Are We The Hypocrites We Despise? - Zion Community Church Of Jacksonville

Are You What You’re Looking For?
Have You Put Down Your Stones?

Is it possible that although we attend church somewhat faithfully on Sundays, we’re not really living what we believe? Are we the hypocrites who know all the right things to say to sound religious but as much 50 percent of our lives we think, say and do whatever we feel like doing without any godly sorrow. Father in Jesus’ name, help us to never be stumbling stones to those who are looking for real answers for our troubled world. Help us to recognize our short comings faster than we see the flaws of others. Bless us to light up the world with Your love and kindness. Amen Matt 15:7-9 Matt 23:13-33

In this season of life, we can’t afford to act like we got it all together when we really don’t. Others need to see and understand that being a believer in Jesus is not about being perfect but seeking the one who is perfect and allowing Him to teach you how to trust the way God processes your transformation as a child of God. Since we all have some struggles with this life of holiness, we should be able to relate with the struggles of others no matter how different they are. Imagine if you will that that struggle of yours which you consider a minor sin or mistake was one of those sins that you considered a major transgression, how would you want the body of Christ to treat you. We are called to be harmless. What good is it to win an argument if you destroy the relationship and lose an opportunity to witness for Christ?

Are You What You’re Looking For?

Do you exemplify the love, mercy, forgiveness and patience you want to see in other believers and family members? As a child, do you honor and obey your parents the way you want to be honored and obeyed.

Mom and Dad would be ok if your kids use all the words that they hear come out of your mouth?

As an employee, As a boss, As a husband, As a wife, As a friend, As a Pastor, As a member, As a mom or dad are you giving a hundred percent or do you treat people like they don’t deserve your best?

Are you looking for encouragers but very seldom have an encouraging word for anyone?

Do you complain about people not speaking but refuse to speak first?

Do you want God and others to forgive you but have trouble forgiving others?

Do you want someone to make a positive difference in our world but you’re seating back, pointing fingers at church and waiting for someone else to do the work?

Do you recognize the growth in yourself and others?

Hypocrite – a judging under, like a performer acting under a mask (i.e. a theater-actor); (figuratively) a two-faced person; a “hypocrite,” whose profession does not match their practice – i.e. someone who “says one thing but does another.”

Do Not Judge

(Luke 6:37-42; Romans 14:1-12)

Matt 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Message

7 1-5 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

6 “Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.

John 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 NowMosesin the lawcommandedus,that suchshould be stoned:butwhatsayestthou?6 Thisthey said,temptinghim,thatthey might haveto accusehim.ButJesusstoopeddown,and with [his] fingerwroteon the ground,[as though he heardthem not].7 So whenthey continuedaskinghim,he lifted up himself,and saiduntothem,He that is without sinamong you,let himfirstcasta stoneat her.8 Andagainhe stoopeddown,and wroteon the ground.9 Andthey which heard[it],being convictedby [their own] conscience,went outone by one,beginningat the eldest,[even] untothe last:andJesuswas leftalone,andthe womanstandingin the midst.10 WhenJesushad lifted up himself,andsawnonebutthe woman,he saidunto her,Woman,wherearethosethineaccusers?hathno mancondemnedthee?11 She said,No man,Lord.AndJesussaidunto her,Neitherdo I condemnthee:go,andsinno more.

Matt 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 [Ye] hypocrites,welldidEsaiasprophesyof you,saying,

8 Thispeopledraweth nighunto mewith theirmouth,andhonourethme with [their] lips;buttheirheartis farfromme.9 Butin vainthey do worshipme,teaching[for] doctrinesthe commandmentsof men.10 Andhe calledthe multitude,and saidunto them,Hear,andunderstand:11 Notthat which goethintothe mouthdefiletha man;butthat which comethout ofthe mouth,thisdefiletha man.12 Thencamehisdisciples,and saidunto him,Knowest thouthatthe Phariseeswere offended,after they heardthis saying?13 Buthe answeredand said,Everyplant,whichmy heavenlyFatherhathnotplanted,shall be rooted up.14 Letthemalone:they beblindleadersof the blind.Andif the blindleadthe blind,bothshall fallintothe ditch.

15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, FALSE witness, blasphemies: 20 These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Called to be Harmless

Matt 10:16 Behold,I sendyouforthas sheepin the midstof wolves:be yethereforewiseas serpents,andharmlessas doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Gal 6:1 Brethren,if a manbe overtakenin a fault,ye whichare spiritual,restoresuch an onein the spiritof meekness;consideringthyself,lestthoualsobe tempted.2 Bear yeone another’sburdens,andso fulfilthe lawof Christ.3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be notdeceived;Godis notmocked:forwhatsoevera mansoweth,thatshall healsoreap.8 Forhe that sowethto hisfleshshallof the fleshreapcorruption;buthe that sowethto the Spiritshallof the Spiritreaplifeeverlasting.9 Andlet usnotbe wearyin welldoing:forin dueseasonwe shall reap,if we faintnot.10 As we havethereforeopportunity,let us dogooduntoall[men], especiallyuntothem who are of the householdof faith.

Matt 23:13 Butwoeunto you,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites!forye shut upthe kingdomof heavenagainstmen:forye neithergo in[yourselves], neithersuffer yethem that are enteringto go in.14 Woeunto you,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites!forye devourwidows’houses,andfor a pretencemakelongprayer:thereforeye shall receivethe greaterdamnation. 15 Woeunto you,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites!forye compassseaandlandto makeoneproselyte,andwhenhe is made,ye makehimtwofold morethe childof hellthan yourselves. 16 Woe unto you, [ye] blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 [Ye] fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 [Ye] fools and blind: for whether [is] greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23 Woeunto you,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites!forye pay titheof mintandaniseandcummin,andhave omittedthe weightier[matters] of the law,judgment,mercy,andfaith:theseought yeto have done,and notto leavethe otherundone.24 [Ye] blindguides,which strain ata gnat,andswallowa camel.

