Look at Acts chapter 2 now as Jason was reading that of course
It's a very famous chapter of the day of Pentecost
With the disciples of Christ having the power of the Holy Ghost come upon them and then able to speak in many different languages
Okay, and Peter gets up and gives this great speech there
But I just want you to notice part of the great speech in verse number 22
Acts chapter 2 verse 22
He says ye men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God
A man approved of God the title for the sermon tonight is approved of God
Okay approved of God now the reason I wanted to preach on this
This is basically how I live my life
In many ways okay one thing that I've noticed obviously I've been saved since I was four years old
I didn't really grow till is in my 20s roughly you know as a Christian one thing that I noticed with a lot of people
You know I'm not even talking about the unsaved
I'm just talking about this saved you know people that are brothers and sisters in the Lord that sometimes
you know some believers can have a positive outlook to life and
Some believers can have a very negative outlook to life
You know it's like that
You know the glass is a half full or it's a half half empty
You know that kind of perspective, and I realize that it really taints your life
It really affects people around you how you react to certain situations
You know something can happen in life
Just you know and someone looks at that event and goes you know has a very negative attitude to it
And it brings them down it brings everyone around them down and some people will just blow it off
You know what's the difference well?
Why is it that some people can just blow things off you know some people make might make a comment about you right there?
If they say something negative about you and some people will get really offensive. You know really offended
You know they have very they're very sensitive
They react very quickly to a situation and then others like who cares like why is that what why have you ever wondered?
why is it that people react in different ways and
And
The you know the answer is not because the person that blows it off doesn't care that's not the answer okay
It's not that the person that blows it off doesn't care. We're all made of the same flesh and blood
We all have the same feelings we all you know someone says something negative match
It's going to affect you of course okay, but obviously some reacts worse than others, and why is that?
Why is that and I'll tell you the secret to it?
It's basically the title of sermon said it's approved of God if your concern in life is just to be approved by God
Man everything else in life is not going to bother you okay if your focus is
I just want to make sure God approves of me, and how I believe things how I act how I live my life
I'm telling you other things in life. It's not going to bother you as much as it does today, okay, and
You know another word the Bible uses when it comes to approval or being approved of God is the word accepted
You know if you did a word study for but proves of God or accepted by God these two things are very similar
Okay, so the purpose for this sermon today is to make you a more content person
And it's making you more happy in your life having more confidence about the way you live your life being steadfast
And I'm not being someone that's that's you know tossed to and fro not someone
That's how you know that's always very weak and unsure about themselves
You know I don't want you to be overly sensitive, and I don't want you to be easily offended
I mean, I think this is what everybody wants everyone wants to have confidence in their life
Okay, and of course the world when they look for confidence they look for confidence in the flesh
You know they look for confidence in finances how much money they make you know how good they look you know how well their body
Is toned or whatever it is now people look for confidence in different areas maybe their?
University degree or you know their their career path or they look for confidence in all these things
But what we should be looking for is the approval of God. That's the key thing that we should be striving for
Now if you can just turn to Romans chapter 2 Romans chapter 2 verse 11
Romans chapter 2 verse 11
The first thing we need to talk about just very quickly
I want to just you know obviously tailor this message to believers
But the first way that you're you're approved of God is the way where of course common sense is salvation
You know needing to be saved you know because as an unsaved person you are not approved of God
There's nothing you can bring to the table where God will say hey, yeah, that's acceptable
I'll take that you know as as as your entrance into the kingdom of God into eternity
You know to have salvation no the Bible says in Romans 2 11 for there is no respect of persons
We've God there is no respect of persons. We've got there's nothing you can bring you know as an unsaved
Person without Christ there's nothing that you can do or show of yourselves your finances like I said your strength your good looks
There's nothing that God will turn around and say wow I approve of that okay
I respect that no God is not a respecter of persons and look if God is not a respecter of persons
Do you think we should be respecter of persons? No we shouldn't right?
I mean the only way you can be approved by God is salvation is to be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ
You know first and foremost and of course once you are clothed in the righteousness of Christ
You know you know that God is not a respecter of persons
Don't you become a respecter of persons okay?
