Genuine Imitation

Harvest podcasts featuring Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive Pastor Greg free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. Matthew chapter 13 is a series of parables that Jesus told about what the world is going to look like in the last days before he comes back and here in Matthew 13 were going to see one of the employees of the enemy that will be used with great effect in the end times where he will be putting out imitations or tears among the wheat, hence the title of my message genuine imitation. That's what you call an oxymoron.

We hear these quite often. You know it oxymoron.

Basically it is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms like jumbo shrimp.

That's a classic oxymoron I need is it jumbo or is it shrimp or here's another one. Virtual reality, I mean if it's a reality. How could it be virtual if it's a virtual thing can really be our reality is another friendly fire. That's not so friendly. If you get hit by here's one you might read in the newspaper.

If someone was down.

They were found missing really. But if they were found. Are they really still missing or freezer burn is another is one of my favorite fresh frozen you might go to a restaurant you'll see is this fish, fresh golf, a it's fresh frozen will know that since frozen know it's fresh frozen window is at first it's fresh frozen window to just tell me it's all okay II mean you know the mushy peas in the can. I just open were France like 20 years ago to, but is it Prof., is it frozen another classic oxymoron would be exact estimate.

I mean really up if it's exact.

Is it an estimate of the it's an estimate is a really exact. Here's a classic oxymoron airline food that you can also substitute hospital food or British food.

I am sorry if you're visiting from England today of both of the lovely will to decide about the food this jolly good to those rubbish which is said you can't even tell when a British person is mad at you because the words they use are so alien but that's rubbish. Okay, whatever. Anyway, here's another oxymoron Microsoft Works not usually there's one of my favorite oxymoron female driver that always gets reaction and now we can add to the list genuine imitation. No whenever something is popular. You know there'll always be imitations, be it a style of clothing, a style of music. Maybe it's product that's come out of computer or what whatever it is, there will be imitations and since you know Apple redefine the whole cell phone market with her iPhone and prior to that, that's not what phones look like, but now there are so many versions of them in, and a lot of the companies will advertise himself as this new phone that's going to be the iPhone killer imitations galore and that is the idea that Jesus conveys in the parable of the regular read in the few moments that prior to the return of the Lord. Satan is going to effectively flood the market with cheap imitations of the real thing about that will be so many genuine imitations if you will out there. Some people will have a difficult time knowing the true from the false, and why does the devil do this because it's in the active ploy princes.

Maybe you knew someone who was a strong Christian. In fact, they may have even influenced you putting your own faith in Jesus Christ.

And then after a period of time passed it was revealed that that person was not the Christian you thought they were even worse, it was revealed there were living a double life. That was a complete contradiction of their profession of faith and so you then said well if there were a hypocrite that I'm not going to be a Christian. Either I miniature my back and those are all just a bunch of only now if that your reaction cures what the devil would say in response. While that's French for gotcha you fell for my trap you you bought into what I was doing the bed is really the picture that we are given as we look at the way things will be in the last days that there are going to be people regularly imitation Christians or genuine imitations are another way we might look at them is calling them poser in order.

Poser is it someone that pretends to be something they are not you know your people that pretend to be outlaw bikers when they really are, you know, maybe they have hair sewn into their helmet long, you know, hair coming out and they take it off the hook here comes up with it. I am one of those is a matter of fact, remember when I was preaching a few weeks ago at this outreach event in Los Angeles that was for bikers to bring in toys for underprivileged children in a lot of these guys work hard core, outlaw bikers and you know I mean I write motorcycle but I'm hardly an outlaw biker. In fact, I had one police officer make me aware the fact that many of the emblems or badges that some of these guys aware is a fly. The colors of their particular group they belong to a represent crimes that they have committed. Not unlike what soldier might have on his or her uniform. He hears a badge indicating I was in this campaign or I accomplish this thing or etc. they'll have the same thing in their own upside down world and here I am hanging out with all these bikers. I'm hardly in a biker you know. So sometimes people will appear to be something they really are not. And that is the idea that is being conveyed in the story that is before us and what is called the parable of the wheat and the tares according to this parable.

I am the last days are going to be many who believe in many who will speak believe they will sit side-by-side in the same churches both sing the same song though read the same Bibles will say the same things. To some degree, but in reality these people. The so-called tears were never really believers to begin with. They are not believers that have gone astray. There are people who never believed would have been taking it from day one because the Bible tells us that one of the signs of the end times will be there will be a form of godliness but people will deny the power thereof.

