Which Crowd Are You In? :: By Nathele Graham

Which Crowd Are You In? :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: April 21, 2019 by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles, Ron & Nathele Graham

Reposted by The Light Seed 

Jesus walked this earth at a time when travel was by foot or horseback. Nobody had Twitter, Facebook, or cell phones to spread news about things He did. Still, He was known around the area and people followed Him. Twelve men had been chosen by Him for the special purpose of being His close disciples. These men were just regular people, but Jesus knew they would learn from Him, spread the Gospel, and lead the lost to salvation.

Some were fishermen. “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

One was a tax collector, which was a less than honest profession. “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him” (Matthew 9:9).

Those men each left much behind to follow Jesus. It wasn’t always an easy crowd to be in. They traveled on foot to many places, and sometimes they faced danger. Jesus was straightforward with the disciples. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Those twelve men had no idea how true those words were. Among that crowd of twelve men was one who followed Jesus, heard His words, and saw His actions. In spite of all he saw, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Jesus’ love and compassion drew crowds. He healed many infirmities and spoke words of hope. The people wanted to hear more. “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

The message Jesus shared was not one of condemnation or religious rituals. He gave hope. When He saw people possessed by demons, He didn’t send them to a psych ward, but cast the demon out. When a woman was accused of adultery and brought before Him for condemnation, He didn’t condemn her but forgave her and told her to stop living a sinful life. When He saw a widow whose only son had just died, Jesus brought that son back from the dead.

“Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise” (Luke 7:12-14). 

It’s no wonder that the crowds loved Him.

There were Pharisees among the crowd that followed Jesus. They kept a close eye on His activities because they wanted to find fault with Him. There was a feeling in that day that the Messiah was in the world, which troubled the religions leaders. They made it their duty to discredit anyone who claimed to be the Messiah. Their suspicion weeded out false messiahs, but blinded them to the true Messiah. Jesus threatened their control over the people.

One Pharisee decided to come to Jesus with an open mind and came by night to find answers. “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:1-2).

Nicodemus was in a crowd by himself. While he was seeking truth, other Pharisees were looking to discredit Jesus. They followed Him and argued with Him. They called Him names and wanted to stone Him to death. Why did they want to stone Him? Jesus claimed to be God, which was blasphemy. Jesus didn’t just claim to be God…He was God.

“Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God” (John 10:32-33).

The Pharisees were too blind to see the truth and wanted to kill Him. When the time was right, Jesus would willingly go to the cross, but the Pharisees would have to wait.

Finally the time came for prophecy to be fulfilled. It was the time of year when many people crowded into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. This year the Passover Lamb would change the world. A prophecy given by Zechariah described the Messiah entering Jerusalem:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, the King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).

Jesus fulfilled this exactly, as He rode to Jerusalem and the crowds praised Him. “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:8-9).

Had the people in the crowd seen the miracles Jesus had done? Had any of them been cured of deafness or received some other healing? They praised Him as “the Son of David” which is a title of the Messiah. This was not lost on the Pharisees who were in that crowd. They told Jesus to silence the people.
“And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40).

What a day that was! The crowd praising their Messiah, the Pharisees becoming more and more angry, and Judas Iscariot plotting to betray Him.
It didn’t take long until the mood of the crowd changed. A few days after entering Jerusalem to the shouts of Hosanna, Jesus was arrested and illegally put on trial. It had to happen because the time had come for prophecy to be fulfilled. Another crowd gathered, and this time they weren’t praising their Messiah but calling for His death.

During the Passover celebration it was customary for a prisoner to be released. Barabbas and Jesus both stood before the crowd, and Pilate asked which prisoner he should release. “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus… Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified” (Matthew 27:20 & 22).

How many of these people had praised Him a few days earlier? Had He healed any of them? On this day the cry of the crowd was “Crucify Him.” There was no court of appeals and no lingering on death row for years. Jesus was to be crucified that day. “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers” (Matthew 27:27).

The crowd this time was a band of soldiers who proceeded to mock Him and abuse Him. They placed a scarlet robe on Him and crown of thorns on His head. “…and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:30b. They spit upon Him and beat Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

There was a small crowd at the foot of the cross. Of course, the chief priests and scribes were there to mock Him. The soldiers were there and gambled for His garments. Some of the crowd there didn’t mock Him, but were brokenhearted over this horridness event.

