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.
Matthew 7:20“And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
Obviously Jesus starts contrasting something very small, such as a mustard seed, to something very large, a mountain, and something as powerful as moving that mountain.
The interesting thing here is that Jesus is doing more than simply comparing ideas or images. He is helping us understand that we only need faith – regardless of its size – to perform miracles, or better said, so He can perform a miracle through us.
His disciples asked Jesus to “Increase their faith”, but Jesus says, “…for truly I say to you, if you Have Faith…” and this is not a metaphor. But, it is a profound statement. You see, Jesus has always marveled when He found faith among people, because there is so little of it. But, when faith was found to be present, miracles happen.
“Truly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”
Luke 8:5“And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, Verse 6, and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” Verse 7. Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” Verse 8. But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Verse 9. “For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Verse 10. Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”
“O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.”
Matthew 15:25 “But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.
“Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
Luke 5:20 “Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Verse 21. The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” Verse 22. But Jesus, aware of their reasoning, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Verse 23. “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? Verse 24. “But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” Verse 25. Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. Verse 26. They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:48 “Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Verse 49. Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” Verse 50. And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
“And nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 19:26 “And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Jesus Spoke about faith throughout His time on earth. He taught on faith, He encouraged people to have faith, He marveled at those who had faith and He chastised His own disciples for their lack of faith. So, just how can you and I have the kind of faith Jesus teaches?
The very best example in the Bible, and the model which will “increase our faith” are found in the book of Matthew:
JESUS SENDS HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES
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.
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. Verse 11. “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. Verse 12. “As you enter the house, give it your greeting. Verse 13. “If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Verse 14. “Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Verse 15. “Truly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”
Now Jesus’ disciples have walked with Jesus and have heard His teaching and seen His miracles, and they have been sent to do His Works. You would expect great faith among His followers, right?
Matthew28:16 “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. Verse 17. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.”
Do you see that? Jesus’ own disciples, who worshiped Him. Yet, “SOME WERE DOUBTFUL.” Doubt is a real faith killer. And, if we were honest, that is the #1 problem for all of us. So, what is the answer?
Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Verse 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.”
Jesus had taught His disciples, He had modeled faith to them and now He sends them. That’s right. Despite their doubt and lack of faith He sends them. HE SENDS THEM ANYWAY. And that is the answer. He sends us. We are to “GO”, and despite our doubt, we are to go anyway.
And notice, Jesus did not just say, “Go to Church” or go to or conferences or concerts or to Bible college, or seminary”. This is where most of us get hung up.
He tells us, His disciples, to go and make disciples, to baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. He tells us to teach them to observe all that He commanded, and that He would with us until the end of this Age.
ACTION POINT
Now go. Go and…
Pray and make an opportunity to witness to someone.
Pray and make a disciple,
Pray and baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Pray and teach them to observe all that He commanded,
Pray and heal the sick,
Pray and raise the dead,
Pray and cleanse the lepers,
Pray and cast out demons.
Freely you received, freely give
ANYTHING LESS IS JUST RELIGION
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Verse 13. “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Verse 14. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
This can be, and is a controversial topic especially in light of world conditions and the appearance that we may be near the End of Days as spoken of in Bible Prophecy.
(Please note: the colored text contains important links in the matters being put forward or you can read the reprint fronm Biblegateway.com at the end of this article.)
Regardless, neither a temple nor a geographic piece of land proves or disproves that ancient Israel is or is not the same as current day Israel. Besides no Temple, as of this date, has been rebuilt, but scriptures say it will be rebuilt, and when that happens, according to the Bible, the sacrifices will be re-instituted and there is strong suggestion within scriptures that Israel (or at least a part of the population and government) will re-enter a covenant relationship with God – as it was with ancient Biblical Israel as the groundwork for the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah within Israel and the acceptance of the final covenant given by God through the Son.
I am saying that we are seeing the formative stages of (#1), Israel returning to a covenant relationship with God, (#2), the government of Israel will once again become a Covenantal theocracy, and (#3), the nation will come to recognize Jesus as their long awaited Messiah. It would seem this must occur to correctly set the state for the events of the coming Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and specifically the 3 ½ year period (the first half of the Great Tribulation period) prior to the 6th tribulation trumpet which will mark the second 3 ½ years of the Wrath of the Lamb, the blowing of the 7th tribulation trumpet followed by the pouring out of the wrath of the seven tribulation bowls.
Theologians and Bible teachers have often prematurely connected Bible prophecies to current day events, only to revise or recant their predictions as the day of fulfillment drew closer and more facts were known. And, I believe that is the case here.
These things are coming to pass. Where does Israel fit in? Is it just the ‘Bloodline Jews’ who are the Biblical Israel? Or is it the state Nation of Israel? Or is it the Spiritual Israel? Or is it all who have confessed the Name of Jesus and have been grafted into the Olive Tree?
Your Brother and Friend in Christ Jesus,
Mike Young
(I realize that this short essay needs additional citations, footnotes and references, which I have omitted for brevity, but are available upon request. If you have any comments or questions, please use the reply or comment box and let’s talk.
REPRINT of detailed information on the ‘final element’ proving that the ‘current-day Israel will be converted to a Covenantal Theocracy once again:
Ezekiel 36:1, “And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. verse 2 Thus says the Lord God, “Because the enemy has said of you, ‘Aha!’ and, ‘The ancient heights have become our property,’ verse 3 therefore prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “For good reason they have made you a desolation, and they crushed you from every side so that you would become a possession of the rest of the nations and you have become the talk and the whispering of the people.”’” verse 4 Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. Thus says the Lord God to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, to the desolate ruins and to the deserted cities which have become prey and a mockery to the rest of the nations which surround you, verse 5 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Most certainly in the fire of My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with uttermost contempt, so that they might empty it out [and possess it] as prey.” verse 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) and in My wrath because you have endured the [shameful] insults of the nations.’ verse 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘I have lifted up My hand and sworn [an oath] that the nations that are around you will themselves endure their [shameful] insults. verse 8 But you, O mountains of Israel, will put out your branches and bear your fruit to My people Israel; for they will soon come [home]. verse 9 For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you [in favor], and you shall be cultivated and sown. verse 10 I will multiply people on you, all the house of Israel, [indeed] all of it; the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt. verse 11 I will multiply on you man and animal; and they will increase and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as you were formerly, and I will do better [things] for you than at your beginning. Then you will know [with great confidence] that I am the Lord. verse 12 Yes, [O mountains of Israel] I will cause men—My people Israel—to walk on you and take possession of you, so that you will become their inheritance and never again bereave them of children.’
verse 13 “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Because they say to you, “You [O land] are a devourer of people and have bereaved your nation of children,” verse 14 therefore you will no longer devour people, and no longer bereave your nation of children,’ says the Lord God. verse 15 I will not let you hear insults from the nations anymore, nor will you bear disgrace from the peoples any longer, nor will you cause your nation to stumble [through idolatry] any longer,” says the Lord God.’”
verse 16 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, verse 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel was living in their own land, they defiled it by their [own] behavior and by their [idolatrous] actions. Their conduct before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman during her [physical] impurity. verse 18 So I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. verse 19 Also I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the countries. I judged and punished them in accordance with their conduct and their [idolatrous] behavior. verse 20 When they came to the nations wherever they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord; yet they have come out of His land.’ verse 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.