If we're striving to be more godly striving to be more like Jesus Christ
Then that's something we need to aim for okay not to respect persons
But to seek the approval or the acceptance of God now go to Luke chapter 20, please Luke chapter 20
And I'm going to read to you from Proverbs 28 verse 21 you guys go to Luke 20
I'm going to read to you from Proverbs 28 verse 21 the Bible says to have respect of persons is not good
For for a piece of bread that man will transgress
Says look if you if you lift up if you respect somebody or if you're seeking the respect of a person
He says it's not good
It's not something we should be doing as believers because that same person
Will basically transgress or commit sin or do wrong for a piece of bread
There's that there's that saying that everyone has a price
That everyone will commit sin for some value of something now look the truth is I'm sure we've all committed sins
For something as stupid or as insignificant as a piece of bread
It's very difficult because this is the flesh that we walk in right sometimes
There are some sins we struggle with we're really trying to fight against it
And maybe we still fall and there are some other things that we just do like that
You know you know just so insignificant to us we commit that sin
And that's why we shouldn't respect people because they're not perfect. They're all sinners
We're all sinners you know the only one we ought to seek out the respect or approval for from is God
Now in Luke chapter 20 verse 21 Luke chapter 20 verse 21. This is when Jesus Christ is in the temple
This is the last week before he's being crucified and the Pharisees and the Sadducees are sending their disciples to try to trip up
Jesus Christ they're asking many questions to see you know trying to find where he can fail trying to find a reason to
Accuse him of and this is what they say of Jesus in verse 21
And they asked him saying master we know that thou sayest and teach us rightly
Now these guys are not genuine. They're not they're not saying so a genuine heart, okay?
But what they're saying is true, okay, what they're saying is true, but they're not saying we've in it with any genuineness
Okay, they're trying to find fault in Jesus, but then it says this so that they acknowledge that he teaches rightly
Neither except us thou the person of any but teach us the way of God truly
Now do you want to be people that know the way of God truly?
Do you want to be people that teach rightly that know rightly what the Word of God says?
You know you want to base your faith and practice in life on the Word of God
And you want to be as true to the Word of God as possible if that's you then what was said of Jesus it said there
Neither
Exceptest thou the person of any so that they're acknowledging Jesus when you teach when you preach
You don't care about the thoughts of others
You know you don't care how they're going to get offended by your preaching you don't care about their opinions
You just seem to care about teaching the Word of God
You know and that's my job as your pastor. You know to get behind the pulpit, and you know yes
You know I I do
Care for you. I do love you
You know I but that shouldn't stop me from preaching the Word of God truly, okay
That shouldn't stop me and I better compromise
I better not say these things because I know brother so-and-so sister so-and-so is struggling this area
I'm not going to talk about that or sugarcoat around it because I don't want to offend them now
That's not how I preach or ought to be that's not how a teacher ought to be and the same for you when you come
To the Word of God you know and you know you have your faults and problems
You need to be someone that says you know what regardless of my faults and problems
I'm gonna read the Word of God
And I'm going to take it for what it says and if it offends me so be it
Because if it offends me that's awesome because now I know that's an area of my life that I need to change
Okay, we need to build our faith and practice of course your faith is what you believe your practice is
How you live out your life?
You know based on the Word of God
Seeking the approval that God gives us and we see what it was said of Jesus
He was approved of God, and he preached the truth regardless of who it may affect who it may offend all right
Now please turn to 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 2nd Corinthians chapter 10
Because there is a third category to this there are those that you know we should be striving to seek God's approval
There are those that seek the approval of men, but then you've got a third carry category
They're the self approvers they approve of themselves
They they they love to speak of themselves and in 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 verse 17 the Bible says
But he that glory of let him glory in the Lord that's 2nd Corinthians 10 17
But he that glory of let him glory in the Lord
Hey
And this is what's going to give you a positive outlook in life is when you when you glory about things don't glory about
This world no don't glory about these earthly things because it's all going to come to an end
It's all temporal find your glory in the Lord, but then it says in verse 18
For not he that commandeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commandeth
Okay, so someone that goes around commending themselves
You know speaking highly of themselves. You know seeking you know self promoters
It's said here that the Lord does not commend him
You know they're commending himself that person is not approved by God
Okay
And that is what some people fall into because they care about how others feel they care about what others have to say about themselves
And what no one else no one's saying anything nice about me
No one's saying anything positive about me, but I want to be look good in front of others well
If no one's gonna do it. I'm gonna promote myself. I'm gonna speak highly of myself
I'm gonna talk about all the great things that I've done you know and and by doing that you sort of put people in a
Corner because look have you ever been next to someone that just keeps promoting themselves keeps talking themselves up
You kind of feel rude to say hey, you know you shouldn't talk like that. You know you're sort of like yeah
You know you've done great. You know they're seeking that kind of approval from you as well
Hey, but the Lord does not commend that person the Lord does not lift up that person all right now in Matthew chapter 6
Verse 1 if you can turn if you want Matthew 6 verse 1
Matthew chapter 6 verse 1
By the way there's two ways of being a self approver one way is to commend themselves one ways to approve and lift themselves up
I'll go to the second one in a moment, but just in Matthew 6 verse 1 Matthew 6 verse 1
It says take heed that you do not your arms before men to be seen of them
So arms are your good works. You know when you do your good works before men
Or do not do your good works before men to be seen of men otherwise you have no reward of your father
Which is in heaven?
Okay, so what do you want in your life?
Do you want God to see your works?
Do you want God to reward you or do you want man to see your works and for man to reward you?
