Month: June 2024

IT AIN’T ALWAYS EASY TO BELIEVE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

IT AIN’T ALWAYS EASY TO BELIEVE

I am sharing four testimonies of miracles, when God intervened, rescued and saved me, my family or a friend! This is to encourage those of us who struggle and for those who say they don’t.

Miracle #1 – Provision and Rescue.  It Ain’t Easy!

Luke 17:6, And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

The year is 1996. I am married with two young sons. I had started a fledgling insurance agency, and we are struggling to make ends meet. Each month we invested several thousand dollars into our agency and if sales were made, we could pay our bills and care for our family.

I had built a solicitation mailing program that required we input data from new home sales into the program and that program would interface with a bulk mail program and would print and sort a pre-prepared letter and envelope to be mailed. These letters would get a response from homeowners who wanted to buy insurance. The cost was so high, that if our operation was interrupted even one week, the result would be a financial catastrophe for our family and the end of our business.

One particular week, the computer program stopped working. The data input from, what was then called ‘floppy disks’, would not work. I feverously tried again and again. I even reformatted the entire hard drive, reinstalled the operating system on the computer, reinstalled the mailing programs and when I tried to download the homeowner’s data FROM THE 26 FLOPPY DISKS, the program would fail at disk number 18, and disks 18 through 26 were the critical disks. I prayed continuously. I prayed fervently. I prayed desperately.

I worked on this for TWELVE hours (through the entire night and into the next morning), reformatting the hard drive and repeating the process, knowing that if this failed, we would become bankrupt and could not even buy groceries the next month.

I stopped in exhaustion, cried out to God, “I give up. I quit! I have prayed and prayed to you! Now, I give up.”

I started putting things away in resignation. I was defeated. My mind darted back and forth between what to do next and resentment. It was then I decided to do this ONE MORE TIME.

I restarted the computer and put disk number one into the computer. The computer whirred and gave me a screen message that confused me, “INSERT DISK #18”. I was completely confounded. It made absolutely no sense that the computer would skip disks 1 through 17 and ask for disk 18.

I followed the instruction and inserted disk #18. The program accepted disk #18 and another message came on the screen asking for disk #19. This continued until disk #26, the final disk, and after installing the data from disk #26, the machine turned itself off! It did it own its own!

My heart was beating what seemed like a hundred beats a minute. I restarted the computer and told it to start printing the mailing list, AND IT WORKED!

I was exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. I was weeping with joy as I ran upstairs to tell my wife what had happened. I was so excited that I made little sense to her. All she knew from my excited rambling was that things were working. AND, WORKING, THEY WERE!

God had answered in a humanly impossible situation, in a physically impossible way. As far as I could tell, every logical law of math and programming had been violated and transcended. Yet, here we were. Saved again. Safe and sound. BUT IT WAS NOT EASY.

When God came through, it was an intersection of the natural and the supernatural, and that IS NEVER EASY.

(And a big PS: Our business grew from that point to amazing proportions, creating a living, not only for our family, but for dozens of insurance salesmen, their families and a support staff that grew to 22 people!)

Thanks be to God!

Miracle #2 – Rescue and Restoration. It Ain’t Easy!

Luke 19:10, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

It was, 1993 and our family were members of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Chesterfield, Virginia. I had been a Christian for about 18 years at this point, but, like so many others, I had actually been a Christian for about three years, six times! In other words, I had not grown in the knowledge of God nor in the Word.

Then something happened. Whether God lit a fire in my spirit or I, somehow, needed ‘more of Him’, (or both), I had a major ‘spiritual growth spurt’. Instrumental in this growth, I believe, was a combination of life circumstances and an intense time of Bible study and prayer through a book and course named “EXPERIENCING GOD”, by pastor Henry Blackaby.

My ‘sudden change’ from being a ‘get along to go along’ Christian and member of Oak Grove church, to being weirdly ‘on fire for God’ and ‘doing what God has called us to do’, created quite a stir among my friends and acquaintances. Some, of whom, were not so patient nor friendly about it.

One particular Sunday, just after church services, a lady approached me as we were heading to the parking lot to go home. Her name is Dale.  Dale was suspicious of my ‘new walk with God’, and she hesitantly approached me and asked if I would pray for her and her daughter. I asked why she wanted me to pray, since I knew she wasn’t that fond of me. She said, “Because I know that your prayers get answered!”.