So let's read now the parable of the wheat and tares done in Matthew 13 will start in verse 24 another parable he put forth to them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

But while men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. When the graded sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, sir.

Did you not sow good seed in your field.

Using how is it then that it has tears. He said an enemy has done this. The servant said to him do you want us to go and gather them up. He said no less. When you have gathered up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

Let both go grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers first gathered together the tares, and bind them together and bundles and burn them and gather the wheat into my bar usually sorry about that to. Here's a picture that Jesus gives of the last days. I have God at work and you're getting have Satan at work simultaneously. Sort of reminds us of that opening line of a tale of two cities by Charles Dickens when he writes it was the best of times and it was the worst of times. That is how our world will be prior to the return of Jesus Christ. Both the best and the worst happening at the same time. Here's the good news.

God is going to be at work and people again to get the coming to faith in Jesus Christ were told annex to 17 that the last days, God says I'll pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions in your old men will dream dreams. Now here's the bad news. Satan will be at work as well. Seeking to undermine the faith the people because second Timothy 313 says evil people and imposters will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be to see so this shows the right up until the Lord's return. A spiritual battle is going to be raging organ to see the good and the bad, the godly and the ungodly together we see that God will ultimately have the victory over the devil and his kingdom. But we also see that the devil is not going to take this lying down and why is it double so active because even if some liberal theologians don't believe it. Satan believes that we are living in the end time so he is stepping up his efforts. Revelation 1212 says the devil has come down to you in great anger, for he knows he has a little time was another translation puts it, the devils come down and you would both be. He's had a great fall. These wild and raging within your he hasn't much time and he knows it. So we see that the devil is going to be busy but Satan is not stupid. Okay, and he sizes up his opponent and he will vary. His attacks of deception than employees. Accordingly, sort of like when you play tennis with someone I mentally tennis very often, but I when I do, you'll often start by rallying first serve writes out your disorder, knocking the ball back and forth.

It's not really a game yet you're not playing for points and it's a way to loosen up and and also it's a way to determine your opponents strengths and weaknesses and so you you know you might come alive into the back of the court realize that he can get back there pretty quickly. You might find that he's a little weak. I'm moving up on the net and so sort of sizing up him up because the objective is to win the game right and I and then when you start playing you you're gonna try to score points on my plane the drywall back in the guy had opened wicked serve that I simply could not return it, which is like damages.

I hardly had my rocket up so he was a little bit older, so I logged a lot of balls to the back of the court in the front of the court and he couldn't get there quite as quickly. He was 90 and they still want. So the devil sizes you where is your weakness I see your vulnerable here within another opponent might not have that same vulnerability. There we can. Another area and so he will attack accordingly. Sometimes it double will come in all of his depravity and wickedness like a roaring lion. Other times of come more so subtly as an angel of light.

If Lucifer himself were to appear to us here this morning. I can guarantee he would not have Redskin and pointed ears and hooves and a little pitchfork I he would be a glorious angel that would dazzle some of us because the Bible tells us he was once a high ranking Angels of the point is simply this, he will come in different ways. Sometimes will come like a wolf. Other times of come like us.

They you remember that when he fell for the enticements of Satan coming to her as this serpent in the garden of Eden, he was subtle and that's all snakes are.

I don't know why this is exactly but, when I was a kid, I was thoroughly fascinated with snakes really reptiles. In general, but especially snakes.

I I collected them. I read books about the I memorize their names in the Latin you know I wanted to be her pathologist which is a word that means altering nerve. No, not really.

There might be some of you out there they it's a fascinating topic, I suppose, but I would carry snakes with me. I am little snakes.

A big snake site. I had bowlers I had pythons and gopher snakes King snake, you name it I had done and I would wrap them around my neck and just walk around town because I love the reaction of people when they realized that was a real snake around my neck.

They think it's fake.

That's fake all yardstick.

All of a sudden they had come down here and scream and I really loved it when they did that for the thing I noticed with my snakes as they would get out of their cages very easily that one day I came home and my price snake was gone. I asked my mom where's my stink. She said he left, I support what happens.

He said he got out of his cage. He came right across the front floor.

Here, the front room floor and I supported you do she said. I walked over just opened the door before he slithered out and I shut it with the thing with the snake.

