Navigate life's challenges with God's wisdom for a more successful and fulfilling journey.
The Danger of False Assurance
Matthew 7:21-23
Recently, I have been thinking about my children, grandchildren, and others that I know who say they are Christians, but they do not bear fruit. They are walking in this mindset that I call, “The Danger of False Assurance”
What if someone could say all the right things, do all the right things and Jesus still said, "I never knew you"? Look at the picture to your right or above depending on the device you are reading this from. Now read the remainder of this Word for the Week and see if you can connect the meaning.
Sit with that for a second. Not "I never heard of you." Not "you slipped through the cracks." Jesus says….”I never KNEW you." That's not a filing error in heaven, that is a relationship that never existed in the first place.
Those of you who know me, know that I want as many people as possible that I come in contact with who do not know Jesus, to have an encounter with God by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The following verses have been heavy on my mind recently: Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV says….
"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 in 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!'", or a worker of iniquity.
What challenging and sobering words from Jesus. I mean these versus cut to the core of our heart, soul. mind and spirit.
Now, church family, I want you to notice something. Jesus isn't talking about outsiders here. He's not talking about atheists or skeptics or the guy down the street who's never darkened the door of our church. He's talking about people like us who profess to call Him "Lord." People in the time of Jesus who prophesied. People who cast out demons. People who did "many wonders"…,all in His name!
This is the scariest paragraph in the whole Sermon on the Mount, because it's not aimed at the irreligious individuals, no, it’s aimed at the religious. It's aimed at people who look saved, sound saved, and serve like they're saved...but Jesus says, "Depart from Me. I never knew you."
That word "many" ought to stop us in our tracks. Not a few. Not a small minority. MANY. This isn't a rare exception, Jesus is warning us that false assurance is a widespread danger, and it can happen to people who are active, gifted, even supernaturally used... and still miss Heaven.
So here's the question we need to consider asking ourselves right now; is it possible to look saved, act saved, talk like someone who is saved, have all the activity of faith and yet has never experienced the the reality of it? Jesus says yes. And if He says yes, we'd better take a hard look at our own lives, including your pastor.
This may feel an easy for some of us or maybe you don’t even want to read or hear this, but God has laid this on my heart as a challenge to all of us as a church/church family.
Consider this statement or should I say a question what does it mean to have…”Credentials Without a Connection”?
Look again at verse 22 in Matthew chapter 7. These folks bring receipts so to speak. "Have we not prophesied... cast out demons... done many wonders?" In other words: "Lord, look at my resume! Look at my ministry! Look at what I've accomplished in Your name!" Somebody today might say “I went to church all my life”, “I was raised in church”, “I wear a cross around my neck, I wear Christian T-shirts and I invite people to my church”
And notice, they're not lying about what they do. Jesus doesn't say, "No you didn't." He doesn't dispute the activity. He disputes the relationship. "I never knew you."
That's what makes this so unsettling. These weren't fakers pretending to have gifts they didn't have. Something real happened through them. And yet Jesus says the connection was never real.
Let me tell you a story that helps us understand for Jesus is telling us and what I’m trying to communicate to you through this devotional.
A few years back there was a man, sharp dressed, confident, with all the right vocabulary, moved in all the right ways, who walked into hospitals across several states, including North Carolina, claiming to be a doctor. He had the white coat, a badge that looked official, a stethoscope around his neck like he knew exactly what to do with it. He talked the talk and walked the walk. Nurses trusted him. Patients trusted him. For a while, nobody questioned it, because he looked completely convincing.
But eventually, someone asked for his credentials, real credentials, verified credentials and when
none could be produced, the whole thing fell apart. Turns out, he'd never been to medical school. Never passed a licensing exam. Never had an actual relationship with the medical board that was supposed to authorize him to practice. He had the appearance of authority without ever being known by the people who could grant it.
Church, that's what verse 22 is describing. People with impressive spiritual resumes, prophesying, casting out demons, doing wonders, walking around in what looks like a white coat of righteousness, but when the real credentialing moment comes, when Jesus Himself examines the badge, He says, "I don't know you. You were never authorized. You were never Mine, you never knew the teacher."
Here's what stings the most to me: the imposter doctor fooled a lot of people for a long time. But he never fooled the one thing that mattered the most; reality itself, being able to prove that he had been trained, was equipped to do the job and did what was necessary to make him an actual physician.
And on that day, in Matthew 7, plenty of people will have fooled their small group, fooled their church, and fooled themselves... but they will not fool Jesus.
