Dealing with Hypocrisy

In John 8, Jesus tells us that Satan is a liar and everything he says is a lie. Many times, we as followers of Jesus buy into a lie of Satan. It always leads to sin when we buy into the lie. Many times, we figure out that it is sin but are carried along with the lie and do things to try and cover up buying into the lie.

This is the situation that Paul writes about in Galatians 2:11-16.

In verses 11-13 Paul talks about hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:11-13

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

Peter got carried away with impressing others and pulled away from fellowshipping with the Gentile Christians. When he did this, it created divisions that God never intended. It also was hypocrisy. It was such intense hypocrisy that two devoted followers of Jesus, Peter and Barnabas, got caught up in it.

Hypocrisy was originally a term used for actors in the Greek theater. Actors played more than one character and would use masks for the different characters.

Jesus is the first one who used it to mean people who said one thing and then lived differently. It is like playing a character, not being real and authentic.

Jesus hates hypocrisy because it:

Is a lie, and lies reflect Satan, not God

Leads others to get carried away in the lie

Hypocrisy means that we care more about what others think than we care about what God thinks.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living real and authentic lives, even when it makes us look uncool or out of step with our peers.

We have to take a stand against hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:14

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?”

Paul confronted Peter with his hypocrisy.

In Ephesians 4:15, Paul says that we are to speak the truth in love and grow up in all things to be like Jesus.

Speaking just truth can be harsh.

Speaking just love can come off as wimpy.

Speaking the truth in love is what Jesus always did, and so when we do it, we are acting like Jesus.

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

Real friends, people who truly love us, will confront us in love with our hypocrisy. They will do it, not to make us feel bad, but because they love us and want what is best.

We are to confront:

Truthfully

Lovingly

Graciously

Gently   

Paul confronts Peter because of his love for Peter and his love for those that this hypocrisy will hurt.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is speaking the truth in love and with the intent to help and restore.

Paul then shares with us why a person is not justified by keeping the law or following all the rules.

Galatians 2:15-16

We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Paul makes sure that everyone understands that no one is made right with God by following the law.

The law is not and was never intended to be the way by which God made people righteous. The Jews had tried to make it so, but that was never how God was going to do it.

God’s plan was always for the Messiah, Jesus, to come and die as our atoning sacrifice.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 2 that it is by grace through faith that we are saved. We cannot do it by works.

The grace of God is constant. It is always available to every person. Thus, grace is like electricity in a home. It is always there. If you don’t believe it, just stick a key or your finger in an electrical outlet and see what happens.

What is the switch that applies the grace to our personal lives and brings salvation and righteousness? – Faith in Jesus.

When I submit the authority of running my life to Jesus and receive his sacrificial death on the cross to pay the penalty of my sin, then God’s grace is applied to my life and I am declared righteous.

The law justifies no one.

Grace justifies all who put their faith in Jesus.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is depending on grace, not obeying the law for salvation.

According to Ephesians 2:10 we are God’s masterpieces, and good works flow out of our being declared righteous by God’s grace.

Without Hypocrisy with God’s Grace and Truth Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                                         Joe

It's About Jesus

One of the things that God reminds me of on a regular basis is that this thing that Jesus and I have is a relationship. And the relationship is to center on Jesus, not me. I once had a person who had just became a part of our church tell me that our church was a Jesus church. I asked him if all churches weren’t Jesus churches and he assured me the church he had just come from was not a Jesus church. I want my church, my family, and my life to be Jesus. I want Jesus. I don’t want to seek Jesus’ blessings, miracles, power, or anything that Jesus gives. I want to seek Him, His presence.

In Galatians 2:6-10 Paul shares three things that he has experienced because of his relationship with Jesus.

Galatians 2:6-10

And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) – those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for He who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

First, God does not show partiality.

The fact that God does not show partiality means two things.

It means that God doesn’t play favorites. He does not love you more than He loves me. He doesn’t love certain people or certain kinds of people more than other people or kinds of people.

Does God love Muslims? Yes!

Does God love Republicans and Democrats? – Yes!

Does God love the people who don’t love Him? – Yes!

Does God love the people I don’t? – Yes!

It also means that God doesn’t just look at the outward appearance of a person.