You never know where you stand with the snake you know with a dog you know you're out with the dog really quickly when you approach a dog you know if the dog like you will be doesn't like you.

The way he looks at you the position of his ears living showing his teeth to be growling.

If he's licking you There more mysterious. We will go under that, but snakes you have died. No idea what a snake is thinking you know snakes think they don't even blink their eyes are just the whole time and then also they have no eyebrows so you cancel that happy said there just looking at you thinking I love you. I doubt they think that.

But even if they did, they might and they also might be thinking going to bite you in the face right now, but you'll never know because I just looking to push they get, and I've been bitten by linear snakes. Trust me, it's no fun, but the devil comes in various ways. It's good for us to be familiar with this tactics. Second Corinthians 211 says so Satan will not outsmart us.

We are very familiar with this evil scheme. Victor Hugo put it this way, quote a good general must penetrate the brain of his enemy. Our enemy is the devil. Let's penetrate his brain for a few moments as we look at this parable were Jesus exposes one of the ways in which Satan works in specifically one of the ways in which Satan will be working in the end times and it's going to be through imitation. Now in this parable that we just read we see two sewing verse we have a farmer who goes out an associate in this field.

A common occurrence, hoping for a good crop. Nothing really unusual here that we see something that is quite unexpected and even dastardly.

We have an enemy sowing seed right next to the good seed that the farmer just so with the purpose of uprooting the good see Jesus uses the word tear that would also be known as the Darnell seed that initially looks like we have fact it's not until it's fully grown, that you realize it's not. We at all by the way, this was a common crime. Back in these days were maybe a competitor would so tears among your week so your crop would be worth less and theirs would be worth more was such a problem that there was even a specific law against it on the book so this was something the people would've immediately understood sewing tears among the weeds easy will this is all very interesting. What does this have to do with me.

Actually, a lot.

Let's read on for the interpretation verse 36 then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house and his disciples came to him, saying, explained, was the parable of the terrors of the field. Jesus answered and said he that sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom at the terrors are the sons of the wicked one the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is at the end of the age and the reapers are the Angels.

Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so will it be at the end of this age, the Son of Man will send out his angels, they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend those who practice lawlessness and cast them into the furnace of fire will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father. He that has ears to hear, led him here. So now this is a little bit different than the parable of the sower and the parable of the sower. The sower was Jesus and the seed was the word of God.

Now in this particular parable again the sower is Jesus. But the difference is we, the believers are the sea and in this case the field that the seed has been sown in is the world owned by God in which we are planning so what does this mean that means that God has planted us as believers in this world we see it another way, God is put his people in the culture to influence it to make a difference. God is not calling us as believers to isolate, but rather to infiltrate to influence sometimes I think we try to avoid all contact with nonbelievers.

I don't know if this is popular among kids anymore. When I was in elementary school with little game. We would play when you attack someone, and he would take you have cooties never cooties and so then you had to have a way to defend yourself and some of her touch you I do is give you could easily say no I don't have cooties know I gave you coatings. I don't have the wife because of this you hold your hand written on your hand, were the letters KP that security protection. I think in the same way work well I got so I don't want to talk to that nonbeliever. I don't want to be at both so that I don't see this other think I might get cooties if you will will okay I understand you don't want to be influence in a bad way, but how about influence them in a good way to change metaphors. As Christians we are to be salt and light. What is it me will salt back in biblical times was used to preserve me. It was rubbed into me to stop the spread of beautification are rotting so assault in the culture means I am to stop the spread of corruption. But another thing that Saul does is it stimulates first so I am here to stop the spread of corruption in this continually, and others first. For God secondly I am to be like what is ending and means I am to proclaim the gospel and do good works. Jesus said, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. I placed in this world by God to influence it but just what, according to Jesus in the parable of the wheat and the terrors the devil has placed his sons, his daughters in the world to so that my job as a Christian is to identify them and uproot them right. No, according to our Lord. That is not my job. I am called again to be salt and light to live a godly life.