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home” (John 19:25-27).

The disciple was John, who cared for Mary until she died. Where was Peter? He was hiding in fear. Where were the other disciples? The crowd at the cross was thin.

The story didn’t end there. Jesus chose to die on the cross and shed His blood for the salvation of all who will accept His sacrifice.

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst… When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:28 & 30).

The nails didn’t hold Jesus to that cross… it was love that held Him there. He chose to give His life so we can live. The crowd who wanted Him to die felt they had won a victory. The crowd that loved Him would soon understand that He had conquered death.

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him” (John 20:1-2). 

The crowd at the tomb grew. The stone had been rolled away and the body was gone. All that was left were the grave clothes.

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). 

Jesus had risen from the dead!

Each one of us today needs to ask, “Which crowd am I in?” The religious crowd should have recognized Him but their words and actions showed their true heart. Maybe you just follow the crowd and praise Him when you’re with Christian friends but yell “Crucify Him” when you join with your secular friends. Are you in the crowd of the disciples, but deny Him like Peter did? Maybe you’re more like Judas and outright betray Him. Whatever crowd you’re in, remember that there is forgiveness when you come to the cross. When Jesus looked down from the cross, He only felt love for the sinners there.
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34a).

Love held Him to the cross. No matter what sin has kept you from turning to Him for salvation, you will find forgiveness there. Come to Him and repent. Join the crowd of the redeemed.

God bless you all,
Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
www.straitandnarrowministry.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Watching and Waiting

Reblogged from Prophecy Update

Watching and Waiting - Vernon Gray - grayworxx@gmail.com

When this writer was at boarding school, we would play a certain trick on an unsuspecting student. The victim would be placed on a sturdy board and blindfolded. Four of us would then bend down and "lift" him a few inches from the floor. In "lifting" him we would make a show of the effort involved with appropriate grunts and groans. This was to convince the victim that he was being hoisted high up towards the ceiling. The subsequent chatter assured the unsuspecting student that we had him standing on our shoulders when in fact he was mere inches from the ground.

Then, by bumping a piece of ceiling board on his head he was convinced that he was as high as the ceiling, and in a precarious place.

Then at the right moment, one of us would pretend to buckle from the weight causing a collapse. The effect of the resulting "fall" on the student was, to say the least, entertaining.

The deception convinced him that he was falling from ceiling height, when in reality he was only inches from the floor.

The panic and sheer terror experienced by the student was a result of his belief. He believed himself to be where he was not. He did not reckon himself to be so close to safety. His piercing scream and unbridled terror were all unnecessary.

He suffered massive stress simply because he was deceived and lied to about his true position.

Are you too deceived as to who you are in Christ, and what your position in the family of God is?

Romans 15:4 tells us, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

But not all Scripture is written TO you directly; it is there for you to learn from and not apply to yourself as though it were written directly TO you.

Many of us have erroneous knowledge that does not work positively in our lives.

For example, if you ask most people what is the one thing they know about the Ostrich, they will tell you that it sticks it head into the sand to avoid adversity.

This is a falsehood; the ostrich does not stick its head into the sand. The reason for this myth is probably because "credible" people repeated the story with conviction.

Even Africans, who live on the same continent as the Ostrich, use this false analogy.

We all have a reservoir of untrue pre-programmed beliefs and assumptions that strongly influence our choices and decisions.

The question is; "Can we unlearn all the error we have accumulated over time."

I recall as a very young man going to Sunday school at the local Anglican Church. In time I was old enough to be "Confirmed" as a member of the Anglican Church. It was not something I wanted to do so I resisted the whole idea.

My mother, in an effort to "encourage" me to comply told me that when I got older and wanted to get a job I would need to be Confirmed before anyone would consider hiring me.

I complied reluctantly and got to kiss the Bishop's ring.

The point of this story is that for many years afterward I really believed that I would get work when I grew up because I was Confirmed in the Anglican Church.

