Integrity- People of God

Do you have a religion that is just concerned with appearances or do you have a relationship with Christ? Jesus told us to beware of false prophets who look like they are harmless but their heart is greedy and predatory. He told us to look at what is being produced in their lives and then we could tell if they are true believers or not. He said He is not Lord over everyone who says Lord. Just because they said it, does not mean that they meant it. People may say a lot of things, but the actions that follow their words Jesus said, is a true reflection of their heart.

Matthew 7:15-16a Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits….

Matthew 7:17 -18 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. NKJV

Jesus said that some people will have a word of prophesy, which means to be able to give a correct word regarding the lives of others. Others will be able to cast out demons and do many wonders and they may say it was done in Jesus’ name. But Jesus also said, He never knew them because they practiced disorder, unruliness and lack of control and demanded them to leave His presence.

Most people think those who give a word of prophesy, cast out demons and heal the sick are the closest to God. Many travel for miles and stand in long lines to hear and see the miracles performed. But be careful false prophets because their true hearts are revealed by their lifestyle. Jesus said be careful if they practice lawlessness and are boisterous, being loud, disruptive, lacking self-control and are without restraint. They fail to put limits on themselves and allow their appetites and flesh to rule their lives which will eventually end in ruin.

Matthew 7: 21- 23 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. 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? And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” NKJV

Jesus tells us how to discern, distinguish and differentiate between those who are speaking words but whose hearts are not right with God. Jesus said, when trouble, rain and the floods of this life come, a wise person will trust in Jesus as their salvation and stand strong. Their faith is in the completed work of Christ and it gives them the ability to stand when this fallen world’s system comes to destroy.

This shows everyone will experience hard times in life, because it is the consequence of the fall and sin in the world. It is how we manage these crises that will reflect our true beliefs and the true condition of our own hearts. In good times both the false prophets and believers can appear to act the same. But a true believer’s action will show the love of God in difficult times.

Matthew 7: 24-27 therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these saying of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall. NKJV

We all will stand before God and give an account of our lives and our time on this earth. Many people are going through this life thinking the world owes them something because of all they have been through. While others will allow life challenges to be an opportunity for the light of Jesus to shine in those dark places.

People with false religion may go to church every Sunday for appearances, but may not know God nor love those who are created in His image. False religion will put on a show that appears right but when problems come and their faith is tested by problems of life. There will be a great fall because they did not know the true and living God and Jesus His Son. The greatest opposition to a life in Christ is self-consciousness, self-pity and pride. It is because people are more concerned about themselves, their needs and self-importance that they choose to please themselves rather than save a life for Christ.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NKJV

We must ask ourselves; do we truly know Jesus Christ and God as our heavenly Father who loves us? Do we have a personal relationship with Him? Or are we so caught up in just knowing things about God, what He can do and in seeing people perform and still not know Jesus personally, intimately, warmly and confidently. A relationship with Christ is the test of a true believer.

Eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ who He sent to set us free from this fallen world system. In our relationship with God we know confidently, in self-assurance and without doubt, that our faith is in God’s ability to handle all our problems.
Do you know you are saved? Does your life reflect love and respect for God and for others? Now is a good time to ask Jesus to come into your life and receive God’s forgiveness for your sins.

The life God requires us to live cannot be done in human strength. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us and reveals the person of Jesus to us that we are we able to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.