Those are your options those are your options, and if you promote yourself in front of man
If you talk highly about your great works
Then your reward will be from men
And it won't be from God verse number two therefore when thou doest thine arms
Do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets they may have the glory of men
Verily, I sense you they have their reward hey women to go into glory in women to glory in the Lord
But these guys are looking for the glory of men verse number three
But when thou doest arms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth
That thine arms may be in secret and thy father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly
Man if you can just take this on board just this one principle from Jesus. It's going to change your life. It's going to change life
Because it's natural when you do something good. It's natural. It's natural okay when you do something good
It's natural to want people to see the good and say well done and give you a pat on the back
It's it's natural okay, because you know you do it, and it's like well
I didn't see that you know, but here's the thing it's better if it's in secrets
And you know that someone has seen it's always God who sees us okay, and this will change everything
I promise you you start thinking like this God sees everything that I do God sees all my good works
You know and if God sees my good works. God will approve of my works. God rewarded my works
It doesn't matter what happens outside of that hey if I do good works and someone criticizes me
It doesn't matter because God saw my good works. God will reward me accordingly okay, but here's the thing when someone speaks bad about good works
Can't believe he said that
Can't believe they said that about me why because you're seeking the approval of men and that's going to get you downcast
That's going to cause you to have a negative outlook in life all right now
Please go to Isaiah 43 turn to Isaiah 43
the second way people
Seek acceptance or approval of men is not that they just lift themselves up for their good works
But they seek acceptance for the bad that they have done they seek acceptance for the bad that they've done
You know they'll go you know look we've all not all but some have lived a more sinful life than others
Okay, some have made some serious mistakes compared to others and you know
Don't be this kind of person don't be the kind of person that
Keeps bringing up your mistakes that keeps bringing up all your past sins to other people
Okay, because look think about this if let's say I lived I had a really horrible
I go in jail I was drug addict and I was stealing cars and all this stuff
And I just kept saying to you guys on man. I messed up my life. You know such a sinner
You know I did all these horrible things
You know I wish someone gave me the gospel early in my life
I wish I had direction for my parents. You know I wish all these things. What are they seeking?
They're looking for you to go. It's okay brother. It's okay. God understands
No look whether you you know if you've sinned if you've done wickedness
Whether you knew the Word of God or whether you didn't know the Word of God it was wrong to do still a sin
You know don't go seeking for others approval to say well
God understands why you were like that God understands your situation look of course God understands
That's why you had to send Jesus Christ to come and pay for the sins your sins on the cross
Okay, they've been handed they've been taken care of they've been nailed to the cross
It's time for you to let go of it
You don't need to keep bringing it up to people
Seeking for people to feel sorry for you to support you pat you on the back let go of it all right Psalm
103 verse 12 says as far as the east is from the west so far have God removed our transgressions from us
As far as the east is from the west it never meets
Okay, that's how far God has removed our transgressions. Why do you want to keep bringing it back?
God wants to get rid of it. God wants to be done. He's done with it
You know you guys are in Isaiah 43 verse 25 Isaiah 43 verse 25
It says I even I this is God speaking and hear that blood of out thy
Transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins
God says look when I've forgiven you. I don't look not only have I forgiven you I've forgotten about it
I don't remember him anymore. I don't bring them back to remembrance
You know God doesn't look God doesn't want to keep remembering your sins. He wants to forget it
He wants to put it put it behind him. He wants you to put it behind him
Okay, and look God has forgiven you that should be sufficient
It should be sufficient for you to know that God has paid for my sins that he's removed it from me that he's forgotten about
It therefore I'm gonna forget about them. I'm gonna move on with my life
I'm not gonna keep bringing it up because when you keep bringing it up
This is what's going to give you a negative outlook to life
Okay, what you should be thinking about is praise God they're paid for that will give you a positive outlook on life
Okay, you think about what God has done for you glory in the Lord, okay?
Don't go trying around. You know trying to seek people's opinions and approval. Yeah, it's all understood. Look don't worry about it
It's been dealt with
Okay, it's been dealt with your sins have been dealt with you don't need to keep bringing it up to everybody's face
You know they're causing them to remember look people are gonna have a bad outlook on you
You keep bringing up the past, you know, we all have past we all made mistakes, but they've been paid for by Jesus Christ
So moving on to the next point
I'll get you guys to turn to Acts chapter 10, please actually 10
Because the question will become
you know, well, how then do I find myself approved of God and
Not seeking that after man. What do I need to do? You know, how is it that I need to find myself approved?
I'm not talking about an unsaved person. We're talking about save people today
Right, and how do I find myself approved of God and how do I prevent myself seeking it from man?
I've got basically two points for this, but I go to our acts 1034
Acts 1034
While reads then Peter opened his mouth and said of a truth
I perceive that God is no respecter of persons
But in every nation hear that fear of him and worketh righteousness is
Accepted with him. Hey, how is it that you want to be accepted by God?