Defibrillation

Most people have probably all seen a scene in a movie where the paramedic or doctor bares the chest of a patient, and rubs together the two ends of disc-like "paddles," and shouts, "Clear!"

He then administers the "paddles" to the bare chest of the patient who convulses violently, bouncing up and falling back in an undignified and somewhat comical manner.

If the patient does not respond, the intensity of the machine is cranked up, and re-applied, resulting in even greater convulsions. This machine is called a "Defibrillator."

Do you need a spiritual defibrillation in order for you to get back on track?

Have you become so remote from your first love that it would take something drastic to shock you back to reality? How many of us need some drastic outer influence to bring our hearts back to life especially in this day and at this hour.

Are you excited for the soon return of Jesus? Are you enthusiastic about the Word of God?

To digress slightly, it is interesting and worth mentioning here, that the English word "enthusiasm" is translated from two Greek words, "En" and "Theos."

 "En" means "to be in."

"Theos" means "God."  

Enthusiasm then really means, "To have God inside; the result of this state of being, is the production of an ardent and lively interest or eagerness.

FOLKS IT REALLY IS LATER THAN YOU THINK! GET ENTHUSIASTIC.

This is a call to you, whom the Holy Spirit is speaking to. Is it going to take a dramatic shock, or a gentle massaging to bring your heart back from this world's charms and its entanglements?

If the Divine Physician looks at you, will He find a pulse beating inside? 

Are you expressing your true Life from within? Is there a humble heart beating with excitement and anticipation for the things of God?

I would implore you to petition God to do a work in your life that will cause your heart to respond to the Christ within. Let His Life be your Life; living through you as you. This does not make you Christ, but it makes you Christ-like.

It will not make you sinless, but you will sin less.

You will be fulfilled, by living exactly as God intended you to, by Christ living through you as you are. Don't wait for some dramatic shocking experience to jolt you to your senses.

Respond to the Holy Spirit today, and become what you already are in Christ; a child of God, and one who lives and moves and has his being in Christ. The Lord id near.

Memory Stick Religion

If you'll allow me, I would like to make an analogy involving the computer.

It is as if Jesus is installed in the hard drive of your being.

Jesus is not on an external Storage Devise like a USB Flash Drive, Memory Stick, SD Card, or Disc to be stored in a drawer somewhere and hauled out only when necessary.

Too many Christians think that they can keep Christ on an external drive somehow and when things go wrong they then load Him up and interact with Him.

They seem ignorant of the fact that He is there with them in Person, wherever they are. 

Their union with Christ is their spirit and His Spirit joining together becoming a "New Creation."

When you got born again Jesus Christ was uploaded as part of your "software."

Your "hardware" (the flesh) does not respond well to the new programming within you.

It either rebels or it gets "religious." The flesh can be religious in the sense that it fakes piety and goodness in order not to be exposed as a fraud by the truth.

You do not have another life aside from the Life that is in you, and that is Christ.

 "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 4)

We need to bolt this truth permanently into our thinking process.

YOU HAVE NO LIFE ASIDE FROM CHRIST IN YOU.

What about the sins we commit on a daily basis?

The real you is not the hard drive, it is the software. But because we live in the lousy "here and now," God in His great mercy and love for us has given us the Christian "bar of soap." That bar of soap is 1 John 1: 9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

We are to Watch and Wait

Philippians 3:20, 21 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

1Corinthians 1:7 "...so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ..."

1Thessalonians 1:10 "...and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

Titus 2:13 "...looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ..."

Hebrews 9:28 "...so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."

James 5:7 "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain."

Mark 13:36, 37 "...lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch'"

There is something else to consider in our "occupying" till the Lord comes.

Noah knew 7 days before that the flood was going to happen. Lot knew that Sodom and Gomorrah was about to be destroyed. Elijah knew that he was about to be taken up to God.

God does things in patterns, and it is not inconceivable that we too might "know" when the Rapture is about to happen. Seven days before seems like a good guess.

In Luke's gospel Jesus wept over the coming destruction of Jerusalem, because they did not see Him as their Messiah. The coming of Messiah was accurately predicted by the prophet Daniel; to the degree that he even predicted the very day of His arrival.

