God cares more!

A detailed Account - Gospel of Luke  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  46:30
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Do not be a hypocrite!

What is the definition of this? Can we be a hypocrite and still be saved?
In the Bible, hypocrisy is the act of claiming to believe something but acting in a way that goes against those beliefs. It's the practice of using the appearance of goodness to hide evil deeds. (Bible.com)
Illustration: Someone gives you a beautifully wrapped gift in a box, it looks great, you are excited to open in to see what is inside and alas it is empty, or it is filled with something that would not be desirable. That is what hypocrisy looks like, good on the outside but rotten on the inside.
In our passage this morning we are going to see Jesus continued teaching to the masses, but directed to the disciples.
Recently we saw a series of woe’s; and today we see the importance of being a person of integrity and faith.
He will get into the Holy Spirit and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
In our passage Jesus warns against the hypocrisy (leaven/yeast) of the Pharisees.
As we look this morning we can pause and look at our own life, are there areas we are more concerned about the outside, how things look, than true integrity and inner righteousness.
We need to be people of integrity, that our faith be true and make sure our relationship is true with the Lord and not just words.

Our Passage

Luke 12:1–2 NASB95
1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
Luke 12:3–4 NASB95
3 “Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. 4 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.
Luke 12:5–6 NASB95
5 “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! 6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
Luke 12:7–8 NASB95
7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 8 “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;
Luke 12:9–10 NASB95
9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.
Luke 12:11–12 NASB95
11 “When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Is there anything that sticks out to you in this passage?
What is the leaven of the Pharisees (v.1)?
It is hypocrisy
What will be revealed (v.2)?
Anything covered up, anything hidden
Jesus tells “My friends” not to be afraid of who (v.4)?
Those who kill the body and cannot do anything else.
Jesus tells, warns, who to fear, and why (v.5)?
Fear the One who has authority to cast into hell.
What does Jesus use as illustration of man’s value (vv.6, 7)?
Sparrows
Who will the Son of man confess (v.8)?
Everyone who confesses Me before men.
What will be forgiven, and not forgiven (v.10)?
Word against Son of man forgiven
Blasphemes against Holy Spirit, will not be forgiven.
When brought before the synagogues and rulers and authorities what are they not to worry about (vv.11-12)?
Do not worry about what you are to speak, what you are to say.
The reason is the Holy Spirit will teach you
How can we be prepared for times of persecution or challenges? What practical things can we do to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Warning! Hypocrisy

While the crowds continue to increase that they even were trampling one another, Jesus turns to teach the disciples.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy like a little leaven can affect a great mass. It was once said, “a little bit of hypocrisy can be like a little bit of arsenic.
Trap says this:
“Such is hypocrisy, which also, as leaven, is. 1. spreading, 2 swelling; 3 souring the meal.” (Trapp)
Hypocrisy is built around concealment, but one day all will be revealed. We can try to conceal before man, but cannot conceal anything from God.
1985 Televangelist Jimmy Swagart published a book condemning sin, sexual sin in America only to be found out that he was caught up in it, repented, and returned to it again. This may have been a shock to many, but not to God who knows the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. Swagart was a picture of hypocrisy.
How we can protect ourselves against this sin.
Look within yourself to see if there is any area where we put forth a facade. So, we can repent and learn to be real, and be transparent.
We need to cultivate a life of transparency, and of personal integrity. May our life be one that reflects our true devotion to God.

Fear God, not man

Think about it, why did Jesus tell them not to fear those who can kill the body but cannot harm the soul?
Without a doubt Jesus is surrounded by large crowd as he is speaking to His disciples. Wilcox in his commentary said: “The connection to His previous words may be that hypocrites will always despise the faithful, so they followers of Jesus must be ready to face persecution.”
Don’t be afraid man cannot kill your soul, and if God cares for the sparrows, do you not know He cares for you more?
May we have a healthy respect for God who controls, life and death and our very soul’s who can cast us into hell.
The word Hell is translated “Gehenna.” it comes from the words Valley of Hinnom, which is located on the south and west sides of Jerusalem. This is a place where child-sacrifices to Molech (2Chr28:3, Jer7:30-31) would take place. After Josiah did a great reform after reading the word, that stopped and place because a garbage dump with a great stench and smoldering fires . In Jesus it became associated with eternal, fiery punishment, what is called the lake of fire in other passages (Rev19:20; 20:10-15)
Jesus assures the disciples, and in the hearing of the masses that God cares deeply for his people.
So, what can we do here:
Have Godly fear: Keep a true reverence for God over the fear of man. Make decisions to honor God even if they may not honor man or may be unpopular.
Also, trust in God’s car, know you are of great value to Him. He cares for you deeply. So, do not let anxiety, worry get you, you get over it when you have the right view of God and how God views, values you. If God remembers the sparrows, He will remember you!

A Good Confession

There is no such thing as an undercover Christian. These verses clearly show confessing before men.
If you do not confess, He will not confess you before the angels. of God.
What the scripture does not say, as Wiersbe said: “Jesus did not say, denies Me in their heart or denies me in their mind; He said, denies Me before men.” We need not be in fear of man, but out of fear for the Lord be living out our faith in view of those around us to bring glory to God.
Your confession is public, it should be seen in your everyday lives and words. You should be a consistent witness of your profession of faith and the transforming power of God’s word and Spirit.

Blasphemy against Holy Spirit

Luke 12:10 NKJV
10 “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
What this is not is a in a moment of weakness denying your faith, this can be forgiven.
What blasphemy is, it is a settled disposition that rejects the work and place of the Holy Spirit and in turn is rejecting Jesus too. It never has forgiveness because it does not want it God’s way.
So, how can we know if we have blasphemy the Holy Spirit? If you have to ask the question, you have not. How you can know you will not do it is to keep your love, your trust, your faith in Jesus Christ and do not reject the Holy Spirit that converts, and changes you.

Rely on the Holy Spirit

Luke 12:11–12 NKJV
11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Jesus speaking to his apostles (12:1) in the hearing of the large crowd tells them do not worry about what to say in persecution.
We too, having hidden God’s word in our heart should not worry either, for the Holy Spirit can bring to remembrance that which you have in you.
Now the Holy Spirit was to teach “them” and the Holy Spirit leads us through the inspired word.
Cultivate a healthy habit, appetite, for the word and dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit in you and through you.
Trust that the Holy Spirit will strengthen and help you to live out your faith publically. Even in the face of opposition.

The takeaways

Get real, be real, live authentically
In your daily life live as one who has integrity without hypocrisy
Make godly fear a priority.
Make sure your reverential fear of God is greater than your fear of man, what can man do to you? He cannot take your soul and condemn you to hell.
Speak up, speak out, live it out.
Publicly live out, your faith that is, acknowledge Him and He will acknowledge you!
Respect the Holy Spirit.
Know the purpose and the power of the Holy Spirit in you. Seek the Spirits lead and guidance daily so not to grieve Him.
In respect, trust the Holy Spirit in challenging, trying times.
(Prayer) (Exit)
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