Devotional, Devotion, Prophecy, Bible Study, Bible discussion, End of Days, End Times, Enter Ministry, Underground Church, Church, Fellowship, Tribulation, Salvation, Ordained, Love, Heaven, Miracles
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.
We may be ‘in this world’ but we should not be a part of this world and it’s cares.
The Bible says that the mind that is set on the Spirit is life and peace. It’s not just a philosophy or a feel good teaching. This is the Truth, but it takes work and discipline.
Here’s the guarantee: If you will separate yourself (your mind, will and emotions) from the cares, worries and attractions of this world, and set your mind on the Spirit of God, you will not only have LIFE and PEACE, you will find success and will prosper even as your soul will prosper!
Here is how: Take one of these verses each few days, memorize it, visualize it, speak it, and do it. This, the Word of God, will literally change your life.
Verse 2.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Recap:
Whatever is true,
Whatever is honorable,
Whatever is pure,
Whatever is lovely,
Whatever is commendable,
If there is any excellence,
If there is anything worthy of praise,
THINK on these things.
There is another verse in the Bible that says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7). If you train your mind, soul and spirit (heart), so you will be, also.
The fruit of the Spirit, the result of His presence within us, is love, unselfish concern for others, joy, inner peace, patience – not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Positive, happy, healthy, encouraging and respectful people are like honey to bees. If you want friends, peace and life and would like to be respected, practice these things.
I will be posting a verse every few days. Let’s do this together – in His Name!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PREVIOUS: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.)
It is easier to define the word, “Church” and to cite scriptures that describe “Church”:
Church: The Greek word is “EKKLESIA”; EK = out of, or, out from; KALEO = called or summoned; “The Called-Out Ones”.
But defining the word Church does not give us the PURPOSE OF the Church.
Describing the PURPOSE OF the Church can be further confused by imposing a PURPOSE ONTO the Church as is the case by Pastor Rick Warren’s (founder of Saddleback church, California) extremely popular and successful book, “The Purpose Driven Church”. Warren, in his book proposes that in order for a church to be healthy it must become a purpose-driven church, built around the five New Testament purposes given to the church by Jesus.
Worship – “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37).
Ministry – “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:39).
Evangelism – “go therefore and make disciples” (Mt 28:19).
Fellowship – “baptizing them” (Mt 28:19, identification with the Christian community).
Discipleship – “teaching them to obey all that I command you” (Mt 28:20).
Warren’s primary thesis is that “what is needed today are churches that are driven by purpose instead of by other forces” (p80). His paradigm consists of a perspective that looks at everything through the five New Testament purposes of the church, and a process for fulfilling those purposes (p80). These five purposes, says Warren, are taken directly from the Great Commandment in Mt 22:37-40, and the Great Commission in Mt 28:18-20, and are therefore non-negotiable in the application of the model.
“The issue is church health, not church growth!” declares Warren. “If your church is healthy, growth will occur naturally. Healthy, consistent growth is the result of balancing the five biblical purposes of the church.”
The earliest examples of the rudimentary Church can be found in Matthew 11, when Jesus finishes instructing His first twelve disciples, and gives them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
Then, in Matthew 28:18-20, “Jesus came up and spoke to them, (His eleven disciples), 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.”
We could say, that from these first two examples of Jesus’ instructions, that the earliest PURPOSE OF the Church was to
Have authority over unclean spirits and to cast them out of the lives of the afflicted,
To heal every disease and every sickness,
Go and make disciples of all the nations,
Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Teaching them to follow all that Jesus commanded.
There are many tasks and attributes of the Church seen in scriptures. The church is to teach biblical doctrine, a place of fellowship, where Christians can be devoted to one another, to instruct one, to be kind and compassionate to one another, to encourage one another and most importantly, love one another. (see GotQuestions.Org)
The church is to be a place where believers can observe the Lord’s Supper, promoting fellowship and for prayer. Some final purposes of the church are to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. The church is to be about the business of ministering to those in need. This includes not only sharing the gospel, but also providing for physical needs (food, clothing, shelter) as necessary and appropriate. The church is also to equip believers in Christ with the tools they need to overcome sin and remain free from the pollution of the world.
However, the Apostle Paul gives what I consider as the prime example of the PURPOSE OF the Church when he taught that the Church is God’s hands, mouth, and feet in this world – the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).We are to be doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth. The church is to be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and Christ-following.
The rest of this article speaks to the direction and drift – or dare I say the ‘shipwreck’ – of the Church; how the church has been and is being reimagined and re-identified as a means to attract the world to its doors. This, I believe, in large part comes from men such as Rick Warren and Bill Hybels (Willow Creek, Chicago, IL). They identified key components of the true Church and adapted them to the current cultural mores, and their influence has been staggering. The results, however, has created and era of one of the biggest drifts of the Church from her foundation. (See “The Seeker-Friendly way of doing church”). Is this the Great Apostasy described in the Bible?
Let’s say you encounter a group of people – a large group of people – who are loving and who show unselfish concern for other; people who are joyful and show an inner peace; people who are patient, and show not only the ability to wait, they wait with kindness, people who are good, faithful, and gentle, showing great self-control. WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?
What if these people show a loving attitude and behavior that allows them to endure with patience and serenity; a people showing a love that is kind and thoughtful, that is not jealous or envious; a people showing a kind of love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. People who are not rude; not self-seeking, not provoked nor are overly sensitive and not easily angered; People with a loving attitude that does not take into account a wrong endured. They do not rejoice at injustice, but rejoice with the truth when right and truth prevail. WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?
People with a love toward others that bears all things regardless of what comes upon them, believes all things, that is looking for the best in each person, hopes all things, remaining steadfast during difficult times, and endures all things without weakening. People with a love never fails, never fades and never ends. What would you think? What would you do? AND, YES, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?
THE CHURCH: INHERITING THE EDIFICE COMPLEX
“The idea, that the Christians in the apostolic age, erected special houses of worship is out of the question.
The Savior of the world was born in a stable, ascended to heaven from a mountain. His apostles and their successors down to the third century, preached in the streets, the markets, on mountains, in ships, sepulchers, eaves, and deserts, and in the homes of their converts.
“Thousands of costly churches and chapels have since been built and are constantly being built in all parts of the world to the honor of the crucified Redeemer – who in the days of his humiliation had no place of his own to rest his head!” — PHILIP SCHAFF, NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICAN CHURCH HISTORIAN AND THEOLOGIAN
“MANY CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIANS have a love affair with brick and mortar. The edifice complex is so ingrained in our thinking that if a group of believers begins to meet together, their first thoughts are toward securing a building. For how can a group of Christians rightfully claim to be a church without a building? (So the thinking goes.)
The “church” building is so connected with the idea of church that we unconsciously equate the two and it has caused Christians to disconnect the original meaning of “The Church” (Ekklesia) from the people of God, the disciples of Jesus, to the edifice or buildings which occasionally house the Body of Christ – His People.
Just listen to the vocabulary of the average Christian today:
“Wow, honey, did you see that beautiful church we just passed?”
“My goodness! That is the largest church I have ever seen! I wonder what the electric costs to keep it going?”