How is it that you want to be approved by God?
Well, it said here that you must first fear him
You must first fear God and work his righteousness, you know fear God and work righteousness
That's step number one. Okay, that's step number one. Why why is that?
Because here's the thing if you fear God in the right measure if you fear God, you're not going to fear man
Okay, if you feel what God has to say about your life if you're concerned about how God sees your life and the things that areas
That you're not doing well in the you know, it's going to cause if you have a fear of God
It's just going to naturally cause you to say well man. I'm afraid of God
I'm afraid of the terror of the Lord there. I better do what's right. I better walk in accordance to his commands
I better do things as I see them in the scriptures
That's what's gonna strive you to do it is when you have a healthy fear of God that's gonna override your fear of man
Okay, because here's the reason here's the reason why you don't do certain things that God asked you to do is because you've got a fear
Of man, what's man gonna say if I do these things if I put this into place? What's man gonna say?
Hey, that's the fear of man. No, you got to have the fear of God
Okay, the fear of God is greater than the fear of man
All right
If you had the right balance of the fear of God
You're not gonna worry about what men have to say about you and you're gonna be driven to walk in righteousness to do the works
Of righteousness that God has asked you to do
Please turn to Romans 12 verse 1 Romans chapter 12 verse 1
Romans 12 verse 1
Romans 12 verse 1 I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice
Hey God wants us to
Use our bodies as a sacrifice for him. Okay, say well, that's too much work says here whole living sacrifice. Holy
Acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service
He says look you offering yourself as a sacrifice doing the things that God has asked you to do is your reasonable service
He's not asking too much
This is this makes perfect sense for what God has done for you. Surely you can give something back to him
surely you can uphold his word and walk in his ways and then verse 2 says and
Be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove
What is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God?
How is it that you know, what's acceptable to God you must renew your mind, right and prove?
Okay, every area of your life prove it whatever it is that you do
Prove it is this aligned with what God wants me to do
Is this what God wants me to do whatever it is that you set your heart on your hands upon
Is this what God finds approved, you know, or is it not, you know?
Is this a line with his perfect will or not? You know, have I renewed my mind enough or not?
So that's step number one step. Step number one is to fear God and work righteousness. Okay
Now step number two if you guys can go to 2nd Timothy chapter 2, please 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 14
2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 14
The second step and I've already kind of covered this as we're leading into this is make the Bible
The basis of your faith and practice make the Bible the basis of your faith and practice
Go to 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 14
The Bible says of these things put them in remembrance
Charging them before the Lord that they may that they may that they strive not about words to no profit
But to the subverting of the hearers and look at this study
Study study what the Word of God study to show thyself
Approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly divided in the word of truth
But shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness
All right, so God says look study know the Word of God
Why is it I why is it that I believe this?
Because pastor Kevin preached it. No, that's wrong. Okay. Yes, you may have learnt it from pastor Kevin
But the reason you know this to be true is because it's what the Bible says and I can turn to the scriptures and show
You the Bible says is this is why I believe that okay. Well, why is it that you homeschool your kids or whatever?
Well, the Bible says that I should be trained my kids from sunrise to sunset
All right, that means they're going to be in the presence of mom and dad, you know
They're not going to be put away in some institution. They're gonna be raised by mom and dad
I've got my reasons behind that let alone how evil and wicked, you know, as society is the schools are these days
You know, I've got my reasons behind that, you know, it's built upon the Word of God
It's not because other families in the church are homeschooling and I'm feeling the pressure now
I gotta homeschool cuz yeah, man, what are they gonna think of me? Hey, that's the fear of man
No, you know, that's not why you homeschool and that you know people that homeschool for the wrong reasons
Because they feel the pressure from church
They're the ones that give up homeschooling because they're not doing it based on the Word of God
they're not building their faith and practice on the Word of God and
You see
One thing we talk about the Christian life. And of course if you live a Christian life, there are challenges
Okay, God has a high standard but also the Christian life in many ways is very easy
It's it's it's very easy in many ways. Okay, and what what do I mean by that? It's because
You know ungodly worldly people without Christ. They have to make the same decisions in life that we all have to you know
Looking for work getting married, you know
Whatever, you know raising the kids and whatever people do with life, you know
Everyone's got to make a decision and decide how they're going to go about doing things
And one thing that's great about being a Christian is because I got the Bible
I don't need to worry myself so much
Am I doing the right thing or the wrong thing if I can just find in the Bible?
That's what God says. Oh, that's the right thing. Like it's just a burden that's off my shoulders
I don't have to worry about that. I don't have to struggle. Is this right or wrong, you know, and
You know, I don't stress about you know, ask you the question, you know as a man
Should I be the one working as a man?
Should I be the one providing for my family or should I be sending my wife out there instead?
Is that is that what I know? I don't need to it's answered the Bible the Bible has answered that for me
Okay, that that's the requirement. That's the responsibility of the man, you know, or disobedient children, you know
What's the right show watch Supernanny's that you know?
