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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.Ivor J.W.Oakley (22-10-2000
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Additional Reading Matthew 25:1-13
Recently looked at the Lord’s teaching on the two
ways, good and bad fruit, and two destinations. Having spoken of false prophets,
he dealt with the condemnation of such people. Now to a very solemn and
heart-piercing passage. Some of the most solemn words found anywhere, and since
they came from the Lord himself, we dare not neglect or reject them. He dealt
with false prophets and teachers earlier and now he deals with unsound hearers
and professors. Special relevance for those who preach and teach and lead. But
ultimately we are all caught and challenged. The day of judgement will be a day
of surprises. People expecting to hear the Lord’s “well done” and
gratitude, expecting to be acclaimed as part of his people, will be astounded to
hear “I never knew you”.
Several warnings in Matthew that things may not to turn
out as some may expect. Five foolish virgins in the party of bridegroom expected
to go into wedding feast even if a little late. But the door was shut. “I
tell you the truth, I do not know you” (Matthew 25:12). The goats, in the
Parable of the sheep and the goats, were surprised they were shut out of the
kingdom. “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or
needing clothes or sick or in prison and did not help you?” (Matthew
25:44).
Another disturbing feature is that “many” are going to be surprised. Not the odd one or two. Not just a few exceptions. Here is a warning about our present peril of self-deception and self-delusion. We can deceive ourselves and also others, but never God. He knows where we are precisely, knows our true condition – even if we are blind to it. The real point is the danger of superficial discipleship. It is possible to have so much going for us on the outside, to impress ourselves and others, but still to have no real heart obedience and personal relationship (Matthew 7:21,23).
First of all notice that these
people may be very orthodox and sound. They may have the right doctrine. They
say “Lord, Lord”, which is a very exalted description. At very least, it is
giving Jesus a title of great respect. But normally in Matthew and in the rest
of the New Testament, it is used as a divine title. This Greek word kurios
was used for “God” when the Old Testament was translated into Greek.
Notice also their enthusiasm in
calling him Lord. They kept on repeating the word. legwn means “keep on saying”. So they were orthodox,
reverent, worshipful, they expressed themselves fervently, continuously and
insistently. Not that right beliefs about Christ are wrong. It is essential to
be orthodox. But if it is only intellectual belief it is not sufficient. There
is such a thing as dead orthodoxy. Only halfway there. You can believe the
truth, argue for the truth, defend the truth, but your life can still deny the
truth.
Recently reading testimony of Alan Redpath,
written while he was making recovery from cerebral haemorrhage. Reviewed his
life and reflected on the fact that he had made many mistakes, one of which was
the neglect of family in his busyness. Another mistake was that he had been
proud of being so orthodox on doctrine, of being such a sound conservative
evangelical, but of not being so concerned about obedience to the doctrine. What
he had preached to others, he had not always done himself. Easy to ask for
congregation more obedience than give yourself. Humiliating to find out. He knew
the truth more than he knew God. He was strong on the theoretical doctrine of
the Lord Jesus Christ, but did not know him as a saving experimental saviour day
by day in his life. Paul had said “That I may know him”, not that I
may know the truth.
So these people described were orthodox, they were enthusiastic. They were also outstanding preachers. Prophesied in the Lord’s name. Given spiritual message. Claimed revelation from God. Declared God’s will. Foretold future. Have direct revelation of God’s mind. Came in the Lord’s name. Claimed to be called, sent as his spokesmen and messengers. They were also workers of mighty miracles. Cast out demons. Did many astounding miracles. Such healing and cures and feats which caused people to believe they possessed divine power. We learn from this passage that there is such a thing as a natural gift of healing. Some people do have almost magical powers, whether it is bound up with the issue of electricity in human frame, telepathy or extrasensory perception. Then never forget power of the devil. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).
These things show how far a
man, ultimately condemned, may go in orthodoxy, reverence, preaching and
outstanding feats and achievement. Yet not be the Lord’s after all. There are
many warnings along the same lines in the whole of Scripture, both Old Testament
and New Testament. Orthodox belief is accepted by Devil. Devil-possessed man who
called Jesus “Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24). Even the demons believe all
right things about God and tremble (James 2:19). Therefore right and orthodox
belief on its own does not make us Christians.
Nor do zeal and enthusiasm. Carnal animal enthusiasm
is not the same as spiritual power. A preacher getting worked up in the pulpit
– “get himself into a lather” – does not prove anything, though the
ignorant and gullible may say “what a wonderful powerful man”. Maybe has an
enthusiastic outlook, excitable, carried along by own eloquence. But far from
God and not ruled by spiritual truth. Likewise it is possible for hymn singing
to bring tears to eyes and down cheeks, but be far from God. Emotion is one
thing, spirituality is another.
So with miraculous powers and preaching. Paul said If
I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, … if I have the gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that move
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing (1 Cor. 13: 1-2). He also spoke
of some who preach Christ out of envy and rivalry (Philippians 1:19).
There were outstanding magicians in Egypt in the times of Moses (Exodus 7:11).
Judas Iscariot must have cast out demons (Luke 10:17). The seven sons of Sceva,
a Jewish chief priest, drove out evil spirits (Acts 19:13-14). False Christs
and false prophets will perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the
elect (Matthew 24:24). The work of Satan displayed in all kinds of
counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders (2 Thess. 2:9).
