10th of the 9th month 2020/2021
Shalom all,
In a time where we see lawlessness rapidly increasing and the chaos of state of the world showing us how darker the days are becoming, we need to hold firm to the Truth of our Master, armed in His Torah, in order to guard the right-ruling of יהוה and do righteousness!
The need for true servants and ambassadors of the Most-High to shine the Light of His Truth, is of critical importance, especially as we see the thick darkness that is continually growing over the peoples.
As part of this week’s Torah readings, where we will be going through Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25, we will also read the passage from:
Romiyim/Romans 8:31-39 “What then shall we say to this? If Elohim is for us, who is against us? 32 Truly, He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up on behalf of us all – how shall He not, along with Him, freely give us all else? 33 Who shall bring any charge against Elohim’s chosen ones? It is Elohim who is declaring right. 34 Who is he who is condemning? It is Messiah who died, and furthermore is also raised up, who is also at the right hand of Elohim, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of the Messiah? Shall pressure, or distress, or persecution, or scarcity of food, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it has been written, “For Your sake we are killed all day long, we are reckoned as sheep of slaughter.” 37 But in all this we are more than overcomers through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor messengers nor principalities nor powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of Elohim which is in Messiah יהושע our Master.”
This passage from Sha’ul’s letter to the set-apart ones in Rome, highlights for us a very clear call to be encouraged to hold firm to the Master, not allowing the increasing pressures and depravity of the world to let our love grow cold, as so many are.
This is the time to realise who it is that we serve and hold firm to the One who has called us out of darkness, into His marvellous light, giving all we need to love Him, by guarding and obeying His Torah and commands, so that we do not find ourselves shaken by pressure, distress, persecution, physical lack or dangers, remembering that we should not fear the those who can kill the body but are unable to kill the being, but rather, let us walk in the fear of the One who is able to destroy both being and body in GěHinnom.
Sha’ul reminds us that in all this we are more than overcomers through Him who loved us.
The ‘all this’ that he is referring to, is the pressure, distress, persecution, scarcity of food, nakedness, danger, sword and physical death.
He made it abundantly clear that these things would not separate us from the love of our Elohim, in Messiah יהושע our Master.
In other words, we who are standing on the Rock of our deliverance, need not fear or worry about the increasing chaos and depravity of the delusion of lawlessness that is all around us, and though these pressures are trying to cause us to lose our sure footing in the Master.
This is a clear call to be steadfast in standing in the Master, armed in His Torah of Truth, and after having done all, keep standing, for our Master is for us!!!
In our called-for duty to stand and fight the Good Fight of the belief, by guarding the right-rulings of יהוה and doing righteousness, we need to make sure that we are meditating on His Torah, day and night, for it leads us when we walk, guards us while we sleep and speaks to us when we wake… of we are meditating on it, that is, and doing righteousness!
At this point, let me remind you what righteousness is:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”
To ‘do righteousness’, we need to make sure that we are doing our utmost at presenting ourselves as approved workers, before Elohim, walking in the light of His face, by knowing the sound of His voice and being the good sheep that follow the Good Shepherd.
Approved workers are not sluggish in duty, but are ardent for the good works of obedience.
It is with this thought, that I titled this message as:
OVERCOMERS ARE NOT SLUGGISH!
Yoḥanan/John 16:33 “These words I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have pressure, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
After declaring very plainly to His taught ones, who He is, and what was about to happen, He encouraged them with these words.
These words are to be continual encouraging words to us too…. Especially as we face many pressures and endure extreme hardships, for we know that our Master is coming soon and being strengthened and empowered by His Spirit, we can be steadfast, in our need to stay in Him, so that He stays in us and be more than overcomers through Him!
His equipping Word gives us peace and causes us to endure the pressures of this world, as long as we stay in Him and guard to do all He has commanded us!
