INTRODUCTION
It is easier to deal with enemies (those you
know who hate you) than to deal with hypocrites (double-faced people who pretend
to be while they are not, to love while they hate, to work with while they work
against).
From Scriptures, it is clear that the devil
is the biggest hypocrite as Jesus labeled him as “the liar and the Father of lie”
(John 8:44). Therefore, as dangerous
as the devil is, so is the hypocrite because both play the same game in the same
team.
WHAT IS HYPOCRISY?
From the Gospel, we discover that
hypocrisy takes 4 major forms:
1st form: Professing belief in something
and then acting in a manner contrary to that belief,
Matthew 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
2nd form: Saying, speaking and
doing without the heart being involved, committed and dedicated.
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart [is] not with thee.
3rd form: Looking down on others when we
ourselves are flawed.
Matthew 7:5 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.
4th form: Working hard to appear
beautiful, righteous, spiritual, giver outwardly and externally in order to
gain others’ approval and praise while inwardly it is full of dirt
Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
How to deal with hypocrisy and hypocrites ?
1st TOOL: TIME
Nothing that is covered and hidden today remains and
will remain always covered and hidden. One day, it will be uncovered and
exposed in the light.
Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not
be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come
abroad.
Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall
not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
2nd TOOL: LIGHT
Hypocrisy lasts as long as it is not exposed,
perceived and discovered.
Unless the mask-wearer drops himself the mask off of
the face by repenting, the power of the light of the Lord through the discernment of spirits will expose him/her.
Luke 20:23 But Jesus perceived their craftiness, and
said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
3rd TOOL: TRUTH
Be true everywhere. Be true every time. Be true every
day. Be true to God. Be true to yourself. Be true to others. Love in truth.
Pray in truth. Why ?
- Because truth is ageless, timeless , changeless and undefeatable.
- Because the Word of God is Truth (John 17:17), God is the Truth (John 17:17)
2 Corinthians 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth,
but for the truth.
Romans 12:9 [Let] love be without dissimulation.
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
LET US ENGAGE PRAYER
PRAYER 1
Pray that God grants you the grace of truthfulness in every area of your life
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
PRAYER 2
Pray the Lord our Father for a discerning spirit enabling us to detect the fake who hides behind the sheep’s clothing and to perceive the hidden wickedness of the wicked
1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
Matthew 22:18 …Jesus perceived their wickedness…
PRAYER 3
Pray the Lord and Father to cause the masks to fall off of the face of the false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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