Great Imitator Part VIII

The Great Imitator of God

To Be Like the Most High
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.
Isaiah 14:13,14

Part VIII
Saints
Like the Most High

The Devil that produces a phony spirit, a phony bible, a phony pastor, phony miracles, signs and wonders, a phony saviour, a phony salvation and all those phony things produce phony Christians. Why?

The devil deceives to keep people from true salvation so that he may use them to battle God! The Devil needs some good soldiers - to bad some are going to be 'drafted' against their will!

A true salvation misrepresented!
II Thessalonians 2:8-10

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

A true salvation actually prevented - and actually stolen! Jeremiah 23:30,35
Luke 8:12

Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (In many cases, the word was replaced by feelings, signs, wonders, emotions, etc.) Here is why the devil wants people!
Revelation 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

The devil and his army will burn together!
Revelation 19:20

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Among the perils in Paul's description of his ministry was his persecution in different areas and by different folks. II Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

Paul's antagonists were not only of the world; you know, the robbers, the heathen, the city folks, the wilderness bunch (environmentalists). Yes, he even received problems from his own countrymen. But notice, he also had problems with false brethren. They were saints LIKE those of the most High! It was from people who CLAIMED TO KNOW GOD, whether it was the JEWS or the Christians - people who claimed to be saved, as that was what Paul preached!

Paul wrote of problems he had with regard to the status of his Gentile friend, Titus, who was a Greek. There was opposition to the young man's ministry because he was an uncircumcised Gentile. The opposition, as usual, came from false brethren. Galatians 2:3,4 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

If the truth was known, there is a good possibility that the majority of contention and confusion in local churches today is the result of church members who lied their way into the local church. That is, they SAID they were saved, but when in reality, they had never been born again.

They may have transferred their membership from another church, where they were legitimate members on the roll, but they ahd never had their names on HEAVEN'S roll. It could be that they walked the aisle during an invitation and even filled out a decision card, but their decision was not to trust the finished work of the Lord jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. they took the PREACHERS hand, but they did not get placed in the hand of the Good Shepherd of John 10:27,28! My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Yes, there are rebellious and backslidden Christians - and there are many options to possibly explain the big questions 'WHY' regarding the walk of many Christians today. But we must also remember:

Titus 1:15,16
Unto the pure all things are pure:
but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure;
but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
They profess that they know God;
but in works they deny him, being abominable,
and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. These are folks that have the profession of salvation, but not the possession of salvation! There are 'saints LIKE those of the most High. They are the Devil's children.

Some of these false brethren stay hidden within the church family and there are others that make themselves known, eventually. More proof that there could be phony Christians around us!

I John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us;
for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us:
but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Matthew 13:25-30

25: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26: But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27: So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28: He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29: But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30: Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

I. Phony Christians 'Appear' to Be Children of God!
Until we are saved - born again, we are a child of the devil and we do the works of the devil!
Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;
and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:
for he is a liar, and the father of it.

When a person trust Christ, he is saved, born again - and is God's child!
John 1:12
But as many as received him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:

Although there may be and SHOULD be outward manifestations of the inward change that occurs when a person is born again of God's Spirit, the real work of God is on the INSIDE of the person. His soul is saved, and his spirit is born again. Nothing about the flesh changes, other than it becomes a house for the Holy Spirit. There is no such thing as a visible 'halo'. They do not change colors. They look like ordinary people (??). Therefore, it is a simple matter for the devil to imitate God's saints, because he does not have to change that which only God can truly change - the inside.

People cannot see a saved soul and they cannot observe a born-again spirit. All they can perceive are the fruits or consequences of those changes, and those things can be imitated.

Many have the look,
but they don't have the Book!
II Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

A. In Countenance Everyone knows that an obvious result of being one of God's children is peace and joy on the inside! Therefore, God's people should appear to be joyful and happy, amen? Luke 10:20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Proverbs 15:13
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Happiness is easy to imitate. It may very well be that the devil's secret emissaries in a local church are some of the smilingest people in the assembly! The devil knows that a Christian should be happy, so he directs his people to smile when they are on display.

