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.

RESIST AND GIRD UP FOR WAR – Confronting the spirit of antichrist

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Girding up for War – Confronting the spirit of antichrist!

Eric Metaxas is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Bonhoeffer, and many other books, including Is Atheism Dead?, Martin Luther, Amazing Grace, and Letter to the American Church. Mataxas, a graduate of Yale University, is an American author, speaker, and conservative radio host. He has written three biographies, Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery about William Wilberforce, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World, If You Can Keep it, Fish Out of Water: A Search for the Meaning of Life and Letter to the American Church.

In his most recent and provocative book, Letter to the American Church, Metaxas asks, “Can it really be God’s will that His children be silent at a time like this? Decrying the cowardice that masquerades as godly meekness, Eric Metaxas summons the Church to battle.

“The author of a bestselling biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Metaxas reveals the haunting similarities between today’s American Church and the German Church of the 1930s. Echoing the German martyr’s prophetic call, he exhorts his fellow Christians to repent of their silence in the face of evil.

“An attenuated and unbiblical “faith” based on what Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace” has sapped the spiritual vitality of millions of Americans. Paying lip service to an insipid “evangelism,” they shrink from combating the evils of our time. Metaxas refutes the pernicious lie that fighting evil politicizes Christianity. As Bonhoeffer and other heroes of the faith insisted, the Church has an irreplaceable role in the culture of a nation. It is our duty to fight the powers of darkness, especially on behalf of the weak and vulnerable.

“Silence is not an option. God calls us to defend the unborn, to confront the lies of cultural Marxism, and to battle the globalist tyranny that crushes human freedom. Confident that this is His fight, the Church must overcome fear and enter the fray, armed with the spiritual weapons of prayer, self-sacrifice, and love.” (see Eric Metaxas.com – Letter to the American Church)

Here is a ‘must watch’ interview by pastor Gary Hamrick, Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg, Virginia, as pastor Hamrick and Eric Metaxas discuss how the Church (Christians) must respond to the spreading evil of the spirit of the antichrist which is in the world now.

Jesus spoke on these matters more succinctly than anyone, past or present. Hear what Jesus tells us is the ways to confront evil in our day:

WHY DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?

 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.”  

 2.  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.”

 3.  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.”  

 4.  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.” 

 5.  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.”

 6.  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, inJohn 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!

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

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

TO CALL SINNERS. We are to call sinners!

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, this is not hyperbole, a philosophy or 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.

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 and must be fought with Spiritual Armament!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

TO A HAMMER, EVERYTHING IS A NAIL?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever heard or thought that? “Everything is a nail to a hammer”? That may be what I have become when it comes to The Mission of the Church, but I hope that is not the case. (before going further, please click on the word, Church, for an accurate Biblical definition and description).

The Church is the Bride of Christ, made up of the children of God – Christians. And, the Church is on a mission.

If I asked YOU, what is the mission of the Church, what would you say?

Here is what some are saying:

The Gospel Coalition says, for the Evangelical, “The mission of the church is the task given by God for the people of God to accomplish in the world. In simplest terms, the mission of the church is the Great Commission.” (Kevin DeYoung, Presbyterian, PCA).

Bible.Org says, for the Evangelicals, “The Church’s Mission Is to Worship God; the chief mission God has given the church is to praise and worship him”. (credit, Gregory Brown, chaplain and professor at Handong Global University and the teaching pastor at Handong International Congregation.)

GotQuestions.Org (a prevalent Reformed view) says, “First, the mission of the church is to make disciples;  

“secondly, the mission of the church is to glorify Christ;

 “thirdly, the mission of the church is to build up the saints;

 “finally, the mission of the church is to know and love Christ so supremely as to represent Him and His values accurately and vividly to the world and serve people’s deepest needs in the way Christ Himself would meet them.

GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE

God’s plan and purpose is revealed throughout scriptures. But you will have to step back from a myopic view of the Bible and study the long-view. What I mean is see the entire Bible as a panorama of what God has done and continues to do. The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is Perfection.  He is maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth. This is not to be confused with the Mission of the Church.

Jesus explained the Mission, set the example, trained His disciples and sent them on His Mission.

Hear what Jesus says:

John 5:17, “But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

John 5:19, “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

John 5:30, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent me.”

John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

BUILDING AN ARMY

Some say that Jesus has built an ‘army of the cross’. True enough, but it must be kept in the context that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (see Ephesians 6:12).

Jesus called His disciples and trained them in His ways.

Then, He sent them to call others to do the same. From these few,

God has raised up a Christian army of millions who have engaged the Mission.

From these few uneducated, common men, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, Jesus began His Church.

THE EARLY CHURCH WAS A MOVEMENT

From these humble beginnings, in or around A.D. 29 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.

Matthew 16:18, says, “And, I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. verse 19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” verse 20. Then He gave the disciples strict orders that they were to tell no one that He was the Christ. 

Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey. Although 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.

A.D. 1607.  The Church reaches America.

