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.

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY…

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“Let me tell you a STORY about a man named Jed…”,

as the song goes. This is the lead-in song for an old television series, “The Beverly Hillbillies”. This was a popular comedy show about a poor, backwoods family from Silver Dollar City in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, who moved to posh Beverly Hills, California, after striking oil on their land. There may have been some humorous similarities to life and some chuckles to be had, but it offered little more than a brief respite from the monotonous grind of life. But, so what? It is just a STORY – about a man named Jed, and his crazy and funny family.

Storytelling as an ancient art form and a valuable form of human expression. Because story is essential to so many art forms, however, the word “storytelling” is often used in many ways.

Storytelling involves a two-way interaction between a storyteller and one or more listeners. The responses of the listeners influence the telling of the story. In fact, storytelling emerges from the interaction and cooperative, coordinated efforts of teller and audience.

In particular, storytelling does not create an imaginary barrier between the speaker and the listeners. This is part of what distinguishes storytelling from the forms of theater that use an imaginary “fourth wall” – an invisible, imaginary wall separates actors from the audience. While the audience can see through this “wall”, the convention assumes the actors act as if they cannot.

The interactive nature of storytelling partially accounts for its immediacy and impact. At its best, storytelling can directly and tightly connect the teller and audience.

In storytelling, the listener imagines the story. In most traditional theater or in a typical dramatic film, on the other hand, the listener enjoys the illusion that the listener is actually witnessing the character or events described in the story.

The storytelling listener’s role is to actively create the vivid, multisensory images, actions, characters, and events—the reality—of the story in his or her mind, based on the performance by the teller and on the listener’s own experiences, beliefs, and understandings. The completed story happens in the mind of the listener, a unique and personalized individual. The listener becomes, therefore, a co-creator of the story as experienced.

Storytelling happens in many situations, from kitchen-table conversation to religious ritual, from telling in the course of other work to performances for thousands of paying listeners. Some storytelling situations demand informality; others are highly formal. Some demand certain themes, attitudes, and artistic approaches. As noted above, the expectations about listener interaction and the nature of the story itself vary widely.

That’s one thing. Here is quite another:  “All [Bible] Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The Bible is great literature and the all-time number-one bestseller. It contains history, entertaining STORIES, poetry, philosophy, and personal letters. But, more than all of that, the Bible is God’s Word.

If we have to speak of a single purpose of the Bible, it would be to reveal God to us. There are many things that we could never know about God unless He told them to us. The Bible is God’s self-revelation to humanity. The Bible also tells us who we are. It tells us of our sin and of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Second Timothy 3:15–17 may be one of the most comprehensive purpose statements found in the Bible. The apostle Paul writes to his young assistant Timothy, “From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Some of the Bible is spoken directly by God Himself, and other parts are spoken by men whom He guided—but all of it is His Word, and all of it is beneficial and authoritative. Scripture shows us the way of salvation. Furthermore, it will teach us, rebuke us when we are wrong, and train us how to do right so that we may be ready to do God’s work.”

With this said, I cringe when I hear a Bible teacher or preacher refer to a section of scriptures or to a sermon as a STORY, because it is so much more.

BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD

“Be Ye Doers Of The Word” sounds so “King James” and old-fashioned, so let me repeat, “Be Doers of the Word and not Hearers Only”. I regret that so many Christians find little more than fascination and adrenalin producing inspiration from scriptures (especially when presented by a gifted speaker), and the oracles of God are reduced to great sermons and STORIES to be listened to.

The Bible, when read, heard and absorbed by a Christian, is transformative and reformative. It changes you, from the inside out. It changes your core beliefs, and how you think, how you feel about things, how you respond and how you behave.

I recently heard a sermon by one of my favorite Bible teachers and pastors. I say ‘favorite’ because he has a deep grasp and understanding of the Bible. He kindly lovingly, yet correctly, teaches and applies the Word of God without compromise or apology. HOWEVER, this man has an unfortunate habit of referring to his sermons and events within scriptures as “STORIES”. For example, before he begins, he will usually say something like, “Let’s pause there and pray before we begin. ‘Father, thank you for this time in your Word and for this STORY that can help us understand how we are to relate to and witness to people who are in the public square and the marketplace. Lord, equip us through this STORY to be better about reaching the lost with the good news of Jesus with the same experience of a personal relationship we have with Him; teach us through this STORY now, we ask in Jesus Name ‘.”

STORIES and storytelling can be “a valuable form of human expression”. Storytelling involves a two-way interaction between a storyteller and one or more listeners.

In storytelling, the listener imagines the story. In most traditional theater or in a typical dramatic film, on the other hand, the listener enjoys the illusion.

STORYTELLING can be a useful way to communicate scriptural references and events to an audience by actively creating vivid, multisensory images, actions, characters, and events—the reality—of the story in his or her mind, based on the performance by the teller and on the listener’s own experiences, beliefs, and understandings. The completed story happens in the mind of the listener, a unique and personalized individual. The listener becomes, therefore, a co-creator of the story as experienced.

But if scriptures are reduced to fascinating or interesting inspirational stories that are disconnected from a person’s day-to-day reality, they have little lasting value beyond fond memories and fantasies.

The Bible, that is The Word of God, is a love letter from God to all people, but only those who have been reborn in their spirit can understand and gain wisdom.

The Bible, that is The Word of God, is a revelation of God, His creation, His plan and purpose.

The Bible, that is The Word of God, is creative, causative, prophetic and instructional.

The Bible, that is The Word of God, contains history, entertaining STORIES, poetry, philosophy, and personal letters. But, more than all of that, the Bible is The Breathed-Out, Word of God.

So, the next time you see or hear the Word of God, whether in written form, in a sermon, in a presentation or in conversation, remember -It’s no story. It’s the Word of God!

Read it. Meditate on it. Know it. Do it – and the world will never be the same again.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Full disclosure. I try, but I struggle with doing all these things. And, if any good does come out of me, it is the sole work of God in me and through me – done in spite of me.

 

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you have been unfaithful, who will trust you with true riches?” – Luke 16:11

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you then have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? (Luke 16:11)

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as faithfulness, dependability, wealth, focus, devotion, God and money.

“If you then have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? (Luke 16:11)

IN CONTEXT

 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If you then have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:10-13)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“When I am faithful in a very little I will be faithful in much, and if I am dishonest in a very little, I will also be dishonest in much. I ask myself, “If I then have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to me the true riches? And if I am not faithful in that which is another’s, who will give me that which is my own? I will not serve two masters, for either I will hate the one and love the other, or I will be devoted to the one and despise the other. I will not serve both God and money.” (Luke 16:10-13)

THE DOUBLE-MINDED PERSON – UNSTABLE IN ALL THEIR WAYS

The Book of James tells us that “If any of you lacks wisdom, let them ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given that person. But let them ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. That person must not suppose they will receive anything from the Lord; they are a double-minded person, unstable in all their ways.” 

The answer is to FOCUS ON THE RIGHT THINGS, “Do not Look to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

The answer is to STAY FOCUSED by “Setting your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2).

