TWO DIFFERENT CONFESSORS
“… Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”Mat 7:23
The one confesses and do not, the other one confess and do!
Their are more confessors than doers of God’s will!
The “Word faith movement” is almost directly portrait in these verses. Those who “confess” and “speak things” and “say” things, …even that “Christ is Lord”!! – look at this, there is miracles and “faith” in operation, “prophecised” in His name, etc, but the one thing that seperates the true from the false is the seeking and doing of God’s Will and the Word as the only authority for Life and godliness! The “word faith” movement for example teach it is wrong to say or pray ” if it be Thy will” or ” Thy will be done!”
They do not even pray anymore “thy will be done” for that to them is unbelief!
Christ has issued a serious warning to all who call Him Lord: ” Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Jesus did not talk here about people who did not know Him or to so called “ungodly” poeple, but to a people who call themselves Christian and Jesus “Lord!”
Look at it!
The fact is that many who call Jesus Lord and who have “accepted” Him and prayed a “sinners prayer” and have done many wondrous works and who had faith (see Matt 7:21-22) will be cast away from the Lord “IN THAT DAY”!
This is serious words and must be heeded by all those who call Christ Lord and themselves Christians!
Look at the words “in that day” in verse 22! “That day” refers to the day when many who have died who thought they were right with God and who were in a “right relationship” with Christ almost knocked on Heavens door (call on Christ – John 10:9) to enter, and it is almost as if Christ ask them:
“why must I open the door for you”
and then they start saying: “We have called you Lord on earth (believed and acknowledged His Person and authority) we have taught your Word (we were active Christians), we have cast out demons, we have seen many things and experienced many things, our faith were very much active and real to us,
BUT THEN HE WILL TELL THEM “DEPART FROM ME all you who broke my commandments and lived lawlessly!
Listen the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven on all who KNOW THE TRUTH BUT suppress it in unrighteousness – that is who do not live by what they know is right!
This is a serious warning to all who profess to know the Truth and yet do not live constantly according to what they confess and believe in!
The great thing is not if you have prayed a prayer or if you have “loved Jesus” or have “asked forgiveness” or if you have “believed” or gone to Church or have “accepted Christ as your Saviour” etc, the most important thing is not if you call Him Lord but it is this:
“HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT BE THAT ONE JESUS IS SPEAKING ABOUT!”
Tags: christians, faith, forgiveness, Jesus is Lord, prophesied, serious warning to christians, sinner's prayer, two things in Matthew 7, word faith teaching
TWO DIFFERENT DESTINIES:- life and destruction!
” for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it…” Matt 7:13-14
There are only 2 destinies for all man – Heaven or Hell, Life or Destruction! The saddest part is that man is not from birth on his way to Life but to destruction!
No man coming into this world is naturaly a heaven-ward pilgrem, we must be made one!
Destruction is used here by the Lord Jesus to show the destiny of men on the broad road. Hell and destruction is real. “few there are” that finds life – Heaven! Heaven is a place just as Hell is a place. It is not a condition or state wherein someone comes. It is a real place of torture for them that die on the broad road.
Destruction is the end of a life lived in an easier chritsianity, in deception and of those who loves this world, sin, money, and themselves. It is a God forsaken place of torture, not only at the moment of death but for all
eternity!
“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Rev 14:11
Hell or destruction is not the grave but a conscious place of agony (Luke 16) – a prison house – that will be cast into the lake of fire at the Great Judgment:-
“And death and hell (prisonhouse) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death…” The second death is to be eternally seperated from God IN the lake of fire!” Rev 20:14
Dont go there, repent and turn to Christ and “enter at the narrow gate”, lay down your life, your sin and this world and be clothed with Christ and be renewed daily by taking up your cross and follow Him all the way!
DO NOT die in your sin, repent and turn to Jesus Christ to save you and enter His blessed Life!
“Broad is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there;
But wisdom shows a narrower path,
With here and there a traveler.”
Tags: agony, condition, deception, destiny, destruction, God forsaken place, Great Judgment, heaven, hell, lake of fire, prison house, repent, state, torture, two things in Matthew 7
Here we will look at TWO DIFFERENT TREES AND FRUITS
“…Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” Matt 7:17-18
This is especially said of “false prophets”. According to the Lord Jesus all that are on the narrow way should beware of “false prophets coming to them in sheeps clothing” but are from within ravening wolves! Here Jesus state a fact that few today acknowledge or even think about.
