“Walk by the Spirit & you will not carry out the desire of the flesh”
In order to be obedient and pleasing to our righteous King, we must “walk by the Spirit, and we will not carry out the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16); without holiness no one will see Yahveh (God) (Hebrews 12:14). Our Heavenly Father is purifying a redeemed remnant to become as a beloved holy bride, who is preparing and longing to be with her soon-coming eternal Bridegroom (Revelation 19:7). Are you eagerly preparing and longingly waiting for your Savior’s return? Are you making every effort to know your precious Redeemer more intimately in the Spirit, adoring Him with an ever-increasing love because He is becoming your utmost heart’s desire? Are the desires of His heart your interests? Apostle Paul says, “For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Messiah Yahshua [Jesus]” (Philippians 2:21).
Are you struggling with a conflict of interest? What is competing for your attention and affection? Are there cravings for other things that make you like an adulterer, idolater, and His enemy because He is not enough for you? Are the cares and preoccupations of daily life hindering your faith, love, and growing relationship to your great King and Redeemer? True disciples must “count the cost” to forsake everything to follow the Good Shepherd on that narrow path that leads into His eternal, righteous kingdom. The redeemed remnant will continue to “work out their salvation with fear and trembling” as they glorify the Father and bring the love and uncompromised truth of the Savior to a lost and dying world.
Yahshua (Jesus) continually cautions His disciples to “be on guard” against the deceptive pull of this world, including its human-tainted doctrines, traditions, and religious agendas that compromise and often nullify the very words of Yahveh His Father; the full counsel of the Old and New Testament Scriptures. “For this is the love of Yahveh (the Lord), that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
Yahshua (Jesus) made it clear that although many would want to, only a few would enter through the narrow gate and walk upon the narrow path that leads to eternal life (see Matthew 7:13-14). Messiah elaborates, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ [‘Master, Master’] will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Master, Master, 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) 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, His forthcoming Messianic kingdom. Instead the many were assigned a place with the hypocrites where there will be everlasting “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). Remember, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
Our precious, sacrificial Lamb has poured out His atoning blood to redeem you to be His very own, now and forever. He says, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man [person] according to what he has done,” (Revelation 22:12) whether by Messiah’s indwelling Holy Spirit, which brings eternal dividends, or by humankind’s vain, dead-end efforts. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Yahshua (Jesus) the Messiah says, we are to make every effort and to “strive [with all your being] to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). Our Savior is crying out, “Repent”; “…straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). Our heavenly Father’s infinite love, mercy, and grace, when humbly and wholeheartedly sought, will ensure that you will be more than a conqueror through Yahshua Messiah and courageously endure victoriously to the end. To Him be all the praise, honor, and glory!
“Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Messiah also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those [the few] who eagerly await Him” (Hebrews 9:27-28). Don’t delay, make ready, be waiting, rejoice, He is coming soon!
Prayer
Precious Father in Heaven, please help me to “put on the Master Yahshua Messiah [Lord Jesus Christ], and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14). Knowing “those who belong to Messiah Yahshua (Christ Jesus) have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). I humble myself in prayer before You, Yahveh my Heavenly Father and Yahshua (Jesus) my merciful Savior, and I ask Your Holy Spirit to convict me of my many sins. Please help me to have true, godly sorrow that leads to true, life-changing repentance. I confess that I have been selfish, stubborn, rebellious, and prideful in many ways. Forgive me for my disobedience, my self-centeredness, and focus and desire for the things of this world. It is the desire of my heart to live the rest of my life no longer for my lusts but for Your will. Please cleanse me with the blood of Yahshua (Jesus) the Lamb. I need Your help to make every effort to ascend on Your narrow path, I want to be part of the few, the redeemed, righteous remnant who seek and do Your perfect will.
You have mightily proclaimed, “the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Please help me to become part of the righteous remnant who lives by faith and will not shrink back. Please help me to courageously “endure to the end” and overcome my flesh, the world, and the fear of what is coming on this earth. Draw me so close to You so that I will not be anxious or fearful in the midst of these perilous times. Give me a hunger and a thirst for righteousness, a desire to pray and read Your Scriptures so that I may be obedient and holy to You in my words and actions. I want to redeem the time that is left. Please “teach me to number my days, that I may present to You a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). I acknowledge that apart from You I can do nothing. Help me to have unshakable faith as I eagerly await Your return and eternal kingdom. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer, in Yahshua’s (Jesus’s) name, Amen.