 The answer is to REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD, since, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

It takes faith when trusting God, and although faith is the seed of miracles, and is a wonderful and an amazing gift, it takes practice and patience. Remember that shortcuts almost always lead to small endings – but doing things right is taking the long way around, which takes patience and endurance, but it is the one who endures to the end who will receive the reward!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “Why are you anxious?” (Luke 12:26)

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?” (Luke 12:26).

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as the worries of life, anxiety, God’s provisions, brevity of life, seeking the Kingdom.

“If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?” (Luke 12:26).

IN CONTEXT

“And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” (Luke 12:22-31)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“Therefore, I confess that I will not be anxious about my life, that is, what I will eat, nor about my body as to what I will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. When I consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value am I than the birds! And, can I by being anxious, add a single hour to my span of life? If I am not able to do as small a thing as that, why should I be anxious about the rest? I consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. And, if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe me! I will no longer spend all my time seeking what I am to eat and what I am to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and my Father knows that I need them. Instead, I am seeking His kingdom, and these things will be added to me.” (Luke 12:22-31)

DO NOT BE CONFORMED – BE TRANSFORMED

Retraining your mind to believe and practice the Word of God, can often be challenging. However, Romans 12:2 tells us and encourages us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”, and we are told to “do all things heartily as unto the Lord” and to be faithful, wise and fruitful servants of the Lord, even multiplying the good things He entrusts to us.

God provides – all the time. Stay vigilant. Stay alert, watching for His provisions. They are already there, just like the MANA in the desert. Just appropriate them and give thanks!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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The Harlot – The Beast – 7 Heads and 10 Horns

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 3 Comments

The Harlot – The Beast – 7 Heads and 10 Horns

I know this is a difficult subject and a ‘tough read’. So, I will begin and end with…

“SO, WHAT”?

The Bible calls this a mystery for good reason. (NOTE: – At this point, the 7 Seal Judgements are finished and the Church is with Christ, before the Throne of God in heaven) But, in Revelation 17, we read, starting in,

Revelation 17, Verse 1, Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,

verse 2.  “with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.”

verse 3.  “And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

verse 4.  “The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality,

verse 5.  “and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery,

verse 9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,

verse 10.  “and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.

verse 11.  “The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.

verse 12. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.

verse 13. “These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

verse 14.  “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

verse 15.  “And he said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

verse 16.  “And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire.”

“SO, WHAT” does this have to do with you or with me?

While scholars may debate some of the fine details of this particular vision, the main points of application seem abundantly clear:

#1. We are crossing the threshold of a Global Transformation – and it does not look good for most people.

#2. By all indicators, God’s prophecy of the End of Days is well under way.

#3. The Bible says events will turn cataclysmic – very soon.

#4. Culture is not neutral. You will have to choose sides by your actions. Talk won’t work.

#5. Satan is boldly walking through the front door of a worldwide governmental alignment, even as I write this.

#6. The devil is encroaching through the backdoor of seduction, idolatry, technology, perverse entertainment and has crept into the church. He is now in the church, deceiving many.

#7. The majority of the Church is either compromised, asleep, ignorant or afraid to engage the enemy.

#8. A remnant is rising at the Voice of God.

#9. God is calling and it is time you and I mobilize and do the Works Jesus has commanded.

#10. Doing nothing, except being nice and “going to church”, assures you of nothing!

To begin with, there are four great signs and events which mark the rise of the Antichrist and the False Prophet, the deception of millions, leading to the End of The Age. These events will affect every single person on this planet. Be informed in order to get ready.

There is much debate and discussion about the identity of

  1. “BABYLON THE GREAT MOTHER OF HARLOTS” – Ezekiel 38.
  2. “THE ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH” – Daniel 7, and Daniel 9.
  3. THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON – Revelation 16.
  4. “THE BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS” – Revelation 17.

(Links to resources used for this page are Enduring Word Bible Commentary and Zion’s Hope Videos Parts1,2 & 3  (I suggest watching all three videos, in order, but, video Part-2 may be of particular interest)

To be clear, this discussion is interesting and is helpful, but generally it has nothing to do with our salvation in Christ. However, knowledge coupled with action will be vital in your preparation, as followers and disciples of Jesus for His return. We are to be about His Work in these Last Days.

First, some of the most popular speculations about the Great Harlot are:

  • The Great Harlot could be Rome (the reemergence of Rome as a power),
  • Or, that even New York City, USA, could be the Great Harlot.
  • One view suggest that the Apostle Peter uses the word “Babylon” as a symbolic way of referring to the new world culture at war with the covenant community. The Whore of Babylon is the spirit of seductive culture, actively engaged in the deception and destruction of God’s people. That she rides upon “the beast” means she is propped up by the forces of anti-Christian government.

Just like the beast, who was, and is not and is about to rise, the “Whore” keeps on rising from the dead! A particular brand of her seductive charm may fall into the dust and be buried by the sands of time, but just you wait! Before you know it, she will rise again in another place, known by another name but waging the same destructive war against God’s covenant people.

Be watchful. What we are discussing are signs, first, of the beginning of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord or the Last Days, and secondly, the final three and one-half years. We will know that the time is near by the changing of the ‘seasons’, which is occurring now. (By the way, this is an extremely slow moving storm of cosmic proportions).

Keep a watchful eye on these 10 nations as they align together against, and then for an invasion of Israel. 

  1. Gog, a.k.a., Rosh (Russia) and
  2. Rosh (Russia)
  3. Magog (Russia)
  4. Gomer (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
  5. Put (Libya),
  6. Cush (Ethiopia),
  7. Persia (Iran)
  8. Meshech (Southern Russia, *Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia)
  9. Tubal (an area in central Turkey),
  10. Beth-Togarmah (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia)

  When they are aligned and armed against Israel, the End of Days Clock is only seconds from God’s intervention in the defense of Israel and the destruction of Israel’s enemies, the dragon and the beast.

COMMENTARY and VIEW by David Rosenthal at Zion’s Hope:  The 10 Nation Confederation, (THE HEADS), of the BEAST from Ezekiel 38, of Daniel 7,9 and Revelation 17:

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.

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

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.

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.

(For more detail,Watch video #2).

LIST from Ezekiel 38 – Original regional names and current national names:

#1 & #2. (#1 and #2 from Previous List). Gog – Gog and Magog appear in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran as individuals, tribes, or lands. In Ezekiel 38, Gog is an individual and Magog is his land; in Genesis 10, Magog is a man and eponymous ancestor of a nation, but no Gog is mentioned; and centuries later Jewish tradition changed Ezekiel’s “Gog from Magog” into “Gog and Magog”.

The Gog prophecy is meant to be fulfilled at the approach of what is called the “end of days“, but not necessarily the end of the world. Jewish eschatology viewed Gog and Magog as enemies to be defeated by the Messiah, which would usher in the age of the Messiah. Christianity’s interpretation is more starkly apocalyptic: making Gog and Magog, here indicating nations rather than individuals, allies of Satan against God at the end of the millennium, as described in the Book of Revelation. (From Wikipedia).

