What is the state of our relationship with God? Are we conformed to the world while yet proclaiming His name? "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him." (1 John 2:15). The Lord addresses this, and many other issues, in Matthew 7:21-23. These Word’s are hard to read as it forces us to evaluate the depths of our hearts. Why is this important? Because too many seek out what they want to hear and follow those who will use this to establish themselves before men. Choosing not to seek the truths from God, but to heave their ears ‘itched’. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what they want their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3).
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus is speaking to the crowd near the end of the Sermon on the Mount. It is a dire warning that there are many who profess His name, but will never enter the Kingdom of God! These are chilling word’s that should lead us all to examining our hearts. Who are these people that the Lord is referring to? How can anyone who professes Jesus Christ not have salvation? Let us examine this together.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” In professing “Lord, Lord’, we are acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and as committed believers, we truly mean it. This is saying that we have turned over to the Lord dominion over our lives…’Lordship’ over our lives. Surrendering all to His wisdom and authority. Seeking first the Will of God in our lives above our own. This is not true of many who proclaim His name. And their deeds and actions indicate otherwise. The true desires of their hearts cannot be hidden from the Lord. It means that lip service, ceremony and pretenses without true devotion and complete commitment to the Lord which is empty and void. Even Satan acknowledges the Lord! And where is his destiny? The Lord is indicating the spiritual state of those that will hear. There are two types of people that are seeking His kingdom on that great day before the throne of God. Those who have truly given Jesus Lordship over their lives and seek obedience to Him in all things, and those who have just declared His name as a ‘safe guard’ with self-serving and delusional motives. Taking the Word of God out of context and twisting it to serve their own agenda, justifying their own personal desires by deluding His Word to conform with our world and culture, through personal interpretation and not though seeking the guidance and truths of the Holy Spirit. Personal interpretations do not reveal His truths. This only comes by the understanding of His Word by the Holy Spirit. “This is what we speak, not in words taught to us by Human wisdom but in Words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught Words.” (1 Corinthians 2:13). It is our responsibility to seek HIS truths and not choose to be fed the truths of another...no matter who they are or claim to be. “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.” (2 Peter 1:20).
22 “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” “Many!” This indicates that there is a VERY large number in this state of deception. They are involved in religious works. Prophesizing, healing, driving out demons and many other ‘miracles’ in His name. Building churches and ministries in His name. They claim a relationship with Him but the Lord turns them away. Having the wrong motives in seeking attention and their own glory and not the Lord’s, which is unacceptable to Him. God will not be mocked. “Do not be deceived: God will not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7). “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6). We are seeing this in the church today. Many, too many, using the Word of God and the name of Jesus for self gain. Interpreting His Word to serve their purpose deceiving many! How do we test the words of the spirits within them? Through His Word! “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but tests the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone into the world.” (1 John 4:1). So where do these abilities to do miracles come from? There are two elements to this: First, God is mysterious at times in His ways and purpose. God will empower unbelievers to perform the deeds for His sovereign Will and purpose. An example is Judas. As he walked with the Lord, he was given the same abilities to perform miracles as the others until he was overcome by Satan. There is nothing in scripture that contradicts this. Secondly, and mostly the case, Satan and his minions. They will do all they can to deceive as many as possible by imitating that which is of God. Again, God allows this for His purpose and Will. Not understanding why and how He does this does not negate His purpose and Will, which can be beyond our understanding. Can Satan perform these things? Consider the Word of God: “And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light”. (2 Corinthians 11:14).
23 "Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" These ‘believers’ are not those who truly believe and lost their salvation. Their salvation cannot be lost. These are those who were never saved at all and live in deception not only unable to understand the truths of His Word, but don’t even seek it. The Lord never ‘knew’ them and they never truly ‘new Him’. “New’ them, refers to a personal relationship between themselves and the Lord. Therefore, the Lord casts them out!
The very sad part is that they have been blinded and turned over to their sins. “So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.” (Psalm 81:12). As true believers in the Lord, we should be compelled to pray and minister to these who the Lord speaks of. For NOTHING is impossible for the Lord, and He desires that all would be saved. “Who wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4).
So what do we do? Constantly pray for the truths of the Word of God to be revealed to us through His Holy Spirit lest we be deceived. For our own personal relationship with Him, our salvation, and His guidance in ministering to those that are Lost. What is the Lord’s commission to each of us? To go forth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ…His truths. “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15). These Word's of God are not for condemnation, but out of great love for us...that none would be lost. "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some as some count slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9). These are the last days that we are living in. The Lord is telling us to get our 'houses in order'. And we must hear His Word's as a cry of His Love for us...and to be thankful!
