God Doesn’t Want Everyone To Like Me

 To what degree will we go?  How do we feel when they don’t?  Do we ever compromise our beliefs or principles to win approval from others?

 Pontius Pilate  Matthew 27:19 -- While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

 Matthew 27:24 -- When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

 Acts 12: He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 Acts 24:27 -- When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

 Acts 25:9 -- Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?"

 Luke 2:52 --And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.  Acts 2:47 -- …praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

 Jesus warns us  John 15: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

 Acts 4: But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

 Galatians 2:12 -- Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

 1 Thessalonians 2:4 -- On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

 Ephesians 5:11 -- Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

 Romans 1:32 -- Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

 1 Peter 4: For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.