25 Woeunto you,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites!forye make cleanthe outsideof the cupandof the platter,butwithinthey are fullof extortionandexcess.26 [Thou] blindPharisee,cleansefirstthat [which is] withinthe cupandplatter,thatthe outsideof themmay becleanalso.

27 Woeunto you,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites!forye are likeunto whitedsepulchres,whichindeedappearbeautifuloutward,butare withinfullof dead[men’s] bones,andof alluncleanness.28 Even soye alsooutwardlyappearrighteousunto men,butwithinye arefullof hypocrisyandiniquity.

29 Woeunto you,scribesandPharisees,hypocrites!becauseye buildthe tombsof the prophets,andgarnishthe sepulchresof the righteous,30 Andsay,If we had beenin the daysof ourfathers,we wouldnothave beenpartakerswith themin the bloodof the prophets.31 Whereforeye be witnessesunto yourselves,thatye arethe childrenof them which killedthe prophets.32 Fillye up thenthe measureof yourfathers.33 [Ye] serpents,[ye] generationof vipers,howcan yeescapethe damnationof hell?

34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify; and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute [them] from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

A Call to Persevere

(Hebrews 10:19-39)

Now Unto Him

Jude 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

(Romans 11:33-36; Romans 16:25-27)

24 Nowunto him that is ableto keepyoufrom falling,andto present[you] faultlessbefore the presenceof hisglorywithexceeding joy,25 To the onlywiseGodourSaviour,[be] gloryandmajesty,dominionandpower,bothnowandever.Amen.

Message Bible

20-21 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

22-23 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.

24-25 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believethon himis notcondemned:buthe that believethnotis condemnedalready,becausehe hathnotbelievedin the nameof the only begottenSonof God.19 Andthisis the condemnation,thatlightis comeintothe world,andmenloveddarknessratherthanlight,becausetheirdeedswereevil.20 Forevery onethat doethevilhateththe light,neithercomethto the light,lesthisdeedsshould be reproved.21 Buthe that doethtruthcomethto the light,thathisdeedsmay be made manifest,thatthey arewroughtin God.

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. 6 Be carefulfor nothing;butin every thingby prayerandsupplicationwiththanksgivingletyourrequestsbe made knownuntoGod.7 Andthe peaceof God,whichpassethallunderstanding,shall keepyourheartsandmindsthroughChristJesus.

Think on These Things

8 Finally,brethren,whatsoever thingsareTRUE,whatsoever things[are] honest,whatsoever things[are] just,whatsoever things[are] pure,whatsoever things[are] lovely,whatsoever things[are] of good report;if [there be] anyvirtue,andif [there be] anypraise,thinkon these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Moderation – gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable, moderate. and hence, is true equity that appropriately fulfills the spirit (not just the letter) of the law.

Message

4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Knowing Christ is Above All

Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 9 Andbe foundin him,nothavingmine ownrighteousness,whichis ofthe law,butthat whichis throughthe faithof Christ,the righteousnesswhichis ofGodby faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Press on Toward the Goal

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren,I countnotmyselfto have apprehended:but[this] one thing[I do], forgettingthose thingswhich are behind,andreaching forth unto{5734} those things which are before,14 I presstowardthe markforthe prizeof the highcallingof Godin ChristJesus.15 Letus therefore,as many asbe perfect,be thusminded:andif in any thingye beotherwiseminded,Godshall revealeventhisunto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Phil 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confidentof thisvery thing,thathe which hath beguna goodworkin youwill perform[it] untilthe dayof JesusChrist:7 Even asit ismeetfor meto thinkthisof youall,becauseI haveyouin my heart;inasmuch as bothin my bonds,andin the defenceandconfirmationof the gospel,ye allarepartakersof mygrace.8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

12 ButI wouldye should understand,brethren,thatthe things [which happened] untome have fallen outratheruntothe furtheranceof the gospel

2 Tim 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 ForGodhathnotgivenus the spiritof fear;butof power,andof love,andof a sound mind.

1 Thes 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Whereforecomfortyourselves together,andedifyoneanother,evenas alsoye do.

Edify- to build a house (home, edifice); (figuratively) to edify – literally, “build someone up,” helping them to stand (be strong, “sturdy”). To Encourage

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;13 Andto esteemthemveryhighlyin lovefortheirwork’s sake.[And] be at peaceamongyourselves.14 Nowwe exhortyou,brethren,warnthem that are unruly,comfortthe feebleminded,supportthe weak,be patienttowardall[men].15 Seethat nonerenderevilforevilunto any[man]; buteverfollowthat whichis good,bothamongyourselves,andto all[men].16 Rejoiceevermore.17 Praywithout ceasing.18 In every thinggive thanks:forthisis the willof Godin ChristJesusconcerningyou.19 Quenchnotthe Spirit.20 Despisenotprophesyings.21 Proveall things;hold fastthat whichis good.22 Abstainfromallappearanceof evil.

Esteem (“what goes before, in front”) refers to coming first in priority such as: “the leading thought” in one’s mind, i.e. to esteem (regard highly); or a leading authority, providing leadership in a local church

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised; ) 24 Andlet us considerone anotherto provokeunto loveandto goodworks:25 Notforsakingthe assemblingof ourselvestogether,as the mannerof some[is]; butexhorting[one another]: andso muchthe more,as ye seethe dayapproaching.