Fake it til you make it does not apply to being a Christian. Two weeks ago, Rev D warned of the wolves in sheep’s clothing. As I listened to him today, I immediately thought of Judas and the other disciples.
Though Christ knew Judas would betray him, the other disciples were deceived by his true attitude of heart. As Rev D mentioned, you can know someone for years and not know their true heart. It has been said the value of a sermon is proven by how it offends or inspires you and how many other passages in scripture it calls to mind.
He called to our attention that the true heart of a believer rests in humility, bringing to mind Proverbs 6 and God's list of hatreds, beginning with a proud look & lying tongue and ending with “he that sows discord among the brethren”. From this my mind goes to James 3, the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity…it defiles the whole body…sets on fire the course of nature…” and verse 8 but the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. The tongue may be the greatest tool of the enemy and those who don’t learn to control their tongues can be his greatest asset and pawn. We forget that the church can be one of the most dangerous places in the world because the enemy is always there, hovering to see who he can devour. Today's message was a timely reminder of how seemingly innocent conversation can be death to the body of Christ.
Both James and Peter warn us to humble ourselves under God’s hand so that he may exalt us, as Rev D strongly pointed out in his message today. Humility is the death of pride and should be in every believer's heart. Unlike Diotrephes who loved to be first and wouldn’t accept instruction 3 John 1:9.