EXPOSING THE MASK!
Notes
Transcript
Week 26 (4th Sunday)
This Week’s Theme: Calling out sin
Word for the Week is Repentance: It is turning away from sin and turning back to God with a sincere heart.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 28:13 “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
Sermon Focus: As we call out sin for what it is, we can point others to God.
Sermon Passage: Luke 11:37-46
37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat.
38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.
39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.
40 Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?
41 But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”
45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, “Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also.”
46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
INTRODUCTION: ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE SYMBOLS IN HISTORY IS THE MASK. ACTORS WORE MASKS TO PORTRAY SOMEONE THEY WERE NOT. A SMILING MASK COULD HIDE SORROW. A HEROIC MASK COULD CONCEAL FEAR. A BEAUTIFUL MASK COULD COVER SCARS.
JESUS SAYS HYPOCRISY WORKS THE SAME WAY
MANY PEOPLE WEAR SPIRITUAL MASKS.
THEY KNOW THE LANGUAGE OF FAITH,
THE ROUTINES OF WORSHIP,
AND THE APPEARANCE OF HOLINESS.
THEY KNOW WHEN TO STAND,
WHEN TO SIT,
WHEN TO SAY "AMEN,"
AND EVEN HOW TO QUOTE SCRIPTURE.
BUT BENEATH THE SURFACE,
THEIR HEART MAY BE FAR FROM GOD.
AS JESUS ENTERED THE PHARISEE'S HOUSE,
HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN THE CONDITION OF THE DISHES ON THE TABLE;
HE WAS CONCERNED WITH THE CONDITION OF THE HEARTS AROUND THE TABLE.
JESUS USED THE MOMENT TO REVEAL SOMETHING FAR MORE SERIOUS:
THEY HAD MASTERED CLEANING THE OUTSIDE
WHILE NEGLECTING THE INSIDE.
CHURCH FAMILY,
JESUS IS STILL EXPOSING MASKS TODAY
—NOT TO EMBARRASS US,
BUT TO FREE US.
HE DOES NOT EXPOSE IN ORDER TO CONDEMN THOSE WHO WILL REPENT;
HE EXPOSES SO HE CAN TRANSFORM.
THE QUESTION IS NOT, "HOW DO PEOPLE SEE ME?"
THE QUESTION IS, "WHAT DOES GOD SEE WHEN HE LOOKS AT ME?"
ARE YOU WEARING THE MASK . . .
I. OF FALSE PURITY
I. OF FALSE PURITY
THE PHARISEES WERE OBSESSED WITH APPEARANCES.
THEY CAREFULLY WASHED
THEIR HANDS,
THEIR CUPS,
THEIR DISHES
THEY CAREFULLY FOLLOWED TRADITION,
BELIEVING THAT
OUTWARD PURITY
DEMONSTRATED
INWARD PURITY
THEY WERE SHOCKED IN VERSE 38
38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.
YET,
JESUS IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED THE CONVERSATION FROM CEREMONIAL WASHING TO MORAL CORRUPTION.
LOOK AT VERSE 39
39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.
THE ISSUE WAS NEVER DIRTY HANDS.
THE ISSUE WAS DIRTY HEARTS.
THEY WERE CONCERNED WITH LOOKING HOLY WHILE NEGLECTING HOLINESS.
THEY LOOKED CLEAN
THEY APPEARED TO...
BE CLEAN
BUT JESUS SAID...
THEY WERE FILLED WITH GREED AND WICKEDNESS (LUKE 11:39)
THEY LOOKED FAITHFUL
THEY GAVE THE TITHE FAITHFULLY.
BUT JESUS SAID...
IN LUKE 11:42
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
SEE THE CONTRADICTION.
THEY METICULOUSLY TITHED TINY HERBS,
YET IGNORED AND NEGLECTED JUSTICE, MERCY, AND THE LOVE OF GOD (MATTHEW 23:23)
CAN’T YOU SEE IT!
THEY MAJORED ON THE MINORS
WHILE NEGLECTING THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF GOD'S KINGDOM.
THEY LOOKED THE PART!
THEY LOOKED CLEAN
THEY LOOKED FAITHFUL
THEY FAITHFULLY AND DEVOUTLY PRAYED
BUT JESUS SAID...