The Greek word that is translated here in Yoḥanan/John 16:33 as ‘pressure’ comes from the root word θλῖψις thlipsis – Strong’s G2347 which means, ‘tribulation, pressure, affliction, distress, persecution, trouble’ and this word comes from the primitive verb θλίβω thlibō – Strong’s G2346 which means, ‘to press or afflict, to distress, suffer affliction’, and in the literal sense can mean, ‘to squash, press, hem in, rub, harassed’, and can also be understood as being ‘narrow or hard pressed’.
The comforting reassurance that we have, amidst the pressures that we face, is that the Word of Elohim is what we have, in order to recognise and be reminded of the True peace that we have in our Messiah King.
And while we certainly will have much pressure in the world, we are able to be strong and courageous, as we stand firm on the Rock of our Deliverance, יהושע Messiah, and hold fast to His Living Word, aměn!
In the world we have pressure….!
How true is that statement!!!
Pressure, pressure and more pressure… is that how it feels at times for most of you?
Well, take heart … because this is our lot, and our only means of enduring the pressures that we face, is to ‘hear – guard – do’ the Word of Elohim!
What is very clear to us, is that we, who are walking faithfully in Messiah, will have pressure in this world – the question is, ‘how we are handling the pressure?’
With courage and joy, or do we find ourselves, at times, stumbling under pressure?
The Greek word that is translated as ‘take courage’ comes from the verb θαρσέω tharseō – Strong’s G2293 which means, ‘be of good courage, be of good comfort, be of good cheer’ and a word that is derived from this verb is the noun θαρρέω tharreō – Strong’s G2292 which means, ‘to be of good courage, be bold, have confidence’, which is translated as ‘good courage’, in:
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 5:6-9 “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Master – 7 for we walk by belief, not by sight – 8 we are of good courage, and are well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Master. 9 So we also make it our aim to be well-pleasing to Him, whether being at home, or being away from home.”
The encouragement that our Master gave His taught ones, was that they were to take courage amidst the pressure that they would have in the world, for, in Him, they would have peace, for He has overcome the world.
These words are still very much alive and just as applicable to us today, as it was for the taught ones back then!
It is written in the ‘imperative mood’, which could also be expressed as ‘take heart’ or ‘cheer up’ and is a word that is spoken by way of encouragement!
Pressures and carious trials and persecutions can often have a very draining affect on one’s life, especially if it seems as though the pressures never stop. It is for this reason that we need to be reminded of the urgency in not losing heart and find that we end up being weakened to the point of become idle in duty.
When facing intense pressures, we need to be reminded to be of good courage and cheer up and not let pressures get us down!
Sha’ul reminds us that we are to be overcomers!
And we can be overcomers as we stay in Messiah, for He is the One who has overcome the world!!!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘more than overcomers’ in Romiyim/Romans 8:37 is ὑπερνικάω hupernikaō – Strong’s G5245 which means, ‘to be more than conqueror, overwhelmingly conquer, to gain a surpassing victory’.
This word is only used here, in the Renewed writings, and comes from the two root words:
1) ὑπέρ huper – Strong’s G5228 which is a primitive preposition that can mean, ‘over, beyond, on behalf of, for the sake of, concerning, exceed, more so, more than’, and
2) νικάω nikaō – Strong’s G3528 which means, ‘to conquer, prevail, overcome, victorious’, which comes from the root word νίκη nikē – Strong’s G3529 which means, ‘victory’.
Sha’ul encourages us to be steadfast and immovable, as we continue to give thanks to our Master, who gives us the overcoming:
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 15:57-58 “But thanks to Elohim who gives us the overcoming through our Master יהושע Messiah. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Master, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Master.”
The Greek word that is used here for ‘overcoming’ is νῖκος nikos – Strong’s G3534 which is a noun that means, ‘victory, overcoming, utterly vanquish’ and comes from the verb νίκη nikē – Strong’s G3529.
Our Master has given us the victory!!! He has given us all we need to overcome and be victorious, as we stay in Him and walk, even as He walked. In order to walk in the victorious overcoming path of righteousness, we need to make sure that we are steadfast and immovable, so that nothing can break our position in our victorious King.
BE STEADFAST AND IMMOVABLE!
