Human Praise Vs God's Praise

I. EXORDIUM:

What motivates you most? the applause of people or GOD's approval or praise?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To give more value to GOD's praises rather than people's

IV. TEXT:

John 12:43 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

V. THESIS:

GOD's praises are much more valuable than good-for-nothing human praises

VI. TITLE:

Human Praise Vs GOD's Praise

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: John the Apostle, son of Zebedee and Salome, and younger brother of James.

—Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

B. Date and Setting:

Written between a.d. 85–90 from Ephesus, after the destruction of Jerusalem (a.d. 70) and before John’s exile to the island of Patmos

—Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

C. Audience:

New Christians and searching non-Christians.

—Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary

D. Purpose:

John 20:31 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Affects people with influence and those in position. (John 12:42, 1 Timothy 6:10, Matthew 13:22)

"For they..."

they are people in position and influential people because of wealth.

John 12:42 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.

1 Timothy 6:10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Matthew 13:22 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.

1. There are the so-called "thorny" people in churches, they arrived in luxurious limousine in church with bodyguards left and right, they give outrageously but they give out from their surpluses but GOD wants us to give our treasures, our very own wealth.

Luke 21:1-4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box.

Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them.

For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

2. Therefore these people GOD valued little because they have given huge money. Praise GOD because GOD's approval is not based on human system of approval, counting the wealth, or whoever has the most money, but GOD puts value on us, or net worth because we're willing to give everything to the LORD, even our very own lives, to live for Him.

B. They put more value on human praises

"For they loved human praise more"

Matthew 6:6 (New King James Version)

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

1. GOD is interested in secret good things that we do for His people and for Him not the huge things that requires television exposures, or even newspaper exposures. When you give, make it a goal to get GOD's reward or approval because it's going to mean He rewarded us and not men's.

Matthew 6:3-4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Illustration: There's a local famous television show in our country, since it's famous, I'm not going to mention it's name. The host always gives huge money to the audiences, either he thinks he's getting reward from GOD and making it an issue, but as it seems according to the Word of GOD, whatever is private is rewarded whatever is done publicly with huge crowds for them to appreciate are not rewarded. It's a top secret to give, even your right hand must not know what your left hand is giving, it's that secret, and GOD who sees our secrets will reward us. Strive to work hard to be rewarded by GOD and not men, for GOD's rewards are forever. Well, are they still waiting for their reward, no reward for them, for they have already made an advance, the approval of the people.