God looks beyond our appearance and our words. He looks at our hearts, our inner thoughts, our inner attitudes, our inner desires.

In 1 Samuel 16 Samuel comes to Jesse’ s family to anoint the new king. Jesse brings his sons one at a time before Samuel. None of the sons are chosen even though some outwardly impressed Samuel. God chose the youngest one, David because, according to 1 Samuel 16:7, God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance.

This means that God’s judgment is always right. It is always based on complete knowledge of the truth. And it means that no one can fool God.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is knowing that God is focused on who we really are.

Second, God is the one who calls us and equips us for the ministry He wants us to do.

The ministry that I have been called to do and the ministry that you have been called to do are Jesus’ ministries, not yours or mine.

I love the church I pastor. Church at the Butte belongs to Jesus. It is His church, not mine. When it becomes “my” church or “my” ministry, then we have the wrong viewpoint and attitude.

Paul recognized that his ministry to the Gentiles and Peter’s ministry had the same source – Jesus. Paul recognized that both his ministry and Peter’s were legitimate because both were initiated, established, and empowered by Jesus.

There are no two ministries that are exactly alike.

There are no two churches that are exactly alike.

But all ministries that are initiated by God, established by God, and empowered by God have the same goal – to bring people into relationship with Jesus.

Ministry is about building God’s kingdom, not our own personal kingdom.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is acknowledging Jesus as the initiator of, the one who establishes, and the one who empowers ministry.

Third, God is the provider of grace.

Grace is the truth that God loves you just because He loves you.

Grace is the truth that God loves you because He has chosen to love you.

Grace means that it is about God, not me.

Grace allows the reality of Jesus to fill our lives every single day.

Grace brings:

Joy

Pleasure

Delight

Peace

Hope

And all that comes to us through grace is undeserved and unearned. Grace declares that we are loved to the max all the time by Jesus and nothing can or ever will change that.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living based in the grace of Jesus and nothing else.

If you think of yourself as a self-made man or woman, then you have missed a great freedom. You have missed the freedom of living a life with the knowledge that gives you a purpose, an unbiased view of yourself, and an undeserved love.

May you experience the fullness of Jesus’ presence, love, and power all the time.

Letting Jesus Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls

Joe

Daily Living With Jesus

 Living daily in relationship to Jesus is not always easy. Sometimes it is easier to live like we want and occasionally make big sacrifices.

God tells King Saul to wipe out the Amalekites. Instead, Saul spares the Amalekite king and some of the best of the livestock. When Samuel confronts Saul about this, Saul tells Samuel that he was planning to use the livestock to make sacrifices.

In 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel responds to Saul by saying, “Has the Lord as great delight in offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of God? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”

The reality is that daily relating to and obeying Jesus is hard. Paul shares with us some ways that we can better relate to Jesus daily and obediently follow Him.

Galatians 2:1-2a

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preached among the Gentiles.

We live based on God’s truth.

God’s truth is everything that He reveals to us.

In John 1:14 we are told that Jesus is full of grace and truth.

In John 14:6 we are told that Jesus is truth.

In John 16:13 we are told that the Holy Spirit leads us into truth.

In John 17:17 we are told that God’s Word is truth.

When we live in the truth of God’s revelation, we live in security. Paul had confidence in his living and in what he taught because it was based on the truth of God’s revelation.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living based on the revelation of God through Jesus.

Galatians 2:2b

But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.

We live inviting godly counsel.

In Proverbs, we are given great advice about receiving godly counsel.

In Proverbs 15:22 we are told that without godly counsel, plans fail.

In Proverbs 20:18 we are told that through godly counsel, plans are established.

In Proverbs 21:30 we are told that without godly counsel, it will gain us nothing.

One of the great gifts God has given us is counsel through godly people.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is getting godly counsel.

Galatians 2:3

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was Greek.

We live based in grace, not law.

Living daily in relationship with Jesus is about relating to Jesus, not following a list of rules and regulations.

Following Jesus is not a formula. It is about working out your salvation. It is listening and relating to Jesus.

It is knowing that we will blow it at some point and knowing that God’s grace will overcome our sin and failures.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is trusting in God’s grace, not our goodness.

