Author: Michael Young, Sr.

I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a business man, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served or am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is for practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians. I have authored a few small books and I have a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. Write me at any time and let's become friends.

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Beware of False Prophets – Part 31

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Beware of False Prophets – Part 31

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 7:15-20.

Pseudoprophḗtēs – False Prophets. Someone pretending to speak the word of the Lord (prophesy) but in fact is a phony, an imposter, acting as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, specializing in “the art of misimpression,” like about how they were “commissioned” by the Lord to touch the world with their message. But when in fact, they operate by self and for self, so they must be exposed for what they are – and are not! (Strong’s Concordance).

 Another example of warnings against false prophets, found in Matthew 24:4-5, is when His disciples asked Him about the end of the age and the sign of His coming. Interestingly, before He answered their questions, Jesus issues this warning: Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:4-5.

So, what’s the big deal? Why is this so important? After all, “once saved, always saved”, right?

This is a warning against ‘roaming from safety, truth, or virtue; against being led astray, being seduced to wander’. This comes from the Greek word “deceive” or “deceived”.

First, Jesus is specifically instructing and warning His disciples.  Jesus is telling them (and us), in Matthew 7:15-20, that false prophets will appear among up in disguise, as ‘in sheep’s clothing’, a reference perhaps to appearing gentle and more likely appearing to be one of you – Jesus’ disciples. But inwardly, they are ravenous wolves.

A ravenous wolf is an angry predator, hungry to devour its prey. His or her nourishment is your destruction and the subjugation of the Gospel. Beware.

Jesus then instructs that “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.”

This is simple to read and easy to understand. The problem comes once you are ‘under the spell’ of a false prophet. It is hard to break away. It is hard to leave the ‘other sheep’ or friends you have made in that fellowship. But all are in danger, and you must listen to these words of Jesus and follow them.

I cannot recount all the times I have experienced or seen, what appeared to be a good man, a pastor, after years of ministry, finally reveal that he was inwardly a ravenous wolf. He had been stalking, planning, and preparing his prey for years, and now he strikes, leaving broken lives, broken souls scattered around ‘his church’.

More grievously, I have witnessed hundreds and hundreds of faithful Christians’ lives and souls devastated as they fell prey to these men and women who are inwardly wild, dog-like, spiritual carnivores. I heard one woman in such a situation say that their family could not leave this man (the preacher) and that church because they had been there so long. “I cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater”, she cried. Others just ‘go along to get along’ and pay the awful price required, becoming more like the wolf than they realize, day-by-day “becoming a diseased tree, bearing bad fruit.” (The Apostle Paul also warned, “Do not be misled; bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you should, and stop sinning.” 1 Corinthians 15:33-34)

What Jesus says next has been grappled with by theologians since it was spoken, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Beware, indeed!

What follows is Jesus’ gravest of warning to those who believe they are His followers and disciples:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘” never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”

Then, Jesus’ final words on this matter will be to “Build your house on the Rock”, which we will visit in the next few episodes.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS:  A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Enter by the Narrow Gate – Part 30

NEXT:  (coming soon). A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – I Never Knew You – Part 32

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).

PS:  Sadly, 2 Timothy 3:1-7 describes many post-modern churches. Many have adopted the methods, ways, means and characteristics of the world, and they are drawing crowds. They have the form and appearance of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. Beware!

“But understand this – that in these last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

HIRELINGS, GLEANERS or THE SHEPHERD?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

HIRELINGS, GLEANERS or THE GOOD SHEPHERD?

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” 

John 10:14

As the Day of the Lord draws near, part of our preparation is to know for certain that we, ourselves, are in the Ark of our Salvation, safe among the family of God. This includes knowing the difference between

  • the “Wheat” from the “Tares”,
  • the “The Good Shepherd” from the “Hireling” and
  • the “Gleaners” from the “Join-Heirs”.

Jesus said, see to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, and will mislead many.

(A video wrap-up is at the end of this page)

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

John 10:7, So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

“HIRELINGS” AND “GLEANERS”

These terms, “hirelings” and “gleaners” are found only a few times in the Bible. These terms can be either good or bad. However, they are just word; adjectives.

Adjectives, however, are words or phrases naming an attribute. Words added to a noun to modify or describe it.

These terms are revealing.

HIRELING

The Old Testament describes a “hireling” simply as a hired laborer, perhaps a mercenary, or someone who hires oneself out to earn wages.

The New Testament, however, contrasts the “hireling” with the Shepherd. See John 10:11-13

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.”

There are those who tend to the sheep for commercial purposes. Their intentions may be good and they offer a good service. But, they, too, are nothing more than “hirelings”.

Jesus says, in John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

Jesus use of the word “shepherd” is used interchangeably for overseers, pastor, elders, and presbyters.

The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.

During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact.

Many “hirelings” like to use the moniker of overseer, pastor, elder, and presbyter. Such titles may bring them status, respect, influence, income or even power over others. But, they are just “hirelings”. Beware, however, because wolves are also lurking under the cover of such names.

Remember, unlike a “hireling,” Jesus tell us He requires we complete His Works as His servant as the cost for being His disciple, among His sheepfold. Besides the benefits, there is a requirement.

Don’t be fooled, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Flee from the “hirelings”.

GLEANERS

Leviticus 19:10 says to the vineyard or landowner, “Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.”

We see that a “gleaner” is someone who picks up, or gathers or collects. The Bible describes them as the “needy and the stranger” and not part of the family of the landowner.

The book of Ruth tells us of an account of Ruth, a Moabite, the widowed daughter-in-law of the widow Naomi. To prevent starvation, Ruth gleaned the fields of Boaz: “And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.’ Naomi said to her, ‘Go ahead, my daughter,’” (Ruth 2:2).

Ruth was a widow and had no husband to provide for her. She took the initiative and went out into the fields to take care of herself and Naomi. She made this effort as a foreigner among Naomi’s people.

In Chapter 4 of the book of Ruth, we read that Boaz takes Ruth as his wife. She is no longer a “gleaner” but is now part of the family, entitled to all Boaz has. The contrast between being a “gleaner” and a family member is stark.

The Bible says that you and I were once like the “gleaner”, not part of God’s family. Maybe “gleaning” what we could from generosity of others.

There are many people in the church and Christian organizations who are actually little more than “gleaners”. They are not like Ruth. Their mind is set to get what they can get from God and from others, whether it is material goods, money, recognition, status or influence.

GLEANERS ARE NOT GOD’S CALLED OUT ONES

You can tell the difference. “Gleaners” focus on themselves and their needs . They have little interest is actually humbling themselves before God or others. They aren’t sure how. Furthermore, they don’t consider “repentance” as an ongoing matter for their own lives, and they tend to pursue the “spiritual gifts” over spiritual disciplines. They usually don’t witness (tell or teach) the Gospel, and are usually unwilling servants.

They can act humble, but crave recognition and leadership roles. The tip-off is how they act if they cannot get what they want.

A Believer and Follower of Jesus can also be identified by their behavior. A disciple of Jesus is a son or daughter in the family of God, a brother, sister and friend of Jesus. A joint-heir, entitled to all God has for His own children.

Don’t be a “Hireling”. If you are going to serve God, feed His Sheep.

Be kind to “gleaners”, just don’t be a “gleaner”. If you are going to come near to the House of God, stop being needy and a stranger. Become a child of God and a Joint-Heir with Jesus Christ.

The Day of the Lord is close at hand. Listen for His Voice and follow Him to safety.

