“OBEDIENCE” “WHERE, ARE YOU IN IT?”

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness. Romans 6:16

PRE-AMBLE by Robert

These articles like a puzzle bring together multiple bits and pieces of spiritual information, for all to use as assessments of where they stand in their personal relationship with our Father (God) and His Son (Yeshua). Interestingly enough as I have researched each article, I’m recognizing my life and walk are being affected as it should be. What I am researching now is showing me I have taken too much time concerning myself with the events occurring in this world both economically and politically. However, as our Lord put it in Matthew 6:27 and I know I am not alone in this, small stumble, because I have heard, “but it’s human, that you care about the things we are living with these days.” In answer, “Yeshua,” through the Holy Spirit gently pointed me to this: “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? V:27 “Very humbling!”

In this article, we will learn what Our Lord Yeshua meant by these words. We will be shown what our real walk with Him should be. But as well what lies ahead for those who do listen, learn, and walk in obedience to His teachings through the Holy Spirit. What lies ahead will assuredly bring disturbing information, but rightfully, needed to effect correction within our reasoning and our genuine commitment we recognize as Obedience. The Holy Spirit has some eye-opening soul-shaking lessons in store as we move forward in our walk on the narrow path.

OPENING PRAYER by Robert. 

Heavenly Father reveal to us, what we need to understand to be in your presence now and in eternity. We know Lord the unrighteous shall not be there, explain to us Father our position in your eyes. We know Lord we are not to be deceived or commit grievous acts fornication, idolatries, or abuse of ourselves in any manner or those within our world and lives, nor should we be drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners. Bring us your divine knowledge so we might fight these temptations. Strengthen us Lord so we might walk in your light and your name. Share with us Father a deep spirit of seeking wisdom to acknowledge being obedient to your calling us to follow your laws. We pray this in your name Yeshua, Amen and Amen.

OPENING STATEMENT by Robert

There is scarcely any one sin against which our Lord Yeshua more largely and earnestly warned His disciples. Or against which he armed them with more variety of arguments than the sin of disquieting, distracting, and distrustful cares about the things of life, which are a bad sign, both the treasure and the heart are on worldly events.

We hear from John Gill (1697 – 1771) some pointed comments “Which of you by taking thought, As Yeshua argued before, from the unnecessariness of anxious thoughts and cares, about the provisions of life, so here, from the unprofitableness of them, it is impossible for a man, with all his care and thought, to add one cubit unto his stature. Or “to his age,” so the word is rendered (John 9:21) to the days of his life, he is so solicitous about.” Just a quick note here according to (Misn. Erubim, c 4. sect. 5. & Negaim, c. 13. sect. 11. Bartenora) The stature of an ordinary man is three cubits.  Taking into consideration this measure was first used in the 14th Century, it was based on the length of the forearm from the middle finger and usually equal to about 18 inches (46 Centimeters). [Merriam-Webster Dictionary].  

The sense of the word is this, that no man, by all the care and thought he could make use of, is ever able to add one cubit or the least measure to his days, he cannot lengthen out his life one year, one month, one day, one hour, no, not one moment. 

The commentary as mentioned earlier shows we should take no thought for our life. Not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten as he pleases; recognize our times are in his hands, and in good hands they are. We should not fret about the comforts of this life, but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweet as he pleases.  

It is here where there is a form of separation of those who are awakened in the spirit and those who remain idle and indifferent. When the Lord declared “The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand,” The Apostle Matthew reported; Yeshua went up into the mountain, “perhaps” for the purpose of   selecting His audience, The idle and indifferent would stay down on the plain, only those who were in some measure stirred in spirit would follow Him. As Yeshua climbed the steep ascent from the shore of the lake to the plateau above and in their minds they would in all probability be revolving around such questions as these: 1).”What is this kingdom, what advantages does it offer, and who are the people that belong to it? 2). What is required of those that belong to it? What are its laws and obligations?” And if these two questions were answered satisfactorily, a third would naturally follow. 3). “How may those who desire to share its privileges and assume its obligations become citizens of it?” These accordingly, are the three great questions dealt with in succession. 

In correlation with the three questions, we researched what Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) had to say about obedience and how it affects our walk and well being and fits within the first question:  Food and raiment God has promised. Therefore we may expect them. Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for tomorrow or the events of it. God has given us life and has given us the body. And what can he not do for us, who did that? If we take care of our souls and for eternity, which is more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and clothing, which are less. Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God.

We must reconcile ourselves to our worldly condition, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter the disposals of Providence. Therefore we must submit and resign ourselves to them. Thoughtfulness for our souls is the best cure for the indulgence of worldly possessions. Seek first the kingdom of God, and make belief in Yeshua your business: say not this is the way to starve; no, it is the way to be well provided for, even in this world. The conclusion of the whole matter is, this is the will and command of our Lord Yeshua, by daily prayers, we will gain strength to lift us up under our daily travails and arm us against the temptations which accompany them, and then let none tempt us. Joyous are those who take the Lord for their God, and make the full witness of it through trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Let your Spirit convince you of sin in the desire of this disposition, and remove the worldliness from your heart. I refer you back to the Article published September 13, 2018, “IS CONTENTMENT YOUR GAIN?” “Every sort of wickedness and vice, in one way or another, grows from the love of money.” 

