Today, we are living in a world full of hypocrisy. And because the world is full of hypocrisy, it has also crept into the church.
How manage did hypocrisy enter the church? It entered because the world has entered the church.
What then is Hypocrisy?
Let’s examine the first definition as we commence this journey into the world of hypocrisy.
~ “Hypocrisy is the contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing your real character”.
Beloved, that character you are putting on, is it real or fake? We saw this fake or false character in the life of Judas Iscariot in the bible:
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. (John 12:4-6, emphasis added)
Notice the outward display of righteousness in order to conceal the inward reality of wickedness. Worse than having a problem with greed, Judas had a problem with hypocrisy . Not only did he steal money, he faked a care for the poor in order to do it. His words of compassion were a mere show, a mask that cloaked his heart of deceit. This mask worked quite well, by the way. Why?
“We know Judas as the betrayer, but to the others he was Judas the disciple.”
Hear This: “Character is like pregnancy, it cannot be hidden”.
Hummm! Pastor, Minister, Worker, church members are you who we think or you say you are?
The word of God says:
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
( 2 Corinthians 13:5)
The Amplified bible puts it this way: “Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you–unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?”
We thought Judas Iscariot was in the faith, we never knew he was against the one, Saviour (Jesus Christ) he claimed to be following.
Hear This: “It is better to be real and corrected for a misconduct than to be fake and we assume you are correct, without being corrected for a misconduct that will lead you to hell”.
Though we are in the world, we are not of the world. Let us arise as true Christians to stop & discourage the practice of hypocrisy…
Prayer: Father, please reveal any form of hypocrisy in my life and in my work with you.
Please forward this message to others.
Shalom.
#Pstadebayo@destinydiscovery
Pstadebayo@destinydiscovery 