Psalm 23:1-6:

The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Hear what John MacArthur says about The Good Shepherd and “hirelings”

(I have set the video to start at the 8:00 minute mark.  Listen to at least 11 minutes and 21 seconds  – from 8:00 to 18:21, to get the heart of the message)

What Does It Mean to ENDURE TO THE END?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“The one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” 

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 24:13

Are you ever puzzled by some things Jesus says?

He says it again, “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” Jesus – Matthew 10:22

I have recently had some lively discussions about the meaning and implications of what JESUS said when telling His disciples about His coming and the end of the world. (Matthew 24)

Jesus tells His disciples they will face many trials, challenges, persecutions and even martyrdom. Many Christians will suffer tribulation just before His return and the end of the age.

He warns us that “it is the one who ENDURES TO THE END, is he who will be saved”.

Jesus’ plain words should be enough. So, why the puzzle? Why the controversy?

I believe there is controversy because many people, including many of my friends and acquaintances, jump to these conclusions:

1. Many jump to the conclusion that Jesus is NOT saying “You can lose your salvation” (And this can make them very angry because this view does not fit their religious doctrine of “eternal security) And, they are very adamant!

2. Many others jump to the conclusion that Jesus is saying that you CAN lose your salvation”. These folks say, “SEE, I TOLD YOU SO!!!” (And this view makes them resolute because this DOES fit their religious doctrine.) And, they are very adamant!

3. While some jump to the conclusion that Jesus is saying it’s all about maturing in your faith, probably an attempt to avoid controversy.

4. And yet, others say that they just don’t know what He means.

I have read many commentaries on these verses, and although these are studied opinions, most are a jumble of opinions based on denominational and religious doctrines.

Perhaps we are just asking the wrong questions?

Many theologians and bible teachers will hammer the pieces of this puzzle into place, to fit their religious doctrines, whether they fit or not.

These verses are very important to the believer. Ask yourself,

Does one perish if he or she does not “endure to the end”?

And, what is it we should ENDURE?

What END is it that I am to endure to?

What will I be SAVED to or from?

Why does it matter?

Believe me when I say that Jesus was clear. He has more to say on this matter in His discourse, found in Chapter 24 of Matthew. He gives grave warnings about enduring and being ready for His Return and the End of the Age.

The most important thing about correctly understanding scriptures and the Words of Jesus, is this:

Romans 1:16-17 “The gospel, is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

  • You cannot experience the power of God, and
  • You cannot experience the righteousness of God, and
  • You cannot LIVE BY FAITH, unless
  • You are in Him and His Words are in your, and
  • If must be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Want to know more? This is important because it affects how YOU respond to Jesus’ command. And, this is what it means to BE READY for “His coming, and of the end of the age”.

First, let’s get these verses in CONTEXT and then we will look at the exact meaning of the wording from the original language:

Matthew 24:3, As He (Jesus) was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age”?

Verse 4. “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

Verse 5. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Verse 6. “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Verse 7. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

Verse 8. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Verse 9. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

Verse 10. “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

Verse 11. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

Verse 12. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

Verse 13. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

THE CONTEXT of the phrase, “the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” is: “the signs of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age”?

THE WORDS

Now, let’s take a closer look at the words Jesus used to tech His disciples:

The word Endures: from Strong’s concordance #5278, hupomeno (hoop-om-en’-o):

This word is used 17 times to mean ‘endure’; it means to remain; to tarry behind; to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee; to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ; to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments.

The Tense: Aorist Strong’s concordance #5777, Active #5784, Participle #5796. The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctilliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time.

The Greek participle corresponds for the most part to the English participle, reflecting “-ing” or “-ed” being suffixed to the basic verb form.

IN OTHER WORDS: “The one who HAS ENDURED, IS ENDURING and CONTINUES ENDURING to the end, he will be saved” in relation to “the sign of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age”

The word, End: Strong’s concordance #5056, telos (tel’-os), from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal; used to mean, end;

1a) termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time); the end; the last in any succession or series; eternal; that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue; the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose.

IN OTHER WORDS: “The one who has endured, is enduring and continues enduring TO THE END, of “the signs of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age” he will be saved”.

IN OTHER WORDS: “THE ONE who has endured, is enduring and continues enduring TO THE END, of “the signs of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age”.

The word SAVED: Strong concordance #4982, sozo (sode’-zo) can be used to mean to save, to make whole, to heal, to be made whole, to save, keep safe and sound; to rescue from danger or destruction or from injury or peril; to save a suffering one from perishing, i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health; to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue; to save in the technical biblical sense; to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment; to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance.

Tense-Future: The future tense corresponds to the English future, and indicates the contemplated or certain occurrence of an event which has not yet occurred. Used in the passive voice which represents the subject as being the recipient of the action. E.g., in the sentence, “The boy was hit by the ball,” the boy receives the action.

IN OTHER WORDS: “THE ONES who have ENDURED, are enduring and continue enduring TO THE END of “the signs of Jesus’ coming, and of the end of the age”, HE “THIS SAME ONE, THESE SAME ONES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, will BE SAVED, from perishing, saved in the biblical sense, delivered from the penalties of the Messianic judgment; saved from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance”.

In JESUS’ Words: “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved” – PERIOD.

We must GET READY, BE READY and STAY READY and endure to the end.

Whether you believe

  • you can lose your salvation, or you believe
  • you cannot lose your salvation, or you believe that maybe
  • you were never saved in the first place, or you think this is about
  • you’re maturing in your faith or
  • you just don’t know

One thing you better know is that you must

1. Get Ready – Make Jesus your Lord and Savior.

2. You can only come to God and be saved by His Grace and by your faith, believing that

3. Jesus died for your sins and that

4. God raised Him up from the grave after three days in the tomb,

5. Jesus saves you from your sins and

6. Jesus saves you from perishing (going to eternal torment in hell)

7. Jesus has forgiven you and given you a new life of hope, promise

8. The one who endures to the end, he will be saved” – Jesus, Matthew 24:13

In support of enduring to the end,

The Apostle Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:7 – 8

Let’s do likewise.

Let’s Walk by the Spirit.

Let’s not grow weary.

Let’s finish the race.

Let’s endure to the end.

No man or woman can determine your salvation in Christ. God, alone knows.

ENDURE TO THE END and you can know you will have finished the race and will be welcomed into His Waiting Arms.

Additionally, let’s come out of the ‘church buildings’ and be the Church on the move! Let’s go on the greatest adventure of our lives. Let’s JOIN in ministry as the Living Organic Church, on the move.

Your Brother and Sister in the Faith,

Mike and Betty on the Beach.jpg
Mike & Betty Young

Galatians 6:10, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Enter by the Narrow Gate – Part 30

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Enter by the Narrow Gate – Part 30

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide, and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 7:13-14

Anyone and everyone, who wishes, can read these Words of Jesus. But it is a mistake to think everyone can hear them or do them. “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’” (Mark 4:11-12)

It is of utmost importance that as you read the foregoing verses, you realize they are written specifically to Jesus’ disciples, and if you count yourself among those who are following Jesus, He has said these Words to you.

Remember, His Words are creative, causative, prophetic and instructional. You cannot escape them. You must embrace them.

Everything Jesus says and teaches is built on what He said previously. He is building His Church – you and me – upon a strong foundation so you and I can withstand the storms, the winds and floods and accomplish His Mission. Each and every layer of this foundation is exact, leading to His perfecting of the saints.

What Jesus is saying now seems to depart from what He has been teaching, but have taught the basics, He is now going deeper, directing our steps, warning us of the deceptions we may face.

