Blog Detail

How important is a relationship with the Lord?     (Pg.1)

Today we’ll take a look at what Jesus said about what it means to know the Lord…

Found in Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ (23) And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

— On the subject of ‘knowing’… First we had better look at the root meaning of the word as Jesus used it here in Vs.23; ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

As originally recorded in the Greek language, this word ginōskō (ghin-oce’-ko) Is a form of the verb; to “know”… It’s meaning changes somewhat depending on how it is used: – it can mean; 1/ Meaning to be aware (of), or to have knowledge of as in… “I know how to speak English.”

2/ Or meaning to understand some facts as in… “I know 1+1=2.”

3/ It also can mean to feel (like you do) as in… “I know how much that must have hurt you.”

Q1. From the context of Matthew 7:21-23… What do you think Jesus meant when He talked about a truly KNOWING relationship with HIM? – (Reread verses.)

Comments:___________________________________________________________________

(Doesn’t the context seem to speak of a deep personal knowledge of feelings and motivations?)

Just before this, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Vs.21)…

— He is telling us that some people who called Him Lord will not gain eternal life.

Q2. Can there be a difference between the one who simply claims Jesus is Lord, and one who does God’s will?

Comments:____________________________________________________________________

Q3. Do you think ‘knowing Jesus’ is also about understanding what Jesus thinks and feels?

Comments:____________________________________________________________________

(Vs.22) states that some will even say to Jesus… “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?”
— And yet it seems that they will have done this without truly knowing Jesus…

Q4. To answer: Who originates a true word of Prophecy?   ☐ The prophet.   ☐ Satan.   ☐ God.

(Cont’d next page.)

***

How important is a relationship with the Lord?        (Pg.2)

Q5. Can any human overcome or cast out a demon in their own power?

☐ Yes.       ☐ No.       ☐ I don’t know.

Q6. If you reread Matthew 7:22… Who seems to be claiming some part of the glory and recognition for the fact that prophecies came forth and that mighty works were done?

Comments:___________________________________________________________________

Then in Vs.23, Jesus says that He will have to tell them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
– In the KJV Bible Jesus says… “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Q7. What act of iniquity or of lawlessness is breaking the scriptures here? (To answer read…)

Revelations 4:11 (ESV) “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Acts 8:18-23 (ESV) Now when Simon (the Sorcerer) saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, (19) saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” (20) But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! (21) You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. (22) Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. (23) For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

In closing — It is all about having a personal knowledge of Jesus as Lord of your life.

Q8. I would ask you to make sure you are walking in that very personal relationship.

I will borrow from the ‘Bible Hub’ website to close our study  on Jesus knowing us…

“Matthew 7:23 is Christ’s uncompromising verdict on religious hypocrisy. In plain speech He exposes empty professions, declares the absence of genuine relationship, orders eternal separation, and labels the self-deceived as practitioners of rebellion. Authentic faith is proven not by sensational works but by a life submitted to the Lord’s will and transformed by His grace.” …Unquote.

— I could not say it more clearly than that…

Dictionary definition of submit = to give over or yield to the power or authority of another.

We need to ask ourselves… To what or to whom is my life submitted to?  (…God bless, KRK)