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I Know Thy Works
On the morning of May 16, the author was writing down some thoughts when the Lord directed his attention to Hebrews 4:12. The author really like the verse but it did not seem to fit well with what was being said at the time. Later that evening the author was doing his normal Bible reading when he came to a verse in Revelation 1:16. Immediately, this quickened his attention to Hebrews 4:12 and the Lord began to speak to his heart. The Lord was stringing appropriate verses together. The author sat down and started writing and the following message resulted:
Jesus said: John 5:22-24, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Christ also said: John 5:26-27, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” AND He send forth judgment unto victory (Mt 12:20). Therefore, we can conclude that Jesus has the authority to judge all men and this judgment will accomplish God’s purposes upon this earth and result in victory.
In the book of Revelation we are told the following about Christ: “out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword (Rev 1:16).” What do the scriptures reveal about a twoedged sword? Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Who is the “Word of God?” Jesus is the Word of God (Jn 1:1-4, 1 Jn 5:7): Revelation 19:11-16, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
We can now determine that Jesus, who is the Word of God, is a perfect judge because He can discern the thoughts and intents of one’s very heart. In other words, Christ has the ability to render righteous judgment even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. How does Jesus judge? John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” Jesus sealed His Word (gospel, covenant) with His very blood (Heb 9:14-28, Rev 5:9) which was Christ’s complete faithfulness to God’s will - a Lamb as it had been slain (Rev 5:6). He is worthy (Rev 4:8-11).
From the verses in the lead-in paragraph (and Jn 5:29 below), we know that God’s concerns are: 1) Those who have obeyed His Word shall receive eternal life and will not be condemned. OR 2) Those who have not obeyed His Word will receive condemnation unto death. Putting verses Jn 5:22-24 (above) and Jn 12:48 together, we can determine that Jesus is a perfect judge because he can discern one’s thoughts and intents as to whether they heard His Word and lived for God or whether they rejected Him and didn’t receive His Words (apply and live them). Jesus said: “My judgment is just (Jn 5:30)” and “My judgment is true (Jn 8:16).” We can now understand how Jesus judges so righteously. Jesus also tells us: “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works (Rev 2:23).” The “reins” are the inward parts; the heart; or seat of the affections and passions. Perhaps you can see how the hypocrite, froward and wicked cannot possibly stand under such scrutiny (examination). Christ truly knows all!!! He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity (Ps 98:9).
Jesus clearly said: Matthew 16:27, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” AND John 5:29, “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Again, the Lord’s concerns are that we have done the will of God (Mt 7:21-23). Christ also tells us very plainly in His Word: “I know thy works (Rev 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15)!
Jesus smites the nations (makes war) with the twoedged sword that proceedeth out of His mouth because scripture is clear that the majority of men on earth have rejected Him. Isaiah 66:18, “For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.” He that rejects Christ’s Words will come into God’s condemnation which is “thou shalt surely die (Gen 2:17).” These are they that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess 1:8, 1 Pt 4:17). 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, “…The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” Recall from above (Rev 19:11-16, color coded blue) that: “His eyes were as a flame of fire.” Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Scriptures reveal: 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” In the book of Revelation, Jesus addresses the seven churches. These are men who profess belief in Christ. In each case Jesus tells them He knows their works. The Lord first points out their merits. Christ then addresses their faults and they are told to repent and to overcome (Rev 2:5, 7, 11, 16-17, 22, 25-26, 3:2, 5, 11, 19, 21). Christ tells them what will happen if they do not repent and if they do repent. Those who repent (turn to God fully and forsake their faults) and overcome (only as by the Holy Spirit) will share in Christ’s victory as related in Rev 19:11-16 above (color coded blue). Let us consider this more fully:
Jesus has a message for all (as told to the churches – professed believers): “These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works (Rev 2:12-13).” Jesus truly does know our works – for He discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts – He trieth the reins of the heart. Therefore Christ says: Revelation 2:16, “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” In other words, those who do not fully obey are among the ones who reject His Words and shall receive condemnation.
Christ later states: Revelation 2:17, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” - I will write upon him my new name (Rev 3:12). Now consider in the verses above (Rev 19:11-16, color coded blue) that Jesus also has a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. Jesus overcame and we must also overcome (Jn 16:33). Revelation 3:21, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Christ hath prevailed (overcome) and is worthy (Rev 5:5, 12). We must now overcome (through Him as led of His Holy Ghost, Rm 8:14). Jesus sat in the Father’s throne and we shall sit with Christ in His throne. Jesus received a knew name and we will receive a new name. We are to be as Christ, and we shall partake of His victory.
Furthermore, Christ says: Revelation 2:26-27, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” Again, we note from the scriptures above (Rev 19:11-16, color coded blue) that Jesus shall rule the nations with a rod of iron. Therefore we can conclude: Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron and we, who keep Christ’s gospel (His works), shall also rule the nations with a rod of iron.
Also note from the above scriptures (Rev 19:11-16, color coded blue) that Jesus is Faithful and has many crowns with a vesture dipped in blood - signifying His faithfulness unto death. Jesus tells us: “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Rev 2:10).” We are to hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown (Rev 3:11). Christ’s armies follow Him and are clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Jesus tells us: Revelation 3:5, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Jesus once said: Matthew 10:32-33, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” AND Luke 12:8-9, “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.”
Please consider what Jesus says to those who profess to believe in Him, but are not fully following Him. If they do not repent and overcome he will 1) I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent (Rev 2:5); 2) I will fight against them with the sword of His mouth (Rev 2:16); 3) I will cast thee into great tribulation (Rev 2:22); 4) I will blot out his name out of the book of life (Rev 3:5); 5) Hold fast that no man take thy crown (of life, Rev 3:11); 6) I will spue (vomit) thee out of my mouth. What this is saying is that if you are not overcoming sin and this world (through the Holy Spirit Christ has given us, 1 Jn 5:4-5), then you are an enemy of Christ and will be judged accordingly. Therefore: Revelation 3:22, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” If Christ judges His own thus, then what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Jesus said: John 5:36, “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me (also Jn 10:25-38).” We also have a work to do and someone asked Jesus what that was: John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Jesus is not talking about some superficial mental agreement or understand of some biblical facts. He is talking about fully “receiving” His Word and “applying” it to every aspect of your life (hearing, receiving and doing the Word). Luke 8:15, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” These have kept the Word of His patience (Rev 3:10). What is the Word of His patience? Revelation 14:12, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Jesus “knows your works.” He discerns the very thoughts and intents of your heart. This is not add Jesus to “your” life, but rather die to your life to be found in Christ. Repent and overcome!
This message has been incorporated into the more comprehensive writing titled, “Be Merciful.” This was also made into this shorter writing as it stands alone quite well.
The author periodically writes other articles, tracts and books as the Lord puts them on his heart. These are offered free of charge and may be obtained by writing: 209 Cedar Pond Dr., Madison, Al. 35757
ALL ADVERTISEMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AUTHOR!!!
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