It would seem that having come this far and having become His disciple, that the rest would be smooth sailing. But dangers lurk at every turn. Jesus warns, we are to ‘enter by the narrow gate’; this is the ‘strait gate’ which is not only pent-up, restrictive and requires singleness of purpose, it is hard to find, and few will find it.

This narrow gate is like the ‘eye of the needle’: Jesus has said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24)

Please listen carefully. If you are going through life, seeking the easy way to follow Jesus, you may be at the wrong gate.

If you go to church and never come away without a sense of brokenness and a sorrow for your sins, you may be at the wrong gate.

If you are always demanding from God and are rarely giving to God the sacrifice of obedience, then you may be at the wrong gate.

If your life habits and practices mirror the world around you, then you are definitely at the wrong gate.

You are at the wide gate, where the way is easy, but it leads to destruction, and you are among the many who are entering by the wrong gate! It is important to remember that we are living in the Last Days, as described by:

The Apostle Paul warned that God would send a strong delusion, so that those outside the Kingdom may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned because they did not believe the truth, and they had their pleasure in unrighteousness. (2nd Thessalonians 2:11-12).

You know the way. It is “the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

PS: I remember running track in high school. I wanted to just show up and prance around the track, win a race, get a ribbon and take a bow. But that is not how it works. Winning is hard. It takes hard work, sacrifice, patience, endurance and at times it is painful. But you have to decide for yourself if it is worth it. I know it’s worth it. You just have to do it.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

NEXT:  (Coming soon) A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Beware of False Prophets – Part 31

PREVIOUS:  A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Do Unto Others – Part 29

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes)

There is ‘tribulation’, then there will be TRIBULATION!

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THERE are times of ‘birth pains’ & tribulation AND THEN THERE WILL BE  GREAT

There are many differing views, much debate, disagreements, and apparent contradictions regarding the doctrines of the Last Days, the Rapture and the tribulation.

So, what does the Bible actually say about this End of Days?

More specifically, what did Jesus tell His disciples and the rest of the listening and believing world what about what is coming? What we can expect to happen? What are we to do in order to ‘get ready’ and ‘stay ready’ until He returns to claim His Church?

There are those who will tell you that the seven years of tribulation are coming with the breaking of the first of seven seals, and that the rapture is imminent. There is a distinction here that is often overlooked. So, let me repeat: Some are saying that the 7 years of the tribulation will begin with the breaking of the 1st tribulation seal – followed by the breaking of seals 2 through 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.

However, there is clear and staggering evidence that the Last Days began in our around A.D. 1 through A.D. 95 and that tribulation seals 1 through 5 have been progressively opened, are overlapping and intensifying to this day. And that we are on the precipice of the opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal which signals the beginning of the period known as the Great Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb – which will continue with the breaking of tribulation seal 7, then the blowing of the 7 tribulation trumpets, and ending with the pouring out of the 7 tribulation bowls.

Scriptures clearly tell us that

  1. The last days and, also known as ‘the beginning of sorrows’ or the ‘tribulation’ (small ‘t’) are here now; but that
  2. The Great Tribulation is yet to come; and that
  3. The rapture will not occur unless the apostasy comes first, and that
  4. The man of lawlessness is revealed, that is the son of destruction,(the antichrist), who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

THESE ARE THE SCRIPTURES THAT SAY SO

Matthew 24:9

“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

(This was spoken around A.D. 30 – around 2,000 years ago, and there has been ongoing and intensifying persecution of Christians to this day. Compare this to the 5th tribulation seal as found in Revelation 6:9-11 and referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:9-12.)

Matthew 24:21

“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.”

(This seven-year period of Great tribulation has not yet occurred,  but with a careful study, one can see that the tribulations as referenced by the words, “for then there will be a great tribulation” are the tribulation seals 1 through 5 (see Revelation 6:1-11), which are also referenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:9-12, which have been occurring and are continuing to occur. But Seals 6 and 7 are the beginning of The Great Tribulation, a.k.a., The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)

Matthew 24:29

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

(This is speaking of the tribulation that will come after the tribulation events that have already occurred and continue to occur, as being described by Jesus in Matthew 24:1-28, (i.e., tribulation seals 1 through 5). These “days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” have not occurred yet, but with a careful study, one can see that the tribulations spoken of in Seals 1 through 5 have occurred and are continuing to occur, but Seals 6 and 7 have not occurred.)

Mark 13:19

“For those days will be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.”

(In order to get the chronology right, please read Mark 13:1-27. There will be tribulations and then will come “such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.” I.e., there will be tribulations then there will be a Great Tribulation, a.k.a. The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)

Mark 13:24

“But in those days, after that tribulation (referring to the events that have already occurred), THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT.”

(In order to get the chronology right, please read Mark 13:1-27. There will be tribulations and then will come “be such a time of tribulation as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will again.” I.e., there will be tribulations then there will be a Great Tribulation, a.k.a. The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord or the Wrath of the Lamb, which begin with the 6th Tribulation Seal and will conclude with the 7th Bowl Judgment.)

John 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Revelation 1:9

“I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

Revelation 2:10

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Revelation 7:14

“I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

THESE ARE THE ONES WHO SAY SO

The Last Days and the opening of the tribulation Seals began in our around A.D. 30 according to the words spoken by Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy :

WHAT ARE GOD’S PURPOSES OF THE TRIBULATION?

Daniel 9, verse 24 says the PURPOSE is:

1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God)

2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin)

3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness)

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable)

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions)

6) “to anoint the most holy.” (that is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.)

Notice that the results of this six-fold purpose concerns the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.

*Of special note is the third in the list of results: “to atone for wickedness.” Jesus accomplished the atonement for sin by His death on the cross (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).

Secondly, it is important to know the four-fold PLANNED OUTCOME of the tribulation found in Daniel 12:10, (Which is the purpose of the Tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE):

“Many will be purged,

cleansed, and

refined,

those who have insight will understand.”

(SPECIAL NOTE: Tribulation Seal SIX through the SEVENTH Tribulation Bowl, also known as the GREAT Tribulation or the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, are judgments directed specifically at the non-believing world.)

WHY DO THESE THINGS MATTER?

  • They matter because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun, and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.
  • They matter because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.
  • They matter because as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior are speaking louder than our words.
  • They matter because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity, and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.
  • They matter because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
  • They matter because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”

WHO ELSE IS SEEING AND SAYING THESE THINGS?

  1. Corrie Ten Boom speaks out about a prevailing tribulation and rapture view.
  2. Pastor John Piper. You can also see a teaching by Pastor and Teacher, John Piper on the timing of the End Times.
  3. David Rosenthal and Zion’s Hope. One of the first, most accurate, and persistent advocates of the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church can be found at Zion’s Hope, with videos on this site.)
  4. Pastor Jack Hibbs, senior pastor of Cavalry Chapel of Chino Hills, California is an advocate saying we are NOW in the Last Days and the End of Days period known as the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the LORD or the Wrath of the Lamb.
    • Pastor Hibbs is informing and warning about the current Marxist-style Globalist movement, which is being led by the U.N., the U.N.’s Agenda 2030, UNESCO and their sustainable development goals, and the World Economic Forum. (Please also see “The One World Government – How It Is Fitting Together”.)

I offer this article to say that these things matter in our preparation and readiness for Jesus’ return. They should alert us to get ready and stay ready.

What these things don’t change or affect is the steady guarantee of our salvation in Christ. My concern, which I believe should be all our concern, is that when the time comes we all will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, and not the fateful words, “Why do you call me Lord when you do not what I say?”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: It is written – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no way anyone can earn their salvation through works. But what we continually practice in our lives, reveals the true intentions of our heart. Please, get ready and stay ready for His return by serving God and obeying the Words of Jesus. Let’s pray for one another to be strengthened.

