Some of the most puzzling and frightening verses in the Scriptures are found in the Book of Matthew. I do not know about you my friend, but these verses give me pause to how I am doing things for God. Remember it is not what we do for God that counts in the end, but how we do things. Do we do things for Him with the right heart condition and with the right motives and intentions? When we stand before God (saints and sinners alike) and are judged we will be judged not according to what we have done, but how we have done things. It is our motives and intentions that construct the framework for us to do things for God in. Even God’s will is not according to what we do, oh no. God’s framework of doing things within His will is based on our motives, our intentions, and even our attitudes. And if our attitudes, motives, and intentions are wrong so will the things we do for God. This is how the Christians in Matthew 7:21-23 did many wonderful works for God, but in the end God professed unto them, “I never knew you.” I do not know about you my friend, but these verses down right scare me. Jesus shares these words, “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. 22Many 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? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23) Please notice from the start the requirement for entering into the kingdom of heaven (not the kingdom of God which is a different kingdom) is doing the will of the Father, not singing in the choir, paying our tithes, serving as head deacon, or any of the hundreds of other religious church activities we saddle people with. Doing the Father’s will has nothing to do with doing things, but meeting the heart condition God requires of us. In the garden of Gethsemane which means; where oil is pressed, Jesus our example and pattern to model after said, “not my will, but thy will be done.” Jesus was not talking about going to the cross, but submitting in His heart to what the Father wanted for His life. God’s will is always about heart submission. This is why many Christians miss God’s will and run from person to person and conference to conference searching for the answer to God’s will for their lives. Sadly, they are looking for something to do, but God wants us to become something (not do something) in Him. Jesus was given all power in heaven and on earth by the Father, so going to the cross would not have really been difficult for Him if God had not first pressed His life out of Him in Gethsemane like a bushel of olives. If you really look at it critically our salvation was done in Gethsemane and Jesus endured the cross in obedience to the Father to fulfill scripture, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22). This group of Christians who, “have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” did do these things, but these things are not requirements for entering the kingdom of heaven. But please notice these Christians did them any how and the Father replied, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23) The things done here for God was not done in an evil or malicious ways, but they were done in “iniquity” or in lawlessness, out side the laws, rules, regulations, or framework God has established things to be done. These Christians served God outside the framework He has established and so He did not know them. Unless we operate within God’s framework His will and intention cannot be done. They were not operating within God’s divine arrangements. Now some things were done and God even was glorified, but all that God desired in a given situation can never come to completion as He has planned because we have done them outside His framework of expectation. What loss have we incurred for ourselves and God by not operating within God’s framework? I shutter to think of the times I moved in my self-strength, in my will. Even then God was glorified and many people were saved and healed, but not all was done. Often when we pray we expect God to say yes or no to our prayers, but there is a third answer and it is not wait it is I have a better idea.
We know this understanding of the word “iniquity” is talking about a framework, because Jesus continues in Chapter seven of Matthew and starts talking about building, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27) In verses 24-27 Jesus is not talking about building a physical house, but is talking about building our spiritual tabernacle upon a rock; upon the correct cornerstone and framework. When the rains descended and the floods came, and the winds blew the builder who did not build on a rock, but on sand, “and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Again Jesus was not talking about a house, Jesus was talking about the builder having a great fall. My friend unless we build our lives and the things God wants to do through us well within the framework of God’s arrangements we to will experience a great fall (as the Christians in Matthew 7:23) “and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Our fall will be great not small, but great. It is one thing to miss it in God and fall, but how bad it is to miss it in God to where He would say, “and great was the fall of it” Sin is sin, but the higher we climb in God and if not careful the further we will fall. This is why it is best to stay in a low and humble place. You cannot get to hurt falling from your knees. The way is really down.
But now here is my main point in all of this. The Christians who did all of these wonderful things for God set some things into motion outside the framework of God and God even blessed them. The point is not God blessing something He did not originate, but the Christians set some things into motion. This thought really captivates my attention. We can set things into motion outside God’s will and intention and He will not stop us. Oh my God what a dangerous place to be in, setting things into motion outside God’s framework and arrangements. This area or place in God is called presumption or presuming to know what God wants, but in reality what we think God wants is wrong. I wish God would stop us when we get over in these areas, but God does not He allows us to continue to run at break-neck speed 500 miles down the road before He not so gently pulls back on the reins. The Christians here presumed they were doing what God wanted them to do, they even presumed they had a relationship and knew Him, but in reality they were wrong. I think it was not they did not know of God after all, they used His name to cast out demons, “and in thy name have cast out devils?” They knew of His power and His miracles, but they did not know Him. Presumption always gets us over into areas of good works, but always prevents us from knowing God the key to our relationship with Him. This is why the church does not really know God, oh they know of His power and ability, but there is no knowledge of Him nor is there a consistent message of knowing God taught from the pulpits. Common (which is the opposite of holiness) today the 15-20 minute message of love, grace, and God blessing us, right after a 40-45 minute sing-a-long, is heard every Sunday morning. Seldom on a Sunday night anymore is there preaching other activities fill the agenda, any how it is just too late for the kids who have school the next day. Well, in the Book of Acts Paul preached all night and look at the power they demonstrated to the world. Maybe now we see why the church of today is not impacting the world. Oh we are feeding and clothing millions (and feeling good about it), but we are not impacting their spiritual needs. I guess today’s denominational wisdom is; it is okay to let a man got to hell as long as they are dressed and have a full belly. This thinking is all presumption. We must move always from this type of thinking if we are going to be the salt and light of the world. Presumption always move in a direction that contrary to God’s framework and plans. Presumption always wants to go in an upward direction. But the Bible says Jesus is meek and lowly. Presumption wants to make a video or DVD touting its accomplishments telling the world how wonderful they are and how hard they are working for God. But God is not after all that grand showmanship. God’s greatest stars names are not up in lights or on a DVD. Presumption always goes up in one’s self-strength and ability. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 2And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. 4So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 5And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” (Joshua 7:1-5) Please notice they were already in sin and kept going up away from where God is down. And please notice where they were going up to Bethaven. Bethaven is two names in the Hebrew text: “beth” or “house of” (Strong’s #1004) and “aven” or “wickedness” (Strong’s 205). Vanity is also tucked into the meaning. In the meaning of “Bethaven” there is always wickedness involved; rebellion and a walking contrary to the revelation of God in the vanity of one’s own mind. Whatever actions and causes are in the picture, physical or spiritual, it is leaving; one is on the way out. Bethaven is the door through which we leave. The children of Israel were over in great presumption and prime for a great fall like the many major denominations of today. They too set some things into motion outside the framework of God and God did not bless them this time. For this they paid dearly with loss of life. So too in our lives if we set things into motion and get over into presumption we will pay. Like with the children of Israel God may exact a heavy toll for our disobedience.