#3 & #4. (#4 and #5). Meshech, Tubal:  Meshech (also spelled Meshek) and Tubal were sons of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah who survived the flood with him (Genesis 10:1–2). Meshech (whose name means “long, tall, or drawn out by force”) is the sixth son of Japheth. The land of Meshech is closely associated with that of Tubal, especially in a prophecy of Ezekiel. The region of Meshech is often identified as being north of the Black Sea (southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia), and Tubal as an area in central Turkey.

The land of Meshech is used in Psalm 120:5 as a generic reference to barbarous regions where “those who hate peace” live (verse 6). The lands where Meshech’s and Tubal’s descendants settled figure significantly in some prophecies of Ezekiel, and it is in that book where they are mentioned most. In the prophecy of Ezekiel 38, Meshech and Tubal are ruled by Gog, a prince over those territories: “The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, “Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–3). Ezekiel repeats God’s words of judgment against the descendants of the two sons of Japheth when he prophesies that God will defeat them in a war against Israel (Ezekiel 39:1–5).

Many biblical scholars equate the land of Gog in Ezekiel’s prophecies with Russia, who will attack Israel “from the far north” (Ezekiel 38:15). Meshech and Tubal could be two of the “many nations” joining Russia in their invasion of Israel (verse 6).

The advance of the alliance involving Meshech and Tubal will be like “a cloud covering the land” (Ezekiel 38:9). Some commentators believe this war, often called the Battle of Gog and Magog, will be one of the events leading up to the end-times’ tribulation. Others believe it will occur close to the midpoint of the tribulation, since Israel will feel secure at the time, “dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (verse 11).

God will defeat this powerful alliance (Ezekiel 38:22) to reveal His greatness to all the world (verse 23) and restore the people of Israel to a right relationship with Himself (Ezekiel 39:21–29). Meshech and Tubal, despite the strength of their numbers and help of their allies, will fall. (GotQuestions.org)

#5. (#7). Cush: The Kingdom of Kush; Assyrian: was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, centered along the Nile Valley in what is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

#6. (#8). Put – Phut or Put is the third son of Ham (one of the sons of Noah), in the biblical Table of Nations (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8). The name Put (or Phut) is used in the Bible for Ancient Libya, but a few scholars proposed the Land of Punt known from Ancient Egyptian annals.

#7. (#9). Gomer: 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.

#8. (#10). Beth-togarmah: Togarmah is a figure in the “table of nations” in Genesis 10, the list of descendants of Noah that represents the peoples known to the ancient Hebrews. Togarmah is among the descendants of Japheth and is thought to represent some people located in Anatolia. Medieval sources claimed that Togarmah was the legendary ancestor of several peoples of the Caucasus -including Armenians and Georgians.

These are the 10 Nation Confederation (THE HEADS) of the BEAST Ezekiel 38, of Daniel 7,9 and Revelation 17. All are Islamic, the Center of which is MECCA

From Ezekiel 38, 39:

  1. Gog, a.k.a., Rosh (Russia) and
  2. Rosh (Russia)
  3. Magog (Russia)
  4. Gomer (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
  5. Put (Libya),
  6. Cush (Ethiopia),
  7. Persia (Iran)
  8. Meshech (Southern Russia, *Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia)
  9. Tubal (an area in central Turkey),
  10. Beth-Togarmah (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia)

 Revised Map of Eastern Europe

From Ezekiel 38, 39:

  1. Gog, (Russia) and
  2. Rosh, (Russia) and
  3. Magog (Russia)
  4. Gomer (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
  5. Put (Libya),
  6. Cush (Ethiopia),
  7. Persia (Iran)
  8. Meshech (Southern Russia, *Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia)
  9. Tubal (an area in central Turkey),
  10. Beth-Togarmah (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia)

 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast: Whatever their exact identity, their actions are clear. They join with the Antichrist in the war against Christ, in the battle alluded to in the sixth and seventh bowls (Revelation 16:12-21).

The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits: The harlot presides over peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. This tells us that the harlot’s influence is worldwide, through her connection to the beast. This will be a truly one-world religion.

The interpretation of the harlot focuses on her relation to the beast: she is utterly connected to the beast and his government. If this sounds unthinkable, remember that throughout history, religion – not true Christianity – has often been the willing servant and supporter of tyrants.

I know this is a difficult subject and a ‘tough read’. So, I have begun with and I will end with…

“SO, WHAT”?

While scholars may debate some of the fine details of this particular vision, the main points of application seem abundantly clear:

#1. We are crossing the threshold of a Global Transformation – and it does not look good for most people.

#2. By all indicators, God’s prophecy of the End of Days is well under way.

#3. The Bible says events will turn cataclysmic – very soon.

#4. Culture is not neutral. You will have to choose sides by your actions. Talk won’t work.

#5. Satan is boldly walking through the front door of a worldwide governmental alignment, even as I write this.

#6. The devil is encroaching through the backdoor of seduction, idolatry, technology, perverse entertainment and has crept into the church. He is now in the church, deceiving many.

#7. The majority of the Church is either compromised, asleep, ignorant or afraid to engage the enemy.

#8. A remnant is rising at the Voice of God.

#9. God is calling and it is time you and I mobilize and do the Works Jesus has commanded.

#10. Doing nothing, except being nice and “going to church”, assures you of nothing!

CONCLUSIONS?

FIRST: The final 7 years of the Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord or the Last Days are near. We know this by the change of ‘season’. (By the way, this is an extremely slow moving storm of cosmic proportions).

SECOND: Watch these 10 nations. 

  1. Gog, a.k.a., Rosh (Russia) and
  2. Rosh (Russia)
  3. Magog (Russia)
  4. Gomer (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
  5. Put (Libya),
  6. Cush (Ethiopia),
  7. Persia (Iran)
  8. Meshech (Southern Russia, *Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia)
  9. Tubal (an area in central Turkey),
  10. Beth-Togarmah (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia)

When they are aligned and armed against Israel, the End of Days Clock is only seconds from God’s intervention in the defense of Israel and the destruction of Israel’s enemies, the dragon and the beast. (Christians will have been taken from the earth 3.5 years prior, and will already be before His Throne, singing Hallelujahs to the King.

Get Ready. Stay Ready. The struggle is great but the victory is greater!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Additional Reading:

THE MYSTERY OF BABYLON

The 7 Hills of Rome

What are the 70 of Sevens (Daniel’s 70 Weeks)

The Christian Betrayal of Jesus

When does the 7 Years of Tribulation Begin

THE RISE OF RUSSIA and the END TIMES

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

My dear friends, (and if you are reading this, I consider you a friend):

Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the Word of God. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go. The Word of God must not depart from your mouth; you must meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then, you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

Thus says the Lord.

I have written 2 previous articles on Ukraine and Russia (see below) as related to Ezekiel chapter 38 and the End Time or the Last Days.

This video (below) is from pastor Gary Hamrick, Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg, Virginia. It puts an exclamation point on the matter. Please watch and pray.

The day draws near. Be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Go, therefore, and make disciples, teaching them all that Jesus has taught, baptizing them in the Father, The Holy Spirit and the Son.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

2 previous articles on Ukraine and Russia by Whitestone Fellowship:

“EZEKIEL’S PROPHECY – THE INVASION OF UKRAINE BY RUSSIA – God Will Strengthen”, is this the spark?