Era Estimated Christians
First century 500,000
Second century 2,000,000
Third century 5,000,000
Fourth century 10,000,000
Fifth century 15,000,000
Sixth century 20,000,000
Seventh century 24,000,000
Eighth century 30,000,000
Ninth century 40,000,000
Tenth century 50,000,000
Eleventh century 70,000,000
Twelfth century 80,000,000
Thirteenth century 75,000,000
Fourteenth century 80,000,000
Fifteenth century 100,000,000
Sixteenth century 125,000,000
Seventeenth century 155,000,000
Eighteenth century 200,000,000

 

The year 1900                                   558,000,000 (million)

The year 1970                                    1,216,131,000 (billion)

The year 2000                                  1,988,770,000 (billion)

The year 2023                                   2,604,381,000 (billion)

(reference since 1990 – from Gordon Cromwell University)

Nowadays, however, I see many church slogans, (i.e., their mission statements), that say things like “to know Jesus and to make Him known”, or “Give, Grow, Go”, or “To love Him and to be loved”, all good things. But the practice of these ‘mottos’, or slogans, are reflected in their dearth of making disciples via leading by example.

(Two small examples for you to consider: I was in a ‘discipleship training class’ in a local church and the ‘teacher’ made this remark, at the end of the class: “We are to go and make disciples, but if they don’t come to church they won’t get saved.” This reflects that the real attitude of most Christians is to ‘leave it up to the preacher. Another time in another church, the prevalent answers from a similar class was, “I would, but that is not my gift”. (Both now have declining memberships, which is sad. But is worse is they are not following the example and commandments of Jesus.)

If, by chance, you think or behave like the examples I have given, here is a ‘pin to burst your bubble’: Jesus says to ALL CHRISTIANS, that is, ALL HIS DISCIPLES, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Yes. Perhaps I am guilty of being that hammer, and yes, perhaps I do see all things as the nails that have the calling and the potential of evangelizing the entire world, until He returns – which is perhaps sooner that we might think.

Please listen, dear friends, the ‘glory days’ of America are coming to a rapid end. The safety and sanctuary of living in a predominantly Christian nation are over. If you doubt that or are hanging on to a hope that somehow some preacher or politician is going to lead us to revival, you will be grievously mistaken.

God says, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Within this call to repentance, also is the inference for obedience to Him and His Word. James has reminded us that “faith without works is dead faith.” In other words, we must not just be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word, for it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

Let’s pray for one another that we will find the courage, strength and willingness – each one of us as individuals – to join Jesus in the harvest fields, which are indeed ripe for the harvest in these last days!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – Matthew 12:7, And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and 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.

Matthew 12:7, “And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.”

Today we are confronted with questions about putting traditions and religious ritual law above necessity, justice and mercy, mercy versus sacrifice, condemning the guiltless and the innocent.

Matthew 12:1, “At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. Verse 2. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

 Verse 7. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. Verse 8. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

Matthew 12:1, “At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. Verse 2. But when the Pharisees and I saw it, we said to Him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

 Verse 7. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. Verse 8. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Dear friends, it may not be grain fields we find ourselves dealing with, but it is about putting religious traditions and rituals above the needs of the guiltless and innocent. We are to Show justice through mercy, Christian community over legalism.

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/27/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-have-faith-as-a-mustard-seed-matthew-1720/

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LOST IN DARKNESS? HERE IS THE LAST HOPE YOU WILL EVER NEED

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

There has been so much written about ‘how to have a happy life’, usually written by those who have achieved such a life. But for those who are struggling, it just makes little sense. For those who have lost hope, there is no coming sunrise. It’s all dark and sad and hopeless. This is a dangerous place to be.

To those who are in that dark place, PLEASE LISTEN – ONE MORE TIME, that is, if you can muster the strength. I HAVE LIVED IN THAT DARKNESS, with no idea of how to escape. I wondered how others escaped (or, for that matter, why so many others have never experienced this awful sense of failure and hopelessness). I wondered what I have done to deserve this ? Why and how this could have happened to me?

There were times that I was not sure if I wanted to go on or that I could go on.

THEN I FOUND A WAY. I have since discovered that hundreds of thousands of others, even hundreds of millions of others, have also found this answer and it changed everything. It did not just change things – a little or a lot. It completely and radically changed them for the better!  Then everything around them, and every chance, every circumstance, every situation that might touch their lives followed suit.

PLEASE HEAR ME: THERE IS AN ANSWER. THERE IS HOPE. THERE IS AN ESCAPE TO A BETTER PLACE. But you will have to read this and believe, even if you have to drag yourself there. As weak as you may feel, reach deep and find just one tenth of one ounce of courage (the weight of a mustard seed), this one more time.

This will – if you will – change your life in wonderful ways.

Change won’t seem to come instantly, although you will have been changed in an instant, “in the blink of an eye” as the Bible puts it. You and your life’s trajectory will immediately be put on an upward trend, and the day will come when others will say they don’t recognize you as the person you once were. You, in fact, won’t even recognize that man or woman, boy or girl you used to be. And, nothing will ever be the same again.

The Answer seems to be a secret, since so many people continue to languish in fear-bordering-on-terror, being confined and chained in the dankness of a prison cell of their own making. But it is not a secret. Please hear me: This seems to be a secret only because many of you in bondage don’t want to know.