It's God's job to identify the fake Christians if you will, or the tares among the wheat know sometimes that the Christians believe that we are never to make any evaluations of any people where to just be loving for to everyone and in it is true we should be loving but what is that me will be loving means I speak the truth that the Bible says, speak the truth in love so fine all of my friend Robbie lunch and they have spinach in their teeth to note, is a friend of spinach your teeth, you know, just like you know not tell them unless you want to be entertained and that is an entertaining thing, watch people talk about realize this or you might let them know about something else. I was with a friend the other day I will see who it was but he's a famous pastor, you would know him if I said his name and his fly was open. Some of your Senate. Can't believe Craig just said that in church even famous preacher is Heather flies open sometime you see the reason I wear my shirt on top using but so was talking with them and I notice it makes it go to Tyson Lisa Bryson flies open all I think was getting ready to go speak. I don't want that to happen, don't that's always a thanks and said well you know only a true friend would tell you that he said it right you are a true friend not you want to know who was who want to know what was wrong with you you're not true friend that I am and I will not reveal it. Rawlings know what it actually wasn't roaring it was. I would've revealed a long time ago someone is at the point. The point I'm making is a friend tells her friend the truth, even if it's uncomfortable or awkward now is talk about something that matters.

Said maybe a season compromise in their life. You see some weakness in their life. Using I love you and because of that I feel I need to warn you know they might get upset people don't like to be criticized and the knee-jerk reaction we often hear if he don't judge me.

Who are you to judge me because of the Bible say judgment was to be judge McGough on you. You're right know what way know I am going to judge you, brother, and I hope that you will judge me because the Bible tells me that judgment begins at the house of God, and it even says are we not unworthy to judge even the smallest matters when I make an evaluation about a person's life. I am in effect, judging them, and there's nothing wrong with that. The Bible never says that I should not have any judgment of my life.

But what I should avoid his condemnation. Knowing Jesus is in the sermon on the Mount judge not lest you be judged.

A better translation of that. I wish it was translated this way would be condemned, not lest you be contact. Yes, I should make judgments yes I should make evaluation, but no I am not in the position to condemn. I'm not judge, jury and executioner because sometimes a look at some of their older not a Christian. Well, you know, maybe judging from their actions we could make a conclusion, but we don't really know now doing. That's the point. That's me major. I can't say people will say that I don't think a person is a Christian at all, yet they profess to be out that we know what I don't know God will determine that the final day and that's what Jesus is saying here.

It's going to be determined either there's going to be some surprises will be good to have number one.

Some of the people we thought would be there will not be there. Number two. Some of the people we never thought would be there will be there in number three.

We will be there. That's the biggest surprise now truly I expect to be there. I'm just kidding on that third one, but I think we will be surprised by some of the people that end up in heaven I think will be surprised by some of the people that don't end up in heaven but some you know sometimes we miss judge people and that's why I say you leave it in the hands of God. So on one hand we don't want to be a person that that is a never making evaluations with that. We don't want to be overly can get Meenan and always coming down on people and some people are that way there just it seems like all they look for are things wrong. You know their whole life is spent in finding what's wrong with other people like the old codger that was, not known for his faith he went over the preacher's house to watch them repairs rough and as the pastor was working away, said to the guy we want to pick up some tips on carpentry the old guys and I just want to see what a preacher says when he gets his thumb with a hammer. So some people out there just waiting for you to slip up high. I saw that that was a very godly now was it. I it's like J.

Vernon McGee used to say the only exercise.

Some Christians get is jumping to conclusions and running down others, my beloved, so it's true that is the only exercise. Some Christians get jumping to conclusions and running down others and then we see some inconsistency in a person's life were quick to say Chris well defined what a hypocrite is in a few moments because it's not what you may think, and were quick to say whether there girl phone either not a believer at all well know, maybe they're just a struggling believer, even godly people can mess up even real Christians can make mistakes and sin against the Lord of the Bible even tells us if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. And let me just say if you're looking for the hypocrite free church.

I have good news for you. Your search is over. So you might using are you saying this is a hypocrite free church know what I'm saying is there is no hypocrite free church to stop looking for one.

Homicides have never found it.

If you join it, it would be ruins. Sometimes we confuse hypocrisy with humanity. We will send we will fall short is clear this now is not what Jesus is talking about.

He's not talking about a struggling believer. He's talking about a phony. He's talking about and after.

By the way, that's the literal definition of the word hypocrite Jesus use this choice term for the religious leaders, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, he called them hypocrites and understand that the word just means after so there's nothing negative attached to the word after yes. So what you do for a living. I'm an actor on them. I think I tore say what's very impressive but you see that that's their profession and so when Jesus took the word hypocrite he was taking a neutral word and effect actor anything but these people are pretending to be Christians.

There putting on a performance. You see, it is not genuine faith.