 

PSS: There are five major views of eschatology.

 

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Do Unto Others – Part 29

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Do Unto Others – Part 29

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 29

 “So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 7:12.

This verse has been called by the apt name, “The Golden Rule”, since the 16th century. Jesus never uttered the term “Golden Rule” and it is not found anywhere in the Bible. The following is an excerpt from GotQuestions.Org, which gives insight into the origin of the phrase and its meaning. It is interesting, but it fails to give the spiritual mandate of these important words, which I will offer later on this page.

“The “Golden Rule” is the name given to a principle Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount. The actual words “Golden Rule” are not found in Scripture, just as the words “Sermon on the Mount” are also not found. These titles were later added by Bible translation teams in order to make Bible study a little easier. The phrase “Golden Rule” began to be ascribed to this teaching of Jesus during the 16th–17th centuries.

What we call the Golden Rule refers to Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus knew the human heart and its selfishness. In fact, in the preceding verse, He describes human beings as innately “evil” (verse 11). Jesus’ Golden Rule gives us a standard by which naturally selfish people can gauge their actions: actively treat others the way they themselves like to be treated.

The English Standard Version translates the Golden Rule like this: “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus brilliantly condenses the entire Old Testament into this single principle, taken from Leviticus 19:18: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Again, we see the implication that people are naturally lovers of self, and the command uses that human flaw as a place to start in how to treat others.

“Obeying the Christian imperative to love others is a mark of a true Christian (John 13:35). (excerpt from GotQuestions.Org.)

From a practical point of view, there is no better advice on how to conduct yourself socially.

Now we have an ‘outsider’s view’ of Matthew 7:12 and know about the meaning of the Golden Rule. But that is like studying artifacts of the earth and claiming to know God, Who created them. You might know some things about Him, but studying what is ‘left over’ won’t help you to know Him.

This verse is given from a spiritual perspective. It is prophetic and creative by its nature, and is instructional and causative in its application.

This is the application of the great spiritual law of ‘higher to lower’, that is, everything that exists or will exist originates with God from His Kingdom and in the heavenlies. Jesus made the proclamation, in Matthew 4:17, that we must, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is now at hand”, telling us of a new dynamic, a new spiritual law.

One example of this is found in John 5:19, “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” Again in John 5:30, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

One more example is found in John 1:3, “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made”, and later in John 15, Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you.”

These are such profound words that many if not most of the Bible teachers, theologians and preachers, over the centuries since Jesus spoke them, have tried to explain them away or at least subdue their meaning.

But Jesus Words remains true and resolute in their meaning and application. Read in the Greek language the sentence structure in which it is written would read thus: “All things therefore, as many of you might desire that should do to you the men, so also you do to them. This for is the law and the prophets”.

The ‘law and the prophets’ is the principle of action and mode of life and is, in fact, the sum of all Bible teaching. This is the sum or substance of the Old Testament. This is all Scripture in a nutshell.

So, once again and finally, Jesus is teaching us that we must clear of heart and mind of worldly and fleshly human desires, habits, attitudes, practices, surrender our lives completely as Doulos-Servants of God.

Jesus is clear, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me; And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”

Previously, Jesus has told us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you”, and now, as if to put a prophetic exclamation point on His teaching, He says, “You must do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

This is the price of becoming His disciple and entering the Kingdom of Heaven, now. Embrace it. Follow Him and live!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “Enter by the narrow gate” – Part 30

PREVIOUS:  A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Ask, Seek, Knock – Part 28

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).  

JUST BEFORE THE RAPTURE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

Just Before the Rapture…

Do you ever wonder what will happen on earth in the years and months just before the Rapture?

If you don’t wonder then it is probably due to one of two reasons: (1) You don’t care. (2) You believe what you’ve been hearing about the ‘pre-tribulation rapture’ taking place before the 1st Tribulation Seal is broken.

Well, if you fit into either or both these 2 reasons, then news on both counts.

On the first count, Jesus says you take care and be ready (Matthew 24:42 ff) or you will be left behind.

And, on the second count, the 1st Seal, according to the testimonies of Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy,  are found in :

These accounts were given by Jesus, the Apostles Paul, Timothy and Peter as early around A.D. 30 or as late as A.D. 95

That being so, you can reliably assume that we are now approaching the 6th Tribulation Seal and we had better be ready, because there will be no second chances!

Jesus says, in Matthew 24:9–13, that a day is coming when “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

“At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

Now, pay close attention to what Jesus, Himself, says in Revelation chapters one, two and three about enduring and overcoming. Jesus is speaking to the seven Churches in these chapters – and remember – the time of tribulation has begun (in or around A.D. 1 to A.D. 95) and the Church is still on the earth at that time, receiving instruction from Jesus. And a clear, plain face-value reading of Matthew chapter 24 will tell you that the Church will remain on earth until the breaking of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation (please, read it).

– The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Things which must soon take place –Words of the prophecy

This letter of the Revelation begins with these words, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE 2nd TEMPLE – Occurred in 70 A.D.

THE REVELATION WARNING OF THE COMING TRIBULATION – Occurred in 96 A.D.

Be aware that John was writing of FUTURE events because the Temple had already been destroyed the first time, 26 years before John wrote the book of The Revelation.

So, we must ask the one most important question, “Why is Jesus warning the churches and His followers of something that is coming, in the Book of Revelation, if they would not endure it?”

The correct understanding of the timing of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and the beginning of “Daniel’s 70th Week” (the seven years of Tribulation) is that these events begin with the Breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

Until then, “The ones who have an ear, let them hear”.

Jesus tells the Churches (the followers of Christ), that until the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, they must OVERCOME.

Revelation 2:7 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’

To him who overcomes: Jesus made this promise to him who overcomes – but what does this “Overcomer” overcome? We usually think of overcoming in dramatic terms of overcoming sin and in spiritual warfare, but here Jesus is speaking of overcoming coldness of heart and lack of love marked by leaving their first love of Jesus.

I will give to eat from the tree of life: The promise for these “Overcomers” was a return to Eden, a restoration to God’s Presence, and eternal life. This was meant, first in the eternal sense of making it to heaven, which was no small promise to a people threatened with the removal of Jesus’ presence.

It is also meant in the sense of seeing the effects of the curse cancelled in our own lives though Jesus’ redeeming act of love.

Revelation 2:11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

He who overcomes: This was a promise for “Overcomers”. This promise is for those who overcome the threat of persecution, and the presence of persecution.

We might say that we overcome by our close association with Jesus, but, it is that very association that brings both persecution and salvation. Jesus is the ultimate “Overcomer”, as He says, In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Shall not be hurt by the second death: Those who overcome by the power and presence of Jesus within them, will never be hurt by the second death. The second death is hell, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14 and 21:8). Though Satan will threaten and attack your life, Jesus promises His “Overcomers” that death is conquered for them.

Revelation 2:17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

To him who overcomes: The one who overcomes this spirit of accommodation to false teaching and living will receive hidden manna. This is God’s perfect provision, the true bread from heaven (John 6:35).

And I will give him a white stone: In the ancient world, the use of a white stone had many associations. A white stone could be a ticket to a banquet, a sign of friendship, evidence of having been counted, or as a sign of acquittal in a court of law. Jesus may have any one of these meanings in mind, but at the very least we know that it has the assurance of blessing.

Revelation 2:26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;

He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end: Even when there is the immoral and idolatrous influence of a Jezebel, Christians can overcome and keep Jesus’ works until the end. We must not become overly discouraged at immorality and idolatry around us, even among Christians. God’s work will still go on through His “Overcomers”.

