WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES US SPIRITUAL

MF Blume
January 24, 2016


Matthew 7:21-24 KJV  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.  (22)  Many 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?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  (24)  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:

John 10:1 KJV  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

John 10:14 KJV  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.


Both passages show the idea of ENTERING A DOOR and being where God wants you to be, as well as JESUS KNOWING YOU.

You can know Jesus, but He might not know you.
•    Do you know Him if you perform miracles and prophesy?
•    Yes!
•    Do you know Him if you call Him LORD?
•    Yes.

1 Corinthians 12:3b KJV  …and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

So, you can know the Lord, BUT HE MIGHT NOT KNOW YOU.

1 Corinthians 1:4-7 KJV  (4)  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;  (5)  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;  (6)  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:  (7)  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV  (12)  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

1 Corinthians 14:27-32 KJV  (27)  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  (28)  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.  (29)  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  (30)  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.  (31)  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  (32)  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

They did so many operations of the gifts they were rebuked and told to get some order!

1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV  (40)  Let all things be done decently and in order.

So he had to tell them to see MORE than gifts.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 KJV  (1)  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  (2)  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  (3)  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

After chapter 1 tells them they had all the gifts, look two chapters later:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 KJV  (1)  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  (3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

And Paul mentioned and listed these very things in Galatians.

Galatians 5:19-21 KJV  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  (21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Notice we read the same three things Paul said the Corinthians had problems with.
1.    Strife.
2.    Divisions/seditions
3.    Envying

And they cannot INHERIT THE KINGDOM.
•    Paul said the Corinthians had all of the gifts, but did three things that Paul said won’t allow you to inherit the kingdom.
•    And Jesus said you can prophesy, and perform miracles, call Jesus Lord and not enter the Kingdom.

The mark of a real spiritual believer is NOT THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.
•    It’s the absence of the list Paul gave in Galatians.
•    Read it from the ISV in more modern English.

Galatians 5:19-21 ISV  Now the actions of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, promiscuity,  (20)  idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, rivalry, jealously, outbursts of anger, quarrels, conflicts, factions,  (21)  envy, murder, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that. I am telling you now, as I have told you in the past, that people who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

So, to know Jesus is not just to know Who He is, as Lord.
•    It’s not to perform many miracles and prophesy.
•    Jesus said the ones who never KNEW him were called workers of iniquity.
•    The iniquity was all the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5.
•    So, when Jesus told us in John 10 that HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP, the key is to study what it is to be a sheep, not a miracle worker.

John 10:3-5 KJV  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  (4)  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  (5)  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

His sheep follow Him.

Jesus spoke of FOLLOWING HIM as well in Matthew 16, where He also mentioned KNOWING HIM.

Matthew 16:13-17 KJV  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  (14)  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  (15)  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  (16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  (17)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

How many can see that people who know Jesus are able to do so by the Holy Spirit?

1 Corinthians 12:3 KJV  …and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

The Father showed Peter who Jesus was by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
•    So we have people knowing Jesus here.
•    Peter knew Jesus.
•    But what about Jesus knowing Peter?

Matthew 16:17-19 KJV  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  (18)  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (19)  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

So far so good.
•    Jesus KNOWS PETER!
•    THOU ART PETER.
•    Then he mentions the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM.
•    Keys open doors.
•    Now we see something here about the DOOR TO THE KINGDOM that Jesus said we must enter, and may not necessarily enter just because we know Jesus is Lord.
•    Just because we know Jesus.

Matthew 16:20-22 KJV  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.  (21)  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.  (22)  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

So he begins to talk about the CROSS.
•    Suddenly Peter KICKS!
•    NO NO NO!

After Jesus just told him he’s blessed, for the Father revealed Jesus; identity to Peter, and Jesus says THOU ART PETER, like HE KNEW HIM, too…
•    We see Jesus speak of the cross.
•    Peter rejects it.
•    And Jesus suddenly does not call him Peter any more, and isn’t focusing on the blessings, but CALLS HIM SATAN!

He spoke of the kingdom!
•    There are keys to the kingdom.
•    The door must be entered!
•    But Jesus calls Peter the devil when Peter resists the idea of the Cross!
•    The cross is what kills the envying and divisions and strife from our lives, for IT SLAYS SELF in SELF DENIAL.

Matthew 16:24 KJV  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

We must FOLLOW JESUS.
•    Didn’t He say His SHEEP KNOW HIM and HE KNOWS THEM, and THEY FOLLOW HIM?
•    And when it comes to following Him, He means TAKING A CROSS that kills SELF and the flesh!

 Peter was so receptive to be able to hear the Spirit give him a revelation!
•    The Corinthians came behind in no gift!
•    Many can cast out devils and perform miracles and prophesy.
•    But Paul told the Gift bearing Corinthians they were infantile.
•    Jesus told Peter he was satan.
•    And Jesus will tell many who know He’s Lord that HE DOES NOT KNOW THEM.
•    He knew Peter’s identity, but then suddenly He’s not calling him Peter any more, but satan!

His words focus on carrying the cross.
•    Following Him is carrying your cross and denying self.

God checks us out and sees how humble we are.

Israel worshiped a golden calf.

Exodus 32:9-10 KJV  And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:  (10)  Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

God tested MOSES.
•    He’s taking advantage of the situation for a test to Moses.
•    Moses, I will make you ANOTHER ABRAHAM!
•    A nation will come from YOU!
•    People will say they must walk in the steps of Moses instead those of Abraham!

Numbers 12:3 KJV  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Exodus 3:11 KJV  And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

But Moses was meek.

Exodus 32:11-14 KJV  And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?  (12)  Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.  (13)  Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.  (14)  And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

Moses is concerned about OTHERS more than himself.
•    Concerned about GOD’s reputation!
•    “People will say you couldn’t do it, God!”
•    “They won’t understand the rebellion issue.”
•    “Remember your promise, too!”
•    A man has to be empty of self to be offered that position and turn it down because others will be affected.

When God says He’d send an angel, Moses refuses again.

Exodus 33:2-3 KJV  And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:  (3)  Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.

Exodus 33:12-13 KJV  And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.  (13)  Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

God says OK.

Moses wants to make sure.
•    Show me your glory.

Exodus 33:18 KJV  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.


Exodus 34:6-7 KJV  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  (7)  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

THE SAME TEST HAPPENS YEARS LATER when the adults of the Exodus fear the giants and can’t believe God to enter the land.

Numbers 14:11-23 KJV  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?  (12)  I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.  (13)  And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)  (14)  And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.  (15)  Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,  (16)  Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.  (17)  And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, 

Then Moses reminds God of the first time this same thing happened, and God showed him his glory to ensure Moses God would lead them, and refers to what god said back then.

(18)  The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.  (19)  Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.  (20)  And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:  (21)  But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.  (22)  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;  (23)  Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

God saw Moses pass the test!

Don’t focus on prophesying and miracle working.
•    Don’t follow miracles.
•    FOLLOW JESUS with YOUR CROSS.
•    And MIRACLES WILL FOLLOW YOU.

Matthew 16:24 KJV  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mark 16:17 KJV  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

The very casting out of devils that people are following WILL INSTEAD FOLLOW US!
•    Follow Jesus and let the cross destroy the self in your life that glorifies itself.


SERMONS