Jesus says in Matthew six. Be especially careful when you're trying to be good so you don't make up for Mormons out of it and might be good theater. But the God who made you won't be applauding. There's a lot of people that are putting in a great performance but it is not genuine. It is not real, that person is a tear. They are opposer. They are genuine imitation, but this is up to God to ultimately decide who is to and what is what understand this whenever there is genuine.

There is also going to be the counterfeit Satan has his fake version of just about everything. For instance, the devil has counterfeit Christians. Paul in second Corinthians 11 wrote I've traveled many weary miles. I faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers I faced danger from my own people and I faced dangers in the city.

The desert and on the stormy seas and I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians who are not so even back in Paul's time there were those genuine imitation.

Also, the devil is a counterfeit gospel. Just because a person uses the term gospel doesn't mean the referring to the genuine gospel even if someone says I'm not preaching the gospel, that doesn't mean it's the real gospel is he for the gospel to be the gospel. Certain things must be in writing.

One of those things is the acknowledgment that everyone has sent I saw a very famous preacher at the moment this while being interviewed a while back on television and the interviewer asked him about the topic of sin in this preacher said I never talk about sin. I never use the word sin because people already know that their sinners are not here to be people down.

I just want to look them up one sorry. I don't think most people do know that their sinners and our job is not just the lift people up and stuck point them to Christ. You see, so we have to use that word sin and then secondly, there's only one solution for our sin being removed and that is through the cross.

If the cross is not proclaimed. It's not the gospel any proper presentation of the gospel comes back to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Paul said I don't want to hear anything else among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. That said before, sometimes in her attempts to cross over. We don't bring the cross over. There's a counterfeit gospel. Paul says in Galatians 1.

I'm astonished that you're deserting the one who called you the grace of Christ in your journey to it different gospel which is no gospel at all. Not only does the double of counterfeit Christians and a counterfeit gospel. He also has a counterfeit Christ. That's right, Lucifer has his own version of Jesus. It is good to be known as the antichrist.

He will emerge in the end times.

By the way, I think it's futile and useless to try to figure out who the antichrist is a lot of people expend a lot of energy in this come up with some very interesting choices, none of which turned out to be the antichrist but the Bible never tells us to look for antichrist.

It is a matter of fact, antichrist cannot even be identified until the church's rapture. The Bible says he who now restrains will continue to restrain until he is taken out of the way then that wicked one whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of his coming will be revealed. The restraining force in the world today is the church coming back to the analogy of salt I alluded to earlier, and once the church is removed, i.e. all Christians are ruptured to meet the Lord in the air. Then the wicked one. The antichrist, the beast will be revealed.

So don't waste your time looking for antichrist. Spend your time looking for Jesus Christ, but yes antichrist will emerge, and he's not can it be obviously evil.

It was steam coming off of him dressed like Darth Vader you know with his own theme song playing wherever he goes, is to be suave is going to be a powerful orator and communicator is going to come up with ideas for peace treaties that will actually be implemented and will be successful for a time is going to come up with economic solutions. He will be so effective at what he does at some well heralded as a very Christ.

Hence the description antichrist by the with the prefix anti-not only means against it also means instead of some well Calen is a very Messiah were told over and the book of second Thessalonians to four will exalt himself and defy every God the risen tear down every object of adoration, worship you will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God's of the devil always has his face out there. A good example of a couple of fakes are Ananias and Sapphire. The story is found in the book of acts. The church was young just starting to really explode. Thousands of people were coming to faith in Christ. Miracles were being performed.

Along comes this couple named Ananias and Sapphire, who apparently had some beans and solo piece of land and said that they had sold for more than the really so look for and they were to give the money to the church and so Peter asks Ananias to tell them the truth.

Did you sell this land for such and such an Ananias said yes I did and then Peter says Ananias why is Satan filled your heart. You light of the Holy Spirit. They kept some of the money for your cell will what was this sin that Ananias and leaders of Iraq committed lines of the spirit. What does that mean they were pretending to be something they were not.

They were hypocrites. Again they wanted people to think they were more thoroughly devoted to God than they actually were. So then after it is revealed that Ananias is live. God touches him and he dies right on the spot. Sapphire comes a little bit later told the same story and she dies right on the spot as well.

Harsh judgment.

Now I know this might seem to some like overkill on the part of God, no pun intended, but I mean that's a little radicalism guy will admit it is.