Israel to Be Renewed for His Name’s Sake
verse 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.verse 23 I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. verse 24 For I will [foot note a]take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. verse 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. verse 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. verse 27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My ordinances and do them. verse 28 You will live in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be My people, and I will be your God. verse 29 I will also save you from all your uncleanness, and I will call for the grain and make it abundant, and I will not bring famine on you. verse 30 I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not suffer again the disgrace of famine among the nations. verse 31 Then you will remember [clearly] your [own] evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your sins and for your outrageous atrocities. verse 32 I am not doing this for your sake,” says the Lord God. “Let that be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated for your [wicked] ways, O house of Israel!”
verse 33 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your sins I will also cause the cities [of Israel] to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. verse 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. verse 35 Then they will say, ‘This land that was deserted and desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ verse 36 Then the nations that are left around you will know that I the Lord have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and will do it.”
verse 37 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “This too I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their people like a flock. verse 38 Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the desolate cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know [with confident assurance] that I am the Lord.”’”
Footnotes:
Ezekiel 36:24. This prophecy has been in the process of fulfillment since World War II. The Jews have for centuries been dispersed among all the nations with only a few remaining in the homeland. But by a.d. 1960 one-sixth of the Jewish population of the world was in Israel. Already they had been made “one nation” (37:22a)—between sunrise of one day and sunset of the next—“a nation born in one day” (Is 66:8). But the greatest event of all is yet to come (Ezek 37:22b-25). This prophecy will be fulfilled in its entirety.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing.
“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” – John 15:4-11
The very first word of John 15:4, “Abide”, gives us one of the Keys of the Kingdom of God from which Miracles emanate.
The word “Abide” is in the Greek aorist tense as an imperative. This means Jesus is saying that the action of this Word, “Abide”, has no regard for past, present or future. It is something we are to continue doing, an ongoing action. And as an imperative command, not a request.
For the true Christ follower, disciple, Christian, Jesus is saying, beginning in verse 1, because He is The True Vine, and His Father is The Vinedresser, every branch in Him (that is, the true follower) that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
This is not meant to be a harsh or threatening word, but, this is the way of God’s Economy, His Kingdom, so, do not be deceived. If you are not bearing fruit, you are not a true believer, and you are removed from “The Vine”. If you are bearing fruit as a Christian, you will be pruned so you may bear more fruit and God is glorified.
This fruit, is The Fruit of the Spirit of God, which is His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law, and is manifest in our hearts, minds, bodies and lives. (There is no other kind of fruit by The Spirit or of the Kingdom of God).
Jesus continues by saying, you, the true believer and follower of Jesus (a Christian) are already made clean (Katharos = cauterized, cleansed by fire) because of the word which I have spoken to you, so you shall “Abide” in Me and I will “Abide” in you.
John 15 is not a platitude or a sermon. It is not hyperbole, nor is it an idiom. John 15 is the plain prophetic Truth. If you Abide in Him, He will cleanse you and prepare you for His Service. He will remove from you, anything and everything that would prevent you from bearing His fruit or which might prevent you from asking whatever you will, so He can give it to you and Glorify Himself.
Then, and only then, can you ask what you wish, and it shall be done unto you.
ACTION POINT
Abide in Him – Spend your days, literally, walking with Him, talking to Him.
Make His Word to Abide in you – memorize His Word and dwell in it 24/7.
Ask for “Everything Kingdom” – in order to bear His Fruit. He will do it!
Psalms 24:3 gives us the first steps to preparing ourselves to “Walk in the Works God has prepared ahead of time”. These first steps may prove to be the most difficult, even for the most sincere and devout. (For a description, see Matthew 4:1-8 )
But, like a combination lock, being close just isn’t going to work. This must be accomplished, in order.
A Psalm of David
Verse 1. The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains,
The world and those who dwell in it.
Verse 2. For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
Verse 3. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
And who may stand in His holy place?
Verse 4. He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.
Verse 5. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Verse 6. This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—God of Jacob.
Verse 1, names the ‘earth’ and the ‘world’, which is all encompassing. These two ancient Hebrew words, together, refer both to the entire physical planet and all the inhabitable parts along with its uncleanness, impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living and impure motives. In other words, despite its faults – despite our faults – we are the Lord’s creation. It is important that we recognize our RELATIONSHIP and our CONDITION before God. This is the only way to begin.
Verse 2 seems a bit mysterious, but, the context of the ancient Hebrew words will help us understand. (a) The ancient Hebrew word ‘seas’ has the context of ‘mercy’. In fact, can mean “House of Mercy”.
(b) And the ancient Hebrew world ‘rivers‘ is in the context of ‘to move by the use of the hands; take in hand, to manage, administer and govern’.
Taken together, we can understand that God House is a House of mercy, and He shows us His mercy by His Own Hands, as he guides and manages our lives.
This reassures us that He Loves us and cares for us even though we are yet sinners. We must understand, acknowledge and embrace this truth before we can ever hope to ‘ascend the hill of the Lord’.
Verse 3 asks, as we all must ask. “Who can ascend the hill of the Lord?” The context of the ancient Hebrew word “who” means “what kind of person” is permitted and refers to the “invisible mountain” of God; and the word “hill” carries the idea of “invisible”.
So, we ask, what kind of person, indeed, is permitted to ascend this most Holy of Mountains? And, how are we to find the invisible?
(A) The person who has “clean hands“. The ancient Hebrew words “clean hands” carry the context of
Bowed down in reverence and in submission; clean, free from, exempt, clear, innocent
free from guilt, clean, innocent
free from punishment
free or exempt from obligations
(B) And, the person who has a “pure heart” (interestingly, the context can be found to be that of a “vine”, as found in John 15 – Heart = Kardia; Clean = Katharos, purified by as by fire, i.e., cauterized. )
emanating from within the heart, soul and mind, the core of a person, pure, clear, sincere
clean, empty
This cleansing and being made free from guilt and punishment, which emanates from the very heart, soul and mind of a person, is possible only by complete and utter surrender to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
(C) This person who can ascend the Hill of the Lord is one “Who has not lifted his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully” is where things become difficult, for who has not? But, this word is rich with meaning and goes much deeper:
This person is one “Who”, has not committed acts contrary to law and justice, prohibited by law, illicit, criminal.
Who has not acted on their will of passion, of the emotions nor is a person of dubious character
This word, “Who”, refers directly to Aceldama, or the “Field of Blood”, a field purchased with Judas’s betrayal money, located near Jerusalem; So this someone “Who” would not betray another.
A person whose word or acts are never of emptiness, nothingness, vanity, lying or of worthless conduct.
Be keenly aware that verses One through Four are more than just reminiscent of Jesus being led by The Spirit into the wilderness to be tested (Matthew 4:1-11) they are prophetic foreshadowing of things which have come to pass and continue to come to pass.
Jesus sets the example of The Testing we must all endure and complete. His example is the standard for all who follow. He shows us all how we are to “ascend the Hill of the Lord”.
Then in Matthew 5:1“He (Jesus) went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,”
Verse 3. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 4. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Verse 5. “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Verse 6. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Verse 7. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Verse 8. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Verse 9. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God
Verse 10. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 11. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
ACTION POINT
The significance of the Blessing and the Righteousness from the Lord cannot be overstated. Think and meditate on what happens to the disciple who completes the course of testing set out by the Lord:
For mine is the kingdom of heaven
For I shall be comforted
For I shall inherit the earth
For as I hunger and thirst for righteousness, I shall be satisfied
For I shall receive mercy
For I shall be pure in heart and I shall see God
For I will become a peacemaker and shall be called the son or daughter of God
For when I am persecuted for the sake of righteousness, mine is the kingdom of heaven
Now, we are to Go and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. He has told us that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We must find and embrace acceptance of His Mercy and His Complete forgiveness, by God’s Grace through faith in Jesus’ completed work on the cross…
The Greatest of all Miracles will Happen when we are made clean – free from all guilt and free from punishment.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
NEXT: The Key of The Vine (Coming Soon – please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).
Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.
The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.
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.”
“When He (Jesus) entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” – Matthew 21:23
Jesus did not answer the Pharisees because they could not answer His question.
So, I ask you, the reader, by what authority did Jesus do these things, and who gave Him this authority?
This is a question which must be answered by anyone who would be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus tells His disciples that they will continue His Works, and will do even greater works than He (John 14:12), so it is imperative that we, His disciples, know the answer.
Another time, in the Temple, the Jews were persecuting Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath, and this time Jesus gives a response:
“But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
“For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “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 like manner.”
“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” – Matthew 5:17-19, 30
ACTION POINT
We must attain the Mind and Attitude of Christ
We must practice His ways. We must bear in mind that it is not we who do these works, but it is He.
We must know that we can only do what we see the Father doing. We say only what we hear the Father saying, because we can do nothing of ourselves.
We must listen and watch for the Father – literally.
We must be still and know that He is God – get alone with Him
We must allow the Holy Spirit to quicken and train our spirit to be alert and sensitive to the voice of God.
John 14:12, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
Please remember, we must study and be diligent to present ourselves approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
NEXT: A QUICK GUIDE TO MIRACLES – Clean Hands and a Pure Heart – Chapter 2 – coming soon. Please bookmark this page or subscribe to receive each future chapter.
Now after Noah was five hundred years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genesis 5:32.
Noah: The Hebrew word for Noah is “Noach”, which means “Rest”. (The Ark came to rest on a mountain); a patriarch who survived the flood. (God had given Noah his name before the flood. This was preordained to happen. I.e., God planned this and knew of this before mankind became manifestly corrupt. THIS WAS GOD’S PLAN ALL ALONG!)
His sons were named Shem = Memorial; Ham = Hot; Japheth = Opened. They were given these names BEFORE the flood. THIS WAS GOD’S PLAN ALL ALONG!
(A rainbow was given as a memorial (Shem); They landed in a place warmed by the sun (Ham); The doors of the ark were opened (Japheth).
How is it possible that God planned for mankind’s corruption and destruction from the beginning? God created mankind (men and women) with a deliberate flaw in their character and nature.
In the midst of His creation work, an odd thing occurs. This is an event, an occurrence in the creation of mankind, which is completely overlooked by the vast majority, if not all, Bible teachers. This is a bit technical, but please pay particular attention, as this is a game-changer.
Genesis 1, Verse 27. So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
The wording of this verse, as it was written in the original Hebrew language, would be aligned as such:
Verse 27. “So created God, man in His own image, in the image of God, He created him, male and female, He created them.”
So created = bara’ = to shape, create, a formative process, to make fat.
God = Elohim = God; very great, mighty; Plural of ‘elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used in the plural. Signifying, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
man = adam = from ‘adam’; man, mankind. ruddy, i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind.
In Him own image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.
In the image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.
What we see:
God, used in plural, representing God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, created, shaped and formed mankind.
God created mankind ‘in His Own image’ but, as a mere image of Himself; a vain show, just a shadow of the Original; an image, in icon, a phantom pattern, an illusion, a mere resemblance; a being of dubious nature. (God has deliberately made man and woman with a flaw, destined them to fail.)
God, has always existed and He is eternal.
He is the creator of life.
He creates with purpose and on purpose.
This creation has all the imagery of childbirth: ruddy, squeezed, passionate, violent, painful, raw and costly.
A being of passion with a wild nature and base appetites is created. Mankind is created with flaws, destined to fail, condemned to death and separation of God.
Then God provided a Savior – Jesus Christ, to redeem all who would believe on His Name.
Genesis tells us of
The corruption of humankind
The destruction of humankind
The salvation of humankind
A time which is coming when all the heavens and earth will be judged for humankind’s corruption and those who have not called on the name of Jesus will perish, but those who call in the name of Jesus will be saved.
THE PATTERN
The corruption
The judgement
The salvation of believers
The destruction of non-believers
The creation of a new heaven and a new earth
Matthew 24:36–47, “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left”
Be Ready for His Coming
“Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
“For this reason, you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
“Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”
Give your life to Jesus. The day of His return and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord is near.
Get your family ready.
Be found doing what God has instructed when that day comes and inherit His blessing.
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
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
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!
I don’t know exactly how to explain what I experienced yesterday. So, I will just guess at how to say it. (And I hope this finds a listening ear).
Call me crazy.
Call it an ‘epiphany’.
Call it a vision (I really don’t like that description, but…)
I was simply sitting on our lanai (that’s a screened patio area, for you who are not familiar with Florida patio names) drinking a cup of coffee, taking in the scenery across our pond and thoughts or visions began to flash across my mind. They were so vivid that they almost seemed visible (notice, I said ALMOST).
These images were reminiscent of scenes from “The Lord of the Rings” movies. The images were not of the ugly distorted creatures or monstrous figures like in the movies, but they were people with hatred and anger distorting their expressions. They were charging across a landscape, destroying everything in their path.
But, this was not a movie. I thought, perhaps these are just images from the news media of the recent riots which my mind is recalling. Maybe it was as simple as that.
But, I couldn’t shake the realism. And, it was easy to relate what I was “seeing” to what is happening in our world. I kept thinking, “How could the people of our nation go from law-abiding citizens to domestic terrorists in such a short time?
How could almost half the population, in the year 2020, endorse a political party espousing godless Socialism and Communist style rule? How could so many people endorse desecrating our religious institutions, our history and legacies, going about indiscriminately killing our police and first responders? They are destroying business, killing the owners, looting, stealing and rioting saying it is for justice? How could the Democrat Senators, Governors, mayors and public officials allow and even encourage this anarchy? Have they lost their minds? As I pondered on the thought “Have they lost their minds?”, I wondered, “Or, is something more sinister occurring?”
I asked myself, “What would cause so many people to begin to call what been considered as ‘good’, for centuries, now call it ‘evil’ and call evil as being good?
They murder babies for body parts, kill our police out of anger, disparage and attack those who don’t agree with their points of view. These people loot, steal, threaten, murder for no real reason or for any reason. Dishonesty is rampant is all areas of society. Immorality, perversion and pornography is so prevalent and pervasive that one cannot escape it.
I’ll spare the continuing long-winded review of this upside-down world-wide phenomenon, but the one thought that struck me: “Something is going on that is just not right. It is not of this world.”
That’s when the lights came on in my head. “It is not of this world”.
Read Ephesians 6:11-12:
(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.”
OUR STRUGGLE IS AGAINST
THE RULERS AND POWERS AND WORLD FORCES OF DARKNESS,
AGAINST SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.
Genesis 6:5-6 tells us what was going on in the days of Noah. “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”
We read in Genesis 6:11 that “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” Pick up the newspaper, and you will see the hostility that fills the earth.
This is URGENT, dear friends. If you have come this far in this letter, thank you! Now, please click and read the links. We must be ready. Please, call, email or text me if you want to talk further. Let’s join together and get this word out. Christ is our BEST and ONLY HOPE! Your Brother and Friend in Christ,
Today I was to begin a personal Bible study time in the book of Hebrews (please, no jokes about coffee here 😉)
And, as often happens, I don’t get very far because of the depth of hidden oracles of God’s Word cause me to stop and wonder in awe.
