The Need to Care so much about your Image and Reputation over your Walk with GOD | John Giftah | Christian Sermon

0:01 Do you ever look around and think, Wow, the world is a crazy place and it just seems to get crazier and crazier. Ease your mind and take a break. This is Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We're a hub for inspirational Christian sermons, practical keys for Christian living, and Christian discussions and interviews. You'll be inspired to live the life that you were created for. Your host is a top ranking podcaster, best selling author, world record holder, aerospace engineer, life coach, evangelist, and founder of John Gifta International.

0:43 Welcome to Fuel for the Soul with John GIFTA. One of the things that is pretty common among people is, you know, yes, you should actually have the sential fear of the Lord, right, not the terrified fear of God, you know, the fear to approach God, the fear to you know, like see like oh my gosh, God's going to punish me. Not not that kind of a fear. But we need to have the reverential fear of the Lord right, and we need to live our lives to please Him in accordance to his standards, in accordance to his principles, in accordance to his word in it and accordance to his will.

1:27 But here's the thing I want to tell you, but a lot of people are living in a place where they just want to live to please people. They just want to make sure that then the good books of people. They just want to make sure that they are in a place where everybody likes them, people are respecting them, appreciating them, acknowledging them, and honoring them. And that is what takes predominance for a lot of people over their walk with the Lord. And I want to share a scripture with you, and I want to take this forward.

1:58 When you look at first Samuel chapter fifteen, there's a moment where Saul isn't a very bad shape. He's made a lot of poor choices. He's gone away from the things that God has orchestrated and they ordered for him to do. He's gone away from the the right track that God wanted him to go in. He is messed up his life and he's put the whole kingdom in a very bad shape. And in such a scenario, you see Samuel comes to him and says, you know what, You've been rejected. God has rejected you. You're no longer going to be the king, and he's he's pulling over Samuel and tears his robe, and Samuel says, listen, the same way you did, what you just did, your kingdom is going to be torn from you and given to somebody else.

2:49 And it actually goes on to talk about and says, somebody who does not lie, who's who's who's who's in a better position than you, who's better off than you to take up this role of being the king. And I want to just highlight something with you from verse thirty and I'm reading to you from the Nalty version. Then Saul pleaded again. He said, I know I have sinned, but please at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the Lord, your God.

3:23 He says, I no, I have sinned, but please at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me. And if you look at the message version, he's actually saying, just come with me, like to support me, to show that you know, everything is fine. You know, have you seen a lot of times you know, people just want that visible support. You know, if you look at the message version. He says, I have sinned, but don't abandon me. Support me with your presence before the leaders and the people come alongside me as I go to worship God.

3:58 So he just wants to put a picture that everything was fine on the outside. Those things were bad, and he accepts that things are bad. He says, I, yes, I have sinned, But he still wants to get to a place where instead of saying, okay, let me get my thing, my walk with the Lord right, or let me talk to the lawd let me cry up to the Lord. Instead of crying to the Lord, he still speaks to Samuel, and he's saying, do something, Samuel, Samuel, Samuel, and he's still looking up to Samuel instead of looking up to the Lord.

4:31 You see, when when David committed sin, he looked to the Lord. You know when as Zakaya was in a club desperado, he prayed to the Lord. He didn't speak to the prophet, right, he didn't speak to Zakayah, sorry, Zakaiah did not speak to Prophet Isaiah. He spoke to the Lord. When when Nathan came to David, David cried to the Lord. See, but you see here Samuel is giving the word to Saul. Saul is not talking to God. He's coming, and all he wants is not his relationship with God. He's not caring about all of that being right.

5:08 All he cares about is, you know, Samuel, please commit me. I just want to put a nice picture in front of people that everything is fine. How many people today are living a life where even though they know that things are not in a good place, even though they know that there's a lot of work that needs to be done, even though they know that, you know what, there's a work that God has to do in them. Or they need to recommit their life to God. Maybe they need to overcome something in their life. Maybe they need to let go of something in their life.

5:36 Maybe there's some the area that they need to deal with. Maybe you're such a person today, but you are putting a picture in front of people where all you who are caring about is what will other people think of you? And you're saying, you know what, I just need to continue to have the respect from people. I need to make sure that you know the prophet honors me, or you know, everybody you know looks up to me, and you know things that I'm really in the Lord, or I'm a really good person, or you know, a lot of people today they don't care about the mess that they are in with.

6:10 All they care about is to put a picture that everything is fine on the outside. You know, the other day, Pastor, we're sharing this quote and I'm just reminded it. It just goes in line with what I'm just sharing. He said. You know, some people's house will be burning, but they would be working out in suits because they just want to act like everything is fine. They want to say, you know what, I'm living my best life now. You know what, I'm living my dream life. Now, I'm living the dream, you know, and all of these things.

6:42 But the truth is, guys, I'm not asking you to go and trumpet to the whole world or put a banner out there and you know, market to the whole world. All your challenges, all the issues that you're going through or dealing with. All I'm saying is be open with God. All I'm saying is talk with hard about your issues. First, prioritize that your walk with God is in a better place before you try to act like everything is fine on the outside. Because a lot of people don't care about their walk with God.

7:11 You look at Solve, that's exactly what he did. He never even bordered to get back in his walk with God, to get back on track. All he cared about is that his reputation and image should be fine in front of people. And that's exactly what you see from this verse. In First Samuel, Separate fifteen was thirty and today I pray that you and I will not be in that place where all we care about is what other people will think of us. But we will get to that place where we say, God, you are my priority, and I want to make sure that my walk with you is in the right place, and let everything flow out from that place.

7:48 God, I pray in the name of Jesus that this world will go forth, and this world will encourage, bless edify and draw those who need to be drawn closer to you. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Lord, I pray that help us not to be so focused and what it about a image in front of people, a reputation and to put a nice image in front of others, a picture in front of others. But let us make sure that you know I'll walk with you is in the right place. In the name of Jesus, I pray a man, God bless you. You've been listening to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta, we hope you were blessed and inspired to live the life that God has for you.

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