A famous pianist once played a concert…

Who do we live to please? Paul’s highest priority So we make it our goal to please him. 2 Cor 5:9

Jesus: For I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. Jn 5:30 Paul’s encouragement to us: Find out what pleases the Lord. Eph 5:10

Colossians 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people - 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored

up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world - just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about

you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his

holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.

Epaphras was a church planter. v6 His story… He heard about Jesus from Paul probably in Ephesus. Then to Colossae to preach and plant a church. The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world, just as it is doing amongst you… v7

Paul’s letter of encouragement Live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way v10 To have our focus on the one person that really matters. When we do this our lives are marked by joy and fulfilment. Four practical ways to please him…

1. Bearing good fruit in every good work For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 As we do this we are fulfilled our burden is light

We’re change in God’s pocket. We make ourselves available. Joyful spontaneity. Long term commitment.

We can’t do every good thing we want to do. Or every good thing people expect us to do. But we do the ones God has prepared for us. Avoid burnout and stress Live sustainable lives Stay connected to him. Abide; rest; rely.

Some stages of life are very full. Or our capacity is limited. Acknowledge this – and know that still God works in us. These are times to rely on him – and know that he does bring us through.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Cor 9:6

Bless others to thrive. Generously give away what we have. eg Lauren; Chris & Maggie Train and disciple others. Be a giver not a taker. Serve our friends. And our enemies!

This is sacrificial relationships time and talents If we do this we open up opportunities for God to bless us.

What is God calling you to do to please him? It may be sacrificial It may be out of our comfort zone We may have much to learn As we follow God’s lead it will be life giving.

2. Growing in the knowledge of God Read the Bible – a best seller of 66 books. Know about God; learn about his character. Not to inform but to transform. This leads to knowing God.

Like a relationship… And this is real life: that they know you, the one and only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. Jn 17 3 (msg) This is the real deal. Life at its best.

3. Having endurance & patience It pleases God when we demonstrate patience and endurance. Patience: impossible people Endurance: impossible circumstances

God is in the business of redeeming our difficult relationships and impossible circumstances.

We want to be empowered for the long haul. Without Jesus the difficulties of life wear us down. Being strengthened with all power v11 This empowering and enduring is strength that God gives.

4. Have an attitude of gratitude This is good for us! Gratitude increases the joy of living. Source of all goodness is God. Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

Our prayer this morning… That we would live a life worthy of the Lord and to please him in every way. By being fruitful By growing our relationship with God By growing in endurance and patience By having an attitude of gratitude