The Hour is Late - Which Path are You On?
“Yahveh God loves you and is trying to get your undivided attention, wholehearted devotion, and love filled obedience, lest you be ensnared in the world and suffer its coming judgments””
“The Enemy comes to deceive the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 13:14). Yahveh God loves you and is trying to get your undivided attention, wholehearted devotion, and love filled obedience, lest you be ensnared in the world and suffer its coming judgments. Hear His heartbeat, “Open your ears, wake up, O sleeper, “Do not be deceived Yahveh is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8). “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another … as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin … and not enter His rest, (His eternal kingdom) because of disobedience” (see Hebrews 3:12-13, 4:5-6). “For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers … all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock … and the rock was Messiah. Nevertheless, with most of them Yahveh God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were … “Nor let us act immorally … Nor let us try Yahveh [the Lord] … Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1Corinthians 10:1-12).
“May Yahshua (Jesus) pour out His Spirit afresh upon you, empowering you to run and complete this race and to “fight the good fight of faith””
“We urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain- … Behold … Now is the day of salvation.” Today if you hear His voice , do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me (in the wilderness journey)” (2 Corinthians 6:1,2, Hebrews 3:15). May the power of His Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) invigorate you today, even now, and raise you up high above the heads of your enemies (your flesh, the world system, and the Evil One). May He pour out His Spirit afresh upon you, empowering you to run and complete this race and to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). This cannot be accomplished by your “might or power but only by His Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). “Humble yourselves in the presence of Yahveh” that He might lift you up and “exalt you” in due time (James 4:10). Our righteous King longs to bring you to a place of “godly sorrow that leads to true repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10). He is faithful and just to cleanse and consecrate your repentant hearts with the precious blood of Yahshua (Jesus) our Lamb. He wants to open the eyes of your understanding that you might behold the Almighty and His holiness, understanding that judgment is due and eminent to all who walk according to the flesh and live to satisfy their selfish desires. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of Yahveh [God]; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of Yahveh? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Peter 4:17-19).
We must “Find out what pleases the Lord Yahveh and do it” (Ephesians 5:10). “Therefore be imitators of Yahveh, as beloved children… For this you know with certainty, no immoral, or impure person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and God.” Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of Yahveh comes upon the sons of disobedience … walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth)” (Ephesians 5:1-8).
The love and indulgence of self is an enemy to the love and service of Yahveh.
“In order to be obedient and pleasing to our righteous King, we must stop wavering between the flesh and the spirit, “without holiness no one will ever see Yahveh””
Yahshua (Jesus) said in Matthew Chapter 22, “The greatest commandment is, You shall love Yahveh your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul and with all of your mind.” And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matthew 22:37-39). Falling short of these commandments is a result of half – heartedness, double-mindedness, and spiritual compromise that leads to hypocritical lip service, which is a deceptive trap and looming sin for many professing believers. Yahshua (Jesus) said, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me” (Matthew 15:8). Be on guard against such sin leading to “lukewarmness.” “He is not a man that He should lie”, our Savior warned in Revelation 3:16 that He would “spew out” any lukewarm professing believer. Be hot not cold or lukewarm! May the fire of His presence bring conviction, compelling you to “cast aside every sin that so easily besets you” (Hebrews 12:1). In order to be obedient and pleasing to our righteous King, we must stop wavering between the flesh and the spirit, “without holiness no one will ever see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). He is preparing a remnant, His beloved bride, to be pure, spotless, and blameless – a sheer and holy delight to our soon coming Bridegroom (see John 3:29, Revelation 19:7).
Are you eagerly waiting for Yahshua’s (Jesus’s) return with your ears pinned to your Bridegroom’s voice? Is your heart filled with hope and joyful anticipation for His return? Are you getting to know your precious Messiah more intimately in the spirit, adoring Him with an ever- increasing passion, because He alone is your heart’s desire? Are the desires of His heart your interests? Apostle Paul said, “Many seek after their own interests, not those of Messiah Yahshua [Christ Jesus]” (Philippians 2:21). Are you struggling with a conflict of interest? What is competing for your attention and affection? Are there carnal cravings for other things that make you like an “adulterer” because He is not enough for you? Are the cares and anxieties of daily life hindering your faith, love, and service to Yahveh? Are you grieving the heart of the Father who gave His Son as the Passover Lamb and grieving the heart of the Son who gave His life to purchase you to be a holy bride waiting and preparing for your eternal life together in His righteous kingdom?
“True disciples must “count the cost” to forsake everything to follow Messiah on that narrow path that leads into His eternal righteous kingdom””
“Yahveh God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever” has drawn a line that has not changed. In sovereignty He described two pathways – the “broad path” that leads to eternal death and the “narrow path” that leads to eternal life. He said, “Make every effort (strive with all your being) to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to” (Luke 13:24-28). True disciples must “count the cost” to forsake everything and everyone to follow Messiah on that narrow path that leads into His eternal righteous kingdom. He continually cautions His disciples, “Be on guard against the deceptive pull of this world, including its man – tainted religious systems that compromise and often nullify the very words of Yahveh His Father (see Matthew 15:5, 24:4).
Yahshua (Jesus) said, “If you love Me you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). He made it clear that only a remnant a “few would enter that narrow gate that narrow path that leads to eternal life” (Matthew 7:13-14) Messiah elaborates, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many would say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I (Yahshua/Jesus) will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (the breaking of Yahveh’s commandments)’ (Matthew 7:21-23). Our Savior described the tragic reality of so many religious people who thought their destiny was sealed in the eternal promised land, but instead they were assigned a place with the hypocrites where there would be everlasting “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” “Many are called but few are chosen” and “judgment begins at the household of God” (Luke 13:28, Matthew 22:14, 1 Peter 4:17)
“Are you willing to “count the cost” and be part of the ranks of the “few”, the redeemed righteous remnant, who ascend on the narrow path?””