But to imitate joy - that is too hard, because that is on the inside! A person can be happy but still have no inner joy.

B. In Clothing
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

I Timothy 2:9,10
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Easy to fake the outside. Shine the shoes, nice clothes - nice dresses - the walk sure looks Godly! but...

Look at those Mormon missionaries - They carry bibles, books, magazines and leaflets. They will usually wear the white shirt and tie - no long-haired, chain-wearing, ear ringed slobs with an open shirt and ragged jeans!

That gets them in through the doors! as nice looking young men that any mom would be proud of!

C. In Cleanliness
The real cleanliness is on the inside...
John 15:3
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Many phony Christians are clean on the outside ... but the inside remains dirty!
Luke 11:39
And the Lord said unto him,
Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter;
but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Nothing like abstaining from coffee, hot tea, liquor and tobacco - nothing like abstaining from eating meat to appear Godly - nothing like having those healthy habits to think that "cleanliness is next to godliness" and for some, "cleanliness is instead of godliness"!

A clean house with pain and misery on the inside? or a dirty house with God's joy on the inside?

How about a clean house on the outside AND God's joy on the inside?
Put together the doctrine AND the walk!
Apply the WHOLE Bible -
II Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:

Unfortunately, there are many 'modern' Christians today who HAVE the inside clean,
but still want to walk and talk and play with the world!

That is a shame to their Lord!
I John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world.

I John 2:17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

I John 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

I John 3:13
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

I John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need,
and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him,
how dwelleth the love of God in him?
I John 4:5
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world,
and the world heareth them.
I John 5:5
Who is he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

If you have received Jesus, why would you want the world?
That can't be of God!
Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Seems like that person would be a phony real Christian
compared the real phony Christians this sermon is about!

II. Phony Christians 'Act' like Children of God! Unfortunately, it is true that people will judge what is on the inside by what they see on the outside. That is why it is still important for a Christian to be right on the outside as well as on the inside - for what we call 'testimony's sake." Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
I Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

A. They Speak of their Faith Unfortunately, they often are more outspoken about their faith than we'uns' are. Mormons automatically tag two years of missionary work on to their young men - they expect it and look forward to it.

The JW's take their children door knocking.

The 7th Day Adventists still won't do sports, etc. on their Saturday - they took the state of Oregon to court and won!

The Native Americans and their great white spirit are all over in the schools blowing their holy smoke and teaching the children that flowers and nature has feelings. They are allowed to teach the rituals and beliefs of the Indian including their sweat lodges and how their Indian appearance - they teach them that they are all part of the circle of life, as they call it. All in the name of 'culture' within the schools.

And then those phony Christians who call insist on calling themselves Christians are still vocal about their peculiar ways of salvation - their baptisms, their public praising of their baptist popes, their fancy buildings and especially their CCM & modern upbeat music!

B. They Sing and Shout The formal ritualistic services doesn't fool people as much as it use to (liturgy, etc.). So to liven up their church, they liven up the outside of the person which in turn livens up the flesh of the person and they think they have felt the "presence of Jesus"!

This all has been accomplished by the Catholics cross-breeding with the Charismatic movement. The devil starts them separately and today, has merged almost all folks and denominations with speaking in tongues, etc. and with the 'upbeat' music of the Charismatic folks.

Yes, there are those who stick to the old time hymns of the faith, but more and more folks would just as soon skip the singing portion of the service. How do you know that, you ask? Cuz look at those who come in late on a constant basis. They don't mind missing the singing portion of the service, apparently. Something is missing in those folks, sad to say! Psalm 100:2: Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous:
and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

C. They "share" There was a time in the early church when the disciples sold their lands and parted the money to every man as he had need. In an attempt to duplicate this spirit, the god of this world has led people to use the word "share" in place of a number of good words. For instance, instead of "preaching the word", a minister 'shares' what God has laid on his heart. Rather than offering a testimony, people will "share". Rather than teach a truth, a Sunday School class teacher "shares" her thoughts.

