Friday, 13 June 2014

Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (part 2)





Message: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (part 2)
 By Rev. Emmanuel Innocent




In the first edition of this topic i.e. the 5th edition of this newsletter, we took our text from Mt.18:1-4. Our discussion was centered upon TOTAL DEPENCENCY as the criterion for being the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Here are some of the highlights:
1.      When we see ourselves as nothing at all times in God’s hand, He’ll mould us to his perfect nature and desires.
2.      Our God is a jealous God. He’ll release glory to the degree of our submission to him.
3.      Man’s opinion should NEVER substitute God’s opinion of you.
4.      True greatness is not a function of physical acquisitions but on kingdom expositions.
5.      Mr. Flesh must die so that the glory in the spirit-man can come out.
After that edition, I began to receive prompting in my spirit to write the second part of the edition. For months I was seeking God for this message. Now here is it: Overcoming the sin of hypocrisy.
                  
Overcoming the Sin of Hypocrisy
Mt. 5:19-20  "Whoever therefore BREAKS one of the least of these commandments, AND TEACHES men so, shall be CALLED LEAST in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever DOES AND TEACHES them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
 20 "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” (Luke 12:1-2)

Who is a hypocrite?
According to American Tract Society of Nigeria, it says “It is one who, like a stage-player, feigns to be what he is not.  The epithet is generally applied to those who assume the appearance of virtue or piety, without possessing the reality.”
How did our Lord Jesus describe the sin of hypocrisy?
a.      Jesus describes the sin of hypocrisy as a leaven.
What is a leaven? A substance e.g. yeast that is used to make dough rise before it is baked to make bread. According to Matthew Henry’s Commentary, he said, “it is spreading as leaven, insinuates itself into the whole man, and all that he does; it is swelling and souring as leaven, for it puffs men up with pride, embitters them with malice, and makes their service unacceptable to God.”
b.      Jesus describes the sin of hypocrisy as a leaven of the Pharisee.
Meaning according to Matthew Henry’s Commentary: 
"It is the sin most of them are found in. Take heed of imitating them; be not you of their spirit; do not dissemble in Christianity as they do in Judaism; make not your religion a cloak of maliciousness, as they do theirs."
This is a sin commonly found within ministers of God and leaders. Jesus admonishes us that we must flee from it. Once it gets hold on you, its spreads and it damages destiny. Once hypocrisy is in your life, any other thing you do is in vain.
Mt.6:1-2 says “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
It will be really disappointing and disgracing if by God’s mercy you make heaven, then you found out that all the works you did gave you no reward.
In March 2005, the Lord gave me this message against the sin of hypocrisy. He said, this sin has eaten deep like a cancer worm in the church. He told me that if you preach the greatest truth and do not live in it, you’ll only become the greatest hypocrite and the most tormented soul.”
Characteristics of Hypocrisy or how to know if you are a hypocrite
1.      Praying or giving or prophesying or preaching to be SEEN and COMMENDED by people
2.      To preach a condemning message that you’re currently guilt of
3.      To love people just because of what you want to receive from them
4.      To attend meetings just to please people
5.      Praying or giving or prophesying or preaching because of money you want to collect from them
6.      Arranging and publicizing false testimonies
How to Overcome the Sin of hypocrisy or stop being a hypocrite
1.      Recognize and acknowledge your sin before the Lord
2.      When preaching what God want you to preach and you know you are guilt of it, preach it in humility and let the people know through your speeches. Use phrases like ‘Let us’, ‘we have’ etc.
3.      Don’t be “a God of man” rather be “a man of God”. This means: don’t portray yourself as the solution to their problems. Don’t see yourself as the source rather see yourself as a channel of God’s power. Don’t always and only talk of your strength, sometimes talk about your weakness.
4.      Never live your life to please somebody. Fear God and you’ll have nothing and no one to fear.
5.      Do an heart-check
2 Cor.13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”
Work on your heart. Circumcise your heart. Tell God to do a surgery in your heart and if you know that you have corrupted your heart, tell the Lord to give you a new heart.
Sometime ago, the Lord told me that those who were not bless by your ministration, the reason is mostly the state of their heart. Let us cry to the Lord to give us a new heart. Many prophecies are hanging because of the condition of our heart.
When Prophet Samuel gave Saul the prophecy of becoming the first king of Israel, God knew that the current heart in Saul will hinder His plans for his life, so God gave him another heart.
“And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.” (1 Sam.10:9)
It’s time to cry out to God for wasted labours. Cry for mercy and restoration. Join me to pray these prayers:
a. Father, am sorry for every act done in hypocrisy. Please forgive me.
b. Father, restore all my lost efforts and rewards in Jesus name
c. Father, I receive grace to live a life that will please you only in Jesus name.

1 comment:

  1. Father, I receive grace to live a life that will please you only in Jesus name.

    ReplyDelete

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