It is up to the ‘hearer’ to hear. It is up to the observer to see. It is up to you to know.

THINK WITH ME

A man comes from seeming obscurity, quietly enters the world scene, and begins to work miracles. As time goes by, His works are witness by hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands of people, working miracles, saving lives, controlling the elements, reversing death, raising people from the dead, healing broken minds and broken bodies, driving away and defeating the darkness for all who would believe. He won’t accept money, and He rejects recognition and hides from fame. But the world takes notice, and the effects have lasted for over two centuries. He changed the world and redefined how to think.

His Power is still available, and it is waiting to be discovered by you. He will present it to you Himself, but you have to decide to see with your own eyes, hear with your own ears and believe it for yourself.

This “power” as I have called it, is not a nebulous or an ill-defined concept. It is a living Person. The person of Jesus. The Bible tells you that He is saying, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” The Spirit of Jesus lives on and is real and ever present for those who will receive Him and what He has to offer.

He can and is willing to heal your mind, your body and your soul. He can and is willing to raise you up from your bed of sickness and death – whether physical, emotional, spiritual, relational – to restore the things you have missed out on or have lost, and He will create new and wonderful things in your life you previously thought were out of your reach.

You no longer need be chained to that rock of human misery and suffering – which in fact is our exile from God.

He makes but one demand: You must believe.

He extends His Grace of mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration and promise to all who will believe. Your belief comes in the form of faith, and even this faith is a gift from God to those who choose to believe.

It is by God’s great mercy that we can receive this gift. We are born again to a new life, all because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now – if you choose – you can live with great expectation, and have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

And through your faith, God will protect you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed for all to see.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead. And even though you must still endure many trials for a little while, these trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Sounds too good to be true? You will have to find out for yourself. You have to call on Him, believe Him, trust Him and follow Him. But, it is all up to you.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: I am praying desperately and fervently for you. Reach out to Him. Please.

 

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – And ” If you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come”. Matthew 11:14

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and 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.

Matthew 11:14 – And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. (also see John 1:21).

Today we are confronted with questions about your status in the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of heaven suffering the violence of men, having the ability to hear, understand and believe prophecies.

“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 11:11-15.

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even I, who is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if I am willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. I pray to have ears to hear, and I pray I hear.” Matthew 11:11-15.

Dear friends, we know that faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. What was spoken has come to pass. Pray for understanding and wisdom. The Day is near.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/22/christian-ethos-in-action-matthew-127-and-if-you-had-known-what-this-means-i-desire-mercy-and-not-sacrifice/

PREVIOUS:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/19/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-being-evil-know-how-to-give-good-gifts-to-your-children-matthew-77-12/

What is your DAVID and GOLIATH?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Do you ever have those days (or months) when it seems like everything you do encounters opposition? It is like everything is going against you?

The Bible address matters like these. One real-life story, in particular, is found in the book of First Samuel, chapter seventeen. It is about the battle between a huge man, described as a giant Goliath and a small boy named David.

(There are those who say this did not really happen, but it did happen and the details and outcome are so significant that it has been preserved over the last 2,800 years, serving us several invaluable object lessons for living an effective and victorious life.)

While reading this account in 1st Samuel, imagine with me if you will, that the

(1) Philistines in this story are the disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures that one may face in life.

(2) Saul and the men of Israel and Judah represent you and your position in life.

(3) David, son of Jesse, represents a type of Christ, our Hope.

1 Samuel 17:1, Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. Verse 2. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. Verse 3. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.

Samuel 17:4. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span (9 feet 6 inches tall). Verse 5. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze (121.25 pounds). Verse 6. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. Verse 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron (14.5 pounds). And his shield-bearer went before him. Verse 8. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. Verse 9. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” Verse 10. And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.”

Verse 11. When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Verse 12. Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul, the man was already old and advanced in years.

 Verse 16. For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

Verse 24. All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.

Verse 26. And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Verse 32. And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33. And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”

 Verse 40. Then David took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

Verse 41. And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. Verse 42. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. Verse 43. And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. Verse 44. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”

Verse 45. Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Verse 46. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, Verse 47. and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

Verse 48. When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. Verse 49. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

Verse 50. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him.

NOTE: This is a real event which also makes for a great metaphor. A metaphor  representing the ‘giants and what appears to be overwhelming threats and troubles’ we may face in our lives. This actual event from the Bible gives us a monumental truth which, when applied, gives us the identical stupendous results in our individual lives. Once again, re-read this story with the 

  • Philistines in this story as representing the disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures that you may face in life..
  • Saul and the men of Israel representing you and your position(s) in life.
  • David, son of Jesse, representing a type of Christ, your Hope and salvation in life.

RECAP:

  1. Now the ‘Philistines’ gathered their armies for battle, which are those disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures you may face in life.
    1. They gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah. Notice that they are encroaching into your life, into your spaces and areas.
  2. And Saul and the men of Israel, which are our lives and our positions in life, were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. We can’t escape these dangers and threats, and we must face off with them.
  3. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.
  4. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath which are those disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures you may face in life.
    1. whose height was six cubits and a span (9 feet 6 inches tall), and they tower over us and over our lives. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze (121.25 pounds). And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron (14.5 pounds). And his shield-bearer went before him, and all our eyes see is defeat even before we begin, and it brings fear and terror.
    2. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, am I not all of your disappointments, your trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures you may face in life?
  5. and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” I taunt you. I threaten you.

