Are You In For A Surprise?

Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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 perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

I admit, every time I have read this warning of Jesus I have mixed emotions. I feel a bit of anger at the thought of the liar, Satan, deceiving so many with the very works they do. But they are not good enough to get us into heaven. They will never make us a child of God. Jesus makes that clear. And I have an amount of sadness at the thought of the surprise in store for those who never saw it coming. It will be a shock that will never wear off.

Jesus tells us here that it is the "relationship" that is important, not the works. Works without relationship will not be accepted. A right relationship with the Father, however, will always result in works acceptable to the Father. They still don't get us into heaven. Only Jesus has made that possible. But they are evidence of a right relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. The WILL of the Father is that we have a right relationship with Him over what we can give or do for Him. (Matthew 5:23-24) And Jesus is not teaching that we must maintain our salvation. Jesus does that as well. In this seventh chapter He says, to those who served fruitlessly, "I NEVER knew you."

This passage is a call to all of us to always "know" where we stand. (1 John 5:13) Many are lost, seeking to do good works to gain a home in heaven. It will never happen. Some are saved, yet their works are not "in the Spirit," but in the flesh. Those works will be consumed as the works are judged... but the one doing them, if a true believer, will be saved. (1 Cor. 3:15) And some are serving in "relationship" with the Father. The work is a result of that growing relationship. It is done by depending on and allowing the Spirit of God to do His work through our obedient actions. The relationship with the Father makes it possible to truly know when He is leading and working. These people are moved more by the relationship then they are the work. And whatever happens, no matter what others may do, they are steady servants... unswayed in their positive, joyful devotion. Are you a true servant, or are you in for a surprise?

God's Enthusiasm About You

God has some very good news for you. He says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer." (Matthew 21:22) If we will accept that truth, and work on our belief system, nothing will be impossible. The key is to learn more about Jesus, seek Him, and "remain in Him and He in us."

Jesus says to "abide" in Him. "He that abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, NKJV) "Abide" means to dwell or to live. We are to live in Jesus, day in and day out. When our lives are given to Him in such a way, HE will do the work to become one with us. It is then that God will do amazing things in your life.

With this relationship, we can see God's enthusiasm about you and me in Christ. He says, "You may come up to my throne and make your request with boldness and great expectation." (see Hebrews 10:19) God's plan is that His children deliver His blessings to this world by being connecting with Him... and that relationship will flow over into the new heaven and new earth. But it is to begin with our lives in Christ today.

God's enthusiasm should be ours. Jesus has opened the door. And He has offered the relationship to anyone who will accept it.

Who Will Pray For Us? (Part 2)

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God. He tells us that there is a great struggle taking place, a battlefield for allegiance. Satan loses the souls of those who choose God through Jesus Christ. After that happens he seeks to destroy the joy of the Christian and the effectiveness of his Christian life on earth. Jesus gives us guidance that will help us to avoid the pitfalls of Satan in this battle. How are you doing? If you feel you are losing the battle, there is hope. It is found in the guidance of Jesus. Part of the guidance Jesus gives us has to do with our prayer life. Jesus starts with the words, "When you pray...."

The warning Jesus gives us has to do with HOW we do good things. He doesn't tell us not to do righteous things "before men," but we are warned not to do them "to be seen by men," if it be giving to the needy, fasting or, as we see here, prayer. He says, "Do not pray like the hypocrites," (Mt. 6:5), and "do not keep on babbling like the pagans." The hypocrites prayed to be seen. We should not have such a selfish motive. The "pagans" prayed thinking their repetition of words would get the attention of the gods. We should not be so ignorant.

Our prayer life is not rightly influenced by how it "appears" to others, or how it "sounds" to God. It is influenced only by our right relationship with the Heavenly Father. Even Christians
can appear like hypocrites and speak like pagans. God raises up people to pray for the great things of the kingdom as well as kingdom people. They are those who have spent time seeking and finding God in a right relationship. God is not flattered by our eloquence nor our wordiness. But He is moved by our communion with Him.

As we see the "evil day approaching," where the ministry and even the faithfulness, and sometimes the survival of God's people is truly dependent on our prayers, who will pray for us? Who will be prepared? Who will have spent the time in the "school of prayer" to be able to come before God with such familiarity and experienced expectation to pray for God's people? Powerful prayer is "time tested." It is based on faith that must grow. Have you noticed, rising up from deep inside you, an occasional longing for a real person of prayer to come into your life? Maybe He is calling you.

And He will say... "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven....'" (Mt. 6:9) Start a newer relationship with the Father today.