“LET’S WALK AND TALK!”

Also, I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, he shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: [9] But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9) KJV

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2) KJV

PRE-AMBLE by Robert

Politics in the world, as well as the Assembly, brings forward distraction and division. Yet there can be true Love from those walking in true brotherly Love amongst this confusion, illness, and separation.

The design of Yeshua in giving himself is that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. In developing this unique group, it becomes them as believers and followers walking with Yeshua, to perform, many excellent duties which become Believers to excel.

1. To brotherly Love (Hebrews 13:1). By which he does not only mean a general affection to all men, as our brethren by nature, all made of the same blood, nor that more limited affection which is due to those who are of the same immediate parents, but that special and spiritual affection which ought to exist among the children of God.
2. To hospitality: Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for his sake, (Hebrews 13:2). We must add to brotherly kindness charity. Here observe, (I) The duty required–to entertain strangers, both those that are strangers to the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to our persons. Especially those who know themselves to be strangers here and are seeking another country, which is the case of the people of God, and was so at this time: the believing Jews were in a desperate and distressed condition. But he seems to speak of strangers as such though we know not who they are, nor whence they come, yet, seeing they are without any particular dwelling place, we should allow them room in our hearts and in our houses, as we have the opportunity and ability (II) The motive: Thereby, some have entertained angels unawares, so Abraham did (Genesis 18:1-32), and Lot (Genesis 19:1-38), and one of those that Abraham entertained was the Son of God and, though we cannot suppose this will ever be our case. Yet, what we do to strangers, in obedience to him, he will reckon and reward as done to himself. (Matthew 25:35), I was a stranger, and you took me in. God has often bestowed honours and favours upon his hospitable servants, beyond all their thoughts, unawares.
3. To Christian sympathy: Remember those that are in bonds, (Hebrews 13:3). Here observe, (I) The duty–to remember those that are in relationships and in adversity (a) God often orders it so that while some Christians and churches are in adversity, others enjoy peace and liberty. All are not called at the same time to resist unto blood (II). Those that are themselves at liberty must sympathize with those that are in bonds and adversity as if they were bound with them in the same chain: they must fell the sufferings of their brethren.
4. To purity and chastity, (Hebrews 13:4). Here you have, (I). A recommendation of God’s ordinance of marriage, that it is honourable in all, and ought to be so esteemed by all, and not denied to those to whom God has not denied it. It is honourable, for God instituted it for man in paradise, knowing it was not good for him to be alone. He married and blessed the first couple, the first parents of mankind, to direct all to look unto God in that great concern, and to marry in the Lord. Christ honoured marriage with his presence and the first miracle. It is honourable as a means to prevent impurity and a defiled bed. It is honourable and happy. When persons come together, pure and chaste and preserve the marriage bed undefiled. Not only from unlawful but inordinate affections. (II) A dreadful but just censure of impurity and lewdness: Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge (a) God knows who are guilty of such sins, no darkness can hide them from him (b) He will call such sins by their proper names, not by the names of Love and gallantry, but of whoredom and adultery, whoredom in the single state and adultery in the married state (c) He will bring them into judgment, he will judge them, either by their own consciences here, and set their sins in order before them for their deep humiliation (and conscience, when awakened, will be very severe upon such sinners), or he will set them at his tribunal at death, and in the last day he will convict them, condemn them, and cast them out forever if they die under the guilt of this sin.
5. To Christian contentment, (Hebrews 13:5,6). Here observe, (I) The sin that is contrary to this grace and duty–covetousness, an over-eager desire of the wealth of this world, envying those who have more than we. This sin we must allow no place in our conversation for, though it is a secret lust lurking in the heart, if it is not subdued it will enter into our conversation, and discover itself in our manner of speaking and acting. We must take care not only to keep this sin down but to root it out of our souls (II) The duty and grace that is contrary to covetousness–being satisfied and pleased with such things as we have present things, for past things cannot be recalled, and future things are only in the hand of God. What God gives us from day to day we must be content with, though it falls short of what we have enjoyed heretofore, and though it does not come up to our expectations for the future. We must be content with our present lot. We must bring our minds to our present condition, and this is the sure way to contentment and those who cannot do it would not be contented though God should raise their condition to their minds, for the mind would rise with the condition. Haman was the great court-favourite, and yet not contented–Ahab on the throne, and yet not contented–Adam in paradise, and yet not contented yea, the angels in heaven, and yet not contented but Paul, though abased and empty, had learned in every state, in any state, therewith to be content (III). What reason Christians have to be contented with their lot (a) God hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, (Hebrews 13:5,6). This was said to Joshua (Joshua 1:5) but belongs to all the faithful servants of God. Old-Testament promises may be applied to New-Testament saints. This promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises. I will never, no, never leave thee, nor ever forsake thee. Here are no fewer than five negatives heaped together, to confirm the promise the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him in life, at death, and forever (b) From this comprehensive promise they may assure themselves of help from God. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper I will not fear what man shall do unto me, Hebrews 13:6. Men can do nothing against God, and God can make all that, men do against his people to turn to their good.   

CLOSING STATEMENT by Robert

Yeshua began with a caution against hypocrisy. His disciples were to preach to others and, if they should deviate from the truth, corrupt the word, and deal deceitfully, hypocrisy would be worse in them than in others. Yeshua’s disciples were, for aught we know, the best men then in the world, yet they needed to be cautioned against hypocrisy.

Yeshua said this to the disciples, in the hearing of this great multitude, rather than privately when he had them by themselves, to add the greater weight to the caution. And to let the world know that he would not countenance hypocrisy, no, not in his own disciples.

The description of that sin which he warns them against It is the leaven of the Pharisees

• [1] It is leaven it is spreading as leaven, insinuates itself into the whole man, and all that he does it is swelling and souring as leaven, for it puffs men up with pride, embitters them with malice, and makes their service unacceptable to God
• [2] It is the leaven of the Pharisees: “It is the sin they are most of them found in. Take heed of imitating them be not you of their spirit do not dissemble in Christianity as they do in Judaism make not your religion a cloak of maliciousness, as they do theirs”
• A good reason against it: “For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, Luke 12:2,3. It is to no purpose to disassemble, for, sooner or later, the truth will come out and a lying tongue is but for a moment. If you speak in the darkness that which is unbecoming you, and is inconsistent with your public professions, it shall be heard in the light some way or other it shall be discovered, a bird of the air shall carry the voice (Ecclesiastes 10:20), and your folly and falsehood will be made manifest” The iniquity that is concealed with a show of piety will be discovered, perhaps in this world, as Judas’s was, and Simon Magus’s, at furthest in the great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest, Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:16. If men’s religion prevails not to conquer and cure the wickedness of their hearts, it shall not always serve for a cloak. The day is coming when hypocrites will be stripped of their fig-leaves.

Remember, these messages are given by a humble servant obedient 

Unto our Lord Yeshua as a Watchman. I pray for all. ”Our Heavenly Father brings us to the river which bringeth forth fruit so we may partake of its sustenance and be filled spiritually with nurturing wisdom, and humble dedication in service to Yeshua. “Blessings to All.” As you go forward in peace, knowledge, and strength.

Robert