THEY SOUGHT THE PRAISE OF MEN (MATTHEW 6:5)
THEY CONSTANTLY FASTED WITH SAD FACES.
BUT JESUS SAID...
THEY WANTED TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS (MATTHEW 6:16)
THEY CONSISTENTLY GIVE GENEROUSLY.
BUT JESUS SAID...
THEY SOUNDED A TRUMPET FOR RECOGNITION (MATTHEW 6:2)
WITH WORDS THEY HONORED THE PROPHETS.
BUT JESUS SAID...
THEY REJECTED GOD'S GREATEST PROPHET, JESUS CHRIST (MATTHEW 23:29–36)
APPEARED RIGHTEOUS.
BUT JESUS SAID...
THEY WERE LIKE WHITEWASHED TOMBS—BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE, BUT FULL OF DEATH INSIDE (MATTHEW 23:27–28)
DAVID UNDERSTOOD AND KNEW WHAT GOD WANTED
PSALM 51:6, 10 — "BEHOLD, YOU DESIRE TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS..."
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
THIS IS WHY DAVID SAID,
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
ILLUSTRATION: I HAD A KID SAY TO ME ONE TIME. LOOK AT THAT HOUSE. IT LOOKS GOOD DON’T IT.
THE GRASS IS CUT
THE HOUSE IS PAINTED
THE OUTSIDE LOOKS GOOD
BUT IT IS NOT THE SAME ON THE INSIDE
IT IS A LOT OF WRONG
IT IS A LOT OF MESS UP STUFF ON THE INSIDE.
DO YOU LOOK THE PART
ARE YOU POLISHING AND PAINTING YOUR APPEARANCE
YOUR NAILS ARE DONE
BUT YOUR HANDS DO WICKED THINGS
YOUR HAIR IS FIXED
BUT YOUR MIND IS THINKING WICKEDLY
YOUR CLOTHES ARE CLEAN
BUT YOUR LIFE IS LOUSY
GOD SAID IN ISAIAH 29:13
13 Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY
LOVELY EXTERIOR
AND A LUSTERLESS INTERIOR
GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY WHAT IS CLEAN ON THE OUTSIDE
WHEN THE INSIDE IS CORRUPT.
GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY A POLISHED EXTERIOR
AND A POLLUTED INTERIOR
SAMUEL WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE LORD IN 1 SAMUEL 16:7
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY A SHINING SURFACE AND A SHAMEFUL SOUL.
GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY A SMILING FACE AND A SINFUL HEART.
GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY A BEAUTIFUL MASK HIDING A BROKEN HEART.
APPLICATION: DO YOU LOOK THE PART?
ARE YOU WEARING THE MASK OF
FAULTY PURITY?
BEFORE EXPOSING OTHERS
YOU MUST FIRST REMOVE THE MASK
FROM YOUR FACE
BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE OTHERS SAINTS’ MASK
ARE YOU WEARING THE MASK . . .
II. OF FATAL PRIDE
II. OF FATAL PRIDE
JESUS EXPOSED THE MASK OF FATAL PRIDE.
PRIDE HAD BECOME THEIR GREATEST MOTIVATION.
LOOK AT LUKE 11:43
43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
THEY LOVED THE PLATFORM
MORE THAN THE PEOPLE.
THEY SOUGHT RECOGNITION
INSTEAD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THEY DESIRED APPLAUSE
MORE THAN APPROVAL FROM GOD.
THEIR PRIDE
LEAD THEM TO
REJECT CHRIST,
INSTEAD OF RECEIVING CHRIST
THEY PERSECUTED RATHER THEN
PRAISED HIM
THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE
SOLOMON TAUGHT US IN PROVERBS 16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
"PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION..."
IT BRING DESTRUCTION TO
THEM AND OTHERS
LOOK AT LUKE 11:44
44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”
JESUS COMPARED THEM TO HIDDEN GRAVES.
UNDER JEWISH LAW
TOUCHING A GRAVE BROUGHT CEREMONIAL DEFILEMENT.
LOOK AT NUMBERS 19:16
16 Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain by a sword or who has died, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
NOW CONSIDER A
HIDDEN GRAVES
IT WAS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS
BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD BECOME DEFILED WITHOUT KNOWING IT.