For example, Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power…
1. “He is the radiance of His glory”. Think on this. Let it sink in.
Jesus needs no introduction, no external explanation, there is none other and nothing in existence to compare to Him. “He is the radiance of His glory”.
2. “and the exact representation of His nature…” Meditate on this.
There is no doubt, no ‘shadow of turning’, no second guessing:
He is dependable, He is faithful, He is merciful, He is long suffering, He is All Powerful, He is compassionate, He is Loving, He is forgiving, He is gentle, He is humble, He is courageous, He is Holy, He is pure He is all wise He is … “the exact representation of His Nature”.
3. “He upholds all things by the word of His power…” Dwell on this.
(Note: These dependable versions of the Bible say “…by the word of His power: ESV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, Aramaic Bible in plain English, ERV.)
(Note: These ‘easy to read’ versions of the Bible change the meaning to say “…by His powerful word” or “by his powerful command)
These distinctions seem small, but, the change is a huge shift in paradigm.
One version suggests that this is exclusive to Jesus, while One version tells us the power is in His Word and that Word dwells in us.
One tells us that His Power is in His Word = RHEMA, which is the Spoken Word of God (as contrasted to LOGOS)
The Word of God further tells us: “If you abide in Me, and My words (RHEMA) abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7
ASK – according to the Word
SEEK – according to the Word
KNOCK – according to the Word
SPEAK – the Word
Matthew 21:21 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.
22 “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Let’s draw near to God and He will draw near to us, in these days.
Let’s be diligent to present ourselves approved to God as workmen who do not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. THE DAY IS AT HAND
You hear people say things like, “are you in the Christmas spirit yet?” Or, “You need to lift your spirit”. I suppose this refers to one’s attitude or mood or feelings.
The Bible speaks of the Spirit, and although it does have to do with an effect upon one’s spirits, it is much more.
The Bible says this: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25). You might hear some Christian say something like ‘I am moved by the Spirit (emotionally); or, I can feel (or sense) the Spirit, usually in response to a mood, an emotion or feelings. But the Spirit of God is not an attitude, mood or a feeling. The Spirit (of God) is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity of God.
So, what does it mean, live and walk in the Spirit? Is it a metaphor? Is it a simile? Or, is it literal? And if it is literal, what exactly does that mean ? And, how does a person “walk in the Spirit”? And what is the outcome of ‘walking in the Spirit’?
First, Jesus tells us, in John 16: 5–15, about the Spirit of God: “But now I (Jesus) am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
“And He, when He comes,
will convict the world regarding sin,
and righteousness,
and judgment:
regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me;
and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me;
and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them at the present time.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes,
He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak;
and He will disclose to you what is to come.
He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you.”
Romans 8:9tells us, that if you are truly saved and a Christian, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
And furthermore, 1 Corinthians 6:19tells us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own…”
Romans 8:11 reminds us one more time, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
We can know by these verses (and a little study in the Greek) that this is literal, with metaphors and similes used to help us understand.
Jesus is literally saying that The Holy Spirit of God is real; that He literally indwells you (your body, heart, mind, soul and spirit).
We are to literally ‘walk by way of the Spirit’, and ‘walk in the Spirit’.
So, I ask, how are we to DO this?
I believe the answer is that ‘we both DO and DO NOT do this’ in and of ourselves.
We DO this in of ourselves by submitting our lives to God through faith in Jesus and by becoming His obedient followers. It is at that point the Holy Spirit comes into us. (see GotQuestions.Org).
On the other hand, we DO NOT do this in and of ourselves, because we are saved and being sanctified by 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 Christfrom the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. (see 1 Peter 3-4).
Then we listen, submit our will, obey and learn. The Spirit of God will speak to us in various ways and at various times to teach us, to warn us and to guide us; to convict us of sin, and to comfort us. He will also give us words to say at the right time and in the right circumstances.
It is by our obedient submission to Him – minute by minute and day by day – that we walk in and by the Spirit.
What is the outcome of walking in and by the Spirit of God? (The following is taken from GotQuestions.Org):
Apart from God’s saving grace, we could not walk by the Spirit. Indeed, we were spiritually dead and could only “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16; cf. Ephesians 2:1–3). In this context, the word flesh refers to the sinful state of humanity, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit. This includes things like sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, envy, drunkenness, and other sinful behaviors (Galatians 5:19–21). Paul assures us that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (verse 21; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9–11).
Despite our sinfulness and rebellion, God “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:5). The grace of God completely transformed our lives. We were dead in sin. Now, we are alive in Christ.
As believers, we are to called to walk by the Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, KJV). The Holy Spirit gave us new life (John 3:6; 6:63), and we must yield to His sovereign control and influence over our lives. In other words, the Holy Spirit should direct all of our thoughts, actions, and decisions (cf. Romans 12:1–2).
In Galatians 5:13–26, Paul contrasts the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh is characterized by selfishness (verses 13–15; verse 26), sin (verses 19–21), and death (verse 21; cf. Romans 6:23), but the Spirit is characterized by love (Galatians 5:13–15, 22), righteousness (cf. Romans 6:22) and life (Galatians 5:25).
Because the flesh and the Spirit are opposed to one other (Galatians 5:17), we cannot live according to both at the same time. We must choose one. If we choose to live according to the flesh, we will experience the consequences of sin, which is death. But if we choose to walk by the Spirit, we will produce godly fruit (verses 22–23).
Unlike the works of the flesh, which lead to sin and destruction, the fruit of the Spirit leads to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here is a breakdown of each fruit and how we can walk by the Spirit:
1. Love: Our lives are characterized by self-sacrificial service to God and others.
2. Joy: We will delight in knowing God and having a personal relationship with Him.
3. Peace: We will be free from anxiety and worry (cf. Philippians 4:6–7).
4. Patience: We will not lose our temper – and if we do, there is a remedy to put us back into the proper state and relationship with God and others.
5. Kindness: We will genuinely consider the needs and concerns of others.
6. Goodness: We will be holy as God is holy (cf. 1 Peter 1:16).
7. Faithfulness: When we endure trials and tribulations, we will not forsake God or turn our backs on Him.
8. Gentleness: We will have a spirit (or attitude) of grace and humility.
9. Self-control: We will not be controlled by sinful impulses (Galatians 5:24).
In short, the fruit of the Spirit is evidence that we belong to Christ and are no longer controlled by sinful impulses; instead, we are led by the Holy Spirit to live according to God’s will (cf. Romans 12:2). We must continue to walk by the Spirit and crucify (or put to death) the desires of the flesh. This is a daily journey that requires consistent effort, but God will complete the work that He began (Philippians 1:6).
(Note: Every Christian, at some time, may find themselves pulled by the desires or passions of the flesh to sin. But 1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (But) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”
These are not a list of ‘religious dos and don’ts’. This is the power of God, His gift to us as Christians, to live and to be as He designed us to be.
One day, at the end of all things, when we are finally at home with God in the new heaven and the new earth, we will be like Him. Until then, live and walk by the Spirit of God and have the attitude which was also in Christ Jesus – and be truly alive!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: The Holy Spirit will never – I say, NEVER – tell you anything that does not conform to the Word of God (The Bible). Beware of false teachers who say otherwise or come up with “a word from God” that is not found in the Word of God.
