You Cannot Glorify God if You Seek Man's Approval -- Santosh Poonen -- March 28, 2021
https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/you-cannot-glorify-god-if-you-seek-mans-approval River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that true discipleship requires seeking God's approval rather than the applause or acceptance of people. The speaker draws parallels between Jesus's life and the Old Testament prophets, emphasizing that believers in the New Covenant must live at a higher standard, devoted solely to the Kingdom of Heaven. This devotion means prioritizing Christ above all earthly relationships, even family, and being willing to walk alone in faith.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Living on a higher plane than the old covenantThe speaker reflects on a hymn about following the master and notes that Jesus lived with a demonstrative authority over Satan that even the greatest old testament prophets never possessed.
Seeking hearts, not applauseJesus did not care for human applause or flattery, but instead looked for broken and contrite hearts among the people.
Forsaking earthly relationships for supreme devotionJesus set an example of true discipleship by putting His devotion to the Father above any earthly family ties that would hinder His mission.
The daily choice between the two treesExamining the garden of Eden, the speaker explains that every moment presents a choice to eat either from the tree of life or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Being led astray from simple devotion to ChristPaul expressed fear that believers, like Eve, would be deceived and led astray in their minds away from pure devotion to Christ.2 Corinthians 11:3
The snare of the fear of manProverbs warns that the fear of man brings a snare, trapping those who worry about what others think rather than trusting in the Lord.Proverbs 29:25
Pleasing God instead of menPaul declared that if he were still trying to please men, he would not be a bondservant of Jesus Christ, emphasizing that his old life of caring about human opinion had died.Galatians 1:10
Fearing God aloneIsaiah instructs believers not to fear what the world fears or dread what they dread, but to regard the Lord of hosts as holy so He alone is their fear.Isaiah 8:13
Doing nothing on one's own initiativeJesus revealed the secret of His earthly ministry by stating that He could do nothing on His own initiative, seeking only the will of the Father who sent Him.
The impossibility of believing while seeking human gloryJesus challenged the religious experts by asking how they could possibly believe when they received glory from one another instead of seeking the glory that comes from God alone.John 5:44
The grain of wheat must dieWhen Greek intellectuals came seeking Him, Jesus pointed to the necessity of a grain of wheat falling into the earth and dying rather than seeking to impress through human wisdom.
Loving the approval of men rather than GodScripture warns of rulers who believed in Jesus outwardly but refused to confess Him because they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God.
Stopping regard for manIsaiah exhorts people to stop regarding mere man, whose breath of life is only in his nostrils and who has no real grounds for being esteemed.Isaiah 2:22
A hundred preachers who fear only GodRecalling John Wesley's words, the speaker concludes that God only needs a hundred people who fear sin and desire God alone to shake the gates of hell.
