Pastor Ralph Posted August 13 Report Share Posted August 13 Q8. (John 5:41, 44) How is Jesus’ refusal to seek men’s praise an example of humility? How does this free him to do God’s will? How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bianca Posted September 28 Report Share Posted September 28 Jesus seeks to please the Father not men. Some men seek the praises of other people which can lift them up in pride. But Jesus did not which tells you that he didn't come to please man but the Father and the Father alone It freed Jesus to do the Father's will because he was only seeking to please the Father which kept his focus on his mission. When we seek praise and approval from others it takes our minds off of who we should be pleasing which is God which means we can end up missing what we are supposed to be doing and missing our own destiny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewells Posted September 28 Report Share Posted September 28 Q8. (John 5:41, 44) How is Jesus' refusal to seek men's praise an example of humility? How does this free him to do God's will? How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? Jesus humbled himself before God. He had to do the will of God. His focus had to be upward and not outward to men. If he is unmoveable in the Lord then he can rightly represent Him. Men are unstable and usually guided by many things due to emotions or idolatry. Jesus must please the Father and do his will and not look to men who are unstable and unreliable. If he were trying to please men he would be all over the place due to their understanding and alliances. Only God is Just and True and is the way and we cannot follow men and be a disciple. We must follow God no matter where he leads and trust in his leadership which is grounded upon the rock. Jesus knew he could not put his confidence in men who are forever changing and chasing the winds and ways of the world. We must know it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clelie Posted September 29 Report Share Posted September 29 Jesus said He came to serve and not to be served . This a declaration of humility . Not having to please men, Jesus was free to do the will of his Father. seeking to please others is not productive as it interferes with the plan of God to trust Him and Him alone and for His glory not ours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Kay Posted September 29 Report Share Posted September 29 It shows that Jesus is grounded in truth – the truth that He is God. He is secure in the knowledge of who He is and does not need the praise of men. He is free from pleasing people, which can be very confusing because different people have different opinions; He is free to only please one person –His Father God. Seeking the approval of others can cripple our discipleship because we are trying to follow too many leaders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Clifford wilson Posted October 1 Report Share Posted October 1 Good morning, God the Son, his will for us is above all things in the physical and spiritual world. There is none higher, there is none greater. Jesus's example is the final example for the disciple. We cannot be so minded that we seek the approval of others. besides God. We are created spiritually in his image so we must follow the image that he sets in our hearts and minds. To do otherwise leaves us with the physical man and his physical desires for his life. We know the power of Christ and uniqueness of his humility. This higher calling for us to seek his will is restorable and peaceful when we are humble. We are created to praise and glorify Jesus. We glorify no man or seek man's approval in spiritual climates. This is why we give thanks, and we receive him daily in the early mornings with the spirit of thanksgiving. He is the master and when we are aligned with him, we are pleasing to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janzie Posted October 2 Report Share Posted October 2 On 8/12/2024 at 8:39 PM, Pastor Ralph said: Q8. (John 5:41, 44) How is Jesus’ refusal to seek men’s praise an example of humility? How does this free him to do God’s will? How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? It is an example of humility because He is not looking to get praise from men but praise from God who does the work. This frees Jesus to do God's will because Jesus' humility before men is a strength, not a weakness. A weak, vain man seeks the praise of others, but one who is not hungry for praise is free to serve the Father. Humility sets Jesus free. "He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." (John 7:18) It can cripple our discipleship because we should not be teaching and giving praise to ourselves. But we should be teaching how to give praise and honor to God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Eve Posted October 2 Report Share Posted October 2 Q8. John 5:41,44 How is Jesus refusal to seek men's praise as an example of humility? Jesus did not worry about peoples opinions or praise. The only opinion that mattered to him was God's opinion. If God approves of us we need not worry what other people think. Like Jesus we must never do anything to please other people. How does this free him to do God's will? This freed Jesus because he came to do the will of God to honor, glorify and magnify His name. Because he is the Spirit of Truth! Jesus is God! Humility set Jesus freed like it will for us. How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? Galatians 5:26 instructs us not to desire vain glory. When people seek approval from others it's because they crave attention and recognition so that they can validate their worth and identity. We see that in today's society. This can definitely crippled our discipleship, If we received it people become anxious and insecure. This can be compared to a narcissist who seeks endless validation, attention and praise. Which of Jesus examples of ministering to the hurting stands out to you the most? I chose #4. Jesus was so humble that he healed the sick and oppressed in the three years of him ministry here on earth. I am sure He did much more. Jesus healed a multitude of people. People with all sorts of pain who needed healing. Jesus healed with compassion and humility. People were in darkness, the blind were able to see, the lame was able to walk, the discouraged were healed because Jesus was their only Hope. There were so many people that were healed. Which shows the greatest degree of humility? To me was when Jesus touched the lepers who hadn't felt the touch of a human hand perhaps for decades. Jesus never discouraged or judged nor denied anyone who needed healing. This was His mission to come for the weak. Jesus compassion and humbleness is so valuable that we as believers should learn from him no matter who the lowest of lowly might be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Joy Posted October 3 Report Share Posted October 3 Q8. (John 5:41, 44) How is Jesus' refusal to seek men's praise an example of humility? How does this free him to do God's will? How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? Jesus heart is focused only on God's approval... Jesus wants to be pleasing to God. This frees him to do the will of God because he remains in connection to God at all times. He remains a servant. If we seek other peoples approval we separate ourselves from God and our focus is on ourselves than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted October 3 Report Share Posted October 3 Q8. (JOHN 5:41, 44) How is Jesus' refusal to seek men's praise an example of humility? How does this free Him to do God's will? How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? Glory from men is what we mostly seek – praise and compliments from others to boost our ego. But Jesus in His humility does not seek our praise