As the upcoming prophetic events unfold in these last days, the Almighty Creator and Savior through righteous indignation, will pour out judgments on all the rebellious inhabitants of the earth. “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil” (Isaiah 24:5-6, Matthew 13:41). Yahshua (Jesus) is making it clear that both the wholehearted obedient and half hearted hypocritical believers will coexist as wheat and tares in the harvest field and will be separated at the end of the age. The deceived multitudes sadly include many Christians who have a self righteous empty form of religion who are actually defying and rebelling against the truth. Through their ignorance and disobedience they are unknowingly joined with Satan in his continual war against the Holy One’s sovereign rulership, Word, and commandments. It is important to emphasize this vital Scriptural explanation and warning, it is written, “the person who does anything defiantly, … that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord Yahveh and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off” (Numbers 15:30-31). Continual rebellion by choosing our own will over the will of God is considered despising His word and blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
“For the grace of God has appeared ... instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires ... looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior””
Apostle Paul’s words speak clearly to the redeemed remnant, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires … and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22,24). Those who confess faith in our Savior, yet continue to live in the “old self” nature are defying, despising, and insulting the spirit of truth and grace. Yahshua (Jesus) died to cover our sins, to redeem us as spiritual “born again” “new creations” who have the indwelling Spirit, “the Helper”, who prepares us to be found righteous for our King and His coming kingdom (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 14:26). When we continually defy His Holy Spirit, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” accomplished by Yahshua (Jesus) when He was nailed to “the tree of Calvary” to pour out His lifeblood to free us from our sins and their eternal wages? (Hebrews 2:3, Acts 5:30)
The Messiah is “full of grace and truth.” The blood redeemed have mercifully received “the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (John 1:14, Ephesians 1:6). “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yes, we are saved by grace, by the same grace we continue to “work out our salvation”, crucifying our flesh in order to live in the Spirit with victory over our ever present sin nature (Philippians 2:12). Most grievously however, due to Satan’s cunning strategies and the compromised gospel message, true grace has been diluted, cheapened, and completely misunderstood as a license for self indulgence and sin. The great apostle Paul (Shaul) described what the real meaning of grace is, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yahshua [Christ Jesus], who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed [disobedience to the holy commandments], and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds [originating from the Holy Spirit] (Titus 2:11-14).
Our Savior made it clear that many who call Him “Lord, Lord” will never enter His kingdom because they did not submit to His holy will, Word, and rulership (Matthew 7:22). Yahshua (Jesus) emphasizes the consequences of self-serving defiance and rebellion against the Spirit of grace (the Holy Spirit), as it is written,“these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.” “… Assign [them] a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 19:27, Matthew 24:51). Anyone who intimately knows, loves, and fears our God and Savior understands these words, as sharp and powerful as they are, can not be powerful enough to sufficiently express His holiness and the dreadful consequences of “taking lightly such a great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3). It is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (1 Peter 1:16, Hebrews 12:14).
“We must continually “keep watch” on our unruly self-nature and “judge ourselves”, keeping our flesh and strong self will under the control of the Holy Spirit””
Yahshua (Jesus) said, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). It is required that we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” through humble obedience (Philippians 2:12). As long as we are in these bodies we must be vigilant, alert, and sober. We must continually “keep watch” on our unruly self-nature and “judge ourselves”, keeping our flesh and strong self will under the control of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the grace to overcome our fallen sin nature (1 Peter 5:8, 1Corinthians 11:31, Galatians 5:23). It is written, “Be sure that your sin will find you out” and “testify against” you (Numbers 32:23, Jeremiah 14:7). “The fear of Yahveh God, gives us wisdom”, leading to fervency in prayer, asking our Father to convict us of our sins and the many ways we compromise His Word, oppose His perfect will, and “grieve His Holy Spirit” (Psalm 111:10, Ephesians 4:30).
