The Hypocrite's Closet

A great danger for the Christian is to fall into hypocrisy, and worse, to not know we have become one. The Pharisee's were so blind, that Jesus' open rebukes to them, only made them even more mad with rage against him, and finally moved them to conspire to crucify him. We see the same conduct today, and the weapons of use, and the ruthless tactics, haven't changed. Satan uses what works, and he's been at it a long time.
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People who become deceived, blind hypocrites have certain traits that were evident in Jesus' day. The Pharisee's were scrupulous about pointing out everything he did, that didn't stay within the strict letter of the Law, but they chose to overlook the mercy, forgiveness, and miracles of healing and deliverance Jesus performed in front of them-they hated him for it, and they cared nothing about the person he had just made whole in their sight. One answer he gave them, I love; and it cut them to the heart:
​Luk 13:15  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 

​Someone with a heart of a Pharisee will never acknowledge the power of Jesus, that set you free from the bondage you may have been in, or the torment you had lived in, before Jesus rescued you. They'll never emphasize that, that's not their agenda. These folks will only keep going back in your history, and bring up every speck of dirt they can, and re-use it to try to ruin you. It doesn't make any difference to them, how long ago it was, or how many years you've now been walking in righteousness with the Lord. They do not care. They also learn to be very clever to keep their own faults, and shortcomings undercover-and in the closet. But, many times the skeletons find their way out.
The reasons can be many; resentment of you, envy, jealousy, fear of you as a person-they may see you as a coming source of competition, and like Saul, become mad to the point of wanting to get rid of you any way they can. Your past sins, even though now forgiven and forgotten by God, is the weapon of choice they use over and over again-because it works.

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​Now, we have to understand that there's a distinction between the hypocrite and the preacher or believer of righteousness who's preaching against sin to bring conviction to the sinner, doing their best to get the unrepentant sinner to turn from their sin, and surrender their lives to Christ, and be delivered from their bondages. There's a vast difference here, and if the preacher or believer is preaching hard against sin, with no malice toward any individual, the Holy Spirit will confirm this to your spirit, and you will stand with them in prayer, that he/she will wins that soul for God.

Our guidelines in preaching are this:
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 
2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 
2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 
2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

Read the preaching of Jesus himself- most of it to the Pharisee's will singe the hair on your head.

Strategies for Victory

There are strategies God has taught me, that will help you overcome the attacks of the hypocrite, and the devil-and it works better than anything the devil can throw at you.
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1. Beat the devil at his own game- come out in public, and admit your sins, failures and temptations. Be completely honest about who, and what you are. I can gaurantee you, it works every time. I respect those like Paul, and John Newton, who describe themselves as "the chief of sinners". John Newton would answer those who spoke of his past sins and say "Yes, I'm a great sinner, but Jesus is a great Savior". I am in the same category as people like this, I have nothing to boast of, and no reputation. It is Jesus, and Jesus alone that has made me what I am this far, and even now, I know my faults which are many-But, Jesus paid my sin debt. Every time I fall, I repent, get back up, and walk on, that's what the devil hates. Don't give up, cling to Jesus, and seek Him for the power and strength to change you, renew you, and keep you. He will not fail you.

I won't guarantee you a million dollars, a mansion, or popularity. But, you will gain a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, that you will never want to lose, and will throw away the world to keep His mantle of love, protection, and peace in your life. Any calling he may put on you, I won't tell you it will be easy, but knowing He is with you in it, will be worth anything you may go through in this life. One word from Him, is all it takes, he knows I will never say no to Him. When God calls people-it NEVER has a price tag on it. The power of the name of Jesus to forgive, heal, and deliver cannot be bought; read the book of Acts, to confirm this. See  Act_3:16, Act_4:7, Act_9:34, Act_16:18, Act_19:13-16
Act 3:6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Act 8:18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 
Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 
Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 
Act 8:21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 
Act 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 

2. Spend quality time with Jesus, and ask Him to show you your place in this world, and what He put you here on earth for, then make up your mind to do it, with all your heart. Don't be jealous of other people's callings, if you knew what they have to do, or have compromised themselves to get where they are-you wouldn't want to be in their place. God has shown me many times, people and their lives-are not always what they appear.

3. Be honest with yourself- do you still love this world. If you do, your level of consecration, and love for Jesus, will be revealed by what you do. If he convicts you of something He would want you to leave behind, and remove from your life, it's because He loves you, and wants the best for you. If you cling to the sin, or the thing that's keeping you bound, you're now walking in disobedience, and are open to a lot of bondage, and deceptions. Studying the word of God, and applying it to your life, is what puts on the armor of God Paul describes in Ephesians Ch. 6, and renews our minds to fight the lies that come our way by this world system, the devil and his demon hordes. If Christians are not willing to examine themselves consistently, and aren't willing to let the word of God change them, they are an open target for every deception, and the world is full of it today.

4. When the devil, or a person who's working for him comes to you accusing you again of a past sin that you've repented of, and it's now under the blood of Christ- remind him of the verses below, they work every time. Then, go on further and remind him of his future.

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Yes, remind Satan of what he is going to face, and it doesn't look like it's going to be long in coming. I enjoy speaking these verses to him often, when the battle gets heavy. The word of God is my weapon of choice, and I use it the same way the Lord did in the wilderness when he was tempted by the devil. It worked for Jesus, and it works for you and I, if we learn how to use it with faith. When you know who you are in Christ, you can see through the lies of the devil, and stand on victory ground.

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

Take up the challenge to become an adversary to the devil, and his works in this life. In order to do that, you need to spend quality time seeking the Lord in prayer, study His word, and be willing to apply it to your life daily. Trials, temptations and attacks from many areas will keep coming, but God will equip you to deal with it, and whatever comes your way, and be able to wield the sword of the Spirit with power to cast down the strongholds of Satan in your life. The biggest key to this, is let go of the world, and embrace God's word. It is the power of God unto salvation. 
​Lorna Couillard

There Is Victory In Jesus