“Our church is too small. I’m developing claustrophobia. We need to extend the balcony.”
“The church is chilly today; I am freezing my buns off in here!”
“We have gone to church every Sunday this past year except for the Sunday when Aunt Mildred dropped the microwave oven on her toe.”
Or how about the vocabulary of the average pastor:
“Isn’t it wonderful to be in the house of God today?”
“We must show reverence when we come into the sanctuary of the Lord.”
“Or how about the mother who tells her happy child (in subdued tones), “Wipe that smile off your face; you’re in church now! We behave ourselves in the house of God!”
“To put it bluntly, none of these thoughts have anything to do with New Testament Christianity. Rather, they reflect the thinking of other religions—primarily Judaism and paganism.
FROM HOUSE CHURCHES TO HOLY CATHEDRALS
“The early Christians believed that Jesus is the very presence of God. They believed that the body of Christ, the church, constitutes a temple. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He made some radically negative statements about the Jewish Temple.’
“The one that angered many Jews most was His announcement that if the Temple was destroyed, He would build a new one in three days! (See John 2:19-21.)
“Though Jesus was referring to the Temple that existed in the architectural sense, He was really speaking of His body. Jesus said that after this temple was destroyed, He would raise it up in three days.
“He was referring to the real temple—the Ekklesia—which He raised up in Himself on the third day (Ephesians 2:6).
“Since Christ has risen, we Christians have become the temple of God.
“At His resurrection, Christ became a “life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Therefore, He could take up residence in the believers, thus making them His Temple, His house. It is for this reason that the New Testament always reserves the word church (ekklesia) for the people of God. It never uses this word to refer to a building of any sort.” (Excerpts from Frank Viola & George Barna’s book, “Pagan Christianity”, Tyndale Publishing, 2002, 2008)
“When Christianity was born, it was the only religion on the planet that had no sacred objects, no sacred persons, and no sacred spaces.
“Although surrounded by Jewish synagogues and pagan temples, the early Christians were the only religious people on earth who did not erect sacred buildings for their worship. The Christian faith was born in homes, out in courtyards, and along roadsides. For the first three centuries, the Christians did not have any special buildings!
“As one scholar put it, “The Christianity that conquered the Roman Empire was essentially a home-centered movement.”
“Meeting in homes was a conscious choice of the early Christians.” It was a coming together in a more intimate setting, a ones’ home. Very little could be hidden in such an environment.
“Then, in the late second and third centuries a shift occurred”
Christians not only had adopted sacred spaces, they also had created sacred objects. (They would soon develop a sacred priesthood.) It might seem they had forgotten Moses and the golden calf.
“In all of this, the second and third century Christians began to assimilate the magical mind-set that characterized existent pagan thinking.
“These factors made the Christian terrain ready for the man who would be responsible for creating church buildings. In AD 327, Constantine began erecting the first church buildings throughout the Roman Empire, some at public expense.’ In so doing, he followed the path of the pagans in constructing temples to honor God.
“Interestingly, he named his church buildings after saints — just as the pagans named their temples after gods. Constantine built his first church buildings upon the cemeteries where the Christians held meals for the dead saints. WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?
“Constantine brought peace for all Christians.'” Under his reign, the Christian faith had become legitimate. In fact, it had risen to a status greater than Judaism and paganism.
“For these reasons, the Christians saw Constantine’s rise to emperor as an act of God. Here was God’s instrument who had come to their rescue.
“Christianity and Roman culture were now melded together.” WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?
“The Christian building demonstrates that the church, whether she wanted it or not, had entered into a close alliance with pagan culture.’ As Will Durant, author of The Story of Civilization (a sweeping, eleven-volume work on world history that earned him a Pulitzer Prize), put it, “Pagan isles remained in the spreading Christian sea.”
“As one historian put it, “Church buildings took the place of temples; church endowments replaced temple lands and funds.”
“Under Constantine, tax-exempt status was granted for all church property.
“Consequently, the story of the church building is the sad saga of Christianity borrowing from heathen culture and radically transforming the face of our faith.
“To put it bluntly, the church buildings of the Constantinian and post-Constantinian era essentially became holy shrines. The Christians embraced the concept of the physical temple. They imbibed the pagan idea that there exists a special place where God dwells in a special way. And that place is made “with hands.”‘ WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?
“As with other pagan customs that were absorbed into the Christian faith (such as the liturgy, the sermon, clerical vestments, and hierarchical leadership structure), third- and fourth-century Christians incorrectly attributed the origin of the church building to the Old Testament. But this was misguided thinking.”
“Most Americans are struggling to clarify their identity. They tend to see themselves as unique individuals, Americans, members of their family, occupational professionals, consumers, and then as followers of Christ — in that order of priority.
“In the minds and hearts of most Americans — even those whose beliefs classify them as “born-again Christians”— their identity as a follower of Christ pales in importance in comparison to the other roles they embrace. WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?
“Oddly, most of the born again Christians consider themselves to be servants of God and to have been transformed by their faith in Christ.
“Clearly, there are some missing connections in this self-evaluation. Perhaps the confusion is due to the enormous number of inter-actions and responsibilities that people take on each day.
“Maybe it has to do with the disjointed, topical teaching that most of us receive from our churches. It may even be attributable to the lure of competing perspectives and images bombarding us from the ever-present media.
“The bottom line is really quite simple: You are a priest of God, a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a member of His glorious body. Through your declaration of allegiance to Jesus and your stated desire to live with Him forever, you have a responsibility to be a functioning priest, minister, and member of the Body .
“The organized church has moved down a winding path over the past two thousand years. The only way to get it back on track is for each of us to begin prayerfully exploring the original plan that God had for His people, and then to be willing to respond faithfully to that plan.
“In this way, the Revolution that has begun to take root in our day will spread far and wide. And God will get what He has always been after.” (Excerpts from Frank Viola & George Barna’s book, “Pagan Christianity”, Tyndale Publishing, 2002, 2008)
So, where do we go from here? Let me start with a story about a funny thing happened to a friend. He related how, while at a crowded football game, he stood in a very long line for to order some food at half-time. It was taking so much time to reach the concession stand that he remarked others in the line that this is the longest food line he has ever had to endure. Then to his astonishment several shouted back that this was the line to the restrooms!” Why would anyone stand in the wrong line for an hour? They wouldn’t – not on purpose anyway! But, in case you did, there is a very old saying you need to hear again, “what do you call it when you keep doing the same things, expecting different results?” Nuts!!
I would like to suggest that we break the current man-made rigid religious molds. That we break these chains of manmade traditions that are binding us. I suggest that we go back to the beginning. The beginning of what Jesus taught and modeled and re-learn something old, making it new.
It is time we stopped ‘going to church’ to be served (i.e., to get what we want), and start assembling as the Church in order to serve God by finding OUR PURPOSE AS THE CHURCH by doing the works of Jesus!
Click the following link, and begin to pray for God’s Wisdom and discernment. An invitation.
I humbly offer this after fifteen years of prayer, study, seeking God, asking for His Wisdom to know and follow His Call. I sincerely and prayerfully urge you to do the same.
