HOW IS IT THAT MANY FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THEY HAVE SETTLED FOR A SHALLOW FAITH WHICH LEAVES THEM UNPREPARED NOT HAVING COUNTED THE COST OF TRULY FOLLOWING YESHUA! WHAT THEY ONCE CALLED SIN NOW CALL IT A MISTAKE, WHAT THEY ONCE REBUKED NOW IS TOLERATED! THEIR CONVICTION IS SILENCED BY COMFORT, WITH TRUTH BEING SOFTENED TO AVOID OFFENCE! THEIR FEAR OF GOD TRADED FOR THE FEAR OF MAN! THIS LEADS TO INSTEAD OF CONFRONTING SIN MANY MINISTRIES NOW CATER TO FEELING! INSTEAD OF PREPARING THE SOUL FOR ETERNITY, THEY PROMOTE SUCCESS, POSSITIVITY, AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT!

SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION!

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

OBSERVATION!

I related this condition to being comfortable in your rocking chair! Leisurely rocking your way through this journey among the wolves!

Matthew 10:16 KJV
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

I ponder what our Lord was saying to us, his chosen ones, if it was to sit back in a comfort zone stating I know Yeshua and he will claim me when he returns! Or is he warning us that in our walk we must be preparing our souls for eternity as he did through silently suffering the indignities of men!

COMMENTARY OFFERED BY MATTHEW HENRY (1664–1714)

Matthew 10:16-42!

All these verses relate to the sufferings of Christ’s ministers in their work, which they are here taught to expect, and prepare for they are also directed how to bear them, and how to go on with their work in the midst of them.

This part of the sermon looks further than to their present mission for we find not that they met with any great hardships or persecutions while Christ was with them, nor were they well able to bear them, but they are here forewarned of the troubles they should meet with, when after Christ’s resurrection, their commission should be enlarged, and the kingdom of heaven, which was not at hand, should be set up they dreamed of nothing then, but outward pomp and power but Christ tells them, they must expect greater sufferings than they were yet called to that they should then be made prisoners, when they expected to be made princes.

It is good to be told what troubles we may hereafter meet with, that we may provide accordingly, and may not boast, as if we had put off the harness, when we are yet but girding it on.

OBSERVATION!

What is being observed in today’s Assemblies is a subtle attempt to be relevant to the world, giving the appearance of being worldly-based rather than heavenly!

We are seeing holiness being replaced by entertainment! Conviction silenced by comfort, and truth softened to avoid offense! And the fear of man is front and center instead of having the fear of God!

Here we see how the Assemblies have lost its power and purity! We see them allowing just a little pride justifying just a little rebellion, this is the subtlety of Satan calling the Ecclesia to their rocking chairs to enjoy being comfortable, while being entertained weekly, instead of being prepared for our Lord’s return and having their lamps filled with oil!

Many forget that our lord warned us not to fear those who can kill the flesh but fear he that can destroy the soul and capture the spirit! Matthew 10:28 KJV
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

It is in these next verses I recognize what our Lord was saying when he stated be as wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove.

Ephesians 6:10-12
[10]Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
[11]Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[12]For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is impossible for us to put on the armour of God if we are seated comfortably in our rocking chairs where Satan prefers we remain rather than following what Yeshua has called us to do! Philippians 2:12-13 KJV
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

So we see it will be these who our Lord Yeshua will be seeking when he returns to gather his prepared souls for His heavenly army! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
[16]For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
[17]Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord .

So, I say to you who cling to your comforts and slumber in your rocking chairs, you have heard the Watchman’s Trumpet and now have a choice!

To be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves by repenting and shedding your comforts before Yeshua; or remain in your iniquity till you die as forecast in, Ezekiel 33:4,9
[4]Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
[9]Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

To all who read this post the bottom line, it is your choice to be comfortable or prepared!

Robert a humble obedient servant to Yeshua and his Father in heaven Yahewa. And all of God’s children say Amen and Amen in the name of Jehovah our creator and provider of all things righteous and Holy!