“UKRAINE and RUSSIA in Prophecy – The beginning of the End?”

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you can believe, all things are possible” – Mark 9:23

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as illnesses, demons, faith, forgiveness, healing.

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

IN CONTEXT

‘”And one person from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not do it.”

 “And He answered them, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

“And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” But Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”

“Immediately, the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

 “When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!”

 “And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out.” (Mark 917-26)

 REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“Jesus, I know You can, can do all things. Have pity and help me!”

“IF I CAN?” – Jesus’ question to the father.

Oddly, in our text, the father asks Jesus to help him and his son, “If He can”. And, Jesus replies with an interrogatory, “IF I CAN?” The man immediately, and correctly, begs for help with his unbelief.

There are other times that doubt plagued even the disciples:

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.” (Matthew 28:17). But Jesus sent them anyway.

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So, the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.

“Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” Then He *said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-29). But Jesus showed Thomas anyway and helped him is his disbelief.

Dear Friends, let’s always remind each other, that “it is with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (see Romans 10:10).

Say it. Believe it. Do it!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  (Coming Soon. Please bookmark this page or subscribe).

PREVIOUS:  CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you have faith and do not doubt” – Matthew 21:21.

NO MATTER HOW YOU SAY IT…

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

NO MATTER HOW YOU PUT IT…

Massive riots in France.

Massive riots in Israel.

Massive riots in Ireland.

Riots around the world in 2023.

WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?

New International Version
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

New Living Translation
Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

English Standard Version
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Berean Standard Bible
Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

Berean Literal Bible
And because lawlessness is to be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.

King James Bible
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

New King James Version
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

New American Standard Bible
And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.

Amplified Bible
Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold.

The world is falling into mayhem and madness. Is this a recent phenomenon, or is it a recurring anarchy?

The Bible verses, posted above, are from a prophetic section of the New Testament book of Matthew.

This, alone, would not be a harbinger of things to come – or, in fact, of things now occurring. But if you read Chapter twenty-four, you will find that this is just one feature of many which define the Last Days, which are occurring concurrently and growing in intensity – worldwide, which would be a harbinger. Listen and read carefully:

Matthew 24:3. “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:4, “Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.”

  • Deception in the Churches: Matthew 24:5.
    • “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.”
  • Widespread wars and global conflicts: Matthew 24:6, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Verse 7. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”
  • An increase in widespread famines and earthquakes: Matthew 24:6,
    • “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”
  • Worldwide religious persecution: Matthew 24:9,
    • “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.”
  • Worldwide Christian apostasy and hatreds: Matthew 24:10,
    • “At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,”
  • Worldwide rise of false, satanic and ‘new age’ religions: Matthew 24:11,
    • “and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”
  • Worldwide rise of perversion, debauchery, sexual deviancy: Matthew 24:12,
    • “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, verse 13, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
  • Matthew 24:14,
    • “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

NOW, THE GOOD NEWS

“I have said these things to you, that in me, you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – Jesus, John 16:33.

Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again, a little while, and you will see Me.” Some of His disciples said to one another, “What does He mean when He tells us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again, a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I am going to My Father’?” So, they were saying, “What does He mean when He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, so He said to them, “Are you wondering among yourselves about what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, that you will weep and grieve [in great mourning], but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has pain because her time [to give birth] has come; but when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of her joy that a child has come into the world. So for now you are in grief; but I will see you again, and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away from you your [great] joy. (John 16:16-24 – The Amplified Version).

Prayer Promises

“In that day, you will not [need to] ask Me about anything. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name [as My representative], He will give you. Until now, you have not asked [the Father] for anything in My name; but now ask and keep on asking, and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete.

“I have told you these things in figurative language (veiled language, proverbs); the hour is now coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf [because it will be unnecessary]; for the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from the Father. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

His disciples said, “Ah, now You are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech! Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; because of this we believe [without any doubt] that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now [at last] believe? Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will all be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I have told you these things, so that in Me, you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] (John 16:23-33 – The Amplified Version).

Dear friends, we know that there are troubling times in this world. Do not fall prey to them. Set your mind on the things above, and live.

Hear the words of our Lord and be at peace:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here”. (Jesus – John 14:27-31, English Standard Version).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Here is a sermon and message from Gary Hamrick, pastor of Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg, Virginia, which will put an exclamation point on the ideas contained in this post. (click this link:  HABAKUKK ).

 

THE BIBLE: PROPHETIC, INFORMATIONAL, INSTRUCTIONAL, INSPIRATIONAL

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

PROPHETIC, INFORMATIONAL, INSTRUCTIONAL, INSPIRATIONAL

(This is long, it is repetitive – and it is worth it)

“Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved”. (Romans 10:9-10)

 Saved: In the Greek language is ‘sózó”, (sode’-zo), Strong’s concordance #4982, made safe, rescued; deliver out of danger and into safety; used principally of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin – and into His provisions; saved/rescued from destruction and brought into divine safety“. 

SOZO

“Healed, Preserved, Saved (from destruction, evil, harm), Do well, Made Whole”

According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” Do you notice that “good for story telling” isn’t in these verses, or in the entire Bible?

The Bible is God’s Prophetic Narrative of information, instruction, and inspiration, preparing His people with every good work, perfecting and conforming us into the image of Christ so we may live in His Perfect Presence, in the new heaven and new earth for all eternity.

The Bible contains issues about and discusses topics such as geography, sociology, anthropology, science, philosophy, ethics, the church, God and man, community, family, the state, law, arts and media, labor, politics, history, and race relations. Although the Bible addresses these matters and is our instructions in these matters, the main theme of the Bible is NOT these things. Nor is the Bible a disconnected chronicle of stories, one after another, for us to read and muse about.

The Bible IS ABOUT God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is about God’s plan and purpose for His creation.

The Bible is causative, creative, prophetic and instructional, telling us to be holy as He is holy.; to have the same mind in us as the mind of Christ; to complete the good works He has prepared for us ahead of time; to be made into the very image of Christ in preparation for an eternity with Him, in His Perfect Presence and with one another.

The Word of God is CREATIVE, CAUSATIVE, PROPHETIC and INSTRUCTIONAL. The entire Bible is PROPHETIC, INFORMATIONAL, INSTRUCTIONAL and INSPIRATIONAL, “profitable for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”

Joshua chapter one, is exactly that:, PROPHETIC, INFORMATIONAL, INSTRUCTIONAL, INSPIRATIONAL The entirety of chapter one is prophetic in that it foretells us of our journey, instructs us on our way, informs us of and our destiny and inspires us to endure to the end.

  • It informs the Believer of God’s plan, purpose, and
  • instructs us how we are to navigate life with Him, and
  • inspires us to undertake our calling with enthusiastic, confident boldness.

(PLEASE NOTE: The best reading and understanding of the Bible is begun with a ‘plain face-value reading’, when possible, with exceptions for metaphors, idioms and similes.)

Joshua 1:1, “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,

 Verse 2. “Moses, my servant, is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

 Verse 3. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.

 Verse 4. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.

Verse 5. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

 Verse 6. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

 Verse 7. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good 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 have good success.

Verse 9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Additionally, when you read the Hebrew language and meaning of a word or verse, in  CONTEXT of the preceding and following verses, an amazing picture emerges!

