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.

WHAT ATTENTION SPAN? – (Is the ‘End’ near?)

December 29, 2022April 17, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

What attention span?

I have been reminded that my articles, posts and blogs are too long. I try to keep them to a 5-minute read or less. Sometimes I go a little longer, but then I break the article or post into a series, each being under 5 minutes.

Still, many folks don’t seem to want to stay focused on these complicated matters for more than a few minutes at a time. I GET IT.

The information I am sharing is so important that I must try again. So, here we go…again…please.

#1. We, that is, everyone on planet earth, are entering a strange new world, where black is white and white is black, good is being called evil and evil is being called good, sweet is sour and sour is sweet, the truth is a lie and lies and the truth.

You can see it in the written media, government policies, university programs, television programming, in the military in churches, etc. Men are relegated to followers and buffoons, being managed by ruled by females; women are elevated and portrayed as brilliant and tough leaders, dispatching men twice their size with a flip of the wrist. Men are feminine, women are masculine, boys look like girls and girls look like whatever they choose.

Beyond the social aspects are the corporate and political ramifications. They are being called “A New World Order”, “The Great Reset”, “Globalism” or “Our New Global Community”. Some are even calling it by the more nefarious name, “One World Government”.

(a). Who is it saying these things and using these names? To name a few, it is:

(i). The United Nations.

(ii). UNESCO or The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization which claims to be a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.

(iii). The World Economic Forum, an international non-governmental and lobbying organization based in Cologne, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab.

(iv). The American Democrat Party, et al., and specifically presidents William “Bill” Clinton, and George W. Bush.

(v). The United Nations’ Agenda 2030.

#2. So, what’s the big deal?

(a). This Globalist movement has been progressing, ever-so-slowly, since the earliest writings in the Book of Genesis over 6,000 years ago. Now, in the 21st Century, we have the technology necessary to attempt and accomplish things that were unthinkable in 4,000 B.C.

(b). The main characters in this effort, in our day and time, are known Socialists, Marxists and Communists.

(c). Their named objectives are lofty-sounding and would seem to be beneficial for the world if implemented. But their methods will require strict compliance, which will undoubtedly lead to dictatorial and despotic means, as they always have throughout history.

(c). The forenamed entities are now publicly announcing completion and success by the year 2030 – Hence, Agenda 2030. They are quick to point out the United States Treasury will be used to complete these goals; The recommendations of the Commission on Global Governance, when implemented, will bring all the people of the world into a global neighborhood managed by a world-wide bureaucracy, under the direct authority of a minute handful of appointed individuals, and policed by thousands of individuals, paid by accredited NGOs, certified to support a belief system which contains ideas that are foreign to the American experience, and ignores other values and ideas that are precious to the American experience.

IT IS A BIG DEAL.

#3. Where did this come from?

(a). These things were foretold in the Bible, perhaps as early as 6,000 years ago.

(b). The Bible lays out a progression, from beginning to the end (‘from the Alpha to the Omega’ as the Bible puts it), complete with details through metaphors, similes, imagery and direct quotes. It is voluminous and complex, but extremely precise.

(i). Then around sometime around 4,100 years ago, the Bible records the building of the Tower of Babel, which is a direct foreshadowing and the perfect metaphor of what was and what is to come.

(ii). The coming of ‘birth pains’ or the tribulation (small ‘t’), are told about in various old and New Testament books of the Bible. (The Book of Daniel gives a complete outline of what is to come, hidden in actual precursor events and in mysterious prophecies known as Daniel’s Seventieth Week.) This period began around the time coinciding with the birth of Jesus. The first 4 Seals of the tribulation have been opened consecutively, overlapping and intensifying as time has passed.

(iii). Then, about 75 years ago, the 5^th tribulation seal appeared to be opened and things prophesied began to accelerate and take on recognizable form. We have seen the spirit of the antichrist operating since around A.D. 1, and now we anticipate the revealing of the antichrist, himself. We are now being caught up in a long-prophesied One World Government, which is a Marxist net and tentacles. Time is short.

(iv). The breaking open of the 6^th Tribulation Seal (capital ‘T’), also known variously as ‘The End of Days’, ‘The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord’, ‘The Wrath of the Lamb’, is near.

(c). Much of the ‘foreshadowing’ or prophecies from the Bible have been overlooked, misunderstood or ignored, but in these Last Days, they are coming into focus for those ‘who have eyes to see’.

#4. Where do we go from here?

(a). In brief (not really), we will see the breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal – Terror, Cosmic disturbances. (This event is yet to come, but soon).

The Interlude – during the 6th Seal.

The sealing of the 144,000 – during the 6th Seal.

