I No Longer Feel The Need To Pretend

I just started reading a new book today titled, "The Emotionally Healthy Church," written by Peter Scazzero. I've only read 2 chapters and it's phenomenal.

I had written this thought down on a piece of paper to blog a couple of months ago, but never really developed it until tonight. This book deals with a topic that I've blogged about before and preach regularly at Revival Center, and that's the need for us Christians to be REAL enough to admit we're NOT perfect! We desperately need to get past the "shout," "the look" and the "tongue talking" and develop a REAL, genuine, sincere relationship with Jesus Christ!

Peter Scazzero wrote, "According to some scholars, the four presidents prior to Abraham Lincoln were "compromise leaders," unwilling to confront the difficult issue of slavery between the North and the South. Then a mature leader with a solid sense of who he was, what he believed and valued-regardless of the consequences-took the White House. The strength and maturity of his character and convictions in many ways forced the nation to confront the reality of the abomination of slavery...

The starting point for change in any nation, church, or ministry has always been the leader: As goes the leaders, so goes the church.

But is is not enough for the leader to change. God wants to set others free as well..."

We will NEVER grow a healthy church if we ourselves do NOT address the issues beneath the surface of our lives! We must be honest about what is going on "INSIDE" of us and stop hiding behind our fake facades (the "OUTSIDE")!

This about it...when God went looking for Adam and Even in the Garden in Genesis 3, He wasn't interested in dealing with them on the level of who they should have been and what they should have done. NO, He was interested in dealing with where they were at the moment; who they were right then!

There was no need to pretend that they hadn't sinned because they had! They couldn't hide, let alone live behind the tree forever, either!

The Fall was evident and the need for fellowship was greater now than ever before, and the only way for God to restore Adam and Eve was for them to STOP PRETENDING!

So, I'll leave you with a few scriptures that reveal the simplicity of God's desire for you to stop pretending that you're perfect, especially since you're NOT:

(1 John 1:8-10/ NLT) - If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

(1 John 2:1-2/ NIV) - My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

(Ephesians 2:8-9/ NIV) - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

I no longer feel the need to pretend that I'm Saved by my giftedness, talents, abilities, personality, charisma or WORKS! I'm SAVED by GRACE!

I no longer feel the need to pretend that I'm perfect, because the fact is: I am a SINNER in NEED of a SAVIOR!

I no longer feel the need to pretend...