Most people would say that a person who makes Jesus Christ their Lord is a 'christian' right?
If that 'christian' is prophesying in His name and casting out demons (healing the afflicted) then we would be full of joy at the great works that He is doing through them, wouldn't we?
There were religious people who were angry against Jesus because He did His works . . . including healing on the Sabbath and raising Lazarus from the dead.
So, no, Philpy, not all people will rejoice about someone prophesying and healing.
But there are people who can fake these things. You need to be able to tell the difference. For only one example, someone getting out of a wheelchair is not necessarily being healed; they use wheelchairs to support weak and unstable people, but these people can walk.
Why then, are we told in no uncertain terms that people exactly like that are going to be turned away?
What is it that they didn't get right?
Again, I say, it depends on who you are talking about. Real ones of Jesus will not get turned away. But they will be refused by evil people, because Jesus guarantees that those truly representing Him will get rejected . . . by evil people,
not by Him!
However, we need not only outward wonders. Blessed is the one who believes without seeing and without requiring signs and wonders. So, when ones mistakenly depend on signs and prophesying in order to get accepted, these in error will not be cause for joy. Plus, there are fakers who are after money and control.
Jesus does say we will be known by our love; He does not say we will be known for signs and wonders and prophesying . . . though He does guaranteed we will do these things
I ask this because if there are people out there right now that call Jesus their Lord and even display enough faith to do those works, yet are not destined for eternal life with God, how can we make sure we are not also headed for the same sorry end?
Calling Jesus something is not necessarily the same as obeying Him. If they are only calling Him this, they need to trust in Christ. Faith is not only for works, but we need
"faith working through love," as our Apostle Paul does say in Galatians 5:6. So, we each need to make sure we are living in faith which has us loving in the way the Bible says, about being gentle and humble and forgiving, not only performing outward prophecies and miracles.
"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)
"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
I offer that a Biblical ministry will bring more attention to this way of loving, than to outward show of miracles and prophesying.
So, say-so is not enough.
Philpy, you quoted scripture >
21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 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 in your name perform many miracles? 23 Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! ~ Matthew 7:21-23
You might consider that those rejected people are the ones who
their own selves say they did all the wonders and prophesying. Jesus Himself is not quoted to say they were telling the truth. Children of Satan are liars! So, I would not assume that what they say is true. Where the Bible quotes what someone says, you "might" be wise not assume that what they say is true. It is true that they said it or will say it, but it is not necessarily so, what they say
Jesus does say He never knew them; so this can mean He never knew them by giving them power to do anything in His name. After all, Jesus clearly says, "without Me you can do nothing." (in John 15:5) And, along with this, you are not required to pass on what you have been told by someone, if you do not know what they said is true.
There is a lot of attention being called to signs and wonders and prophecy, instead of first our attention being to who Jesus is and how the Bible says to love, and how with Jesus
"you will find rest for your souls." (in Matthew 11:29) < this is a wonder we need to talk and hear about more, how we have rest for our souls because of obeying Jesus!!
So, be careful where your main amount of attention is going, please.
And those ones on judgment who claim they did signs and wonders and prophesying maybe were in the crowd where a real disciple did things for Jesus, and they might be trying to get credit, only by being there.
You can't just piggy-back on someone else's track record, by being a spectator at the race!!
But by trusting in Jesus, we do leave behind our own background, and now in the kingdom of God we have the death and burial and resurrection of Jesus as our new record
And He has the works for us ourselves to do with Him (Ephesians 2:10), not just spectating, but in personal relationship ministering with example >
"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3) You can't follow someone's example, unless you personally get to know the person and his or her example; so this is not talking about just watching TV people and big-name speakers you don't even know. But Jesus has us living in real life with people, ministering His own love which is and does so more than any wonders and speaking can.
So, my advice is make sure your attention is mainly to how Jesus shares with you and has you doing works of loving; a work of love is not measured by how big and great it looks to others, but the effect of love of God is so great, in whatsoever He has us doing!!!
God bless you
Bill