The Multitude from the Tribulation gathered around the Throne of God in Heaven ( This is The Rapture)!

(b). 7^th Seal – Silence in Heaven for ‘half an hour’.

(c). THE TRUMPETS: Revelation chapter 8:1 – chapter 9

1st Trumpet – hail and fire, mixed with blood – a third of the earth was burned

2^nd Trumpet – something like a great mountain burning – a third of the sea became blood; and a third of the creatures died; a third of the ships destroyed.

3^rd Trumpet – a great star called Wormwood fell from heaven, fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters; a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

4^th Trumpet – a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened, and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

5^th Trumpet – The Bottomless Pit. A star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. He opened the bottomless pit; smoke, of a great furnace; the sun and the air were darkened; came locusts, and they hurt only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

6^th Trumpet – The Army from the East

The 7^th Trumpet marks the beginning of the second half of the 7 years of Great Tribulation and the beginning of the Third Woe.

Revelation 12 – Christ’s Reign Foreseen

The Red Dragon.

The Male Child, Christ.

The Angel, Michael.

Revelation 13

Revelation 13 introduces the DRAGON, THE BEAST FROM THE SEA AND THE BEAST FROM THE EARTH. Then, I will give a chronology of the Bible, leading up to Revelation 13, and to the end of the Book of The Revelation, to help frame the timing of these events.

Revelation 14

A Scene of Heaven.

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion.

Vision of the Angel with the Gospel.

Doom for Worshipers of the Beast.

The Reapers.

Revelation 15

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

Revelation 16 – Six Bowls of Wrath

1^st Bowl of Wrath – loathsome and malignant sores.

2^nd Bowl of Wrath – the sea became blood.

3^rd Bowl of Wrath – the rivers and the springs of waters became blood.

4^th Bowl of Wrath – the sun scorched men with fire.

5^th Bowl of Wrath – it became dark.

6^th Bowl of Wrath – the Euphrates and its water was dried up.

Armageddon

7^th Bowl of Wrath – “It is done.”

Revelation 17

The Doom of Babylon.

Victory for the Lamb.

Revelation 18

Babylon Is Fallen.

Lament for Babylon.

The Fourfold Hallelujah.

Revelation 19

Marriage of the Lamb.

The Coming of Christ.

Doom of the Beast and False Prophet.

Revelation 20

Satan Bound.

Satan Freed, Then Doomed.

Judgment at the Throne of God.

Revelation 21

The New Heaven and Earth.

The New Jerusalem.

Revelation 22

The River and the Tree of Life.

The Final Message:

Revelation 22:6 “And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

(Detail of the above outline is found here: “After All These Things”

#5. What should you do?

(a). Be informed.

(b). Get Ready and Stay Ready, Move to Action.

Read these articles for an overview:

The Rapture Revealed

The Journey along God’s Plan of Perfection

Read some of these articles for details – lots and lots of detail, about:

The End of the Age, The Antichrist, The Rapture, The Tribulation, Armageddon, The End of the earth and the Heavens by Fervent Heat, The New Heavens and the New Earth, and more. (45 articles).

Spreading Socialism, The Rebirth of Communism, One World Government, The Marxist-Globalism, The Great Reset, Agenda-21, Agenda-2030, The World Economic Forum, and more. (44 articles).

Watching from the Wall – Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE ELEPHANT – THE TRUTH – And 335,808,623 Blind People

December 28, 2022December 28, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Six blind men heard that there was an animal called an elephant. They were curious about its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they visited the Rajah’s palace to find out the truth. One of the blind men, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, “This creature is like a thick snake”. For another one whose hand felt its ear, it seemed like a kind of magic carpet. As for another blind man, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is like a large cow. The blind man who kept his hand upon its side said it is like a wall. Another who felt the elephant’s tail described it as a rope. While all the six men were arguing loudly about the creature, the Rajah suggested they put all the parts together and then imagine the creature.

This story attempts to teach a philosophy that one’s own truth is relative to one’s own perspective, because the truth is relative. Therefore, others’ views of reality are based on their own viewpoint and experience, and their view of the truth may vary from your view. This is a deception and a lie.

There is a fundamental and an absolute truth. You can twist the absolute truth to fit your preferences, your personal experiences, your opinions and your presuppositions, but that does not make change the truth. It will, however, show your error and your ignorance of the truth.

This leads me to the story of

An American ‘president’

And 335,808,623 ‘blind people’.

Three hundred thirty-three thousand, eight hundred eight thousand, six hundred twenty-three blind people (the population of the United States 12/27/2022), heard that there was a law passed in 2021 named “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021”. They were curious about its shape, form and cost. Out of curiosity, they visited the U.S. Congressional Government website to find out the truth.

