I never knew you

This is a short expository message intending to study a verse from the scripture.

Matthew chapter 5 to 7 are all about the Kingdom of God.

In Matthew 7, Jesus is telling a series of short parables about the entry to the Kingdom of God.

The scripture under study is as follows:

Matthew 7: 22, 23 (similar passage is seen in Luke 13:23 - 30)

22   "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?'

23   "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (NKJV)

Inaugurated Kingdom

What is “inaugurated Kingdom” and what are the characteristics of this age?

This is the topic we intend to study in this message.

Daniel’s prophecy

Over 2,500 years ago, God gave a Jewish prophet named Daniel, special under­standing of future world governments.

While serving in the court of Nebuchad­nezzar, the king of Babylon, God revealed to Daniel that throughout the course of human history there would be three more world ruling empires following the Baby­lonian empire-the Persian, Greek and Roman empires.

God then inspired Daniel to write:

Daniel 2:44  "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (NKJV)

Lord's Supper, the Passover and the Marriage of the Lamb

Adamic Covenant was the proto-gospel which announced God’s plan of redemption of humans and the restoration of the Kingdom of God.

Passover evokes the story of the Exodus and God’s delivery of the Jewish people from slavery.

Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover, while Jesus explaining and revealing its salvific significance and its eschatological fulfilment.

Word Became Flesh - Professor Jacob Abraham

Let us let us start this short study with a brief introduction to the four gospels.

They are called the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

They were written by four authors, between AD 66 and 100.

All four Gospels are anonymous; the names were added in the 2 century.

The Gospel of Mark was the first written, may be around AD 66 - 70.

Matthew and Luke were written around AD 85 - 90.

John was written around AD 90 - 110.

The apostles Matthew and John witnessed Jesus’ ministry from its inception through His death and resurrection.

Mark, a younger man was present at least during the later events of Jesus’ life, was taught by the apostle and eyewitness Peter.

The Gospel according to Luke is a report by a meticulous historian who claimed to have “carefully investigated everything from the beginning”

Have the faith of God

In this short study, we are discussing about the faith that is required for performing a miracle or sign for the Glory of the Kingdom of God.

What is the purpose of miracles?

Let me start the message with a question: what is a miracle and why should we need a miracle?

A miracle is an unusual happening that is beyond the capacity of humans.

If a sick person is healed with the help of medicine that is God’s provision, not a miracle.

It is not bad to use medicine; it is God’s provision for us in this world.

Prayer may support the healing by medicine.

But, if a person is healed by prayer, without medicine or when medicine fails, it is a miracle.

So miracle is an unusual and unnatural happening beyond God’s daily provision.

Miracles are happenings where a supernatural intervention is detected.

Miracle happens where humans fail; miracles are done by God, not by human beings.