^“21 Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the Will of My Father which is in Heaven.

²² Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? and in Your Name have cast out devils? and in Your Name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23

Doing many wonderful works in the Name of Jesus is not the condition of entering the Kingdom of Heaven.  The religious world will have the people laboring and toiling in the world for things which are temporal.

^“26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, You seek Me, not because you saw the Miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled. ²⁷ Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto Everlasting Life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you: for Him has God the Father sealed.” John 6:26-27

With their mouths, they draw near to Jesus because they have seen true miracles of God; they have eaten of the Bread of Life and were indeed filled but their hearts are far from Him.  Instead of seeking Jesus for the truth in which He came, Salvation for whosoever will believe, these workers of iniquity seek Him for their own purposes which always and without fail result in self righteousness.

“This people draw nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.” Matthew 15:8

There are many religious/civic organizations which do many good works in a vain attempt to “connect” with the world and manipulate them into coming to see that they are “good”.  It’s called seeker sensitive and is the method of the world to attract business/customers.

However, this is not the method of God to draw the lost unto Him.

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32

The supposed success of these large civic/religious institutions is accounted to them by the carnal Christian as “right”.  Their “success” is equated with blessings from God.  I remind you, the Israelites were blessed of God in the wilderness but they were far from His Will.  We can never equate the blessings of God as His condoning of error.  The Lord is long-suffering and it is His Will that all will come to the knowledge of Truth of His Word…but the ax is laid at the root of the tree and it will be cut down and thrown into the refining fire.  This fire of refining will bring some to repentance but sadly, some will be lost.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17

The religious noise and endless temporal labor does not prepare the heart for the conviction of the Holy Spirit to draw the sinner to Salvation and the Saint to Sanctification.  This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit when the atoning work of Jesus Christ is lifted up to the people for all they need for life and living.  Mankind does not need to be manipulated through humanistic psychology in a vain attempt at mind over matter to motivate.  We need the Power of God to move on our hearts to do that which is of God; His Will and not ours. We need the Power of God to isolate that which is not of Him, so we can live unto Him.  This is the reason that Jesus Christ came.  Our Lord came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer.  This power of sin can only remain broken by faith in the Cross of Christ, not faith in our mind over matter (self will). Abstinence is not deliverance.  There is freedom from the power of sin in the Cross of Christ.

Don’t allow religious racket to corrupt the faith once given unto you at Salvation.   Be determined to know nothing else among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  The Cross of Christ is the Power of God unto us who are Saved, look unto Jesus…lift Him up.

“For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the Power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

-Donna Clark Warren