Here are some examples of taking a verse, and transcribing the Hebrew language interpretation into the verse, then reapplying the interpretation into an application of the verse.

VERSE 1

The Verse:   1.  Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,

The Prophetic Transcription:  Gods says, I will draw you out of your current circumstances (Moses: drawn out).  God says I will cause you to rise up and become powerful, you will endure to the end, you will pass over all difficulties, as you lay prostrate before me, you will be saved.

​Application:  The old way of drawing me out of my former life, is dead; now therefore I will rise up with Christ, now,  and come into the enduring power and I will cross over from this descended position of being lost without hope to an Eternal Hope in Christ.

VERSE 2

The Verse:  2.  “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.

The Prophetic Transcription:  You are become the sons and daughters of God, I am to build you, to establish you. God prevails, God is mighty, God is giving you His Strength.

​Application:  I and all Christians, to the land which God is giving to us, to us, the eternal sons of God, will prevail, and I.am now made mighty by God in His strength

VERSE 3

The Verse:  3.  “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.

The Prophetic Transcription:  “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.  All, in totality, as you bow yourself down before God, walking in His Spirit, every place your foot treads, is yours – you have victory and dominion in Him.​

The Application:  Every place and everything I touch, as I bow myself to God, the touch of God will grant me dominion in His Name and for HIs Sake in all circumstances.

VERSE 4

The Verse:  4.  “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.

The Prophetic Transcription:  “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates,

From the time you lived in wilderness, and the speech of your mouth was dead, I, God, purify and give life to your heart and your mind, and you break forth in fruitfulness.

All the place of terror, the low places that come to you and that you are to enter in, God gives you dominion over

​The Application:  From the time I was wild in my imaginations, without a new heart or a living spirit or a regenerated mind within me, until the time that God broke forth and gave me a fruitful heart and mind, and an awareness of Him. In Him, I have dominion over all the terrors and low places I will encounter during my life, up until and including the time I enter into His Eternal Kingdom – all of this is  mine.

VERSE 5 

The Verse:  5.  “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

The Prophetic Transcription:  No man of any kind, neither great or powerful, without exception, can stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you;

The Application:  God will not sink down on me, and He will not relax on my behalf.  He will not drop back; and I will not be disheartened.  I will know that He is always with me and He never forsake me, nor will He let me be alone. He will never show slack toward me or on my behalf!

VERSE 6 

The Verse:  6.  “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 

The Prophetic Transcription:  Be strong and take hold of my strength, and be strengthened, hardened, and prevail.  Be encouraged, and secure even obstinate in your assurance, for I am making you superior in your strength.  Again, I say, you are strong.

The Application:  The land is now mine, that is all the earth. I have already inherited it. And, this is His oath, that is, God’s Oath which He swore to my fathers.  Now, I possess it.

Here is a repeat of Joshua 1:1-9 in red text, with the approximated Hebrew meaning and interpretation included in the verses within parentheses.

This also gives you the prophetic interpretation for your life:

Joshua 1:1, “After the death of Moses, (‘The drawn out one’. The one whom God found and drew out of the river, giving him a home and a future. And the way God will draw you out of drifting aimlessly, lost), the servant of the Lord, (the self-Existent or Eternal God), the Lord said to Joshua, (Yehoshua, ‘the Lord is salvation’. A type of Jesus) the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,

Verse 2. “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, (this descending, this declension and deterioration ‘of your life’), you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people (sons as a builder of the family name)  of Israel. (he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity: –Israel),

Verse 3.  “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.

Verse 4. “From the wilderness, (desert wildness and in thought and speech), and this Lebanon (when God gives you a new heart and mind), as far as the great river, the river (which is your prosperity), Euphrates (meaning you will break forth; rushing forward, alive, vibrant), all the land of the Hittites (the low places you will encounter in life), to the Great Sea toward the going down, (an entrance and not and end; a coming in, entering into a ‘new beginning’), of the sun, (which is a westward window to your future), shall be your territory.

Verse 5. “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you, (you will become together with God, accomplished, committed). I will not leave you or forsake, (not relax, sink, leave, forsake, or loose), you.

Verse 6. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

Verse 7. “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand, (turn your eyes away to fix something by your own strength), or to the left, (do not take on the shape of the things that are of the old life), that you may have good success (in your understanding, wisdom, prosperity, skill, insight comprehension, and prudence),  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 have good success.

Verse 9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (God will go with you, walk with you, come with you, proceed ahead of you, move with you, live life through you, lead you and bring you, carry you , and cause you to walk).”

Note: 

This last paragraph is the text of Joshua 1:1-9 in red letters words in  parentheses within the verses,is the approxiamte Hebrew meaning, and is also the prophetic application.

Read it. Mediatate on it. Memorize it. Believe it. Do it and it shall come to pass.

May the reading of God’s Word bless you in body, soul, mind and spirit as it comes to pass in your life.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“The Verses” are from the NASB version of the Bible; 

  • “The Prophetic Transcription” is translated from the Hebrew language with all the detail and nuances of what is written;
  • “Your Application” is the “Prophetic Transcription” to be applied to our lives.

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you have faith and do not doubt” – Matthew 21:21

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION –  “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.” (Matthew 21:21)

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as usefulness and uselessness, miracles, faith, doubt, authority over circumstances, effective productive prayer.

 “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.” (Matthew 21:21)

IN CONTEXT

“In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

“When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”

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. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:18-22)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“When I saw it, I marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”

And Jesus answered 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. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:18-22)

WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU KNOW vs WHAT JESUS SAYS

Herein lies what I will call, ‘the line of contention’. The Bible and Jesus say one thing, and our denominational teachings say quite another – either in disbelief or in going too far. Looking at these matters as it is ‘one way or another’ could be aptly named ‘a binary trap’, from which there is no escape.

BALANCE

Very few people would dare say Jesus approached life and spiritual matters with a balance between earthly means and ways, while staying true to His nature as God.

Jesus was both man and God, and He lived both the aspects of His earthly nature and His Divine nature to their absolute fullest.

And, so should we live both our natures – our human nature, as it is controlled by our ‘new birth spiritual nature’ to the absolute fullest. Our balance is only found in Jesus.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you want to be perfect” – Matthew 19:21

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21).

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as obtaining eternal life, the commandments of God, perfection in character, treasure in heaven, the requirements in following Jesus.

Matthew 19:21 – Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect (complete in all its parts, full-grown, of full age, especially of the completeness of Christian character),

 go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

IN CONTEXT

“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

I said to Jesus, “What do I still lack?”

“Jesus said to me, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

 ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS – KNOW THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO

This young man asked, “what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” This is a common misconception, for many, about salvation. If it were that simple, it would certainly be a cheapened grace and a trivial and ineffective salvation – which would be no salvation at all.

Ephesians 2:8-9, informs us that, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  

Salvation is by God’s Grace (that is, unearned and ‘un-earnable’ favor) through our faith (a belief and a trust in Jesus that is so complete that we are willing to surrender our way of thinking, acting and living and to follow Jesus in His ways.) Then we will walk in the ‘good works’ God prepared ahead of time. And you will have treasure in heaven

It’s all about Him – and we are the beneficiaries of such a Great God and of His great salvation!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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WILL YOU BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A recent publication by Zion’s Hope magazine, dated May-June 2023, asks, “Is the Church prepared to encounter the Antichrist before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?” (Zions Hope, by Marvin J. Rosenthal, 1933-2022).