Am I gonna get the right ways as disciplined kids on super nanny? Should I should I do the timeouts or you know?
Should I they don't I wonder should we take privilege make privilege?
We're gonna take privileges away from them or take toys away from the things that they like, you know
It's answer for me get the rod of correction the Bible says and I take out the rod and spank your kids
Answered I don't have to worry about what the right or wrong answer is. I know what the right answer is. All right
You know, should I should I be in support of homosexual marriage?
You know that our government had that plebiscite, you know
When was that two years ago a year and a half ago the plebic look the government doesn't know what's right or wrong
Let's go ask everybody else what they think, you know
I'm not there wondering not should I put yes or no, you know, what's the answer there the answer it's answer
They should be stoned to death. That's the answer the regards not about marriage. It's about being stoned to death
That's what the answer that's what the Bible says. I don't have to worry about that
I don't have to stress about those kinds of questions in life
That's what you know
Being a Christian is easy in one way because you know the right as long as you know the Bible
Of course, you you know the right answer to those things and you know what that will give you confidence in life
It'll give you confidence when you go about doing something
Are these spent your kids? Oh, man, I'm gonna report you to it. That's how I've had that
You know said to me at work Oh
Kevin how do you raise your kids? How are they so well behaved?
Well, we spanked them we get the right what I'm gonna report you to the two docks
It's like you just told me how good they were
You know, I don't worry about those kinds of things, you know, I know what God says it gives me confidence
You know, I'll just I don't beat around the bush
You know get out and I say what did your parents never give you a good smack. Oh, yeah, they did
Well what you turned out? Okay, right, you know and it gives you confidence in life
You're never wondering about things, you know
I remember a few years ago this this book this novel the DaVinci Code came out this DaVinci Code
It's a fictional book fictional book about Jesus getting married to Mary Magdalene apparently found evidence that
They found the evidence of Jesus tomb in the tomb
It said that Mary Magdalene was his wife and they had a son so they had descendants or something like that
I don't know. So anyway, some guy writes a fictional book about it and
I remember it being like a big news like it's going around, you know
And like oh wow, this new evidence and blah blah and I'm like, who cares
I know what the Bible says
I know that Jesus died rose again from the dead and then you send it up to be on the right
Yeah, the right hand side of the father, you know, I mean
Or see it at the right hand of the father, you know
Like I'm not worried about DaVinci Code. Maybe they've discovered something new. Maybe that's gonna unsettle my faith in the Bible
No, who cares? That's a nonsense. Well, I'm gonna waste my time on that stuff. That's what people get unsettled
I'm telling you Christians get unsettled with those things because they haven't got the confidence in the Word of God
You know, I don't get unsettled if on the news they discover some new
Evolutionary missing link, you know see this proves that men came from apes or something
Unsettled me who cares. I know what the Word of God says
I know the word, you know, the world's about six thousand some years old and that you know
Adam and Eve were our forefather our first father and mother and I'm not unsettled by that kind of information
You know some Christians are some Christians are unsettled by that, you know
And you know, that's what I'm saying to you
If you know the Word of God if you build your faith and practice on the Word of God
It's going to give you confidence
It's not going to cause you to be you know, uncomfortable or wondering or doubting and and having that negative outlook to life
No, it's not going to do that
You know if everybody in the world if nobody in the world homeschooled their kids
I'm not gonna stop homeschooling my kids because I know why I'm doing it, you know
I've built it upon the Word of God. I have confidence. That's the best way to raise my children and
When you base it upon the Word of God, it's also going to give you thicker skin
It's gonna make you less sensitive less offended by the words of others
Okay, what they say is not gonna bother you as much. Well, it should it will bother you to some extent
It always will a little bit but you're gonna have better control of your emotions
You're gonna have better control because you know, you're doing it in accordance to Word of God. That's what matters
I want to know that I'm approved of God. I don't care about the approval of men, you know
And you know this I'm sure you've all experienced this
You know, I mean just I mentioned a homeschool I mentioned just you know, my wife staying home and raising the kids
You know just these little things
Disciplining your kids the human like the stuff that people have been doing for thousands of years, right?