I smiled and protested slightly by saying that God would answer her prayer, too. With that, she became tearful and informed me that her daughter had taken her car and had run away from home the day before and the police had been unable to find her, and she needed God to help.

I agreed that we should pray. So I stopped walking and grabbed her hand and said, “Let’s pray”. Dale recoiled and said, “Right here? Right here out in the open?”

I answered, saying, “Yes. It sounds urgent, so let’s pray now!”

I began to pray and after only a few seconds, Dale’s cell phone rang. She answered the phone, mumbled ‘yes’, a few times and then shouted, “The South Carolina State Police have found her! She is safe, and I need to go get her! Thank you, Mike, I have to go!”

“Hold on Dale”, I insisted, “First, don’t thank me! Let’s take a minute and thank God for this quick answer. And tell me, what happened?”

“Her car stopped running, and she pulled to the side of the road just a few minutes ago. A state policeman was only a few cars behind her, so he pulled over to help and discovered she was a runaway, and called me!” She went on to say, “The policeman gave her the phone to talk to me, and she says she is sorry and wants to come home!”

We prayed and thanked God, together. Dale looked at me and said, “I still thank you, too, Mike, and I told you God hears and answers your prayers. I have just never seen Him answer that fast!”

This entire episode was full of surprises and was exciting. But, believe me when I say, IT WAS NOT EASY!

Miracle #3 – Provision.  IT Ain’t Easy!

My wife, Betty, and I travelled from Virginia to Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois for a ‘parents weekend”. We would also have a chance to see our oldest son, Michael, play in a soccer game.

Michael was concerned that he would have a chance to play. So, we prayed for that opportunity. In fact, I felt my son’s prayer was a bit tentative, so I encouraged him to pray a bolder prayer, and to ask what his heart actually desired. Finally, Michael asked not only to play, but to score a goal.

The game began, but Michael did not start. We reached halftime, and Michael sat on the bench. The second half was the same – no Michael. Then, with about 5 minutes remaining, we saw the coach motion to Michael to prepare to play.  Then a fun thing happened. Michael had been elected as the freshman class Chaplain at the beginning for the year, so most of the students knew him, and the students in the stand began to chant, “Michael! Michael! Michael!” (Chills down my spine!)

The score was tied, 1 to 1 and there was about 3 or 4 minutes left in the game by the time Michael got on the field. Play continued and at about the two minute mark, the opposing team’s goalie got the ball and prepared to punt it down the field. Michael was stationed about 15 yards from the goalie, but in his path. The goalie mis-kicked the ball and hit our son directly on the back side. The goalie’s forward motion took him past Michael, but the ball now laid at Michael’s feet, 20 yards from the open net. I don’t know what was going through his mind, but Michael ‘drilled’ the ball into the back of that net, with a bit of force!

The crowd erupted in cheers! Olivet now led by a score of 2 to 1. The referee signaled, “GOAL” and called for the ball to restart play, but the final horn sounded, GAME OVER!!

Afterwards, I asked my son what he thought. His remark was, “I have seen God answer prayers, but never so fast and like that!”

I have so many more to relate, but here is one that is most special to me.

Miracle #4 – Mercy, Rescue and Salvation. It Ain’t Easy!

Mark 9:24

 “Immediately, the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Our family was travelling from a vacation in Orlando, Florida. My sons were about five and eight years old. We stopped at a ‘pull off area’, sort-of-a rest stop, on highway A-1-A somewhere near Saint Augustine, Florida.

The weather was cloudy and blustery. The waves were splashing onto the sidewalk along the shore line, which was lined with large stones to stop erosion, I guessed.

My youngest son, I and walked to the end of a sidewalk cul-de-sac to look at the splashing water. I felt safe enough, then suddenly a huge wave crashed over the rock abutment and onto the two of us. When the water receded, my son was gone! The wave had sucked him into the turbulent water and I could see no trace of him. Prayers began to race in my mind and out of my mouth.

Psalm 116:8-9

For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

Panic seized me and my first thought was, “GO GET HIM!”. So, I kicked off my tennis shoes and turned to dive into the water, which was probably a very bad idea, when another huge wave crashed onshore and as suddenly there was my son Jody, standing upright on the sidewalk, soaking wet, sputtering water and crying! I grabbed him and ran back toward the car, thinking, “WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Nobody is going to believe this.”

You know, it would be easy to say, “Yeah, well, that could have been a coincidence”, and rightly so. But, when this just keeps on happening, time after time, after praying, and believing in faith, I just have to BELEIVE!

