“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.”
Matthew 7:22-23
I’ve been asking to understand
how Jesus could tell people who thought they knew Him
Depart from Me and then cast them into outer darkness
I’ve been asking where they missed it
How could they have served Him
or thought they were serving Him
and then when they met Him hear the words:
Depart from Me. I never knew you!
To look at the disciples,
the way they asked Jesus questions,
the way He clarified things to them,
the disciples and Jesus knew each other
Judas Isacariot did not know Jesus
Even though he walked with Him and listened to Him
He witnessed more miracles done by Jesus than most humans,
but he never knew Jesus or who He was
I saw a man the other day on video
He said he had an angel that told him things about people
He could tell them their names, addresses, many things about them
He said people got healed
I did not see Jesus exalted
I saw the man exalted
I saw the angel exalted
I did not see Jesus exalted
I am not condemning this man,
but I am telling you what I saw and what I noticed
There are many preachers who know all about Jesus
They have their doctrine perfectly figured out,
They have their teachings lined up
with answers to every question you may have
Do they walk with Jesus?
Not always
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14
How can we know the difference?
Jesus spoke of this also in Matthew 7:15-20
“Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
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.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
It is still hard to know sometimes because Satan is so crafty
If you follow a man or men or a doctrine, a teaching or teachings,
a religion, leaders, prophets, or any other person or thing,
you risk being led astray
No matter how good the teaching is,
the Holy Spirit is your teacher and guide
He will lead you and guide you into all truth
Nowhere in the bible does it say that a church
or a group of religious leaders
or excellent writers
or preachers will lead you and guide you into all truth
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,
He will guide you into all truth;
for He will not speak on His own authority,
but whatever He hears He will speak;
and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13
That is not to say learning from others is not good
However, each lesson should be filled with glory to Jesus
and God the Father,
otherwise, the very teaching you trust in could lead you astray
If you see the humans receiving glory or esteem,
and you find yourself following after them
for the next special word or teaching,
You are in danger
“And be found in him,
not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him,
and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
Philippians 3:9-11
How do you know if you know Him?
Ask Him and expect an answer
The answer may come immediately
or it may come as a process,
but be listening and expect an answer
“And hereby we know that we are of the truth,
and shall assure our hearts before him.
For if our heart condemn us,
God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”
1 John 3:19-20
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
1 Corinthians 11:31