Hypocrisy.  The act of  pretending to be what one is not. . It is pretending to be better than one is. Hypocrites can deceive men but cannot deceive God who sees the heart from a far of. Inwardly hypocrites are puffed up. A hypocrite put on a good face upon a bad heart.

The instruction in Isaiah chapter 58 does not condemn fasting but it condemn, the abuse of it. Matthew chapter 6 verses 16-18 say. “when you fast, do not look sober as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face. So that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your father, who is unseen, and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. But today what do we see, we see people not only putting on sober look but go ahead to announce to the world on the Television or Radio that they are about to start fasting with dates and time. They inform the whole world on the Various stages of their fast. The Bible condemns this action. Our Lord Jesus Christ is saying that they have already received their reward. Remember you are praying to God the father through His Son Jesus Christ, and He is saying you have already received your reward. While not follow His Instruction and stop telling the whole world that you are fasting. Verse 3 of that same chapter 6 says when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men, I tell you the truth, they have received their rewards in full. Why must you pray with a micro phone the speakers so loud when you are the only one in the church hall or when the people can hear you without a microphone. When you are less than hundred in the church. He is saying you have received your reward already in full. Must you do it to impress men. Why not do it to please God.

Hypocrites think they can get away with their sins by doing all the the right things in public.

Ananias and Sapphira did the Same. Acts chapter 5 verse 1&2 tell us that Ananias sold a piece of their land and with the consent of the wife kept back part of the money for himself pretending to have brought all, but Apostle peter full of the Holy Spirit said to him, what made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to man but to God. When Ananias had this, he fell down and died. Why deceive men who praise you for your devotion and faith. Hypocrites don’t believe that God understands the motives of their heart. Who are you deceiving. You may deceive men but not God. Worship Him in Spirit and in truth not with the out ward show of empty religion. Being a hypocrite is a pleasant Sin because you made many different people to like you. But you make God hate you. 2 Samuel chapter 15 verse 2-4 tells us that Absolom will get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. When ever any one came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision. Absolom will call out to him. What town are you from” and Absolom will say to him you  have a good case but there is no representative of the king to hear you. If only I am appointed a Judge in the Land. What a subtile way of preaching. What a cunny way of getting along. Absolom succeeded in winning the hearts of the people but he soon incurred God’s wrath. He presented himself as the solution to the people’s problem. Why not tell the people the truth. Why not tell the people what the Bible says. Must you preach the Bible for what you will get. Remember every man shall give account of his work to God.

Let us see the folly of hypocrisy. Hypocrites don’t remember that nothing is hidden from God. They don’t believe God knows their motive’s. they don’t think that God sees what they are doing in their closeth. Who do you think you are deceiving. God is not mocked whatsoever a man sowth that he must reap. Worship God in Spirit and in truth for God is looking for people who are Sincere in their dealings with Him. Tell them that Sin kills, Tell them that their blessing can only get to them when they obey God. Tell them that to obey is better than sacrifice. God is the one who gives power to make wealth, and His blessing gives peace and adds no sorrow. According to G.H. Lorimer. “H’s good to have money and the things that money can buy but it is good too, to check up once in a while, and make sure you haven’t lost the thing that money cannot buy. Seek the Lord while He may be found call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts, let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him. For our Lord will freely pardon. For our thought are not his thought, neither our was his ways.

You cannot satisfy God by pretending. Be yourself. May we return to God. You must free yourself from that yoke of hypocrisy the enemy has put on you. You were sold for nothing and you must be redeemed without money. That’s the word of the Lord. Ananias and Sapphira were ambitious of being called eminent disciples, when really they were not true disciple. They took upon themselves a profession of Christianity. If you are like that I challenge you to be a disciple indeed and get the blessing of discipleship. Amen

The secret of Good Success Joshua 1:1-8

Success can be defined as accomplishment. Achievement. A person or thing that succeeds. Today Success is moderately defined as prosperity. Anyone living in affluence, wealth, luxury or enjoying the milk and honey of life is said to be successful. Success could be a good one or bad one.

God in Joshua chapter 1 verse 6 told Joshua to be strong and courageous because he will be leading his people to inherit the land God promised their forefathers. To achieve this, God ordered Joshua to be careful to obey all the law given to him by Moses so that he will be successful where ever he may go.

He says “Do not let this book of the law depart from you mouth; meditate on it day and night; so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful”.

Success without the fear of god is not a good success. God encouraged Joshua to walk in His ways. Fear Him and then genuine success will come. To day a lot of people are seen to have succeeded without the fear of God. They do all sort of things to get money while some embezzle government money contractors cheat by not doing the work as specified. Contracts are inflected and people hail them when they see them appearing as if they are succeeding.

I want to let you know that you are not really succeeding when your wealth is not gotten out of reverence for if you must truly succeed you must do it God’s way to receive God’s own result.

For you out there who envy those who are seen to be succeeding but succeeding wrongly. The book of Psalm 37 verses 1 and 2 say “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong for like the grass they will soon wither like green plants they will soon die away. Ill gotten riches will soon fly away. Trust in God and do good and you will enjoy the labour of you hand. “Better is the little that a righteous man has than the riches of the wicked. Total obedience to God brings good success. Chronicle chapter 26 verse 5 outlines further the secrets for securing good success. Uzziah was 16 yrs old when he began to reign in Jerusalem “He sought God during the days of Zechariah who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord God gave him success. Success is not measured by our influence, position or wealth. It is the and that justifies the means. How are you making wealth? How did you get to where you are now? How did you get your wealth? How you got to where you are now, determines if you have really succeeded or not.

Even Jesus Christ arrived triumphantly because He obeyed the voice of the father by humbling Himself. Even as God He thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Joshua’s intimacy with God was the only sure ticket to his success.

Good success is not what you are or what you have neither is it defined by the amount of money we have or the influence we command but it is determined by being what God wants you to be  and being where God wants you to be. It is determined by being in His will always.

Today we are so preoccupied with our personal matters that we have less time with God.

No matter how highly place a man is when he sets himself above the law of God he will not succeed. Proverb chapter 28 verses 20 says “A faithful man will be richly blesses but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished,” and that same proverbs 20 verses 21 says “An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

Proverb 23 verse 4 has this to say “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. The blessings of God maketh rich and added no sorry.

As we march on this path of achieving good success we must not be distracted by problems of life, we must follow God’s instruction to succeed.

Friends your labour must not be in vain you must labour according to God’s instruction in other to achieve good success.

You cannot afford to fail. Your labour must not be eaten up by worms. Do your work with the fear of God in your heart and if so you will have have good success.