We may be ‘in this world’ but we should not be a part of this world and it’s cares.
The Bible says that the mind that is set on the Spirit is life and peace. It’s not just a philosophy or a feel good teaching. This is the Truth, but it takes work and discipline.
Here’s the guarantee: If you will separate yourself (your mind, will and emotions) from the cares, worries and attractions of this world, and set your mind on the Spirit of God, you will not only have LIFE and PEACE, you will find success and will prosper even as your soul will prosper!
Here is how: Take one of these verses each few days, memorize it, visualize it, speak it, and do it. This, the Word of God, will literally change your life.
Verse 1.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
There is another verse in the Bible that says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7). If you train your mind, soul and spirit (heart), so you will be, also.
The fruit of the Spirit, the result of His presence within us, is love, unselfish concern for others, joy, inner peace, patience – not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Positive, happy, healthy, encouraging and respectful people are like honey to bees. If you want friends, peace and life and would like to be respected, practice these things.
I will be posting a verse every few days. Let’s do this together – in His Name!
A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – The Eye Is The Lamp – Part 23
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 6:22-23
The previous verses instruct us in the focus of our heart. Now, Jesus progresses with the focus of our eyes. Both reach past our bodies and souls into the deepest part of our spirit or, as the Bible calls it, our heart. All things originate in our ‘heart’ or our spirit, which forms and holds our core beliefs, which then well up into our mind, our will, our emotions. They form our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. “For out of the heart, flow the issues of life”. (Proverbs 4:23)
Your attitudes, emotions behaviors and beliefs are greatly affected by what you take into your eyes. The things you see and watch, the things you dwell upon and think upon seep down into your spirit and determine not only how and what you believe and how you live your life – for good or for evil, but also determine your eternal destiny.
If in your life, you seem to repeatedly encounter the same or similar problems, trials and tribulations, don’t count it to ‘bad luck’. You may even be inclined to blame other people, and you may have been tragically influenced by parents, friends and circumstances, but you have the ability to rid yourself of these ‘demons’ of thought, attitude and behavior. God has given you the power of choice. It will not be easy, but it can and must be done.
You can change your life now, today. First, call upon the Name and Person of Jesus. He will direct you. Your path will be difficult, but the outcome is the prosperity of your soul! Your life’s trajectory will take a decidedly and dramatic upward turn. Do this, and one day you will wonder whose body you once inhabited, because you will be made new!
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). God created this sacred place in each of us. It is indeed the temple of the Holy Spirit within us. You must guard it at all costs, beginning with the focus of your heart and guarding what you allow into it.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law they meditate day and night.
They are like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
I have heard, over and over, that the United States, the greatest power and the wealthiest nation ever on the face of the earth, is nowhere to be found in end times prophecies. There are some Bible teachers who speculate that there may be some coded mention of America and there are speculations as to why and how such a world power could just disappear, but factually, the United States seems to have been omitted from Biblical history.
If you consider what is driving the current weakening and demise of America’s political, social, educational, religious, monetary, financial and legal systems, you might conclude there is a deliberate and systematic dismantling of the United States as a sovereign nation and as a world superpower. A programmed dismantling and absorption of the United States into a homogenous entity of nations and peoples by powers, both internal and abroad.
Bill Clinton George Bush Julian Huxley António Guterres
Klaus Schwab
Before I reveal the sources of this anti-American, anti-United States dissolution effort, allow me to go back in time to the first recognizable effort to dissolve national borders and to merge all the people of the world into a Global Government in an effort to enable humankind to achieve things once thought impossible.
The date was around 2242 B.C., the event was the building of The Tower of Babel. It was a post-Flood rebellion against God by Noah’s descendants. As told about in Genesis 11:1-9, it is meant to explain why the world’s peoples speak different languages. According to the account, a united humanity in the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar. There, they agree to build a city and a tower tall enough to reach heaven.
(NOTE: “tall enough to reach to heaven” can be a metaphor for “man reaching to heaven, making himself god, to accomplish his own desires. This is the ‘Utopian dream’ of the Socialist and Communist manifestos; the State being our god – from cradle to grave)
This initial effort to unite into a global community, which occurred about 100 years after ‘The Great Flood’, was a prophetic harbinger or a ‘forecast’ of what was to come. There have been repeated attempts by various nations and dictators, over the last 4,200 years of world history to conquer, unite and to ‘rule the world’.
The United Nations, U.N.E.S.C.O., and the World Economic Forum in the late 20th century and the early 21st century, however, united in a Globalist Movement. Then, with the creation of ICLEI they found the necessary resources and garnered the support and cooperation of over 2,500 local and regional governments in 125+ countries worldwide, to promote a Marxists-style One World Government.
The ICLEI, (formerly known as the ‘International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’) is one of the sub-organizations of the United Nations which sprang from the Agenda 2030. This international association was established when more than 200 local governments from 43 countries convened at its inaugural conference, the World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future, at the United Nations in New York in September 1990.
Then, thanks to the likes of UNESCO’s first Director-General Julian Huxley, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, The World Economic Forum’s Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab and to past Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, operations of this Globalist cabal through the ICLEI progressively embedded 252 local offices in American cities, towns, and local and state governments. (That number, as of January 2024, has now grown to 339 locales in the U.S.), promoting the agenda, goals and initiatives of the United Nation’s Agenda 2030 of Global Marxism. (Here is a link back to Episode 5 – MARXISM, AGENDA 2030, THE U.N., THE AMERICAN DEMOCRAT PARTY).
This takeover of America by Global Marxists and Marxist-leaning American political democrats has been hidden in plain sight for the last seventy-five years. Promoting false, misleading and ostensibly unobtainable goals, objectives and methods, they have gained a worldwide momentum over the last twenty-five years. All of these worthy sounding goals have appealed to people on every continent. But none of their promised gains have come into reality.
The same has continued and progressed under America Democrat party leadership and various Leftists posing as Republican politicians, supported by a hard Leftist media, Leftist business community and their Leftist financiers.
The results, are becoming apparent: more poverty, government expansion, loss of personal freedoms, an increase in dependence on government in every aspect of life, an increase of new strains of disease, and a new class of political elitism which is choking out the middle-class in America.
Now, thanks to what I shall call a traitorous coup de tat, under the Joe Biden administration, the results of “Bidenomics” and the I.C.L.E.I.’s “Sustainable development” is in full bloom and has come into full view:
The destruction and loss of American Uniqueness.
The destruction and loss of the American tradition and legacy.
The destruction of the family.
Transgenderism, homosexuality, denial of marriage vows, single parent families, death by abortion and euthanasia.
The destruction of our social order.
Lawlessness, uncontrolled, illegal and unmanageable immigration, legalization of drug use, promotion of perversion.
The destruction of our Legal System.
Abrogation of our laws.
The destruction of our Constitution.
The compromise and destruction of our court systems.
The infiltration and compromise of our Religious Institutions.
The raiding and bankrupting of our National Treasury.
Unsustainable national debt.
Fraudulent climate initiative’ costs.
The bankrupting and destruction of our healthcare system.
So, where do we go from here? Turn to God and become a sojourner, an alien in a foreign land, help yourself, your family and others to find true purpose in this life and the life which is to come. (Please see, “Not Of This World”).