Few would think to find on the narrow road “false prophets” that are there on the narrow road to destroy the faith and “sincere devotion” to the Lord Jesus (2 Cor 11) of them that walk on it and those that have truly entered into the narrow gate and that are on the narrow way.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
How will you know them?
Jesus says “by their fruits”
One of the “TESTS” of a prophet is just here.
How do you know a true prophet from a false prophet? Let me mention this here:
False prophets (or true for that matter) is known by their “fruits”. Fruit is that things that a tree “Produce”. This refer to 2 things. False (or true) prophets will be known by:
1. Their lifestyles, the way they live and the things they seek after in this life (if they seek after money, possesions, worldly status, etc, then be sure they are false for a tree is known by their fruit)
2. Their doctrine or the things they teach – the things that come out of their mouths! Do they teach things contrary to the Word of God? Do they have “new revelations”that differ from the Written Word of God? If it is from God it will always be in harmony with God’s WRITTEN WORD AND complete revelation!
Then I want to mention another 2:
3. What they say must come to pass! That is, they must be 100% accurate in their predictions, if they are not, they are not God’s mouthpiece or servants.
I read a portion some time ago by someone (a modern prophet) who stated that a prophet does not need to be 100% accurate in the things they prophecy – 65% is still okay! He then use Deuteronomy 18 (where God gave this 100% accuracy rate) and said this is not what is meant here!!!! He said the test of a false prophet is if they would led people astray after strange gods (Deut 13)!
Now listen, if you hear someone tell you such things be sure they are deceived and false prophets! A true prophet is always TRUE TO GOD’S WRITTEN WORD! He will not altar it but uplift it and expound it to its fullest! False prophets take from different translations to try to give their deceptive messegges! But God said 100% or else you know it is not from God and thus false!
Why 100%? Bcause God do not make mistakes, but know the end from the beginning! Few (almost none) of the prophets that speak today are 100% accurate!
4. Of many that say things and DO come to pass, (Deut 13) BUT they are teaching things contrary to God’s Word and lead people away after their doctrines, be sure even though they do have predicted some things 100%, do not follow them – examine their teaching and the things they say and do!
Like T.B Joshua, he may perform many things, etc, but that does not mean someone is from God, test the spirits and examine what he says and teaches, then you will come to understand. TB Joshua states that Muslims, Catholics and Christians all serve the same God and are all right with God! Or He teaches that the water at the purification (in his church) is the actual blood of Christ! So even what someone does and does have 100% accuracy rate BUT teach other things – THEN KNOW THAT GOD IS TESTING YOUR OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH, will you stick to His Word (that is sound and sure) or will you go after other winds of doctrines?
God is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS TRUE TO HIS WRITTEN WORD. HIS WORD HAVE HE EVEN SET ABOVE HIS NAME!!!
There are more tests, but these few are very important!
”Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” How will you know them? Jesus says “by their fruits”
Now this seems strange to this post-modern generation to whom truth has become a relevant thing.
“it was the way of deceivers, and profane men, to cover themselves, Mat_yljb, “with their talith”, or long garment, “as if they were righteous men”, that persons might receive their lies.”
Beware — But beware of false prophets — that is, of teachers coming as authorized expounders of the mind of God and guides to heaven. (See Act_20:29, Act_20:30; 2Pe_2:1, 2Pe_2:2).
which come to you in sheep’s clothing — with a bland, gentle, plausible exterior; persuading you that the gate is not strait nor the way narrow, and that to teach so is illiberal and bigoted – precisely what the old prophets did (Eze_13:1-10, Eze_13:22). but inwardly they are ravening wolves — bent on devouring the flock for their own ends (2Co_11:2, 2Co_11:3, 2Co_11:13-15).
BEWARE – the church is full of false prophets it was the way of deceivers, and profane men, to cover themselves, “with their talith”, or long garment, “as if they were righteous men”, that persons might receive their lies.
They look like humble Godly men, God fearing and righteous, but beware! WHAT JESUS SAYS HERE IS LOOK AT THE FRUITS – BE FRUIT INSPECTORS, EXAMINE, TEST, LAY BARE, BE CRITICAL and by this know with whom you are dealing!!!!
No good fruit – if not 100% then sure a phony!
Tags: examine, false prophets, lifestyle, money, narrow road, predictions, prophets, revelation, status, Teachings, test spirits, two things in Matthew 7
We are still looking at another opposites in Matthew 7, here we have TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE:- the many and the few!