I attended a small Church in Estero, Florida for a number of years, that is, until ‘certain things’ became clear to me. For example, I cannot count the numbers of members at that church who thought (believed) that the Church would be raptured before the appearance of the Antichrist.

When the matter would come up, I pointed out (on numerous occasions), that 2nd Corinthians 2:1, says, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, verse 2, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Verse 3. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, verse 4, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.”, only to be met with a blank stare and a denial.

“Naw”, they would say, “I don’t believe that. We will be raptured before that happens”. I would take a Bible and point out the verse to them. Still, a blank stare.

Marvin Rosenthal points out, in his article, “The Scriptures clearly teach that the Antichrist and the GREAT Tribulation (the final seven years of Great Tribulation) will precede the Lord’s coming. The Church should be constantly watching for her Lord’s coming, but fully cognizant of the fact that it is the emergence of the Antichrist which will indicate the Lord’s emergence is near.

“Believers still living at that time will be removed from the earth by rapture before the outpouring of God’s wrath during the Day of the Lord (the trumpets and bowls of the Book of Revelation) , but they will not be exempted from the difficulties associated with the Antichrist.

“If the Church believes she will be out of here before the Antichrist emerges, she will be caught off-guard and unprepared when he appears to deceive the world.”

Please, dear friends, be ready. Stay ready.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:   On another, but related matter, among the many reasons my wife and I had to stop attending that church was the denying of the plain language of the Bible in favor of personal opinions. (Please don’t misunderstand. There were many, many times the Word of God was taught accurately and with great sincerity in this church, and many churches like it. But suppose if you were confronted with this scenario: You are dry and very thirsty, on the verge of passing out for lack of water, and someone offered you a cool, clear glass of water – but the unrevealed caveat is that the glass container itself may have previously been contaminated with fecal bacteria – would you drink? You see, it is the “hidden, missing or omitted facts” that creates danger and should create pause.)

It happened that at some point at this church, someone in the congregation found it necessary to begin ‘giving messages in tongues’ during or at the end of a sermon. Another person, then, would dramatically ‘interpret’ these unintelligible sounds. It was almost always the same two people claiming to have this ‘gift’, and they seemed to play off one another. It awed some people in the congregation, the interruption and strange practice annoyed others. Some people didn’t care one way or another, but some left these services permanently.

I pointed out on occasion that the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:23 said, “Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane?”, some in the congregation would give me a blank stare – there’s always that stare – and would ask, “what are you trying to say?”.

“What am I trying to say”, I would think? “Read it for yourself”, I would think.

Finally, this practice ‘sealed the deal’ for me and we ‘were directed by the Word of God’ to move to another Church: The Word of God proclaims, “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent” (1 Timothy 2:11–12). (also see GotQuestions.Org).

Also, in 1 Corinthians 14:33, we find, “For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, verse 34, the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.”

The clarity of these verses is so loud that it is deafening. It must be deafening because it seems some ‘churches and church people’ can’t (or won’t) hear it.

The church, I refer to, had decided not to just ordain women but to appoint women as co-senior or senior pastors to preach from the pulpit – over men. (Again, 1 Timothy 2:11–12, says “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent”.

(There is a Biblical, spiritual, mental, emotional, physical and social reason for this teaching, but I do not have the time or space to explain it here.)

I have had some people in other churches tell me it is none of my business, when I bring matters like this up for discussion, since I am not a member of ‘their church’.

FIRST-OF-ALL, in response to this, I say, “it is NOT your church. It is Jesus’ Church”, it is His Bride, and you have no right and NO AUTHORITY – none whatsoever – to stand in judgment of scriptures. Your responsibility is to read the Holy Scriptures, understand them, and obey them. (Call this ‘legalism’ if you must. I offer it out of love and concern for the Body of Christ, The Church, and for our spiritual prosperity.)

Finally, I would refer you to hear what pastor and teacher John Piper says in an article (interview) on his website “Desiring God”, which he says this:

“Matthew 7:15: tells us to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” And the word beware means all of us should be alert, but especially shepherds, to identify not just false teaching, but false teachers, whose ways are subtle. They’re clothing themselves with lamb’s wool, while they are wolves.

“And Paul used the same Greek word for beware, in Acts 20:28–29 when he said, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. . . . I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing them.”

“In order to avoid them (false teachings and false teachers), you have to know who they are. You can’t avoid somebody if you don’t know who they are. This idea of identifying and avoiding shows up in 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14; 2 Timothy 3:5; 2 John 10. In other words, Christians, and shepherds in particular, should be discerning and alert to behavior and teaching that dishonors Christ and destroys people — and not treat it in a casual or harmless way.

“And then in 1 Timothy 5:19–20, Paul went beyond just “avoid them” to “rebuke them publicly.” So, speaking of elders who persist in error, he said, “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin” — and that can be sin of false doctrine or sin of evil behavior, anyone who does not accept correction — “rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.”

I know that this “PS” will not make me popular with some and will probably rub some people the wrong way. It may cost me some acquaintance-ships. If so, I will be saddened by that. But enough is enough. It’s time to speak up and to speak out.

So, what do you think?

“Is the Church prepared to encounter the Antichrist before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?”

(You can leave your comments below).

SAYING, “I AM THE CHRIST”

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE CHRIST:  From the Greek word ‘chrio’; Anointed One or the Chosen One i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus – Christ.

“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray”.

If you call yourself a Christian or if you call yourself a church, traditionally and historically, you are associated with the teachings of the Bible and of Jesus.

That has changed. In fact, Jesus, near the end of His earthly ministry, was recorded by Matthew, Luke and Mark, warning that false Messiah’s would come, saying they are the Christ.

Of course, if an individual were saying he is the Christ, he would be easy to spot and therefore avoid. But, when an entire religious denomination, which had been traditionally Christian, is compromised and begins saying in so many words, “I am the Christ” by claiming the moniker of Christianity, teach a totally different Gospel, we have a problem. And, this is exactly what is happening and many have been and are being deceived.

There are many people, today, calling themselves ‘Christians’ but they are not living according to the teachings of and the example set by Jesus. They are living according to their own desires, in their own image. This is called Paganism.

Paganism, via Global-Socialist-Communist-Marxism (GSCM), has reemerged as a dominant world view and a dominant world force. Through this reemergence, a not-so-new rebranding has taken place. GSCM is cloaking itself in traditional ‘Christian language’, look-alike-behaviors and eerily similar sounding doctrines, thus the deception is underway – but for a much different reason than that of Christianity.

FIRST – You can see the professed goals and activities of the Global-Socialist-Communist-Marxism (GSCM), better known as The United Nations and its partners like the World Economic Program and the programs of the Agenda-2030.

The Preamble of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (Agenda 2030) says, in part:

“This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.

It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom.

We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet.

We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path.

As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.

The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet:”

“We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.”