So, believe it or not, God saved us again! AND IT WAS NOT EASY. When God gets involved, IT AIN’T EVER EASY, but it’s always good – really good – all the time!

Psalm 116:15-17

Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.

What more can we say? By faith, Moses? By faith, Abraham? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.”

Let’s have faith. Let’s step out on faith. Let’s pray for one another, please.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS:  IT AIN’T EASY – MAKING DISCIPLES FOR JESUS

NEXT:  DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW? REALLY?

 

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “Do You Believe I Am Able”, Part 41

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “Do You Believe I Am Able”, Part 41

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

“Do you believe I am able?”

“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, screaming loudly, “Have mercy and compassion on us, Son of David (Messiah)!” When He went into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them,

“Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying,

“According to your faith [your trust and confidence in My power and My ability to heal] it will be done to you.”

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them:

“See that no one knows this!”

But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that whole district.

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 9:27-31.

This may be one of the greatest teachings and greatest tests about faith. Please pay close attention. Pray, think, mediate and ask our God of mercy and compassion to reveal the truth and to give you wisdom.

QUESTION: Why would two blind men, following Jesus, cry out, “Have mercy and compassion on us, Son of David”?  What does ‘mercy and compassion’ have to do with being blind and crying out to the Son of God?

Earlier we read, in Matthew 4:23-24, “And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them.”

You see, these blind men knew that Jesus had what they needed and wanted, and they knew Jesus could do what they needed and wanted. This is true faith.

Their faith is expressed (pressed out) in their cries, “Have mercy (and compassion) on us, Son of David”, in essence and in fact calling Jesus the Messiah! They knew!

Faith, in and of itself, is the clear and substantive evidence of things not yet seen with the natural eyes, and the conviction in your heart, mind and soul, of their reality. These blind men, by faith in Jesus and His ability, comprehended as fact what could not be experienced by the physical senses. ( see Hebrews 11:1-3)

PLEASE NOTE: The OBJECT of their faith is not on ‘being healed’. The OBJECT of their faith is Jesus and in Him alone!

If you find yourself praying and saying, “I stand, believing for my healing” you will be disappointed.

Romans 10:11 tells us that, “For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on JESUS] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].”  (If you don’t get this, your faith will always fall short.)

What we have read here, and what Jesus has said and done, is the model of faith. Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:17, “you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”.  So, please, put yourself in the position of these blind men and ask yourself:

THE TEST:  Are you willing, like these two blind men, to follow Jesus, screaming loudly, “Have mercy and compassion on me, Son of David – The Messiah”? (Most people would be too embarrassed and would feel foolish and would not).

Are you willing, like these blind men, to publicly come up to Him? And Jesus said to them, (Most people prefer to the “right where you are, while nobody is watching, say to Him…”)

In response to Jesus’ question, “Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?”, are you willing to say to Him, “Yes, Lord.”? (Or, do you prefer “if it is your will”, as if you don’t really know or believe you know His willingness).

Will your testimony be like these blind men when they were healed, that is, to go out and spread the news about Him throughout your town? (Most Christians will tell each other, but will not go throughout the region telling everyone).

Jesus knows the condition of your heart, and He is saying, “you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”, Revelation 3:17.

Are you going to be like everyone else, or like these two blind men, and express (press out) your faith in Him?

It’s the only way!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Please do not get discouraged if you do not see your ‘success’ immediately. The Bible is replete with examples of those who doggedly pursued Jesus before finding relief. This is never easy – despite what you might hear from those wanting to ‘tickle your ears’. IT IS THE ONE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WHO IS SAVED!

(If you have any questions or remarks, please contact me).

PREVIOUS:   A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “And then they will fast”, Part 40

NEXT:  A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “The Harvest is Plentiful”, Part 42

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Additional Reading: DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 16 – Six Bowls of Wrath, Armageddon & The 7th Bowl of Wrath  – Episode 18

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 16 –  6 Bowls of Wrath, Armageddon & The 7th Bowl of Wrath

Episode 18

(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)

 Chapter 16 brings us God’s final and most severe judgements; the 7 Bowl Judgements, which usher in The End of the Age. There is still much to occur with the completion of the old and the dawning of the coming New Jerusalem, and the creation and establishment of a new heaven and a new earth.

Six Bowls of Wrath

Revelation 16:1, Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath and indignation of God.”

