Sermon

“The real thing”

Isaiah 29:13-16
 
God doesn’t want FAKE, 
He wants… the real thing

And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote (verse 13)


1.
“The real thing”
    * How far are your lips from your heart?
    * It is a religious spirit not the Holy Spirit.
    * A religious spirit is defined by author Peter Wagner as “An agent of Satan assigned to prevent change and maintain the status quo by using religious devices.”
    * Where is your heart while we are singing?


What we think is so cool and so awesome will disappear

Because of this, I will once again astound these hypocrites with amazing wonders. The wisdom of the wise will pass away, and the intelligence of the intelligent will disappear.“ (verse 14) 

…so what is the real thing?


2.
“The real thing”
    * Who were these people anyway?
    * Do we have people like this?
    * What kind of amazing wonders will or can God do?
    * What was hip today may not be hip tomorrow
    * How smart does man really think he is?

…so what is the real thing?

What we think is so cool and so awesome will disappear

“The real thing”
 
Living a life of integrity will pay dividends … and that is the real thing?

What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their evil deeds in the dark! "The Lord can't see us," they say.  "He doesn't know what's going on!“ (verse 15)


3.
“The real thing”
 
Living a life of integrity will pay dividends … and that is the real thing?
    * Can we really hide things from the Lord?
    * It seems like there is something bad in store for those who hide their sins in the dark.
    * Only a fool says what comes in the second part of this verse.  
    * What is Integrity?

 
4.
What should we say to our Maker today? 

How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, "He didn't make me"? Does a jar ever say, "The potter who made me is stupid"? (verse 16)

What should we say to our Maker today? 
    * We should walk in the knowledge that He has created us.
    * We should walk in the knowledge that there are just some things that we may never know on this side of eternity.
    * Would we ever say to God that He is stupid?
    * Maybe not with our words but what about with how we live?

GO Question

Title : "The Real Thing"
Text: Isaiah 29:13-16

Ice breaker:
Have you ever got a fake gift or bought a fake stuff?
Please share one experience.

Jokes:

Girl: "When we get married, I want to share all your worries, troubles, and lighten your burden"
Boy: "It's very kind of you, darling. But I don't have any worries or troubles"
Girl: "Well that's because we aren't married yet"

First Man (proudly) : "My wife is an angel!"
Second Man : "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her middle name is Always.

First woman: "My husband and I never argue"
Second woman: "Not even when he's right?"
First woman: "I don't know. That's never happened."

Eve: "Adam, do you love me?"
Adam: "Who else?"

Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.

Questions:

1. God doesn't want "fake". He wants "the real thing".
How do you define "fake" character in today world?

2. In the new testament, many times Jesus criticized the Pharisees (religious people) as fake.
Who are the "Pharisees" in our society today?

3. What turns people fake in the 21st century?
(Envy, Jealousy, Money, Bitterness)

4. If no one can hide anything from God, why don't people live with integrity?
Why should I live a life of integrity?
(I am being watched by God, I will reap whatever I sow, Dishonesty damages my character, God will reward my integrity)

5. How do we walk our life to show God "the real thing" from us ?
("The real thing" is based on a healthy relationship with God and with other believers.
Begin by accepting a relationship with Jesus Christ and go to GG if you have not started that relationships yet.)

6. How is it to break free from "fake" spirit in our lives?
(We need God, He created us and He is God – we are not, everyone has strengths and weaknesses, total surrender heart, forgive and release, refuse to follow "the world" and set boundaries, live for an audience of One)

• Please pray as a group to ask God to take over in your lives and show you how to deal with "fake" spirit and show Him "the real thing" in your lives.

• Please pray for PJ and his family as they will leave ICA for 2 months (June-July). Let God will keep them safe and healthy and give them love, grace, strength, and blessing.

Have a great discussion and wonderful fellowship.

God bless,
GO West
Poedji