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Additional reading Globalism and the United States:
The title sounds like it belongs on a science fiction novel. It might bring to mind strange looking creatures in other-worldly surroundings. But a similar caption can be found in the New Testament book of John 8:23, “And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.” (the words of Jesus).
And again, in John 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
Is Jesus speaking in metaphors, or is this to be taken literally? Is He really ‘not of this world’?
Then in John 17:13–19, “But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given those you have given Me, Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world (kósmos; literally, “something ordered“; an “ordered system”, the world. ), just as I am not of the world. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.”
Are those who profess to become Christians really not of the world? (I mean, they were born into the world of natural parents.)
Then, in Romans 12:2, we are told that the believer is not to be “conformed to this world, but (to) be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Again, are these verses to be taken literally, or is it metaphorical?
It is a peculiarity of becoming a Christian that a transformation takes place. I suspect, unfortunately, that most people consider this transformation to be a natural cognitive process. Is it a natural process being described by metaphor or hyperbole, or is it something that literally happens with a believer?
Again, 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that, “If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creature; the old has passed away; behold, new things have come.” (Some Bible versions have altered that word to read, “If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation.” After all, becoming a new creature or a different creature is a bit out of this world.)
The Bible talks about being born again, of being made new, being transformed, being filled with the Spirit of God. Are these just exaggerations, metaphors, hyperboles or similes, used to get a point across? If so, it is odd then, that on the one hand, the Bible talks about unexplainable events, out of this world events, as miracles, then on the other hand would reduce the transformation of a human being into a child of God and a child of light, to a metaphor? Or is it both?
Is it possible that it is we – those of us who read the Bible and profess to believe in God – who are ascribing the miraculous to events which happen to others or miracles in nature, as being possible and literal? But are reducing those things that happen to us – individually – as metaphorical?
Or, are you and I just unwilling to believe such out of this world things can literally happen to us?
Or, perhaps, we are unwilling to do the literal, that is to die to our old lives and our old selves in order to literally become Christlike and to literally follow Jesus? (Before you answer, consider the Apostles and read Hebrews chapter 11.)
Please consider these events and decide if they literally happened or if they were just metaphors and hyperbole:
Jesus, having been crucified, killed and buried, literally coming back to life.
About all believers, at some point, being raised from the dead when Jesus miraculously appears in the clouds of the sky and His angels will gather His elect to be raptured into heaven.
About the lame being healed; the blind given sight; the dead raised back to life; axe handles that float; a donkey speaks;
Then there is the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).
Could it be that becoming a Christian is more than just adopting a religion, and a new world view? Is it possible that something ‘supernatural’ actually takes place in your own mind, body, soul, spirit and life? Something OUT OF THIS WORLD?
It is interesting that the Greek word used for ‘transformed’ or ‘transformation’ is metamorphóō; it translates to “metamorphosis” and “metamorphize. (Metá, “change after being with” and /morphóō, and means “changing form in keeping with inner reality”; transformed after being with; transfigured.
A creature that has gone through a metamorphosis is radically and permanently changed from one thing into another. It is a process, when taken literally, that cannot be undone.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 says, “Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
So, why all this talk about miracles, metaphors, and hyperboles? I use it to help us focus on the idea that the Bible is not a religious book, nor is it a book about religion. I am wanting to ask and ponder the question “what if the Bible is indeed a book breathed and written by God, describing Himself, His plans, purposes, methods and His Kingdom – and about us as His creation, who came from another world to inhabit earth? SOMETHING TRULY OUT OF THIS WORLD!
The Bible is a book that not only answers all the questions of life but directs us to ‘rise up out of the dust of this earth’, to be born again and to be transformed into a new creature to inherit the coming new heaven and the new earth. God intends us to take our place as His children, as joint heirs with Jesus over all that God has created. It is entirely plausible and practical that our experience of a natural birth and our life on this earth is nothing more than God’s incubator for our maturing into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus in preparation of our eternity with Him.
I hope this gives a new urgency and meaning that “The gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life and there are few who find it”, because there are literally very few who call themselves Christian, willing or able to see the Bible as a literal call from God to come out of this world and its ways. They fail or refuse to see that if they are truly born again and transformed, they are NO LONGER OF THIS WORLD and should not simply be adding the benefits of being a Christians (such as going to heaven receiving answered prayers, etc.) to living like they are of this world! They must stop entangling themselves with the concerns and matters of this world and follow Jesus in His inexorable march to the consummation of this age!
I hope this gives incentive to re-read the Bible with new eyes that can see.
Furthermore, I pray that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened, so that we will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. (see Ephesians 1:18-19).
(Christian): Read this little booklet. Pray this little prayer. Find a good bible-believing Church. Read your Bible.
10 years later.
What now? I’ve done all you have said and there’s been nothing but trouble inside and outside the church. It seems that I’ve changed, but little else has changed.
(Christian): What are you doing different?
Nothing.
(Christian): Oh, I see. That’s probably the problem. You actually have to follow Jesus. Do what He says and do what He does. You know?
Huh? Do you mean, really follow Him around? So, if I am to actually follow Him, please tell me, where we are going?
(Christian): I don’t know. I mean, we are going to heaven! In the meantime, just read your Bible, be nice, and to the best of your ability, do what it says. Or, listen to your preacher. He will tell you what to do! Right?
I have been asking around, and so many people and preachers are saying so many different things. Who should I listen to? Whose advice should I follow?
Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you, deceiving you and leading you into error. For many will come in My name, misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me, or representing me in the Church, saying, ‘I am the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One,’ or saying, ‘I represent Jesus as His anointed one, His spokesman or spokeswoman’ and they will mislead many.” Do not listen to them and do not follow them. Follow only Me.
I feel like I am lost in a forest of religions. How can I find my way home to God? How can I know which way to go?
The world seems to be in an irreversible spiral of chaos, careening out of control. But that is only the appearance. There is order behind the apparent chaos. Satan creates chaos, disease, poverty and death to discourage and distract you from God’s Great Design and Plan. Satan will try to convince you that he has a plan for your salvation. It is a lie.
Everything, past, present and future is going according to God’s Plan. Knowing and following God’s Will from beginning to end will help you see and know what God is doing in these Last Days and why He is doing it this way.
Let me take you on a journey. A journey through the Bible, following Jesus and important signposts from the beginning to the end.
My prayer is that you would read the Bible (from the beginning to the end in the proper context), and that everything you may have wondered regarding the reasoning behind God’s plan for the world and for your life – all your successes, all your failures, all the good times and the hard times – will begin to make sense and fall into place. That God will give you an increased and a renewed enthusiasm for His Word so that you may be able to perform His Word and His Works in these Last Days.
Please, be aware that this will not be an easy journey. Jesus has already told us that we will have tribulation in this world. In fact, it is through these trials that we are made ready – perfected into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus – in order to inherit this world and the next as joint heirs with Jesus. (see Matthew 5).
I promise you that this is an amazing journey. A journey from the beginning of time through recorded world and Biblical histories. We will identify important past Bible prophecies and correlate them to the actual past world events; then we will compare both prophecies and histories to one specific prophecy known as ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’, which will bring us to current events and the final epoch of time known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation”, which are now unfolding with frightening accuracy.
