[Matthew 7:21-23 _ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in YOUR NAME, and IN YOUR NAME drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU, AWAY FROM ME, you EVILDOERS!’

How could ‘evil doers’ prophecy, cast out demons and even perform miracles in the name of Jesus?

The scripture says, “These attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.” _ Mark 16:17-18 AMP.

 It implies that if you believe in the name of Jesus, if you believe that He is the Son of God, all these attesting signs he stated will happen for you.  So if this is the case, how come “evil doers” who God doesn’t know were/are able to prophecy, perform miracles and even drive out demons IN JESUS’ NAME?

To answer this, let’s look at what Apostle Peter said to the people in the book of Acts;

Acts 3:12, 16 AMP _ 12 “And Peter, seeing it, answered the people, You men of Israel, why are you so surprised and wondering at this? Why do you keep staring at us, as though by our [own individual] power or [active] piety we had made this man [able] to walk?” 16 “And His name, through and by faith in His name, had made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. [Yes] the faith which is through and by Him [Jesus] has given the man this perfect soundness [of body] before all of you.”

This happened/was said when Apostle Peter healed the crippled beggar, and the men of Israel were surprised.

This scripture of the Bible (Acts 3:12,16) answers all our question: Men think that  it is when you are very godly that you can perform miracles or do anything supernatural. Actually it is not. Apostle Peter said, “It is Jesus Name and the faith that comes through Him that does the work.” A saved and Spirit-filled believer could be sinful but have faith in God and in Jesus’ name and end up driving out demons. Why? It is because of the Power in the Name of Jesus, and his faith in Jesus. I believe likewise that a faithless but godly Christian would not be able to perform any miracles in the name of Jesus because of his lack of Faith _ without Faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE God.

When Jesus was on Earth, every miracle he performed came as a result of the people’s faith in Him (Not by their godliness per se). We realize that He couldn’t perform many miracles in his hometown because of their lack of faith _ Faith plays a role.

“How does faith come?”

Faith cometh by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).

Apostle Paul said, “Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?” _ Romans 6:1-2 AMP.

It is a dangerous thing for the believer, the pastor or the minister of God to gauge his/her spirituality/godliness by the number/kind of miracles he/she performs.

The power is in the Name of Jesus (electricity connection), and it is your added faith (putting on the switch) that gets the work done (lights on).

But let’s look at something again in the Bible;

Luke 10:20 _ “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.”

Matthew 7:21 _ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven.”

John 14:15,21 _ “If you love me, YOU WILL OBEY WHAT I COMMAND. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me…”

These scriptures imply that you can do all the miracles, prophecies, or everything of the Spirit in the NAME OF JESUS, but if you don’t obey the commands of God, if you don’t do what the Father in Heaven requires of you, you will NOT inherit the kingdom of Heaven.

Your entrance into heaven is dependent on your works here on Earth.

Matthew 16:27 _ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE.

It is your works that will follow you: “By their fruits, you shall know them.”_ Matthew 7:16.

What fruits are you producing? Are you living ‘fruitlessly’? Are you wasting the resources (the name of Jesus) God has given you?

Don’t rejoice if you are able to do miracles, walk on water or even raise the dead, if you aren’t doing the will of the Father in Heaven, or if you don’t obey the commands of God. You will end up in hell because Jesus wouldn’t have known you.

Have a relationship with God. Love him. Obey him. And have fellowship with Him.

Stay Safe.

Be Careful.

You are loved.

Amen.

Bye.