When the Heavens are Brass by John Kilpatrick

Author:John Kilpatrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780768462463
Publisher: Destiny Image, Inc.

CHAPTER 5

GOD’S PRESCRIPTION FOR A BREAKTHROUGH

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

—MATTHEW 17:21

Through the years, I’ve seen such a lack of fruit in Christianity that I have seriously wondered, “Lord, how many will make it? Will everyone who is in the Body of Christ be part of the Bride of Christ?” I am concerned about people who call themselves “Christians” yet live a lifestyle that does not match God’s Word or the Lord’s example. The things they do in their personal lives, and even in their ministries, reflect poorly on everyone who names the name of Jesus. During prayer one day, the Lord said to me, “Not everyone who is in My Body will be in My Bride.” That was when I realized that “the Body” has an earthly connotation, but “the Bride” has a heavenly connotation.

God Requires Obedience Above All Other Things

After years of study and holding my peace about this, I want to give you several Scriptures, including some quotes from Jesus, which support my statement. Obedience is all-important. That is why there will be many professors but few possessors.

To Obey Is to Do God’s Will

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

Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day [not a few, but many], Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?” Jesus wasn’t talking about “lost” people. These people knew God. They were professing Christians and acknowledged Jesus as Lord. The Bible says that “no man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost.”1 They were the real deal, but the Lord said He did not know them (approve of them).

Jesus didn’t say they tried to cast out devils. He said they cast out devils in His name. These people had the power to cast them out!2 When Jesus sent out the 70 disciples, they also had the power to cast out devils—including Judas Iscariot! You need to remember that it isn’t what you do for God or how many people you help. The real issue is whether you are in submission to Him.

If you look closely, you will see that Jesus didn’t dispute the things the people were saying. He never denied their claims that they prophesied in His name—because they did! He didn’t correct them by saying they had given a “false” prophecy. He didn’t deny that they had done “many wonderful works” in His name. The problem was that they had not done “the will of the Father.” This earned them one of the strongest rebukes in the Bible.

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