55,968,103 of the blind people, whose hands landed on the United Nations Agenda 2030 documents, said, “This creature is like a thick snake”.

For another 55,968,103 of the blind people whose hands landed on the U.N. and U.S. sustainable goals, it seemed like a “kind of magic carpet”.

As for another 55,968,103 of the blind people whose hands landed on upon introduction by the Commission for Global Governance said, it is like a “large cow”.

Another 55,968,103 of the blind people whose hands landed on the World Economic Forum documents said it is “like a wall”.

Another 55,968,103 of the blind people who felt the Global Neighborhood managed by a world-wide bureaucracy described it as “a rope”.

While all the 335,808,623 were arguing loudly about the creature, the NO ONE, not even the American Republican Party, suggested they put all the parts together and then imagine the creature.

This is a story about a philosophy that is sold as the Biden’s Leftist Administration’s own truth, and it is relative to the Globalist-Marxist United Nation’s own perspective, because, as they say, truth is relative. Therefore, they say, all other views of reality are based solely on their other’s viewpoint and experience, which is biased and is out of date and must be changed to fit the Biden-Obama-Pelosi-Schumer ‘truth’.

But their’s is a deception and a lie.

The truth is: There is collusion and cooperation between:

The United Nations and U.N.E.S.C.O.,

The American Rescue Plan Act,

The World Economic Forum,

The Communist Party, U.S.A.,

Agenda 2030,

The American Rescue Act Plan of 2021,

Saul Alinsky’s ‘Rules for Radicals’,

U.S. Sustainable Goals Plan,

The American Democrat Party,

in order to merge the United States into an Elite Global Government, a cabal, a One Word Government run by Marxists, each with equal power, to rule the world’s population according to the dictates of the Agenda 2030.

The World Government Emerges – 2o22.

The Secret Sellout of America.

We have been getting it wrong – an exposé.

Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Karl Marx and the United Nations.

8 GREAT LIES BY THE LEFT.

This is the truth, but you have to read it – in order to believe it.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: The final and real Truth is a person – Jesus Christ. He has the final say, and He has spoken! Find Jesus and find hope!

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? “I Never Knew You”, Part 32

December 28, 2022December 31, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 32

“I Never Knew You”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 7:21-23

This is a continuation of the thoughts and teaching of the preceding verses, which warn against false prophets. Jesus now expands His warning to include “everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, but do does not do the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

Consider the gravity of what Jesus is saying. On the one hand, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Now, He says, “depart from me, you workers of lawlessness”?

This ‘lawlessness’ is disobedience to the Word of God which God considers a gross injustice, immorality, corruption and sin.

(The old question then arises, ‘was that person ever really saved’ or did they ‘lose their salvation’? Let me say this clearly: It does not matter what came before. It only matters that they are being cast out.)

Secondly, take careful notice that, ”On that day many will say to me…” To use a colloquial expression, ‘there will be a shockwave of surprise and disbelief’ when we get to heaven to see how many did not make it! Just make sure you are among the many who are not there.

The final exclamatory point is that ‘your works will not earn you a place in heaven’. No amount of good deeds, prophecy or casting out of demons will get you (or keep you?) saved.

Let’s all, please consider these things:

“But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, [k]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (See Galatians 5:16-21.)

KEY POINTS:

These things keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous–being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations]. (See Romans 8:10-11)

KEY POINTS:

Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.
Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the Dead.

“Then, Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. (See Matthew 16:24)

KEY POINTS:

Deny yourself and take up His cross.

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage–our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another”. (See Galatians 5:22-26)

KEY POINTS:

We must walk by the Holy Spirit.

Let’s pray for and encourage one another to follow and obey Jesus.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

PREVIOUS: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? “Beware of False Prophets”, Part 31

NEXT: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Build Your House on the Rock”, Part 33

HEY, PASTORS – HAPPY NEW YEAR?

December 27, 2022March 22, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

“HEY, PREACHER, IT’S ALL ABOUT …

At the risk of being impolite or seeming to be downright rude, I have a strong and stern ‘Bible inspired message’ for pastors for 2023. The Church has gone through a transitional period over the last thirty years in an apparent effort to remain or to become ‘more socio-politically relevant’.

Social norms have changed dramatically over the last fifty years, and sadly, instead of leading this change, the church has adopted the ‘new social normal’.

I’d like to present three Bible mandates as expressed by Jesus, that demonstrate that the model of the church, as taught and presented by Jesus Christ, are no longer being followed by most mainline Christian denominations. The time of His Coming is short, and we have to get this right. Here are three example of the main failures that must be correctly in 2023.