“…broad that leads to destruction and MANY enter … but narrow the way which leads to life and FEW
there be that find…” Not all who profess Christ are on the narrow way!
Those that find life are FEW. But the sad fact is that MANY think that they are on the way that leads to life! This is what Jesus is saying here – Not all who profess Christ are on the narrow way that leads to life:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mat 7:21-23)
Many profess Christ but are still under the rule of sin and lusts and of this world.
Many go to church but few are the church.
Many pray but few worships God in Spirit and in truth.
Many follow some ritual and outward religiousity but few know how to serve the Lord out of “newness of spirit”.
Many talk about Jesus but few really know Him in the likeness of His death and in the power of His resurection.
Many acknowledge His death but few are being transformed by it!
Does what you know about Christ’s death brought death to you, or are you merely a confessor but not a partaker? Do you Call Christ Jesus “Lord” but still live a life of sin and disobedience to His will and Word? Then you are in danger of being cast out in that Day!
Tags: broad road, cast out devils, church, narrow road, pray, prophesied, ritual, two things in Matthew 7, worships
We are looking at TWO things found in Matthew 7. The next thing we find is that of TWO PATHS:- the narrow way and the broad road. The two gates leads to two paths, the narrow path and d broad road.
“…broad is the road that leads 2 destruction, and many enter through it…and narrow is the way, which leads to life,
and few there be that find it”
What the Lord Jesus show here is contra what many believe:
1. Many believe that those that will be saved or are saved are many!
But Jesus correct this by saying that those who enters the narrow Way that leads to life are but FEW.
Open your eyes and behold the masses on the broad road to Hell (destruction)!
Among them thousands and thousand of professors and confessors of Christ:
“MANY will say to Me in that day Lord, Lord, then I will tell them “I NEVER knew you!” (v21-23)
2. Many think that what Jesus refers to here means that the broad road is the one the lost are born on.
But this is not true to what Jesus refers to here!
Although it is true that every person who come into this world are already on their way to destruction (Rom 3:23) -
what Jesus refers to here is what happens to those already on their way to destruction -
the one (the FEW) enters a narrow gate that will lead them to Life,
but anather (the MANY) enters the broad gate that leads them on a easy path to destruction (although they think it is to blessedness!)
What Jesus refers to here is two different experiences and two different conversions and
two different belief systems that man will enter into and will WALK in.
Those on the broad road has also passed through some “gate” – crises in life, “experience” some spiritual phenomenoms, a certain faith appropriation – but the OUTCOME does not lead them to true godliness and Christlikeness but to only a rediscovering of themselves and a feel better over themselves – this has a destructive work in their souls now and in the life to come!
On which road are you traveling?
Tags: belief system, broad road, conversion, destruction, hell, professors, two things in Matthew 7
(Guidelines in making disciples of all men, of new converts, etc)
By teaching them the thoughts of God:
Sermon on the Mount
Parables
Commenting on occurrences, etc.
By setting the perfect example:
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father?”
By encouraging them:
‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.”
By correcting their wrong behaviour:
Anger: Wanting to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans that refused to lodge them.
Fear: When their boat was on the verge of sinking.
Pride: Coveting the most prominent positions in the Kingdom of God.
What about you and me?
We may not be perfect but our motto should be:
“Follow us as we follow Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 11:1)
Tags: anger, convert, disciples, discipleship, fear, Jesus taught, parables, pride, sermon on the mount
A Subtle and Dangerous Shift in Christianity [Excerpts]
(By Marsha West)
It seems everyone’s practicing yoga meditation these days. Physicians recommend it to their patients which means it’s beneficial…right? Meditation is said to relieve stress, anxiety, hypertension, acne and post-nasal drip, so go for it! Just tighten those abdominal muscles, inhale deeply and chant Maaaaaaaaa all in one breath and your concerns will drift away like a feather floating on the wind…
But what if you’re a Christian? Should you practice the same sorts of things as Buddhist, Hindu’s and New Agers?
Listen to what the Bible says: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Josh.1:8).
Firstly, meditating day and night does not mean to stay awake for 24 hours a day. Secondly, Christian meditation is very different from Eastern meditation. Followers of Jesus Christ are not to sit in the lotus pose in an altered state of consciousness seeking the “God within” like pagans do. The Bible teaches that when Christians meditate our minds are to be fully engaged. We are never to go into a trance-state.