Yahshua (Jesus) is amplifying two pathways and two groups of people: the “broad path” verses the “narrow path” and the “many people” verses the “few people” The question posed at this late hour to each of us is simple, but deserves a very prayerful evaluation and honest answer. Are you willing to “count the cost” and be part of the ranks of the “few”, the redeemed righteous remnant, who ascend on the “narrow path”? The prophet Isaiah spoke of this narrow path: “And a highway will be there; and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean (the disobedient and compromised) will not travel on it, but it will be for those who walk in that way, (the full counsel of Yahveh’s Word) (Isaiah 35:8)
“Precious ones take your eyes off this dying world! Our Savior is crying out, “Look up, lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near””
Yahshua (Jesus) says, “Behold, I am coming soon and My rewards are with Me. I will give to everyone according to what they have done” whether by the Spirit, which brings eternal dividends or by man’s temporal vain efforts. (Revelation 22:12, Proverbs 14:12). Precious ones take your eyes off this dying world! Our Savior is crying out, “Look up, lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). You can depend on our God and Savior, who through the power of His Holy Spirit, gives us every provision needed, to overcome any obstacle and adversity of the flesh, the world, and Satan. The surrendered obedient remnant will always be granted His extended love, mercy, and grace to be “more than conquerors through Yahshua”, in order to “endure victoriously to the end and be saved” (Romans 8:37, Matthew 24:13). As we learn to live in the Spirit, by denying our flesh and it’s worldly pulls, then we will truly be looking heavenward, yearning and eagerly preparing for our beloved Messiah’s return. The few, “the called and chosen, and faithful” remnant, are redeemed by Yahshua (Jesus) to be His eternal bride (Revelation 17:14, 19:7-9). There are many Scriptures that refer to Yahshua (Jesus) as the Bridegroom and the holy redeemed elect as His bride (See Isaiah 54:5, Matthew 25:6, Mark 2:19-20, John 3:29, Galatians 3:28, Revelation 19:7-9, 21:9, 22:17).
““Let us rejoice and be glad, and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready””
Yahshua (Jesus) purchased us with His sacrificial blood to become supernaturally “born again” spiritual “new creations”, where “there is neither male nor female, Jew or Gentile” (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:8). Grievously, within the ranks of the many who call Him “Lord Lord”, there are only a few who diligently “work out their salvation with fear and trembling” (Matthew 7:21, Philippians 2:12). They are the surrendered righteous elect who truly follow Yahshua (Jesus) on the “narrow path that leads to eternal life” (Matthew 7:14). This obedient remnant is not only “called and chosen but they are faithful” and qualify for the highest call on their redeemed lives, to be the eternal holy bride of Yahshua (Jesus) (see Matthew 22:14, Revelation 17:14). Apostle Paul addresses all professing believers saying, “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin [undefiled by sin and the flesh’s desires for the world] to Messiah. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Messiah” (2 Corinthians 11:2-3). May the words of Yahshua (Jesus) inspire and motivate His righteous redeemed bride, “to fight the good fight of faith”, in order to be ready for the proclaimed glorious event, as declared at the conclusion of Scripture, “Let us rejoice and be glad, and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) … ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb!’” (1 Timothy 6:12, Revelation 19:7-9).
Don’t delay, make ready, be waiting, rejoice!
It’s “midnight … the bridegroom is coming!”
(Matthew 25:6)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I humble myself in prayer before You. I thank You for bringing me to a place of godly sorrow, leading me to true repentance. I confess that I have been compromised and deceived in many areas of my spiritual walk. I repent, please forgive me for the times I live for myself, catering to my flesh and its disobedient desires. Please cleanse me of my sins with the sacrificial blood of Yahshua (Jesus). I beseech You, to rid me of any love and friendship I have with this dying world. Holy Spirit, please give me the grace and power to diligently make every effort to ascend on that narrow path, following My beloved Savior. I want to be part of the few, the redeemed righteous remnant, who seek and do Your will, at any cost.
Yahshua (Jesus), forgive me for dissipating my energies on selfish and futile indulgences. Help me not to be anxious in the midst of these perilous times and to have a growing faith that will help me to endure to the end; a faith that will be pleasing in Your sight. Please, strengthen me with Your Spirit to be pure and blameless, waiting eagerly for Your return. May I walk in obedience to the Holy Scriptures and bring You praise, honor, and glory, in my words and in my deeds. Apart from You I can do nothing. I thank you with all my heart, for helping me to overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by the power and authority of Your name and Your word, and by the power of Your Spirit of truth. May Your will not mine be done.
Thank You Yahshua (Jesus) for Your passionate love that caused You to come to earth, and to die for my sins. I am forever indebted to You for shedding Your blood that purchased me to become holy and acceptable in Your sight, as a righteous pure bride preparing for her eternal Bridegroom. I pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to ignite a flame of passionate love in my heart that will burn up all competing affections. You alone are to be my exceedingly great reward and my first and foremost love for whom I am waiting, preparing and living for. Please help me to redeem my time on earth by looking heavenward to our eternal union at that great celebration, the Wedding of the Lamb. I am forever grateful for Your infinite love for me and the power of Your Spirit to answer these prayers. With all my heart I want to be found holy, unashamed, and clothed in fine white linen, the righteous acts that please You when I see You face to face.
