Workers of iniquity

In light of the bible prophesies about humanity in the end times and false prophets and the current “revival” , I am trying to get a deeper understanding of the way God works through people and the way satan works through people. Jesus warned a lot about false prophets, but also gave warnings of not blaspheming the Holy Spirit and explained that from an evil source can come no good and vice versa.

I would like some input from my brothers and sisters at SI, because some things are not really clear to me. It might be a bit lengthy, but I appreciate your input.

[i]Matt. 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. 22 [b]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?[/b] 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.[/i]

My question(s) is this.:
Have these people really cast out devils in Jesus name? Or do they only think they did, while in realtiy no demon was really cast out? Or have they only used his name and power to do these things while at the same time they are workers of iniquity. I always thought the last one was true but I am not so sure anymore.

I ask this because Jesus [b]never[/b] knew them and they [b]work iniquity[/b]. Iniquity is a bad fruit, so this makes the whole tree bad. Had they done these so called wonderful works by the Spirit of God, then according to Matt12:33 see below, the tree should have been good.

They are workers of iniquity and are prophesying in Jesus name, this qualifies them for being false prophets. I believe according to scripture a false prophet is used by satan to deceive etc. So if these false prophets claimed to have used Jesus name and thereby His authority and therefore His power to do the things they say they did, then the Kingdom of God would have been cooperating with the kingdom of darkness, which seems pretty unlikely? (Are these then not also divided kingdoms?) (Or is the story of Bileam such an example?)

And if satan would provide power to do al these “wonderfull works” including casting out demons then his kingdom would be divided.

[b]So do these workers of iniquity really cast out demons etc.?[/b]

Some bible verses and my thoughts and questions there on:

[i]Matt12
[b]And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. [/b]28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you~.............................~33 [b]Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.[/b][/i]

Jesus seems to imply that the sons of the Pharisees are casting out demons (fruit) by the power of God (tree), and not by the power of darkness because if satan would be casting out satan then his Kingdom would not stand.

[i]Mark 9.
38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 [b]For he that is not against us is on our part.[/b][/i]

It does not look like Jesus is labelling this man as a worker of iniquity, he even is on Jesus’ part. This man could not lightly speak evil of Jesus. Were the workers of iniquity from Matthew 7 whom Jesus never knew ever on Jesus part?! Did/do they ever do a true miracle in Jesus name?

[i]John 9
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, [b]Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 [u]Now we know that God heareth not sinners[/u]: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 [u]If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.[/u][/b] 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.[/i]

Can we take the underlined statements of the healed man as an absolute truth about God or should we take it with a grain of salt because he was “just an unlearned man”. Beacause the workers of iniquity in Matthew 7 are not of God and say they did miracles in Jesus name and according to this scripture it is not possible they truly did this.

[i]Acts 19:13
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, [b]Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?[/b] 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.[/i]

Paul was a man of God. These Jews apparently not. They seem not to be on Jesus’ part. This seems to confirm the sayings of the man in John 9: [i]“Now we know that God heareth not sinners” ” If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.”[/i] Why would God hear the workers of iniquity from Matthew 7 who use the name of Jesus?

Thank you for your comments.

Jeppe

The truth of God's Word will prove what is true
and what is false. The work of the Holy Spirit
glorifys God and reveals Christ. Christ has all
authority and power and everything is subject to
Him.
There will be some who will work signs and
wonders but they will not manifest the fruit
of the Spirit, the good fruit. There are many
false professors who do not glorify God and
reveal Christ. Be discerning of heart and
be on guard against these deceptions!!

Sojourner7,

thank you for your reply.

The truth of God's Word will prove what is true and what is false.

I agree, thats why I was studying these scriptures. :)

There will be some who will work signs and wonders but they will not manifest the fruit of the Spirit, the good fruit.

Indeed there will be people who will (appear to?) work signs and wonders but are workers of iniquity and do not have the fruit of the Spirit.

When the Pharisees said that Jesus is casting out devils trough Beelzebub, Jesus said to them that when the fruit is good, the tree is good as wel. The good fruit in this context is casting out devils the good tree that belongs to it is the Spirit of God.

Matt. 12
And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you~.............................~33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Christ has all authority and power and everything is subject to Him.

Amen, so what would you say? Does the Lord grant His power to the workers of iniquity? And why or why not? Please look at the scriptures and my comments there on in my first post.

Jeppe

Those who work iniquity know not Jesus as Christ
and Saviour; they have not received the Spirit
of truth (and power from on high). The works
that they do are nothing but counterfeits to
try to fool those who are just seeking after
signs and wonders. Test the spirits to see if
they are of God. Those who testify to the truth
and reveal Christ as Savior are of God.