The authority of preaching and teaching is gone in the phony Christian! I Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. There is no power of God in "sharing", it is in preaching! Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; His word is manifested through preaching, not "sharing"! What do you expect from phony Christians, anyway? They have a phony spirit with a phony bible with phony words!

This constant "sharing" by the devil's children is closer to Communism and Socialism that it is to Christianity, but it fools a number of people today, so the devil continues to use this effective tool in making his people act like children of God.

III. Phony Christians Assemble like God's Children!
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another: and so much the more,
as ye see the day approaching. Unfortunately, they don't gather for the right reasons. They do not exhort one another to do right - and most of them don't even believe that the Lord is coming yet - many do not even love his appearing - they don't want Him to appear at all. They are perfectly happy right now in their riches here on the earth.

A. They Gather in Church Look at the monstrous buildings that are being built. Glass cathedral's, gymnasiums, cafeterias for teen night clubs, multi-million dollar mega church buildings complete with moving glass pulpits and great water fountains - all being enriched by full choirs and professional orchestras - Music during their prayers and sermons.

The devil can bring folks into those churches just by their 'visual flatteries & attractions", amen?

B. They Give in Church These folks certainly pay for their buildings and supplies. They have national network commercials advertising their church 'plant' - they have mission buildings all over the world. There are fancy and luxurious materials used in their offices and sanctuaries. The devil sure does provide for the wants of those folks. Look at their tv channels and programs. Grand pianos; 'garden's' around the pulpit; huge sound systems, full orchestra's, music programs that are run professionally and perfect in their presentations.

C. They Grow in Numbers These cults and charismatic groups have plenty of emotional appeal and public relations. These cults are always starting some building up somewhere. A struggling small congregation sticking with the Bible has little growth (except from within, amen!) but there always seems to be a thriving church down the street that challenges your own children to get you to go to that church - "it looks more fun", they say.

But...
Revelation 3:15-17

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

IV. They are NOT God's Children The religious leaders of Jesus' day were the devil's children. They claimed to have God as their father. They claimed to be God's people, and they accused Jesus of having a devil. However, the Lord spoke the truth to them... John 8:41-44
Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him,
We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me:
for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:
for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Those awful words will ring in the ears of phony christians after they beg...
Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This is the real & only way to become a child of God!
Galatians 3:26
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

A. They have No True Belief in the Gospel
John 3:7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. They have believed in a false gospel - 'another gospel, which is not another, but is a perversion of the gospel of Christ. The gospel which saves is that of I Cor 15:1-4, which states that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

There are two types of people in the world: those who are trusting in that saving gospel to get them to heaven and those who aren't. Of these two groups, the Bible says: John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

People who do not know Jesus Christ as their Saviour have trusted in these or others:
Baptism
Repenting
Walking an aisle in church
Committing themselves to Christ
Committing themselves to live right
Saying the sinners prayer
An emotional experience
A vision
Financial prosperity
Good deeds
Being in the right church
Showing evidence of salvation
Membership in a lodge
Keeping the commandments
Obeying the Golden Rule
Not killing anyone
etc. etc. etc.

B. They have No True Birth by the Spirit of God
The Lord sure knew how to tell them the truth about themselves.
Matthew 23:15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte,
and when he is made,
ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

This operation MUST take place in ALL to be a Christian!
Colossians 2:11,12
And ye are complete in him,
which is the head of all principality and power:
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands,
in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with him in baptism,
wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised him from the dead.

The sword of the spirit must do the work!
Hebrews 4:12,13
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:
but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

If not, they are just another unsaved person posing as a phony christian!
I Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

You either have the Spirit of God, or you don't - there is no growing process!
Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Take the test!
I John 4:1-3
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh
is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world.

C. They have No True Belonging to the Lord
Hebrews 12:8
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers,
then are ye bastards, and not sons.

...unless, of course, you deal with it before the chastisement has to come into the picture!
I Corinthians 11:31,32
For if we would judge ourselves,
we should not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord,
that we should not be condemned with the world.

A Phony Christian is Not One of God's Children!

II Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.
And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

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