To teach and to preach in their cities

Matthew 11:1
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

Jesus told his disciples where to go and where not to go. He also told them the time when to go and when not to go. So it is with God and us today. We cannot presume to know where and when to go to spread the Word of His Kingdom. Sometimes it seems obvious to us, but God has different ideas. This is one part of our own training that we need to learn to wait for God and obey Him, even though sometimes we don't understand His priorities.

Let perseverance finish its work

James 1:4
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

After we are born again, that is the beginning of a new journey. The use of the words "Born again" is so accurate because like babies, we have to learn many things before we can grow up. Along the way there are various stumbling blocks. Some may keep falling more than others and God knows this already. Hence He encourages us to have perseverance and let the Holy Spirit mold us. Of course, our part includes surrendering to the Holy Spirit, but some will mature faster than others. For those who keep stumbling, it is important to realise the need for perseverance and keep coming back to Yshua when we fall. For in Him, there is no condemnation when we confess and repent.

For he knew what was in each person

John 2:24-25
But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Our Lord Yshua know us well. He was not disillusioned with the many mistakes that Peter made, even though Peter will be chosen along with others to lead His church. God knows every hair on our head, so he would know each one of us very well. On the other hand, we are susceptible to disillusionment. In the church context, many have fallen away after being disillusioned by the misdeeds of their church leaders. This is certainly a play into the hands of the enemy. Instead, our response as we mature in Christ, is to look at only Yshua as our role model and somehow who could never fall. There may be other great church leaders, but we should think of them at most as big brothers or sisters leading us, but they are never our perfect role models.

Behold He is coming with clouds

Revelation 1:7
Behold He is coming with clouds

God is often associated with clouds. His presence was seen as the Cloud leading the Israelites as they wandered the desert thousands of years ago. Our Lord Yshua is expected to return in a cloud. For us, cloud also represents some unknown. This is especially true when we are physically in a cloud, we lose control because our senses are not useful anymore. Spiritually the concept is the same, when we are lost, we are in some sort of cloud. It is then that we should call on His name and put our full trust in Yshua that He will lead us through it.

He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him

 Mark 6:45
 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.

In this passage, Yshua send his disciples on their own way, of course knowing that they will be faced with a terrible storm not long after. So here there can be two views, one is that God lead us into trouble train us, the other one is that the trouble is there already and God will save us. We may not know exactly which one it is, but there is no reason to think that God is strictly one way or the other. There will be times that bring trouble, and there are other times that God will test us. However, God brings us on His journey and if we obey Him, we will come out in better shape spiritually than before.

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine

John 7:17
If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

It is all about obeying the will of God, and this is also the key to understanding the secrets and doctrine of the Kingdom. We can read and understand the words of Scripture, but we cannot truly understand its meaning unless we are obedient to God and He opens our eyes. This is the way to live and walk with Yshua and also to discern things which are from God or not.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies

Matthew 15:18-20
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Our heart resides our innermost being where good and evil are present. Our Lord Yshua knows us well, and told us that the foul things coming from our mouth, are not just mere words. They have a presence rooted in our hearts. Knowing this, we can now examine the words coming out of our mouth and try to understand the source of the words. It is better that we examine and correct ourselves than God examining us.