03/12/09
Mat 7:21 to 23 – Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?
And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!
Hebrews 10:26 to 29 – For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He who despised Moses’ Law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
In the verses quoted above there are several important insights.
Usually, when we come across passages like these, we tend to skip them or turn a blind eye to them. However it is passages like these that help us to be firmly established in the faith. Whenever we come across something that might challenge us or produces fear in us, it is important we dwell on that and allow the Spirit to work in us through those scriptures.
Many times, we take the route of absolutely ignoring such verses or the other extreme, which is, “it does not apply to me” and vehemently defend our place in the love and grace of God. Even though the latter might seem like a Godly posture, it is usually birthed out of fear or pride.
Our response to scripture should be one that of total openness and surrender, in all humility.
If scriptures produce in us fear and other negative emotions we need to deal with them with the Spirit’s help, rather than masquerade them or ignore them. For only through that process we will be able to see our true selves and be able to make the necessary changes.
In the past years, preaching from the above mentioned scripture (Matthew 7) in churches has brought forth some of the strongest times of the presence of God including a few notable signs.
Now, let us look into Matthew 7: 21 to 23.
In this passage the people mentioned prophesied, cast out demons and did other mighty works in Jesus name and yet in the end Jesus tells them that He does not know them and casts them away from His presence.
We know from the scripture in Acts that not everyone can use the name of Jesus (in the context of those unsaved) and see results. The sons of Sceva tried to do it and were pulverized by the devil. On the contrary the people in this passage were able to cast out demons and saw results and so they had to have known the Lord to some degree.
Also the passage notes Jesus as saying, “I never knew you” rather than “you did not know me”. There is a huge difference between the two statements.
Interpeting it, these people knew the Lord but the Lord did not know them. The word know in this passage in Greek is used in the context of a husband knowing his wife intimately. In that place of intimacy the wife gives herself totally to the husband not withholding anything back. Simply put for a husband to know his wife, she must give herself to him totally.
So when Jesus says, “I never knew you”, it means you never gave yourself totally to Me or you did not surrender to me or allow me to search you on the inside or sanctify you.
This thought is sobering as we are into signs, wonders and prophesy today but haven’t taken the time needed to set our lives in order or live holy before the Lord. Sanctification by faith is almost but a lost art in the modern Christian culture. Surrender and total dedication seem to have been long forgotten.
This has resulted in a group of people who can operate in signs and wonders but cant find the restraint to not sin. The standards have been lowered to fit in gifted people. As a matter of fact one notable minister said recently, “The gifts are more important than the fruit of the Spirit”, clearly contradicting scripture (Read I Corinthians 13). WHERE ARE WE HEADING TO BRETHERN??? If those who profess to stand for the truth don’t take their place in a time of darkness, we are in danger of loosing many!
Hebrews 10:26 to 29
In looking into this passage we will firstly build a solid foundation. This passage does not apply to those struggling in sin and wanting to be free. Neither does it apply to those who are willfully sinning but haven’t yet had a true revelation of the truth in their lives. It also does not apply to those who might be forced or pressured into sin.
It applies to those who even after having a clear understanding of truth willfully choose to sin (verse 26).
In saying this, my understanding is that many today really don’t know the truth and therefore there is an element of grace available. For those who know the truth but for many different reasons and motives tolerate or justify sin, are in danger of falling under this judgment.
Brethren, Jesus did say that in the last days lawlessness will abound and the Agape of many will grow cold. This should arm us with a mind to walk Holy and in Love and dedicated to the Lord always, as we are in the last days.