THE PHARISEES LOOKED RESPECTABLE,
BUT THEIR INFLUENCE WAS SPIRITUALLY DEADLY.
PRIDE NEVER AFFECTS ONLY THE PROUD PERSON.
IT CONTAMINATES EVERYONE AROUND THEM.
THEY BURDENED THE PEOPLE
INSTEAD OF BLESSING THEM
WHEN IT CAME TO HONOR
THEY SOUGHT WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN
THEY
SPIRITUALLY DEFILED OTHERS
THEY
SHUT PEOPLE OUT OF THE KINGDOM (MATTHEW 23:13; LUKE 11:52)
THEY
KNEW THE SCRIPTURES.
YET
THEY REFUSED TO COME TO CHRIST FOR LIFE (JOHN 5:39–40)
ILLUSTRATION: THE LORD GOD WARNED NEBUCHADNEZZAR TO HUMBLE HIMSELF BECAUSE ALL THAT HE HAD CAME BECAUSE GOD ALLOWED IT TO BE SO. YET HE DID NOT LISTEN AND WAS DRIVEN IN THE WILDERNESS TO LIVE AS AN ANIMAL FOR 7 YEARS.
23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
— "A MAN'S PRIDE WILL BRING HIM LOW..."
YOUR MOUTH IS SAYING, "THY WILL BE DONE,"
BUT YOUR HEART IS SAYING, "MY WILL BE DONE."
YOUR LIPS ARE SAYING, "LORD, HAVE YOUR WAY,"
BUT YOUR HEART IS SAYING, "I'M GOING TO DO IT MY WAY."
YOUR MOUTH IS OPEN IN WORSHIP,
BUT YOUR HEART IS CLOSED TO GOD'S WILL.
YOUR LIPS ARE INVITING GOD TO TAKE CONTROL,
WHILE YOUR HEART IS FIGHTING TO KEEP IT.
EVERYTHING APPEARS HEALTHY,
BUT UNSEEN PRIDE QUIETLY POISONS
RELATIONSHIPS,
CHURCHES,
AND MINISTRIES.
REMEMBER JAMES 4:6
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
APPLICATION: ASK YOURSELF:
DO I WANT TO SERVE OR SIMPLY BE SEEN SERVING?
DO I REJOICE WHEN CHRIST IS EXALTED, EVEN IF MY NAME IS FORGOTTEN?
WOULD I STILL SHOW UP
WOULD I STILL WORK
WOULD I STILL HELP
WOULD I STILL SERVE
WITHOUT RECOGNITION
WITHOUT APPLAUDED?
WITHOUT
DON’T BE TOO BIG TO BOW
DON’T BE TOO HIGH TO HUMBLE YOURSELVES
HUMILITY MAKES MORE OF CHRIST.
ARE YOU WEARING THE MASK OF
FATAL PRIDE?
GOD IS CALLING YOU TO
HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER HIS MIGHTY HAND OF GOD. 1 PETER 5:5–6
BEFORE EXPOSING THE PRIDE MASK ON OTHERS
YOU MUST FIRST REMOVE THE MASK FROM YOUR FACE
ARE YOU WEARING THE MASK . . .
III. OF FABRICATED PIETY
III. OF FABRICATED PIETY
ILLUSTRATION: IMAGINE RECEIVING A BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED GIFT.
THE PAPER IS ELEGANT.
THE RIBBON IS PERFECT.
THE BOW IS FLAWLESS.
YOU CAREFULLY UNWRAP IT...
ONLY TO DISCOVER THE BOX IS EMPTY.
THE OUTSIDE PROMISED SOMETHING WONDERFUL.
THE INSIDE DELIVERED NOTHING.
THAT IS FABRICATED PIETY.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE WRAPPING PAPER OF RELIGION...
THEY HAVE THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHURCH.
THEY HAVE THE LOOK OF A CHRISTIAN.
THEY HAVE THE ROUTINE OF WORSHIP.
THEY HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF HOLINESS.
BUT WHEN GOD OPENS THE BOX...
THERE IS NO HUMILITY.
NO REPENTANCE.
NO OBEDIENCE.
NO LOVE FOR GOD.
NO TRANSFORMED HEART.
THEY HAVE THE PACKAGING...
BUT THEY ARE MISSING THE PRESENT.