    1. When Saul and all Israel, which is your position and place in life, heard these words of the Philistine, you are dismayed and greatly afraid.
    2. For forty days, (with judgments, testing and trials, which will lead to a spiritual truth and a significant change to come forth for Israel), the Philistine comes forward, with all disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures he would have you face, and took his stand, morning and evening.
  6. Then David, representing a type of Christ, your Hope and your future, SAID to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” David SPEAKS God’s Words which are also our Words.
    1. And David representing a type of Christ, your Hope and your future, said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine”  who is bringing disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures.
    2. Then David took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones, (which in the Hebrew means ‘to build, to fortify, to rebuild’), from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.
    3. And the Philistine bringing disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine spouting disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”
    4. Then David, son of Jesse, representing our type of Christ, our Hope and your future, said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
    5. When the Philistine bringing disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures arose and came and drew near to meet David who represents a type of Christ and our Hope and future,
    6. David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine who was bringing disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures.
    7. And David, representing a type of Christ, our Hope and our future, put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
    8. So, David, our type of Christ, our Hope, our future and our victory, prevailed over the Philistine’s disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him.

The Philistine’s methods are always taunting threats, weapons of flesh and blood, and the appearance of imposing physical strength.

David’s methods (Christ’s methods) are always the Word of God delivered “into the forehead – ‘between the eyes’, so to speak.

When we are faced with the besetting troubles of the Philistines in life, we must say the words of David, (who was and is a type of Christ), “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine of disappointment, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

“You (disappointment, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures) come at me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in The Name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines of disappointments, trials, troubles, hurts, besetting problems, illnesses and failures this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into my hand.”

Hear it. Speak it. Do it, and live!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please note: the results represented in these verses seem to be immediate, but in reality, they are the culmination of long-standing circumstances. So it may be in your life. Your rescue and salvation may occur immediately or it may take considerable time for the results to be manifest. But do not lose heart or turn away. It will come to pass!

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children”, Matthew 7:7-12.

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and 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.

Matthew 7:11 – If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Today we are confronted with questions about our evil nature, about asking God in prayer through seeking, knocking, finding, giving good gifts and finally, about how to treat others through it all.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

“So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“If I ask, it will be given to me; seek, and I will find; knock, and it will be opened to me. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. If my son asks me for bread, will I give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will I give him a serpent?

If I then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to my children, how much more will my Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

“So, whatever I wish that others would do to me, I will do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Let’s please remember that when we give, it will be given back to us. And a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will also be put into your lap. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (see Luke 6:38).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  Living the Christian ETHOS leads to a full and abundant life. It is the way and the life that Jesus teaches and models. Let’s just do it.

NEXT:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/20/christian-ethos-in-action-and-if-you-are-willing-to-receive-it-he-is-elijah-who-is-to-come-matthew-1114/

PREVIOUS:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/18/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-forgive-others-of-their-trespasses-matthew-67-15/

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you forgive others of their trespasses”, Matthew 6:7-15

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“Christian Ethos in Action”.

“Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and 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 empty prayer, trespasses, forgiveness, God, heaven, temptations, and avoidance of evil. Let’s begin.

Matthew 6:14 – “For if you forgive others of their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Matthew 6:7-15, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

Matthew 6:7-15, “And when I pray, I will not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. I will not be like them, for my Father knows what I need before I ask him. I will pray then like this:

“My Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give me this day my daily bread,
and forgive me of my debts,
as I also have forgiven my debtors.
And lead me not into temptation,
but deliver me from evil.

For if I forgive others their trespasses, my heavenly Father will also forgive me, but if I do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will my Father forgive my trespasses.”

Please, let’s confess our sins to one another and pray for one another, that we may be healed. Remembering that the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/19/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-being-evil-know-how-to-give-good-gifts-to-your-children-matthew-77-12/

PREVIOUS:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/17/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-love-those-who-love-you-what-reward-do-you-have-matthew-543-48/

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you love those who love you, what reward do you have?”, Matthew 5:43-48

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and 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 love, hate, neighbors, enemies, prayer, persecution, good, and evil. Let’s begin:

Matthew 5:46 – For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love (ag-ap-ah’-o; to love; wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem) your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect (tel’-i-os; having reached its end, complete, perfect; (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full-grown, of full age, (c) especially of the completeness of Christian character), as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“I have heard that it was said, ‘I shall love my neighbor and hate my enemy.’ But I say I must love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me, so that I may be a son of my Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if I love those who love me, what reward do I have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if I greet only my brothers, what more am I  doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? I am, therefore, must be perfect, as my heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:41-48)

“It is for freedom’s sake that we are being made free”.

