2021.07.11 Remaining Faithful – EXHORTATION IN THE LAST DAYS
William Akehurst, HSWC
Key Passage: Hebrews 10:23-25. “Exhorting one another as we see the Day approaching.”
BE FAITHFUL TO GOD’S WORD.
Proverbs 3:1-4 (KJV)
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
GET THESE WORDS, GOD’S WORD, IN YOUR HEART
Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 17-18 (KJV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Each morning as they rise up for a time of meditation on GOD’s WORD, Orthodox Jewish men apply the phylacteries, the Tefillin, the straps and little boxes with scripture contained with in them, to their forehead and arm. The boxes are specifically on the forehead and upper arm near the heart. This reminds us that GOD’s Word is to be tied to our mind (our thoughts) and our heart (our actions). To keep the focus of our day, with GOD’s WORD guiding our every action, thought and decision.
KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, TESTIMONIES AND STATUTES
DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD IN GOD’S SIGHT.
17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. 18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
EXHORTATION TO HOLD FAST – STAND FIRM – UNWAVERING; THE DAY IS APPROACHING!
Hebrews 10:23-25 (KJV)
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
BE STRONG IN GOD’S POWER AND MIGHT
Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
THESE ARE THE LATTER TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE DEPARTING FROM THE FAITH
1 Timothy 4:1a (KJV) 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith…
IMPORTANT!
Let us be reminded and understand something VERY IMPORTANT and VERY REAL. We have one life to live on this earth, and then there is eternity. In Eternity, there is HEAVEN and THERE IS HELL.
Heaven is to be in the Glory and Joy of GOD’s Presence. Hell is to be in Eternal Torment and Separation from GOD. We must overcome the temptations and tribulations of this world to receive GOD's Gift of Everlasting Life with HIM, and we overcome by our faith, believing in the finished work of CHRIST JESUS. There is NO Other Way. There is NO Thing that we can do of our own ability except to TURN our Hearts and Minds to the understanding that it is GOD’s GRACE and MERCY that provide THE WAY to Everlasting LIFE. And IT IS JESUS who has made this possible by the Work of the Cross. Paying the way for us to receive Eternal Life in GOD’s Presence. Therefore, we must overcome. We must stay strong, We must ‘Run the Race to the Finish’ and REMAIN FAITHFUL. Not turning aside, Not falling away, Not departing from the faith. For by FAITH, we have the Victory, and by FAITH we have overcome the things of this World. WE have overcome because of CHRIST JESUS.
John 16:33 (KJV)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
1 John 5:4 (KJV)
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
So We STAND on the SOLID FOUNDATION OF CHRIST.
Psalms 40:2 (KJV)
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
STAND FOR THE FAITH, FIGHT FOR IT.
Jude 1:3-4, 17-25 (KJV)
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
BEWARE OF FALSE DOCTRINES AND TEACHINGS BY STANDING FIRM ON GOD’S WORD
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
MOCKERS WALKING IN UNGODLY SENSUAL LUSTS
SPIRIT NOT WITH THEM
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
BE STRONG IN FAITH. PRAY IN THE SPIRIT. LOVE GOD WITH EVERYTHING WITHIN YOU. LOOK FOR CHRIST’S RETURN AND PROMISE
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
EXHORT OTHERS TO FAITH – URGING THEM TO ACCEPT GOD’S GIFT, SAVING THEM FROM IMPENDING DEATH.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
BENEDICTION
UNTIL CHRIST CALLS US TO HIMSELF, LET HIM FIND US FAITHFUL
Jude 1:24 (KJV) 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
PRAYER
FATHER, we come with thanksgiving, rejoicing to be in YOUR presence together after so long. We have come through so much and it is YOU who has sustained us. We believe these are the last days and the day approaching is soon. Come HOLY SPIRIT and give us strength to remain faithful unto YOU LORD GOD. That we would be able to hold onto and stand for…the principles of YOUR WORD and our faith in CHRIST our Savior. While we remain waiting and watching, let us proclaim the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION to all who YOU send our way so that they too would not perish but have Everlasting Life. In JESUS NAME, Amen.
