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.