Verse 2. So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and loathsome and malignant sores came on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

Verse 3. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a corpse, [foul and disgusting]; and every living [footnote ‘a’] thing in the sea died.

Verse 4. Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water; and they turned into blood. Verse 5. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous and just are You, Who are and Who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; Verse 6. for they have poured out the blood of the saints (God’s people) and the prophets, and You [in turn] have given them blood to drink. They deserve Your judgement.” Verse 7. And I heard [another from] the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Your judgements are true and fair and righteous.”

Verse 8. Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch humanity with [a raging] fire. Verse 9. People were [severely] burned by the great heat; and they reviled the name of God who has power over these plagues, but they did not repent [of their sin] and glorify Him.

(Commentary Break: Every evil deed, committed throughout all time, is now being recompensed. Every ill-treatment, every hurt, every calamity, every disaster you may have suffered is now finding justice. Evils are repaid, and your future is fixed to suffer no more. (End Commentary Break)

Verse 10. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness; and people gnawed their tongues because of the pain [of their excruciating anguish and severe torment], verse 11, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their anguish and their sores, (abscesses and boils); and they did not repent of what they had done nor hate their wickedness.

(Commentary Break: Notice that the 5th Bowl is poured out on the beast as his kingdom is plunged into darkness. The pain and anguish is most severe. Still, the rebellious blasphemed God, instead of crying for mercy, they would not repent of their sinful deeds, their hate or their wickedness, this Triad has always been the earmark of the unbelieving and lost. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 12. Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for [the coming of] the kings from [footnote ‘b’] the east.

(Commentary Break: The kings of the east can be identified in Ezekiel 38, in Daniel chapter 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as

1. Gog, which is known as a part of modern day Russia,

2. Rosh, also part of modern day Russia,

3. Magog, again part of Russia,

4. Gomer, also known as Eastern Europe and Southern Russia,

5. Put, known as modern day Libya,

6. Cush, known today as Ethiopia,

7. Persia, known as Iran,

8. Meshech, known as modern day Turkey,

9. Tubal, known today as an area in central Turkey and

10. Beth-Togarmah, also known as (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia). (End Commentary Break).

Armageddon

Verse 13. And I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs, leaping from the mouth of the dragon (Satan) and from the mouth of the beast (Antichrist, dictator) and from the mouth of the false prophet; verse 14, for they are [actually] the spirits of demons, performing [miraculous] signs. And they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. Verse 15. “Behold, I am coming like a thief. [footnote ‘c’] Blessed is he who [footnote ‘d’] stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked, spiritually unprepared, and men will not see his shame.” Verse 16. And they, (the demons) gathered the kings and armies of the world together at the place which in Hebrew is called [footnote ‘e’] Har-Magedon (which is Armageddon).

(Commentary Break: The three evil spirits that looked like frogs leaping from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgement day of God the Almighty. This is the counterfeit trinity of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet. Verse 15 reminds us of Jesus Words found in Matthew 24 verses 42 through 44, that we are to stay on alert, for we do not know which day the Lord is coming. But we are to be sure of this, that if we had known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed our house to be broken into. For this reason, we must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Now we are told of the coming battle of Armageddon. The size of the Armies from the East, as of the year 2024, (and as previously described in the Book of Ezekiel), are Russia, with an army of one million one-hundred thousand; Turkey, with an army of three hundred fifty-five thousand; Iran, with an army of five hundred twenty-three thousand, (including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard); Ethiopia’s army of one hundred thirty eight thousand; Chechnya’s army is approximately ten thousand; the army of Georgia is approximately twenty-one thousand; Even with this abbreviated list we can count two million, one hundred forty-two thousand fighting troops. The size of these forces has been foretold in Revelation 9 verses 16 through 18 as two hundred million. (End Commentary Break).

Seventh Bowl of Wrath

Verse 17. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne [of God], saying, “It is done. [It is all over, it is all accomplished, it has come.]” Verse 18. And there were flashes of lightning and loud rumblings and peals of thunder; and there was a massive earthquake, nothing like it has ever occurred since mankind originated on the earth, so severe and far-reaching was that earthquake. Verse 19. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the Nations fell. And God kept in mind Babylon the great, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce and furious wrath. Verse 20. Then every island fled away, and no mountains could be found. Verse 21. And giant hailstones, as heavy as a [footnote ‘f’] talent (which weigh about one hundred pounds each), fell from the sky on the people; and people reviled and spoke abusively of God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so very great. (End of text for Chapter 16).