To him I will give power over the nations: Jesus promised that His people will reign with Him. Here, there is a special promise to those who overcome the threat of immorality and idolatry. To them, Jesus offered a share in His own kingdom.

“The word for ‘rule’ (Greek = ‘poimanei’) literally means ‘to shepherd.’

Their rule will not be simply that of executing judgment, but also that of administering mercy and direction.”

I will give him the morning star: Jesus offered them a reward greater than the kingdom. He offered them the reward of Himself, because He is the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).

Revelation 3:5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments: Jesus identified the “Overcomers” with those few names who have not defiled their garments (Revelation 3:4). These “Overcomers” would wear white garments, received from Jesus.

Jesus explained the absolute necessity of this being clothed by God with His garments of purity and righteousness in His parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:11-14).

Real righteousness is receiving God’s covering instead of trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve tried to cover their own sin (Genesis 3:7) but God provided them with a covering that came from sacrifice (Genesis 3:21).

And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: By this, the “Overcomers” were assured of their heavenly citizenship. In the ancient world, death or a criminal conviction could blot out the name of an ancient citizen from the city’s book of the living, which was the city register.

But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels: This was an amazing promise. It simply makes sense that we should be willing to confess the name of Jesus, but it is amazing that He would not be ashamed to confess us!

Revelation 3:12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar: “Overcomers” were told that they would be as a pillar in the temple of My God. Pillars were pictures of strength, stability, and dignified beauty.

He shall go out no more: The “Overcomer” would have a place of permanence and stability with God, in contrast to an uncertain place in this world.

I will write on him the name of My God… I will write on him My new name: The “Overcomer” also received many names – of God, the New Jerusalem, and the new name of Jesus. These names are marks of identification because they show who we belong to. They are marks of intimacy, because they show we are privileged to know Him in ways others are not.

Revelation 3:21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

To him who overcomes: Jesus’ promise to the “Overcomer”, even at Laodicea, showed that we don’t have to be Christians who are compromising and lukewarm. If we are, we can change and become one of Jesus’ overcomers.

I will grant to sit with Me on My throne: Those who overcome the battle against indifference, compromise, and self-reliance, receive a special reward. They enjoy a place with the enthroned Jesus (as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne).

Revelation 21:5 “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Verse 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

Verse 7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

Verse 8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Jesus is telling His Followers that they must “Endure to the end” and “Overcome”. We are nearing that time.

Peter validates, in Acts 2:14-21 that “the beginning of birth pangs”, that is the breaking of the tribulation Seals One began as early as A.D. 1 and the successive breaking of seals two through five have been ongoing to this day.  (Also see Matthew 24:8 for the Birth Pains Seals).

Then, with the coming day of the Breaking of the 6th seal we will see…

  • Jesus return in the sky and gather His elect from the four corners of the earth
  • God will seal the 144,000 from the Tribes of Israel
  • The Church Raptured and all Believers will be standing at the Throne of God, clothed in the white robes.
  • God’s succeeding Judgments poured out on earth
  • Jesus and His armies defeat Satan.

Prepare Ourselves for battle. We must Endure and Overcome! We have been warned to  BE READY!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

BUILDING THE CHURCH

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

This is a very brief outline of Biblical instructions regarding the New Testament Church. (I am making it very brief and very simple in order to bring a similar simplicity with which Jesus taught.)

Jesus first taught the Jews about the Kingdom of God – in simple terms – since the average Jew had been brought up in the ways of Moses, Abraham, Issac and Jacob,they knew and had heard the Talmud. So Jesus did not teach as the Pharisees taught. He taught that He is the fulfillment of the Jewish Law – which most Jews rejected.

Next, Saul, (soon to become the Apostle Paul), encountered Jesus on his fateful trip to Damascus. He was soon thereafter commissoned by God to bring the Good News of Jesus to the gentile world.

Since gentiles (non-Jews) do not have an understanding of Jewish life, culture and religion, they would benefit from the teachings of how the Old Testament is the foundation of the New Testament and the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. That is still the case today.

And the message of the Gospel is meant to be simple enough for each and every person to hear and understand, so complexity can be a barrier.

Therefore, I am presenting a simple message and simple instructions of:

B‭elonging to the Church of Jesus Christ

The Bible says in Mark 8:34 says, “And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”

The Bible says, in Romans 10:8-10, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that 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.”

And, John 1:12-13 says, “As many as received Him, to them, He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.”

Building The Church

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.‭

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,‭ teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Being The Church

Philippians 2:1-16 tells us that being the Church means, “Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.‭

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;‭

Do not ‭merely‭ look out for your own personal ‭interests‭, but also for the ‭interests‭ of others.‭

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,‭ who, as He ‭already‭ existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,‭ but emptied Himself ‭by‭ taking the form of a bond-servant ‭and‭ being born in the likeness of men.‭ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.‭ For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,‭ so that at the name of Jesus ‭EVERY KNEE WILL BOW‭, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,‭ and ‭that‭ every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.‭ So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;‭ for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for ‭His‭ good pleasure.‭

Do all things without complaining or arguments;‭ ‭so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,‭ holding firmly the word of life.”

Pillars of The Church

  1. The Apostles Teaching
  2. Fellowship
  3. The Breaking of the Bread
  4. Prayer

Pillars Within the Church

  1. Fellowship – A Healthy Body of Christ, being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
  2. Discipleship – preaching, teaching, edification.
  3. Sending – commissioning.
  4. Evangelism – Lifting the Name of Jesus.

Spiritual Gifts in the Church

Romans 12 1 Corinthians 12 Corinthians 12 Ephesians 4
Prophecy Word of Wisdom Apostle Apostle
Serving Word of Knowledge Prophet Prophet
Teaching Faith Teacher Evangelist
Exhortation Gift of Hearing Miracles Pastor
Giving Miracles Healing Teacher
Overseer Prophecy Helps  
Mercy Distinguishing Spirits Administration  
Tongues Tongues    
Interpretation of Tongues      

Cycle of Ministry of the Church

 

 

 

 

I.

Romans 10:9, “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.”

II.

Matthew 4:19, “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

III.

Matthew 10:5, “Jesus sent These twelve out after instructing them: Verse 7. “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Verse 8. ” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Verse 9. “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, verse 10, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

IV.

Matthew 28:19 , “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, verse 20, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

V.

Mark 16:15, “And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Verse 16. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Verse 17. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; verse 18, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

VI.

1 Corinthians 12:25, “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. Verse 26. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Verse 27. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. Verse 28. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”

VII.

Ephesians 4:21, “Indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, verse 23, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, verse 24, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God.”

Verse 25. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. Verse 26. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, verse 27, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Verse 28. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Verse 29. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as it is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Verse 30. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Verse 31. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Verse 32. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Jesus’ Model of Ministry for the Church

Follow Him, follow His ways.

1. Repent

Matthew 4:17, ” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

2. GO – Make Disciples – Follow Him

  • Matthew 4:19, “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

3. Jesus’ Model for Ministry: Teach, Preach, proclaim the Gospel, lay hands on the sick

  • Verse 23. Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and
  • proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom,
  • and healing every kind of disease
  • and every kind of sickness among the people. Learn and teach – BE BEREAN – STUDY TO BE APPROVED –

4. Jesus teaches His disciples 5:31 through Matthew 9:38

  • Disciples and the World
  • Regarding Personal Relationships
  • Giving to the Poor and Prayer
  • Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth (Mammon)
  • The Cure for Anxiety
  • Prayer and the Golden Rule
  • The Narrow and Wide Gates
  • The Two Foundations
  • Jesus Cleanses a Leper; The Centurion’s Faith
  • Examples Peter’s Mother-in-law and Many Others Healed
  • Discipleship Tested
  • Jesus Casts Out Demons
  • A Paralytic Healed
  • The Calling
  • The Question about Fasting
  • Miracles of Healing

5. Our Instructions for our Service

(a) Matthew 10:1, “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

(b) Matthew 10:5, These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them:

“Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; verse 6, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(c) Matthew 10:7“, And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

(d) Matthew 10:8“, Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

(e) Freely you received, freely give.

