March 25, 2009 Strangers to Him Kathleen Maples

As we look around we see things deteriorating rapidly. Our government is

growing increasingly hostile to private buisness, to protecting the sanctity of life
and marriage as its always been defined. The economy is being shaken hard.
People are losing jobs, losing their retirement, and personal tribulation is
increasing. The church too, is being pressed in many ways. Spiritually,
financially, personally, mentally. It is heartbreaking to see a nation that once
stood for what is right, for the values and morals and Word of God turn from that.
To see the government target certain individuals and try to circumvent their own
laws to punish those persons smacks of communism and should alarm everyone. If
they get by with it, nothing materially we have is safe, either. Our nation is a
house divided and it is falling down. We must seek God, and realize we must be in
our hearts totally unattached to everything of this world. I am grieved at what I
see happening-for this nation has become hostile toward God-no longer neglectful
of Him, but openly hostile. Still, He has a remnant in this nation that is on her face
before Him, drawing comfort and strength, and searching His Word, digging deep,
and storing up the Treasure of His Word in her heart. She knows He is moving
against this nation and is preparing herself and her family.

But some are not prepared. Some are lukewarm or outright asleep, spiritually,
going about their business. I pray the Spirit of God minister hope and help to your
heart for those who would take time to read this. It may sound like a hard word,
and that self life, that carnal nature we war against will not like it at all.

Luk 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward
Jerusalem.
Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto
them,
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in,
and shall not be able.

He is telling them there is going to be a struggle here. We have an adversary to

contend with, and it's a fight of faith. There is something that has to be overcome
here to make it in this narrow entrance. Struggle to go in through the only
channel or avenue there is to enter here. Remember, Jesus Christ Himself is the
Door-the entrance. He said by Me if any man enter in he shall find rest. But any
who try to get in any other way are thieves and robbers. (John 10). Many will
demand entrance into this life which is eternal, this kingdom of God that is
available. Many are searching, trying to obtain this life. The question is about how
they are trying to obtain it. If He is the Door, we must be joined to Him-for he that
is that is joined to the Lord is one spirit-united with Him. Our life must be hid in
Him. We are to put off self and put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision
for self. (Rom_13:14) Self cannot get through this entrance. He plainly says no flesh
can or will glory in His presence. (1Co_1:29) He said many are going to try to come
in but the can't. They won't be worthy. It will be impossible for them to enter. They
are unwilling to pay the price to enter here. They won't have what it takes to enter
here. They won't have the strength to make it in.

Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye
begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and
he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou
hast taught in our streets.

The Master of the house is the Head of the Body-Christ. When He appears, and
closes the door-that is the entrance, the gate, some will be left outside. What a
horrible thought. Remember the five foolish virgins here, folks. This door isn't
going to stay open forever. There is a set time and it will close. Those who have
been making excuses, who haven't done what He told them, will be left outside. If
they have been misled by a preacher because they didn't take time to dig in the
Word and pray for understanding themselves, they didn't seek God for themselves,
they will still be left outside. There will be those who are left outside and will
realize they are outside and not understand why. How tragic, folks! They'll be
knocking, just like the foolish virgins, "Lord, Lord, open up, let us in with You!
And He will respond, "I don't know you, or where you have been or where you are
from." He does not regard them for they are strangers to Him. They use His name
but He does not know them. He had a table spread, full of the provision of God, but
He never saw them there. They had no time for prayer and communion. They were
perhaps religious but would not pay the price to come into His presence, and learn
Him, and tarry there until they got the power they needed to overcome what they
were. There was no relationship, no intimacy, no hunger to know Him. Their lips
were full of His Name but their hearts were far from Him. Where they had been,
He was not.

Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my
servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

See what Jesus said? But these folks, He said I don't know you or where you are
from. You've been in places I don't go. You haven't been where I am. He is not hard
to find. You can find Him if you search for Him, in His Word, on your knees, in
your heart if you let Him in. He does not hide Himself from the hungry, from the
honest heart that wants to know Him. You don't have to be educated, or privileged.
Just honest and hungry to know Him. The sincere cry of those who want to know
Him, He cannot resist.