It is over. No more suffering, no more tears, no more crying, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more death, no more evil. The old order is passed away and your eternity with God is set.

Our days on this old earth, for now, seem to be growing ever more chaotic and dangerous. The current world order is shifting rapidly away from any trace of righteousness. The things that were once called as good are now being called evil, and the things evil are now being called good; bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

The next chapter offers insights that will bolster our confidence as we read of the doom of Babylon and the Victory of the Lamb.

Your Brother and Friend,

 Mike Young

 Previous: THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 15 –  A Scene in Heaven  – Episode 17

Next:  THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 17 – The Doom of Babylon, The Victory of the Lamb – Episode 19

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Why Should I GO to church – When, after all, I Am The Church, The Body of Christ?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

WHY SHOULD I GO TO CHURCH – WHEN I AM THE CHURCH?

There seems to be a lot of reasons to GO to church, especially according to church growth experts, pastors of churches and church administrative leaders (including many theologians).

Got Questions.Org has a good piece on “Why Christians Should Attend Church”.  Take a look.

On the other hand, there are those who are committed Christians but, for the most part, have stopped attending church, and their numbers are growing). The main objection I get from people who say they are Christians but don’t go to church, is that “I go to church sometimes on holidays. But I don’t feel like I need to go to church all the time. I love God and I believe in Jesus for my salvation so why do I need to go to all the trouble and spend so much time going to a building? Besides, I can always watch church on television”.

Going deeper. Here is a link to “15 reasons why committed Christians stop attending church”. Take a look and see what you think.

Finally, here is a 12 minute video by The Fuel Project that features a woman, giving her testimony of why she is tired of and bored with church. She is meant to be representative of the growing group of Christians who have stopped attending church, many of whom become ‘NONES’, (those who may be Christians, but have no religious affiliation). Watch just a couple of minutes and see if it rings any bells for you.

Now, if you aren’t tiring of this topic, please give me another minute or two and I will get to the core matter of Going to Church. I believe it will either inspire you, convict you or perhaps, just irritate you.

Let’s start where it all began.

 THE EARLY CHURCH

(The Blue text below, is excerpts from the book, Pagan Christianity, by Frank Viola and George Barna.)

(1). The early Christians believed that Jesus is the very presence of God. They believed that the body of Christ, the Christians, which are the church, constitutes a temple. When Jesus was on earth, to make distinctions from the Church as the Body of Christ and a building, He made some radically negative statements about the Jewish Temple. Then, when Jesus would refer to ‘the real temple’, the Ekklesia, He was referring to Himself. (see Ephesians 2 verse 6). Since Christ has risen, we Christians have become the temple of God – The Church. DID YOU KNOW THIS? DO YOU BELIEVE OR FEEL THIS WAY?

Now and since His ascension, Jesus spiritually and actually takes up residence in the believers, thus making them His Temple, or His house. It is for this reason that the New Testament always reserves the word ‘church’, (ekklesia), for the people of God. It never uses this word to refer to a building of any sort. Additionally, when Christianity was born, it was the only religion on the planet that had no sacred objects, no sacred persons, and no sacred spaces. DID YOU KNOW THAT? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHURCHES TODAY?

Although surrounded by Jewish synagogues and pagan temples, the early Christians were the only religious people on earth who did not erect sacred buildings for their worship. The Christian faith was born in homes, out in courtyards, and along roadsides. For the first three centuries, the Christians did not have any special buildings! DID YOU KNOW THAT?

As one scholar put it, “The Christianity that conquered the Roman Empire was essentially a home-centered movement.” Meeting in homes was a conscious choice of the early Christians. It was a coming together in a more intimate setting, a ones’ home. Very little could be hidden from one another in such an environment. It created an intimacy we rarely see among the organized church membership today. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS WAY OF ‘DOING CHURCH’?

So, to recap, the early disciples didn’t GO to church because they were the church. Acts 2 verses 43 through 47 tell us that in the early church, “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all the believers were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

To be fair, there were circumstances such as the severe persecution of the early church by both the Jewish religious structure and the Roman government that to a large degree dictated how, when and where the early church met. But external circumstances could not and did not create or affect the sense of awe, community, brotherhood and family of the early church. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? AND, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

Things have changed over the centuries, especially for America and Americans. We have found a large degree of personal freedoms and personal wealth. Our attitude about ‘individualism’ has divided even Christians as a family. We are not like the early church people in our attitudes or practices. I can GO to church, Sunday after Sunday, and reach out and warmly greet others, and still sit alone as an acquaintance but not as a friend and not as a family member of the Church. DO YOU UNDERSTAND AND WONDER?