#1. Coming to Serve and not to be served.

#2 Teaching Beliefs and Practices;

#3. Making Disciples of the kind and in the likeness of Jesus.

Example #1.

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28).

You are not to be a visionary. You are not to be a CEO of a 501-c-3 religious organization. You occasionally fill the role of an elder, a preacher, or bible teacher, you are to be a pastor, first and foremost. And above all, do not act like a ‘hireling’ or a ‘gleaner’. The Old Testament describes a “hireling” simply as a hired laborer, perhaps a mercenary, or someone who hires oneself out to earn wages.

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

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

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

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

Jesus’ use of the word “shepherd” could be used interchangeably for overseers, pastor, elders, and presbyters. But the role of a pastor is specific and unique.

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

During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact. This, too, is an apt description of a pastor.

Many “hirelings” like to use the moniker of pastor. Such a title may bring them status, respect, influence, income or even power over others. But, these kinds are just “hirelings”. Beware. Wolves are also lurking under the cover of such names.

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

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

GLEANERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GLEANERS ARE NOT GOD’S “CALLED OUT ONES”

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

They can act humble but crave recognition and leadership roles. The tip-off is how they act if they cannot get what they want. They may get angry and become manipulative. They will marginalize people who do not agree with them or will not follow and obey them. And at times they will criticize them as being ‘rogue’ our ‘lone ranger christians’, among other things.

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

You cannot be a “hireling” if you are truly to serve God and feed His Sheep.

Be kind to “gleaners”, just don’t BE a “gleaner”. If you are going to come near to the House of God, stop acting or behaving as if you are needy or a aloof stranger. Become a child of God and a Joint-Heir with Jesus Christ and brother and a pastor to God’s flock.

Here is a short video of pastor John MacArthur on the subject of “The Good Shepherd and gleaners”.

Example #2.

TEACHING BELIEFS AND PRACTICES. A survey by Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research, reveals some not so-surprising results about the state of churches in the United States which springs primarily from the behavior, attitudes, beliefs, teaching and preaching of thier pastors:

64% of Americans agree that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam.”

Only 52% agree that “the Bible alone is the written word of God.”
Only 58% agree that “God is the author of Scripture.”
65% agree that “everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”
44% agree that “the Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true.”
51% agree that “the Bible was written for each person to interpret as he or she chooses.”
Only 47% agree that “the Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches.”
59% of Americans agree that “worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.”
Only 45% agree that “churches that do not preach from the Bible should not be considered a Christian church.”
Only 49% in churches agree that “sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin.”
Only 49% agree that “abortion is a sin.”
42% agree that “the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.” 38% agree that “gender identity is a matter of choice.”
45% agree that “modern science discredits the claims of Christianity.”
52% agree that “by the good deeds that I do, I partly contribute to earning my place in heaven”
Only 60% agree that “Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.”
Only 52% agree that “it is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.”
Only 54% in churches agree that “only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.”

From the Pew Research Center Survey among Christians, when asked, “Do you believe in God”. (Pew Research Center on belief in God)

Survey year	Believe in God; absolutely certain	Believe in God; fairly certain	Believe in God; not too/not at all certain	Believe in God; don’t know	Do not believe in God	Other/don’t know if they believe in God	Sample size
2014	76%	18%	3%	1%	1%	1%	25,048

Pew Research on casual sex among professing Christians Half of Christians say casual sex – defined in the survey as sex between consenting adults who are not in a committed romantic relationship – is sometimes or always acceptable.

Six-in-ten Catholics (62%) take this view, as do 56% of Protestants in the historically Black tradition, 54% of mainline Protestants and 36% of evangelical Protestants.
Among those who are religiously unaffiliated, meanwhile, the vast majority (84%) say casual sex is sometimes or always acceptable,
including roughly nine-in-ten atheists (94%) and
agnostics (95%) who say this.
The religiously unaffiliated, also known as “nones,” are those who describe themselves, religiously, as atheist, agnostic or as “nothing in particular.”

From CNS News A study released by the Rasmussen Reports polling firm on Good Friday found that only 64% of Americans believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

From the Cultural Research Center – George Barna Research Today, 176 million Americans claim to be Christians—69% of the population. Yet, only 6% of U.S. adults—which is 9% of those identifying as Christians—possess a biblical worldview, believing the Bible to be accurate and reliable, among other convictions. That’s according to a new study by researcher George Barna and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University in Glendale, Arizona. Large majorities of self-identified Christians also report many beliefs “not in harmony with biblical teaching,” according to the survey. These include:

72% argue that people are basically good
66% say that ‘having faith’ matters more than which faith you pursue
64% say that all religious faiths are of equal value
58% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their way into Heaven
57% believe in karma

Many if not most Christian pastors and preachers are getting a failing grade in the teaching of the Gospel! By contrast, the survey cohort termed as Integrated Disciples—a small subset of those claiming to be Christians—are noted as being consistent in their beliefs and integrating those convictions into their behaviors.