The Greek root word for ‘steadfast’ is ἑδραῖος hedraios – Strong’s G1476 which means, ‘steadfast, firm’, and comes from the word ἕδρα hedra which means, ‘seat, chair, base’, and therefore, carries the understanding of ‘being settled and steady’.
It us used metaphorically, in referring to the mind and purpose of a man, that is secure and firm!
How secure is your mind? Are you able to confidently make the bold confession of your belief in the Master, amidst the increasing pressures, persecutions and trials that are raging around you? Our need to be steadfast is established on our knowing who our Master is and as we know, to know Him is to guard to do all He has commanded us to. When we guard to do His Torah, as a complete expression of our love, then we can be secure in who we are and not allow the pressures of this life to deter us away from standing strong and being secure in our Mighty Master and Elohim, who fights for us!!!
When doubt and fears begin to cripple one’s ability to be steadfast it can be a sure sign that the heart has not been tilled diligently, keep out the thorns that choke out the implanted Word.
When our eyes are fixed on our Master, not looking to the left or the right, as we meditate on His Word that leads, guides, protects and speaks to us, then we are able to be strong and courageous, equipped to stand firm in Him, in the face in intense pressures, trials and troubles.
The Greek word that is translated as ‘immovable’ is ἀμετακίνητος ametakinētos – Strong’s G277 which comes from two words:
1) – α alpha – Strong’s G1 which is used as a negative prefix, and
2) – μετακινέω metakineō – Strong’s G3334 which means, ‘to move away, removed’.
In recognising that Messiah, having died for us, has given us the overcoming through Himself, we see here how Sha’ul then urges us to be firm in our steadfast position in our Master and not be moved from that steadfast stand that we take in Him, The Rock of our deliverance, as we sojourn here as faithful ambassadors of His coming reign!
In being steadfast and immovable, we are to make sure that we are not only doing what has been commanded, but we are to make sure that we are always excelling, in doing what has been commanded!
To excel in something, implies ‘surpassing others’ and does not just give an average performance, but rather, exceeds all standards!
How are you at excelling in the Master?
Do you get sluggish in doing what is required, because you find the intensity of the battles and pressures you are facing, as something that is too much to bear?
With Messiah making clear to us, through His life, death and resurrection, the full proclamation of the Torah and the Prophets, He calls us to a ‘higher standard’, if you will, or rather, He calls us to excel still more – and this is what Sha’ul makes clear to us as well, as he calls us to do so, in:
Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 4:1 “For the rest then, brothers, we beg you and call upon you in the Master יהושע, that as you received from us how you should walk and to please Elohim, you should excel still more”
We are not to simply just ‘go through the motions’, and try to do just enough to get by, so to speak.
We are to excel in our set-apartness and to do so, takes great effort and care and a continued stand, of a firm and steadfast faith, that is not moved by any form of compromise, but rather, is steadfast and immovable, in order to overcome.
The Greek word that is translated as ‘excel’ in Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 4:1 is περισσεύω perisseuō – Strong’s G4052 which means, ‘to be over and above, to abound, exceed, surpass, increase’ and this word is used in:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the reign of the heavens.”
We cannot be putting on a show before others, while not properly guarding the Word at all times. The Word is our life and we are not to add or take away from it in order to satisfy the demands of the flesh. Our righteousness needs to exceed that of the religious, who are not guarding righteousness at all times!
Those who excel are able to overcome the pressures and trials they live in the midst of.
How about you?
The Greek word νικάω nikaō – Strong’s G3528 which means, ‘to conquer, prevail, overcome, victorious’, is translated as ‘overcomes’ in:
Ḥazon/Revelation 21:7-8 “The one who overcomes shall inherit all this, and I shall be his Elohim and he shall be My son.
This root word for ‘overcomes’ – νικάω nikaō – Strong’s G3528 – is also used in the messages given to each of the seven assemblies in Ḥazon/Revelation, teaching us that we are to be overcomers and do our utmost in holding fast to the sure promises we have in our Master, as we excel still more and are not getting sluggish or idle in duty!