But here's something to consider. People say today you I wish we saw more miracles today like they had of the book of that really all over this one. Every time someone pretended to be something they weren't were living a lie that they would die on the spot.

Let's and if that were the case, every church or that they have a full-time undertaker on staff in a morgue in the basement people would be dropping like flies in the pulpit or in the pews and the pulpits as a matter of fact they should have just been honest to God and told the truth they were tears or actors putting on a show. Probably the classic example of a actor or a tear or opposer or a genuine invitation would be Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord to be this bad enough you did that but if you have to do it with a kiss wouldn't handshake have done the same job is the one I take the handout.

That's when you're looking for the tap on the shoulder, A guy Jesus on the shoulder so you can arrest might've said that the Temple police node said. Jenna says it's the one that I kiss and in the original language. When Judas kissed Jesus it was not a peck on the cheek. It was repeated kisses know if I were Jesus, Judas would have never gotten close enough to kiss me he would gotta punch in the face.

I would've been a very bad Messiah. But in contrast to that Jesus says to do this is about the petroleum friend, why have you come as a gesture of love and compassion and even forgiveness of Judah said taking it but instead Judas betrays the Lord, you know, we have award ceremonies. What we give out Golden globes and Grammies and Emmys and so forth meant we had to have a ceremony in the church and we could give out the coveted Judas award for best performance by a nonbeliever playing the role of a Christian. Imagine the drama the ceremony and the Judas for this year's best performance by a nonbeliever pretended to be something they are not close to, and your name is call that we have the Tight shot and all the other people you know they don't wince when they realize he did with the new rundown we give your Judas and you hold it up and you say you really love me you do, don't you, whatever you say you know but that that's really what it is.

It's a performance that is really deceiving you. It's not deceiving God.

God knows what's going on from the beginning it does deceive people, but not forever.

You can fool all of the people some of the time you control some of the people all of the time, but you can pull God any of the time. Well, that's a Jesus is talking about your tares among the wheat, the Ananias is insofar as the Judas is the satanic plants put there to undermine the word of God.

In any case, the Lord makes it clear that the separation of the wheat and tares are the sons of the kingdom and the sons of the evil one will happen at the end of the day until that day, they will coexist side-by-side, breathing the same air enjoying the same sunshine and rain eating the same food attending the same schools living in the same neighborhoods going to the same church is singing the same songs talking the same talk but certainly not walking the same wall.

I know when you hear a message like this you might be inclined to think, I wish so-and-so was here to hear this message and I think that the so-and-so's that need to be hearing this message are probably carrying it right now so I think here's the idea that's been communicated. Don't worry about the other people are. Think about yourself.

Don't concern yourself with who the tears might be. Just make sure you're not a chair. Okay, that's your job. Paul says in second Corinthians checked up on yourself. Are you really Christians do you pass the test were you just pretending to be Christians when the action when you actually are at all. So our objective is to do a little self exam up you will make sure that we are in the faith that we are not one of these posers. One of these tears are Darnell seeds among the week because one day Robin I have to face the music member that been Milli Vanilli from the early 90s. How many of you went out and bought recordings by Milli Vanilli razor. People will never admit it.

30 million people by Milli Vanilli recordings that actually were quite successful in their day until it was revealed that they did not do the vocals on their own recording of some studio singers have done that and I Milli Vanilli could not sing so they gave their Grammies back is either came a moment when Milli Vanilli something a flavor of ice cream doesn't it had to face the music. That's an interesting phrase. You probably heard of before.

One day you have to face the music. Have you ever wonder where that expression actually came from.

I've heard it said that it originated in Japan and the story goes this way. There was a man in the Japanese Imperial orchestra who could not play a note when he was a man of great influence and wealth and he wanted to be given a place in the group because he wanted to perform before the Emperor of Japan. So the conductor went along with this ruse allowed him to sit in the second row of the orchestra and that we could play or read any music he was given a flutes when the concert would begin. He would raise his instrument puckers lives move his fingers like he was playing but he never played a single note in this deception went on for two years within a new conductor took over and he told the orchestra that he wanted to audition each player personally, one by one they would have to perform in this present sort of like standing before the judges of American Idol and I just love the people that are so confident in their ability to see that have no skills whatsoever and are always the people that storm now it's all so they say so forth. What this guy had the face. The conductor yet to face the music. When it was revealed that he could not play a note on a flutes he was exposed in this line had caught up to him. The pretender had to admit he was a fake. Well you know what one day will stand before God himself, though you may have them done a brilliant job of fooling others in church. You two will have to face the music. So don't play games with God. Maybe there are some of you who are putting on a good show right now or you just about have everyone convinced your mom and dad convinced you have your friends convinced you have your husband or your wife convinced you have all of your friends thinking you're really very committed believer, but your living this double life tenure full of them all, aren't you one day you'll face the music.