Okay. Do you know what I have just done, though? I have made a presentation about going to church versus being the Church, and within this case, I have hidden a ‘binary trap’. Your answer requires a YES or a NO; I agree or I don’t agree. I left just a small space for other opinions. But, when we discuss or think this way with our church leaders, isn’t that how they approach situations like this? Rather than listening and looking for answers or solutions, we are told we are wrong and ‘here is how it is’! We are left in a binary trap. So we are faced with the choice to ‘get along or get out’.

So, which is the right way to ‘do church’? Actually, I believe BOTH choices have merits, and both have weaknesses.

Truthfully however, Jesus never recommended either way.

Jesus would, by example, preach and teach in the existing Jewish Temples and Synagogues, on streets, along roadways, on hillsides, in boats on lakes, in people’s houses and out in fields. Anyplace and everyplace was His pulpit and any place and everyplace was His mission field. Anyplace you might find His disciples, you had found His Church.

Jesus took this so seriously that on one occasion, “As they were going on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (see Luke 9, verses 57 through 59).

In other words, this person, this scribe, was implying to Jesus, ‘I will follow you wherever you go, but let’s settle down a bit, and let me do my job as a scribe, but we need a permanent place, like a building of sorts, and become a permanent fixture’. To which Jesus responds with His memorable words that said, ‘I and My Body is on the move. Time is short and we have no time to settle in anywhere. We are only here for the time being’. And that is still true to this day!

Then on another occasion, “Jesus said to another, “Follow Me.” But the man said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” (see Luke 9 verses 59 through 60). Is Jesus lacking sympathy? No, He is not. The urgency and immediacy of the mission calls for drastic action! We rarely see this in the modern and postmodern church.

Finally, on another occasion,  “Another man said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (see Luke 9 verses 61 and 62). WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? AND, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL? DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

In the end, the Apostle Paul gives this heartfelt instruction about meeting together, which many church leaders apply as a directive to GO to church, “Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching. (see Hebrews 10, verses 23 through 25).

In reality, however, Paul means exactly what he says, “encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking OUR MEETING TOGETHER [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some,

Whether in the existing church buildings, on streets, along roadways, on hillsides, in boats on lakes, in people’s houses and out in fields. Anyplace and everyplace is YOUR pulpit and any place and everyplace is YOUR mission field. Anyplace you find Jesus’ current day disciples, you have found His Church. Active, organic, hopeful, excited and on the move, because the day of His return is near.

Now that we know these things, also know that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. And He says for us to GO therefore, [into all the world] and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us. And remember, He is with us all the way to the end of the age.” And, please be aware and remember, Jesus was not talking to theologians or Bible teachers with a Masters of Divinity or a Doctorate in religion, He was talking to His disciples. These same disciples, who, ”when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” (Does that verse from Matthew 28 verse 17, sound like someone who goes about in your Christian skin? If so, take heart and GO!)

If you consider yourself a fully devoted Christian, you are called by God to GO. If you don’t know how, then learn. Team up with someone who has an idea of how to GO. Or, with great prayer, caution and care, find a church  that properly teaches the Jesus model of evangelism and disciple-making. Just get started and GO.

Denominational ecclesiasticism is smothering and stifling the Church, the Ekklesia of God. Many of these so-called churches will say that they cannot allow you to ‘go rogue’ and become ‘a lone ranger Christian’. You might get it wrong or make a mess! To that I say HA! Just look at Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, Robert Tilton, Peter Popoff, Bill Hybels, Tony Alamo, Ted Haggard, Brian Houston, Carl Lentz, Ravi Zacharias, Jimmy Swaggart, Eddie Long and many other pastors and leaders of once-famous megachurches.

The Catholic church has been a disgraceful mess for centuries. Most recently is the priesthood being discovered as rife with homosexuals and pedophiles, and it seems it is only getting worse with a leftist, socialist leaning Pope!

Furthermore, take a look at these church’s world-wide messes:

The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years, and now the United Methodist Church has follow the path to the dark side.

Internationally, churches that have rewritten the Gospels to reflect the attitudes and intentions of men and have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy include the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, the Church of Denmark, the Church of Iceland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Methodist Church in Britain, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium, the Swiss Reformed Church, the United Protestant Church of France, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church in Canada, the Old Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the United Church of Christ in Japan.