I will not stop there, however. I will conclude by laying out a successful response to these events, a plan of action by which you can both survive and thrive in these final days.
Finally, there is an event coming which is so fantastic as to be unbelievable. But I will show the evidence leading to this event, known as the ‘Rapture’ and I will even help you calculate the odds of its occurrence. You will then be faced with the most monumental decision you have ever faced. You don’t want to miss this.
He began with the imperfect and created the Masterpiece, first in the heavens and then on the earth. His work completed in just seven days; He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for a millennium until it became His Perfection.
This is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2.
(Please note that I use page links in place of citations, footnotes and references. They are important for background information and a more complete understanding of these teachings.)
PREFACE
There are no random words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters or books in the Bible. None. No, not one – from the beginning to the end – from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21. Every word matters. Each word is built upon another until the Bible forms the perfect written Word and Thoughts of God.
I will go further to point out that the Word of God, in spiritual reality, is the breath, the Breathed Word of God (see 2 Timothy 3:16). It should be presented as the longest and continuous word ever spoken and written (although we – men and women – needed to divide it into verses, sentences, chapters and books for our convenience).
Furthermore, we should realize that the Bible is instructive, creative, causative and prophetic by its nature. It is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (see Hebrews 4:12).
782,805
The Bible contains 782,815 words (the New American Standard Bible). It begins with “In the beginning God” and every word, sentence, paragraph, chapter and book that follows is synchronized and in context with those opening words. (He and His Message is the same yesterday, today and forever.)
The remaining 782,805 words of the Bible continue to be in the context of the first words found in Genesis; and if you read the rest of the Bible out of that context, you will not – you cannot – get the correct understanding of the Message from God.
So, it should come as no surprise that reading all sixty-six books of the Bible in context, becomes especially challenging since you are dealing with 782,815 words, composing 31,103 verses and 1,189 chapters and 66 books written by 40 authors over a span of 1,500 years. (Further complicating this matter, there are about fifty mainline versions of the Bible, not counting revisions). However, doing the hard work of keeping your reading and comprehension in context will make understanding God’s purpose and plan for this world, the cosmos and for your life much easier to understand.
Another helpful hint when trying to read the Bible, and understanding the importance of context, is knowing the beginning and the end, before you dig into the entire narrative of the Bible – it is immeasurably helpful to know how it starts and how it ends before reading such extensive content.
Coincidentally, as a prelude to his sermon on Sunday, January 21st of this year, Pastor Trent Casto of Naples Covenant Church made this observation:
“Researchers from U.C. San Diego, California, have hypothesized that it could be that once a person knows how a story turns out, it is cognitively easier – you are more comfortable processing the information – and can focus on a deeper understanding of the story.” In other words, knowing the end of a story before you read it, may actually enhance our enjoyment and understanding of that story.” (Click here for the video version).
I consider this hypothesis to be especially applicable when it comes to reading the entire Bible, especially since the Bible is the longest continuous instructional (love) letter ever composed.
The Bible begins with the creation of heaven and earth, and completes the journey with God’s judgements on the earth and culminates with the destruction and the re-creation of the heavens and the earth as the eternal home for faithful believers. Everything between these two points is the active will of God being completed in and through His creation – it is His perfecting of what He has created! It is the perfecting of His children (you, me and His Church) in preparation for our great inheritance.
Just to cite three (out of numerous) examples of perfection, God tells us in Romans 12:2, ”And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Again, in Matthew 5:48, God says, “Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
And, in Hebrews 10:14, He tells us, “Because by a single offering (Jesus) He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.”
In the beginning, God created. God began with the imperfect and created His Masterpiece, first in the heavens and then on the earth. His work completed in just seven days; He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for a millennium until it became His Perfection.
God’s Word is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.
The world seems to be in an irreversible spiral of chaos, careening out of control. But that is only the appearance. There is order behind the apparent chaos. Satan creates chaos, disease, poverty and death to discourage and distract you from God’s Great Design and Plan. Satan will try to convince you that he has a plan for your salvation. It is a lie.
Everything, past, present and future is going according to God’s Plan. Knowing and following God’s Will from beginning to end will help you see and know what God is doing in these Last Days and why He is doing it this way.
My prayer is that you would read the Bible (from the beginning to the end in the proper context), and that everything you may have wondered regarding the reasoning behind God’s plan for the world and for your life – all your successes, all your failures, all the good times and the hard times – will begin to make sense and fall into place. That God will give you an increased and a renewed enthusiasm for His Word so that you may be able to perform His Word and His Works in these Last Days.
Please, be aware that this will not be an easy journey. Jesus has already told us that we will have tribulation in this world. In fact, it is through these trials that we are made ready – perfected into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus – in order to inherit this world and the next as joint heirs with Jesus. (see Matthew 5).
Again, the apostle Peter told us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”(see 1 Peter).
INTRODUCTION
Our world seems to be in an irreversible spiral of chaos, careening out of control. Everything we have known as good in recorded history is being called evil; and all things evil are being called good; The world substitutes darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
There is a large and growing worldwide faction, however, will tell you that all is well and that we have entered a New World Order, a Great World Reset is at hand.
This short video will give you a glimpse of what is being sold as this New World, but in reality, it is the same tired old saga of the failed Marxists Utopia. The claims are the outrageous imagination of the world’s Globalists-Socialists and Marxists.
Having and promoting unrealistic promises as reality is nothing new, except every single previous promise of a Socialist, Communist, Leninist, Marxist government or social structure, or any variant of the same, has always ended in tyranny, despotism, wars, loss of personal freedom, lack of basic needs, poverty and the death of millions.
If you will patiently walk with me, I will take you on an amazing journey. A journey from the beginning of time through recorded world and Biblical histories. We will identify important past Bible prophecies and correlate them to the actual past world events; then we will compare both prophecies and histories to one specific prophecy known as ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’, which will bring us to current events and the final epoch of time known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation”, which are now unfolding with frightening accuracy.
I will not stop there, however. I will conclude by laying out a successful response to these events, a plan of action by which you can both survive and thrive in these final days.
Finally, there is an event coming which is so fantastic as to be unbelievable. But I will show the evidence leading to this event, known as the ‘Rapture’ and I will even help you calculate the odds of its occurrence. You will then be faced with the most monumental decision you have ever faced. You don’t want to miss this.
We will take a journey followed by a book aptly titled ‘The Journey to Perfection’. Our travels will coordinate Bible Prophecy, Biblical and World Histories culminating with The End of Days’. You will be able to read this book either as a digital ONLINE book or in a PDF format.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for coming episodes of “The Journey to Perfection”.)
(PS: The main idea here is that in the beginning God had already determined the end. And with God, all things have already been fulfilled. (This is the mystery of God’s view of time.) We, who are living within His creation, have to walk through a linear timeline. It is not so we can change anything God has created or ordained to happen, but it is so we can benefit from the experience of life. This is the time we experience our joys, suffer our trials and we are to make our decison relating to God and to our eternity as spoken of in Daniel 12:1-2, “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Verse 10. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.