“Those who are not “humble and contrite of spirit and tremble at His word”, will inevitably perpetuate the same sins over and over again, giving Satan the victory in their lives””
The Almighty says, “Humble yourself”. Apostle Paul cautions us, “if you think you are standing firm, take heed that you don't fall!” "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” “Yahveh lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground” (James 4:10, 1 Corinthians 10:12, Matthew 23:12, Psalm 147:6). Those who are not “humble and contrite of spirit and tremble at His word”, will inevitably perpetuate the same sins over and over again, giving Satan the victory in their lives (Isaiah 66:2). “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear Yahveh [the Lord] and turn away from evil” to uphold righteousness or your sins will become “intentional”, which is “despising the word” of the holy God and grieving and “insulting the Spirit of grace” and truth (Proverbs 3:7, Numbers 15:30-31, Hebrews 10:29). Sincere repentance is not only the confession of our sins that are covered in His sacrificial blood, but this humble act must be accompanied with complete change of heart and mind. We cannot remain passive, we must become vigilantly proactive to “fight the good fight of faith”, resist, and turn away from the enemy of our souls, beginning with our own self-sin nature, in order to seek, embrace, and uphold biblical righteousness (1 Timothy 6:12). “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another…” (Galatians 5:17). The flesh is our enemy. Yahshua (Jesus) died to free us from the self sin nature, if we continue to sin we become an enemy to the cross (tree) of Yahshua (Jesus) rather than exalting the precious blood that redeemed us to become a spiritual “born again” holy “creation” (Hebrews 10:29, John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17). “How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29)
“Draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need””
It is written, “… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Romans 3:23, Hebrews 4:16). We are all so prone to sin and have great need to pray for the infinite mercy of our Savior’s grace to “go forth and sin no more” (John 8:11). It is written, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation” consecration, purification, and holiness (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come to You with a repentant heart. I have never truly understood the full blessing of Your grace and I am guilty of taking for granted Your Holy Spirit. I have so often catered to the desires of my flesh and the continual preoccupations with everyday life in this world. I repent for the many times I have not sought Your will, and carelessly, even defiantly done my own will, to please myself and others, instead of You. I am sorry for being so casual in my relationship with You. I rarely take time to truly seek Your will and to prayerfully ask for the grace and power to overcome my unruly sinful flesh and self will that grieves and insults Your Holy Spirit of grace.
Yahshua (Jesus), please forgive me for being superficial and hypocritical in my spiritual life and walk with You. I am convicted of the sin of defiance; I have wanted to be in control of my life rather than surrendering to the grace of Your Holy Spirit’s rulership. I am humbled before You, I need Your grace from this day on to continue to work out my salvation with fear and trembling against the enemy of my soul. I am beginning to recognize that my prideful stubborn self will, strong flesh nature, and all of it’s desires are truly warring against Your Holy Spirit within me. Please help me to surrender my life to You, relinquishing my control to Your rulership over me.
I have not highly esteemed Your precious blood that purchased me and gave me Your Spirit of grace and power to overcome and be found faithful and holy. Yahshua (Jesus), please have mercy on me; I am a wretched sinner. I call You Lord, I do what seems right to a man, but in Your sight I know that I have been walking more in the flesh than in the Spirit of grace and righteousness. Please forgive me and cleanse me with Your blood and fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, my Savior, for paying the greatest price to free me from my selfish sin nature and cleanse me of my many sins. I want to be more than a conqueror over my flesh, the world, and Satan. Please give me the grace and power to walk in a manner worthy of the holy call for which You sacrificed Your blood to redeem me for Your eternal glory. Thank You Yahshua (Jesus) for Your amazing grace that saved me and Your amazing grace that prepares me to be found righteous in Your sight, as I fix my heart and hope on spending eternity with You in Your heavenly kingdom. I humbly and sincerely praise You for Your loving mercy and kindness extended to me, in the name of Yahshua (Jesus) I pray, Amen.
Our Savior YAHshua (Jesus) came and preached salvation, redemption, and love to each of us who were far away (Ephesians 2:17). As YAHshua (Jesus) proclaimed, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). Indeed, He has come to bring all those who are so far away into the light of his glorious presence. Let us all never forget that we are all prodigal sons and daughters because in this fleshly body we are all prone to sin. Indeed, we have all, at one time or another, been far away from the light of our Savior’s glorious presence and love. Accordingly, our Savior rejoices when we draw close to him. Indeed, and as YAHshua (Jesus) noted in His parable of the prodigal son, “Rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live; he was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:32). Yes, he rejoices when we go from being far away to being in the light of His glorious presence!
If you are far away from our Savior, today is the day of salvation; if you hear His voice embrace His call. Our King longs to hold you in His arms of love. He celebrates over each one who comes to salvation, saying “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing … saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:3-7). Indeed, if you hear Him calling you today embrace His love and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. In addition, if you are already saved and close to our Savior not only can we all become closer to Him but we can also be used to help those who are far away come close to YAHshua (Jesus). As our Messiah said, if you love Him you will feed His sheep (John 21:17). Yes, today is the day of salvation for unsaved and saved alike. Indeed my dear fried, hear His voice calling you to come out of this world. Stop being far away and instead embrace the glorious salvation and love of your savior – both for yourself and for others. Yes, the hour is late – our greatest friend and advocate is our Redeemer – He can help you, love you, and protect you if you simply choose not to be far away. As such, run to Him, embrace his love for you, and tell others above your Savior’s wonderful saving power so that they also can be delivered from being far away.
