KNOWLEDGE
“Blessed [is] the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, "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. Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'”
Do we meditate in His law day and night, you ask? Do we know what His law is? Do we delight in the law of the LORD, and do we meditate day and night in His law? Why do we have to meditate day and night in His law?
Many Christians, unfortunately, do not know what His Laws are because they have abolished all of them even before they enter the baptismal pool. The only thing that they remember is that God’s “grace” will save them. What grace? Whose grace can save us if we are disobedient to God?
Did these men of great faith described in Matthew 7:21-23 receive “grace” from Jesus? No! Jesus said, "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice Lawlessness!'”
Why would God’s grace save anyone if they don’t do what God wants them to do? Why? Adam and Eve did not receive God’s grace. Lucifer and billions of his angels did not receive God’s grace. Billions more who drowned during the big flood did not receive God’s grace. But, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:8. Why did Noah receive God’s grace? Noah worked for God. He did what God told him to do. He followed God’s commandments.
Jesus said in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain;” We do not choose Him, but He chooses us for a purpose.
Most Christians believe that if they have been baptized they are His Sheep, and He is their Shepherd.
Baptism means nothing if we do not commit ourselves to following Jesus. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
Do you know what Jesus is saying here? He is saying that it is difficult to find Jesus! We cannot find Jesus through faith alone. Read again Matthew 7:21-23.
We can find Jesus through work. Jesus rejected these men of great faith in Matthew 7:21-23 because they tried to find Jesus through faith. Jesus rejected them because they did not try to find Jesus through work. Look, if you have faith that God will reward you if you help the poor and homeless, but you give nothing to the poor and homeless to relieve them of their hunger, will God reward you? Will faith save you, or the money that you give to the poor and homeless will save you? What is your answer?
Faith in Jesus will not help unless we do what Jesus tells us to do. This is the knowledge that I want to share with you today about how you can find Jesus - delight in the law of the LORD, and do what He wants you to do. And you'll be smart!
But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, "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. Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'”
Do we meditate in His law day and night, you ask? Do we know what His law is? Do we delight in the law of the LORD, and do we meditate day and night in His law? Why do we have to meditate day and night in His law?
Many Christians, unfortunately, do not know what His Laws are because they have abolished all of them even before they enter the baptismal pool. The only thing that they remember is that God’s “grace” will save them. What grace? Whose grace can save us if we are disobedient to God?
Did these men of great faith described in Matthew 7:21-23 receive “grace” from Jesus? No! Jesus said, "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice Lawlessness!'”
Why would God’s grace save anyone if they don’t do what God wants them to do? Why? Adam and Eve did not receive God’s grace. Lucifer and billions of his angels did not receive God’s grace. Billions more who drowned during the big flood did not receive God’s grace. But, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:8. Why did Noah receive God’s grace? Noah worked for God. He did what God told him to do. He followed God’s commandments.
Jesus said in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain;” We do not choose Him, but He chooses us for a purpose.
Most Christians believe that if they have been baptized they are His Sheep, and He is their Shepherd.
Baptism means nothing if we do not commit ourselves to following Jesus. Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
Do you know what Jesus is saying here? He is saying that it is difficult to find Jesus! We cannot find Jesus through faith alone. Read again Matthew 7:21-23.
We can find Jesus through work. Jesus rejected these men of great faith in Matthew 7:21-23 because they tried to find Jesus through faith. Jesus rejected them because they did not try to find Jesus through work. Look, if you have faith that God will reward you if you help the poor and homeless, but you give nothing to the poor and homeless to relieve them of their hunger, will God reward you? Will faith save you, or the money that you give to the poor and homeless will save you? What is your answer?
Faith in Jesus will not help unless we do what Jesus tells us to do. This is the knowledge that I want to share with you today about how you can find Jesus - delight in the law of the LORD, and do what He wants you to do. And you'll be smart!
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