(f) Matthew 10:9, “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10 or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

(g) Matthew 10:11, “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.

6. A Hard Road before us

(h) Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves;

7. The Meaning of Discipleship for us

(i) Matthew 10:24, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.

(j) Matthew 10:26, “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

(k) Matthew 10:32, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

(l) Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

(m) Matthew 10:38, “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Verse 39. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

8. The Reward of our Service

(n) Matthew 10:40, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

9. GO and follow His example

(V.) Matthew 11:1, “When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.”

10. Warninga and Woes

(VI.) JESUS WARNS ABOUT US THE PHARISEES / HIRELINGS – 8 WOES

Matthew 23:1, “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying:

(a) “The chair of Moses

(b) Matthew 23:8, Titles: Rabbi, Father, Leader, Servant.

11.  8 WOES – Matthew 23:13 – 33

12.  WARNINGS to His Disciples on the mission field – Matthew 23:34 – 39

13.  BE WATCHMEN – Signs of Christ’s Return

(a) Matthew 24:1 – 3, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Verse 4. And Jesus answered and said to them,

Finally dear brothers and sisters, since we are the Bride of Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ, let’s remember that we are all called as living stones, and are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; for we once were not a people, but now we are the people of God; we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy.

Simple Faith

I pray that if we will practice a simple Christianity in the Church, we may avoid being trapped in the complexities of religion.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

BALANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

BALANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

plumbline.jpg“A just balance and scales belong to the LORD. All the weights of the bag are His concern”. Proverbs 16:11

“Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.” Proverbs 20:23

“Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.” Job 31:6

BALANCE

Whether a “spirit level“, a “bubble level” or simply a level. It is an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb). Different types of ‘spirit levels’ may be used by carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, surveyors and other building trades workers.

More so with God’s creation. He is the Master Designer and has created all things with precision and balance.

The Apostle Paul dealt with matters of balance within the fledgling Church. There were those in the Church who would take liberties or license with the Word of God in their practices. For example, in 1 Corinthians 14:23, Paul says, “Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane?”

Some were new believers who simply needed instruction. Others were believers who, perhaps, got carried away with new-found freedom in Christ and went to excess. There were yet others were deliberately drawing attention to themselves out of pride, arrogance or were creating divisions within the Church.

 

 

One area of concern, which was subject to abuse, is Spiritual gifts. Paul taught balance in the Church regarding these matters:

1 Corinthians 12:1-10, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.

Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually, just as He wills.”

Clearly, there are Spiritual gifts present within the Church, today:

Romans 12 1 Corinthians 12 Corinthians 12 Ephesians 4
Prophecy Word of Wisdom Apostle Apostle
Serving Word of Knowledge Prophet Prophet
Teaching Faith Teacher Evangelist
Exhortation Gift of Hearing Miracles Pastor
Giving Miracles Healing Teacher
Overseer Prophecy Helps
Mercy Distinguishing Spirits Administration
Tongues Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues

But, we must remember, these are Gifts from the Spirit of God and of the Spirit of God. They are not gifts of man, and they are not even gifts of Christians.

The Holy Spirit gives and empowers these Gifts for the benefit of the Body of Christ and for the Glory of God. The Works and Gifts of God are manifest by Him through His creation.

If you truly have the gift of prophecy, remember, it is the Spirit of God working through you, not you of yourself.

If you truly have the gift of healing, remember, it is the Spirit of God working through you, not you of yourself.

If you truly have the gift of giving, remember, it is the Spirit of God working through you, and not you of yourself.

We should not boast in our Spiritual Gift, but honor God, glorify God and find order in the balance of God’s Kingdom.

Let’s pursue our calling and our gifts with all zeal, but in balance, with decency and order, so to bring honor and glory to our King!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Spiritual Gifts (and a Spiritual Gifts Test)

The Kingdom of God in your midst?

 

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN YOUR MIDST?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

 

Here is a Mystery:

There is a Power which exists that is able to transform your life, so radically, so completely, so thoroughly, that those who knew you beforehand, would hardly recognize you afterward. In fact, you would hardly be able to recognize yourself when the process is complete.

You might even have to ask yourself, “Can I really be that man or that woman who went about under my name before?”

You are, in one sense, the same person, but in another sense, you will have become someone utterly different.

This intensely real power, can pick you up today – right now – from the midst of loneliness, failure, ruin, misery, despair or any difficulty, and in the twinkling of an eye, as Paul said, begin to solve your problems, smooth out your difficulties, cut you free from entanglements and place you clear, safe and happy upon the highroad of freedom and opportunity.

Really??? (tell me more?)

  • It can lift you out of a bed of sickness and make you sound and well.
  • It can set you free so you can go about your life to shape it as it should be.
  • It can thrust open the prison door and liberate the captive.
  • It has a healing balm for the bruised and battered heart.
  • This Power can teach you all the things you need to know, if only you are receptive and teachable.
  • It can inspire you with new thoughts and ideas, so that your life’s work may be truly original, meaningful and lasting.
  • It can impart new and wonderful kinds of knowledge, as soon as you really want such knowledge – glorious knowledge – strange things not taught in schools or written in books.
  • It can find your true place in life, and put you into it, too.
  • It can find the right friends for you, kindred spirits who are interested in the same ideas and want the same things that you do.
  • It can provide you with an ideal home.
  • It can provide you the type of prosperity that means freedom. Not as the world knows prosperity, but the type of prosperity that means true Freedom. Free to be and to do and to go as your soul calls.

What is this Power?

Paradoxically, this Power is nothing, in and of itself. But, It’s True Value is hidden, like a treasure. Hidden within the Person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus the Messiah is the only One who can possess this unfathomable Power. And He gives it freely, to anyone who will believe and ask.

“Oh,” you say. “I have heard all of this before. I am already a Christian,” you say.

Really???

But, did you realize that you must actually ABIDE IN and BE INDWELT by the Person of Christ before you can experience this power?

Jesus is saying that this can only happen, “If you abide (live and find your being in) Me and My Words abide in you”.

Jesus said that a person must “eat His Flesh and Drink His Blood” in order to experience this Power.

Jesus is saying that you must leave everything every behind and follow Him in order to experience this Power. That means everything you know, everything you are, everything you have; every title, every accomplishment, every accolade, every degree, all your influence, all your friends – EVERYTHING.

Jesus said you must deny yourself of your personal desires, your wants, your lusts, deny yourself earthly relations and pursue Him, for this Power to be yours.

You will lose nothing of real value. He will make all things NEW and you will PROSPER even as your soul prospers!

Jesus is saying we must forget what this world has to offer – and spend all of ourselves on Him and His Calling.

Jesus has said, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”

Jesus is saying that once He possesses you, and you possess Him – you are IN Him and He and His Words are IN you – you may ask ANYTHING you will, and It shall be done unto you.

Ephesians 4:17-24, “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

Thus, this Power and His Promises are yours.

Let’s remain In His Grip!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: How can I say these things? I say these things because the Bible says these things.

How can I know these things? I know these things because they have happened to me and to millions of others.

