Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 25:

Theme: Understanding the Mind of People-Pleasers

Notes:

The Mind of People-Pleasers

“…the fear of man is a snare, whoever trusts in the Lord will be saved.”

1. They desire and value man’s opinion over God’s opinion
2. They fear man’s displeasure rather than the displeasure of God
3. They are trying to find something in people that they can only get from God
   • Satisfaction
   • Security
   • Significance
4. They please people so they can ultimately please themselves

We can have freedom from people-pleasing

1. There is a high price of being a people-pleaser
   • It will bring you into bondage to every person you try to please
     • Romans 6
   • It will cause you to forfeit the honor you seek
     • Matthew 6
   • It will blind you to your sin–or drown you in it
     • Matthew 23
     • People will often lay expectations on you–that they will not help you to accomplish
   • It will deceive you into believing other people’s opinion about you instead of God’s opinion about you
     • John 5
   • It will rob you of peace and joy in Christ

Remember some things

1. Remember the high price of being a people-pleaser
2. Remember that it is impossible to please people

Replace some things

1. Replace the lust for people’s approval with love for God’s approval
2. Replace wrong values
   • Replace your temporal earthly value system with an eternal heavenly one
     • Colossians 3
   • Replace your people evaluation system
     • People-pleasers often look at people the way they think people look at them
     • Pray for people–for their good

Why love God’s approval?

1. When we choose to please God and not man, we only have one master
2. The One you please will not judge you for what is on the outside but that which is in your heart
   • Psalm 145
3. The One you please will not be influenced by talebearers, gossips, or false accusers
4. The One you please is unchanging
   1. Malachi 3
5. The One you please asks of you that which ultimately brings you joy

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 25

Theme: Understanding the Mind of People-Pleasers

Notes:

People-Pleasers

1. They are trying to find something in people that can only be found in God
2. They please people so they can ultimately please themselves

What Are They Looking For?

1. Satisfaction
   • Not in itself wrong
   • Can be wrong when we want it more than when we want what God wants
2. Security
3. 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:

1. Want the approval of man more than the approval of God
2. Fear the displeasure of man more than the displeasure of God
3. 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?

1. 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…”
2. 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
3. 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…”
4. It can be right if you are following Christ’s command to please your spouse
   • 1 Corinthians 7
5. It can be right if you are limiting your liberty in order to evangelize
   • 1 Corinthians 9
   • 1 Corinthians 10
6. 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…”
7. 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:

1. It is never to protect, promote, or praise one’s self
2. It is to promote cause of Christ
3. It is to bring praise to God

The Mind of People Pleasers

1. God-pleasers value the approval of God more than anything
   • 2 Corinthians 5:9, “…whether present or absent to be pleasing to the Lord…”
2. 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…”
3. God-pleasers desire God to be glorified more than anything
4. 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
5. God-pleasers take responsibility for their actions
6. 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.”
7. God-pleasers refuse to use flattery in order to manipulate
8. 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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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 24

Theme: The gospel demands urgent action because time is limited and the enemy is fighting against us.

Notes:

Don’t mistake God’s mercy, compassion, and patience for God being unwilling to judge sin.

The Mind of a Gospel Proclaimer

1. They maintain composure by being calm, kind, and constructive
   • Calm vs. Fear & Frustration
     • We have peace and calm when we acknowledge God’s sovereignty trust in His goodness
     • Proverbs 16:32
   • Kind
     • In 1750 Jonathan Edwards was dismissed by his church after 25 years of service
     • His behavior was described by friends and enemies as “saintly”
   • Constructive
2.  They maintain their character and integrity
   • Character: Right message, right methods, right means
   • Integrity: what we do and how we do it is worthy of Christ and His example
3.  They maintain clarity about their mission

How to Handle Gospel Procrastinators

1. Be doctrinally clear
   • Historical
   • Scriptural
   • 2 Timothy 1:14
   • Acts 24, Paul made it clear to Felix that there was a coming judgment on sin
2. Be direct with conviction
3. Be determined in conversations
   • Because we love God
   • Because we love people

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