Let Us Exhort One Another As We See The Day Approaching!
William P Goff 2021
I want to start todays message in Hebrews 10:25 where it says: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching.”
This verse is often quoted with the “emphasis” put on “forsaking the assembly.” But little “emphasis” (if any) is put on the part of “exhorting one another.”
Yet this “exhorting” (as I think we will see as we put this verse into context) has much to do with our eternal salvation. Exhorting = strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something. Well what exactly is it that we are strongly urged to do to one another? And to do it “all the more” as we see the day approaching. Now we don’t have to go far to comprehend the subject that this “Exhorting” is all about.
The previous verse 24 says: “Let us consider one another to provoke unto Love and to good works.” “Provoke” here is Strongs #3947 = “incitement” (incitement normally means the action of provoking unlawful behavior, or urging someone to behave unlawfully.) But here it means to provoke someone to do good, to refrain from unlawful behavior, (better put) refrain from sinning. This is talking about encouraging one another to walk this earth “upright.”
The following verse 26 makes that clear:“For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remained no more sacrifice for sins.” This exhorting one another has to do with encouraging one another to “overcome”, to be “converted”. This exhorting one another is to help us comprehend the fact that “sinners” will not be allowed to enter the Coming Kingdom of God.
Whether we realize it or not, many in the church have been led astray by pulpits concerning the importance of overcoming, the importance of developing that Holy Righteous Character of the Father.
The command to: “Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.” And “Be ye Holy as your Father in heaven is holy” are not just clever sayings, they are commands. And those particular commands are being addressed to the elect.
Once we commit to our calling, and get ourselves baptized and, our goal is to overcome. We are called to become “Saints.” Scripture defines saints as: Pure – Sacred – Morally Blameless – Holy.
We live at the end of the age, when “smooth talk” is commonly preached from the pulpit. Let’s not entertain any “smooth talk.” We come into the church, and some start calling one another “saints.”
Paul says we have to “Tower UP” as we “Becometh Saints.”
As I often mention, our Creator always gives us the physical (which we humans understand quite well) so we can better understand the Spiritual (which we humans do not understand all that well.)
Last time I spoke here I mentioned how silver (which God relates to us in the Scriptures) how it is purified, how in order for it to become pure, all the impurities (in our case all the imperfections) have to be removed.
The way the silversmith does that is with heat. (our trials and tribulations) And he knows when all the impurities have been removed, when he can see his reflection in the silver. That’s what our Heavenly Father wants to see in all of us, His reflection.
This “not forsaking assembling together and “exhorting” one another” is Very important matter; it has to do with keeping our High Calling on the front burner. Keeping ourselves focused on the need to walk upright.
Verse 27 to 35 goes on to say that not only will we lose our salvation if we continue to sin, but we will also face judgment, and the lake of fire.
Picking up in verse 36 in the NIV: “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For In just a little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”
Those who “shrink back” (Backsliding) will lose their salvation. That word “destroyed” or “perdition” in the KJV means: spiritual or eternal loss or ruin. We have to be like sharks, most sharks cannot stand still, they have to always be moving forward to stay alive. (Definitely no moving backwards.) We have to be very careful in these end times, because our biggest culprit to reaching our goal of overcoming, is man. Men in pulpits like to preach a lot of “smooth things” And many don’t realize it but they’re also good at mixing in some “damnable heresy”.
Always have to be careful not to get our heresies mixed up. Heresy is not a bad thing. heresy in only a belief or opinion contrary to the regularly taught doctrines. Paul was a preacher of heresy, and he was proud of it. (Acts 24:14) It’s “Damnable Heresy” that we have to be on guard against, Yet many in the cog rarely distinguish the difference. Pulpits have many (if not most) brethren afraid of anyone preaching any heresy, yet some damnable heresy is being taught right from their own pulpit.
One large cog organization has a book out titled: “The Assurance of Salvation.” it can make you feel real good as a Christian…. (But it’s not good, because it’s just a pat on the back.)
It says that If you find yourself backsliding into some of your old sinful habits, not to worry because “everyone” does it. But no need to worry, because the Father has placed us into our Lord’s hands, and our Lord says He will lose none. (No need to worry about backsliding into our old sins from time to time.)
Another well known preacher says: “don’t worry about your everyday sins because we will be sinning those sins right up to our change.”