Israel, during the period of 63 B.C. and 135 A.D. described in the simplest of forms, was ruled over by Rome and ruled internally by the Sanhedrin, which the supreme court of ancient Israel. Both Rome and the Sanhedrin were powerful and influential and dangerous groups to cross.
Rome would use lethal means to rule over Israel if they deemed it necessary, and the Sanhedrin were directly responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus, His disciples and many thousands of His followers.
Still, one man, without any visible means of financial or political support, stood in the face of Jewish custom, Roman law and the Sanhedrin to proclaim a long prophesied and radical notion that He was the anticipated Messiah. His name is Jesus.
There are many who choose to build grand churches and make millions of dollars to ‘spread the Gospel’.
Stand With The ONE
But “Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23.
Jesus taught His disciples to be like Him and to do like Him.
For example, in Matthew 10:5 tells us that, “These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near. ’Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support.
“And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.”
“Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And 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.
“But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”
Grafted into the Olive Tree
Later, after Jesus was crucified, died, then rose to life and ascended to heaven to reside at the Right Hand of the Father, another man named Saul of Tarsus, later renamed as Paul the Apostle, was commissioned by Jesus to take the Good News (The Gospel of Jesus the Christ) to the entire Gentile world.
Now, by God’s grace and through faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross, those who were not Jewish by birth could be ‘grafted into the Olive Tree’ and be made part of God’s Elect and become disciples, friends and joint heirs with Christ.
The Meaning of Discipleship
Jesus explains, in Matthew 10, that, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!
“So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are two sparrows not sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not fear; you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.
“Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father, who is in heaven.”
Peace on Earth?
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 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; and A PERSON’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
(Note: The idea that Jesus was to bring peace on earth has been lifted from Luke 2:8-14 when the Angels proclaimed at Jesus birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” It is for those with whom He is pleased – i.e., those who come to Him through faith in His Son, but a sword for the world at large!)
“The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. The one who has found his life will lose it, and the one who has lost his life on My account will find it.
“The one who receives you receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
“When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.”
And Jesus leads by example. We have no excuse if we are His disciples.
Now That You Know
Why, would God send His only Son to a world that had become hostile toward Him, to be killed? So that the world through Him could be saved from eternal damnation and destruction? Is that the whole story? It is true, but it is by no means the whole story.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost SO THEY WOULD
Have the same mind which is in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)
Do the works that Jesus has done, and even greater works. (John 14:12)
Go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-21)
Jesus came to earth to do the Works of the Father, show the Wonders of His Kingdom and to send His Workers, His disciples into this world so Him might finish His Works through us.
We are kept weak in our own flesh for this very reason: When we are weak, He is strong!
We are destined to struggle in this world so we do not become self-reliant, but that we remain completely dependent on Him.
We are commanded to endure our present sufferings to the end, so that we might be saved by the word of our testimony and by the blood of the Lamb!
If your experience is ‘greater than this’ in terms of possessions, money, recognition, influence, power or fame, you might ask why. Why did are your methods different from Jesus’ methods? Are you comfortable in your ministry? Why is that? Why is your experience different from His? Are you wiser and greater? Or are you bringing worldly results? And, what does that say?
If you consider yourself a Christian, a follower of Jesus, and have no experience to relate to others, why is that? Are you not engaged in the Spiritual war that rages? Have you not put on the mantle of a disciple of Jesus? And what does that say?
When He returns as the Lion of Judah, the conquering ruler, we will be with Him. But for now, Jesus is the suffering Servant. We are to be likewise. Let’s put aside our pride, ego, the parading of our possession, our wealth and our abilities and serve Him. Anything less is failure.
Scriptures tell us to “test ourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Stand With The One. Be The One.
We are entering and have entered the End of Days and the time is short. Let’s be found doing what He has told us – prepared for His Return.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: Please. Let’s pray for one another. We are living in treacherous and dangerous days. Let’s hold one another up as these days progress.
The news of the day is the heinous attacks on innocents in Israel by the demonic terrorists, Hamas, in Gaza. There is speculation swirling in the smoke and columns of fire from the rocket attacks that this could be the ‘beginning of the end’ as prophesied in scriptures (The Last Days).
The swift, decisive and appropriately violent response by Israel would make it seem that this will at least be the end of Hamas as a terror group, and should send a strong message to Iran and other terrorist states. But if this unprovoked attack and murder of innocent men, women, children and babies spreads, it could begin to look like prophecies regarding Israel and the End of Days are coming to pass.
There are events, however, which must take place to confirm or disprove these kinds of speculations, but this could very well the precursor or harbinger, of things to come.
Revelation 12:1-17
The Woman
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was pregnant, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
The “woman” represents Israel. According to Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37:9-11), the sun represented Jacob, the moon represented Joseph’s mother Rachel, and the eleven stars were the sons of Israel which bowed down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now among the other tribes of Israel.
The Child is Jesus. The pain described refers to the travail of Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth (under Roman occupation and oppression).
The Red Dragon, Satan
Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child.
A red dragon “symbolically suggests” an actual person will come to power on earth, with fierce power and a murderous nature. This is a picture of the complete evil with hideous strength.”
The revived Roman Empire is in view, here. The seven heads and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by the little horn of Daniel 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire.”
Seven diadems on his heads: This dragon (person and political power) had great power (seven heads and ten horns) and claimed royal authority (seven diadems). The crowns represent his presumptive claims of royal authority against the true King.
His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven: Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host in league with Satan (his angels of Revelation 12:9). This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the world of demonic spirits.
The Male Child, Christ
And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there [c]she would be nourished for 1,260 days.
A male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He rules the world with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 19:15) refers to the triumphant return of Jesus. By stating the starting point and ending point of Jesus’ earthly work, John alluded to all that stood in between.
After a conflict with the Prince of this world (Satan and his evil accomplices), who came and tried Him, but found nothing in Him, the Son of the woman (Jesus the Christ) was taken up to heaven and sat on the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20). Words can hardly be plainer than these.
“She would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days” is a reference to a three and one-half year period connects these events with the final seven years of the Daniel 9 prophecy. Since Revelation 12:5 describes the ascension of Jesus, and Revelation 12:6 describes yet-to-occur events in the 70th week of Daniel, between these two verses lies hundreds of years sometimes known as the “Age of Grace” (our current period).
The Angel, Michael
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Around the mid-point and concluding near the end of the Great Tribulation period, (from the 7th Tribulation Trumpet to the 7th Tribulation Bowl of Wrath), God will turn the tide against Satan – first in heaven, then on earth. The formation of that battle is already taking place and it will deny Satan access to heaven.
THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE – compared to Matthew 24
Matthew 24:15-28, “So when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION [the appalling sacrilege that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge]. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time]. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel]. For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again]. And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones). Listen carefully, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms [of a house],’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming [in glory] of the Son of Man [everyone will see Him clearly]. Wherever the corpse is, there the [e]vultures will flock together.”
THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE as seen in Luke 21
The Return of Christ
Luke 21:25-28, “There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves, people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory. Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”
THE RETURN OF JESUS & THE END OF THE AGE compared to Matthew 24
Matthew 24:29-31, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor]. And He will send His angels with A LOUD TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR – THE COMING INVASION OF ISRAEL?
WHO ARE THE ‘PLAYERS’?
When we see this invasion of Israel by the joint forces of Russia, Iran and her proxies, forces from Turkey, the Republic of Georgia, Ethiopia, Libya and Northern Africa, and the Caucuses, we can know this time has come. This is when God will intervene
Luke 21:20 tells us, “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her (Israel’s) complete destruction is near.”
