TOPICAL SERMON
TOPIC: APPEARNCE CAN DECEIVE
TEXT: GALATIANS 2:6- As for those who seemed to be important, whatever they were makes
no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance, those men added nothing to my
message.(NIV)
Prayer
Lord father here is thy word kindly blow us with the truth as we study it in jesus name we have
asked? Amen
Introduction
We often form our opinions on others depending on how we see them. But sometimes
appearance can be very deceptive. The quality and cost of your attire can determine how you get
treated in many places. Just by your dress people can easily judge whether you are a Muslim,
Hindu or Buddhist. Whether you are male, female, priest, beggar or military officer. However
that may not be true always. For example, drug peddlers may travel in garments of a priest, and
some people wear a Muslim woman’s burka to avoid arrest.
Body
During the time of Jesus, the Pharisees often loved praying in public markets in sackcloth to give
an impression that they were very religious. Jesus called them hypocrites and white-washed
tombs (mat 23:1-7). From a human perspective they may have seemed perfect, but God does not
judge as we do. Even a prophet such as Samuel could go wrong by his standard. He had to anoint
the one whim god had chosen as the next king, but he had a criteria based on human norms, the
firstborn, the handsome, the tallest and so forth. We too can go wrong often when we make
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choices without consulting God. He alone sees beyond the obvious and knows the future from
the beginning. Trust in his judgment and opinion. In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read “the lord said to
Samuel, ‘do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The lord does not
look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the
heart’” (NIV)
God’s perception is superior to all others, Isaiah 55:9 says, “For my thoughts are not your
thoughts neither are your ways my ways.” Where do you think God places you in His rating?
One unknown writer said, “What God says about me is more important than what men say about
me.” we can successfully fool human beings by our appearances, but not God. Four women
mentioned in the bible challenges me: Tamar (who had a child by his father in law as a result of
deception and disguise), rahab (the harlot), Ruth (a Moabite), and Uriah’s wife (who got caught
in an affair with David). All appear in the genealogy of Jesus.
By human standards we would never have allowed such women to be associated with Jesus, yet
they serve as witness of something that only God can do.
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, appearances can be deceptive. There are many people whom you might
have given up on, but who may finally be saved. Yet there are others whom we highly rate, but
in God’s valuation they are failures.
Have you ever made a big mistake by judging things at face value? What have you learned from
that experience?
APPEAL: Dear friends let us not judge people by how we see them, god knows them better.
Amen.
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PRAYER:
God father we have learnt from thy word kindly lord give us the spirit who will guide us and
make us to understand thy will unto our life.in jesus we have asked this. Amen
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