On the day prophesied by Daniel they spread their clothes in His path and waved palm branches as He went by.

Rejoicing and celebration was the order of the day; but they missed the point of it all.

They missed their Christ, the long awaited Messiah. Deeply distressed by their ignorance, Jesus said, "...you did not know the time of your visitation." (Luke 19: 41-44) The Lord held Israel accountable for unbelief. Will we too be held accountable for unbelief about the Lords return?

Could it be that the Lord is visiting your heart right now? Could it be that this is the time of your visitation from God? God expected the Jews to know that their Messiah was coming;

He expects us to know the season of His return too because He said that we would not be ignorant concerning the Rapture.

The Berean vs Feather Theology

Much of the Church today are not Bereans. They have a taste for "Feather Theology" which tickles the ears. They are not too concerned about what the Scriptures say, but rather how it makes them feel. If one does not read and study the Bible, you open yourself up to error and heresy because you cannot discern what truth is and what fantasy is.

Many there are that are on the broad road that leads to destruction thinking that all is well because the pastor said so. 

I am not saying that you need some special education to understand the Bible.

Quite the contrary.

Everyone capable of reading can read for themselves what the Word of God says.

The Holy Spirit will reveal God's Word to you about Jesus Christ if you are simply willing to spend time and effort reading His Word.

If you are with a group where you need someone to interpret the Scriptures for you, you are in a cult. The Bible is shallow enough for the most immature Christian to get the milk he or she needs to be fed; but the Bible is deep enough to dive into depths that will bless us and sustain us for eternity.

Sure there are "difficulties" from time to time in the Bible, but they are there by design in order for you to seek out the answers by being a "Berean."

It is always difficult when trying to encourage brothers and sisters to read the Bible for themselves and not to rely on TV evangelists or dubious books, of which there are many.

Recently someone gave me this advice..."It is better to be known for what you are FOR than what you are AGAINST."

Having pondered on this matter I think that as Christians we are all FOR certain things.

Things like the Bible; Righteousness; Purity; Goodness; Holiness etc. BUT being for these things automatically puts you at variance with those who do not hold the same values as you do. If you are for the Truth of the Word of God, you are by definition against those who teach error.

There is no getting away from the fact that if you make a stand for the Truth, there will be enmity with error no matter the source of that error. There is no sitting on the fence or compromise when it comes to the Truth.

If you sit on the fence, you are a prime target from both sides. The enemies you make by taking a decided stand for Truth generally have more respect for you than the friends you make by sitting on the fence.

"My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side             for God is always right." - Abraham Lincoln.

Agree to disagree without being disagreeable.

Using this wonderful site I have recently gone "public" with my beliefs regarding the Rapture.

The response has been heartwarming; to know that there are so many fellow travelers out there who long for the sound of the Trumpet as their Lord and Saviour calls them home.

Not surprisingly I received many nasty e-mails in response to the articles submitted for scrutiny. This is of itself not problematic; people take offence, it is "Par for the course."

"Hate mail" is acceptable, even understandable when it comes to reprobates, misbelievers and the lost souls whose only taste of success is the bite they take out of you.

There are those who disagree with the Doctrine of the Rapture. The Doctrine of the Rapture does not save you from your sin, so in some ways it is a peripheral matter.

But dear brother or sister, do not take offence because someone else does believe the Doctrine of the Rapture. I personally disagree with many respectable scholars; but I have never had a rabid urge to make contact with them in order to insult them and make a judgment upon their lives that is not mine to make.

"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand."

(Romans 14:1 - 4) 

As a Christian I personally have way too much to be thankful for because I am a forgiven sinner.

I am not sinless, but as I express Christ in me I sin less.

The Scripture says "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1) 

Disagreeing on peripheral issues is not all bad because it prompts us to study and check out things for ourselves.

The Bushman the Baboon and the Bush.

Here in Africa the Bushmen have a clever method for catching baboons in a trap.

They take a pumpkin or melon and cut into it a small hole, (just enough for a baboons hand to fit in tightly.) From this hole they scoop out some of the contents, and replace it with the baboon's favorite food. Then they hide nearby and simply wait.