We can see who these hostile invading armies are, by readingEzekiel chapter 38:1,
“And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Verse 2. “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog(current day Russia),the chief ruler of Meshech(southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia)and Tubal(central Turkey), and prophesy against him,
Verse 3, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal.
Verse 4. I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently clothed in full armor, a great horde with buckler (small shield) and [large] shield, all of them wielding swords;
Verse 5. Persia(Iran), Cush(Ethiopia),and Put(Libya, N. Africa)with them, all of them with shield and helmet;
Verse 6.Gomer(southern Russia)and all its troops; Beth-togarmah(the Caucuses region of Armenia and Georgia)from the remote parts of the north and all its troops–many peoples with you.
These are the 10 Nation Confederation to watch, (THE HEADS), of the BEAST Ezekiel 38, of Daniel 7,9 and Revelation 17. All are Islamic, the Center of which is MECCA:
Nation #1. Gog: A Reubenite, son of Shemaiah, the prophetic prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and Magog. Gog is identified as a descendant of the prophet Joel, and in Ezekiel 38–39, he is the chief prince of the tribes of Meshech and Tubal in the land of Magog, the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media (Russia.).
Nation #2. Magog: The 2nd son of Japheth, grandson of Noah, and progenitor of several tribes northward from Israel; the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media and habitation of the descendants of Magog, son of Japheth and grandson of Noah. (Russia.)
Nation #3. Rosh: “the Prince of Rosh” is Asiatic Russia receives confirmation from the Imperial Dictionary. “Evidence exists of an ancient people called Rosh, or Rhos, supposed to be the original stem from which the Russia or modern Russians have derived their race and name.” The scholar, Bishop Lowther says: “Rosh, taken as a proper name, in Ezekiel, signifies the inhabitants of Scythia, from whom modern Russians derived their name. We must conclude therefore, that Ezekiel’s “episode of Gog’s invasion” (A. B. Davidson) points irrefutably and undeniably to the Russians.
Nation #4. Meschach: Was a Chaldean. The Chaldeans inhabited the coastal area near the Persian Gulf. About 630 Nabopolassar became king of the Chaldeans and in 626 he forced the Assyrians out of Uruk and crowned himself king of Babylonia. Modern day Turkey.
Nation #5. Tubal: a region in east Asia Minor, perhaps nearly equal to Cappadocia
Nation #6. Persia:Iran
Nation #7. Cush (Ethiopia): located on either side or both sides of the Red Sea. As such, “Cush” is alternately identified in scripture with the Kingdom of Kush or ancient Ethiopia.
Nation #8. Put (Libya): Ancient Libya. In this sense, Libya was the whole known African continent to the west of the Nile Valley and extended south of Egypt. Herodotus described the inhabitants of Libya as two peoples: The Libyans in northern Africa and the Ethiopians in the south.
Nation #9. Gomer: (was the wife of the prophet Hosea (8th century BC), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible‘s Book of Hosea (1:3). Hosea 1:2 refers to her alternatively as a “promiscuous woman” (NIV), a “harlot” (NASB), and a “whore” (KJV) but Hosea is told to marry her according to Divine appointment. She is also described as the daughter of Diblaim.) The Hebrew name Gomer refers to the Cimmerians, who dwelt in what is now southern Russia, “beyond the Caucusus”, and attacked Assyria in the late 7th century BC.
Nation #10. Beth-Togarmah: Togarmah is a city mentioned in Assyrian and Hittite texts. It was north of Carchemish on an Assyrian trade route. It may be related to modern Gurun between the Halys and Euphrates Rivers. (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia.)
Because of the length and complexity of the scriptures regarding the invasion of Israel in the Last Days from the book of The Revelation, I will simply recap these events by linking to the appropriate verses, and a detailed commentary with videos by Zion’s Hope (David Rosenthal) at the end of this page..
Just know that the destruction of the Antichrist, the beast and their invading armies and demonic forces will be thoroughly defeated and cast into the eternal lake of fire (Revelation 16 through 20) after the 7th Tribulation Bowl is poured out.
It is also worthy to note that there is some ‘controversy’ or discussion about the “2nd Coming” or the SECOND ADVENT of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:29-31 (and similarly in Luke 21) record these words, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days (it is important to note the words ‘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.
And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” This is clearly Jesus appearing, which will occur after the 5th Tribulation Seal and at the moment of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and is spoken of in the future tense. By all appearances we are well into the 5th Tribulation Seal and are very near the 6th Seal, so the ‘future tense’ of this verse can easily be considered to be from this day (10/11/2023) until His appearing – which could be immanent.
Then, in Revelation 19:11-16 we read, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Many commentators believe these verses describe the 2nd Advent of Christ. But clearly, taking Matthew 24:29-31 into account, this would be a THIRD advent, which would be incorrect. This is NOT a new advent or a new coming of Christ, but it is Jesus, who has already returned to gather His Elect (Matthew 24:31) and is seen sitting on horse, judging and waging war against the nations!
CONCLUSION – THE LONG VIEW
The events of the “Last Days” began as early as the birth and/or the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus, as reported by Jesus and the Apostles Paul, Peter and Timothy in or around 2 B.C. through A.D. 95, and found in:
These events will conclude at the end of the pouring out of the Tribulation Bowls at the end of the SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION period, the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord.
We are seeing clear and distinct signs of the final days before His return and the beginning of the Great Tribulation. If you are His disciple, you do not need to be afraid. He is your protector. Your weapons and shield are the words of your testimony and the Blood of the Lamb.
When the time comes, He will give you words of wisdom to say, which no one can resist. Be brave and courageous.
If you have not already, now is the time, now is the day of your salvation. Turn to Jesus in humble submission and exchange your life for His, today – this moment. Find your peace, safety, sanctuary and salvation in Him!
If you have already given yourself and your life to God by His grace and through faith in Jesus, now is the time to complete your calling.
Do not wait for others to do the work of your calling – not the preacher, pastor, deacon, elder or friend. It is your calling and your joy to serve the Living God today.
YOU,“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Jesus, believe in Him, and obey His words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that He has commanded you; and lo, He is with you always [remaining with you perpetually–regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Verse 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.
Amplified Version
Romans 12:1,“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. Verse 2. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
From the Greek
Verse 1. I exhort therefore you, brothers, through the compassion of God, to present the bodies of you a sacrifice living, holy, to God well pleasing, which is (the) reasonable service of you.
Verse 2. And not be conformed to the age this, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, for to prove by you, what is the will of God, good and well pleasing and perfect.
This exhortation by Paul is not ‘a magic formula’. This ‘transformation’ comes from the Greek word, metamorphóō, which is the root word of the English terms “metamorphosis” and “metamorphize.” It is an irreversible transformation, and it does not come miraculously. It comes by exercising your spiritual disciplines. For examples:
Read Ephesians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, think about these things. Verse 9. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
ALSO
Read Romans 8:5, “For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Verse 6. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
ALSO
Read Joshua 1:7, “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. Verse 8. 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. Verse 9. 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.”
Dwelling on, thinking on, meditating on and memorizing scriptures is always a good thing. But strategically studying and dwelling on, thinking on, meditating on and memorizing ‘targeted scriptures’ is highly effective in renewing your mind and thus being transformed in your thinking and behaviors.
What I mean by ‘targeted scriptures’ is scriptures and texts that speak directly to your thoughts and behaviors in life. It is useful, then, to ‘personalize’ those verses from the ‘third party’ to the ‘first person’. For example:
John 8:31says, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”
Personalized, I would recite to myself thus, “Because I believe Jesus, and Because I abide in Your word, I am Your disciple indeed.”
