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?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:22-23)
Notice in these verses, Jesus does not deny that they did indeed prophesy in His name, cast out demons in His name, and do many mighty works in His name, yet He says “I never knew you”
Yes, there is mighty power in the name of Jesus, name above ALL names. Yet it is clear that one can be operating in the gifts of God, while at the same time have no “personal” relationship with Him. For as Romans 8:29 declares “The gifts of God are without repentance”
The psychic can be operating in a gift of God, yet it is twisted, distorted being used for a purpose other than glorifying God.
We live in an age when “Gifts” are held to a higher esteem than “Relationship” with Yahweh. One can give powerful prophetic messages, yet have no relationship with God, one can operate in the realm of healing miracles, yet have no relationship with God, one can have the appearance of deep revelations yet use such to build up self rather than glorifying the Father.
Over the past several months, the Lord has been dealing with me on the issue of raising up individuals to walk in their gifts, without first focusing on their personal relationship with Yahweh which is likened to building a ship without a rudder, for in thier not being centered in Christ, they are left at the mercy of operating with no spiritual discernment between true & false doctrines, of hearing their own voice belieiving it is the Father’s or that of being persuaded by the voice of others trusting it is from the Father.
And sadly the whole time believing they are walking in the will of Yahweh, yet such is impossible without a having a close intimate relationship with Him.
I care not how powerful a ministry is or whether it carries the title of changing lives, if it is not focused on our identity in Christ, on how the Father sees us and what it means to live the christocentric life (Christ centered) at the very center of the ministry, it is but a ministry of man fashioned in the appearance of good intentions, yet as the saying goes, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”.
No my friends, your gifts do not identify who you are, nor do they guarantee your spending eternity with the LORD in His paradise. Ones true identity must be found in Christ, having received such revelation through Holy Spirit.
For Holy Spirit reveals what an intimate relationship of knowing who Yeshuah truly is, leading the individual to obediently surrendering to His Lordship as the only begotten Son of God, and in that revelation lies the spiritual key to the door into Yahweh’s family being opened.
For in truth do the scriptures declare that only through Jesus is the door to the Father opened, at which point one is ushered into the inner court of intimacy with the Father (John 14:6).
~Russ Welch
Radical Disciples - A Remnant Revolution 