Please, let’s pray for one another along this way.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/18/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-forgive-others-of-their-trespasses-matthew-67-15/

PREVIOUS:  https://whitestone2020.com/2023/06/16/christian-ethos-in-action-if-you-bring-your-gift-to-the-altar-matthew-523-26/

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you bring your gift to the altar”, Matthew 5:23-26

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

This will be a long-running daily devotional study on “Christian Ethos in Action”. The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me), as the reader and 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 resentments, murder, liabilities, anger, judgment, insults, a question of the fires of hell, prison and reconciliation. Let’s begin:

Matthew 5:23–26, Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you…”

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

REPHRASED to memorize:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if I am offering my gift at the altar and there remember that my brother has something against me, I will leave my gift there before the altar and go. First I will be reconciled to my brother, and then come and offer my gift. I will come to terms quickly with my accuser while I am going with him to court, lest my accuser hands me over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and I will be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, I will never get out until I have paid the last penny.”

“It is for freedom’s sake that we are being made free”.

Please, let’s pray for one another along this way.
Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you love those who love you, what reward do you have?”, Matthew 5:43-48.

CHRISTIAN ETHICS – Choose Life That You and Your Offspring May Live

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

When a person is intent of living the Christian life, working to obey and serve God in all they do, sometimes, when in a tough spot, they may be tempted to ‘claim a promise’ or ‘proclaim an answer’ in the name of The Lord.

There is a common misconception that an answer to prayer or a miracle should occur quickly, even instantly or ‘on demand’. That thankfully may occur, but it is usually on a rare occasion; and ‘demanding’ anything of God can be a risky endeavor, even if it is disguised as ‘claiming a promise’. However, tread carefully. Matthew 4:7 warns not to “put the Lord your God to the test.’”

It is true, however, that God answers prayer – all the time. Although, God usually performs His Word over time – over a long period of time. That is usually how it is when God pronounces His blessings or curses.

God has defined the curses and the blessings, which all brought about in one’s life by a person’s or a nation’s obedience or disobedience to God’s Word – and, again, it is important to remember they occur over time; usually a long period of time. Sometimes, it takes so long to occur that we may think God may have forgotten to bless us or that we may have escaped the penalties of our sins. Whichever is fitting, do not lose hope – or beware – it all will come to pass.

To Wit:

Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

Numbers 14:18, “The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

(Please note: You can read extensively about these prophetic promises and warnings in the book of Deuteronomy. It is important to read what follows in its entirety in order to lay the groundwork which leads to, both freedom from The Law and Sanctuary in Christ, that is by returning to His standards of Holiness and Righteousness – without which, you cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven. “Not by our works but by faith in Christ, knowing that faith without works is dead”.)

Deuteronomy 27:9 tells us, “Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”

11 That day Moses charged the people, saying, 12 “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 And the Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:

15“‘ Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

16 “‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

17 “‘Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

18 “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

19 “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

20 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

21 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

22 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

23 “‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

24 “‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

25 “‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

26 “‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

(There are those who would tell you that this was written just for Israel and just for that time. That is a lie. These are the prophetic Words of God, breathed out for all people who are called by His Name, for all time!)

15. “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.

16. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field.

17. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

18. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.

19. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.

20. “The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me.

21. The Lord will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

22. The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish.

23. And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron.

24. The Lord will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.

25. “The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. (You can read the rest of this prophetic warning in its entirety here).

(Does this remind you of anything anywhere at any time? Here are some clues.)

Now, The Remedy

(Please note: I am in no way suggesting that anyone can be saved by ‘good works’ or Godly ethical mindset or ethical behavior.  To clarify this matter, please carefully read Deuteronomy 28, verses one and two, in particular.)

Deuteronomy 28:1, “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

2. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.

3. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

4. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.

5. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

6. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

7. “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

8. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

9. The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.

10. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.

11. And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.

12. The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

13. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, 14. And if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

(Being a Christian (or calling yourself a Christian) and living otherwise does not entitle you. Hearing and serving, (doing) the Word of God with a willing, humble and contrite heart, desiring to please and to serve God from your innermost being, shows your true intentions, and it takes both – inside and outside.)

So, there it is. We are not saved by our good works – our Christian Ethical behavior – but we are blessed by God as a result of them.

Choose Life, That You and Your Offspring May Live.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

One last reminder. God’s Word is balanced. Sometimes in spite of our best efforts and sometimes for what seems to be ‘no good reason’, instead of blessings we encounter troubles, trials and tribulation. DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR A CURSE. It is not a curse. God has told us that,

“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

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

Psalms 34:15-19

 

CHRISTIAN ETHICS – The costs and the benefits

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 7 Comments

CHRISTIAN ETHICS?

The costs and the benefits.

Are we, the Church, to strive to reclaim the “high ground” God has given us as a nation and a people? If so, then we, the people who are called by His Name, must humble ourselves, pray and seek Him, and turn from our wicked ways. (see 2 Chronicles 7:14)

Even then, don’t mistake or forget these important realities:

  1. It is a fact that we are exiles, living in a foreign land. (1 Peter 1:1).
  2. It is a fact that our citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:20).
  3. It is a fact that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:12).
  4. It is a fact that we are to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel. (Philippians 1:27-30).
  5. It is a fact that we are to live in a manner worthy of our calling. (Ephesians 4:1).
  6. It is a fact that we are to be going, and making disciples and teaching them. (Matthew 28:16-21).
  7. It is a fact that we must walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Our “high ground” is defined in these 7 realities. Our “high ground” is the Kingdom of God, and the highway leading there is the clearly marked by God’s Standards – The Laws of Christian Ethics, if you will.