But people now look at it. It's like oh man, you know, what kind of world you live in, you know
I know you're raising your kids in this bubble and you know
They're going to be traumatized for their look. I have confidence. My kids are going to turn out
Okay, I have confidence that my marriage is going to be strong because we're basing the things that we do on the Word of God
It doesn't matter if my brother I'm not saying my brothers have done this but doesn't matter if my closest relatives are saying
Hey, you know, that's a bad way of doing it. You shouldn't put your kids
You know your kids are missing out on on social on social activities at school. They're not going to get the teaching
I don't care. I mean you can feel that way. I actually and this is a positive outlook. I
Appreciate that you actually care about the family that that concerns you actually appreciate that
But I don't care about how you say those things until I know why I'm doing it
I know that it's built on the Word of God. And if God says that's okay. I'm all for it. I have the confidence
I'm not going to be shaken by that
Okay
But here's the thing when you don't have the confidence in the Word of God when they say those things it's going to cause you
To get unsettled. How dare they say that about me? How dare they say that? I'm a bad parent because
It cares what they say you care about what God says that's what you should care about
I promise if you can apply this to your life
You're gonna have a much happier life. You're gonna be have so much more positivity about you, you know, and
You got Jason mentioned that I smile a lot, you know now I'm giving you, you know, living your best life
Now how to remain positive. I'm becoming more like what's the guy's name?
Joel Osteen. Yeah, my students are becoming more Joel's thing. It's not but look this is important
You know, it's important God's given us this life. God's given us this time on the earth
You know
He doesn't want us to go around moping and complaining and whinging and being easily offended all the time
God wants us to live confident lives in accordance to his word
Now one thing I do want to say one thing that I've noticed it as a pattern amongst people is
And this is not obviously a hard and fast rule
But I've noticed this is that people that have grown up in a broken home or people that have grown up without their fathers
You know all that just just without a good godly or you know, manly father in their life
I just noticed that a lot of these people tend to look for the approval of people
More than the average person like more than the average person that's grown up in a decent home with mom and dad there and you
Know that and they've been you know, mom and dad have given them approval have given them confidence in life
You know, they tend to not be bothered so much by the words of others
But people that didn't grow up in them in the best home environment
They tend to be looking for the approval of other people. Okay, and that's something that I need to realize as well
You know, it's it's just that you know some
Sometimes in life some people's you know the way things worked out for them. Unfortunately have been more difficult than others
You know, I'm thankful that God's given me a godly father and mother, you know, I appreciate that
But I also acknowledge that other people have not had the same life that I've had
Okay, and that may cause them to be more sensitive to be more easily offended and these kinds of things
nevertheless nevertheless
It's still true the way to have a positive outlook in life the way to be confident
Okay is to build your faith and practice on the Word of God regardless
Okay, the Word of God has the answer for all of us. Okay in how we ought to progress and live our lives
Please take your Bibles and turn to Philippians chapter 1 Philippians chapter 1 verse 9
Philippians chapter 1 verse 9 the Bible says and this I pray that
Your love may abound yet more and more in the knowledge and in all judgment. Okay, so
He wants our love to be abounded more and more
But that love needs to be based on something it says in knowledge and in judgment again, that's coming from the Word of God
Verse 10 that you may prove that you may approve things that are excellent
Okay, he wants if we want to be approved of God
We need to make sure that the things that we do are excellent. Okay that you may be sincere and without offense
Till the day of Christ
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God
You see the more you approve things in excellence
According to knowledge and judgment it said there that you're gonna be without offense
Okay, that means you're gonna be less likely to offend people
But at the same time you're less likely to take the offense, you know be easily offended because you're building upon
Things that are proved in excellence, okay now
What I want to talk about here quickly is that I just want to talk to you about how to handle people
That practice things differently to you that do things differently to you and how you should respond to that with love
okay, we've loved and
I'll give you an example of this and and I'm not saying this, you know
I'm not trying to take if this is an example that's happening this church, you know, I don't know
Okay, just just by accident, okay
But I'm just talking about things that happen all the time in every church in every all the time when you have families
Gathered together and people talk and people have strong opinions of their beliefs strong opinions about how they should ought to live life
And I'll give you one example, you know, you know one mother might say to another mother, you know
I bought my daughter a smartphone, you know, I bought my daughter a smartphone on her birthday, you know and look
Some parents would not approve of that. Okay, some parents say would not why would you do that? You know and and
This is where you need to be mindful. Okay, you need to be mindful because
That child is not your child. Okay, the mother that bought the smartphone for that child is the authority in that person's life
Okay, it's up to them. It's their decision. Okay, and they probably feel this is fine. This is good
You know, this is something that that that they need for life. It's gonna make our lives easier or whatever
But then you may feel well, I would never do that. You know, that's not something that I would do
So, how do you respond? How do you respond?
You know, I'll tell you not how to respond to you and how not to respond, you know
I would never buy that for my daughter, you know, don't you know the problems that she can develop don't you know?
You know how you know how I don't know whatever
I know that it has this problem will cause this in her life records that in life. Don't you know I would never do that
They never asked for your opinion. Who cares?
