Devotionals
“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.” Matthew 7:21.Bolding is mine.
That’s enough to make the complacent Christian parachute from his airplane of lethargy. He has “said the prayer at the altar,” forsaken the pornography, stopped getting drunk at the pub, attended church every Sunday for two years, even joined the choir. Now he sits and waits for heaven, but Jesus says it isn’t enough. Wait, there’s more.
The statement of Jesus in the opening scripture is also a 240-volt jolt for the “once-saved-always-saved” mindset. That belief has led to the smugness so evident today.
That we don’t get to heaven by works alone is generally accepted. Faith is required, but wait, there’s more. James said: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17 and again in verse 26). The works are the works God tells us to do – the will of the Father.
Jesus is saying those who don’t do the will of the Father won’t enter the kingdom. Very strong words indeed from the Son of God.
What then is the will of the Father? Put simply, it is doing what the Bible says. The will of God is the Word of God. We should not look for a sign or special revelation, we must read the Word and obey it. When Jesus or the Father instructs us to do something we must do it.
Let’s look at some of those instructions. Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” How many churches or individuals are doing that in your locality? The “leaders” seem to think the world is inside the church.
Here’s one for the denominational traditionalists. The Apostle Paul said: “Forbid not the speaking in tongues.” (1 Corinthians 14:39) Yet many do forbid it. Tradition is preferred to the Word of God. Jesus is scathing about that in Matthew 15:6.
Staying with the gifts of the Holy Spirit: they were practised in the dynamic Early Church, and are listed in the Bible. Today, many churches ignore the gifts totally. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:31: “But earnestly desire the best gifts.” Desire does not mean ignore, right? Yet there is no desiring of any spiritual gifts by many churches today. They ignore the instruction.
So anyone disobeying the Bible who thinks they are headed for heaven has some food for thought according to Jesus’ words. We have to be obedient and do what is in the Word.
We don’t obey God by printing very expensive four-colour brochures advertising 10,000 seat conferences at $50 per day, as “mega-churches” do. The conferences have no effect on the world outside. How many gospel tracts would that money buy?
We don’t obey Him by huddling in the church, doing nothing about the Great Commission instruction in particular.
We must take the gospel out into the world if we want to see the power of God. We won’t see it sitting in Men’s Breakfasts and Women’s Suppers (they are non-biblical, sexist and divisive); or at Teen Lunches, Candlelight Dinners and church barbecues. Many churches now resemble social clubs in which the members entertain themselves!
We won’t see the power of God (constantly promised from the platform) while we disobey; while we persist in our self-centredness; while our human traditions are more important than the Word. There has to be a revolution.
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The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent. John 6:29 Even our very best works are as "filthy rags". Our works are a result of a changed mind and heart of love.
A good message promoting evangelism - the heart of the Gospel of Christ. This is well written and could be used as a starting point for a conversation within a church to get OUT into the world. Thank you.
Once again the passion in this writing takes my breath away! I have sent it to 5 friends (Pastor included) in the hope that they will be as energized as I am by your words. Keep writing from your heart and thank you!
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