But you will not find that in Scripture. Scripture says “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” “Transgressors shall not inherit the Kingdom of God”. (1 Corinthians 6:9) (Galatians 5:21)
I want to turn to and read (2 Peter 2:1-2) But in its proper tense. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there (shall be false teachers among you?) NO (even as there are false teachers among you,) who privily (shall bring in damnable heresies?) NO (have brought in damnable heresies) even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many (not some, not few) But Many shall follow their “pernicious” ways; (Pernicious = spiritual loss, destruction, to destroy fully.) by reason of whom the way of truth (shall be evil spoken of?) NO (By reason of whom the way of truth IS evil spoken of.) Now I’m not here today to give a list of questionable doctrines, or push any of my beliefs on anyone. But I do want to rattle the cage of “Complacency.” Complacency Brethren will not get us to the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is “Upstream” It requires a Fight, a Race. One cannot float or drift into the Kingdom of God. Even with God’s Powerful Holy Spirit working in us, overcoming is not a walk in the park. We need encouragement from one another, sometimes we need a “Push” to accomplish.
That push is where “not forsaking the assembling of our selves together”, and “exhorting” one another” comes in to play. (Exhorting one another can do Powerful Things.)
One day when Nehemiah (our eldest orphan at Sengera House) got home from school around 4pm and he told me that there was going to be race that day in the Town of Kisii, and that he wanted to enter. I asked him how much will it cost to participate, and can you even reach Kisii in time? His reply was: “the cost is $20. And, if he moves quickly he could probably get there just in time. So I said okay.
Later that day he told me what happened, he said he got to Kisii just in time, signed his name on the entry form, paid the $20, and hurried to the starting line.
He said he no sooner got there and the starting shot was fired. He said he ran faster than he ever ran in his entire life, and that he was ahead of all the other runners. But as he was nearing the finish line, he said started getting pains in his stomach, and was so tired, so exhausted, that he had to stop running.
But as he began to slowing down the crowd at the finish line saw him, and they began Yelling and Shouting: “Nehemiah” “Run” “keep going Nehemiah, you can make do it, you can do it.
He said his pace instantly picked up, and he won the race. He said if it wasn’t for the encouragement, for the “exhorting” from others, he would not have won the race.
Brethren, IF there was ever a time for us to “exhort” one another, it is now, and all the more, Because we see the day approaching, and the time allotted to us (the cog) to have changed natures, to change any and all of our bad habits, and sinful ways, that time is running out.
In the parable of the Ten Virgins, all ten are slumbering and sleeping. Yes, both the “Wise” and the “Foolish” are slumbering and sleeping as the bridegroom tarries. But let us not forget Why He is Tarrying? & Let us not forget what we all need to accomplish during this tarrying time. (2nd Peter 3:9) is speaking to us today: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
All will be awoken at the Midnight Cry of Matthew 25. That awakening Cry is elaborated on in Revelation 10 where it says that soon, there will be “Time No Longer.” As you see the day approaching Brethren, do we see the day approaching?
For the past few years’s earthquakes, floods, droughts, and fires, and all kinds of disasters continue to get worse and worse. We keep hearing words like “Unprecedented” “Never before seen.”
Recently a leading news commentator stated that words like “Unprecedented” are no longer appropriate to describe these worsening disaster that are happening around the world, he said we are well beyond unprecedented, that now words like “Apocalyptic” are much more appropriate.
LA Times recently reported: “Quakes are increasing around the world, but scientists aren’t sure what it means.”
Since the year 2,000 earthquakes magnitude 6 and above have skyrocketed. (Chart) can be seen at: https://vwcog.org/Documents/CryingWolf.pdf
Also, The U.S. Geological Survey has also been studying the increase in earthquakes larger than 3.0 in the central and eastern United States in recent years. There have been more than 100 a year on average in the last four years, up from 20 a year between 1970 to 2000.
Volcanic Activity Is also Heating Up Around the World: More Than 39 Erupting Volcanoes and 100s of Earthquakes Hitting Near or Under Lava Craters.
(This may be why 3 of the “Gospels” state our Lord specifying that earthquakes during these “end times” will be in “Divers” places. Divers in the Greek relates to “downward motion” same word used in the same 3 Gospels concerning the herd of swine running “down” a steep place, like in Matthew 8:32.Earthquakes have 3 classifications: A, B, & C. horizontal (causing little damage) up (causing tsunami wave) and down(pushing lava up the volcanoes. The most common today are “down” ones. Just like Scripture says: “diverse.” = “downward”
Also, all super volcanoes on planet earth are expanding, a sure sign of eruption. Yellowstone will soon erupt, but will send little to no ash east across the USA like scientists previously predicted.
Last time Yellowstone erupted it shot ash into the “Jet Stream” which carried some of the ash West.(The proof of that lies along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, where the ash from that last eruption still lies today. But next time it irrupts the ash will “bypass” the jet stream and send the ash into the “Stratosphere” turning the sun black and the moon red.
How do we know that? Because scientist say that “Super Volcanoes” are powerful enough to reach the Stratosphere, but last time the ash only reached the “Jet Stream.” And our Lord says that what is coming will be “worse” than ever before. And scientists say that if the ash reaches the stratosphere, it will immediately put a dome over the earth turning the sun black and the moon red.