If you have ever observed baboons, you cannot help but come to the conclusion that God certainly has a sense of humor. They are truly comical creatures because they portray so many funny human-like qualities.

The baboon approaches the juicy pumpkin, and inspects it cautiously. It sees the contents inside, and reaches in to take hold of the food.

Here is where things go wrong for the baboon. Once the baboon has clenched a fist on the bait, he will not open his hand to let go; the result is that he now has a heavy pumpkin attached to the end of his arm; still he will not let go.

Under different conditions, and given some time and thought, the baboon will figure out that he must open his fist in order to get free of the pumpkin.

It is precisely at this moment that the concealed Bushman appears making much noise and spreading pandemonium. The baboon's mind is flooded with panic, and he simply cannot think logically, which keeps him clutching onto the bait that now ensnares him.

Without too much trouble, the Bushman rushes up to the hapless baboon, and clubs it to death. Barbequed baboon is on the menu tonight in the bushman camp.

And so it is with us if we take offence. If you are easily offended, you run the risk of being beaten up by the enemy.

Finally

In order to be prepared for that great event called the Rapture, we all need to look at our lives.

If there is any sin that holds us back we must reject it and repent of it TODAY. Not next week, but today. Make the decision that you will prepare yourself as a bride for her bridegroom.

There are two components to our relationship with the Lord. The first is called union.

Union is that unbreakable bond that was created when you first believed and the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you (Ephesians 1:13-14). Nothing you do can reverse that; you cannot become unborn. Union is the basis of our relationship with the Father.

The second component is fellowship. It's the status of our relationship at any point in time, characterized by two-way communication between ourselves and God through the Holy Spirit. 

True, all our sins were taken away at the cross (Colossians 2:13-14), however we have not yet been cured of our sin nature. That will come after the Rapture when we are glorified.

If it were not so John wouldn't have counseled us to keep on praying for forgiveness when we do stumble and miss the mark set by God.

God fixed it so that our ongoing tendency to sin wouldn't disqualify us for salvation.

We're being made holy, because unholy beings cannot dwell in the presence of a holy God.

We will one day soon be changed and made fit to dwell with Him in His Kingdom forever.

But that hasn't happened yet, so to remain in fellowship now we have to "clean up" on a daily basis by seeking forgiveness for the sins we continue to commit.

The benefit of staying in fellowship with Him is the incredible blessing and favour we receive from His Hand as He fulfills the role of Good Shepherd described in Psalm 23.

To be out of fellowship with the Lord because of sin means losing out on day-to-day intimacy with Him. Sin in this instance is the sin you indulge in as a lifestyle. Get clean today.

So, "Union" describes our eternal state, while "Fellowship" refers to our relationship in the here and now. The reason so many Christians live defeated lives is due to their failure to understand this difference. They come forward to receive the Lord and solve their eternal problem (union), but miss out on the tremendous blessing He can provide in the here and now (fellowship) by failing to confess and repent when they continue to sin.

God Bless,

Vernon

Biblical exhortation, and the modern Silence of the Pulpits

"I exhort you!" "I beseech you!' We read those biblical phrases a lot. So. What do they mean?

That is what this blog essay is about.

"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." (1 Timothy 4:13)

Paul is urging Timothy to be bold and stay strong. Timothy was a pastor. However, exhortation is not only for pastors. Gills Exposition says of the verse,

"Exhortation" intends the stirring up of believers to the exercise of grace, and the discharge of duty; and is a considerable part of the work of the ministry, and on which a minister of Christ should much insist; -

Mike Ratliffe on the same verse
What is exhortation? In 1 Timothy 4:13, the word I translated as “exhortation” is the noun παρακλήσει, which is the Dative, Singular form of παράκλησις or paraklēsis, which refers to an “admonition or encouragement for the purpose of strengthening and establishing the believer in the faith (Romans 15:4; Philippians 2:1; Hebrews 12:5; 13:22). Technically, an exhortation is the application of the exposition of scripture. It challenges God’s people to obey the truth of God’s Word and warns them of the consequences of not doing so.

The pastor exhorts the believer, and the believer exhorts the believer. As a matter of fact, some believers have been given the gift of exhortation!

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." (Romans 12:6-8).

