Are you real?

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 894: When We Fake It

WHEN WE FAKE IT

Topics: Authenticity; Confession; Honesty; Hypocrisy; Sin; Truth; Worship

References: Psalm 51:1–12; Luke 18:9–14; James 5:16; 1 John 5:5–10

Research psychologists have found there are at least three situations when we are not ourselves.

1. The average person puts on airs when visiting the lobby of a fancy hotel.

2. The average person stifles emotion to bamboozle the salesman when entering the new-car showroom.

3. The average person in church tries to fake out the Almighty about being good all week.

—Dr. Perry Buffington, “Playing Charades,” Universal Press Syndicate (September 26, 1999)

What is he saying?

The LORD is sickened with the hypocritical sacrifices of his covenant people. The LORD gives them 9 commands that appear to lead to his pleasure. The LORD calls them to come and acknowledge what is right ("reason"). Their sins can be atoned for and removed. There are good consequences if they are willing and obedient; but there are bad consequences if they refuse and rebel.

Why is he saying this?

They are living in their sins. Their hands are full of blood. The LORD desires for them to repent and be made clean.

What is the principle(s)?

The LORD accepts sincerity. The LORD hates hypocrisy. The LORD desires reconciliation. The LORD gives good consequences to those who repent. In student terms: the LORD wants us to be Real.

How would this principle apply to MCS Students?

There are two kinds of fake students:

There is the student who does not really know the LORD but they say they do and they do some religious activities (pray, read Bible, go to church, tell others about Jesus) . At the same time, they are immersed in sin.

Counterfeit, (cf fake)

Phoney Medical Degrees

An estimated 10,000 physicians have phony foreign medical degrees that brought one broker of fraudulent diplomas $1.5 million over three years, a congressional panel was told Friday. Claude Pepper, Democrat-Florida, said many American citizens may be receiving medical treatment from doctors who lied on their medical school loan applications, and used the money not to go to school but to pay a broker for fake documents claiming they completed school and training. Pedro DeMesones, now serving a three-year prison sentence for mail fraud and conspiracy, told the panel that in three years of “expediting” medical degrees, he provided about 100 clients with false transcripts showing they had fulfilled medical requirements of schools they didn’t attend. “Clients paid me from $5225 to $27,000 for my services, “ DeMesones said. “In all I earned about $1.5 million in those three years. I only got to keep about $500,000 of this total. The rest went for bribes and expenses.”

Spokesman Review, 12–8-84

Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

Sins of selfish pride (v. 10) - wanna be first in line to get the good stuff and last in line to do the needful stuff.

Sins of attacking the needy (v. 10, 17) - i.e. verbal bullying

There is the student who really DOES know the LORD but they have moments in life when they live like they don't know the LORD. (example: Peter in ). In a moment of weakness they begin to care with others think In a moment of weakness when the teacher's back is turned they jump in with the other students and they behave like they don't know the LORD.

There is the student who really DOES know the LORD but they have moments in life when they live like they don't know the LORD. (example: Peter in ).

In a moment of weakness they begin to care with others think

In a moment of weakness when the teacher's back is turned they jump in with the other students and they behave like they don't know the LORD.

The great news is that the LORD actually wants you to be REAL.

He wants the person who does not know Him to know Him.

He wants the person who knows Him to live like he knows Him.

BEING REAL HAPPENS WHEN...[How does Christ help me to understand this principle? ]

1. You see yourself as God sees you - that will never be able to be REAL enough for God.

The demands of the LORD are immeasurably high (). In my sinful nature, I find that considering his penetrating vision, I find it impossible to ever feel clean or genuine enough.

This is really a huge part of our problem. As MCS students, we never take time to consider ourselves like God considers us:

If we can break someone's ankles on the basketball court, we think this makes us good

If we score the highest grade in math class, we think this makes us good

We are so desperate for people to think we are cool, that we would even try to turn "report slips" into a badge of honor.

All of these things are desperate attempts to avoid the truth. God sees us for what we really are.

When we see a passage like this an awareness of my insincerity grows. I offer and do; but can only offer as purely as I can, which never seems to be sincere enough since the LORD knows me inside and out. I continually feel as though I cannot be REAL enough for God.

2. You stop faking that you believe Jesus and actually start having faith in Jesus.

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Discerning the Genuine

Discerning the Genuine

A Chinese boy who wanted to learn about jade went to study with a talented old teacher. This gentle man put a piece of the precious stone into his hand and told him to hold it tight. Then he began to talk of philosophy, men, women, the sun and almost everything under it. After an hour he took back the stone and sent the boy home. The procedure was repeated for several weeks. The boy became frustrated. When would he be told about the jade? He was too polite, however, to question the wisdom of his venerable teacher. Then one day, when the old man put a stone into his hands, the boy cried out instinctively, ‘That’s not jade!’“

Haddon Robinson, Biblical Preaching

This awareness can only take me back to him IN CHRIST. It is there where I realize that REASONING must take place and has taken place. When someone really believes what it means to be in Christ, he won't have to be:

This awareness can only take me back to him IN CHRIST. It is there where I realize that REASONING must take place and has taken place. When someone really believes what it means to be in Christ, he won't have to be:

(a) Hypocrite #1 - Doesn't really know the Lord but is participating in some good things and bad things alike.

Won't have to lie about your salvation

Won't have to act like you're a good kid

Won't have to try to live like Jesus here and like the devil everywhere else

Won't have to pretend like your obedient when the teacher is watching and then change when the teacher turns his back

(b) Hypocrite #2 - Does really know the Lord but behaves like he doesn't.

Won't have to be ashamed to obey the teacher the 1st time

Won't have to be afraid to speak kindly to the new kid

Won't have to be scared of what the haters of Jesus think

Thus, I offer willingly and obediently with full assurance in Him - in Christ's once for all offering - otherwise, my offering is insincere and hypocritical. It is this full assurance in Christ that allows me to feast immediately on the good though circumstances are bad - since he is the living bread and the living water.

Questions:

(1) Are you real, in God's eyes?

* You cannot be real, in God's eyes, without (i) seeing yourself as God sees you (ii) turning from your sinfulness (iii) having Jesus step in the way

* [for the Christian] You cannot be real, in God's eyes, without believing (i) a genuine belief in how holy God is (ii) an increased belief in your own sinfulness (iii) a greater belief and appreciation for the Cross of Christ

BEING REAL IS THEN NOT FIRST ABOUT WHAT OTHERS SEE. BEING REAL IS FIRST ABOUT WHAT GOD SEES, AND YOU CAN ONLY BE REAL IF YOU TRULY HAVE JESUS.