Why Are We Such Hypocrites?

So many of us Christians fall for the lie that we are powerless in this world. Certainly we can pray to God but he doesn't always answer, right? It still leaves us in a place of powerlessness. Have you ever thought that the reason it doesn't appear like God is answering is because he already gave us the authority to do something about it?

What do you know about the Holy Spirit? Most of us know some fundamental stuff but few of us understand that Jesus did what he did through the power of the Holy Spirit. Few of us comprehend that the apostles only did what they did through the power of the Holy Spirit, given to them and the whole Church by Jesus. And what do you think is the greatest power Jesus gave to us?

The authority to forgive sins.

If you realize you have the power to forgive sins then you will realize the power to heal the sick, calm the storms, see into people's thoughts, raise the dead and whatever it is that God would have you do on your mission for him.

We read in Luke 5 about a bunch of men who have faith that Jesus could heal their friend. They were so determined that they ended up making a hole in Peter's roof and lower the man in front of Jesus. What was the first thing that Jesus did? He forgave the man his sins. And what was the reaction of the religious community? Blasphemy! they said. Only God can forgive sins! they said. Here is Jesus' reply:

“Why are you thinking that? Is it easier for me to tell this crippled man that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and walk? But now you will see that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” Jesus then said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk home.” (Luke 5:22-24)

Of course the man did exactly that and everyone was shocked. But which had the greater impact on eternity, the forgiveness or the healing? When Jesus had given the disciples the authority to drive out demons they returned all excited. But Jesus told them not to be excited about that authority, instead be excited over their own salvation.

That's fine, you say, Jesus is God and God forgives sins. But Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit so we can operate in his authority. Look at John 20:

After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, “I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don’t forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven.” (vv. 21-23)

Before you consider the option of not forgiving you had better consider the entire instruction of Jesus. In Matthew 6 Jesus instructed:

If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (vv. 14-15)

A sobering thought about our responsibility and the authority we have been given with the receiving of the Spirit. But let us not forget what else Jesus did for that man who he commanded to pick up his mat and walk home.

What kind of authority do you think has been given to you? If you have the authority to forgive sins and those sins are no longer held against that person by God, would you not think you also have the authority for the less important physical matters as well? You sure do! Why doesn't the world believe in Jesus? Because the Father's children have an identity crisis. These are the words of Jesus:

Have faith in me when I say that the Father is one with me and that I am one with the Father. Or else have faith in me simply because of the things I do. I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father. Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask. This way the Son will bring honor to the Father. I will do whatever you ask me to do. (John 14:11-14)

In this day and age of zombies, vampire lovers, mystics, meditation, ghosts, card reading, and magic, why do we who are believers struggle with the Holy Spirit and the authority we have been given? When the world can chase after fantasy and believe, why do we struggle with our spiritual reality? It is crazy dumb and the biggest critics of the Holy Spirit are found within the Church. We are willing to take all the lovie dovie stuff, the good feelings, the crutch stuff, but we aren't willing to walk in the power and authority of Jesus Christ. We would rather hold on to our depression, illness, incurable diseases than to take Jesus at his word. I hear constantly that God uses all kinds of ways to heal but yet in the Word of God I only find one.

We are a bunch of hypocrites and no one is being saved from the pit of hell because of it. We claim to be a people of faith but what do we have faith in? We certainly don't take Jesus at his word. We would rather find all the loop holes and excuses to explain our lack of faith. No wonder Jesus questioned whether he would find faith on the earth on his return.

I have tasted of this authority and it has scared me. I would rather serve in my own skin, in my own ability, where I am comfortable. But that is not what Jesus called me to. Those are not the instructions he has given. So I repent of my selfishness and seek the full measure of the Holy Spirit, that I will operate in the authority of Jesus Christ in what ever God gives me to do in that given moment. I am a preacher and a teacher of God's Word but I must be more. I must be a doer and I have been given the Holy Spirit to enable me to be exactly that, a doer of God's Word.

"Faith In Me Without Seeing Me"

Have you ever had a moment in your life that gave you a reputation that you can't shake? A moment that everyone associates with your name? It might have been something from your childhood that you pass off as a joke now. Maybe it was something from High School, College or your first year of marriage. Sad to say but I have had several moments like that. Praise God that he does not remember the sins of our past like people do. Thankfully he is one who forgives and forgets.

Every Easter there is one person I feel bad for because of this reason of reputation. When you hear the name Thomas what pops into your head? No, not Thomas the Tank Engine but Thomas the disciple of Jesus. We refer to the poor guy as Thomas the Doubter. You think it's bad that you haven't shaken your reputation in 20 or 30 years? How about 2000 years?

Thomas wasn't present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after the resurrection. He wasn't there to see with his own eyes what they were telling him and because of it he uttered these words that are forever stamped upon his name:

“First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this!” (John 20:25)

Thomas didn't believe his friends. Would you? Jesus was tortured, nailed to a cross, died and then buried. Would you believe your friends a few days later when they told you "We have seen Jesus"?

Now before we come down too hard on Thomas let's remember that the only reason the other disciples believed is because they had seen Jesus. When the women came back from the tomb and told them that they had seen Jesus alive, Peter and John had to run to see for themselves. Even though they had been told, when Jesus did appear they were shocked and afraid. And who could blame them. They were still without the Spirit and had no spiritual discernment.

If it had been Peter in Thomas' sandals I am certain he would have had a similar response. It is only that Thomas was articulate in expressing his doubt. He declared that it was not until he could actually see and touch the wounds. Why the wounds? Because an impostor would not have any wounds. Now consider how God accommodates our doubt.

A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples and said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!” (vv.26-27)

There is nothing indicating that Thomas actually touched the wounds. The only reaction that we see from Thomas is the same one we would have had:

Thomas replied, “You are my Lord and my God!” (v. 28)

Jesus did bring correction to Thomas but I am sure that each disciple took that correction to heart for themselves. The correction also made mention of us:

Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!” (v. 29)

Sounds great, right? We are blessed because we have faith without seeing. But look at those words again. It is not just that we have faith that Jesus is real, alive and our King. "The people who have faith in me", is saying that we trust what Jesus has said is true. Jesus is saying those who take him at face value, who act on what Jesus taught, who live the promises that Jesus gave, are blessed.

Now I want you to think about that for a moment because we live in an age where we gloss over or excuse away much of what Jesus taught. We accept the moral values, the "does and don'ts", the right and wrongs but we set aside much of the spiritual walk that we are suppose to be on. We have been told to live by the Spirit but most of us don't even know what that means. When we say that we "have faith" what we are really saying is that we believe Jesus is real. We are not saying that we trust Jesus enough to do the impossible things he has commanded us to do.

We say that we "live by faith and not by sight" but we are lying to ourselves. We are worse than Thomas. At least Thomas was brave enough to articulate his doubts. We gloss over our doubts with a fake perception of faith and live our life according to our own personal beliefs. We pray over the sick and nothing happens. We speak to mountains and they do not move. Because we don't really believe. We don't really understand faith.  We think that morality is all there is to God and that the impossible of which Jesus speaks was a period of time, even though the Word puts no time restrictions on what Jesus declared. Funny the excuses we come up with to hide our lack of faith.

Love, trust and obedience should be the guiding code of our lives. If Jesus said it, we should believe it and allow it to shape our thoughts and actions. We should be living according to every single word of Jesus, never doubting, always trusting, empowered by the Spirit to do God's will, just like Jesus was. Let's not judge Thomas because he had the guts to speak what we can't even bring ourselves to admit. Instead, let's examine our own hearts and ask the Spirit to show us what Jesus meant by "faith in him".