What does meditation involve? “The word ‘meditation’ in Hebrew means basically to speak or to mutter. When this is done in the heart it is called musing or meditation. So meditating on the Word of God day and night means to speak to yourself the Word of
God day and night and to speak to yourself about it.”
Sometimes you need to read a passage over and over…reflect on it…analyze it…and listen while the Holy Spirit speaks truth to you. A word of warning: Listening to God does not require that you “empty” your mind. This meditative practice, called Lectio divina a.k.a. spiritual formation…the silence…best known as contemplative (centering) prayer (CP) is a growing trend in evangelical churches despite the fact that this sort of prayer ritual comes from teaching associated with Catholic mystics such as Meister Eckhart, Ignatius of Loyola, St. John of the Cross, and St. Teresa of Avila. CP was reintroduced by Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Henri Nouwen, William Meninger, Basil Pennington and other mystics.
Many in the Emergent Church movement (ECM) are advancing Roman Catholic mysticism as well. Yet they insist on being seen as mainline evangelicals. ECM has not only introduced aberrant teaching into our churches, it undermines the authority of Scripture….Few have bothered to deny the Bible itself, they just misquote it, abuse its meaning, force their opinion on it, and if necessary mistranslate it to give the appearance that the Scriptures are backing their claims.
http://www.newswithviews.com/West/marsha198.htm
Tags: altered state of consciousness, anxiety, catholic mystics, christianity, contemplative prayer, eastern meditation, ECM, emergent church, lectio divina, lotus pose, meditation, musing, new ager, trance, yoga
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals” 1 Corinthians 15:33
Is it really possible for Christians to deceive themselves?
Yes, it is very possible.
We deceive ourselves when we think the unrighteous will inherit the kingdom of God. I heard about a young Christian woman who was living in a lesbian relationship and asserting, “My lifestyle doesn’t make any difference. God loves me and I’m forgiven.”
But 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10, states, “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Living a brazenly sinful life is strong evidence of an unrighteous standing before God. You are deceived if you believe that your lifestyle does not need to line up with your profession.
Does this mean that we shouldn’t minister to those with bad morals? No, we must share Christ with them. But if we immerse ourselves in their environment, our ministry will eventually diminish and our morality will be affected for the worse. John wrote,
“Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning” (1 John 3:7, 8).
Stay anchored in God’s Word and don’t be deceived.
If you do not live in complete harmony with your profession of faith then you are most probably being deceived
Tags: deceive, deception, faith, homosexual, lesbian, profession
Christ has issued a serious warning to all who call Him Lord:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthews 7:21(Italics mine)
Jesus did not talk here about people who did not know Him or to so called “ungodly” people, but to a people who call themselves Christian and Jesus “Lord!” Look at it! The fact is that many who call Jesus Lord and who have “accepted” Him and prayed a “sinners prayer” and have done many wondrous works and who had faith (see Matt 7:21-22) will be cast away from the Lord “IN THAT DAY”! This is serious words and must be heeded by all those who call Christ Lord and themselves Christians!
Look at the words “in that day” in verse 22! “That day” refers to the day when many who have died who thought they were right with God and who were in a “right relationship” with Christ almost knocked on Heavens door (call on Christ – John 10:9) to enter, and it is almost as if Christ ask them: “why must I open the door for you” and then they start saying: “We have called you Lord on earth (believed and acknowledged His Person and authority) we have taught your Word (we were active Christians), we have cast out demons, we have seen many things and experienced many things, our faith were very much active and real to us, BUT THEN HE WILL TELL THEM “DEPART FROM ME all you who broke my commandments and lived lawlessly!
Listen the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven on all who KNOW THE TRUTH BUT suppress it in unrighteousness! This is a serious warning to all who profess to know the Truth and yet do not live constantly according to what they confess and believe in!
The great thing is not if you have prayed a prayer or if you “love Jesus” or have “asked forgiveness” or if you have “believed” or gone to Church or have “accepted Christ as your Saviour” etc, the most important thing is not if you call Him Lord but it is this:
“HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT BE THAT ONE JESUS IS SPEAKING ABOUT!”
Please do not take this change, make sure and test yourself to see wheter you are truly saved and “in the faith!” Write to us for the Scriptural test to see if you are what you say you are @ bcc@tkm.co.za
“Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?” 2Corinthians 13:5
Tags: accept Christ, Call Jesus Lord, Christian, commandments, faith, forgiveness, sinner's prayer