To those in Ephesos:
Ḥazon/Revelation 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I shall give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of Elohim.””
To those in Smurna:
Ḥazon/Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes shall by no means be harmed by the second death.”
To those in Pergamos:
Ḥazon/Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I shall give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I shall give him a white stone, and on the stone a renewed Name written which no one knows except him who receives it.””
To those in Thyatira:
Ḥazon/Revelation 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and guards My works until the end, to him I shall give authority over the nations”
To those in Sardis:
Ḥazon/Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be dressed in white robes, and I shall by no means blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I shall confess his name before My Father and before His messengers.”
To those in Philadelphia:
Ḥazon/Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I shall make him a supporting post in the Dwelling Place of My Elohim, and he shall by no means go out. And I shall write on him the Name of My Elohim and the name of the city of My Elohim, the renewed Yerushalayim, which comes down out of the heaven from My Elohim, and My renewed Name.”
To those in Laodikeia:
Ḥazon/Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes I shall give to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
One can be greatly encouraged, as we see the collective blessing of overcoming the pressures and trials that we face, as we take note that those who overcome will get to eat of the tree of life and the second death will have no power over them, as they will have access back to the tree of life!
Overcomers get to eat of the hidden manna and authority over the nations will be given to them, for they will be able to rightly rule with proper discernment!
Overcomers shall be dressed in white robes and have assurance that their names will never be blotted out and they will become supporting posts in the Dwelling Place of Elohim and be given to sit with the Master on His Throne!
This, in itself ought, to be sufficient encouragement for us, to endure and overcome!
Romiyim/Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
We are living in days where the night is far advanced and the darkness over the peoples has certainly become very thick, yet we have to endure under the pressures of darkness and overcome the evil around us, by doing good as we guard the good deposit of our Master and shine the Light of His Truth, by being steadfast and secure in Him, always ready to give a reason for the hope we have, excelling in set-apartness, amidst the depravity of increasing lawlessness!
I want us to be encouraged and strengthened in the Word to be taught ones who guard the commands of the Master and be steadfast in the endurance that is called for!
Luqas/Luke 21:19 “Possess your lives by your endurance!”
The Greek word used here for ‘endurance’ is ὑπομονή hupomonē – Strong’s G5281 which means, ‘a patient enduring, steadfastness, perseverance, a remaining behind’, and this word comes from the Greek word ὑπομένω hupomenō – Strong’s G5278 which means, ‘to stay behind, to await, endure’, which comes from the two words:
1) ὑπό hupo – Strong’s G5259 which means ‘under, in subjection to’, and
2) μένω menō – Strong’s G3306 and means, ‘to stay, abide, remain, stand’ – which is the word that is used in Yoḥanan/John 15 where we are told to ‘stay in, remain in’ Messiah!
Proper endurance, in the Master, calls for us to ‘stay in’ Him and ‘be in subjection to’ Him, by guarding His commands!
The Greek word translated as ‘possess’ is κτάομαι ktaomai – Strong’s G2932 which means, ‘to possess, acquire, gain, obtain, purchase’.
As faithful talmidim (disciples) of Messiah, we recognise that while He ascended to the Most Set-Apart Place, where He continually intercedes for us as our High Priest, we, who are here, and have ‘remained behind’, need to endure and be steadfast, in staying in Him, as we walk in subjection to His clear Torah.
This call to possess our lives by endurance, implies that endurance is certainly needed, especially as we live in a world that is corrupt and wicked and if one does not ‘possess by endurance’, they may just see their lives being stolen away, through the influence of sin and compromise, causing one to become sluggish in duty!
This call to excel and be overcomers, entails a, ardent love that remains steadfast in doing what is right in the eyes of יהוה, even when everyone else around us seems to be doing whatever they deem to be right to them!
In the letter to the Hebrews, we see in Chapter 6, with the encouragement to go on to perfection, is the earnest desire of the writer, that the hearers of this word, which includes us who are alive today, are not growing sluggish!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 6:11-12 “And we desire that each one of you show the same eagerness, to the entire confirmation of expectation until the end, 12 in order that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through belief and patience inherit the promises.”
