoid being a stumbling block
- Romans 15:2, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
- 1 Corinthians 10, “…all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify…”
- It can be right if you are limiting your liberty in order to protect church unity
- Philippians 2, “…let each esteem others better than himself…”
Three Things True of All of These:
- It is never to protect, promote, or praise one’s self
- It is to promote cause of Christ
- It is to bring praise to God
The Mind of People Pleasers
- God-pleasers value the approval of God more than anything
- 2 Corinthians 5:9, “…whether present or absent to be pleasing to the Lord…”
- God-pleasers fear the displeasure of God more than the displeasure of man
- God always loves us with an everlasting love
- But our actions may be either pleasing or displeasing to Him
- Ephesians 4:30, “…don’t grieve the Holy Spirit…”
- Ephesians 5:10
- Colossians 1:9-10, “…that you may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him…”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “…how you ought to walk and how to please God…”
- God-pleasers desire God to be glorified more than anything
- God-pleasers insist on doing the right thing
- Saul’s accusers were willing to do that which was wrong in order to accomplish their goals
- God-pleasers are willing to lose jobs, relationships, or opportunities in the pursuit of doing that which is right
- God-pleasers take responsibility for their actions
- God-pleasers refuse to compromise truth for convenience
- Proverbs 25:26, “Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”
- God-pleasers refuse to use flattery in order to manipulate
- God-pleasers refuse to show partiality
- James 2:1-9, “…show no partiality…”
- The willingness to show partiality is like being a corrupt judge who accepts a bribe
Lloyd Oglesby, “we can’t really live until we are free from the fear of dying.”
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