Laying Aside Hypocrisy

 

 

1 PETER 2:1-5

SUBJECT: GROWTH THROUGH ENDURANCE

RELEVANCE: because God is always in control and our hope is in Christ, we are admonished to never despair or backslide due to difficult and unfair circumstances. We should rather strive to grow spiritually and persevere in practical righteousness. We must lay aside wrong attitudes because they encumber God’s glory and our spiritual progress.

THEME: We must lay aside hypocritical attitudes because they hinder God’s glory and our spiritual appetite and growth.

INTRODUCTION: how should I conduct myself when life seems to fall apart? What does God expect of me when the situation is harsh, one-sided, and bursting with uninvited burdens? God invites us to view our season of troubles as trials of our faith—opportunities to bring greater glory to God when Christ appears (see 1 Peter 1:6-7).

1) We are inclined to abandon godly expressions resorting rather to handling hurts, troubles, and unfair treatments as before we trusted Christ. In such times we need to refocus ourselves and adjust our perspective to live more according to God’s expectations emotionally.

2)  Instead of becoming cold towards God, we must maintain a correct spirit toward him and others.  Sometimes it is very easy to put on a smile and go through the motions, but to be real in our spirit, attitude, and heart is a different matter. Trials can be real opportunities to grow spiritually, but we will have to be especially attentive to the purpose of living for God during these challenging conditions.

MESSAGE: 

STRIVE TO GROW SPIRITUALLY BY LAYING ASIDE ATTITUDES OF HYPOCRICY (1PET. 2:1)

There is a great temptation to take on non-Christian attitudes and to assume a hostile spirit when difficulties come. Sometimes extreme adjustments, out of the ordinary pressures, and unfamiliar challenges can generate negative energies that will eventuate into hostility, irritability, and shortness of patience towards God and with others. In such times the Child of God must resist the temptation to revert to the old sinful tendencies and persist in uprightness.

1.  We must reject all forms of hypocrisy “and hypocrisies”  

Again, the idea of Laying Aside is like striping a banana peeling away from the fruit inside and casting it away as useless.  Likewise, we must reject hypocrisies because they will hindering God’s glory and our spiritual growth in the Lord.

         A. Hypocrisy Highlights a Person Who Is Insincere and Pretentious. 

The hypocrite is a play-actor, pretending to be someone he is not. They are feigning to be what they are not; assuming a false appearance of religion; cloaking a wicked purpose under the appearance of holiness.

ILLUSTRATION: He pretends to be happy in his marriage when his home is a battlefield of conflict with his wife and children. He or she pretends to be committed to Christ on Sunday, but is carnal, sensual, and worldly during the weekdays. He or she pretends to be interested in others’ welfare, but their motives are actually abusive, selfish, and advantageous. They commonly exploit, manipulate, milk, leverage, play on, and pimp people with little or no regard for their well-being.

         B. If a Believer Feels Like He Can Fake His Way Through His Christian Life He Will Never Experience Real Growth nor bring glory to God. Jesus repeatedly discouraged and warned of the downfall of hypocrites (Matt. 6:16-18; 7:3-5; 23:1-39)! We will be most tempted to fake the Christian life when the trials are heavy upon us. This is when we must concentrate the most on allowing the indwelling Christ to live genuinely and authentically through us.

ILLUSTRATION: READ SOME HYMNS WE REALLY SING

(1) When morning glides the skies/ My heart awaking cries/ Oh  no, another day

(2) Amazing grace, how sweet the sound/ that saved a wretch like you.

(3) The strife is o’er, the battle done/ Our church has splite and our side won.

(4) The church’s one foundation/ Is Tax-deductible.

(5) My Hope is built on nothing.

Let us take off hypocrisies and be real and genuine inside and outside.

2. There Are Several Forms of Hypocrisy. (1Pet. 2:1)

The word being plural comprehends all sorts of hypocrisies, and we have already suggested a few of these.

1. Religious 

Hypocrisy in Matters of Religion Is Counterfeit Spirituality.

Matt 23:27-28, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  (28)  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Many times, it happens with saying the right things around the right folks. Speaking the Christian language, having the correct ‘look,’ and being present for the services of the church. They appear righteous and God fearing and this can readily be observed by on lookers. But when away from church and Christian influences that same person seems to be someone else altogether. They suffer greatly with a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde lifestyle. 

                   i) We Must Beware of Spiritual Hypocrisy.