All right, that's not how you respond and if you're that type of person that responds that way
It's because you haven't got your you haven't built your approval upon God
You see what people get triggered about how other people live their lives
They get triggered because they haven't got confidence in themselves in how they live their life
Okay, and so when other family does something differently to how they feel for them it's like a slap in the face on them
It's like well, you're giving them a phone, but I wouldn't do that. What are you saying that? I'm the bad parent
No, we're not so I'm just talking I gave her a phone. That's what happened
I bought her a present because I love my daughter. That's what happened. It's got nothing to do about you
Okay, but the wrong response is I would never do such a thing
No, because here it is your your your you got thin skin you're highly sensitive
Okay, you haven't got confidence in the Word of God and how you live your life and you want to seek approval from other people
And so when other people are not living like the way you would live it
Unsettles you it unsettles you and if that's you that means you're a respecter of persons
You're looking for approval from other people
Rather than having the confidence that comes from knowing the Word of God and living your life according to the God's Word
All right. Now, how should you respond if you don't approve of it?
You know, well, maybe don't say anything. Maybe don't say anything
Or you could just say you know what? Yeah, you know for our kids
We just don't think it's it's right for them at this point in time to have
Phones behave your kids mature enough to handle that good on that's the way that's the best way to respond
You know and here's the thing as well that I've noticed with some Christians
We're meant to love one another as brothers sisters in the Lord and
Sometimes, you know, you may do something or you do, you know practice something or whatever that I don't approve of
But I know about it, but I don't approve of it. Okay. Oh, I mean I wouldn't do it from in my life
But then should I just ignore that aspect of your life? Should I just say well, I don't approve it
Therefore I'm not gonna bring it up. I'm not gonna mention it. I'm not gonna ask them how that's going
No, because I meant to love you
Okay, and if you're doing something that's a major part of your life that I don't think is right, but you're doing it
Anyway, hey, I'm still gonna go up to you say hey, how's that situation? How's that thing?
Going that you're going that's going on there
Is there anything you know that I can help you out with it's anything I can pray for whatever it is
Why because I'm meant to love you. Okay. I don't need to necessarily approve of every decision you make in your life
You need to be making your decisions based on what the Word of God says not how pastor Kevin Sepulveda feels or anyone else
in the family, you know anyone any other family in the church feels
alright
The last thing that I want to talk about here is if you seek God's approval. It's going to give you stability
It's going to give you stability turn to Hebrews chapter 12 verse 28 Hebrews chapter 12 verse 28
Actually not the last thing the second last thing stability Hebrews chapter 12 verse 28. I'll just read through this quickly
The Bible says wherefore we receive in a kingdom which cannot be moved
Let us have grace whereby we may serve God
Acceptably acceptably with reverence and godly fear for our God is a consuming fire
What I want to bring to your attention here guys, is that we can have stability
The Bible says here that the kingdom of God which we received cannot be moved
Okay, the kingdom that we're part of is stable
Okay, we can have stability in our lives
We can have that confidence in our lives because we know God's Word will never change
We know how God feels about something today is the same way
He feels about it forever the same way he felt about it in the book of Genesis is the same way
He's going to feel about it when we live out revelation
You know we can have confidence in his kingdom and once we've answered the king we have the confidence that we'll never
Leave that kingdom because it's everlasting life
Okay gives us confidence to stand in the kingdom that God has given us
You see what I want to bring to your tune here is that this world is not our home
Okay, this temporal world is not our home. Okay, and look. I'm not I've got a house
We've been able to purchase a house
But here's what happens a lot of Christians feel the strain they feel the pressure
I've got to buy a house, but why this is not your home
Okay, this is not your home your home. What's gonna. Give you stability is the kingdom of God. It's not owning a house
That's going to give you stability okay now if you're able to do it go for it. I'm not saying that's wrong
I'm just saying hey make sure your your mind is in the right place because I see believers become unstable
I see believers become you know
feel feel you know
Not important okay, because they don't own a property who cares it's all gonna get burnt up the house
I know I own is gonna get burnt up one day all right. I don't care
I want I want the mansions like God's prepared for me. Oh that is okay, so stability
You know getting the approval of God
You know making sure that you're adding your golden bricks in heaven whatever your treasures in heaven look like that you're working toward that
That's what's going to get God's approval in your life rather than you worrying about temporal material things
You know first Peter chapter 2 verse 4 just read it quickly to whom coming as unto a living stone
disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious
Ye also
talk about you as
Lively stones are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices
Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. We're talking about before you know your body being that living sacrifice, okay
Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ wherefore also it is contained in the scripture
Behold I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone elect precious and hear that believer on him shall not be confounded
So I just want to draw from that is your stability comes from Christ your stability comes from Jesus Christ
Hey, God wants to build you as a lively stone, but he wants you to be built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ
Okay, you walk in the ways of Jesus Christ. You're gonna have stability
You're gonna be strong the same way that Jesus Christ was strong
He was able to face his enemies people that were seeking to kill him
He was able to speak to them with strength, but he also had compassion
He also had love he had a great balance of all these qualities in his life
And that was that's what gave Jesus stability hey, Jesus did not have a house
Jesus did not have a house. He didn't have a place to rest his head
Okay, but he's the most stable person you're gonna read in the Bible. Okay. He had the perfect balance in life
Okay, nobody could trip him over he knew exactly what his mission was and he knew to teach the Word of God without compromise your
stability comes from Jesus Christ and
Lastly can you guys turn to 1st Peter chapter 2?