The Greek word that is translated as ‘sluggish’ is νωθρός nōthros – Strong’s G3576 which means, ‘sluggishness, slow. Lazy, slothful, dull’ and this word is only used twice in the Renewed Writings (N.T.), both of which are found in the letter to the Iḇ’rim/Hebrews.
The other verse in this letter where we see this word being used is in:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 5:11 “concerning whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”
After issuing a clear warning against falling away from the Truth, the writer of this letter encourages the readers to be steadfast in showing a true eagerness for the Truth and be on guard against the dangers of becoming sluggish.
They had become lazy in their hearing of the Truth and as a result they could not receive the meat/solid food of the Word, as they needed milk all over again, showing that they were inexperienced and immature! The danger of this is that they could never go on to perfection; and sadly, we take note that many who have tasted the Good News yet grow sluggish in their hearing and become lazy often fall away.
In Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 6 the danger of this dullness is made clear, as we see that it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, having tasted the Good Word and been partakers of the set-apart spirit, to be renewed to repentance!
We must not become sluggish in hearing! Hear what the Spirit is saying to the assembly! When you grow lazy, in hearing the Word, you become malnourished and lose your senses and become deaf, unable to hear the Truth any longer!
Let us not become deaf but rather go on to perfection by showing the same eagerness as we did when our Master called us out of darkness into His marvellous light!
This Greek adjective νωθρός nōthros – Strong’s G3576 is a derivative of the root word νόθος nothos – Strong’s G3541 which means, ‘a bastard, illegitimate children’ and is used in:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:8 “But if you are without discipline, of which all have become sharers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.”
The Greek word for ‘sluggish’ – νωθρός nōthros – Strong’s G3576 – is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak – O.T.) in:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 22:29 “Do you see a man who is skilled in his work? He does stand before sovereigns, He does not stand before obscure ones.”
The one who is skilled and always ready to serve is one who will stand before sovereigns and not before obscure ones!
What Shelomoh is telling us here is that the one whose work is of a high standard is the one who will get promoted.
This parable ought to encourage us to strive for a high standard of workmanship, especially as we recognise that whatever we do, we work unto the Master and should therefore never be slack or idle in duty.
In fact, this word that is used here for ‘skilled’, gives us a completely opposite picture to the one who is idle and slack, and emphasises one who prioritises his responsibilities and does his utmost to give his best all the time! This must be the true quality of a set-apart one of the Master in all they do!
As we consider this saying, may we all be urgent in our pursuit of apartness, for then we shall stand before our Mighty Elohim and King!
Romiyim/Romans 12:9-11 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Shrink from what is wicked, cling to what is good. 10 In brotherly love, tenderly loving towards one another, in appreciation, giving preference to each other; 11 not idle in duty, ardent in spirit, serving the Master”
The Greek word used here for ‘idle’ is ὀκνηρός oknēros – Strong’s G3636 which means, ‘slothful, lazy, troublesome, lagging behind, idle, timid’, and comes from the word ὀκνέω okneō – Strong’s G3635 which means, ‘shrink back, hesitate, delay’.
In the parable of the talents, Messiah tells us of the one who did not use the talent that he was given and how he went and hid it, and we are able to see the result of being a lazy servant, who is not guarding to do what is required with what the Master has equipped us with:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 25:24-30 “And the one who had received the one talent also came and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed, 25 and being afraid, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ 26 “And his master answering, said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 ‘Then you should have put my silver with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to him who possesses ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who possesses, more shall be given, and he shall have overflowingly; but from him who does not possess, even what he possesses shall be taken away. 30 ‘And throw the worthless servant out into the outer darkness – there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
A clear theme that we see running throughout Scripture, is one of diligent servanthood and the clear requirements of what proper servanthood in the Body of Messiah entails, with the sober warning being given to those who are sluggish, lazy, idle and timid, in their neglect for the Word.
Those who work unto the Master with their all, guarding and meditating daily on His Word, will be prosperous and successful in all their ways, as they bear clear peaceable fruit of righteousness!