Matthew 16:6, Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Luke 12:1, 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.

The Pharisees professed to adhere to the minutest details of the Law, yet their obedience was external and shallow. Inwardly they were evil and corrupt. Since this form of hypocrisy is likened unto leaven it has the potential to permeate the entire life with pretensions, manipulation, make-believe, abusing, play acting, walking on, exploiting, and counterfeiting. Leaving the individual totally corrupt–a living lie!

Matthew 23:24-28, Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. [25] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. [27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

What we actually are is far more important than what we want others to think we are.  We tend to emphasize reputation—what we want others to think we are.  God emphasizes the Person—what we really are!  He desires truth in the inward parts–the heart!

Psalm 51:6, Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

                  ii) Our Holiness Must Be Genuine and Free of Any Counterfeiting.

Matthew 5:20, For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

                       aa) “Your righteousness”, your holiness; your views of the nature of righteousness, and your conduct and lives. Unless you have God’s own holiness, one cannot be saved.

                       bb) “Shall exceed”, will excel, or abound more. The personal righteousness of true Christians are seated in the heart, and is therefore genuine. Jesus means that unless they had more real holiness of character than the scribes and Pharisees, they are not behaving like saved people.

                       cc) “The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees”. Their righteousness consisted in outward observances of the ceremonial and traditional law. They offered sacrifices, fasted often, prayed much, were extremely proper about hygiene and cleanliness, and tithes, and the ceremonies of religion, but neglected fairness in treatment, truth and honesty, purity in motivations, and holiness of heart. See Matt 23:13-33. The righteousness that Jesus requires is purity, chastity, honesty, self-control, the fear of God, and the love of man. It is pure, eternal, reaching the motives, and makes our lives holy within and outside.

1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  

2. Social.  

Hypocrisy In Social Relationships Is Counterfeit Friendship.

This is much practiced by those who give high compliments, which they do not mean, make promises which they never intend to perform, or pretend friendship when mischief lies in their hearts. They tend to smile in your face for now but will later stab you in the back!

James 1:26, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (James 3:17)

3. Moral.

Hypocrisy Is Self-Righteous or Counterfeit Moral Purity.

Luke 18:10-14, Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Far too many people rest in their own goodness or proper activities for moral excellence and cleanliness. But God accepts the person who owns their sinfulness and asks for God’s righteousness instead. True morality begins with being honest with ourselves before God and in our interactions with other people. The key to morality is not perfection, but authenticity.

3. God Expects us to be Real.

We Must Resist Pretenses and Strive to Be Authentic and Real.

1 Tim 1:5, Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (Exercising Real Faith from a clean and pure heart)

1 Peter 1:22, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (Exercising Real Love out of a pure heart because we have believed the gospel)

1 John 3:18-19, My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (19) And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. (A Real Walk before and with the Lord reflected in our authentic activities)

 

I'd Rather See A Sermon

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day,

I'd rather one should walk with me than merely show the way.

The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear;

Fine counsel is confusing, but example always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see the good in action is what everybody needs.

I can soon learn how to do it if you'll let me see it done,

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lectures you deliver may be wise and true:

But I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do.

For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give,

But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

-Edgar A. Guest

 

CONCLUSION: How does God expect me to conduct myself in troubled times? We Must Lay Aside any Wrong Attitudes of the Heart Because They Hinder Go’s glory and Our Spiritual Appetite and Growth. Let Us Lay Aside the Wrong Attitude of Hypocrisy!

1) God expects us to take off attitudes that hide/conceal His glory and distort our spiritual growth (see 1 Peter 2:1-2).  

2) Instead of giving up resorting to hypocrisy, pretense, and faking, refocus our perspective to God’s expectations for us emotionally.         

3) Being Godly, Pure and Clean in our innermost being in this polluted unfair world means submission to the Control of the Holy Spirit (Temperance) (Galatians 5:22-25). Secondly, we need to be authentic…real…free of any pretense.

4) Don’t spend your energy trying to avoid trials but thank God for them. Adversity helps us develop endurance, and endurance is a powerful weapon to have in our character arsenal. Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience (Perseverance/Endurance); [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

If you are at a quitting point, count the cost very carefully before throwing in the towel. Quitting is not glamorous. It does not develop your character. God does not call it blessed. In most cases, you will regret it for the rest of your life. But when you come to the quitting point and then, drawing on God’s strength, you build endurance in your life and glorify God.