At this point, I will say that you can go to any internet search engine and look up “Christian ethics” and find any number of definitions. I did, and it left me wondering why there are so many variations of the term? As a result, I prefer to go to the Bible and get the truth on this matter. I have found that this can be a daunting task! But I will do the best I can.

NOTE: The reason this is important to know and even more important to understand is that we, the Church, are being inundated and compromised with worldly views, attitudes and mindsets, and we must identify what the Bible and the Gospel says, identify how far we have drifted from our Spiritual roots and find our way back home – time is growing short and God has called us as ambassadors of Christ to lead the way home. “As the Church goes, so goes this nation and the world”.

One of the earliest examples I found of a type of “God-centered Ethos” and humankind’s violation of God’s Ethics, is in Genesis 2:15, Here it seems, God has established a rule or a law for Adam and Eve to obey:  “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Verse 16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, Verse 17, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Subsequently, we see in Genesis 3:1-13, that the serpent (Satan) uses deceit and lies to convince Adam and Eve to sin (what could humorously be called ‘unethical behavior’); Eve disobeys God’s instruction (a sin of disobedience and rebellion toward God (i.e., what could be called ‘unethical behavior’); Adam and Eve hide from God in shame and fear; Irresponsible blaming follows – Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the serpent for their ‘unethical’ or sinful behavior:

Verse 6, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (they, like many in our churches today, reasoned that if it feels good to me, then it must be okay, so they sinned, or, what could be called ‘unethical behavior’). Verse 7. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Verse 8. “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Verse 9. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” Verse 10. And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Verse 11. He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you not to eat?” Verse 12. The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Verse 13. Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Theologians call this ‘The Fall’. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. (Romans 5: 12–13)

And, it is still going on to this day!

Now we see how sin (a.k.a., transgression, or, ‘unethical’ Christian behavior) entered the world and how it was imputed to all people. We can also see that sin ‘was not counted without a law’, in other words, people could not distinguish ‘sin as being sin’ without the establishment of a standard of right and wrong, that is, a standard defining what is good and what is evil, what is ethical and that which is unethical behavior – in other words, standard as “a law”.

The foregoing scripture does not mean that our ignorance of the law excuses us as being innocent when breaking the law. Quite the contrary. Sin pre-existed the law, and this simply means that without the standard of a law people were ignorantly unaware they were violating God’s law, and therefore guilty of sin and suffered its consequences.

So, God gave a law and that law, as described in Galatians 3:24, was necessary as a tutor or schoolmaster and guardian to bring us to Christ, as our means to be justified by faith, and to guard us against the devastating effects of sin.

So, in this regard, The Law is good! Very good! But an even better way, a ‘more excellent way’ was coming, and His Name is Jesus.

I would like to pause and say that if you agree with and act on what is being written here, you likely will be considered a ‘legalist’ or called a ‘fundamentalist’ by some Christians, as in a pejorative sense. But this would just be another sign of ‘my-way-or-no-way’ Christianity.

But for now, back to The Law. For simplicity (if that is even possible at this point), the Ten Commandment is the most referred to and the most concise description of The Jewish Law (The Torah) – which is the basis for our Christian Ethos. (Remember, The Torah Law was given as a tutor or schoolmaster and guardian to bring us to Christ at a future time, as our means to be justified by faith, and to guard us against the devastating effects of sin at the time it was first given.

By this, we can know it is at the very least, ‘unethical’ and harmful to people, by God’s standards, to hold to any other god than the LORD; or, to use the name of the Lord in vain, to fail to keep the Sabbath holy, to dishonor your father or your mother, to murder, to commit adultery, to steal, to lie, to covet.

But it does not end here. Moses goes on to describe the self-destructive severity of violating “God’s Law” and the extreme advantages and blessings one receives by following and obeying The Law.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  CHRISTIAN ETHICS: Choose life that you and your offspring may live. (coming soon).

PREVIOUS:  CHRISTIAN ETHOS – Is it still a real ‘thing’?

CHRISTIAN ETHOS – Is it still a real ‘thing’?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“As The Church Goes, So Goes The Nation And The World”?

(And, if we fail to lead, how bad could it get,?)

There is a majority of ‘churches’ both in America and around the globe, who claim to represent Christ, The Gospel, The Bible and God, who call themselves ‘Christian’, but are apostate. (And, if I named a few, they wouldn’t be concerned or humbled. They would be incensed instead of repentant.)

They are complicit with the world, big business, governments, the media and the educational systems in their attempt to erase God from our minds, our families, our society, our legal systems, our governments, our churches and even our memories. Don’t believe it? Well, I am providing a video from Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg, Virginia. Pastor Gary Hamrick, senior pastor, that will give a stark and frightening look at the condition and direction of America on the ground level, where we are headed and why.

