Intent Behind The Acts

In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus spoke:

21 “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.

22 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?’

23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

On the surface, one would think that those who prophesied, cast out demons. and have done many wonder in the Name of Jesus would be fully acceptable and able to enter the kingdom of heaven but clearly Jesus was not moved by their acts.  If a person’s works appear to be appropriate but the intent is based on self interest rather than Love, then that person is said to be practicing lawlessness in the eyes of Jesus and Our Heavenly Father.  The will of Our Heavenly Father is based on the commandment of Love whereas works done with the intent of self promotion will be classified as lawless.

It is critical that we establish ourselves in the one commandment that Jesus qualified as fulfilling the Law.  Jesus spoke in John chapter 13:

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

And in John 15, Jesus spoke:

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

If you use the Name of Jesus but fail to walk in His Commandment of Love, your acts are tainted by your own lawlessness.  It is critical that we be perfected in Agape Love so that we have no other motive to use the Name of Jesus when we are producing apparent fruit for the Kingdom.  This warning should be a lesson ever present in our consciousness as we go forth.

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