October 13, 2023
Topic: THE LEAVEN OF HYPOCRISY
Text: Luke 12:1-5
Memory Verse: There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known (Like 12:2)
We are in an age where appearance and looking the part is more important than the real thing. We see cheap imitations of everything, even in the church. Jesus warned His disciples of the Leaven of the Pharisees, hypocrisy. Paul, in his letter to Timothy warned that in the last days, men will have an appearance of godliness without the essence of God’s power. Hypocrisy is projecting to be who you are not, saying something that is different from what you believe, being someone on the outside who you are not on the inside. It goes beyond mere lying into the realms of making a lie and living the lie. It is so dangerous because of its hidden but creepy in nature, going unnoticed for years, deceiving many. If left unchecked, it damages not only the life of the hypocrite but also that of so many others who are carried away by the hypocrisy.
Do you pretend to be who you are not just to impress others? Are you living in public what you are not in private? It must be exhausting pretending to be who you are not. You don’t have to. If you genuinely come to God through His Son, Jesus, He will recreate you into His image AND give you the power to live and give expression to His life (John1…). If you are already born-again, repent and ask God to give you victory over hypocrisy and commit to a life of intentional Christian living, in Spirit and truth.
Prayer: Lord, I want to be a true worshipper, in Spirit and truth. Help me to be my authentic self, the person You created me to be in Christ Jesus. Amen!