One day that which is hidden will be revealed.

It will be shouted from the housetops and that we know where the high and you realize the only person you effectively were fully was yourself God's giving you a chance right up to come clean. I plead with you. Don't be a fake Christian.

It's just a waste of time. That's why Jesus said I would rather you be hot or cold but not lukewarm. And because you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth is a very nice word spew is in it.

It's a King James version for the British person would see if there were going to throw up, and I'm feeling a bit nauseated.

I think that is those spew by Jerry L you going spew. I'm in a go father. That's a more common word and the word that Jesus used is exactly that. He said I will vomit regurgitate you out of my mouth.

That's a repulsive term. We don't like to think of it, exactly. That's why Jesus used it was trying to make a point you think you know what I can't stand people that are lukewarm, what is it mean to be lukewarm. Sometimes people will Satan lukewarm Christian not to be overly picky but I don't really believe there is any such thing as a lukewarm Christian. Now I think your carnal Christians is the whole message in itself, Christian is someone who believes but maybe is compromising Paul even said that he had moments of carnality but you can't be a lukewarm Christian one.

Explain why in Revelation 3 Jesus speaks of the lukewarm people. He says I would rather you be hot or cold, so that because you are lukewarm in either hot or cold. I will spew you out of my mouth and then he goes on to say, behold, I stand at the door not many men will hear my voice, and open the door, I will commit to the lukewarm first leasing understanding that the doorknocking let me in. Lukewarm. This is not a compromising Christian at the person pretending to be a Christian who isn't to be lukewarm is to be a tear among the wheat to be lukewarm is to be a genuine imitation of fake, like Ananias and Sapphire, Judas and others so here's what Jesus says I love the come in your life.

When we do this right, whether to start a natural relationship with me and let me forgive you of all of your sin that so I closed today.

Jesus says stands of the doorknobs you hear his voice and open the door become. It is not interesting. It's addressed to a church and often when I quote the verse. I'll be speaking to nonbelievers but precisely Jesus was speaking to nonbelievers in the church who were tending to be Christians when they were the church of Laodicea just because you're in this church today doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to talk about. Make sure double-decker taco returned to double-decker like are going to get it all makes you a double double are going to McDonald's makes you whatever okay you get the idea know if there is to be a moment when you really believe in Jesus and I hope you are putting on a performance so broken or closing prayer, to give you an opportunity to get right with God and to ask him to come in your life. If you have not done that yet. Let's pray father I pray not for everyone listening to this message. Help them to see their need for you and help them to believe in you and be forgiven of all of their sins, for we ask it in Jesus name a heads up their eyes are closed were praying. Maybe you would say today I want to be a genuine Christian. I want to be a real follower of Jesus Christ. I want him to forgive me of my sin and I want to be certain that I will go to heaven when I die, that's your desire. If you want Christ to come in your life you want him to forgive you of your sin, you want to be ready for his return.

I want you to stand your feet wherever you're sitting nominally join a prayer of commitment. Wherever you are stand here feet you're outside in the amphitheater. I want to stand up nominally join this prayer if you're up in the court building. I want you to stand up here in the sanctuary, stand up, up in the balcony stand here feet nominally join a prayer we are asking Christ to come in your life wherever you are, not just data. God bless you. People are standing by the way, so you will be the only one. Stand up combustion a bless you, bless you.

Anybody else stand now, wherever you are, stand up nominally join a prayer that you will pray right where you stand this final moment I bless you. Don't be embarrassed.

This is a good thing to do now. Jenna right before God.

Anybody else stand now I lead you in this breakup. Bless you. God bless you and you anybody else stand publish all right all of you that are sending a want you to pray this prayer out loud after me again as I pray pray this out loud after me right where you stand. Pray this now, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but you died on the cross and shed your blood for every sin I've ever committed. I am sorry for my sin. I turn from it now. I put my faith in you. Jesus, I want to follow you from this day forward I want to be a real believer, not a fake. Thank you for calling me and forgiving me and accepting me now in Jesus name I pray, amen