WHAT MATTERS MOST isn't the wonders you performed, or going through the motions, it’s whether you were ever actually known by the one in whose name you performed them.
So what's the alternative? Verse 21 already told us: "he who does the will of My Father in heaven." Not he who talks about the Father. Not he who performs for the Father, but He who does the father’s will, from a place of actually knowing Him.
Real faith isn't defined by how much religious activity we can produce, it is defined by our profession of faith in Jesus Christ, walking in obedience to the word, witnessing, sharing our testimony, and living a life of righteousness, holiness, and dedication to the Lord God through a relationship, a true relationship with Jesus Christ.
Now here's the good news hiding inside this hard passage: Jesus isn't asking for perfect performance, He's asking for a genuine relationship. The will of the Father flows out of the desire to have an intimate relationship with him through the acceptance of his son Jesus Christ. Look, watch this, it’s not about playing the part, it’s about living out the part daily.
So let's bring this all the way home. This isn't a devotional for some other people, or some other church, this is for us, OneLife Fellowship Church, and our family of professing believers. For those of us who show up, who serve, who raise our hands, who post a verse on Facebook, who read the Bible, who study the Bible this is for us right now, today at this very moment.
So here's what I want you to do, right now, before you move on with your day and please do not rush past this. Here it is…..Examine your fruit, examine your heart, your mind, and then ask yourself this question, is my relationship with Jesus real, is it authentic and is it growing?
Or. has it been a façade? You know what the definition of a facade is? Here it is…..a façade is “a deceptive outward appearance that hides a different reality”.
If Jesus looked at our life today, would He see the fruit of someone He knows intimately or the credentials of someone who's just been playing the part? Please don’t be offended by this, all of us, including Pastor Phil needs to be challenged by this word from the Lord and we need to ask ourselves this question…..”who we see in the mirror/in private, the same person everyone sees at church, on Sunday or other public places?
Take sixty seconds right now, wherever you are, and ask the Lord: "do I know You, and do You know me?"
Because on that day when we stand before Jesus, activity won't be the question. Relationship will be. And I'd rather find out the answer now in honest examination, than hear it from Him when it’s too late. I’m talking about the words depart from me you worker of iniquity, I never knew you.
Church I know this is sobering, but I have felt so compelled to challenge all of us with this and share what God has laid on my heart with you.
I could give you a nice feel good fluffy message, or a message that is encouraging and uplifting, which I do often.
But sometimes we have to be challenged, we must be challenged, so we can make sure that we are and that we remain on the right path, that straight and narrow way.
I hope that you receive this and it has ministered to you in some form or fashion. Also, read the recent comment below from a woman named Trish who lives in Asheville NC
Pastor Phil
Comments from readers
"Pastor Phil's insights through the Word of the Week have truly transformed my perspective on life's challenges. His simple yet profound words of encouragement help me make it through the day."
Emily Johnson
Springfield MO
"Recently I found your church website. I was amazed how the word was what I needed. I have been struggling with depression and even suicide the past year, but after reading the word for the week for the past month I know there is a God and he loves me. Thank you pastor Phil."
Sean Callagum
Port Douglas Australlia
"Recently I read pastor Phils word for the week on not being alone. Pastor Phils word, impacted me at a time when I felt like ending my life. After losing my wife to cancer, I did not want to live anymore, but now I know God is with me no matter what I face, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I am never alone."
William
Greensboro NC
"While going through a touch situation in my life, I was devastated at the impact it had on my life emotionally. I was at my "wits end". I read books, talked with people, sought counseling, but nothing worked. After reading the Words for the week the past few weeks, I sense a change in my life attitude and decision making processing. It is amazing what a few words can do to change your life."
Barbara
Greensboro NC
"Thank you pastor Phil for your word of the week. I have been reading them since I found your website while searching for a church. Although you are in North Carolina, the past two months have been a blessing because the word you have been posting on your website is something have looked forward to. It means. a lot and I wanted to say thank you."
Harold R.
Fort Worth Texas
"Pastor Phil, 2 weeks ago I read your word for the week about staying focused in a distracted world. I have been going through a hard time the past six months. I was ready to quit and walk away from my church because of the distractions brought on by my problem. I have prayed, talked to people in my church and nothing changed, until I read your word for the week. I realized that I had taken my focus off the one that has always been there for me. I began reading my bible again, praying and trusting Jesus in a new light promising him I would never take my eyes off off him again. I feel so much better now and have a new perspective on my life and the problems I face. Pastor Phil, I can walk on water if Jesus is with me and I keep my eyes focused on him.
Thank you and God bless you."
Trish W.
Asheville NC