Read Matthew 3 verses 11 & 12, which says, in part, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

You see, (first), you GO, and (secondly), He, who is coming after you, Who is mightier than you, whose sandals you am not worthy to carry, (thirdly), will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Then, fourthly), [He, with] His winnowing fork is in his hand, will clear His threshing floor [His creation, this earth], and (fifth), He will gather His wheat, [those who believe on Him and follow Him] into the barn [into the Kingdom of heaven]; but (sixth and finally, regarding) the chaff [the unbelievers, the rebellious ones], He will burn [up in the lake of, and] with unquenchable fire.”

Oh. And by the way. None of this is really a good reason NOT to go to church. If you find a good church, you could really be surprised – and you could really benefit from it!

Just GO!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Let’s GO! Email me at whitestonefellowship1@gmail.com or write me in the space below here).

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Thank you for your response. ✨

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 15 –  A Scene in Heaven  – Episode 17

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 15 –  A Scene in Heaven

Episode 17

 (These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)

Chapter 14 gave us the pronouncement of doom and the sentencing of Babylon and the worshipers of the Beast and the symbolism of the reapers of the earth and the great wine press from which the blood of the rebellious flowed as deep as a horse’s bridle is high,(about 5 or six feet deep), and sixteen hundred stadia (which is about 180 miles in length). A lake of blood six feet deep and 180 miles long.

 Now the time has come for the final judgements of God to be poured out. The stage is set, and the scene is as spectacular as it is ominous.

No commentary I could offer would be sufficient to describe or explain this chapter. It is self-explanatory. I stand in awe.

The Scene of Heaven

Revelation 15:1, Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful [a warning of terrifying and horrible events]: seven angels who had seven plagues, (afflictions and calamities), which are the last, because with them the wrath of God is finished, [and is completely expressed and reaches its zenith].

Verse 2. Then I saw something like a sea or large expanse of glass mixed with fire, and those who were victorious over the beast and over his image and over the number corresponding to his name were standing on the sea or large expanse of glass, holding harps of God [worshiping Him]. Verse 3. And they [footnote ‘a’] sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and wonderful and awe-inspiring are Your works [in judgement],

O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all];

Righteous and true are Your ways,

O King of the [footnote ‘b’] nations!

Verse 4. “Who will not fear [reverently], and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]?

For You alone are holy;

For ALL THE NATIONS SHALL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,

FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS [Your just decrees and judgements] HAVE BEEN REVEALED and DISPLAYED.”

Verse 5. After these things I looked, and the temple, (the sanctuary) of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, verse 6, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues, (afflictions and calamities), came out of the temple, arrayed in linen, pure and gleaming, and wrapped around their chests were golden sashes. Verse 7. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath and indignation of God, who lives forever and ever. Verse 8. And the temple was filled with [footnote ‘c’] smoke from the glory and radiance and splendor of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. (End of text for this chapter).

The next chapter, 16, brings the end of God’s judgements on the earth. The horrors of these final judgements are unimaginable, and the intensity is palpable. We must remember that God has been patient and merciful over the millennia, but that He is also just and His Justice must be served. God, over the centuries, has sent thousands upon thousands of messengers to warn of what was coming to those who reject Him. For all these centuries, God has pled to all humanity to be redeemed by the sacrifice of His only Son. But the rebellious continue to defy Him and curse His Name.  Now their end is come.

Author’s Note: Rather than just making a statement about God’s gift of salvation, I would like to ask you a question: How does making a statement or a profession of faith, as found in Romans 10 verses 9 and 10, such as, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation”, save you?

Similarly, how does praying a small prayer of faith and repentance, you hear in many churches, save you? Prayers such as, “Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner, and I am sorry. I turn away from my former life and ask you to come into my heart and save me. I now believe by faith that you have, and I thank you for saving me.”

The best answer I can give is akin to Psalms 23 verse 7, “As a man thinks within himself or herself, so are they.” Then the proof of that salvation is found in a change of heart, mind and behavior or works.

Please, dear friends, let’s be certain. Let’s work out our salvation with fear and trembling, then rest upon His Word and promise.

 Your Brother and Friend,

 Mike Young

 Previous: THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 14 –  The Lamb, The 144,000, Doom & The Harvest,  – Episode 16

Next: THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 16 – The Bowls of Wrath & Armageddon  – Episode 18

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