It is through this process we, who are believers, will experience God’s perfecting of our soul and will experience His process of sanctification.)
A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Where Your Treasure Is – Part 22
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The Words of Jesus, Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus is speaking from a spiritual perspective. He is comparing the value of earthly treasures such as money, property and such worldly wealth, to the greater spiritual wealth from which all other things flow.
From a practical standpoint, Jesus seems to be giving good advice about living your life for things that matter, things of eternal significance. Temporal things such as physical possessions, money, properties, titles, ego and pride, fade after death and are forgotten.
But Jesus is teaching about much more than quality of life issues. He is teaching about a hidden oracle of God. He is teaching about living and operating from within the Basileia Ouranos – The Kingdom of Heaven. The rule of Christ in believers’ hearts – which is a rule that “one day will be universal on the physical earth in the Millennium.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”is not just an axiom or an allegory, it is a deep spiritual truth that tells of your eternity. An eternity of darkness and fear, wailing and gnashing of teeth or an eternity of perfection living in the presence of God.
If your heart is fixed on earthly treasures that will deteriorate, can be destroyed or stolen, so will go your body, your soul and spirit – down to destruction.
But if your heart is fixed on storing up the ‘treasure hidden in the field’ or ‘the pearls of great value’, that which was paid by Christ for our redemption, you will have found the treasures of good character, wisdom and excellence in behavior which will successfully guide and guard you through your journey in this life to an incorruptible inheritance of the love of God through Christ; fulfilling your greatest needs, satisfying your deepest longings, making you whole and clean before God, calming and quieting your heart, and giving you assurance for the future.
These treasures are hidden, indicating that spiritual truth is missed by many and cannot be found by intelligence or power or worldly wisdom. Matthew 13:11-17 and 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 14 make it clear that the mysteries of the kingdom are hidden from some who are unable to hear, see, and comprehend these truths. The disobedient reap the natural consequences of their unbelief—spiritual blindness. Those whose eyes are opened by the Spirit do discern spiritual truth, and they, like the men in the parable, understand its great value. (see GotQuestions.org)
You will find treasures of the greatest eternal value in the Kingdom of Heaven, where you will live and serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and you will worship him. You will see his face, and his name will be on your forehead. And night will be no more. You will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be your light, and you will reign with Him, forever and ever. (see Revelation 22:3)
This is one of the most reliable statements and one of the direst warnings. Meditate on this. Let it seep into your spirit and be transformed.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
NEXT: (coming soon). A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – The Eye Is The Lamp – Part 23
“I guess you might say I have been busy working at saving the world”.
WHICH WORKS?
It is interesting that Jesus commanded His disciples (Christians) to do the works that He has done and even greater works than these. We are to continue in His mission, using His methods and His ways. (John 14:12, Matthew 10:1)
It can be a bit confusing, but He promised us that He will be with us, in His authority, giving us direction and even giving us the words we should use. (Matthew 28:16-19, Luke 21:15, Luke 12:12)
WHY DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?
“For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” This, too, is our calling!
TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH
John 18:37“Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” This, too, is our calling!
TO BRING A SWORD
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. Verse 35. For I came to TURN A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; Verse 36and A PERSON’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.”This, too, is our calling!
TO FULFILL THE LAW
Matthew 5:17, “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.”This, too, is our calling!
TO CALL SINNERS
Mark 2:17, “And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”This, too, is our calling!
TO SAVE THE WORLD
John 12:47, If anyone hears My teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” In a very real sense, This, too, is our calling, by lifting the Name of Jesus, telling others and leading them to Him
TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH
Luke 12:49, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! Verse 50.But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Verse 51. Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather to create division; This, too, is our calling!
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT, WAS…
John 14:12,“Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. 13And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
I have heard so many preachers and bible teachers try to justify or explain away these Words of Jesus because they just cannot fathom the gentle and sweet ‘dashboard Jesus’ saying such things as we find in the verses cited. These same confused preachers really get tied in a knot over John 14:12. They will begin their commenary of teaching it with, “what this really means is…”.
Jesus said what He meant and meant exactly what He said. We need to get over it and get on with it.
CONTEXT
The year is now 2024. A recent-past president of the United States has declared that America is no longer a Christian nation. Postmodernism is a term used to describe this new paradigm. Our churches are practicing a new version of the Gospel of Jesus Christ often described by a “3-line motto” which can be seen across the spectrum of churches in America: “Gather, Grow, Give” or “Love each other, Enjoy Jesus, Share Him with others”, etc.
These mottoes are an attempt to describe the church and its ministry to the watching world or to the ‘church shopping Christian’. But, if these mottoes or labels are supposed to describe Jesus and His Church, they fail.
Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was not to teach a social gospel, create a ‘family life center’, to make you a better you or to shake up the existing religious institutions. Jesus was on a specific Mission from God the Father as is reflected in the foregoing Bible verses. Jesus confirms that He is on His Father’s mission,, in John 5:19, “Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.”
With this in mind, can you, in your most vivid imagination, see Jesus announcing “mother’s morning out”, “cookies and campfires for kids”, “fishing with fathers and sons”, “financial workshops”, etc? You might say “what’s wrong with that?”. I would respond that there is nothing wrong with these activities, but, they have nothing to do with Jesus Mission and our calling to that mission.
THE BOTTOM LINE
John 3:16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”
FACING REALITY
Everything Jesus has done is IN THE CONTEXT of what God the Father said. But, the world, both Christian and secular worlds seem to have decided that Jesus is exclusively a gentle little lamb. But, if you make a closer inspection and take an honest look a what the Bible says, you see a different picture: Jesus is both the Lion of Judah and the Sacrificial Lamb. He is both careful with His words and brutally honest. He is both gentle and forceful.
THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE
If you came home and saw your house on fire, knowing your family was inside, what would you do? Would you politely suggest everyone might want to step outside or would you take immediate action, sparing no effort or words to alert everyone to the immediate danger and move them to safety at any cost?
Likewise, God’s creation is perishing because of lack of knowledge of Him and Jesus is doing what is necessary to save the world. We may not always understand His words, His methods or His ways, but it would be prudent to observe, listen, think and obey Him.
The world has long held a misconception, a distorted view of God. We have made Him into a “kinder and gentler” image which we would prefer.
Jesus is setting that record straight in order to save the world from itself.
SO, WHAT ABOUT JESUS BEHAVIORS?
Most who have read this far, should have been shocked by the opening paragraphs of this article, but, that is EXACTLY what Jesus said and did. These are EXACTLY the behaviors of our Savior. Jesus’ words and behaviors are the perfect balance of love for this world coupled with rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness This, too, is our calling!
His words and actions must be kept in context, lest we misuse them, ourselves. Read John 3:16 again, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”
Jesus’ words and behaviors are the perfect balance of love for this world coupled with rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness. This, too, is our calling!
WE ARE IN AN END DAYS WAR
We are locked in the eternal Spiritual struggle. Millions upon millions of souls are at risk. We cannot fight and win this battle using our own means, methods and ways. It is urgent that we return to Jesus, to His methods and His ways. It is urgent that we have the mind of Christ at all times and in all matters. Anything less ends in defeat.
