I initially began writing this on 01/01/2024, but life happens, so I’m glad to be allowed to get back to this one today, 02/21/2024, as a reminder for  myself.

So…

You know that verse in Matthew where Jesus said

“Not everyone saying to me Lord, Lord will enter into the kingdom of the heavens but those who do my Father’s will.”

Remember how Jesus said that some will respond, “Did I not prophesy in your name and cast out demons and do many powerful works in your name?“

Yet, Jesus said that even still, he would say to them, “I do not know you”

I wanted to know why they were told that. I wanted to know what would keep Jesus from knowing one who appeared to serve Him.  Listen to what was just dropped in my spirit about that…

Jesus said that He did not “KNOW” these particular ministers of the word of God

Yes, I can call them that because of their confession of the work they did. Yet, even in all they did, they were not known. Oowee

Here is why:

Jesus said that His “disciples are “known” by the love they have among themselves.”  John 13:34-35

Therefore, we can speak God’s Word all day long, but if we do not love the audience we are speaking to, then we are definitely not handling God’s word aright.

You see, Jesus, who is the Word of God, said that if He is “lifted up He will draw all men unto Him.

But if we are speaking “the Word of God” in a way that is pushing people ‘away from’ Jesus; if we are not motivated with love when we speak; if we speak, and yet in our heart we feel anger, disgust, hatred, and loathsomeness, then we can be speaking the truth all day long, but our attitude is wrong, and that will make us wrong, and not right.

Those ones ministered, and still Jesus said, “I don’t KNOW you”

That’s messed up.

Listen, the truth is not always a feel-good message.The truth will hurt sometimes. That’s a given.

Consider this: medicine. Many times, it tastes nasty. Yet, medicine is needed for the individual who is sick to get better.

Therefore, the issue is not the medicine. The issue is the delivery. (Oowee, I am paying attention.)

For example,and I got 2 examples that solidly confirm this, lol…

Example 1. Judges 19-20

The tribe of Benjamin needed to be disciplined for their behavior.

But…

God allowed the other 11 tribes to experience the impact of their own harsh sword yielded before they were allowed to administer the discipline needed because their attitude towards their brother was wrong. There was no love, and God had to correct that in them first.

God’s word is a two-edged sword

Don’t think that it can be raised against another, and the one holding it won’t feel its sharpness too.

God is no respector of persons.

So the person doing the wrong will get in trouble. But, if the attitude of the one used to deliver God’s warning is wrong, they will get it too.

God doesn’t play. He is a respector of no persons.

Example 2. Old Testament stories over all

God used the Gentiles to punish the Israelites because of their sins on many, many occasions. Once God got through disciplining the Israelites, then HE judged those nations who were used in disciplining the Israelites. You read about a lot of that correction and the subsequent  restoration in the book of Isaiah.

Practical Application

Our judgment will be based upon our words (Matthew 12:37) and actions (Romans 2:6) .

So Jesus tells us to “take the beam out of our own eye first”

Why?

“So that we can SEE how to take the splinter from the eye of another.“

Likewise, Ezekiel was told to eat the scroll first before he spoke it.

Don’t feel like Ezekiel was not vexed in his spirit some times and did not want to go, say, or do. Lol (See Ezekiel 3:14; 8:3) lol

Those times when we are being led by the Lord to do or say something, or even go somewhere, and we feel a strong vexation in our spirit, it is that time that we need to get before the Lord first and find out why we are vexed. We need to ask the Lord to show us before we speak. (Oowee, I need to work on this.)

That way, when we speak, we can do so with knowledge and understanding, and we can speak in a way that we are imparting the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God to others.

Therefore, it’s important that we study to show ourselves approved by God, not man.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want King Jesus to say to me “I don’t know you” because though I  was speaking God’s word, my heart lacked love and compassion for those who had to receive what was to be a harsh message.

You know that’s why Paul said that if you lack love, you are a clanging cymbal – just making loud noise instead of music that draws and tames.

May the year 2024 see more ministries of reconciliation 🤝 and ministers known by Jesus because they are laboring from a place of love – myself included.