Does this mean I will never have trouble again? NO. A thousand times, NO! The Bible, in Psalm 34:15–19, says,

“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry.

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Believe it or not.

DANGEROUS CHRISTIANITY

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

 

“Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.”  Genesis 22:17

The pastor of a mega-church we attended, several years ago, announced that the next Sunday’s sermon would be titled “Dangerous Christianity”.

This is a Gospel-centered church and the senior pastor was undoubtedly a Godly man, so the title created a stir of excitement in the congregation and I felt a positive anticipation rising in me. DANGEROUS CHRISTIANITY was exactly what I needed. It was exactly what I wanted to dish out to the devil: DANGER FROM GOD!

The next Sunday came, and we sat in our comfortable theater-style cushioned seats, eagerly waiting to hear about “Dangerous Christianity“.

“Beware, Devil”, I thought, “we are going to be a threat to you and yours from now on!”

The pastor started by saying, “It is Dangerous to take the Bible literally. Believing that everything in the Gospel is meant for your benefit can be DANGEROUS to your faith.”

I listened, and I thought, “Did I just hear what I think I heard?”

He repeated his opening statement.

Curious and a bit concerned, I listened to his lecture, but I didn’t hear too much after the introduction.

I kept thinking, over and over, that this respected man of God just said that the Bible presented a danger to the Believer’s faith, if he or she takes it literally.

Grammar, figures of speech, parts of speech, literary style, usage of nouns, pronouns, and verbs all aside, about all I remember about this “lecture” was the opening statement.

I understand metaphors, similes, idioms and hyperbole, and the Bible uses these figures of speech in various places to communicate an idea, a thought or a message.

But, the Bible is GOD BREATHED and is meant for every man, woman, boy and girl to understand. And the Bible indicates what is meant to be literal and what is not literal.

So, I decided to see if there was such a thing as Dangerous Christianity in the Bible, and here is what I found:

Genesis 22:17 “Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.”

1. Christians are a danger to possess the gate of our enemies!

Psalms 125:1, “Those who trust in the LORD Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. Verse 2. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.”

2. Christians are a danger to anyone or anything that would try to separate us from God.

Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.”

3. Christians are a danger to weapons formed to be used against us and our accusers will be condemned!!

John 10:28, ‘and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. Verse 29. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

4. Christians are a danger to death or any kind of separation from our Father’s Hand.

Romans 8:35, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Verse 36. Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” Verse 37. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Verse 38. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

5. Christians are a danger to tribulation, or

    • distress, or
    • persecution, or
    • famine, or
    • nakedness, or
    • peril, or sword or
    • death,

because we are more than conquers through Christ!!

Hebrews 12:28, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”

6. Christians are a danger to upheaval or turmoil.

Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

7. Christians are a danger to the evil of this world because we pray in Jesus’ Name and

    • Jesus possesses the keys to the kingdom of heaven and
    • Jesus binds evil,
    • Jesus binds death,
    • Jesus binds poverty,
    • Jesus binds sickness,
    • Jesus binds doubt,
    • Jesus binds fear,
    • Jesus binds hopelessness and the like.

Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Verse 11. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Verse 12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Verse 13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

8. Christians are a danger to schemes of the devil.

Mark 16:17, “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues.”

9. Christians are a danger to demons.

Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.”

11. Christians are a danger to sickness, death, disease and evil!!

Now, this is what I call DANGEROUS CHRISTIANITY.

Let’s exercise our gifts of the Spirit, the rights as brothers of Jesus, joint heirs of the Son, and as sons of God and remember that it is The Spirit doing His Work through us! Let’s let the power of God and His love, kindness, patience, gentleness, self-control, goodness, and faithfulness flow through us.

Let’s speak the Logos of God. Let’s speak the Rhema of God. Let’s walk in the Spirit of God and carry His Word before us.

Let’s live the life of a ‘Dangerous Christianity’ and bring glory to our God.

Your Brother and Friend,

Me2.jpg

Mike Young

PS – Can you think of other ways we can be ‘Dangerous Christians’ for the Glory of God and a credit to His Kingdom?

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

 

DOUBT NOT – A Prophecy

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

doubt.jpg

NOT!

 

Hear these urgent, prophetic Words of Jesus.

It seems we have been so inculcated by the thoughts, ideas, views and ways of the world, that our Christian thought has become muddled and mixed with error. This is fatal for a Christian. We cannot walk in the Spirit of God and see the power and presence of God in our lives if we spend our days, lingering in the world.

I would go as far to say, we have lost our way. We no longer run from sinful images or displays. We no longer shun evil.

We drink it in by what we watch on TV and at the movies. We revel in it by what we read, think and say. We consider the “old time religion” as too strict and legalistic. So, we stain ourselves with the sin of doubt and blur our vision with double-mindedness. We doubt.

The Apostle and disciple, James, warns us that we “must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

The Bible tells us instead, and yes, commands us, doubt not and to “have the mind in us which is also in Christ Jesus”. It is the only way.

Jesus tells us that we must not doubt.

Strong’s concordance (#1252) definition of DOUBT: (diakrino), means to

1) to separate, make a distinction, discriminate, to prefer

2) to be at variance with one’s self, hesitate, doubt

When it comes to God’s Word, we cannot make distinctions or discriminate or show preferences based on what we have learned from the world around us or by our life experiences. We cannot withdraw from doing God’s Word nor dispute what we must do in obedience to Him. We cannot be at variance with ourselves, nor hesitate or doubt in what God tells us we must do.

The world is against Christ and the world is teaching us to make up our own minds without regard to what God tells us. And as a result, our minds are being transformed by the world, by the media, by television programming, by the filth in the movies, by anti-God magazines, by hate mongering politics and more.

This is nothing new:

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from [a]any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  (Genesis 3:1).

The serpent told Eve to make up her own mind based on what she saw and thought according to the world around her. She gave the same advice to Adam, and they both ate, “and their eyes were opened.”

And they died. And, all humankind died.

Death manifested as a life ending natural death, followed by the horrors of spiritual death and eternal separation from God.

The serpent has been telling us, since the beginning, that we surly will not die. He continues to tell us the same lie, today.

And, we are dying. Our faith is dying, our witness is dying, our Spiritual walk is dying. Morality is dying, families and relationships are dying, and true wisdom is all but dead.

We take part in immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, every day. God has warned that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is the method of the Evil One. He is working to change our minds about God. He is telling us, “You surely will not die!”

But, God says for us to “wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

He is crouching at the door; and his desire is for you – but you must master him.”

DOUBT NOT.

Matthew 21:21–22, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

This is not just a “memory verse”. This is not a method or a program for success. This is not knowledge for knowledge’s sake.

This is the Word of Life. It is the Flesh and Blood of Jesus. Consume it. Drink it in.

We must practice the Presence and the Word of God, every waking minute, if we are going to do what God has commanded.

You and I must separate ourselves from this world at every chance. Turn off the news. Put down the newspapers. Turn off the television. Avert your glance from all that is evil or full of dissension.

We can and must retake the lost territories. Listen to the LORD. Here is how:

Joshua 1:3-8 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.  From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.  “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

If you are able, join me in a 30-day Spiritual diet of God and His Word. Start by rejecting the evil thoughts and images of this world. Do this until you can go for ONE MINUTE without dwelling a negative or evil thoughts.

If an errant thought come to your mind, quickly cast it out and turn your mind, thoughts and words to Jesus.

Do this until you successfully complete ONE MINUTE.

Then go for TEN MINUTES.

Then, go for ONE HOUR.

Then, go for, ONE WEEK.

Then, make it for, THIRTY DAYS.

The results will astound you.

