Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Many claim that they are believers

a) In the days of the Lord Jesus

b) Also, today

2. How can we know that we are truly believers?

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!’

Matthew 7:21-23

AN EMPTY FAITH

1. Beware of “a faith that is empty”

2. What is an “empty faith”

a) It is a faith made up of mere words

b) They are people who are taught that the only thing to say is “Lord, Lord”

c) They are then given “assurance” that they will enter the kingdom of Heaven

d) It is worthwhile to check what kind of faith we have

A GENUINE FAITH

1. What is a genuine faith?

a) It is one where we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ

b) We become children of God

c) We desire to do the will of God

2. A genuine faith

a) It is more than just a verbalised faith

b) It is a faith that leads us to do the Will of God

THE PROTEST OF THOSE WHO ARE REJECTED

1. They make the following claims:

a) They prophesied in the name of the Lord

b) They cast out demons

c) They did many wonders in the Lord’s name

2. What was it that they were claiming?

a) That they are true prophets

b) That they had authority from God to cast out demons

c) That they had power to perform wonders (miracles)

WERE THESE CLAIMS TRUE?

1. The Lord Jesus rejected all these claims

2. He had never acknowledged them as His followers

3. Their lives show that they were in fact “lawless” people

4. The fruit of their lives reveal the fact that they were wicked people

HOW MAY WE UNDERSTAND THE CLAIMS OF POWER TO PERFORM MIRACLES?

The Apostle Paul had a word to say about these people

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

1. Paul called them

a) False apostles

b) Deceitful workers

c) Who transform themselves into apostles of Christ

d) Who transform themselves into ministers of righteousness

2. The Lord Himself

a) He will judge them one day

b) We will leave the judgment to Him

CONCLUSION

1. Let us not be easily taken in

2. Let us be challenged to know our faith better