My personal feelings on this are that we must always be on guard as to the temptations of this world and all that is in it. The desires of personal gain, weather they are materialistic or our personal status and acceptance by an unbelieving world and its accepted culture. They can trap even the most genuine of hearts. For if we pursue these things first and foremost, then they in essence become our god.
As always, your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.
Psalm 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." (KJV)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus is speaking to the crowd near the end of the Sermon on the Mount. It is a dire warning that there are many who profess His name, but will never enter the Kingdom of God! These are chilling word’s that should lead us all to examining our hearts. Who are these people that the Lord is referring to? How can anyone who professes Jesus Christ not have salvation? Let us examine this together.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” In professing “Lord, Lord’, we are acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and as committed believers, we truly mean it. This is saying that we have turned over to the Lord dominion over our lives…’Lordship’ over our lives. Surrendering all to His wisdom and authority. Seeking first the Will of God in our lives above our own. This is not true of many who proclaim His name. And their deeds and actions indicate otherwise. The true desires of their hearts cannot be hidden from the Lord. It means that lip service, ceremony and pretenses without true devotion and complete commitment to the Lord which is empty and void. Even Satan acknowledges the Lord! And where is his destiny? The Lord is indicating the spiritual state of those that will hear. There are two types of people that are seeking His kingdom on that great day before the throne of God. Those who have truly given Jesus Lordship over their lives and seek obedience to Him in all things, and those who have just declared His name as a ‘safe guard’ with self-serving and delusional motives. Taking the Word of God out of context and twisting it to serve their own agenda, justifying their own personal desires by deluding His Word to conform with our world and culture, through personal interpretation and not though seeking the guidance and truths of the Holy Spirit. Personal interpretations do not reveal His truths. This only comes by the understanding of His Word by the Holy Spirit. “This is what we speak, not in words taught to us by Human wisdom but in Words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught Words.” (1 Corinthians 2:13). It is our responsibility to seek HIS truths and not choose to be fed the truths of another...no matter who they are or claim to be. “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.” (2 Peter 1:20).
22 “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” “Many!” This indicates that there is a VERY large number in this state of deception. They are involved in religious works. Prophesizing, healing, driving out demons and many other ‘miracles’ in His name. Building churches and ministries in His name. They claim a relationship with Him but the Lord turns them away. Having the wrong motives in seeking attention and their own glory and not the Lord’s, which is unacceptable to Him. God will not be mocked. “Do not be deceived: God will not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7). “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6). We are seeing this in the church today. Many, too many, using the Word of God and the name of Jesus for self gain. Interpreting His Word to serve their purpose deceiving many! How do we test the words of the spirits within them? Through His Word! “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but tests the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone into the world.” (1 John 4:1). So where do these abilities to do miracles come from? There are two elements to this: First, God is mysterious at times in His ways and purpose. God will empower unbelievers to perform the deeds for His sovereign Will and purpose. An example is Judas. As he walked with the Lord, he was given the same abilities to perform miracles as the others until he was overcome by Satan. There is nothing in scripture that contradicts this. Secondly, and mostly the case, Satan and his minions. They will do all they can to deceive as many as possible by imitating that which is of God. Again, God allows this for His purpose and Will. Not understanding why and how He does this does not negate His purpose and Will, which can be beyond our understanding. Can Satan perform these things? Consider the Word of God: “And no wonder, for Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light”. (2 Corinthians 11:14).
23 "Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" These ‘believers’ are not those who truly believe and lost their salvation. Their salvation cannot be lost. These are those who were never saved at all and live in deception not only unable to understand the truths of His Word, but don’t even seek it. The Lord never ‘knew’ them and they never truly ‘new Him’. “New’ them, refers to a personal relationship between themselves and the Lord. Therefore, the Lord casts them out!
The very sad part is that they have been blinded and turned over to their sins. “So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.” (Psalm 81:12). As true believers in the Lord, we should be compelled to pray and minister to these who the Lord speaks of. For NOTHING is impossible for the Lord, and He desires that all would be saved. “Who wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4).
So what do we do? Constantly pray for the truths of the Word of God to be revealed to us through His Holy Spirit lest we be deceived. For our own personal relationship with Him, our salvation, and His guidance in ministering to those that are Lost. What is the Lord’s commission to each of us? To go forth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ…His truths. “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15). These Word's of God are not for condemnation, but out of great love for us...that none would be lost. "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some as some count slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9). These are the last days that we are living in. The Lord is telling us to get our 'houses in order'. And we must hear His Word's as a cry of His Love for us...and to be thankful!
My personal feelings on this are that we must always be on guard as to the temptations of this world and all that is in it. The desires of personal gain, weather they are materialistic or our personal status and acceptance by an unbelieving world and its accepted culture. They can trap even the most genuine of hearts. For if we pursue these things first and foremost, then they in essence become our god.
As always, your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.
Psalm 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." (KJV)
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