An Authentic Phony – Part 2

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Pastor Kyle tells us that the sin nature of our flesh is wrong, but human feelings and emotions are not wrong; it’s what we do with those feelings and emotions that determines. Lames says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” – keeping ourselves unstained by aligning our mind, will and emotions with the Word, Will and way of God (aka walking in the Spirit). This is truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part of our hearts.

Psalm 51:3-6 “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”

James 1:19-20 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” Listening is different than hearing. Three tips to be a better listener are: (1) Recap what you heard, (2) Clarify what you heard & (3) give an empathetic (no need to fix) response. Scripture and prayer are good, but are not to be used as a quick, simple solution. People will forget what you say, but remember how you made them feel. No human being is void of emotion. When emotions rule our lives, God is not in charge anymore. We can become so flooded with out-of-control emotion that we cannot calm down. For the most part, we cannot claim others, but we can claim ourselves down, when anger takes over. We do not let our emotions speak for us. Good methods to claim down are (1) stop and take a deep breath, (2) Picture yourself in the calmest place that you know, (3) find a phrase that gives you permission and excuses you to leave, (4) take time to analyze why you are really angry (every Spring has a source), and (5) try to find a healthy person to process your anger. How Christians deal with anger and emotions reflects how Jesus is modeled in the world different then the way that the godless world system does.

Colossians 3:1-11 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

Pastor Kyle points out that something’s are so subliminal that we don’t notice them. What are we letting in that we have no business letting into us. It doe no good to replace one “bad” ting with another, so look to God perfect Word, Will and Way to turn the ship right. Passion is good, but more important is action. No good-looking white-washed tombs (right on the outside), with rotting (wrong on the inside) as an authentic phony, a hypocrite. Our passion should be to want to do something for God. Nobody desires to be Parasitical. Where do we lose it? How do we start going to church on Sunday, then life the rest of the time in the godless, lawless world?  When we take a look at ourselves in the mirror at where we lack and fail, don’t walk away and forget … do something to make the changes necessary to improve and grow in grace. Look in that spiritual mirror at where we are and what doesn’t match our faith, then repent and do something to change. Authenticity starts with a single step towards God; the God that forgives our sins. Disconnect from self and get connected with the Lord.

In Christ, Brian