End Times Discernment

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Who calls Jesus Lord?

Who calls Jesus Lord? Only those who have been “born again” and have made a commitment to follow Him and to obey His teachings. This is the first step for a man or woman to become what the Bible calls a believer.

There will be a time when every knee will bow and every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus the Messiah is the Lord.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Thus, calling Jesus Lord is significant. No one can call Him Lord but by the Holy Spirit. So those who call Jesus “Lord” are a specific group of people.

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (1 Corinthians 12:3)

Demons refuse to call Jesus Lord. Any deliverance minister knows that if they can get a demon to call Jesus Lord, the demon will weaken and can be cast out easily. So there is something very important in the spiritual realm about calling Jesus Lord.

The will of the Father.

Not every one that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…. (Matthew 7:21)

Jesus, teaching His disciples, let them know that not everyone that calls him Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven! How can this be? This must have been an eye-opener for those following Him. What a shock!!

Jesus followed by saying “…but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

This is the second step to take in order to enter Heaven!!! DO the will of the Father!!

At what time in history did Jesus say this?

Jesus was an Old Testament teacher. His Bible was what we call today the Old Testament. Who came up with this name? It is entirely wrong. It gives the impression that it is all used up, wrinkled, addled and good for nothing! It seems to mean: We had an old God and now we have a new one.

Maybe this is why hell has enlarged its mouth.

Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoices, shall descend into it. (Isaiah 5:14)

Why am I saying this? Because the Old Testament is where Jesus’ followers can find the will of the Father. Nowhere else. I am not saying to discard or disregard the New Testament, because everything written there is based on the Old Testament.

Years ago, I met a girl who was crazy about Jesus. She loved Him, she adored Him, she was always talking about Him and wanted to be like Him. And she carried a thin Bible–the New Testament.

I asked her:
– Why only the New Testament?
– Oh, I don’t want anything to do with the Old Testament.
– Don’t you want to be like Jesus?
– Oh, yes! I want to be like Him.
– Well, His Bible was the Old Testament.

She was in shock! She said she had never realized that. She got a new Bible.

No matter how long you have been saved, find out what God wants you to do from the entire Bible.

Even with signs and wonders…

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:22)

They called Him Lord, and in His name:

• They prophesied.
• They cast out demons.
• They performed many wonderful works (healing the sick, raising the dead, walked on water, stopped storms, multiplied food, were transported, brought the power of God over people and objects and many other spectacular things).

If there had been TV in those days, they would have had their own show. If there had been The Elijah List, they would have been contributing words there. If Sid Roth had been around, they would have been interviewed by Sid. They would have been featured on the cover of Charisma Magazine. Believers would have flocked to their meetings, conferences and revivals, no matter how far they were, to be thrilled with the mighty, spectacular things that God would do through them.

The gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29)

The anointing and gifts God gives you are not taken back by God. A man can be performing miracles, healing people, and casting out demons, and he might think he is going to heaven because of all the mighty things he is doing, yet by having the wrong motives, attitudes, secret sins and not doing the will of the Father, he will not enter heaven.

Your salvation is forever, but you may lose it.

I never knew you.

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)

The Hebrews used the word “know” to denote an intimate, “bare all” relationship. No secrets, no deception or concealment, giving themselves away to the other person.

When Jesus said, “I never knew you,” He meant that they had kept much of themselves away from Him, they were not sincere and not willing to let go of certain things for Him. They had kept their own wills and wants in their lives, whether adultery, fornication, greed, lying or whatever sin gave them pleasure and they did not want to forsake. They did not obey the law of God and did not the will of God.

Since the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, they could continue in their ministry with signs and wonders, keeping their private life of sin. And any other excess they willed.

At the end, they could not enter Heaven.

• They lost their salvation.
• They did not work it out with fear and trembling.
• Their names were once written in the Book of Life but were later blotted out.

He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5)

The new Christian is like a sculptor to whom God gives a block of precious heavenly marble and tells him, “There is a cross inside. Carve out the excess marble to find it!”

Some will chisel out what is not wanted, and at the end of their life, they will have made a beautiful cross.

Some will chisel here and there, but will be distracted by other things and will think that taking out the excess is not fun at all, and at the end of their life have not worked out their cross.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)