ICF Managua, Nicaragua

Behaving badly comes from not understanding some simple truths

Such as …

1. behavior is just a by-product 4:1

It’s what’s on the inside that counts – no surprise there.

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. 1 Sam 16.7
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

It’s what’s on the inside that counts – So don’t try correcting behavior by working on the by-products only.

If you’re having trouble with behavior, it stands to reason that the problem may lie deeper.

Do you love God, or just His stuff. Do you love the God who is everything, or just everything He gives you?

TS: Behaving badly also comes from not understanding another simple truth

2. behavior follows belief 4:1-3

Walking with God v1 – Enoch and Noah
Desiring to please God v1 – Heb. 11:6 ‘Now without faith it is impossible to please God’
Knowing God v5 w/s οἶδα simple (entry level) knowledge of God – this works for people starting out.
Guided by the Spirit of God v8 (Eph.5:18-20/Col. 3:16)
Understanding the will of God v3

Sometimes Christians want to hear new truth when what they need is exhortation to excel still more, to press on to greater experiencing of old truths which they are already practicing to a limited degree. You go back to Scripture to get the truth.

Back to the BASICS Pleasing God

It is God’s clear will for you that you be holy – separation from sin.

Holy – 3 x’s (3,4,7) – God’s wants to sing Holy, Holy, Holy over us! He wants to sing Holy, Holy, Holy over you Steve. He wants to sing Holy, Holy, Holy over you Lisa.

Unclean – Clean – Holy (See the chart in the NLT Study Bible)

Some people think it’s harder today to live holy lives – with the pornogrification of modern culture it’s actually easier to live holy lives today than it used to be.

TS: Behaving badly also comes from not understanding that

3. behavior is a relational activity 4:3-12

The most immature level of human development is Self-centeredness
No man is an island – your behavior profoundly affects others
Pursuing Jesus together – the Christian life is a community activity

Many people assume the Bible has just one message about sex: Don’t do it.”

Well, let me simply respond by saying, anyone who says that obviously has not read the Bible. God, in His Word, has a lot to say about sex and much of it is good.

Song of Solomon, Hebrews 13:4 - God has a special wedding present for us, 1 Corinthians 7, Proverbs, Ecc. 9.9 Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your nvain1 life that he has given you under the sun.

From the moment we choose to surrender our lives to God and accept the gift of salvation offered through Jesus, we begin the journey of relational transformation.

Takeaways:

□ We were created BY Him, but we were also created FOR Him. Col. 1:16

□ What is your life – it is a vapor. James 4:14

□ There is Power over temptation Psa. 101:3; 1 Cor. 10:13

□ Live to please God in a pagan world

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SERMON NOTES – 1 Thess. 4:1-12 ICF Managua

– living a life that pleases God in a pagan world –