But, they cry, Lord, you know us! You taught in our streets, we heard Your Word,
we ate and drank in Your presence! We went to church! We heard the Word
preached! But, remember He said it's not the hearers that are justified, but those
who do (obey) the Word. And He answers them, "Again, I have no knowledge of
you or where you are from. Leave and stay away from Me, all you workers, and
teachers of unrighteousness!" I know I'm paraphrasing here, but I've dug into
these words, and what He is saying is frightening to my heart for those I love that I
know aren't taking time to seek Him like they should. Why did He call them
workers of iniquity? Didn't they just tell Him they'd heard His Word, been to His
House? I'll tell you why. They heard the Word, but didn't pray for understanding.
They lived a religious life governed by self and men's opinions, much like the
Pharisees did. They had the law, but had no understanding of it. They had no
desire to truly know Him, so they never saw their true condition. For it's in His
Presence we truly realize our true condition. When we see true holiness we realize
how far short we fall of being able to stand on our own in front of Him. It's then,
like Isaiah, we cry oh, I am undone. I can do nothing to make myself like You. If
I'm ever to be what You say I should be, You have to do this in me. On my BEST day
I could never measure up! That is why no flesh can glory or brag in His presence.
Those who don't really know Him can stand like the Pharisee in the temple and
pray loudly, "God, I thank You I'm not like other men. I'm special. I don't sin like
they do, I pay my tithes, I pray, I know Your Word." but they have no idea of who
He is. They come standing, clothed in the filthy rags of self righteousness, and
never acknowledge they do have a sinful heart and they need His strength, His
power, His grace to make it. They are confident their works will save them, not His
blood. And if you read Isa_64:6 and study those words a little you realize that is a
stink like a used tampon in the nostrils of God.

Oh, Lord, I know this sounds harsh, but I write it with a broken heart. When you
come into His presence, when you sit down with His Word, and the Holy Spirit
begins to open that precious Word of God to your understanding, and you see or
begin to understand what it means to your life, it is amazing. When you begin to
see who He is and learn His heart for humanity, you realize the true HUMILITY of
God Himself that He would condescend to hear us, to help us, in spite of all our
flaws and failures! You truly begin to appreciate grace for what it is. You realize
how costly that grace is. Salvation is free, but knowing Him will cost you. You
have to taste and see He is good, He is worth giving up everything for.

Right now, He's saying Knock and I'll open to you. Seek Me and you will find Me.
Ask Me for help, acknowledge your sin, your need, and I'll hear you. Many are
going on trusting in self and religion, and on that day when Jesus shuts the door,
they will be left outside.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they
are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:21 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.
Mat 7:22 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?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.

It is a straight, or narrow entrance because there are obstacles all around it. There
are many things that are naturally in us that won't make it through that gate. Self
will, pride, anger, envy, jealousy, malice, lust, covetousness, hatred, selfishness,
bitterness, unforgiveness, dishonesty, things like this are obstacles that will
hinder us from entering that gate for what fellowship has Light with darkness?
Christ will not let these things come in Himself. Only what is centered in HIM, only
lives that are hid in HIM get through. To do that we have to reject ourselves and all
we are apart from Him and embrace the cross that will destroy self, crucify it, and
embrace everything HE is. It's like trading our rags for His righteousness. We give
up what will destroy us, and receive what will save us. Hallelujah!

How do we do this? Take Him at His Word-Believe it and then act on it.

Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

That word send is "apostello. (G649) It means to set apart, and send out on a
mission. He is sending the pledge, with divine assurance it's for our own good, a
promise of help that we must have to fulfill His commands, to do what He's told us
we must do. But there is something we must do. Tarry. (G2523) Take your seat
before the Lord at His table, stay there, in His presence, where the provision is laid
out, until you are clothed with, dressed or have put on the miraculous power or
ability of God from Heaven. You wait, you don't get out and act in yourself and try
to do what I've called you to do. Those who refuse to obey this command and go on
trying to serve God in their own self, well, they are in disobedience and what they
do will not be accepted, because its tainted by flesh it is iniquity.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.

The Holy Ghost will not come on someone who is determined to do things their
own way. In Genesis you read about that dove Noah released from that ark. It flew
and found no place to settle and returned to the ark. But the raven did not return.
What did the raven find to settle on that the dove would not? Bloated dead corpses
floating in the ocean. Dead things. The Holy Spirit will not settle on something or
someone unclean. First the blood has to be applied, those sins have to be forgiven.
Then if you will get in His presence, you will receive what He offers- G1411
dunamis- power, strength, ability of the Holy Ghost coming on you, being the
ability of God in you to be witnesses to a lost and dying world that is in such great
need. Jesus Christ died a horrible death on a cross so they might be saved. He is
not willing that any should perish. But what is a true witness? Someone who
knows personally this great God. Someone who can accurately represent Him to a
lost and dying world. Someone with the oil of the Spirit of God burning brightly in
their vessel so those in darkness can find their way out of the darkness, into the
light, and be saved! THAT is what it is all about. THESE are the ones who will be
taken INSIDE before He shuts the door. If you are strangers to prayer, strangers
to His Word, then you are strangers to Him. If you don't make time for Him now,
He will have no time for you then. You reap what you sow. I pray to God in the
name of Jesus that all who read this, if you sense your need of Him, that you resist
the pull of your self that will try to draw you away from Him, resist the pull of the
world that would have you believe other things are more important. Nothing is
more important than knowing HIM. For if you don't know Him, you have no life.
Joh_17:3 says THIS is eternal life-knowing HIM. They learn to know Him, through
relationship, they are ever learning Him, daily learning Him, spending time with
Him, gaining understanding of who He is and sharing His heart. He is Life-to have
life you have to connected to the Life Source. Break the connection, the flow of life
leaks out and the vessel is empty and dead. It can't be otherwise.