The cover story for the 17 sustainable development goals of agenda 2030 is are: (1) No Poverty, (2) Zero Hunger, (3) Good Health and Well-being, (4) Quality Education, (5) Gender Equality, (6) Clean Water and Sanitation, (7) Affordable and Clean Energy, (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, (10) Reduced Inequality, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption and Production, (13) Climate Action, (14) Life Below Water, (15) Life On Land, (16) Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, (17) Partnerships for the Goals. However, the implementation and management of these ambitious plans require a convergence of governments nations and states into one global entity under the jurisdiction of a board of select officials from various nations. It also requires cooperation and submission by government and the populous of each nation to the dictates of the United Nations agenda 2030 and the World Economic Forum. Contemporary examples of this plan can be witnessed in country such as Argentina, Cuba, China and Brazil. Participation is not optional, and resistance will be costly and futile.

Who would not want to achieve these goals and live in such a Utopian world? Beware. The goals are lofty, but, the methodologies, the implementation and the governing of the world they describe can be likened to the gulags of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, the reign of terror imposed on China by the notorious Mao Zedong or the racist Hegelian, Karl Marx’s nefarious social construct of Marxism which is responsible for the deaths of upward of 200,000,000 people. They, all, used the same Siren’s song the United Nations is using now, to lure hundreds of millions into the webs of Agenda 2030.

Although grand in scope and scale, I say it is ‘not-so-new’ because The Bible tells of the beginnings of the idea of a One World Government and warns this system is coming again – in the Last Days. “They said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’

“The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

“The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.” Genesis 11:4-6

DON’T BE DECEIVED

The agenda of this “migration” and Globalism or One World Government is not the stuff of just any book. It is stuff of THE BOOK, that is The Bible.

Genesis chapter 11 gives us the prophecy, the foreshadowing of the coming One World Government.

The Tower of Babel, built around, 2242 B.C., was a post-Flood rebellion against God by Noah’s descendants. As told about in Genesis 11:1-9, it is meant to explain why the world’s peoples speak different languages. According to the account, a united humanity in the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar (שִׁנְעָר). There, they agree to build a city and a tower tall enough to reach heaven.

(NOTE: “tall enough to reach to heaven” can be a metaphor for “man reaching to heaven, making himself god, to accomplish his own desires. This is the ‘Utopian dream’ of the Socialist and Communist manifestos; the State being our god – from cradle to grave)

This effort of uniting in a global community has been underway for about 4,200 years, about 100 years after ‘The Flood’, but before Abraham was born.

This is ‘forecast’ or what is Prophesied in the Bible. It is underway, and nearly completed. We should be prepared!

Jesus and His disciples dealt with the same type of deceptions of Gnosticism and Judaism. However, as we have entered These Last Days, we are seeing a culmination of centuries of preparation for the coming false church and the antichrist.

SECONDLY – You can see evidence that the GSMC have the invaded and compromised church by investigating the Word of Faith movement, the Catholic church, the Emergent church, the compromised Nazarene church and the drift of the Presbyterian USA church, the United Methodist church and even many in the Baptist faith and church, among others.

Here is the history of the drift, invasion and compromise of the church:

AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement. Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey. The penalty for becoming a Christian was often death. The Church grew exponentially.

A.D. 49 The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.

A.D. 313 The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.

A.D. 380 The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.

1607 The Church reaches America.

1681 The Church became corporate. It had become a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.

The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.

1777 The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.

1894 The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.

1954 The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax-exempt status.

The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.

The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.

Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.

The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)

The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.

Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).

Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.

1968 The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.

1972 The United church of Christ ordains homosexual clergy

2010 The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy

2012 The Presbyterian church ordains homosexual clergy

The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years.

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

2020 The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2020 is hemorrhaging members.

2023 Much of the church claiming to be ‘Christian’ is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of Jesus and the Apostles.

If you want to follow the “New World Order” and cling to the fanatical and reach for the  unattainable, then be my guest. But, the end is foretold:

Judgment Before the Great White Throne of God

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.

Then another book was opened, which is the book of life.

And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

There is ONE WAY to life – it is found through salvation by and a relationship with the One True Living God – Jesus the Christ!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young – inviting you to come to Jesus, today.

PS:

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

 

The odds of 1 to 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 is 1 to 10 to the 157th power.

These are the odds against – yes, AGAINST – Jesus Christ having fulfilled just 48 of the over 450 prophecies written about Him.

In order to give you some perspective, electrons are very small objects. They’re smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10 to the 15th power of them, laid side by side, to make one inch. Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long.  19 MILLION YEARS!

Read that again, please.  Why is that significant?

It is significant because it gives us evidence that the Bible is true and correct when it says that Christ Jesus came to earth and is the Savior of the world.

It gives YOU evidence, if you choose to pay attention, that your life can be eternal with the only LIFE source which gives eternal Peace, Safety, Security, Joy and fulfillment the universe has ever known or ever will know.

Just think about it: It is a scientific and a mathematical impossibility that HAS COME TO PASS!

No odds can defy the REALITY of Jesus Christ.

 

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?” Matthew 19:17.

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17.

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situation and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as goodness, God, entering into life, the commandments, finding perfection, and following Jesus.

“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”

 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:16-21)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

And he said to me, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

 I ask Jesus, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

I ask Him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus says to me, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

BEING POSSESSED

In these verses, the ‘rich young ruler’, after talking to Jesus, “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions”. Apparently, this young man could not fathom becoming destitute on Jesus’ account.

This was and is not about possessions. It is about being possessed. This young man was possessed by his wealth. Wealth and possession was his calling, his mission on earth and his master.

What is your calling, mission and master?

“For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”  Matthew 7:14.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you have faith as a mustard seed” – Matthew 17:20

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – Matthew 17:20, “So, Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20.

The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament. First, we will be confronted with various situation and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we are confronted with questions about faith, unbelief, speaking the Word, ‘moving mountains’, impossibilities and possibilities.

(“And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”)

 “So, Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20.

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“So, Jesus says to me, because of my unbelief; for assuredly, He is saying to me, “if I have faith as a mustard seed, I will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for me.” Matthew 17:20.

Dear friends, God tells us that our “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (see Romans 10:17). If you believe this, then memorizing and internalizing Matthew 17:18-20 is important to strengthening your faith and make this Word come alive within you.

Remembering that it is HE Who does these works through us, by His Grace, let’s get this done!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – Drive-Through Salvation & Spiritual Fast Food?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – Drive-Through Salvation & Spiritual Fast Food?

Have you ever heard the following before?

“Please, bow your heads and close your eyes and repeat this prayer after me. “Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“For all who prayed this prayer, CONGRATULATIONS! You are NOW, a child of God!! (Congregational applause) Please pick up some literature after our service. It will tell you what to do next.”

It is called, “The Sinner’s Prayer”. But, is It Biblical? And, is it enough to save a person’s soul and get them into heaven? Is the ‘sinners prayer’ biblical?

Is it enough, to utter a scripted prayer, and expect a magical transformation of your life and a free pass to heaven?

Perhaps this little mimicked prayer, almost like an incantation, will get a person thinking about salvation, but, the Bible seems to consider this a more serious matter and addresses it a bit differently.

