Enter by the Door

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up by another way, that one is a thief and a robber. 2 “But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 “The doorkeeper opens for him, and the sheep hear his voice. And he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 “And when he has brought out his own sheep, he goes before them. And the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 “And they shall by no means follow a stranger, but shall flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Y'shua used this figure of speech, but they did not know what He had been saying to them. 7 Y'shua therefore said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the Door of the sheep. 8 “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 “I am the Door. Whoever enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture. 10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to slaughter, and to destroy. I have come that they might possess life, and that they might possess it beyond measure. 11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 “But the hireling, not being a shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13 “Now the hireling flees because he is a hireling and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 “I am the Good Shepherd. And I know Mine, and Mine know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold – I have to bring them as well, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one Shepherd.” (Yochonan/John 10: 1-16 emphases added)

Some of you have been wondering what has happened to all the letters. The Father was still speaking to me, but because of the job I was in, I was not hearing His voice. Since leaving that job I have been hearing Him again. I've learned my lesson. I will accept no job, nor remain in a job that stands in the way of my relationship with my Shepherd. I would rather be rich in the Kingdom and poor in this world!

I write this letter as a heart-felt cry to not grow weary in doing what is right! I exhort you to walk according to the calling you have been called to. There are no retired workers of YHWH. He has shown you great things by His Ruach (Spirit), but you have grown weary. Just as Shaul (Paul) exhorted the Galatians and the Thessalonians, so I exhort you. Yochanon (John), in Revelation 14:12, encouraged the set-apart ones to endure and keep the commandments and the testimony of Y'shua. Some have mistaken man's laws and the traditions of men for the precious commandments that Y'shua followed perfectly. Do not allow yourselves to be bewitched. Y'shua is your Door; Y'shua is your Gate to life eternal. The end of the age is coming and some of you have put your sword down. This could be an exhortation to myself. The Father has taught my wife and I many lessons this past year. The battle has grown more intense. I found myself allowing the cares of this world to drain me. Y'shua Himself, at times, had to come away briefly with His Father and commune with Him. It is within the truths of His Word that He will remind all of us, that He deeply cares for His flock, and will not allow you to be consumed by this world. He cares so much more for you than the birds of the air or the flowers of the field.

The way is narrow to eternal life and there are few who find it (see Mtthw 7:13-16) . Many are leaving their first love, Y'shua, and accepting a bowl of pottage. The spirit of Esau has trampled so great a salvation. The worship of man has become the order of the day. This is not a popularity contest. Those with flattering speech have come in amongst the flock without checking in at the Gate (Y'shua). There is only one King of Yisrael and there is only one Master of all – follow Him; listen only to His voice. Listen not to the whispers of the flatterer. Come out from among them declares YHWH, the Shepherd calls you! (see 2 Corinth. 6:17-18, Rev. 18:4-5)

I leave you with the following exhortation from Shaul (Paul) in Titus Chapter 2:

11 For the all-saving grace of Elohim has appeared to all men, 12 and teaches us to deny wickedness and the lusts of the world, and to live in this world in purity, and in righteousness, and in the fear of Elohim, 13 while expecting the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of the great Elohim and our Saviour Y'shua the Messiah; 14 who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to cleanse unto Himself a new people, who are zealous of good works. 15 As to these things, keep speaking and exhorting and reproving, with all manner of precept: let, no one, disregard you!

May you continue to cling to the blessed hope of our Master Y'shua the Messiah and follow Him alone.

Shalom shalom,

Tzefanyah Pappas

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Chazak Chazak v'nitchazek
Let us be strong, let us be strong and let us
strengthen (encourage) one another!