99+% believe that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful and just Creator of the universe who still rules the universe today
99+% believe that the Bible is the accurate and reliable words of God
96% claim that every moral choice either honors of dishonors God

However, Barna’s survey finds that even some believers classified as part of this highly discipled cohort hold to some views that “challenge biblical principles.” Those “shocking” beliefs of Integrated Disciples include:

52% argue that people are basically good
39% contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity
33% believe in karma

“There is a remarkable level of self-deception (even among) born-again Christians,” said Barna, commenting on his recent worldview research. “It represents a huge educational challenge for those responsible for biblical worldview development.”

Many postmodern churches are teaching a type of gospel that does not conform to the Bible and, in fact, reveals many of the traits and teachings of Paganism. Likewise, a majority of people claiming the name of Christian may not be Christians at all. Many postmodern Christians don’t fully believe the Bible and practice aspects of Paganism.

THE OUTCOME? Look at the history of the Church since… AD 1 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.

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

AD 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.

AD 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.

AD 1607. The Church reaches America.

AD 1681. The Church became corporate. It had became a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government. The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.

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

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

AD 1954. The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax exempt status. The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.

The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model. Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.

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

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

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

Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.

AD 1968. The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.

AD 1972. The United church of Christ ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2010. The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2012. The Presbyterian church ordains homosexual clergy The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years. Internationally, churches that have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy include the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, the Church of Denmark, the Church of Iceland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Methodist Church in Britain, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium, the Swiss Reformed Church, the United Protestant Church of France, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church in Canada, the Old Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the United Church of Christ in Japan.

Millions of people (approximately 52 million) “attend church” in one of the 300,000+ churches in America, at least once a week each month. However, when people were asked the topic of the “sermon” they heard after 24 hours, only about 10 percent could tell you. When asked to cite the most important lesson they received, most just shrugged. An estimated 1.2 million hours each week

(1) are spent in sermon preparations; it takes about another 300,000 hours in delivery of these sermons

(2) at a staggering potential cost of over $750 millions dollars nationally, each week

(3). Yet, only 5% of those hearing these sermons, remember anything about them after 72 hours.

BUILDING MORE AD 2021. The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2021 is losing members and adherents. (George Barna research; Pew Research)

AD 2022. Much of the church is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of the Apostles.

Example #3

MAKING DISCIPLES. The Church is failing to making disciples of the kind and in the likeness of Jesus and this often falls on the pastor. Go into just about any Christian church, (or any Christian church website), and look for any evidence of discipleship training and you will either find no mention of disciple making or you will likely find a heavy emphasis on learning about various subjects or things such as ‘music ministry’, learning-luncheons, senior citizen outings, soup kitchens, but you will find little-to-no actual practical ‘disciple making’. These may be ‘good things’ but, it is not what Jesus taught and commanded His disciples to do. According to Jesus and the Bible, what is Disciple Making? Here is an abbreviated but concise example of the steps Jesus uses to make disciples:

JESUS SAYS THE WORDS TO HIS DISCIPLES – Pastor, do the same. “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

JESUS SUMMONS HIS DISCIPLES – Pastor, do the same.

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

“Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

JESUS SHOWS THE WONDERS TO HIS DISCIPLES – Pastor, do the same.

“Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

“And the news about Him spread throughout Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and severe pain, demon-possessed, people with epilepsy, and people who were paralyzed; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.”

JESUS SENDS HIS DISCIPLES – Pastor, do the same.

“Jesus summoned His disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. Jesus sent them out, instructing them, as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support.

And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting.If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.”

Jesus’ ‘discipleship training’ is a necessary evidence that a person has become a practicing Christian – not a gleaner and not a hireling – but an actual devoted follower of Jesus. It was not optional then and it is not optional now. Upon calling one man to follow Him, the man replied, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, come and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

These sound like, and in fact are, harsh words which reflect the seriousness, the urgency and the importance of the role of being a pastor and a disciple of Jesus and of making disciples. But they are no harsher than whipping men and turning over tables in the temple, calling Peter, ‘Satan’ or allowing Oneself to be crucified for the sake of all who would believe! There is only ONE WAY to get this done. In fact, the Word Of God tells us this very thing in many ways.

“I am the way, the truth and the life”, (John 14:6).

“Be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.”, (Joshua 1:7-8).

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”, (Ephesians 2:10).

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”, (John 14:15).