The Bible and Jesus say there has to be a commitment to follow Jesus in His teachings and His commandments. It takes commitment, discipline and endurance.

The facts are that neither Jesus nor His disciples ever used a “sinner’s prayer” to induce people to follow Jesus.

And, neither Jesus nor His disciples minced their words on this important matter. They just gave it straight and then you either dropped what you were doing, what you had been, and followed Him – or not.

What are we to do? Has Jesus changed His mind about how we are to follow Him and become a Christian? Of course not. Then, why are so many pastors and churches serving up “DRIVE-THROUGH SALVATION” & “SPIRITUAL FAST FOOD”?

Furthermore (and more importantly), the Apostle Paul, in 1st Corinthians 9:25, addresses salvation and the endurance it requires. He uses a metaphor of an athlete, and he says that every athlete exercises self-control in all things. Those athletes do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we, as Christians receive an imperishable wreath.

He also says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1).

I dare say that the vast majority of Christians in our world today are like a runner who, when the starter’s gun sounds, they simply stand up at the starting line, prance about  admiring their runner’s garb, chatting with other entrants about the aspects of running a race, but never running the race – while the ‘true runners’ disappear down the track.

This is actually a serious matter, and it would seem, from the condition of the church and of our world, that an inertia, a malaise has settled over the Church. We are , so to speak, ‘prancing about, admiring our garb, but not ‘entering the race’, the mission of Christ. And, we are standing on dangerous grounds.

I believe, to start with, it is time we ask ourselves, WHY DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?

I will cite six reasons Jesus said He came into this world, which give us six examples to follow. And they are not simply suggestions:

  1. TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

John 18:37 “Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose, I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”  

  1. TO BRING A SWORD

Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Verse 35, For I came to TURN A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; verse 36, and A PERSON’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.”

  1. TO FULFILL THE LAW

Matthew 5:17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.”  

  1. TO CALL SINNERS

Mark 2:17 “And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

  1. TO SAVE THE WORLD

John 12:47 “If anyone hears My teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”

  1. TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH

Luke 12:49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! Verse 50,  But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Verse 51, Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather to create division;  “

 “WHAT HE REALLY MEANT?”

Jesus has told us, in John 14:12, “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. Verse 13. And whatever you ask in My name, this I will 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.”

I have heard so many preachers, bible teachers and detractors alike, try to justify or explain away these Words of Jesus because they just cannot fathom the gentle and sweet ‘dashboard Jesus’ saying such things as we find in the verses cited.  These same confused preachers really get tied in a knot over John 14:12.  They will begin their commentary of teaching it with, “what this really means is…”.

Jesus said what He meant and meant exactly what He said.  He is our model for our counter cultural resistance to the growing global threat of Communist-Marxist-Globalism, And we need to get on with it.

Jesus’ time on earth was spent fulfilling the purpose, and will of His Father (Matthew 5:19, Matthew 5:39). Jesus was on a singular mission (John 6 :38) and nothing would stand in the way of accomplishing that mission: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus had a divine appointment with a cruel Roman cross. Read what He said when Peter proposed to get in the way of His mission:

Matthew 16:21- 23, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

We do not literally have an appointment with a crucifixion, but, the Bible is  clear in Galatians 5:24, that “Those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” and again in Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul reminds us that, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” which must be true for all who follow Jesus because we are on mission with Jesus. Our ‘old self’ must die so our new selves can follow and serve Him.

Jesus always, taught the Will of His Father, then, demonstrated what He taught. He expects us to do the same. Ephesians, chapter six, gives us a clear teaching and picture of the type of preparation and the kind of resolve we are to assume.

Ephesians 6:10-17, tells us, “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 in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in 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.”

Stand, i. e. continue safe and sound, stand unharmed: Acts 26:22.

Stand ready or prepared: Ephesians 6:14. One who does not hesitate, does not waver, of one who vanquishes his adversaries and holds the ground, also of one who in the midst of the fight holds his position against the foe, to persist, continue, persevere: (so as not to fall from thy faith).

Jesus’ example of steadfast, unmovable courage; this is our example and our command to do the same:

CONFRONTING THE STORM

Mark 4:35-41, “On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

CONFRONTING DEMONS

Luke 8:26-33 “Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

“Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.”

CONFRONTING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

John 19:8-12  ”Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So, Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason, he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

BEFORE THE RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT

Matthew 24:57-67, “Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

“Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, 61 and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?”  But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;  what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him.”  

Jesus did not draw back.  (He proceeded boldly to the Cross and secured our salvation!) We must not draw back. Jesus has all authority in heaven  and on the earth and is with us until the end!

Remember, Jesus came to earth for these stated reasons – and these same reasons are our method and our calling:

TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH. We are to testify to the truth!

The Truth is a Person. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” When confronted with evil, lies, perversion or deception, we are to testify to the Truth – that is Jesus.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14.

Examples of what your response could be:

On Homosexuality: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality.” (1 Corinthians 6:9)

“We know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, the sexually immoral, men or women who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.” 1 Timothy 1:8-10

On Transgenderism: “God makes no distinction when it comes to salvation whether you are Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (see Galatians 3:28), but, God says, “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 22:5).

On Abortion: “God created us in his own image”. (Genesis 1:7) “Children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward. (Psalm 127:3-4). “You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13.

On Teaching children homosexuality, transgenderism, critical race theory, sexual perversions: “It would be better if a millstone were hung around the neck of someone and they were cast into the sea than that they should cause one of these little ones to sin. (Luke 17:2).

TO BRING A SWORD. We are to bring the sword of the Word of God!

It is critical that you know the Word of God. It is the “Sword”, the Word of God, that will enable you to fight this battle. It is the full armor of God that will protect you as you engage the adversary. (This takes work, discipline and endurance. For the capable, anything less is laziness, sloth and disobedience to God.

 TO FULFILL THE LAW. We are to fulfill the same law!

TO CALL SINNERS. We are to call out sin and to call sinners to Christ Jesus!

TO SAVE THE WORLD through Jesus. In a very real sense, this, too, is our calling, by lifting the Name of Jesus, telling others and leading them to Him

TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH. This, too, is our calling! The Word of God is a stumbling block to those who do not believe, dividing A  MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; (Matthew 10:35-36)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, read, understand and follow the example set by Jesus in His thought, speech, action and behavior. We are not relieved of our ‘new spiritual nature’ to ’turn the other cheek’, and to give to those who would take from you and to the one who begs from you. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (see Matthew 5:38-48). At the same time, in balance, we are not to shrink back, for the Lord takes no pleasure in those who shrink back. (see Hebrews 10:38-39). We are to stand tall and stand firm in the face of evil.

This is not hyperbole, nor is it philosophy nor metaphor. Now is the time to gird ourselves up with the full armor of God and follow our Lord, the King of Kings into battle.

Once again, please remember the distinction: 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 and must be fought with Spiritual Armament.

Someone once wisely said, “Lead, follow or get out of the way”. (Thomas Paine, Lee Iacocca, or George S. Patton. And, depending on which one of these might have said it, it carries a different message.)

Jesus said similarly, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  We are called on an earthly mission and to an eternal destiny. You will either lead, follow or be left behind.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young