We know this understanding of the word “iniquity” is talking about a framework, because Jesus continues in Chapter seven of Matthew and starts talking about building, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27) In verses 24-27 Jesus is not talking about building a physical house, but is talking about building our spiritual tabernacle upon a rock; upon the correct cornerstone and framework. When the rains descended and the floods came, and the winds blew the builder who did not build on a rock, but on sand, “and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Again Jesus was not talking about a house, Jesus was talking about the builder having a great fall. My friend unless we build our lives and the things God wants to do through us well within the framework of God’s arrangements we to will experience a great fall (as the Christians in Matthew 7:23) “and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Our fall will be great not small, but great. It is one thing to miss it in God and fall, but how bad it is to miss it in God to where He would say, “and great was the fall of it” Sin is sin, but the higher we climb in God and if not careful the further we will fall. This is why it is best to stay in a low and humble place. You cannot get to hurt falling from your knees. The way is really down.
But now here is my main point in all of this. The Christians who did all of these wonderful things for God set some things into motion outside the framework of God and God even blessed them. The point is not God blessing something He did not originate, but the Christians set some things into motion. This thought really captivates my attention. We can set things into motion outside God’s will and intention and He will not stop us. Oh my God what a dangerous place to be in, setting things into motion outside God’s framework and arrangements. This area or place in God is called presumption or presuming to know what God wants, but in reality what we think God wants is wrong. I wish God would stop us when we get over in these areas, but God does not He allows us to continue to run at break-neck speed 500 miles down the road before He not so gently pulls back on the reins. The Christians here presumed they were doing what God wanted them to do, they even presumed they had a relationship and knew Him, but in reality they were wrong. I think it was not they did not know of God after all, they used His name to cast out demons, “and in thy name have cast out devils?” They knew of His power and His miracles, but they did not know Him. Presumption always gets us over into areas of good works, but always prevents us from knowing God the key to our relationship with Him. This is why the church does not really know God, oh they know of His power and ability, but there is no knowledge of Him nor is there a consistent message of knowing God taught from the pulpits. Common (which is the opposite of holiness) today the 15-20 minute message of love, grace, and God blessing us, right after a 40-45 minute sing-a-long, is heard every Sunday morning. Seldom on a Sunday night anymore is there preaching other activities fill the agenda, any how it is just too late for the kids who have school the next day. Well, in the Book of Acts Paul preached all night and look at the power they demonstrated to the world. Maybe now we see why the church of today is not impacting the world. Oh we are feeding and clothing millions (and feeling good about it), but we are not impacting their spiritual needs. I guess today’s denominational wisdom is; it is okay to let a man got to hell as long as they are dressed and have a full belly. This thinking is all presumption. We must move always from this type of thinking if we are going to be the salt and light of the world. Presumption always move in a direction that contrary to God’s framework and plans. Presumption always wants to go in an upward direction. But the Bible says Jesus is meek and lowly. Presumption wants to make a video or DVD touting its accomplishments telling the world how wonderful they are and how hard they are working for God. But God is not after all that grand showmanship. God’s greatest stars names are not up in lights or on a DVD. Presumption always goes up in one’s self-strength and ability. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. 2And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. 3And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. 4So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. 5And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” (Joshua 7:1-5) Please notice they were already in sin and kept going up away from where God is down. And please notice where they were going up to Bethaven. Bethaven is two names in the Hebrew text: “beth” or “house of” (Strong’s #1004) and “aven” or “wickedness” (Strong’s 205). Vanity is also tucked into the meaning. In the meaning of “Bethaven” there is always wickedness involved; rebellion and a walking contrary to the revelation of God in the vanity of one’s own mind. Whatever actions and causes are in the picture, physical or spiritual, it is leaving; one is on the way out. Bethaven is the door through which we leave. The children of Israel were over in great presumption and prime for a great fall like the many major denominations of today. They too set some things into motion outside the framework of God and God did not bless them this time. For this they paid dearly with loss of life. So too in our lives if we set things into motion and get over into presumption we will pay. Like with the children of Israel God may exact a heavy toll for our disobedience.
My friend let us not set things into motion with out really knowing God is behind them. Let us not get over into presumption and grandstanding what we have done for God. The way up is down. Take heed church of America we are heading for a “great fall.” It is not about us, but all about Him. The safe place in God is to keep our mouth in the dust, just like being on our knees when falling dust in our mouth will keep us quiet but filled. Written by David Stahl
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