Matthew 21:21says, “And Jesus answered them, ’Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Personalized, I would recite to myself thus, “And Jesus is telling me, ’Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Therefore, “since I have faith and do not doubt, I will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if I say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.”
Personalized, I would recite Joshua 1:7, thus, “I will be strong and very courageous; I will be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses commanded; I will not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that I may achieve success wherever I go. Verse 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart from my mouth, but I shall meditate on it day and night, so that I may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then I will make my way prosperous, and then I will achieve success. Verse 9. Has God not commanded me to be strong and courageous! Not to be terrified nor dismayed? The LORD my God is with me wherever I go.”
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a ‘name it and claim it’ methodology. And please do not be mistaken by thinking it is you who is doing these things – it is God, through you, doing His Works. By following the teachings and methods found in scriptures, you willbe transformedby the renewing (the reprogramming) of your mind, in order to prove to yourself, what is the will of God in and through your daily life!
There is a Crosby, Stills and Nash song by the same name:
You, who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so, become yourself
Because the past is just a goodbye
Teach your children well
Their father’s hell did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick’s the one you’ll know by
Don’t you ever ask them, “Why?”
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you
And you (Can you hear?) of tender years (And do you care?)
Can’t know the fears (And can you see?)
That your elders grew by (We must be free)
And so, please help (To teach your children)
Them with your youth (What you believe in)
They seek the truth (Make a world)
Before they can die (That we can live in)
And teach your parents well
Their children’s hell will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick’s the one you’ll know by
Don’t you ever ask them, “Why?
If they told you, you will cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you.
The LEFTIST in America have successfully integrated their Marxist, Globalist and perverse woke, LGGTQ+ social ideologies into the American educational systems over the last fifty years. This ‘brainwashing’ and indoctrination of young minds cannot be undone. Even the disastrous outcomes are being justified as acceptable by those now-warped minds, the victims (our now-grownup children) who are now the leaders in industry, business, education and government and even in our religious institutions.
The LEFT has been so successful, that by all accounts approximately 45% of all Americans hold and votes a leftist agenda. About 15% of our population could be considered ‘centrist’ and about 40% hold a more traditional conservative world view. The greatest effect has been felt in our Churches. While about four-in-ten Christians (39%) say the Bible’s text is the word of God and should be taken literally, 36% say it should not be interpreted literally or express another or no opinion. A separate 18% of Christians view the Bible as a book written by men, not God.
Never in modern history, has the Church been more divided and farther from the establishing principles of Christianity.
The Church once a staple of central influence in the family, had the opportunity to teach our children. Now-a-days they have our kids for only about an hour or two each week – that is IF your child even attends church. Compare that to the five to seven hours a day, five days a week the public school system has to teach and indoctrinate your children. Then you have TV time, video games and the media influencing our children non-stop.
So, I ask, if you had just two hours to ‘teach your children well’, how would you do it? Would you leave it up to someone else? And, what would you teach them to counter their immersion in woke ideologies, reverse racism (a.k.a., critical race theory indoctrination), and the non-stop association with an unbelieving and pagan world? A world that values sensuality, materialism and narcissistic self enhancement over Godly principals of self-sacrifice, humility, grace and peace?
Sadly, not every child who starts out in church stays in church according GotQuestions.Org,. In fact, many young people are falling away from the faith and walking away from the church as they grow older. A recent survey conducted by the Barna Group, a leading research organization whose focus is on the relationship of faith and culture, found that less than 1 percent of the young adult population in the United States has a biblical worldview. Even more startling, according GotQuestions.Org, data shows that less than one half of one percent of Christians between the ages of 18 and 23 has a biblical worldview. So, It seems that teaching ‘bible stories’ or having ‘fun activities’ to attract and hold a child’s attention at young ages doesn’t do the job later in adolescence or after the teen years.
There is some good news, however. a Pew Research study shows that parents who regularly attend church and practice their faith, have a profound effect on their children and their children’s choice to remain in the faith and to attend church after high school and college. (Pew Research).
I would like to suggest that rather than ‘teaching-down’ to the child or an adult, (academically telling them ABOUT the Bible, Jesus and God) in story book fashion, try immersing them in a “true-to-life proposition”.
Let me explain what I mean by “true-to-life proposition”:
I taught a Sunday school class to a group of sixth-graders (ages 10 through 11). On one occasion we studied the event of David and Goliath from 1 Samuel chapter 17.
I divided the class into two groups: the Israelites and the Philistines. I assigned certain boys to the major roles of Saul, David, David’s brothers, the army of the Israelites, the army of the Philistines and Goliath.
We reenacted this event with purpose and passion. These boys actively play-clashed and wrestled, yelled and jeered and cheered. They were an excited, sweaty mess when it was all over.
We discussed how it felt to defeat a deadly enemy of God.
Then we discussed the symbolism of David (God’s chosen), Goliath (the threatening giants that enter and can threaten our lives), the sling (the delivery method of the Gospel), and the five smooth stones (the words we use in spreading the Gospel) and where the ‘stone’ hit Goliath (right between the eyes with the Gospel message).
We closed by reading Ephesians 6:10–17, and comparing the main characters and items from “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; an addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
This can be done with any scripture and in so many ways. The idea is to LIVE OUT the word of God by engaging the mind, the will and emotions. By reaching into one’s soul and heart and working it out with physical and visible actions. All in preparation for the ‘real thing’.
The same can be said for adults of all ages. It is never enough to just know ABOUT scriptures, doctrines and Biblical principles. They must be acted upon – acted out.
Again, rather than ‘teaching’ and adult, have them interact with scriptural teaching by asking situational questions – and let them compare them to what the scriptures say. Or ask the ‘student’ be the ‘teacher’ and the teacher be the facilitator. Then, give a life assignment to be acted upon. Then start the next class with discussion on their real-life experiences. (Just be aware that only true disciples will respond at first.)
Finally, a personal testimony: I was once challenged by a representative of a large insurance company to prove that I had not violated a contractual provision that I had signed. The insurance compliance office had assured me that a verbal consent to run an advertisement using the company’s name would suffice this one time, although the contract required written consent. After the ad had run, the company reneged on the verbal consent and decided to terminate my contract and claim my state assigned territory as their own.
On the way to a resolution meeting, I read Matthew 5:25-26, which says, “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”
So, at a meeting with the company representative, I said, “Although I had a verbal agreement from the compliance office, I realize that the contract requires a written consent. The compliance office has reversed its decision on this matter without notifying me, but I failed to follow the written agreement. My faith and the Bible instruct me to concede this and I will comply with whatever you decide.”
The company representative sighed, closed his portfolio, got up from his chair, muttered something about not liking my type, and left – never to be heard from again. The matter was dropped – and so was my jaw!
So, yes. “You, who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so, become yourself
Because the past is just a goodbye.
Teach your children well.”
Even better, let’s immerse ourselves and our children in the words and ways of God. It does not have to be a heavy burden. It can be and should be a great adventure.
For example, read and live out books like Hebrews chapter 11, “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.”
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
“Now this is the command; the statutes and the judgments (precepts) which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you might do (follow, obey) them in the land which you are crossing over [the Jordan] to possess, so that you and your son and your grandson may fear and worship the LORD your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], to keep [and actively do] all His statutes and His commandments which I am commanding you, all the days of your life, so that your days may be prolonged. Therefore listen, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly [in numbers], as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one [the only God]! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind.
