Whose Praise Do You Desire?

When Christ comes to dwell in a born-again believer He changes us into an entirely new person, we cannot change ourselves back. We do not have to depend on our own works to keep salvation, we are trusting in Him, that is Christ Who keeps us.

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

God does not throw away His children ever!!! We are not saved by our works or kept by our own works, it is Christ Who keeps us.

The confusion comes when we see someone turn back after claiming to be a Christian. Those who do this had a false conversion based on only words and emotions. Christ never changed them because they came hoping to get into heaven on their own merit.

Matthew 7:21-23

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

You should be able to tell often who has been authentically born again and who is not, here's how:

Matthew 7:15-20

You Will Know Them by Their Fruit

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."

What is the fruit?

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law."

This fruit is not about deeds, it is the character qualities of Christ that run through our entire being. Those who lack this fruit are not born again. These qualities will produce works, however, anyone who is unsaved can do good works, the works do not prove they are born again.

We will see this wonderful fruit in all born-again believers.

We all have flaws and growing to do after we are born again, this is the process of life long sanctification. The false believer lives a lifestyle of fear, contention and disobedience to God's Word. They love themselves more than they love God or the people of God.

John 13:34-35 "…34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.”

John 14:15-16 "15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"

Galatians 5:15-17 "15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.…"

Those who continually treat others disrespectfully do not have the Spirit of God or His fruit.

Love desires to be kind and all the rest of the fruit all the time. Love cares more about pleasing God than pleasing people.

Proverbs 29:25-26 "25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high. 26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.…"

When we love through Christ Who lives in us we are more concerned about our brothers and sisters spiritual well-being than we are about messaging their feelings.

Many people who are narcissistic are easily offended because they have themselves on the throne, it is helpful to them if we do not tread too carefully, they must hear the truth.

If we tell the truth through the love of the Holy Spirit they may still claim we were unkind, so not apologize when you have been falsely accused of meanness when you were led by the Holy Spirit to speak the truth in order to help another person.

We have to remember too that one person can ruin an entire fellowship, we must also think of the others who are harmed by the person who is disobedient.

1 Corinthians 5:6-7

"Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

Is man more important to us than Christ is? Do we fear man more than we fear God?

Psalm 20:7-8 " 7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.…"

When we walk in the Spirit obeying Him, we do not fear what people will say against us or do to us. Why? Because Christ is far more important than the love of man.

Worrying about what men will say or do prevents us from doing what Christ commands us to do. Why? Because man generally most of the time will hate us for our dedication to the truth of God.

Whose praise do you want, that of man or from God, "well done good and faithful servant."?