WEBVTT 00:04.165 --> 00:16.183 [SPEAKER_00]: In day two of our series on honesty, today we're going to look at the temptation to build a facade and invite God to tear it down as we seek to live more honestly. 00:17.085 --> 00:30.966 [SPEAKER_00]: May God show you how loved you are just as you are and may His love bring you freedom and life as we rest in His presence right now. 00:54.132 --> 00:55.436 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 01:02.047 --> 01:13.906 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 23 verse 27, Scripture says, Woe to use scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. 01:14.967 --> 01:26.265 [SPEAKER_00]: For you are like white-washed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within our full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness, 01:28.945 --> 01:35.853 [SPEAKER_00]: The greatest testimony you could possibly give is to have the audacity to live honestly. 01:37.174 --> 01:39.637 [SPEAKER_00]: It takes courage to be yourself. 01:40.838 --> 01:53.653 [SPEAKER_00]: It takes security in the unconditional love of your heavenly father to acknowledge not just your strengths and successes, but also your weaknesses and failures. 01:54.292 --> 02:00.623 [SPEAKER_00]: But in doing so, your life will proclaim the powerful, beautiful work of God. 02:01.804 --> 02:09.818 [SPEAKER_00]: And in doing so, you will experience the peace and joy only freedom from building a facade can produce. 02:11.821 --> 02:20.215 [SPEAKER_00]: A facade is an outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or credible reality. 02:20.667 --> 02:28.995 [SPEAKER_00]: so often to cover up what we know to be imperfect, we devote ourselves to creating a false picture for others. 02:30.396 --> 02:36.723 [SPEAKER_00]: We even devote so much energy to building a facade that we try and deceive ourselves. 02:38.204 --> 02:46.472 [SPEAKER_00]: We muster up our pride and look only at what we've done well, all while ignoring what we need 02:47.566 --> 02:53.336 [SPEAKER_00]: As a result, we spend all our time living a life apart from reality. 02:54.398 --> 03:03.533 [SPEAKER_00]: And to live apart from reality is to live apart from the grace and love of our ever-present holy, real father. 03:05.183 --> 03:12.790 [SPEAKER_00]: In Matthew 23 verse 27, Jesus passionately rebukes those who try and build facades. 03:13.511 --> 03:30.668 [SPEAKER_00]: He says, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are like white-washed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all 03:32.943 --> 03:36.947 [SPEAKER_00]: God solely cares about the heart. 03:36.967 --> 03:38.969 [SPEAKER_00]: He's not worried about perception. 03:40.010 --> 03:44.014 [SPEAKER_00]: He's not worried about status or societal acceptance. 03:45.135 --> 03:47.097 [SPEAKER_00]: He cares about what is real. 03:48.479 --> 04:01.532 [SPEAKER_00]: He knows that any energy spent devoted to building a facade is energy you can't devote to receiving help, healing, and grace for what's real and important. 04:02.913 --> 04:14.507 [SPEAKER_00]: He knows that all your efforts to be accepted aren't a value because the opinions of others are nothing in comparison to his unconditional love for you. 04:15.709 --> 04:25.121 [SPEAKER_00]: And he knows that ultimately all the sods will be torn down and we will be seen and known by him for who we truly are. 04:27.323 --> 04:31.789 [SPEAKER_00]: God longs for you to live fully known and fully loved. 04:32.343 --> 04:43.102 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for you to live out a revelation of his love and grace, rather than striving for affection and acceptance by building up facades. 04:44.785 --> 04:48.672 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time to experience his love and grace today. 04:48.692 --> 04:53.541 [SPEAKER_00]: Assess your heart and tear down your walls. 04:54.348 --> 05:21.300 [SPEAKER_00]: May freedom burst forth in your life today, as you proclaim the glory of God's grace by being who you really are. 05:25.634 --> 05:38.852 [SPEAKER_00]: as we begin, reflect on the importance of living in reality, allow Jesus' words to stir up your desire to tear down any facade you've built up. 05:40.435 --> 05:47.845 [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew 23 verse 27 says, 05:48.483 --> 06:16.988 [SPEAKER_00]: for you are like white wash tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 06:33.168 --> 06:44.161 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, where are you striving for acceptance or affection by building up facades? 06:45.563 --> 06:49.127 [SPEAKER_00]: Where are you portraying yourself to be something you aren't? 06:50.509 --> 07:01.943 [SPEAKER_00]: Why are you doing it? 07:31.133 --> 07:36.721 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, ask the Holy Spirit for the courage to be yourself today. 07:36.782 --> 07:40.728 [SPEAKER_00]: Tell others of your weaknesses today. 07:42.050 --> 07:49.581 [SPEAKER_00]: Don't be afraid to be yourself with all your strengths, successes, weaknesses, and failures. 08:15.042 --> 08:15.789 [UNKNOWN]: You 08:31.445 --> 08:36.033 [SPEAKER_00]: May God's grace and love empower you today as you live honestly. 08:37.355 --> 08:43.025 [SPEAKER_00]: May you stop devoting your energy to appearances and give yourself to what's real. 08:44.187 --> 08:51.360 [SPEAKER_00]: And in doing so, may you encounter the unconditional acceptance and affection of your loving father. 09:11.050 --> 09:13.415 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to today's podcast. 09:13.796 --> 09:15.219 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with First 15. 09:16.161 --> 09:25.802 [SPEAKER_00]: One of the greatest gifts God gives us every day as we make space to experience his love is the gift of being who we actually are. 09:26.052 --> 09:44.010 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to practice honesty, choose to admit where you felt short, choose not to exaggerate a success or experience, choose to be honest rather than impress. 09:43.990 --> 09:52.345 [SPEAKER_00]: and rest in the freedom and joy that comes from seeking to be nothing more and nothing less than who you are today. 09:52.385 --> 10:02.444 [SPEAKER_00]: If today's episode was meaningful for you, make sure to leave a rating or a review or shoot us a note at podcast at firstifteen.org. 10:03.025 --> 10:07.433 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek him.