He also offers what our Bible-centered response must be.

“AS GOES THE CHURCH, SO GOES THIS NATION AND THE WORLD”

I believe that there are thousands of Biblically sound, Bible centered, Gospel centered Churches teaching and honoring Jesus Christ as the answer for the ills and evils of this world. These Christ-teaching and Christ-honoring Churches are the last (and best) line of defense against the emerging counterfeit gospel and the coming man of rebellion, the antichrist, which spirit is already in the world.

Jesus calls for the Church (all Christians) as being “The light of the world. A city set on a hill  (which) cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16).

We, the Church, are the bastion of The Light of the World – The Torch of Christ. It is time to hold that Torch high and lead the charge!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

COMING NEXT:  CHRISTIAN ETHICS? The costs and the benefits.

PREVIOUS: CHRISTIAN ETHOS – What is it?

CHRISTIAN ETHOS – What is it?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

“CHRISTIAN ETHOS?” – Part 1

 

I can remember, from about 30 years ago (1993), there was a murmur going around Church circles that the Bible should not be taught as a set of rules, a set of “Dos and Don’ts”. In some quiet way, I believe, a demand was rising for a “Happier Gospel”.

I can tell you without any reservation that the evidence is now plain for all to see, and the verdict is in. We, the Church, are now striving to appear happier and if that means ‘satisfying our flesh’, then so be it. And this is reflected in our worship, prayer and service to God and each other.

Perhaps without deliberate intentions, we have become a ‘me first’ religious group. When the preacher fails to satisfy, we criticize. When the music fails to create endorphins, dopamine or adrenaline, we criticize. When other Christians get in the way of what we want, we push them away – and criticize.

Altar calls are all but a thing of the past. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Some churches still have altar calls, but not like it used to be. It used to be that an altar call was a call to confession and repentance, a call to reconciliation, or a call to seek God and His wisdom on matters of life. Very few people, in most mainline religious denominations nowadays, (2023), even respond to an altar call in order to seek forgiveness, repentance of their sins, offer God a broken and contrite heart – they just want to be made happier. So, if and when they respond, it is to pray for material things, about their feelings, about things they want and things to be made easier and better for them. (Just think about it).

EXAMPLES OF THIS DRIFT?

(1). I was on staff at a Nazarene church, and after preaching one Sunday, I gave an ‘altar call’, inviting people to repent of their sins or to come to Christ for the first time, find forgiveness from God and to be saved. One or two people came forward to confess and repent. It wasn’t until after the service and for the next week, did people come to me in private and say they really wanted to come to the altar but were afraid or reluctant that others would see them and suspect the worst of them. Most of these were sincerely regretful they missed the opportunity.

On the other hand, the lead ‘pastor’ of the church was incensed and threatened me to be sidelined from ever preaching in ‘his church’ again, if I ever ‘did anything like that again’. He plainly discouraged such repentance of sin, saying that it is a negative message, and that “God loves you so much that He cannot love you any less”. He scolded me saying, “that kind of preaching or talk only makes people feel bad about themselves, and I won’t have it”. (I believe was a cover for his own sinful life, which was uncovered at a later date.)

(2). On another occasion I confronted a Church of God pastor who was a good friend, about the behavior of one of his pastor-friends’ behavior, who was being deceitful – cheating and lying. My friend told me that because of what Jesus has done on Calvary’s cross, no born again Christian can sin (any longer). So, whatever his pastor-friend did was covered in Jesus Blood and ‘erased’. I explained that this was a continuing practice with this man, but my friend insisted that neither he nor that man could sin in God’s Eyes – a horrid twisting of God’s grace into a license to sin, in my opinion.

(3). On yet another occasion, I was an active member of a Pentecostal church where the pastor and his hand-picked leadership would obfuscate church financial accounting, apparently fearing objections to how the money was being spent, defending such thinking as necessary for church effectiveness. Although I held a leadership position in this church, had preached from this pulpit several times, and had been repeatedly asked to be on the church board (which I declined, each time), and that I was considered as a friend to this pastor, I was omitted from knowing details of the church financial dealings – specifically regarding this pastor’s and his families’ church salaries.

(4). Finally, I had been a member of a three different Southern Baptist churches the first twenty years of my Christian life. The last five years with that denomination I acted as an evangelist, an itinerant preacher and finally was ordained by a nearby Baptist church as an associate pastor. I and had always considered our ‘faith and practice’ in as Southern Baptists as solidly Biblical. Nowadays, however, I have seen strong indications of a growing proclivity toward unbiblical practices and behaviors and a spreading type of ‘hyper-grace’ in and among Southern Baptists churches designed to simply attract members.

This is however, now a visible movement within the Southern Baptist denomination actively working to counter and correct the growing problem of what has been aptly named “Theoretical Inerrancy”.

(Theoretical Inerrancy is explained as when theologically reformed believers, such as Southern Baptist leaders and pastors in this case, affirm Biblical inerrancy in theory but not in practice. That is, they will make the affirmation, sign the Baptist Faith and Message, Abstract of Principles, or Chicago Statement on Inerrancy without hesitation or mental reservation and then will go right on thinking and living in ways that are contrary to the Word. They are theoretical inerrantists.

