a broken record

Today you can listen to music in many ways and many people don't even know about the circular phonograph records, originally called gramophone records, that we use to listen to our favorite music by way back when. We would buy singles (a 7 inch  wide whole vinyl 45 rpm record) of our favorite hit song and listen to them over and over.   Sometimes the records would get scratched and when the needle would hit the scratch it would slide back and replay and this would occur over and over and over.  Therefore, you had to throw away a broken record for no longer would it play the full song.  It seems like the LORD has me on the same theme over and over and so in a way I feel like a broken (scratched) record.   But since GOD does nothing without a cause, I guess there is a reason                         

 

Tonight I was just relaxing reading the Word and talking with our LORD.  I asked HIM a question and went back to reading when the light came on, HE answered my question and I knew I had to share the verse I was reading.

 

Matthew 7:21-23  Not everyone who says to ME, LORD, LORD, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of MY FATHER who is in heaven Many will say to ME in that day, LORD, LORD have we not prophesied in YOUR name?  and in YOUR name cast out demons and in YOUR name performed many miracles? and then I will declare unto them, " I never knew you; depart from ME you who practice lawlessness."

 

What doing the will of GOD is explained by JESUS in John 6:28,29.  And they asked JESUS. " What must we do to work the works GOD?"  JESUS answered and said to them, "This is the work of GOD, that you believe in HIM, whom HE (GOD) sent."

 

Now what works were these people who called JESUS, LORD, LORD, doing?

   they were prophesying

   they were casting out demons

   they were performing many miracles

These were good things right?  So how come JESUS  (1) called them workers of lawlessness said, (2) "depart from ME I never knew you." 

 

#1-  My mind flew to Jeremiah 23:

Jeremiah 23:16  This is what the LORD ALMIGHTY says, Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you,... they speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:21,22  I did not send these prophets but they have run with their message.  I did not speak to them yet they have prophesied.  But if they had stood in MY council, they would have proclaimed MY words to MY people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds....

Jeremiah 23:28-29  Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has MY word speak it faithfully.  For what has straw to do with grain? declares the LORD.  IS not MY word life fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

 

In these days, as then there are many, many false prophets to 1 true one.  There are many prophesies given and we are not to despise them but to test them and as Jeremiah 23 makes clear... only when the prophet's word is verified in Scripture (GOD's word) is it to be listened.  Their words may sound good and have an outward appearance of effect... remember in Matthew 7 where those guys were prophesying, casting out demons and doing miracles?  But, it wasn't of GOD.

 

Doing things the way GOD has openly told us to do and recorded in the Bible will perform what GOD wants done.  GOD says in Isaiah 55:11  So is  MY word which goes out from MY mouth, it will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

 

#2- but why did JESUS tell them to depart from HIM that HE never knew them.  They trusted in their own way and leaned on their own understanding and did not do the work required by GOD... to believe and depend on JESUS.  You cannot intimately know JESUS or become HIS until realize that you are helpless without JESUS.  HE came to save you and you must receive HIS outstretched hand to pull you from judgment. HE doesn't need your help...   He that has the SON has life, but he that rejects the SON (as the answer) will not see life, for GOD's wrath remains on him.

 

It seems like I am a scratched record, going back and playing the same thing over and over again.  But, I know GOD said to share this so I won't lean on my own understanding and just do as HE says. 

 

hugs

Sharon