If you dispute or dismiss the idea that God’s ways may seem strict harsh or unfair, remember, God sacrificed His own Son for you. That seems strict, harsh and unfair.
Jesus willingly gave up His own life for this Cause which also seems strict, harsh and unfair.
And, if God did not spare the natural branches (His own Jewish / Hebrew people), how will you stay secure in this Cause without following Him? Does this also seems strict, harsh and unfair? Perhaps. But it is the only way!
WE MUST GET THIS RIGHT
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. We cannot fight this war with conventional earthly method, means or way. WE MUST GET THIS RIGHT in our minds and do this in real-time!
This is the only way, for as it is written. This will shake the very foundations of your life, your church and the world!
TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH
BRING A SWORD
FULFILL THE LAW
CALL SINNERS TO REPENTANCE
SAVE THISWORLD
CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT, WAS “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father.And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:12).
Time is short. His return is near. It is time each of us, individually and collectively, to pick up our cross and really follow Him. Now! Today!
PS: Just in case you were wondering. The Bible is clear: I am not talking about us saving ourselves. No one can earn their way into the Kingdom of Heaven by what they say or do apart from Jesus. Our salvation and place in heaven is secured solely by God’s Grace and through our faith in Jesus.
How we act, that is, our words and our behaviors are a reflection of our attitude. And our attitude, our mind set, must be the same as Christ. Philippians 2:5, exhorts us to “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus”.
Your attitudes and resultant words and behaviors are what will free you or will limit you.
You will overcome because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of your testimony, and that you do not love this life even when faced with death!
A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – When You Fast – Part 21
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
The Words of Jesus, Matthew 6:16-18
Here, Jesus is telling us about religion versus true worship of and prayer, to God. Fasting is a mysterious act of worship and prayer. There is no doubt that when entering into the presence of God with worship and prayer, the eternal battle between our flesh and our spirit erupts, pride being the great enemy of our soul. Scriptures tell us that God hates pride and opposes the proud, and that fasting is our remedy for taming and humbling the passions of our flesh and soul when approaching God. The Psalmist (Psalms 35) tells us he humbles his soul (nephesh), the appetites, emotions and passions of his flesh, with fasting.
The Apostle Paul also talks about this struggle between the flesh and the spirit, in Romans 7:21-24, when he says, “So, I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Jesus instructs us that ”when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.” I admit that I don’t fully understand why ‘praying in secret’ and ‘practicing your righteousness privately’ is necessary to obtain God’s reward, except that it is probable that our fleshly attitudes and passions have a direct effect on our spiritual life. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life”. Another way of saying this is “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
It is as if Jesus is drawing a line for us, separating the spiritual world, where all things originate, from the natural world, where all things are made manifest, showing us where we must live and breathe and have our being. (Acts 17:28)
It is almost like the function of a boiler producing heat. If the boiler has ‘leaks’, the steam and pressure necessary to produce heat is dissipated, and the boiler is only lukewarm and good for little more than vapor. But if the steam and pressure is contained, hidden away, focused on the internal workings of the boiler, the power to produce heat for the entire house is created. The ‘leaks’ are fissures of emotions, pride and self-glorification. The containment is ‘spiritual disciplines’ focused on worshiping, praying and serving God alone. This is how spiritual power is built; this is when the reward is revealed.
Jesus is teaching us a deep and important spiritual truth. It will be found only by a few who remember that we are not of this world (John 17:16), but that we are of His Kingdom. We have been adopted as heirs of heaven by God Himself, and that is where our citizenship is (Titus 3:7). This is where our power lies. This is where our reward resides.
Bible Stories, Religious Ethical Teachings or THE TRUTH to be applied so you can live faithfully?
The answer to the question: “Is The Bible a record of Stories leading up to and including Jesus? Is the Bible Religious Ethical Teachings we can choose from and adjust for our own particular circumstances? Or is the Bible THE TRUTH to be applied to keep you from stumbling, so you can live successfully and faithfully?
Let me begin by saying that the Bible was written to you, for you and about you, for your understanding and relationship with God. There are those who would argue that the Bible sometimes was written to specific people or about specific people but not always for those people, and this, unfortunately, is the prevalent view among most theologians and Christian denominations. It is an attempt to avoid having to apply the parts Truth of God’s Word which they do not understand or do not agree with. In other words, puny and arrogant humans standing in judgement on God and His Word! (Think about that.)
Here is why I say what I am saying: The Bible instructs us, “Every place on which the sole of your foot steps, 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 one will be able to oppose you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not desert you nor abandon 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 achieve 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 achieve success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:3-9).
And again in Deuteronomy 28:1-13, “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I am commanding you today, that the LORD your God will put you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings will come to you and reach you if you obey the LORD your God:
“Blessed will you be in the city, and blessed will you be in the [c]country.
“Blessed will be the children of your womb, the produce of your ground, and the [f]offspring of your animals: the newborn of your herd and the young of your flock.
“Blessed will be your basket and your kneading bowl.
“Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when you go out.
“The LORD will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated by you; they will go out against you one way and will flee at your presence seven ways. The LORD will command the blessing for you in your barns and in everything that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. So all the peoples of the earth will see that [i]you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you. And the LORD will give you more than enough prosperity, in the children of your womb, in the offspring of your livestock, and in the [l]produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless every work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will only be above, and not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God which I am commanding you today, to follow them carefully”.
In a nutshell, your thoughts, your ideas, your circumstances and your needs, no matter how great or dire, overshadow or trump the Truth of God’s Word. Anytime you skirt or compromise the clear teachings and instructions of God’s Word you get, at best, a diluted result and at worst, death – death, whether the death of a dream, the death of your hopes and aspirations, or a physical death.
We, as Christians, are so quick to exclaim “He is risen, indeed”, but then hesitant when it is time to act on the Words of the Risen King, Jesus Christ! Perhaps it is because we are a frail and broken people, saved only by God’s Grace and through our faith in Jesus. Or, perhaps it is because we are a rebellious people, bent on having our own way.
But know this: If you are able, you must.
If you cannot, put yourself at God’s mercy. He knows that’ our frames are but dust’, prone to fail. And though He will not test you beyond what you can endure, the finished Work of Jesus on the cross has provided and secured our salvation.
Do what you can, and all you can, while you can. If you cannot, turn to The Father through Jesus His Son, our Lord, our Savior, our Friend and Brother.
Each and every Word of the Bible is God’s love letter of hope, promise and instruction written specifically to and for you and me. This is how and why it is written. This is how it is to be read, understood and applied – every time, all the time.
A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – Your Kingdom Come – Part 20
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
The Words of Jesus, Matthew 6:10-14
Herein, Jesus is handing you the Golden Spiritual Key to righteous, effective prayer that always earns God’s Reward. But you must have eyes to see and ears to hear.
There has been so much written about this model prayer that there is little I can or should add. I will say, however, this is the perfect prayer. Notice that, by repeating or using this as your model, you will make a bold and grand remark that you identify yourself as a son or daughter of God, The Father Who resides in heaven, and by this you lay claim to heaven as your home.