1st Peter chapter 2 verse 20 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 20 if you seek the approval of God
It's going to help you in personal attacks in personal attacks. Okay that come to you 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 20
1st Peter chapter 2 verse 20
For what glory is this is it sorry for what glory is it if when you be buffeted for your faults
You shall take it patiently
But if when you do well and suffer for it you take it patiently
This is acceptable with God. Hey, what's acceptable with God? We want to be approved of God, right?
We want to be acceptable with God. What is it that you get buffered when you do well?
Hey when you do what's right and you get criticized you get attacked you get persecuted for doing rights
Okay, the Bible says here if you take it patiently
Hey, if you don't lose your cool, you know, you don't let it bother you don't get frustrated you take it patiently
Says hey, that's acceptable with God. That's what that's where God wants you to be in life
Okay that anybody can say anything about you. It's like who cares I care what God says
That's where God wants you to be okay if you can do that man
You're gonna live so much of a more happier life instead of you being concerned
How why does that person feel that way if it doesn't bother you it's gonna bother them that it doesn't bother you
Okay, it's gonna be upon them rather than upon you. You're carrying all these things, you know these concerns
Did you know so-and-so said that about you? Did you know they said that about you? I don't care
I know what God says and I'm doing according to what God says I'm doing what's good
Hey, that's acceptable to God
What you know praise God for this because otherwise you're gonna be thinking that life is about fixing all these
All these fires that are burning around you and you got to do your you know your job to fix them
No, don't worry you walk in the path that God has given you
okay, and you do the works that God has given you to do and
You know, I've seen Christians get flustered, you know, they do something good to someone and that person look
You've all been there you've done something good for someone and they've never thanked you for it
They never showed appreciation for it
Maybe you've gone out of your length to really help someone out and they've just been like whatever
They just showed no appreciation whatsoever
Now tell me how would you feel? How would you react when that happened? How did you react when that happened?
Did you get all flustered? I can't believe you know
I did the best without trying to help them out and why don't they pretty cut even say thank you
Can't they even turn around just appreciate what I did. How did you react?
I would say that's how you probably reacted because that's that's how I've reacted before right as I reacted before
Hey, but here's the thing, you know, and I've seen people say this, you know, I've done I've helped them
Why can't they acknowledge the good that's been done? Well, if you've done good that should be sufficient
Okay, regardless if they appreciate another if you've done good if you've done the best you can okay if you've shown love
You know charity courtesy to people and they've just wasted it
Well, guess who saw it God saw it God saw it if you did good
You know you did good and God knows that you did good and that should be enough for you
You need to get to that point where that's enough for you
Okay, and if it's not enough for you still saying that person must say it thank you that person you've
You're not gonna live a happy life. You're always gonna be negative always because people are always gonna let you down always
Okay, it's always gonna happen. You've got to learn that's life. People are gonna let you down in life
But God's never gonna let you down. Okay, God's never gonna let you down and
in conclusion turn to 2nd Corinthians 5 verse 8
2nd Corinthians 5 verse 8
I'll just end on this one because I like it. It says here
We are confident. Are you guys confident?
In the Lord in the Word of God, we are confident
I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord
So we see here that their eyes are on eternity. Hey, they'd rather be in eternity
They'd rather be in heaven right now than on the earth
But then it says in verse 9 wherefore we labor that whether presence or absence we may be accepted of him
Okay, whether presence on this earth or absent in heaven. He says I will we're striving to be accepted by him
Okay, and I want that to be your desire that when you that's really be your desire in life, you know
Because there are people that will say I just want to be with God right now
I just want to be I just Jesus just come back right now
I just want to be with him right now. Hey, that's a good desire to have
Okay, but if that's all your desire and you're gonna miss out on living for God on this earth
Okay, and God wants you to be accepted of him both absent and present. Okay, so please use your time wisely
We only have a few short years of life. Okay, let's try to enjoy life
Try to be positive the more positive you are about life the more you're able to achieve and do for the Lord
Okay, and then you can be with the Lord forever it's all gonna be good then okay
Hey, but great if you suffer for him today greater rewards in heaven, you know greater rewards in heaven
And look you're gonna teach your kids you're gonna teach other people around just have thicker skins
You know instead of those little things bothering you all the time getting around down. It's gonna be like, you know what?
God says I'm doing right. I know I'm doing right. Hey, and if you're not doing right according to God
Well, I know I need to change that. All right, good
Okay, but that's what makes Christianity so easy is we know what God says
All right, am I walking in God's ways? Yep. I'm not working God's ways. Why do you fix that?
That's how life should be don't worry about what other people saying around you. Okay, don't let it bother you. Let's pray