What does this mean? It means that the spirit of the evangelical, inerrantist age in which we live is increasingly characterized by a satisfaction of verbal affirmations and signatures on documents rather than by lives lived in humble submission and conformity to Scripture. (see a full explanation at Founders Ministries – Theoretical Inerrantists).

(In the south, where I have lived, there is a saying that goes, “They talk a good game, but they ain’t walkin’ it”.)

All four of the examples I have cited, I believe, come from the same root cause: Professing Christians have come to love the world and the things in it. The danger presented here is that we have been warned that if one “loves the world or the things in the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

(We have been warned that this day was coming. Read in 2 Timothy 3:1, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3. heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4. treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5. having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7. always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth”. And, this behavior is now commonplace in the Church among professing Christians.)

1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us that “bad company corrupts good morals” and this seems to be a growing phenomenon in many, if not all, of our mainline churches. The apparent result is that there is a loss of the Biblical Christian Ethos (Ethics) such as see taught by and demonstrated in the life of Jesus, and in the lives of the Apostles and the early church.

(Although sin has always been present, the Bible tells us, “If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”

Besides the apparent danger of this spiritual drift within the church, is the importance of arresting this malaise, in that “As goes the Church, so goes the nation and the world”.

(I cannot help but wonder if this spreading spiritual cancer within the church is a sign of the prophesied ‘Great Apostasy’, that is, the great falling away from the faith. a hallmark of the 5th Tribulation Seal has begun? (See Matthew 24:9-12 and Revelation 6:9) Or is the Church in America just back-sliding into sin, and caving in to the desires of a demanding and sinful world, as spoken of in 2 Timothy – or is it both? Either way, Christian Ethics are certainly not being taught as they once were, nor preached or lived out in many of our postmodern churches.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  CHRISTIAN ETHICS? – Is it still a ‘real thing’?

PS: This article and this ongoing series is a Word from God for me. I am but a sinner, saved by God’s grace and great mercy.

Furthermore, this article and series is far above my ability. There are many good books you can read which define “Christian Ethos” and “Christian Ethics”. It is not my intention to write an essay on Ethics. My intention is to ‘blow the Shofar’, so to speak. This is meant to sound the alarm, to awaken a few, and to call us, as professing Christians, back to the roots of our faith and practice.

I realize this will be ‘tough reading’ and probably not very popular as many of us may have to look into our own spiritual mirrors, and some of us will have to admit that we don’t like what we see. (This is hard for me, too.) But rejecting this out-of-hand could be a mistake.

At any rate, please accept this as it is intended: Not a judgment but as a call to holiness and a return to His righteousness.

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Unless you are born again”, Part 66

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 7 Comments

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 66

“Unless you are born again”

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again (b) he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The Words of Jesus, John 3:8.

“Unless a person is born again” can mean to be born again or to be born from above. The Greek word is purposely ambiguous, as this means both to be ‘born again’ and ‘from above’. (It is also interesting to note that Jesus is using the aorist tense of the word ‘be born’, which indicates a continuous action with no regard to past, present or future – i.e., unless one ‘continues to be born again’…)

 Apparently, Nicodemus misunderstood what Jesus meant. He took these words as being both literal and pragmatic because he next asked, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born (born again and to be born from above, i.e.,) of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (c) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You (d ) must be born again.’ The wind (c) blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

I have read this, in the past, and simply passed over the significance on these words – they are just too mystifying. Of course, Nicodemus apparently had the same problem, although he was able to ask for clarification and the meaning.

I have read commentaries on these verses, (five through eight), and almost without exception, Bible teachers and theologians delve into either the pragmatism of these words, the illusory or the metaphorical. There is nothing in Jesus’ Words that would indicate they are anything but literal. Jesus is explaining a deep oracle of God, a deep truth, that is not easily understood by the natural mind and must be experienced to its fulfillment to gain any understanding at all.

These words not only compare the ‘flesh’, i.e., the physical to the spiritual, but tell us that BOTH are necessary realities in order to ‘enter the kingdom of God (which is also, a real place). Jesus begins this teaching and explanation with, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water AND the Spirit” – both!

Your reason for having been created by God and your raison d’être is not complete unless you have undergone both, being born in the flesh and having been born of the Spirit.

It is a harsh reality that if you die in this incomplete state, you will perish, having been rendered by your own choice, in a manner of speaking, as ‘no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet’.

If, on the other hand, you are truly born of water and of the Spirit, you will enter the Kingdom of heaven, both now at this time and in the age to come, eternal life. And at that time, whatever you ask of the Father in Jesus’ Name, He may give to you (see John 15:16) – and nothing will be impossible for you (see Matthew 17:20).

Don’t be arrogant or foolish. Complete your reason for being, and live!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS – These things do not come immediately, but only with steadfast prayer and submission to God. Even then, the way is not smooth, but is filled with trials, testing and tribulations, so that you may be made complete and your faith —which is more precious than gold, which perishes, when it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

PREVIOUS:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “What are you seeking?”, Part 65

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “How can a man be born again?”, Part 67