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A
Warning to Religious Hypocrites
The Greater
Damnation is Yours
by Pastor John Hamel
“Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes,
and the elders of the people …And consulted that they might take Jesus by
subtlety, and kill him.” (Matthew 26:3-4)
It is absolutely
astounding to me that the ones who gave Jesus the biggest headaches, so to
speak, were the religious leaders of His day.
Unfortunately, this is
still true today. Religious leaders are supposed to set the example
for right living amongst all people.
Yet, all too often, they are as
sinful as the people they are to be converting! All too often,
religious leaders are religious hypocrites. It was the religious
leaders of Jesus’ day who actually incited the people to have Jesus
murdered.
Jesus sternly
warned against religious hypocrites. (Luke 20:46,47)
He said to
beware of holy “acting” people who set themselves above others, taking
advantage of their goodness!
When Jesus referred to religious
“hypocrites” He used the Greek word “Hupokrites.”
This was a word used in the Greek Theatre to describe “actors.” (Matthew
23:15)
Jesus said there is a particular curse that comes upon
religious “actors.” That curse is “greater damnation” than that which
will come upon their followers! (Matthew 23:14)
Religion is worse
today than ever.
When people discover that I am a Minister of the
Gospel, they tell me, “Oh, I’m not religious, but it’s nice to meet you
anyway.”
I tell them, “I’m not religious either. Neither is
God. Religion is man doing things his way. I like to do things
God’s way. I’m into ‘relationship’ with Jesus, not religion.”
Not all religious
leaders are hypocritical but far too many are. Many are sexual
predators. Many drink alcohol, are addicted to tobacco, use drugs,
manipulate and control their followers.
Religion is still going
strong and Jesus still refuses to cut false religious leaders any
slack. The same religious “spirit” that paid Judas to betray Jesus is
still in the Earth today. (Luke 22:1-6) It’s a conniving, devious
spirit that schemes and manipulates others to do its dirty work. (John
18:19-31)
However, not all
religious people are hypocrites and actors.
Jesus had religious
friends who loved Him. Some tried to save His life. (Luke
13:31)
One sincere religious leader looked after Jesus’ body once his
hypocritical peers had killed Him. (John 18:19-31)
So not all
religious people and religious leaders are hypocrites. Some want to
please God and really do mean well. They just lack proper teaching.
How about
you?
Are you a religious hypocrite, who “acts” holy before others,
but in reality you secretly do things of which God and conscience
disapprove?
You can become a brand new person,
supernaturally. (2Corinthians 5:17)
God Himself
offers to cut that hypocritical spirit right out of you and give you a
brand new spirit. He actually promises to put His own Spirit within
you. (Ezekiel 36:26,27)
That’ll do a whole lot to knock the hypocrisy out
of anybody.
Just say from a
sincere heart, “Jesus, I don’t want to be a religious player anymore.
I’m not interested in ‘greater damnation’. I’m interested in
‘relationship’ not ‘religion’. I choose You as
my Savior and give You access now to ‘iron out the religious
wrinkles’ in my life.” (Romans 10:13)
Be Blessed … John and Barbara Hamel
How
to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)
How
to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power
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