Depart from Me, I Never Knew You! 8-14-25

BIBLICAL Facts - Not Opinions! My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge (Hosea 4:6)

 “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!’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

Jesus is teaching and warning the disciples what not to do. In His teaching Jesus was admonishing them not to function in their own abilities. One can be doing something in the name of the Lord, but they are operating in their own strength. Only what Christ tells us to do will have lasting effects and rewards will be given.

Remember this: “That Day” means the Judgment Seat of Christ” When Jesus said: “Depart from Me; I never knew you; this means their works were considered evil, therefore they would not have rulership in His Kingdom.

These parables are illustrating a spiritual truth. The key verse to this parable connects with 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  If anyone’s work which he has built on endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Tested by fire in 1 Corinthians 3:15- Although Jesus Christ is the Judge, the fire is symbolic of the Holy Spirit that their works will be tested by.

Verse 15- If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire, was discussed on our Friday night fine tuning discussions when Albert was still on the earth. I said the fire was symbolic of the Holy Spirit and he agreed.  The Holy Spirit functions in several ways; one of the ways is He is seen the Old Testament as He led the Israelites as a Pillar of Fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 3:2). The Holy Spirit leads, tests, refines, and empowers.

 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy of carrying. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). This would be empowerment for Jesus’s ministry. Notice that His ministry did not start until this steps was taken.

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

My brothers and sisters are you going to be faithful to the call and receive rewards to rule in the kingdom of heaven, or will you operate in the flesh by saying you are doing it in the name of the Lord. God does not accept fleshy (carnal works). He only accepts what He called us to do. It is not what you say you do for Christ will last (that’s a lie); it’s what Christ tells you to do that will last.

When we do what Christ tells us, we will rule instead of being in “Outer Darkness” You will be in the eternal realm with the other saints, but you will only rule if you have had been faithful (Matthew 25:21, 23).

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org