but only that of the Father. Not being accountable to anyone except God sets Him free to do the Father’s will. The same with us if we are waiting for approval from others instead of being obedient to our Lord can only result in a watered-down discipleship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanele Tlhakanelo Posted October 4 Report Share Posted October 4 Jesus' refusal to seek men's praise is an example of humility because he understands that He is on earth to save people and do the Will of God and not to get their approval into what God has tasked Him to do. We understand that when we have finished that which God brought us on earth to do and He says "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a little; I shall set you over much, enter the joy of your Lord." This is the best praise because it comes from God and not man. This makes Jesus feel free to do the Will of God because He knows that the One who sent Him is faithful and deserves all the honor, glory and praise. Seeking approval from other can cripple our discipleship because we will always want them to praise us and when there is no praise coming from them, our spirits can be dampened and we think that which we are doing is not good. Our focus should not be in men but in God. He has called us for a time as this and as such, we must always enquire fron God and not men what is it that He wants us to do for His Kingdom. Man can deceive us but He who has called us will strengthen us even if we think we are sinking/failing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicolaas A.P. Mostert Posted October 4 Report Share Posted October 4 Q8. (John 5:41, 44) How is Jesus' refusal to seek men's praise an example of humility? JESUS seeks only his Father's approval and praise, not man. How does this free him to do God's will? Humility sets JESUS free. How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? Man is not always trustworthy. Put JESUS first then man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa Wolf Posted October 7 Report Share Posted October 7 Q8. (John 5:41, 44) How is Jesus’ refusal to seek men’s praise an example of humility? How does this free him to do God’s will? How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? In John 5:41 Jesus states clearly, “I do not accept glory from human beings," to show that He is not on earth for temporary praise. He has an eternal view. In verse 44, Jesus asks the Pharisees (and us, too) "How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" As Believers, our citizenship is in the Kingdom of Light. (Colossians 1:12) The glory we pursue is to glorify our Lord and King. If we pursue the worlds' glory, we will be crippled in our discipleship because our heart will be divided--creating an idol for ourselves, and we may miss God's incredible blessing in our lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kak Posted October 8 Report Share Posted October 8 Q8. Jesus shows us His humility by not caring about what people think or say about Him. His one aim was to please His Father in Heaven. Jesus had no problem about showing humility by example, knowing it was the best way to teach His disciples about humility and to lead them by showing them humility in action. This is also a great example to us, if Jesus could humble Himself like that, surely we can do the same thing. If we are seeking praise and adulation from people this can lead us into being distracted and confused about the importance of serving God rather than seeking praise for ourselves. Our hearts are divided and part of that is being focused in on ourselves and as a result serving God in a half hearted way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George L Posted October 9 Report Share Posted October 9 Q8. (John 5:41, 44) How is Jesus' refusal to seek men's praise an example of humility? Accepting praise from the served when observed begins a contest to out praise others to obtain service. Jesus maintains the couse of spirit lead service. How does this free him to do God's will? He is free of the leveraging of the crowds opinion and approval. How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? It offends the Holy Spirit as it is putting self to the fore. Self is to be your daily sacrifice so we serve the Father as Jesus did. Self is often my greatest sin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOLLAM BANDA Posted October 17 Report Share Posted October 17 Q8. (John 5:41, 44) How is Jesus' refusal to seek men's praise an example of humility? How does this free him to do God's will? How can seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship? Jesus refusal to seek men’s praise is an example of humility. Though He deserved praise as a Son of God, He doesn’t seek the praise of people. This is a demonstration of humility. People are eager to be showered with nice words and compliments. But Jesus does not need this. He seeks only his Father's approval and praise. Seeking approval from others cripple our discipleship because we do things to please other people and not God and we become very proud and rob God of his glory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krissi Posted October 26 Report Share Posted October 26 We live in a culture of "likes" on social media; we experience intense pressure to succumb to the values and gain the applause of others. More so at any time in my life, I watch people constantly looking crab-wise at each other for approval. The most obsequious of them gain the most "likes" -- reducing their lives to that which is popular or average guarantees such acceptance. In Jesus' day such acceptance was usually done in smaller circles, with small town gossip and it's pressure to conform. Now, it's done anonymously and universally. It's very frightening. Jesus refused the praise of others, mostly of the small town variety, that is, the pressure to conform, but he also refused the more insidious universal variety which was imposed on Him by pharisees. Jesus would not be on social media if He were alive today. Having written this, humility isn't merely non-conformity. It isn't just pushing back at typical values. It is not refusing to participate or partake in the commons, but is rather the act of asserting something different, submission to a "foreign God." I wonder if we all submit to something, even the most rebellious among us. Ours is not a question, perhaps, of NOT submitting, but of submitting to something different than God. That may be an aspect of humility -- ignoring human demands for submission and only submitting to God. Obviously, submitting to God means doing His will which we do most fully when we are free from other sorts of submission. When we fail or submit to non-God forces, we stop moving upward and forward ... we remove our eyes from Him. We all fail, of course, because the earth is enticing and entrancing and we love people on the earth who take our time and hearts. Our time and hearts ideally should be submitted to God. That is, we should be humble enough to ignore that which we think is important which includes others in our lives who press us to take them to a pumpkin festival to see the lights, for example. :) I'm thinking of how Jesus told us to hate our father, mother, sister ... etc. In this light, it makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jerry Posted 22 hours ago Report Share Posted 22 hours ago Jesus’ refusal to seek man’s praise will make him humble because he is doing things that he should be doing. This frees him to do God’s will because he isn’t trying to please man but only God. If we are seeking approval from others, it will cripple our discipleship because we will be trying to please man and not God. It is impossible to please man and God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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