GotQuestions explains the gift of exhortation,

"The gift of exhortation is a person’s unique ability to encourage and edify others. This person delights in finding Scriptures that apply to a situation and teaching others how to apply them. People with this gift are often involved in teaching, counseling, and discipleship training ministries within the church. Exhorters are among the first to find believers who are floundering in their faith. They come alongside the weaker ones to encourage, confront, if necessary, and model victorious living.

Jesus exhorted and John the Baptist exhorted. Their first words and the main thrust of their ministries were to tell people to repent. Believers should exhort people to repent, whether you have the gift of exhortation or not. It is what Jesus came to do, seek the repentant and save the lost. As His ambassadors it is what we are here to do.

GotQuestions again, "Regardless of our primary gifts, all Christians should desire to become better at exhortation to build up those who are weaker, encourage those who lead, and strengthen the Body of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Corinthians 1:4)."

So what else should we exhort about? --Peter also exhorted to people that they should repent. (Acts 2:38).
--John exhorted to people about truth. (3 John 4).
--James exhorted people to good works in Christ (James 2:17-18)

So if pastors are urged to exhort, and believers with the gift are urged to exhort, and believers without the gift are urged to exhort, why isn't the church exhorting?

Christians are being persecuted everywhere! Chased, hunted, killed, and churches burned! Here is a snippet from an article called The Silence of the Pulpits

If you are even slightly awake about the world news today, it is no surprise that Christians are being killed, raped, and brutalized throughout the Islamic world.  However, there is a place where you can go to  escape the dreadful and relentless details of Christian annihilation by Islam.  You can just go to church.  ...
The principal reason public opinion hasn't been galvanized around the persecution of Christians is that the various church leaderships either ignore or dance around the issue. If churches don't speak up forcefully, then it is unrealistic to expect the world's democratic governments to do the same.And so the response found in nearly every church to the murder of Christians is...wait for it...complete silence.  Not a mention or reference to it, or to the brutality against Christians that happens almost every day in the Islamic world.  This is not a passive silence, because if you try to change it, you will fail.  The silence is an active, working conspiracy that goes throughout nearly all of Christendom."

The article's author goes on to propose that the reason for the silence means one must examine the who the people are doing the persecuting, and since facts are the enemy today, they don't like speaking about the fact that Muslims are doing the killing. (ans why are Muslims doing this Christian-killing? They hate Jesus).

If we are supposed to exhort unto the truth in opposition to false doctrine, as John modeled for us, then why is there a deafening silence from evangelicals?

John MacArthur on the Deafening Silence of Evangelicals
"There is a widespread reluctance in the evangelical community to offer strong, biblical critique in response to theological error. And the glut of unrestrained charismatic teaching serves as a glaring example of that. Theological pacifism has inadvertently given license to many false teachers. They have free reign to misrepresent the Holy Spirit and mislead the people of God by proclaiming their imaginings as direct revelation from the Lord. Believers cannot sit and watch as such blasphemy poisons the minds of people looking for the truth."

No, a person is not being humble and gentle when they remain silent and do not exhort when they should.

Bill Muehlenberg said in his essay "The Sin of Remaining Silent – and Doing Nothing"
"Remaining silent and inactive about evil when we have a chance to make a difference is not just cowardly, but sinful. We are called to be proactive in promoting that which is good and resisting that which is evil. Apathy, fence-sitting and refusal to engage are not options for the biblical Christian."

If a sister is reading a book you know for a fact to be thoroughly permeated with false doctrine, will you sit still and say nothing? If a precious brother says he is a Christian but refuses to go to church to hear the word and worship Him, will you let it go? If you are a pastor and you know for sure that a member is watching porn, or engaged in adultery, should you exhort that brother or sister to repent? Yes you should.

Paul told Titus that as an elder he should encourage those who are in sound doctrine to continue and refute those who contradict. (Titus 1:9)

Exhort with all due love to the brethren and others! Stay strong and speak up. Exhort!!

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Further reading

This is an excellent and practical essay on street preaching.  found it helpful even though I am not a street preacher. It's a practical treatise on engaging with people in exhortation.

Thoughts on street preaching

What the Bible says about speaking up