Galatians 2:4

This matter arose, because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.

We live in Christ’s freedom, not slavery.

In John 8:31-32 Jesus said that His disciples will know the truth and the truth will make them free.

Sin brings slavery.

Jesus brings freedom.

In John 8:44 Jesus tells us that Satan is a liar and that everything he says is a lie. If we live based on a lie, we live in slavery. If we live based in truth, then we will live in freedom. God’s desire is that we live in freedom and use that freedom to serve others, not ourselves.   

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living in the freedom of God’s truth.

Galatians 2:5

We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain in you.

We live in God’s truth, not in people’s opinion.

If we try and live based on what others think, we will look very much like a dog who is chasing his tail.

We will live life going around in circles, not making any forward progress.

Jesus’ agenda was set by what the Father told Him, not what others wanted. We see Jesus having a single-mindedness and confidence in His daily life.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living confidently daily according to God’s truth.

Living based on Emotions or Selfish Ambition or Our Human Wants or

Others Opinions is easy. Making occasional sacrifices is easy.

Living in a loving, intimate, obedient relationship day in and day out is hard. Our calling to do it comes from God the Father. Our example to do it comes from God the Son. Our power to do it comes from God the Spirit.

Living Daily with Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                            Joe

What the Gospel of Grace Is and Does

The Gospel of Jesus is a Gospel of grace. In Galatians 1:11-24 Paul shares six truths connected to the Gospel and grace.

Galatians 1:11-12

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Truth #1: The Gospel does not come from man but from God.

2 Peter 1:21 says, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The Bible is God’s Word written by people through the inspiration and insight of the Holy Spirit. When God uses pastors, teachers, or counselors to share His Word and it connects with you, that’s God.

We need to approach every time we read, study or hear the Word of God as a time that we hear from and encounter God.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls see God’s Word as God’s Word.

Galatians 1:13-15a

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace...

Truth #2: God can and does change us and our way of living.

The word repentance means to do an about face. It means we are headed in one direction and we stop and go in the opposite direction. We tend to associate repentance with the initial experience of salvation. But repentance is continually seeing the truth of God and allowing Him to change the direction of our lives.

Acts 3:19-20 says, “Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.”

Repentance brings removal of sins, times of refreshing, and the presence of Jesus in our daily lives.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is allowing God to change you and make you a new creation.

Galatians 1:15b-17

…was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.  

Truth #3: Our understanding of the truth of the Gospel comes by God revealing it to us.

Biblical truth, spiritual truth is not discovered.

Biblical truth, spiritual truth is revealed by God.

When I was very young in the ministry, I marveled at how much insight older, more experienced ministers and pastors had about God and His Word. I now know it comes by two things: time spent with God in His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit revealing it to you.

It is not about my education.

It is not about my training.

It is not about my intelligence.

In fact, it is not about me; it is about the Holy Spirit revealing it to me.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is the Holy Spirit revealing the truth of God’s Word to me.

Galatians 1:18-19

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles – only James, the Lord’s brother.

Truth #4: Grace is given to us for our good and the good of others.

I would love to have been in the room just listening to Peter and Paul talk and discuss. I believe that as they spent those fifteen days together they encouraged each other.

In Romans 1:11-12 Paul says, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may mutually be encouraged by each other’s faith.”

The word gospel means good news. It is good news to us personally and it is good news to those we share the gospel with.

When we share the Gospel and when we live out the Gospel it benefits us and it benefits those around us.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is mutually encouraging each other through the Gospel.

Galatians 1:20

I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

Truth #5: The Gospel leads us to speak the truth.

Jesus says He is the truth in John 14:6.

Paul says in Ephesians 4:15 that we as followers of Jesus are to speak the truth in love.

When we speak the truth in love, we are speaking the way Jesus spoke. We are thus reflecting the truth of God.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is speaking the truth in love.

Galatians 1:21-24

Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.

Truth #6: It is about God’s glory, not about who we are.

Following Jesus is about Jesus. We many times seem to think that following Jesus is about us. The purpose of our lives is to glorify God. We glorify God not because it benefits us, but because He is worthy of our praise.

Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus.

By the Gospel of Grace Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                              Joe