Mark 16:17 (MEV) These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
Let's look at the wage paid in this scripture with Mathew 7:21-23 (MEV) which says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works in Your name?’ 23 But then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil.’[a].
We need to understand the word will here because we assume that doing all these things, prophesying, casting out demons and wonderful works are God's will and they are, But what is His ultimate will for mankind?
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (MEV) Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, 2 for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty, 3 for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all. This was the testimony given at the proper time.
The word “will” is the GK word theléma, Strongs 2307.
Usage: an act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires.
HELPS Word-studies
2307 thélēma (from 2309 /thélō, "to desire, wish") – properly, a desire (wish), often referring to God's "preferred-will," i.e. His "best-offer" to people which can be accepted or rejected.
[Note the -ma suffix, focusing on the result hoped for with the particular desire (wish). 2307 (thélēma) is nearly always used of God, referring to His preferred-will. Occasionally it is used of man (cf. Lk 23:25; Jn 1:13.]
God's will is that we be healed, delivered restored, made whole, and made well but His preferred will is that we do not still go to hell being healed of our diseases but that we be in eternal relationship with Him, in heaven. God's ultimate will is that all men be saved.
By this, we can conclude that mankind can be persuaded and have confidence (believe, GK - pisteuō) in the fact that God is God our healer, God our deliverer, and God our provider, etc, But was not persuaded that He is God our righteousness, Jehovah-Tsidkenu having continued to practice evil (GK 458 ANOMIA meaning - lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin).
If we do not know God as God our righteousness, then God does not know us.
HELPS Word-studies
458 anomía (from 1 /A "not" and 3551 /nómos, "law") – properly, without law; lawlessness; the utter disregard for God's law (His written and living Word).
458 /anomía ("lawlessness") includes the end-impact of law breaking – i.e. its negative influence on a person's soul (status before God).
3 John 2-4 (MEV) says; Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, even as your soul is well. 3 For I greatly rejoiced when brothers came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Mathew 16:24-27 (MEV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man shall come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay every man according to his works.
The word Soul is the Strongs GK 5590, Transliteration: psuché
HELPS Word-studies
5590 psyxḗ (from psyxō, "to breathe, blow" which is the root of the English words "psyche," "psychology") – soul (psyche); a person's distinct identity (unique personhood), i.e. individual personality.
5590 (psyxē) corresponds exactly to the OT 5315 /phágō ("soul"). The soul is the direct aftermath of God breathing (blowing) His gift of life into a person, making them an ensouled being.
We may prophesy, cast out demons, and do many wonderful works in Jesus' name, But if we have not looked after our own soul, we will reap the wages of sin.
Psalm 145:20 (MEV) The Lord preserves all those who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.
Hebrews 10:26-30 (MEV) For if we willfully continue to sin after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who despised Moses’ law died without mercy in the presence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severe a punishment do you suppose he deserves, who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded the blood of the covenant that sanctified him to be a common thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine,” says the Lord, “I will repay.”[a] And again He says, “The Lord will judge His people.”
The payment or wage for the working of sin is death. Death is not a punishment for sin, but a fair wage. Romans 6:23 (MEV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer will not save your soul, the solution to sin remains unchanged even if you are actively raising the dead. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call” Acts 2:38-39 (MEV).
The Church has gone from hyper-grace to hyper-power and must come to a place of balance BUT lean to righteousness.
Jesus told his disciples in Luke 10:18-20 (MEV) He said to them, “I saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Look, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
To know God as God our Righteousness is to accept His sacrifice for sin and sin no more.
I pray this has blessed and encouraged you, or at the very least provoked you to righteousness.
Evg. Bradley Sliedrecht
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