Unmasked and Revealed

The AWE of God… standing in AWE of the One who created… EVERYTHING! Recognizing God for who He is and what He is capable of doing!

This series is all about remembering the importance of having a healthy and holy fear of the Lord. This is a reverent fear, a worshipful fear, a respectful and humble fear. It is a fear that reminds us daily that He is God… and we are not!

This fear is VITAL to our walk with the Lord. Without this fear, a person might try to boost their self up to His level or worse, lower God to our level.

How many understand that God… is much, much BIGGER than any one of us? Not just bigger in size but in power, understanding, wisdom, authority, strength, ability, and… everything else?

Today we look at the fear of God in a different way… we are going to look at a possible consequence that can come should our fear of the Lord begin to diminish.

We’ve heard messages on this topic before… but not in connection with our fear of the Lord. And throughout my studies this week, I am amazed to see how much a healthy fear in the Lord can keep us from falling into this particular trap.

We are going to talk about… masking. Hiding our true self. Trying to keep who we are out of the light so others don’t see us for who we really are. And we are good at this. In fact… some of us have put on masks just to be here today.

When the greeter asks how your day is going you simply say fine or good or couldn’t be any better when in all actuality you just had an argument with your spouse, the kids are out of control, your patience is wearing thin and the car was running rough on the way to church.

When the discussion began in Sunday School and you wanted to appear like you have it all together but bills are past due, this is the third time that there has been more month than money, you’re stressed beyond your limits, and you have no idea how you will make ends meet.

Or… as we stood here in worship, you closed your eyes and hid in the crowd but you’re dying inside. You’re stuck in bondage. You’re in deep need of deliverance. The spiritual warfare has been intensifying and you don’t dare go to the altar because someone might think less of you. You desperately need a breakthrough but you’re afraid of what others might think.

We are going to talk about how all of these masks… and the habit of wearing masks in the first place… is a sign that our fear or awe of God is on the decline. Why? Because at the heart of this issue is this troubling truth: We wear masks because we care more about what others think instead of what God thinks. We are more concerned with protecting our perceived image… than we are finding refuge, redemption, or deliverance from God.

First, right out of the box, I want to assure you that you are in a safe place. This is a house of the Lord. Not one person in here is perfect. We are ALL here to grow in our walk with the Lord. And I hope that you will find the new hope and peace you are looking for.

How many know today that God… sees right through the mask? And… how many know that there is coming a day that we will stand before the Lord as we are… not how we desire to be perceived?

Look at what 2 Corinthians 5:10 says to us in the Amplified Bible Classic Edition:

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil...

Church, there will be no masks and no hiding when we stand before the Lord. This moment that Scripture is talking about is unavoidable. All of us will stand before Jesus one day.

For those that fear Him now… this is an exciting thing! Why? Because those who fear the Lord now will not try to hide behind a false image of who they are.

However, for those who do not live in a holy fear of the Lord, they might fear this day. “God will see me as I am.” Here’s the deal: God already sees you for who you are! Yo are simply trying to hide the truth for those around you… maybe even from yourself!

I want you to consider something this morning. Every person has three images of themselves they try to maintain.

One, our perceived image. This is how others see us in life.

We might try to control how others see us or manipulate this image, but this is what people walk away thinking.

Two, our projected image. This is how we desire others to see us.

The mask. The way we hope the world sees us and receives us.

Three, our actual image. This is who we really are behind the masks. We can hide it or hope it goes unnoticed by others, but it is ALWAYS fully visible to God. THIS IS HOW WE WILL BE REVEALED BEFORE THE LORD AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT.

So what do these three images have to do with our fear of the Lord? THE LESS WE FEAR GOD, THE MORE EMPHASIS WE PLACE ON HOW PEOPLE SEE US.

Man’s applause becomes more important than pleasing the Lord. Thus we slip into a life governed by the flesh instead of the Spirit of God. We try to bump up how others see us and ignore what is most important.

Look at the warning in Scripture.

Jesus called this out in John 5:44 while speaking to Jewish leaders who questioned His identity.

John 5:44 NIV

44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

The leaders were more concerned how others viewed them instead of trying to please the Lord.

Romans 8 talks about the difference of life governed by the Spirit and life governed by the flesh.

Romans 8:5–8 NIV

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

So how do we remove the mask and keep the mask from ever coming back on? We allow the Lord to restore within us a holy fear of Him.

In our day and culture, image and identity is everything. It’s high time we remember that we are created in the image of God and we get back to who God created us to be.

Consider Jesus - Our Primary Example

Now someone might ask, “Did Jesus ever wrestle with the temptation of wearing a mask to please others? Was His fear of the Father ever jeopardized by the pressures of this world?”

Jesus NEVER gave in to the pressure of the world… but the world certainly tried to conform His image.

Jesus was misunderstood, falsely accused, identified as a drunkard and a glutton, labeled as a heretic, and even accused of being demon inspired. He was rejected by the religious leaders and by others.

His PERCEIVED image was unfavorable in the eyes of many… especially the religious leaders. And… do we understand that some of Jesus’ family didn’t even receive Him?

John 7:3–5 NIV

3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

AND… do you know why Jesus was in Galilee instead of Judea at this time? Because according to John 7:1, the religious leaders in Judea were looking for a way to kill Him!

