New Song Normals - Transparency

God can’t bless who you pretend to be. 

- 44% of Americans feel more stressed than they did 5 years ago

- 60% of all disease and illness is caused by anxiety and stress.

- Suicide has now passed car crashes as the number one injury death in America.

- Around 19% of the population suffers from an anxiety disorder.

What’s healthier, your image or you?

1 Samuel 16:7 “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Proverbs 11:20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.  

blameless = whole

1 Peter 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

hypocrisy = hupokrites = the acting of a stage player

Transparency means - according to Websters:

1. – Having the property of transmitting rays of light, so that bodies can be
2. seen through.
3. – So fine a texture or open in mesh as not to conceal what lies beyond.
4. – Easily detected, perfectly evident, guileless, free from pretense.
    

Transparency means - according to New Song:

1. – Having the ability to have Jesus shine through your life, because no
2. hidden issues obstruct His inner light.
3. – Concealing no secret inner sin or problem area so as to appear spiritual,
4. but allowing the Real you to be seen.
5. – Free from all pretense and quick to admit error.
6. 
   

1. Be Real With Yourself

2 Corinthians 12:5 I will boast only about my weaknesses. 

 2 Corinthians 12:9 God said to me, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 

2 Corinthians 12:10 For say this with me when I am weak, then I am strong.

My power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in your weakness.” 

Where your strength runs out, God’s strength kicks in. 

2. Be Real With God

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Mark 10:51 What do you want me to do for you?

3. Be Real With Others

2 Corinthians 12:9 I will boast only about my weaknesses. 

1 Thessalonians 2:8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Paul shared His life with these people.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7When we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. 

James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. 

Matthew 5:14 Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

God can’t bless who you pretend to be.