Pastor, you should focus on emulating Jesus as the perfect balance between justice and judgement, peace and travail, love and enmity, acceptance and rejection. Submit yourself to Him now, before the coming judgment. Accept and emulate His perfect love while He is the Lamb of God, for soon He will return as the Lion of Judah!

This is the model and method of Jesus’ command, for pastors to get out of your ‘comfort zones; let’s leave your self-imposed postmodern pastoral roles and “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you.” THIS IS YOUR METHOD AND WAY.

Don’t lead.

Follow Jesus.

It removes all the 501(c) (3) and organizational stresses and puts you on the adventure you have been looking for!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(In the Bonds of Christ – Together)

DO NOT KNOW – DO NOT BELIEVE – DO NOT CARE

December 26, 2022December 28, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel ,” which translated means, ” God with us .” – Matthew 1:23

DO NOT KNOW – DO NOT BELIEVE – DO NOT CARE

The reason I am writing this is four-fold:

Many if not most churches and pastors fail to teach or preach effectively on these matters of Biblical virginity, chastity, womanhood, and manhood, whether out of love or otherwise – that is if they want to keep their “marginals”. Even if they do preach on them, they fail to teach the REASONS these laws or teachings exist and WHY they are important beyond the ‘threats’ I have listed, below.
A growing number of professing Christians are not living like Jesus teaches.
1. They are living like the world lives because they either do not know what the Bible says or why it says what it says;
2. Many do not believe in what the Bible says;
3. Many more do not care what the Bible says. Some just defy the teaching of the scriptures because they don’t see an immediate consequence in their daily lives.
Failure to know the cost of rebellion against God, (and, yes, failing to obey or to follow the Word of God is outright rebellion – even if in ignorance), is tragic, and creates unseen pitfalls and calamities down the road of your life, now. And it can be eternally damning.
I want to help. I want to raise Christians’ awareness, even if it is a few. I want them to know the presence, the safety, the power and the spiritual blessing that come from knowing God, knowing and doing His Words and knowing WHY.

I really don’t want to sound negative, but these matters can be a very big positive if you will see them that way.

Let’s start by asking, did you ever wonder why Jesus had to be born of a virgin? Here is an excerpt from “GotQuestion.Org”,

“The doctrine of the virgin birth teaches that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. That is, when Mary conceived Jesus, she had never had sexual intercourse. Jesus’ birth, therefore, was truly miraculous. The virgin birth of Jesus is a crucially important doctrine and one that the Bible plainly teaches in Matthew 1:23 and Luke 1:27, 34.

“Jesus’ enemies among His contemporaries denied His virgin birth. They went so far as to publicly accuse Jesus of being a Samaritan, i.e., a person of mixed race (John 8:48). Those today who would deny the virgin birth contradict the clear teaching of Scripture, call into question other miracles recorded in the Bible, and open the door to a denial of Christ’s full deity or His full humanity.” (End excerpt).

EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT!

Was virginity (and chastity) important to God, otherwise? The Bible says they were important to God then, and are important to Him now. I know or know of so many people calling themselves Christian and who go to church, as having sexual relationships before marriage and outside of marriage, and they do not see it as a problem – unless they caught.

Read just the Biblical definition just of ‘fornication’ (sexual intercourse before marriage):

Fornication from the Greek language is “porneía”, and means “pain, laborious trouble”, pain-ridden evil; derived from 4192 (pónos), which refers to “pain, pure and simple” – resulting in “toil, then drudge”, i.e. ‘bad‘ like a criminal”.

From ‘poneros‘; (See 4190, which means, depravity, malice; plots, sins, iniquity, wickedness.

The penalty for fornication was severe in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 22:20 But if the thing is true, that evidence of virginity was not found in the young woman, 21 then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done an outrageous thing in Israel by whoring in her father’s house. So, you shall purge the evil from your midst.

22 “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So, you shall purge the evil from Israel.

WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The New Testament puts it this way, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21 – The King James Version).

The New American Standard Version reads this way, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

“Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

If you thought being stoned to death was a harsh punishment, which was a one-time punishment, imagine an eternity in hell, the lake of fire which burns forever!

(And, by the way, if you dismiss heaven or hell, you just don’t believe the Bible, so your fate is sealed unless you change your thinking and really surrender your life and ways to Jesus.)

