Scripture

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in Heaven will enter.

Observation

Jesus warns us of the false prophets who come as wolves disguised as sheep. They can be identified by the fruit they produce. A good tree producers, good fruit, but a bad tree can only produce bad fruit.

Only those who do the will of the Father will get into heaven. Many will say, “We cast our demons in the name of Jesus.” But He will say to them, “Go away. I never knew you.”

Application

The kingdom of Heaven is not about what we do for Jesus, but what we do with Jesus,

It is a mystery to me that people may perform miracles and cast out demons in Jesus’ name, but not actually know him.

There are many people who think they are OK with God, but are not saved. They will go to hell.

These are people like the nominal christians who tick a box on the census and maybe turn up at Christmas. These are the atheists who now describe themselves as cultural Christians, that is, they like what the gospel does for society, but don’t want to submit themselves to the Lordship of Christ. These are the ministers and bishops, the pew warmers, and the church goers who love the church, but have no relationship with Jesus.

What is the will of the Father? This actually comes at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. To find out how to do the will of the Father, we need to go back to the beginning of the sermon and let it challenge us again.

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for inviting me into your kingdom. I acknowledge you as my Lord and I ask you to show me how to do the will of the Father. Amen.

Scripture

“Everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks the door will be opened.”

Observation

Jesus tells us to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking on the door. Everyone who asks will receive; everyone who seeks will find; and everyone who knocks the door will be opened.

If Earthly parents know how to give good gifts to their children. How much more will our heavenly Father give us what we need.

We can only enter God’s kingdom through the narrow gate. The road to hell is wide, but the road to life is narrow and only a few ever find it.

Application

Jesus is adamant that our Father answers prayer. He iss a good father. He knows how to give good gifts to His children.

Here, the emphasis is on persistence in prayer. We must keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking on the door.

In our instant quick fix culture, we get discouraged when God does not seem to answer our prayers according to our time scale, We get discouraged so easily. The person is not healed after a single prayer. Somebody isn’t saved the instant we pray for them. We then assume that the prayer failed. Maybe we just need more faith.

Jesus tells us to keep on praying. Be persistent and do not give up. This is the kind of prayer, which God answers.

Prayer

Lord, please show me how to pray the kind of prayers you require. Help me to be persistent and to not give up until I see your grace at work. Amen.