WOULD THE REAL JESUS PLEASE STAND UP!
Kay Keith Peebles 7/9/21 21.26
To Tell the Truth was a gameshow that originated in 1962. It consisted of a moderator, a panel of four celebrities and three contestants. One of the three contestants had accomplished something exceptional and uncommon. They could be a hero, an inventor, a doctor who discovered a life-saving procedure or someone who had a very unusual occupation, to name a few. The other two impersonators would pretend to be him/her and were coached with enough information to be quite convincing. Because the internet was not in existence, their faces were not widely recognized and they were not known on a national basis.
The program would begin with the moderator explaining what the person had accomplished to cause them to be noteworthy. The star contestant was required to tell the truth when asked a question but the impersonators could say anything necessary to be convincing. The four panel members would interact with all three contestants in order to discern which one of them was the special guest. After twenty-two minutes of constant probing, each of the panel members had to decide for themselves who was telling the truth. At the end of the show, the moderator would declare: “Would the real _____________ please stand up?”
In this current day and age, the western church has become full of impersonators who have formed a gospel that fits their own lifestyle, far from Christ’s call to holiness. In such desperate times, there is a deep cry from the whole earth for true freedom, true godliness and a real hope upon which to cling.
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs until now.” Romans 8:19-22.
Jesus showed us the way and then ascended to the Father leaving us in charge of all creation. It is the Heavenly Father’s adopted sons and daughters, who declare and decree, bind and loosen, pray and stand in His authority. The genuine children of God who are filled with His Holy Spirit are the carriers of His Spirit and His anointing. They are to resist the enemy’s advances in the earth by using His authority which is backed by His power in order to release His Kingdom in the earthly realm.
There’s an old saying regarding a son and his father. It is: the son is a “chip off the old block”! Another is “like father, like son”. Because we learn from our parents, the father’s character traits become the son’s. The child is a reflection of the father. This was true of Jesus. Our fathers were not perfect (all have sinned) therefore some of our character traits needed to be changed, but Jesus displayed the complete and perfect image and character of Father God.
The Apostle John had a firm grasp on who Jesus was and keenly wrote about it. In Chapter 5 of his gospel he showed the dialogue between the Jewish leaders and Jesus when they sharply questioned His “breaking” of the Sabbath laws. It infuriated them when Jesus healed on the Sabbath. The Lord God gave the Law to Moses regarding the Sabbath but the Jewish leaders added their own version and interpretation to the Law perverting its purpose and meaning. Jesus began to expose their hypocrisy by healing people on the Sabbath. At the same time, He was fulfilling all the Old Testament prophesies that were spoken about Him: the coming Messiah, Israel’s Savior and eternal King.
“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working.’ This made the Jews more determined than ever to kill Him, for not only was He breaking the Sabbath [from their viewpoint], but He was also calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. So Jesus answered them by saying ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself [of His own accord], unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever things the Father does, the Son [in His turn] also does the same way. For the Father dearly loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be filled with wonder.’” John 5:17-20.
We must ponder how the Jewish leaders missed the coming of their Messiah, Deliverer, and Savior Jesus when they had between 300-400 Old Testament prophecies about His coming, life, death and future reign as King. What we do know is many priests had become compromised and failed to follow God when idolatrous kings ruled. Perhaps this was from a fear of death, removal from their position or simple complacency. Because they wrote their own interpretation of God’s Law, they elevated themselves in importance and began to unjustly rule over the people. Money, power, and position can corrupt one’s morals.
When Jesus came on the scene and turned over the tables of the money changers as He did their hypocritical rules, He put their entire existence in jeopardy. He was in their face, un-intimidated, unyielding and relentless. The more their pride rejected Him, the more He exposed their hypocrisy. It drove them to the only solution possible; He had to die for the sake of their empire to remain!
“So the chief priests and Pharisees convened a council [of the leaders in Israel], and said, ‘What are we doing? For this man performs many signs (attesting miracles). If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our [holy] place (the temple) and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiphas, who was the high priest that year [the year of Christ’s crucifixion], said to them, ‘You know nothing at all! Nor do you understand that it is expedient and politically advantageous for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.’ So from that day they planned together to kill Him.” John 11:47-53.
They thought they could erase Jesus from history. They fell right into God’s plans. They set their own fate and that of the crowd standing nearby when they asked to spare Barabbas instead of Jesus. The crowd proudly declared: “‘His blood be on us and on our children.’ Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” Matthew 27:25-26.
Those who re-write the Gospel are killing Jesus all over again. When they re-define the Grace of God, and erase Jesus’ command for all to die to self, pick up their cross and follow Him they are denying His command to complete surrender. Just as they erase His true message and purpose, they are erasing their own names out of the Lamb’s Book of Life! See 2 Peter 2:12-22.
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame…” Hebrews 6:4-6. See 1-8.
None of us is fully perfected as yet. The Bible says we will be made perfect when we see Him. See 1 John 3:2. But, when we fail and do not always act with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we must be quick to repent. When someone offends us, we must quickly forgive them and not allow bitterness or resentment to build a stronghold in our hearts. There is a big difference from tripping every now then and repenting, than living unrighteous lives willingly and consistently.
Do we have a loving Father in heaven Who runs to meet His prodigal sons and daughters and restore them? Absolutely! Does He wait patiently for them to come to their senses in order to lead them back to Him? Yes! But the Bible also says He will not wait forever. Continued un-repented sin sears our conscience and will eventually cause us to completely harden our hearts against the word of God and therefore God Himself. We may think we’re getting by but our sin will eventually catch up with us and pull us down.
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Or how much worse punishment do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ Says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31.
When we refuse to allow the Holy Spirit to fully cleanse our hearts of all idols that stand before God, the enemy has an opening to deceive us. When we refuse to take our brokenness before the Lord for healing, doors to the enemy are left open to bring us harm. When we refuse to repent of sin clearly explained in the Bible and excuse it, we remain bound by the enemy and without repentance, judgment will come.
The Lord is looking for His matured sons and daughters to arise to begin doing the Father’s business! He is looking for His children (offspring) to be just as surrendered to Him as Jesus was/is. The Lord has called His children to do the works that Jesus did and even more. We are to bring the Kingdom of God to the people through signs and wonders, healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, casting out demons and raising the dead. When the goodness of God is displayed and the power of God is seen, hearts become open to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the exact same pattern Jesus used when He ministered on earth.
Why did I title this message “Would The Real Jesus Please Stand Up?” Because people are being confused by a compromised, weak, gospel that is the imposter of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Pastors, leaders and sheep that are buying into the lie are imposters. The world is in desperate need of seeing the true sons of God walk in the full integrity of the Gospel of the Kingdom. They are longing to see and experience the true power of God through healing, deliverance, signs and wonders. Words without power fall to the ground. The power of God gets the world’s attention and the Word of God convicts them of their sin! Who is willing to pay the price to be a true reflection of Jesus? Now is the time. Would The Real Jesus Please Stand Up?