DO NOT KNOW – DO NOT BELIEVE – DO NOT CARE

The reason I am writing this is four-fold:

Most churches and pastors fail to teach or preach effectively on these matters, in love or otherwise, and even if they do preach on them, they fail to teach the REASONS these laws or teachings exist and WHY they are important beyond the threats I have noted.
A growing number of professing Christians are not living like Jesus teaches. They are living like the world lives because they either do not know what the Bible says or why it says what it says; many do not believe in what the Bible says; and many more do not care what the Bible says. They just defy the teaching of scriptures because they don’t see an immediate consequence in their daily lives.
Failure to know the cost of rebellion against God, (and, yes, failing to obey or to follow the Word of God is outright rebellion – even if in ignorance), is tragic, and creates unseen pitfalls and calamities down the road of your life, now. And it can be eternally damning.
I want to help. I want to raise Christians’ awareness, even if it is a few. I want them to know the presence, the safety, the power and the spiritual blessing that come from knowing God, knowing and dong His Words and knowing WHY.

God does have a POSTIVE plan for you, a plan to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Please come with me as we look at what the Bible says about virginity, womanhood, chastity and manhood in a four part series – let’s live long and prosper!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide, and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:14-15.

NEXT: Virginity – Who cares? Why care?

PS: If this is too simplistic or sounds ‘unfair’ or cruel, please visit “Does Sin Separate You From God?”

Also, please click the FOLLOW BUTTON half-way up this page on the right, to subscribe, so you can get follow-up articles through your email.

(*Note that all email addresses are held in the strictest of confidence and will never be shared for any reason by this author or by the Whitestone Fellowship or Whitestone2020.)

TEETH

December 24, 2022December 24, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

TEETH

I am having breakfast. Oatmeal and toast. Chewing. Then, this thought hits me, “I am sure glad to have teeth.”

Then I thought, “that was a stupid thought”. Of course, I am glad to have teeth. Everyone has teeth at some time in their life. It is normal to have teeth.

Has it always been that way? Did God create us with teeth, or did we grow them later?

Stupid thoughts. Right?

It doesn’t really matter because we do have teeth and no matter what you, or I think about how we got these things called teeth, we have them and would prefer to keep them.

But I still can’t shake the gratitude for my teeth, and I know that God created us with teeth.

I mean, if you don’t believe in God and depend on evolution, then your idea of teeth is, well, weird. Somehow, out of the primordial goo, from which evolutionist say we sprung, we were amoeba or some simple cell that serendipitously grew into a human. Now that’s stupid thinking for me.

Then somewhere along the evolutionary path, our body or mind or the ‘evolution god’ decided we needed a more nutritious diet to live, but without teeth we could only gum our food because it hurt to chew meat or nuts with our gums. OUCH! So, WHAM-O! We grew teeth.

I think that it is strange we have eyes that won’t allow us to see through the dark. I mean, you could get killed walking around in the dark 3.5 billion years ago.

That’s when our evolutionist buddies say a set of filament-like fossils from Australia, reported in the journal, may be the remains of a microbial matter. Or even 315,00 years ago when the first humans were reportedly seen wandering about. (Or on a more ridiculous level, why did we have to build airplanes to fly. Why didn’t ‘evolution god’ just let us grow wings?) You might have thought, once again, that the ‘evolution god’ would have fixed that like he did with TEETH!

Stupid ‘evolution god’.

The fact is, whether you like it or not or believe it or not, God created all things – including our teeth. And, God did have to plan it out. He just IS (Eternal) and He KNOWS (Omniscient).

This may seem like a pointless and senseless rant, but, think about it and be grateful. Grateful that God created us in His image. You may not feel Perfect or even look perfect, but know that God really does have a plan for you – a plan of Perfection. To live with Him and all the other believers throughout time in a Perfect existence, in Peace for all eternity.

For now, just believe and trust Him. We have been made in the image of God. And, except for one bump in our road to perfection – SIN, which Jesus has overcome on our behalf – we really do have it made. Teeth and all!

Your Brother and Friend (and a relative to some),

Mike Young

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? “Beware of False Prophets”, Part 31

December 24, 2022December 29, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 31

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Part 30, “Enter by the Narrow Gate…”

NEXT: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Part 32, “I never knew you…”

“But understand this, that in these last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3)

KIND OF A BIG DEAL?

December 22, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

I was sitting in front of a car salesman’s desk and a desk plaque read, “I’M KIND OF A BIG DEAL”. I thought, “Okay, That’s a play on words when it comes to car sales. He makes BIG DEALS, guess?” (Or, maybe….?)

The next day I was at home, and I was uttering a prayer of gratitude to God and the thought struck me, “Am I big enough of a deal for God to hear me?” I stopped praying to think about that idea.

There are almost 8 billion people on the earth, and among that fantastic number, I am just a small speck, unnoticeable and irrelevant.

(Please click the image above).

God knows. God knows I am here, and He cares about me.