THEY HAVE THE BOX...
BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE CHRIST.
LOOK AT LUKE 11:46
46 And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
LIKE THE EMPTY PRESENT
THE LAWYERS WERE EXPERTS IN THE LAW.
BUT INSTEAD OF HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND GOD'S WORD,
THEY BURIED THEM BENEATH HUMAN TRADITIONS.
INSTEAD OF LIFTING BURDENS,
THEY ADDED BURDENS.
INSTEAD OF SHEPHERDING PEOPLE,
THEY OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
FABRICATED PIETY ALWAYS SUBSTITUTES
RULES FOR RELATIONSHIP.
IT DEMANDS FROM OTHERS WHAT
IT REFUSES TO PRACTICE ITSELF.
JESUS REVEALS
THAT GENUINE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
IS NEVER ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE CARRY HEAVIER LOADS
—IT IS ABOUT LEADING THEM TO THE ONE
WHO CAN CARRY THEIR BURDENS.
JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 11:28–30
"COME TO ME...AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST."
APPLICATION:
GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR BEAUTIFUL PACKAGING.
GOD IS LOOKING FOR A TRANSFORMED HEART.
ARE YOU IMPRESSING PEOPLE WITH YOUR WRAPPING...
WHILE DISAPPOINTING GOD WITH WHAT IS INSIDE.
DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN SET OF RULES
THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FOLLOW
DO YOU ACT HARMLESS
BUT ARE HURTING THE SAINTS
DO YOU ACT IMPORTANT
WITH YOUR RULES AND REGULATIONS
YET HAVE FORGOTTEN THE YOU
SUPPOSE TO GALATIANS 6:2
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
— "BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS..."
EVERY BELIEVER INFLUENCE SOMEONE.
PARENTS INFLUENCE THEIR CHILDREN
TEACHERS INFLUENCE THEIR STUDENTS
PASTORS INFLUENCE LISTENERS
MINISTRY LEADERS INFLUENCE WORKERS
FRIENDS INFLUENCE THEIR FRIENDS
THE QUESTION IS:
ARE YOU HELPING PEOPLE MOVE CLOSER TO CHRIST
—OR MAKING IT HARDER FOR THEM TO COME?
TRUE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP POINTS PEOPLE TO JESUS,
ARE YOU WEARING
THE MASK OF
FABRICATED PIETY?
BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE OTHERS SAINTS’ MASK
YOU MUST FIRST REMOVE THE MASK FROM YOUR FACE
CONCLUSION
JESUS DID NOT EXPOSE THE PHARISEES BECAUSE HE HATED THEM.
HE EXPOSED THEM BECAUSE HE LOVED THE TRUTH
AND DESIRED REPENTANCE.
THEY LOOKED THE PART
THEY LOOKED CLEAN
THEY LOOKED FAITHFUL
THEY LOOKED IMPORTANT
THEY LOOKED HARMLESS
THEY LOOKED KNOWLEDGEABLE
THEY LOOKED HOLY
BUT THEY WERE NOT
SO, JESUS RIPED OFF THEIR MASK
REMEMBER
ONE DAY EVERYONE’S MASK WILL COME OFF.
EVERY HIDDEN MOTIVE WILL BE REVEALED.
EVERY HEART WILL STAND EXPOSED BEFORE THE LORD.
SO DON'T WAIT FOR ETERNITY TO REMOVE THE MASK.
LET THE HOLY SPIRIT EXPOSE IT TODAY.
LET HIM EXPOSE
FALSE CHARACTER
LET HIM EXPOSE
FALSE WORSHIP
LET HIM EXPOSE
FALSE LEADERSHIP
LET HIM EXPOSE
FALSE RESPONSE TO GOD
LET HIM EXPOSE
FALSE INFLUENCE
LET CHRIST CLEANSE WHAT RELIGION COULD NEVER CLEANSE.
LET HIM REPLACE
FALSE PURITY
WITH TRUE HOLINESS,
LET HIM REPLACE
FATAL PRIDE
WITH GENUINE HUMILITY,
LET HIM REPLACE
FABRICATED PIETY
WITH AUTHENTIC DEVOTION.
BECAUSE GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR POLISHED PERFORMANCES.
HE IS LOOKING FOR TRANSFORMED HEARTS.