Last time our Creator was so upset with mankind’s sins, He shook the earth with a worldwide flood. But this time He says He will be shaking both the heavens and the earth. The stage is set for the return of our Lord and Savior. BUT how about us, are we set for His return? He tells all 7 churches: to him that “Overcometh” will I grant this, and give that! But Just trying to overcome doesn’t cut it with our Creator, we must succeed.
(As in the days of Noah, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.) What that tells me is that it’s going to be just another day (just like today) when the “midnight cry” of Matthew 24 is sounded. (Brethren, Laodiceans think they have it all, and know it all. But they don’t!!! If there was even a time for US the cog to anoint our eyes with that Laodicean eyes salve, it is now. Contrary to what is commonly and “smoothly” preached, IF we fail to overcome, we will not be there. Brethren we possess the same Powerful Holy Spirit of our Father that our Lord possessed.
That Powerful Spirit is what our Lord used to “overcome” this world when He was the same flesh and blood as you and me. And we can also overcome. Most pulpits in the cog posses the spirit of “antichrist.”
(1 John 4:1-3) (Read it please.) (Please, hear me out here.) If you ask them if Christ came in the flesh, they will tell you yes, but they do not believe it. They believe that our Lord could walk this earth totally upright, but impossible for us to do. They believe the leaven in the “Wave Loaves” of Leviticus 23:17 represents sin, that we will be baked (Changed into spirit God beings with sin in us.)
Brethren, Nothing could be further from the truth. There will be no sinful nature in the Kingdom of God. It will be “Utopia” there. Everything will be perfect.
1st Kings 6:7 says the stones of the Temple “us” will be cut, chiseled, shaped, and polished, before they will be erected on the “other side”. (No need for mortar.)
(Ephesians 5:27) says: “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ”We are to be Disciples of our Lord and Savior. Most think a “Disciple” is a learner or pupil, and there is a Greek word for learner, its “Matheo” but that word is nowhere used in the Scriptures. The word used is “Mathetes.”
Mathetes means more than a mere pupil or learner; it means an “adherent.” One who not only know the teachings of his master, but walks the same way as his Master. Our Master “overcame” this world, and our Master tells all 7 churches: to him that also “Overcometh” He will grant this, and give that! But just trying to overcome doesn’t cut it with our Creator, we must succeed. (And we have the Power to accompolish.)
(And make no mistake about it, the finish line is rapidly approaching!) (As in the days of Noah, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.) What that tells me is that it’s going to be just another day (just like today) when the “midnight cry” of Matthew 24 is sounded. Announcing the return of our Lord.(Brethren, Layodecians think they have it all, and know it all. But they don’t!!!)
If there was even a time for US the cog to anoint our eyes with that Layodecian eyes salve, it is now. Contrary to what is commonly and “smoothly” preached, IF we fail to overcome, we will not be there… Brethren we possess that same Powerful Holy Spirit of our Father that our Lord possessed. That Powerful Spirit is what He used to overcome this world when He was same flesh and blood as you and I. Without that Powerful Holy Spirit of the Father, our Lord said He could do nothing. He was too weak. He was a mere man just like you and me.
He walked this earth in the same “flesh” as you and I. (Look up the Greek, it’s the same “flesh” Strong’s #4561 = human nature with all its frailties and passions, carnal.) Our Lord overcame by the Power of His Father, and so can we. Let us not be led astray by the pulpits of men. Most pulpits in the cog possess the spirit of “antichrist.” (1 John 4:1-3) (Read it please.) (Please, hear me out here.) If you ask them if Christ came in the flesh, they will tell you yes, but they do not believe it. They believe that our Lord could walk this earth totally upright, but impossible for us to do.
1st Kings 6:7 says the stones of the Temple “us” will be cut, chiseled, shaped, and polished, before they will be erected on the “other side”. (No need even for mortar because they will be perfectly prepared.) (1 Kings 6:7 let’s read that please, it has a Lot of information.) (Notice no “magic wand” in the tool shed, but there is an axe.) (Ephesians 5:27) says: “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Last verse (Revelation 15:1-2) (Read it.)
When you look up at those beautiful white clouds, do you picture yourself up there? I hope so, because that is where those who “qualify” will be meeting Him, up in the clouds on the Sea of Glass, when He soon returns to His church.
Brethren, we have been called to come out of this world, to be ye separate, to be “Perfect” (complete in mental and moral character) To be “Holy” (unblemished – unspotted) like our Heavenly Father. And we have been given the Powerful Holy Spirit of the Father to accomplish. But the choice is ours.
This Feast represents the time when the Saints will be back on this earth, working with our Lord and Savior teaching others: “This is the way, walk ye in it.” But in order to be there with Him, we have to fight, we have to overcome, we have to win the race that has been set before us. So, let us exhort and encourage one another to walk this earth upright, and all the more as we see the day approaching!