“So… change it up a bit. Try not to be so intrusive. Just mix it up, lay low, change your story and wear the mask.” That might be the world’s response to such pressure but Jesus remained on mission.

We know this morning that Jesus’ actual image is quite different than many perceived Him to be. This was true then… and it is true today.

Colossians 1:15 tells us He is the image of the invisible God.

Matthew 3:14 is where God audibly affirms Jesus as His Son who brings Him (God) great joy.

Yet while He was on earth, Jesus:

Shunned self promotion and any efforts to build His own reputation.

He avoided popularity, notoriety or the accolades and approval of men.

When people wanted to promote Him to be king, He pulled away.

There was never a facade, false illusions, or deceit in Him.

He delighted in the fear of the Lord, which kept His focus on the Father.

Jesus was an is who He said He was. His actual identity is what Jesus displayed throughout His life. Yet many perceived Him differently according to their agendas and bias.

Jesus remained on mission no matter what people around Him thought. And we need to follow this example.

When our perceived image becomes more important or carries more weight than our actual image, we invite danger in our lives.

Our reputation is what we will protect.

Our efforts will focus on appearances, status, titles, popularity, acceptance, reputation, people pleasing, and so forth. Why? Because they cover our shortcomings.

All we will do… is doctor up the mask while the real you is broken and dying inside. All because we fear what people might think more than we fear the Lord.

How far can this go? This can lead a person to destruction. And the Bible give us en example in a story we often don’t like to talk about.

Remember Ananias and Sapphira.

“Pastor, who are these guys? Are they new in town?” Ananias and Sapphira are a married couple in the book of Acts… that lose it all because of the mask they wore.

In the beginning days of the early church, people were selling their possessions and sharing all that they had. Acts 4:34 declares “there were no needy persons among them.”

As people sold what they had, they would bring the money to the apostles so it could be distributed.

Acts 4:36-37 makes mention of one giver in particular that shows the level of dedication of these early believers.

Acts 4:36–37 NIV

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Now enters Ananias and Sapphira. They had also sold a piece of property but instead of giving all, they only gave some.

Ananias, with his wife’s full knowledge, kept back part of the money for himself.

And we might be thinking… that would be the sensible thing to do! Is there anything wrong with having a bit in savings in case you might need it later? No there is nothing wrong with that… but there was everything wrong with the way they had done this.

Acts 5:2 NLT

2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

Do you see it? Do you see the mask? Do you see the lack of fear in the Lord?

More concerned with perceived image instead of actual image, Ananias LIED about what He gave.

Think of what might have been going through his mind! “I don’t want the apostles to think bad of me.” “I want the community to think I gave it all instead of just some of what I had to give.” “This is too much money for one person to give but we want to appear like we gave all we had.”

APPEARANCE WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TRUTH, AND THUS, THEY LIED FOR FEAR OF WHAT OTHERS MIGHT THINK.

The saddest part is… they do all of this and the mask of deception fails them in the end. Peter… calls them out.

Acts 5:3–5 NIV

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

Acts 5:11 NIV

11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Now, I am not suggesting that God is going to take out any and all who are wearing a mask today. This story in Acts is intense. But… let’s be real for a moment. In front of the mask is an image you might be trying to maintain no matter the cost… but internally, it is destroying you. It is robbing you of life.

Too often we try to hide what is really going on from God and from others.

Again, Adam and Eve did this in the garden after they sinned.

But the Lord sees… everything. our actual image if always fully revealed to the Lord. But a lack of reverence keeps us thinking and believing we can fool God. It keeps us more focused on what others think instead of what God sees.

Closing

So what can we do to reverse this?

First, we need to recognize what we are doing… and why. Who are you trying to please? What image of yourself are you focused on?

Are you focused on who you truly are OR who the world perceives you to be? Are you more concerned with pleasing the Lord OR are you more concerned with conforming to the expectations of others?

Second, If you find that your projected image is anything but your actual image, then we need to allow the Holy Spirit to come in and do a little work. It’s time to take off the mask(s).

Outside you want people to believe you have it all together, but inside… you die a little more each day. You are robbed of life. You are spending more time and energy trying to hide the truth than deal with what is going on.

Here me clearly: Today is NOT a day of judgement. It is not my intent to have you stand before the church revealed as you are for all to see. No… today is a day of freedom - freedom from the mask. Freedom from the worry of what others might think. Freedom to call on the name of the Lord for help. Freedom to spend time in His presence, to admit you don’t have all the answers. FREEDOM TO BE YOU… THE REAL YOU.

God already sees you for who you are but He will not move without an invitation to move. You must be willing to open the door, take off the mask, and allow the Holy Spirit to renew you from the inside out.

Who are you trying to please? Are you more interested in the praises of people… or with pleasing the Lord?

WHAT DO YOU FEAR MOST? The acceptance of the world or the acceptance of God?

It’s time to allow our fear of the Lord to help us take off the mask. It’s time to stop running from Him, and to start running toward Him. Are you ready to be set free today?

Would you come, and find a place to kneel in this altar space as we humble ourselves before the Lord. Make the choice… to please the Lord today instead of worrying about what the rest of the world might think.