Through his commentary Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) reveals what to be wary of: Our Lord next warned against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties. What we do, must be done from an inward principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be praised by men. In these verses, we are cautioned against hypocrisy in giving alms. Take heed of it. It is a subtle sin; and vain-glory creeps into what we do, before we are aware. But the duty is not the less necessary and excellent for being abused by hypocrites to serve their pride. The doom Yeshua passes, at first, may seem a promise, but it is their reward; not the reward God promises to those who do good, but the reward hypocrites promise themselves, and a poor reward it is; they did it to be seen of men, and they are seen of men. When we take the least notice of our good deeds ourselves, God takes most notice of them. He will reward thee; not as a master who gives his servant what he earns, and no more, but as a Father who gives abundantly to his son that serves him.

It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Believer who does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory, and vain repetitions. “Verily they have their reward;” if in so great a matter as is between God and us, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the praise of men, it is just that it should be all our reward.             

Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) relates: “Yet there is not a secret, sudden breathing after God, but he observes it. It is called a reward, but it is of grace, not of debt; what merit can there be in begging? If he does not give his people what they ask, it is because he knows they do not need it, and that it is not for their good. So far is God from being wrought upon by the length or words of our prayers, that the most powerful intercessions are those which are made with groanings that cannot be uttered. Let us well study what is shown of the frame of mind in which our prayers should be offered, and learn daily from Christ how to pray.” 

Worldly-mindedness is a common and fatal symptom of hypocrisy, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a profession of religion. Something the soul will have, which it looks upon as the best thing; in which it has pleasure and confidence above other things. Christ counsels to make our best things the joys and glories of the other world, those things not seen which are eternal, and to place our happiness in them. There are treasures in heaven. It is our wisdom to give all diligence to make our title to eternal life sure through Yeshua, and to look on all things here below, as not worthy to be compared with it, and to be content with nothing short of it. It is happiness above and beyond the changes and chances of time, an inheritance incorruptible. The worldly man is wrong in his first principle; therefore all his reasonings and actions from that place must be faulty. It is equally to be applied to false religion; that which is deemed light is thick darkness. This is awful, but a typical case; we should therefore carefully examine our leading principles by the word of God, with earnest prayer for the teaching of his Spirit. A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. God requires the whole heart, and will not share it with the world. When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it must despise God; he who loves God must give up the friendship of the world. 

Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) encourages us to pray and states how we should approach it: Prayer is the appointed means for obtaining what we need. Pray; pray often; make a business of prayer, and be serious and earnest in it. Ask, as a beggar asks alms. Ask, as a traveler asks the way. Seek, as for a thing of value that we have lost; or as the merchantman that seeks goodly pearls. Knock, as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door. Sin has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer, we knock. Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, shall be given you, if God sees it fit for you, and what would you have more? This is made to apply to all that pray aright; every one that asketh receiveth, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, high or low, master or servant, learned or unlearned, all are alike welcome to the throne of grace, if they come in faith. It is explained by a comparison taken from earthly parents, and their readiness to give their children what they ask. Parents are often foolishly fond, but God is all-wise; he knows what we need, what we desire, and what is fit for us. Let us never suppose our heavenly Father would bid us pray, and then refuse to hear, or give us what would be hurtful.

Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, and becoming true followers of Yeshua, as the carnal, soothing, flattering doctrines of those who oppose the truth. They may be known by the drift and effects of their theories. Some part of their temper and conduct is contrary to the mind of Christ. Those opinions come not from God that lead to sin.

CLOSING STATEMENT by Robert

I don’t think it could be any clearer what we are able to gain through true faith. What I am taking away from this research on a personal level is the following three things “ASK,” “SEEK,” “KNOCK.” Yeshua knocks at our door (Rev.3:20, Song of Solomon 5:2) and allows us to knock at His, which is a favor we do not allow common beggars. What I am seeing is seeking and knocking imply something more than asking and praying. We must not only ask but seek, we must second our prayers with our endeavors we must, in the use of the appointed means, seek for that which we ask for, else we tempt God. 

God gives knowledge and grace to those that search the scriptures, and wait at Wisdom’s gates and power against sin. We must not only ask but knock we must come to God’s door, must ask importunately not only pray but plead and wrestle with God we must seek diligently we must continue knocking must persevere in prayer, and in the use of means must endure to the end in the duty. The precept is threefold, ask, seek, knock there is precept upon precept, but the promise is sixfold, line upon line for our encouragement because a firm belief of the promise would make us cheerful and constant in our obedience. 

CLOSING PRAYER by Robert

Heavenly Father we are so thankful Lord for your promise to hear our prayer and answer according to your will. You told us Lord ask and you shall receive, you ask us to seek, and we shall find. We have sought you Lord and found you each time and give praise for you being there Father. You tell us to knock, and the door will be opened the door of mercy and grace thank you Lord for those gifts. We thank you, Father, for all things promised and received through faith. This we Pray in the name of Yeshua, Amen, and Amen. 

Remember these messages come from an obedient, “Watchmen” sounding the horn about an evil. We come to God as children to a Father in Heaven, with reverence and confidence. How naturally does a child in want or distress run to the Father with its complaints? Thus should the new nature send us to God for supports and supplies. 

May our Father bless and keep you well as our journey continues. 

Robert