Originally Posted by mikemattice

To my Pentecostal brethren, I want to caution you of something: Jesus said many would come to Him saying, "Lord, Lord, didn't we [then they list several things that we Pentecostals do] in Your Name?" [In other words, they were believers, and did these miracles in the Name of Jesus] and on that day, the Lord will say to these: "Depart from Me. I never knew you, you doers of lawlessness!" Now, there was nothing wrong with the miracles they had done, or how they were done in the Name of Jesus. The issue that caused the separation between them and the Lord was lack of relationship (He didn't know them). Jesus said several times that those who do the will of His Father are His. What's the will of His Father? To reach the lost unredeemed of the world and restore them to Him. What is the biblical reason for the baptism of the Holy Ghost (which Scripturally, results in the manifestations, or gifts)? To empower and enable believers to reach the lost unredeemed world and restore them to HIM. What's the purpose for the existence of the church of Jesus Christ (not a denomination) in this world? Guess what- same purpose. It has never ever changed. Now back to these poor believers... They thought that all these miracles and signs were evidence that God was in their midst and working through them. They focused on the miracles and signs and gifts, as is evidenced by that being the thing they say to the Lord. When the gifts become the focus, and the purpose for those gifts loses importance, maybe even gets laid by the wayside, then are we still doing the will of the Father, or are we putting on a show? This is a very serious concern that I have for my Pentecostal brethren. STOP FOCUSING ON THE GIFTS AND FOCUS ON SUBMITTING TO GOD'S PURPOSE. LET HIM DECIDE WHAT YOU NEED TO FULFILL IT. HE'LL GIVE WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO THE YIELDED VESSEL, THEN USE IT FOR THE PURPOSE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, YOU ARE IN DANGER OF BEING ONE OF THOSE MANY BELIEVERS WHO CALL JESUS LORD AND DO MIRACLES AND SIGNS IN HIS NAME, BUT DO NOT DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER, AND THEREFORE JESUS DOES NOT KNOW YOU!