Sermon:How to please God

HOW CAN I LIVE A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD?
▪︎Living a life that pleases God is possible through a personal relationship with Him and obedience to His Word.
-Romans 12:1-2, "By the mercies of God,that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,acceptable to God,which is your reasonable service.And do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
▪︎By surrendering your life to Him and seeking His guidance through prayer, reading His Word, and following His commands will enable you to live a life that pleases Him. 
-James 4:8,"Draw near to God and He will draw near to You."
▪︎By living a life of faithfulness to God's Word and surrendering to His will enable you to please Him.
-1 John 2:5-6,"But whoever keeps His word,truly the love of God is perfected in Him.By this we know that we are in Him.He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
▪︎You can please God always by loving Him with all your heart.
-Mark 12:30,"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your soul,with all your mind,and with all your strength. "
▪︎ Living a life of humility pleases God.
-1 Peter 5:6,"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,that He may exalt you in due time"
▪︎Confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness pleases God.
-1 John 1:9,"If we confess our sins,He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
▪︎Abiding in His presence can also please God.
-John 15:4-5,"Abide in Me,and I in you....He who abides in Me,and I in him,bears much fruit."
▪︎Priortize the house and work of God pleases God;He takes pleasure in the building of the temple.
-Haggai 1:8,"Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple,that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,"
▪︎Faith is essential in pleasing God. Trusting in Him and His promises,while diligently seeking Him,demonstrates a heart that desires to please Him.
-Hebrews 11:6: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."  
 ▪︎ Obedience is more valuable to God than ritualistic practices. Pleasing God means listening to Him and following His commands rather than merely performing religious acts.
-1 Samuel 15:22:"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?"  

▪︎ God delights in those who fear Him and hope in His mercy. A genuine fear of God, coupled with hope in His mercy, is a key aspect of a life that pleases Him.

-Psalm 147:11: "The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."     

WHAT CAN I DO TO PLEASE GOD IN MY DAILY LIFE?
•Having faith in Him.
-Hebrews 11:6,"But without faith it is impossible to please Him.
•Maintain Unwavering faith in God's promises.Trust that He is capable of fulfilling what He has promised.
-Romans 4:20-21,"He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief,but was strengthened in faith....and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."
•Obedience:Obey God by keeping His commandments. .
-John 14:15,"If you love me,keep my commandments.
-1 Samuel 15:22,"To obey is better than sacrifice.
•Love: By loving God and others.
-Matthew 22:37-39,"Love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your soul,and with all your mind.....Love your neighbor as yourself.
-1 John 4:19,"We love because he first loved us.
•Holiness:Living a holy life.
-1 Peter 1:16:Be holy,for I am holy.
•Service:By Serving others.
-Galatians 5:13,"But through love Serve one another.
•Gratitude:Giving thanks in all circumstances.
-1 Thessalonians 5:18,"In everything give thanks..."
•Seeking God:Prioritizing a relationship with Him.
-Matthew 6:33,"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..."
•Prayer:Maintaining a consistent prayer life.
-Philippians 4:6,"Be anxious for nothing,but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,let your requests be made known to God.
-Colossians 4:2,"Continue earnestly in prayer,being vigilant on it with thanksgiving"
•Walk worthy of the Lord to fully please Him. 
-Colossians 1:10,"That you may walk worthy of the Lord,fully pleasing Him.
•Obeying your parents in all things.
'-Colossians 3:20,"Obey your parents in all things,for this well pleasing to the Lord.
•Seeking the will of God.
-John 5:30,"I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me.
•Forsake your wicked ways.God does not take pleasure in wickedness. 
-Psalm 5:4,"For you are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness. 
•Praise and thank God always.
-Psalm 69:30-31,"I will praise the name of God with a song,and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.This also shall please the Lord...."
•Engage in regular worship and reverence. Set aside time to honor God through prayer,worship and acknowledgement of His sovereignty in your life.
-Psalm 95:6-7,"Oh come,let us worship and bow down;Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture,And the sheep of His hand."
•Live a Godly life,those who live in the flesh cannot please God 
-Romans 8:8,"But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit,if indeed the spirit of God 
dwells in you.
•Apply God's word in your life.Make it a priority to live out His teachings.
-James 1:22,"But be doers of the word,and not hearers only."
Pleasing God can be challenging for several reasons, as highlighted in the scriptures you mentioned.

CHALLENGES TO PLEASING GOD
◇Worldly Desires:Loving the world or the things in it,can lead us away from the will of God. Materialism,lust,and pride can easily distract and pull us away from a focused relationship with God.
-1 John 2:15-17,"Do not love the world or things of the world.If anyone loves the world,the love of the Father is not in him....And the world is passing away,and the lust of it,but he who does the will of God abides forever. "
◇Fear and Timidity:God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound-mind. Fear of rejection or failure can hinder our willingness to take steps that please God, such as sharing our faith or stepping out in obedience.
-2 Timothy 1:7,"For God has not given us a spirit of fear,but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
◇Endurance in Trials:The call to run with perseverance suggests that the Christian life involves challenges and obstacles. Distractions and burdens can hinder our ability to focus on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. 
-Hebrews 12:1-2,"Therefore we also,since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,let us lay aside every weight,and the sin which so easily ensnares us,and let us run with the endurance the race that is set before us,looking unto Jesus,the author and finisher of our faith."
◇Distractions of the world such as materialism,social media and  entertainment,cultural pressures,
Busyness and negative influences. 
•Materialism:A focus on acquiring wealth and possessions can overshadow spiritual priorities.
•Social Media and Entertainment:
Constant connectivity and entertainment can consume our time and attention, drawing us away from prayer and Bible study.
•Cultural Pressures:Societal norms and values often conflict with biblical teachings, leading to compromises in our faith.
•Busyness:The demands of daily life, work, and relationships can limit our spiritual growth.
•Negative Influences: Relationships or environments that promote sin can distract us from living according to God's standards.

PRAYERS
1)Lord, help me to seek to please you and not men, in Jesus' name.
2)God,you are not pleased with wickedness, help me to walk in your ways,in Jesus' name.
3)O Lord, help me to live a life worthy of you,bearing fruit in every good work ,in Jesus' name.
4)Lord,let my actions always reflect your will,in Jesus' name.
5)Father,i pray that i honour my parents in all things,as this pleases you,in the name of Jesus.
6)God,i lift up our leaders and all those in authority.May they lead peaceful and quiet lives,pleasing you in every way,in Jesus' name.
7)Lord, may my life be well pleasing to God, in Jesus' name.
8)Help me, Lord, to always delight in your ways, in Jesus' name.
9)O Lord,let my actions be guided by the holy spirit,that i may serve Christ and please Him,in Jesus' name.
10)Father, keep my soul from troubles, in Jesus' name.
11)Lord, help me to obey the Lord always, in Jesus' name.
12)Father, destroy all the works of darkness in my life, in Jesus' name.
13)Heavenly Father,help me to seek to do your will at all times, in Jesus' name.
14)Lord Jesus,teach me to listen to your guidance,that my life may reflect your purpose and please you,in Jesus' name.
15)O Lord,establish the work of our hands, in Jesus' name.
16)Lord, let the beauty of the Lord  be upon me, in Jesus' name.
17)O God,help me to live according to the Spirit,for i know that those who are in flesh cannot please you,in Jesus' name.
18)O Lord,help me to hear your voice, recognize it and obey it, in Jesus' name.
19)O Lord,strengthen my faith so that my life consistently pleases you,in Jesus' name.
20)O Lord, may my meditation be sweet to you, in Jesus' name.
Thank you, Lord, for answering my prayers, in Jesus' name.Amen