You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:1-7).
(Links are used in lieu of footnotes or references)
This is for the select who erroneously believe that Israel is an ‘occupier’ of the area now known as Israel. Here is a map that extends back to around 975 B.C., showing Israel’s historic possession of the lands known as Israel.
King David ruled the region around 1000 B.C. His son, who became King Solomon, is credited with building the first holy temple in ancient Jerusalem. In about 931 B.C., the area was divided into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. (Let it be stated that Israel is not a current occupier or current inhabitant of this region).
Around 722 B.C., the Assyrians invaded and destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. In 568 B.C., the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the first temple, which was replaced by a second temple in about 516 B.C.
For the next several centuries, the land of modern-day Israel was conquered and ruled by various groups, including the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Fatimids, Seljuk Turks, Crusaders, Egyptians, Mamelukes, Islamists and others
Then, from 1517 to 1917, what is today Israel, along with much of the Middle East, was ruled by the Ottoman Empire.
But World War I dramatically altered the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. In 1917, at the height of the war, British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour submitted a letter of intent supporting the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The British government hoped that the formal declaration—known thereafter as the Balfour Declaration—would encourage support for the Allies in World War I.
When World War I ended in 1918 with an Allied victory, the 400-year Ottoman Empire rule ended, and Great Britain took control over what became known as Palestine (modern-day Israel, Palestine and Jordan).
The Balfour Declaration and the British mandate over Palestine were approved by the League of Nations in 1922. Arabs vehemently opposed the Balfour Declaration, concerned that a Jewish homeland would mean the subjugation of Arab Palestinians.
The British controlled Palestine until Israel, in the years following the end of World War II, became an independent state in 1947.
In 1947, after more than two decades of British rule, the United Nations proposed a plan to partition Palestine into two sections: an independent Jewish state and an independent Arab state. The city of Jerusalem, which was claimed as a capital by both Jews and Palestinian Arabs, was to be an international territory with a special status.
Jewish leaders accepted the plan, but many Palestinian Arabs—some of whom had been actively fighting British and Jewish interests in the region since the 1920s—vehemently opposed it.
Arab groups argued that they represented the majority of the population in certain regions and should be granted more territory. They began to form volunteer armies throughout Palestine. (Taken from History.com)
If one chief theme in the post-1948 pattern was embattled Israel and a second the hostility of its Arab neighbors, a third was the plight of the huge number of Arab refugees. The violent birth of Israel led to a major displacement of the Arab population, who either were driven out by Zionist military forces before May 15, 1948, or by the Israeli army after that date or fled for fear of violence by these forces. Many wealthy merchants and leading urban notables from Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem fled to Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan, while the middle class tended to move to all-Arab towns such as Nablus and Nazareth. The majority of fellahin ended up in refugee camps. More than 400 Arab villages disappeared, and Arab life in the coastal cities (especially Jaffa and Haifa) virtually disintegrated. The center of Palestinian life shifted to the Arab towns of the hilly eastern portion of the region—which was immediately west of the Jordan River and came to be called the West Bank.
Like everything else in the Arab-Israeli conflict, population figures are hotly disputed. Nearly 1,400,000 Arabs lived in Palestine when the war broke out. Estimates of the number of Arabs displaced from their original homes, villages, and neighborhoods during the period from December 1947 to January 1949 range from about 520,000 to about 1,000,000; there is general consensus, however, that the actual number was more than 600,000 and likely exceeded 700,000. Some 276,000 moved to the West Bank; by 1949 more than half the prewar Arab population of Palestine lived in the West Bank (from 400,000 in 1947 to more than 700,000). Between 160,000 and 190,000 fled to the Gaza Strip. More than one-fifth of Palestinian Arabs left Palestine altogether. About 100,000 of these went to Lebanon, 100,000 to Jordan, between 75,000 and 90,000 to Syria, 7,000 to 10,000 to Egypt, and 4,000 to Iraq.
Henceforth, the term Palestinian will be used when referring to the Arabs of the former mandated Palestine, excluding Israel. Although the Arabs of Palestine had been creating and developing a Palestinian identity for about 200 years, the idea that Palestinians form a distinct people is relatively recent. The Arabs living in Palestine had never had a separate state. Until the establishment of Israel, the term Palestinian was used by Jews and foreigners to describe the inhabitants of Palestine and had only begun to be used by the Arabs themselves at the turn of the 20th century. With the Arab world in a period of renaissance popularizing notions of Arab unity and nationalism amid the decline of the Ottoman Empire, most saw themselves as part of the larger Arab or Muslim community. The Arabs of Palestine began widely using the term Palestinian starting in the pre-World War I period to indicate the nationalist concept of a Palestinian people. But after 1948—and even more so after 1967—for Palestinians themselves the term came to signify not only a place of origin but, more importantly, a sense of a shared past and future in the form of a Palestinian state.
In May 1948, less than a year after the Partition Plan for Palestine was introduced, Britain withdrew from Palestine and Israel declared itself an independent state, implying a willingness to implement the Partition Plan.
Almost immediately, neighboring Arab armies moved in to prevent the establishment of the Israeli state. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War that ensued involved Israel and five Arab nations—Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon. By the war’s end in July 1949, Israel controlled more than two-thirds of the former British Mandate, while Jordan took control of the West Bank and Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip.
The 1948 conflict opened a new chapter in the struggle between Jews and Palestinian Arabs, which now became a regional contest involving nation-states and a tangle of diplomatic, political and economic interests.
The PLO Is Born
In 1964, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed for the purpose of establishing a Palestinian Arab state on the land previously administered under the British Mandate, and which the PLO considered to be occupied illegitimately by the State of Israel. (taken from Britannica).
All of this is ‘said and done’ and is recorded in history. Still, there are those who, either by the desire to mislead others or out of ignorance, choose to deny the holocaust ever happened and foolishly say that Israel is an illegitimate occupier of their own lands.
None-the-less, the recent atrocities by the Hamas terrorists which are funded and trained by Iran, are not justified by the desire of the so-called Palestinian-Arabs to establish a homeland.
Nothing can justify the evil and murderous hatred of certain Arabs and peoples, who have publicly stated their desire to destroy Israel and wipe all of her people off the face of the earth. This would be a genocide on an almost unparalleled level – exceeding the evils and horrors of the holocaust perpetrated by Hitler and his Nazis.
So, I want to conclude by saying that if you or anyone you know, and to those who would say that the recent attacks on and the slaughter of innocent Jewish men, women, children and babies by Hamas and Hezbollah and other maniacal murderers in that area are justifiable, YOU ARE EITHER TRAGICALLY MISTAKEN OR ARE FILLED WITH AN EVIL THAT MUST BE ERADICATED.
I will endeavor to make peace with all people, but for those who are filled with lies, rage and the desire to see the destruction of Israel and her people, I will avoid you. I will expose you. I will fight against you.
I pray for the peace of Israel – I stand with Israel.
Michael Young
“And I, God, will bless those who bless you Israel,
And the one who curses you, I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
(Paraphrased from Genesis 12:3)
(Please comment if you agree. A simple “yes” will suffice.)
IS CURRENT DAY ISRAEL the same as the BIBLICAL ANCIENT ISRAEL? 
I don’t know exactly how to explain what I experienced yesterday. So, I will just guess at how to say it. (And I hope this finds a listening ear).
1. Love: Our lives are characterized by self-sacrificial service to God and others.
The Red Dragon, Satan
The Angel, Michael