As we consider the darkened days that we are living in right now, be reminded of the following:
OVERCOMERS ARE NOT SLUGGISH!
Romiyim/Romans 13:12-14 “The night is far advanced, the day has come near. So let us put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in living together and indecencies, not in fighting and envy, 14 but put on the Master יהושע Messiah, and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.”
This is a clear instruction being given to those who seek to be true overcomers in Messiah!
Put off the darkness and put on the Master’s light and walk as children of light, bearing the Master’s presence with great joy and committed strength to keep standing and not allow the pressures and trials to get you down.
Do not let the darkness and depravity of lawlessness and sin cause you to be compromised in your stand in The Master and His Truth, lest you find that your ardency gets turned into a sluggish attempt at serving the Master and you find that you get gripped by the fears of threatening pandemics and crippling circumstances.
It is time to arise and shine the Truth, by guarding the right-rulings of Elohim and doing righteousness and doing so with great joy, in order top overcome and be more than an overcomer in Messiah, for …
OVERCOMERS ARE NOT SLUGGISH!
We have been redeemed from chaos to stability and therefore we must live like it!!!
Does your life reflect the stability of the Word or has the chaos of this world got you all tossed with storm and gripped with fears?
If chaos is evident in your life, then let the Word wash you and cause you to stand in the Master and be delivered from chaos to stability in Him!
Let me remind you of the words of Sha’ul, that I mentioned earlier:
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 15:57-58 “But thanks to Elohim who gives us the overcoming through our Master יהושע Messiah. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Master, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Master.”
Sha’ul’s also tells us the following:
Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 1:2-7 “Favour to you and peace from Elohim our Father and the Master יהושע Messiah. 3 Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Master יהושע Messiah, the Father of compassion and Elohim of all comfort, 4 who is comforting us in all our pressure, enabling us to comfort those who are in every pressure, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by Elohim. 5 Because, as the sufferings of Messiah overflow in us, so our comfort also overflows through Messiah. 6 And if we suffer pressure, it is for your comfort and deliverance, being worked out in enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort and deliverance. 7 And our expectation for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are sharing in the sufferings – so also in the comfort. ”
Our Mighty Master and Elohim, comforts us in all our pressure, and with His comfort, we can comfort one another!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘comfort’, in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak), is the word παρακαλέω parakaleō – Strong’s G3870 which means, ‘call near, invite, invoke, exhort, encourage, appeal, beg, aid, help, comfort’.
This word is used in a variety of forms, for example:
a) when summonsing someone to an action that is required;
b) to beseech others for an urgent response to help;
c) to ‘exhort’, as in the context used to encourage soldiers headed for battle; as well as
d) to ‘comfort and encourage’, especially in times of hardships and grief.
This word comes from two words:
1) παρά para – Strong’s G3844 which is used as a primitive participle meaning, ‘from beside, by the side of, by, besides, near’, and
2) καλέω kaleō Strong’s G2564 meaning ‘call, to call, called out, invited, summoned’.
We take note that the word παρακαλέω parakaleō – Strong’s G3870 is translated as ‘encourage’ in:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 3:12-13 “Look out, brothers, lest there be in any of you a wicked heart of unbelief in falling away from the living Elohim, 13 but encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceivableness of sin.”
Through the empowering comfort of our Master, we can comfort and encourage each other, so as to guard each other against the dangers of the deceivableness of sin and truly experience the comfort of our Good Teacher, under whom we submit and are continually cleansed by, through the washing of His Word!
May this message cause you to be diligent in your duty as a true set-apart servant of the Most-High, as you are reminded to be the overcomer that you are called to be in Messiah and let not the ugliness of sluggish behaviour be found in you, as you stand steadfast and immovable in our Great Redeemer And King, יהושע Messiah!
Do not let anything separate you from the love of Elohim, as you endure under trials and overcome in Messiah, guarding His right-rulings and doing righteousness, for…
OVERCOMERS ARE NOT SLUGGISH!
He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show you favour; יהוה lift up His face upon you and give you Shalom!