Meditate on these next words, ”hallowed be your name”. ‘Hallowed’ is to regard as special (sacred), i.e. holy, “set apart”, sanctified. (hagiázō, “to make holy, consecrate, sanctify; to dedicate, separate”. There is none other like Him. This is your confession. Selah.
“Your kingdom come, Your Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, is the grandest of confessions made. It is in the Greek Aorist tense, meaning that ‘Your Kingdom has come, it is now coming, and it shall continue to come’! You are recognizing and affirming that as a child of God you live as a resident and an heir of God’s Kingdom, now and forevermore.
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” can also be said with this in mind: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” is also spoken and written in the Aorist Tense which hold no regard for the past, present or the future, again asking ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, in the past, in this current day nor at any time in the future”.
We are told to make all our requests known to God, but “when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Pray then like this:
“My Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will is being done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give me this day my daily bread,
and forgive me my debts, as I also have forgiven my debtors.
And lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.
(I forgive others their trespasses, and you, my heavenly Father will also forgive me, but if I do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will my Father forgive my trespasses.)
This is the heartfelt and fervent prayer that avails much! (James 5:16)
A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – And When You Pray, Pray Like This – Part 19
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:” The Words of Jesus, Matthew 6:7-9
Another way of saying this is, “do not use thoughtless repetitions”. Prayer is not a magic formula or an incantation. Prayer is not an endless repetition of words that are meant to bring about a desired result.
The Greek words for “do not use thoughtless repetitions” has a force but is feebly rendered in the English. Formed from a word which reproduces the repeated attempts of ‘the stammerer to clothe his thoughts in words’, it might be almost rendered, “Do not stutter out your prayers, do not babble them over.” The devotion of the rosary, in which every bead is connected with a ‘Pater Noster’, (Our Father), or an Ave Maria (Hail Mary), reproduces the eighteen prayers of the Rabbis, which they held it to be an act of religion to repeat. These words describe only too faithfully the act of prayer when it becomes mechanical, and Jesus, Himself, says thoughtless, repetitive phrases disguised as prayers will not produce ‘the reward’ of answered prayer.
There is more here, however. Jesus is warning that we shall not be like the hypocrites (an actor, a pretender, a fraud), or like the Gentiles (Heathens; usually referring to non-Israelites; a pagan, a “non-covenant person,” standing outside God’s covenant of salvation).
One of the greatest dangers that has always faced the church is Syncretism, the attempted union of principles or practices which are irreconcilably at variance with each other, the merging of two opposing religious belief systems.
We are not to think like the Gentiles (Pagans) and hypocrites, in any fashion.
Do not dress like them, do not act like them or eat like them, drink like them, talk like them and in particular, do not practice your righteousness like them, and never approach God and never pray like them. Its end is vanity and loss.
Jesus gives us a model for prayer when He says,
“Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be Your name,
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
“Give us this day our daily bread,
“and forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Of course there is nothing wrong with repeating this prayer, but if it is done mechanically, as becomes the tendency, it can become a meaningless repetition and will lose its effect. Instead,
Acknowledge, greet and call God by name and relationship: Father.
Remember, confess and admit His sovereignty and presence.
It is recognizing and continually doing God’s Will in the course of my life that determines the outcome of His Will for my life.
Do you ever wonder about “The Will of God for your life” or for your life’s circumstances?
I frequently hear people say “I want to know the will of God” when making important or difficult decisions or trying to find their way out of difficult or trying situations.
I often hear people finish their prayers with “IF it is your will” as a polite guess. You get the sense that a person who prays this way is saying, “I really don’t know Your Will, God, but, here’s what I think” as if we can bring God to our point of view.
Or is it a reluctance because the person praying feels like they are imposing on God?
I see some folks wearing a rubber bracelet or sporting a sticker which reads “WWJD?” (What would Jesus do?) I guess that is supposed to make us stop and think about what He would do before we make important decisions or misbehave?
My experience has been that most people, including MOST preachers, are not ready to give a definitive answer to this all important question for their lives: “What is God’s Will for my life” or in this situation?
The phrase “the will of God” and “God’s will” is used a total of twenty-five times in the Bible (“The Authorized version”).
The frequency of the use of a word or phrase in the Bible potentially tells us is the importance or uniqueness of that word or idea communicated by that word or phrase.
But, regardless of the frequency of this phrase, I would say that the “Will of God” is a pretty important idea.
Here is a novel idea, “why not use the Bible to decide what God says about GOD’S Will and go with that”?
Here are four instances of the twenty-five occurrences of the phrase “God’s Will” from the Bible where the Bible clearly explains God’s Will:
1 Peter 2:15 “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Do you want to see the power of God’s Word and His Spirit work for good in your life? Does using these three verses sound too simple? Well, you can expand on these verses. But, just try these for a start.
DO RIGHT.
RENEW YOUR MIND TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT.
ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY.
IN EVERYTHING, GIVE THANKS
Interesting, huh? God’s Will produces a life that is RIGHT, GOOD, ACCEPTABLE, PERFECT and produces THANKSGIVING. Isn’t that what you want for every circumstance in your life?
Think about it.
Also, it is almost impossible to escape from these three ideals in your daily living.
Let’s look at the first requisite for God’s Will in your life: DO RIGHT.
We are constantly faced with the opportunity to DO RIGHT. The choices usually come in the form of a temptation, whether mild or severe.
“Should I clean up my mess before I leave?”
“Should I buy that new car?”
“Should we go to church this Sunday?”
“Should I take the petty cash for my personal use?”
“Should I pay what I owe or spend my money on something I would enjoy?”
“Should I carry on that flirtatious relationship, even though I am married?”
We somehow have the idea that “God’s Will” for my life is unique for MY needs or wants.
It is recognizing and continually doing God’s Will in the course of my life that determines the outcome of His Will for my life.
God’s Will for my life doesn’t just kick-in when things get tough or when I need something. God’s Will for my life is a constant.
Another way of looking at God’s Will for my life is that I wouldn’t need to ask (“what is God’s Will for my life) regarding the various circumstances if I have been doing His Will for my life all along. That is, have I been DOING RIGHT all along?
Here’s another great example: A friend asked me and my wife if she should continue dating a certain man she had met because she wasn’t sure of God’s Will. She says she is looking for a husband.
We asked her to tell us about this man. Turns out this man is married (separated) from a difficult and unfaithful woman with whom he has children.
“So” I said, “he is a married man, fighting with his wife and dating around in front of his children? And you have been dating this man? And you want to know God’s Will regarding this matter?”
In other words, do you want a life that is RIGHT, GOOD, ACCEPTABLE, PERFECT and produces THANKSGIVING? Isn’t that what you want for every circumstance in your life?
To which she replied, “Yes, but, I am lonely”.
Yeah? That can be tough. But, the question isn’t ‘how do you feel today’ but DO YOU WANT GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE? Then,
1. DO RIGHT.
2. RENEW YOUR MIND TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT.
Christian): Come! Follow Jesus!
OK. How do I do that?
10 years later.
(What would Jesus do?) I guess that is supposed to make us stop and think about what He would do before we make important decisions or misbehave?
