Re: [FamilyofGod] I Receive Not Honour From Men
Thank you so much M.J. Knight for this spirit -inspired teaching. May the Lord God continue to bless and uplift you in Jesus Mighty name.
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I Receive Not Honour From Men
One of the greatest hindrances to any move of God or any spiritual progress in our lives is the desire for the applause of men. Before God can move in individuals, in churches, or in nations, He must crush the obsession that lies in our hearts to win the approval of men. When we can say with the Lord Jesus - "I receive not honour from men" then and only then will God have free reign to move in our midst.
John 5:41,44- I receive not honour from men...How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?"
The Lord Jesus was not interested in winning a popularity contest. He never acted out of self-interest or vanity. He came to do the will of His Father which was to redeem mankind from their sins, and that He did.
Instead of winning the approval and applause of men, He received a great deal of dishonor and disgrace. John 1:10-11 - The Scriptures tell us that - "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
He came unto a people who lived for pride, ambition, self-love, and vainglory. They sought for praises, flatteries, and commendations from one another. Therefore, they found it extremely difficult to believe in and follow a leader who was so humble and not showy. They certainly did not want to follow a Master Teacher who was calling them to deny themselves, carry a cross, and suffer rejection and reproach as He did. Many never received salvation because they could not lay aside their desire for worldly honors and recognition from men.
Sad to say, the same is true today. So many will not surrender their lives to Jesus because they are concerned what others will say. So many will not sell out for God because they are concerned how family members, friends, or coworkers will react. They would not dare risk losing man's acceptance in order to follow the Lamb of God Wherever He leads.
The Scriptures abound with examples of those who sought honor from men rather than God. In this particular message, I would like to look at two - one from the Old Testament and one from the New.
A. Old Testament Example of Seeking Honor From Men - Saul
1 Samuel 15:30 - "Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God."
Here we read Saul's comment to the Prophet Samuel after he was found out disobeying the Lord. Notice his reaction - "I have sinned." That is commendable. He acknowledged his wrongdoing in sparing the flock and King Agag when God deliberately told him to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that they had.
But what is this comment afterwards - "yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel..."? Does this sound like true repentance? If Saul was genuinely sorry for his Sin, would he be concerned what others thought of Him? What honor does he feel that he deserves when he disobeyed the Lord? Doesn't Sin bring dishonor and shame?
So many today do not receive God's forgiveness for their Sin because they repent halfheartedly. Oh! There might be a show of tears, but the heart is not sincere - the penitent is more concerned about how he looks in man's eyes rather than God's. Some never receive from God because they are too proud to humble themselves before others and admit their wrongdoing. There are those who will not walk an aisle or stand up in the congregation during an altar call for fear that they will lose the high esteem of others.
Saul lost out with God, and all those who follow his example will lose out with Him, too.
B. New Testament Example of Seeking Honor From Men - Pharisees
Matthew 6:2 - "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
Matthew 23:5 - "But all their works they do for to be seen of men..."
Luke 16:15 - "And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."
John 12:43 - "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
Everything that the Pharisees did was for show - to draw attention to themselves - to prove how great they were. They endeavored to "be seen of men." They obsessively sought for the crowd's praises. They wanted men's approval even before God's. It was their aim in life - their motive behind every action. They undoubtedly worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.
Their main objective was to always appear righteous in the sight of the people. They thirsted for the applause, honor, and esteem of men. However, they forgot to take into consideration that even though man looks on the outward appearance and judges accordingly, God doesn't. He sees right into the heart!
Romans 2:28-29 - "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."
When a person gets saved or is truly Born Again, he experiences an inner spiritual work of the heart whereby Sin is cut away and a pure life remains. Everything that is offensive to God is supernaturally cut off. This is called "circumcision." It is a sign to the world of a total separation and renunciation of Sin along with a holy consecration of the entire life to the Lord Jesus.
What is the main result? The believer no longer lives for the praises or approval of men, but for the commendation that comes from God.
We see this beautifully exemplified in Paul's words to the Thessalonian Church. In Chapter 2, he says such things as -
1Thessalonians 2:2-6 - "...even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated...we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God...For neither at any time used we flattering words...Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ."
Obviously, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were not influenced by the love of fame or the approval of men. They "suffered," were "shamefully entreated," and preached the gospel with "much contention" because they desired to please God and God alone. They didn't use deceit, flattery, or trickery simply because their main objective was not for gain or ambition but for God's glory.
They were true followers of Christ Jesus. Their hearts had been circumcised and now they sought only for the approbation of God and not of men. Their desire was to obey God and do His will no matter who liked or disliked it.
What about you today, O Christian? Has your heart been circumcised? Have Sin and the things of this world, the flesh, and the devil been removed from your life? Are you pure and holy in God's sight? If so, then your desire will be to obey God no matter what man says. You will be willing to follow Jesus even if you have to follow Him all alone.
Are you still plagued with an obsession to please men? Are you concerned about how others see you? Do you thirst for other's approval and applause? How far will you go with the Lord before you will let the comments of men stop you? Suppose God asks you to do something that your family and friends strongly disapprove of? Who are you going to please?
Are the honor and respect of men keeping you from selling out for God? Oh! You don't want to look foolish in men's eyes so you simply ignore the Holy Spirit and what He is asking you to do. Is this the case with you today?
As believers, members of the Body of Christ, and as nations - we will never see God freely move in our midst until we lay aside the love for the approval, applause, honor, esteem, and consent of other men.
May God take each one of us once again into the operating room and perform the supernatural, spiritual surgery of "circumcision" on our hearts, cutting away at any inordinate desire to please men and win their approval.
May we always and evermore seek His glory and never that of men. And may we not allow anything or anyone to keep us from going all the way with Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Love & Prayers,
Michael J. Knight.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-C-T-S/
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me."
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