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Short Sermon #71: WHOSE PRAISE DO YOU SEEK? - Our best sermons of all time

"How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" - John 5 Verse 44 (NIV)

Praise can come either from men or from God. People will praise you; it's their choice and right to do so. People, even Christians, may also flatter you. It matters a lot how you handle the praise directed to you.

In the verse above, Jesus warned his audience against accepting praise from one another. What this means is: let not people's praise get to your heart (or head).

Allow people to praise you. Be grateful about that and thank them most sincerely. But let it not inflate your ego.

In the same verse, Jesus underscored the need for people to make an effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God. This is an important instruction.

Never waste your time trying to obtain the praise that comes from men; that won't do you any good. Instead, make every effort to obtain the praise that comes from God. Every step of the way, never worry yourself about how people perceive you; instead, be very concerned about how well you are walking with your God.

If God says "Yes", it does not matter who and how many people shout "No!".

My concern is that a number of Christians seem to desire the approval of men more than the approval of God. They sacrifice the will of God for men's praise. This needs to change. Jesus once talked about people who "loved praise from men more than praise from God" - John 12:43 (NIV).

Paul knew how best to walk with his Lord. Listen to what he said at one point: "We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else" - 1 Thessalonians 2:6 (NIV). Not from men; not even from you. That should be the attitude of the Christian.

"No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God" - Romans 2:29 (NIV). Such a Christian's praise is not from men, but from God. Glory to God!

Jesus went straight to the point. He said, "I do not accept praise from men" - John 5:41 (NIV).

If your heart should thunder at the sound of praise, may the praise be from God!

It's now time to examine yourself closely. Whose praise do you seek? Whose praise do you seek most? Whose praise tickles your ears?
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