The Jesus Correction with Craig Smee 3
The Hypocrisy Correction
Undo behavior or attitude he hated with all His heart
He hates it because it is behavior that robs us of life
Wonder – Worship in Spirit and Truth
Indifference vs. walking life with purpose and momentum
Hypocrisy
Pride
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One of the biggest complaints from non-Christians about Christians—Hypocrites!
People hurt—Lied to me.
Looked up to—Deceived.
Molested.
“The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny him with their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
Brennan Manning (Ragamuffin Gospel)
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Define what hypocrisy is NOT.
• Hypocrisy is not the disparity between what we do and what we wish we did.
Just because church is trying hard to be what Jesus asks of them and most times failing does not make the church a pool of hypocrisy.
Not Hypocrisy
Wish didn’t have bad thoughts—Do.
Wish didn’t lie—Did.
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Hypocrisy is the gap between what we show we and who we have been made to be.
It’s the difference between what we say and how we live.
It’s the difference between our public persona and our private character.
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Vulnerability conquers Hypocrisy.
Telling others about the struggle and not hiding it
What would Jesus correct? He would correct the show when the real life isn’t consistent with what we show.
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Hypocrisy is all about what we say and how we live.
Difference between public persona and private character.
hupokrites (hoop-ok-ree-tace’); an actor; stage-player, one who hides behind a mask.
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Titus 1:16
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him…
Deny by declaring that which is unrighteous righteous. When only He can make anyone truly righteous!
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Giving to be seen
Fasting impress
Praying to be heard.
Criticizing others, doing the same
Jesus never spoke more harshly than to hypocrites and especially to those who hid behind religion
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Overturns the tables – The show they wanted to put on hurt and injured people! That’s what makes Jesus mad!
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Matthew 23:27-28, 33
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness…33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Matt 23:27-28, 33
• Wants to look good on the outside while being dirty on the inside
• Wants the illusion of pubic virtue while hiding private vices
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Jesus wasn’t calling out the sin He was calling out the performance. The fake display of righteousness.
Didn’t say:
Woe to you who cuss
Watch bad shows
Hypocrites do it and then act like they don’t.
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Social media is a breeding ground for hypocrisy.
Perfect meal – eating disorder
Perfect Marriage – arguing
Devotion (coffee cup instagram pic)
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Lego Movie – “Everything is Awesome”
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“Uh Oh”
Hypocrisy so easy to see in other people.
But it’s so difficult to see in yourself.
If you’re feeling a little bit uncomfortable because you’re recognizing some inconsistencies, that’s actually a good thing. That means you’re self-aware. That means you’re open to what the spirit of God will show you.
There is hope for the hypocrite in all of us.
There is hope.
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Jesus has zero-tolerance for hypocrisy.
He has unlimited grace for a sinner in need of forgiveness.
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HOPE FOR THE HYPOCRITE
Matthew 23:25-26
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First, clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
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You’re showing the show but you don’t have the substance.
What he says is this, “Blind Pharisee, “first clean the inside of the cup and the dish. “Then the outside will be clean.”
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Let the spirit of God do work internally where no one else sees. When internally you’re being conformed to the image of Christ, when the spirit of God is working within you, when God’s word is transforming you, then out of an overflow of who you’re becoming you will display the goodness of God as a reflection of his work internally, not as an act to fool people on the outside. But borne within true spiritual work on the inside.
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Preacher – Faults
Longer sermon than ever if you want me to go through them
I’d rather be an honest sinner than a lying hypocrite.
Preach grace—Pick people apart.
Shouldn’t care what people think—on social media comparing
Shouldn’t love this world—Feel safe the more money in the bank.
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THE HOPE
Jesus cannot stomach the show, but when anyone who’s hurting drops the mask and says forgive me, heal me, redeem me, save me, change me, Jesus’ answer is always yes.
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He did not come for those who appear to be righteous, but he came for sinners. He didn’t come for those who are healthy on the outside, he came for those who knew they were sick.
He has no tolerance for the show, but he has unlimited grace for a sinner in need of grace and repentance.
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13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Prov 28:13
You are only as strong as you are honest.
Moment of Truth
Moment of Truth = taking off the mask
Read your bible on your phone—Look at porn on it later.
Tell your spouse you love them—Flirt at work.
Church person—Different at work
Showing perfect marriage—Help.
Act Christian—Secret addiction.
Make out like financially well off—Debt.
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THE FIG TREE STORY
Saw a fig tree with nothing but leaves—Jesus cursed the fig tree.
Produce fruit before leaves. So if you see a tree with leaves—assume fruit.
Symbol of hypocrisy. Lots of leaves—No fruit.
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Luke 12:1-3 NLT
…Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
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Drop mask—Confess to God—and to People
You have nothing to fear when you have nothing to hide.
Jesus has zero-tolerance for hypocrisy
He has unlimited grace for a sinner in need of forgiveness.
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Psalm 139:23-23
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
What is hypocrisy? The gap between what we show and who we are.
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We don’t close the gaps with perfection.
We close the gaps with Christ.
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