Remembering that God has said that, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

This is something we can do, now. This is what God is willing for us to do, now.

Have Faith

Doubt Not

Ask in Prayer

Believe

Receive

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

AVOID THE PIT

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

AVOID THE PIT

ESCAPE THE PIT

WE SHOULD KNOW THIS. IT WILL SAVE OUR LIFE AND OUR SOUL

Really. We can actually DO this for our benefit – and for God’s glory!

Psalms 103:1-4, (A Psalm of David).

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion;

So, what exactly is THE PIT, God rescues us from?

The Bible defines “THE PIT” as

  • corruption,
  • destruction,
  • a ditch and
  • a grave.
  • It is also referred to as a “pit of hell”.

This definition is from the Hebrew language and comes from a root word or meaning

  • “to sink down,
  • be bowed down,
  • be humbled;
  • depression of the mind.

(taken from Psalms 103:4)

What is the PIT we can fall into which become our corruption, our destruction, a ditch a grave and a “pit of hell”? What are these PITS which cause us to sink down, to be bowed down, humbled and depressed in our mind? Here are a few:

The PIT of fear.
The PIT of anger.
The PIT of poverty.
The PIT of hatred.
The PIT of anxiety.
The PIT of lack and want.
The PIT of revenge.
The PIT of selfishness.
The PIT of resentment.
The PIT of addiction.
The PIT of lust and perversion.
The PIT of self-pity.
The PIT of envy.
The PIT of pride.
The PIT of self.

These and many more can become (or have become) a snare to our soul and mind. They can dictate our every thought and act and lead us into daily captivity of depression, destruction. A living hell. An above ground grave.

ESCAPE THE PIT!

Avoiding the PIT takes discipline and work on our part. We must consciously tell our soul to Bless the LORD. The Bible tells us to “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits”

If we follow this command – in other words, actually DO this – God redeems your life from the pit, and will crown you with loving kindness and compassion

Do it now. You will see, if you DO IT NOW. SAY THESE THINGS, NOW

“I Bless you LORD with my soul,

“I Bless you LORD with my mind, will and emotions.

“My soul says ” I Bless you LORD for you have rescued me, and You give me Your peace.

“You give me Your Joy.

“Today, I am full of Your Peace and Your Joy.

“Today, I am redeemed.

“Today, You have given me a strong and sound mind. I Bless you LORD for You are my redemption.”

I am FREE of fear.
I am FREE of anger.
I am FREE of poverty.
I am FREE of hatred.
I am FREE of anxiety.
I am FREE of lack and want.
I am FREE of revenge.
I am FREE of selfishness.
I am FREE of resentment.
I am FREE of addiction.
I am FREE of lust and perversion.
I am FREE of self-pity.
I am FREE of envy.

I am crowned with the courage of God.
I am crowned with the peace of Jesus.
I am crowned with all of God’s provisions of plenty.
I am crowned with God’s Love.
I am crowned with the confidence with comes from knowing God.
I am crowned with all the riches of Christ Jesus.
I am crowned with God’s reconciliation.
I am crowned with freedom in from the flesh.
I am crowned with God’s contentment.
I am crowned with a pure heart and a clean mind.
I am crowned with God’s satisfaction in my soul.
I am crowned with the gift of giving.

Bless the LORD, Oh my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His Holy Name!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

HOPE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

HOPE

I am borrowing an excerpt from Pastor Trent Casto’s sermon from February 25, 2024, taken from Ephesians 2:11-22, (Covenant Church of Naples, PCA, Naples, Florida), and I am focusing on the matter of ‘hope’. Pastor Casto asks,

“What is the hope that sustains you in life? You may be sustained by a short-term hope such as getting through school, or beyond a challenging phase of parenting, or through a particular medical treatment. But what if you don’t get through? What hope do you have? It may be hope for your children, that they will grow and be happy and successful however you define it. That’s a wonderful desire, but if it doesn’t happen, what hope do you have left?

 “The hope that carries you may be for a better tomorrow, a peaceful retirement, a financial windfall. But what if tomorrow never comes?

 “The Christian hope runs deeper than all these things and can sustain us even if these other hopes do not come to fruition.

 “The Christian hope is not simply a wish for the future but a certainty that God will do what He has promised. (It is hard to overstate the significance of having such a hope.

“If you are without hope today, or you realize that your hope is on shaky ground, there is a hope which can serve as a firm foundation that will not give way no matter what else in life does give way.” (End of sermon excerpt).

Let me continue by explaining that this word, ‘hope’ is not a wistful longing of uncertain outcome. This ‘hope’ as it used in Ephesians 2:12, comes from the Greek word ‘elpís’, meaning, to anticipate and to welcome – correctly used, it speaks of a confident expectation of what is sure to occur; a certainty. If you are without this kind of hope, sadly, you are walking in the blind, and it need not be that way.

Faith – Certainty – Hope – Proof.

 (#1). Hebrews 11:1 prophetically proclaims that “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.” (NASB). Faith – Certainty – Hope – Proof.

Another way to say this is, “Now faith is the assurance – the title deed, the confirmation – of things hoped for – divinely guaranteed, and the evidence of things not seen – but is the conviction of their reality—it is faith that comprehends, as fact, what cannot be experienced by the physical senses. (Amplified Bible Version).

In simpler words, you have to be dogged in and stubborn about your faith. You must be firmly planted on the conviction that God will finish what He has begun in you. You must be firm in your mind that God hears and answers your prayers. Furthermore, you must know that He will answer all your prayers in ways that conform to His great gift of salvation to you, and which will benefit you maturing into the image and likeness of Christ.

You must know that to be saved, literally means to be made safe, to heal, to preserve, to do well, to be made whole; rescued from destruction and brought into divine safety, rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin. (‘Saved’ in the Greek is the word sozo, pronounced sode-zo).

This is a certainty. It will come to pass; It has come to pass; receive it.

 

Proximity Is Everything.

(#2). Ephesians 2:13 prophetically proclaims, “But no win Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near, by the blood of Christ.”

Romans 10:6-10, explains it this way, “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL GO UP INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that 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.”

It is – that is the Word of Faith – is as near to you as the words in your mouth!

Believe it. Speak it. Embrace it. This is a certainty.

This is a certainty. It will come to pass; It has come to pass; receive it.

 

AND WE KNOW.

(#3).  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.” (see Romans 8:28-29).

And we know, or at the very least we should know (and understand), these Four Grand Principal Truths:

  • God causes all things to work together for good,

 

  • to those who love God,

 

  • to those who are called according to His

 

  • For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.

Let’s re-review this carefully.

  • It is God – alone – who is the cause.
  • This is exclusively for those who love God.
  • This is exclusively for those who are (the) called according to His purpose.
  • It is God alone who predestined those whom he foreknew to be conformed to the image of His Son. (This is God’s Primary Purpose and Plan. For by this single offering – the sacrifice of His only Son – He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.)

This is a certainty. It will come to pass; It has come to pass; receive it.

 

Keeping All This In Mind.

(#4). Scriptures tell us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8).

 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.” (Matthew 21:21).

 “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7).

OUR PART is to ask, seek, knock, have faith, doubt not, and it will be done.

GOD’S PART is to answer. His thoughts and His words are higher.

 

OUR PART is to have faith and accept what comes from the Hand of God and put it to good use.

GOD’S PART is to create, give, bestow, love us unconditionally, cause all things to work together for our good, whether we understand it, at first, or not.

 

OUR PART is to endure to the end and be saved!

GOD’S PART is to save.

This is a certainty. It will come to pass; It has come to pass; receive it.

 

Your Brother and Friend – In Christ Alone.

Mike Young