Password without Passage
Matthew 7:21-23(MSG) “Knowing the correct password–saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance–isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience–doing what my Father wills. I can see it now–at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
Introduction: Welcome again to the feet of our Lord and Saviour from Whom all blessings flow. I pray that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened; so that we may know what is the hope of His calling, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in us as saints in Jesus name.
Reading the Message version of our text this week, I understand that it is possible to know the correct password without getting to God talk less of receiving from Him.
Several people use the Name of Jesus in ministries. It is difficult to count numbers of churches in Nigeria using the Name of Jesus Christ.
All Christians know that the Name of Jesus Christ is the password to Eternal Life. But from our text today, the Master Himself said;
“Knowing the correct password–saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance–isn’t going to get you anywhere with me.
What about pastors, General overseers and founders of ministries with gigantic auditorium edifice and projects embarked in your name? Everyone talks about their wonderful projects and miracles they also claimed to perform in your name
Hear what the Master said;
‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
Like the children of Israel, it is possible for pastors, General overseers, founders of churches and Christians to know Jesus as redeemer without a right heart and steadfastness in His covenant.
Psalm 78:35-37(NLT) Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer. But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues. Their hearts were not loyal to him. They did not keep his covenant.
Covetousness makes the heart of Christians to lie and go against the words of God. How can you rate your obedience to God’s word?
Ezekiel 33:31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Hear the NLT version of Ezekiel 33:31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.
Lustful desires prevent serious obedience to the will of God in ministries and in every aspect of Christian life. Calling and knowing the Name of Jesus Christ is not a guarantee to eternal life with God.
Jesus asked a vital question in Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Jesus revealed what is required to be added to the password, which is serious obedience to the word and will of God.
What is required is serious obedience–doing what my Father wills.
What Jesus saw among His followers which still exists till now should be of concern to those of us having eternity with God in view.
What did Jesus see which is also happening now?
I can see it now–at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’
Many are strutting in ministries based on achievements and gigantic projects claimed to be God-sponsored. To strut means walking proudly with head held high and chest out as important personality. We see several ministers with large followers proudly believing that the Kingdom of God is guaranteed due to what is done in their ministry.
Hear the response of Jesus Christ to preachers and miracle workers who strut as per the work of God done. And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.
‘The response of the Master should make us as disciples to remember what Jesus taught us to say after doing wonderful works in obedience to God for kingdom sake.
Luke 17:10(NLT) In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”
Do you honour God and your heart far from God? It is hypocritical
Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
The parish where God put us now as pastors is an event centre. There are other ministries that start their services after we close. The activities of some are not different from that of diviner even though they profess Christ.
Scriptures speak in Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
What terminated kingship of Saul was obedience to the will of the people rather than the instructions of God. Christian leaders see nothing wrong in getting big offerings from uncircumcised souls to embark on big projects for God rather than preaching truth to people, they speak enticing words to get offerings. Unknowingly, disobedience to God’s word terminate kingship or assignment in ministry while God will choose others that are faithful to His words while disobedient ones still embark in ministry.
1 Samuel 15:21-22 (MSG) So the soldiers saved back a few choice sheep and cattle from the holy ban for sacrifice to GOD at Gilgal–what’s wrong with that?” Then Samuel said, Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices– empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.
Many Christian leaders are in lavish religious productions using the name of Jesus Christ whereas they have been rejected by God.
This is Password without Passage. And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
✋ Maranatha
