Pleasing God

Hebrews 11:6 “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

Who among us doesn't want to please God?  Many believe that to please God they must perform acts of service; give to the poor, fast, feed the hungry, etc.  However, Hebrews 11:6 tells us that pleasing God consists of one thing and one thing alone.  Faith!!  Is God pleased when we “do” things for the Kingdom?  Emphatically, Yes!  The Word tells us in James 2:17 “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

We perform our acts of service because of our faith. James 11:4 “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.” Able gave his offering because of his faith but it was the faith that pleased God.  The offering was a demonstration of that faith. 

If we must have faith to please God, what then is Biblical faith?   Hebrews 11:1-2 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.”

A.W. Tozer had an interesting explanation for this verse. He said: “Faith is seeing the invisible, but not the nonexistent.” Some people think faith is believing in something that is not actually there. Biblical faith believes God when He tells us there is a reality, which we cannot see. Faith means that we keep our eyes on God who controls circumstances --- not on the circumstances themselves.

Taken from http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/god-pleasing-faith-k-edward-skidmore-sermon-on-examples-of-faith-77812.asp

 Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

D. L. Moody said, “I prayed for faith and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” I had up to this time closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.”

Taken from http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/top-40-d-l-moody-quotes/#ixzz3MBh1rFOT

We increase our faith by becoming students of the Word.  Taking every opportunity to study, hear, and apply the Word.  Through studying and hearing the Word our faith in God is developed, making us pleasing in his sight.  The application of the Word is the demonstration of that faith.  2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Let us ever be students of the Word, building ourselves up in our faith.  In this way we will please God.