Great achievements, marvels,
wonders, outstanding cures, not necessarily prove anything. So today –
meetings where supernatural and unusual things happen or healings and miracles
take place, prove nothing.
Again, someone can be busy in church work and religious affairs but that proves nothing. The German orthodox commentator Bengel said “We can write commentaries on Bible books and preach many fine sermons, but may yet hear the solemn words ‘I never knew you’ because we have done everything except the Lord’s will”. How alarming all this is. How terrifying. How far we can go, yet still be outside the Kingdom, unrecognised by the Lord.
The Lord passes sentence I
never knew you (Matthew 7:23). Does not mean that the Lord does not know
they existed and all their activities, but rather it means
“I don’t recognize or accept you as one of my own”, “I don’t
acknowledge you as one of my people”. This word “know” indicates a very
personal relationship – c.f. “Adam knew his wife” – a sexual
relationship, personal deep relationship. The Lord knows those who are his (2
Timothy 2:19).
These condemned people were described also as those who
continually worked lawlessness, continually violated God’s law, lived to
please self. Not occasional lapse, but the whole bent and tenor of their lives
was in rebellion against God and his will and his law. Those whose drift and
direction of lives showed there is no true repentance, no real submission to
God, nor heart love and obedience to him. No seeking of his kingdom and his
righteousness. Self-centred, not God-centred. Do everything but God’s will.
L. Morris writes that the
history of the church is replete with examples of clerics who made free use of
“Lord, Lord” but whose arrogant and self-centred lives made a mockery of
their words. It is one thing to profess, and another to practice. Saying is one
thing, doing is another.
The day is coming when there can be no more pretences and disguises. The truth will out. Terrifying picture – how much we can do and religious practice we can engage in but all in the power of the flesh – self – human effort. But never do anything in God’s power, i.e. the Holy Spirit. Go far in our own energy in practice of religion without yielding to God’s will, having heart changed and given to the Lord. All is from self and nothing is from him.
Subject reminds us that it is
with God himself that we have to do. We will stand before his Son on day of
judgement and must live life in light of that coming day. He cannot be deceived.
Christ is here presented to us as God’s Son, our lawgiver, judge and Lord.
Here is a subject we dare not trifle with. Face to face with reality and all
pretences and disguises have no place here. You perceive my thoughts from
afar… You are familiar with all my ways (Psalm 139:2-3). Only thing that
matters is not what we think of ourselves or others think of us, but what he
thinks of us.
So need from time to time to
examine ourselves to ensure we are the genuine article and that the peace we
profess is not a false peace. Beneath my profession, use of right vocabulary and
phraseology, beliefs I profess, my activities and Christian service – where is
God in all of this? Is it all done for the sake of the Lord, his will and his
glory? Or for myself, my own interest, glory, self-satisfaction? What am I
really out for? What am I in it for?
R.M.McCheyne, in a diary entry,
said he was glad he missed an opportunity of speaking for Christ. “I would
have spoken as much for my own honour as for God’s. A man cannot be a faithful
minister of Christ unless he preaches for Christ’s sake, gives up trying to
attract people to himself, and seeks to attract men to Him. Lord, give me that
attitude of mind”.
What is my relationship to
Christ? Is there a definite relationship? Does he “know” me, acknowledge and
recognise me as his own? Does he have not just my profession, zeal, fervour,
works and achievement, but does he have my heart? Does he have my inner man and
my submission? Has Christ got me? Do I desire with my whole heart to please and
obey him? All that I do – is it for myself or for him? Do I say “Lord,
Lord” – yet all the time retain control over my life? Is my life controlled
not by his word but by my own opinions and wishes about what I do and how I do
it? Does he control my life not only in the big things, but also in the little
things?
Compared with this time last
year – I may know a great deal more about him, but do I know him better? Do I
love him more? I may know the contents of the Bible more, but am I yielding more
to its authority in my daily life? I sing many hymns of devotion endlessly, but
in my heart do I resist his will? Or has God got me? How important it is that we
make certain of our selves. Do we really belong to Christ?
Here is a distinguishing mark of
the real Christian, which makes him different from the religious non-Christian.
Not so much in what we say or in our activities, but in the obedient, submissive
heart. Mrs Booth Clibborn conducted a Salvation Army campaign in large French
city. Visited by wife of wealthy Frenchman. In her hand was a small bottle with
“poison” on it, for she was determined to take her own life. But she loved
the preacher and wanted to look at her face as she passed into unconsciousness.
The problem was her husband. He was irritated with her, and kept saying to her
“What more do you want? You have my pocket book, my home, my table, you have
all that my wealth and position can give you. What more do you want?” She told
him “I want you, your heart, your love.” “You cannot have that, it belongs
to someone else. You can have everything but my heart”.
So the Lord says to us “I
don’t just want your service and intellectual assent and ascriptions of
praise. I want you”. If you feel condemned, confess to God. Turn to Christ.
Ask for a new heart and the power of the Holy Spirit within to enable you to
live a humble and holy life. Else you will miss heaven and be cast away forever.