If you could pull your view of earth into outer space, the state of Florida, where I live, would appear as just as small as a speck, unnoticeable and irrelevant. I would be invisible. (Please click the image to the left).:

God knows Florida is still here. He also knows I am still here, and He sees me through and through.

From Mars, the earth would be just a tiny speck and both Florida and I would be completely invisible. (Please click the image to the left).

God knows that I am still here, He can see me and is with me. He loves me and watches over me.

From the Kuiper Belt and beyond, earth, Florida and forgotten, and in that place, I am unknown. But I am not forgotten by God. God knows. (Please watch this short video).

“Hmmmm. I might not be much of a big deal in the grand scheme of things or in the grand scale of creation, or even in the things don’t matter. But in God’s mind, you and I must be “His big deal”. He knows where we are at all times, and He keeps a watchful eye over us. He loves, protects us and provides for us, beyond reason. He has done it all for us!

Wow.

Think about it.

THAT IS SOME KIND OF A BIG DEAL !!!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION – AUDIO

December 22, 2022December 22, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Hello, friend. I would like to introduce myself and a book I have written, “The Journey to Perfection”.

My name is Michael Young, or “Mike” if you would rather. I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a businessman, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served or I 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 bible study books and a couple of books on subjects of the Bible. I have had a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. I invite you to write, text or call me at any time and let’s become friends.

I also want to welcome you to “A Journey in GOD’S PLAN FOR PERFECTION”.

Before I start, however, I would like to relate an amusing story. I was living and working in a small seaside town in Virginia. I would go into my office each day and as I passed down the hallway I would see and greet my ‘across the hall neighbor’, a businessman. I would start with, “How are you doing this morning?”

His response was always the same. “PERFECT”, he would announce with a bright smile, which always brought positive thoughts and a smile to my face.

In fact, I liked his greeting so much that I decided to adopt it for myself. I felt it was positive and encouraging.

The next time someone greeted me, asking “How are you?”, I reflexively answered, “PERFECT”, using my brightest smile. This other person looked at me quizzically and grunted, “Perfect, huh? Yeah, well that must be nice. Good for you.”

That was a response that I was not expecting – at all. I was surprised, disappointed and a bit let down. I wondered what went wrong. Did I say it wrong? I thought, maybe, this guy thought I was bragging? I was trying to be positive and encouraging. I didn’t mean that I WAS PERFECT. I meant that ‘things were perfect’, at least in my opinion.

I continue to mutter to myself and stew over the matter, and this thought came to me, “Why would I ever tell anyone that things are perfect when I know they are not – or are they?” After all, I am a Christian, and by virtue of my relationship with God through Jesus, He had forgiven and forgotten my sinful and failed past; and, my present life is made secure. I am loved and provided for by God. No weapon formed can be effective against me; and, as a Christian, my future is assured. As a child of God, I will spend eternity with Him in My Heavenly Father’s Home. “Yes”, I thought, “THINGS ARE PERFECT and will only get better in time”.

Sure, I have all the struggles and troubles as everyone else, but I have a hope and a purpose and the strength of God Almighty to see me through these things. That, my friend, is PERFECT! Now, let’s move into,

“GOD’S PLAN FOR PERFECTION”

Episode 1 – An overview

Now, in sharp contrast, it appears that our world is careening out of control. Everything we have known as good throughout recorded history is now being called evil; and all things evil are being called good; The world substitutes darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! The very opposite of how God and the Bible teaches things should be. And, there are those in this world who would have you believe that “God is dead”, (that is to say that there is no God), and that all is well in the hands of mankind, and that we are entering a New Man-made World Order, a Great World Reset they are calling it, and they say it is now at hand.

I am inviting you – asking you – to walk patiently with me, and I will take you on an amazing journey. A journey from the beginning of time through recorded world and Biblical histories. We will identify important past Bible prophecies and correlate them to actual past world events; then we will compare both the prophecies and the historical events to one specific prophecy known as ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’. This will bring us to current events and the final epoch of time known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End of The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation”, which are now unfolding with frightening accuracy.

I will not stop there, however. I will conclude by laying out a successful response to these events, a plan of action by which you can both survive and thrive in these final days.

Finally, there is an event coming which is so fantastic as to be unbelievable. But I will show the evidence leading to this event, known as the ‘Rapture’ and I will even help you calculate the odds of its occurrence. You will then be faced with the most monumental decision you have ever faced. You don’t want to miss this.

We will take a journey assisted by a book aptly titled ‘The Journey to Perfection’. Our travels will coordinate Bible Prophecy, Biblical and World Histories culminating with The End of Days’. You can read this book either as a digital ONLINE book or in a PDF format, which I will give you later. Here is how it begins…

“In the beginning, God created.” – Genesis 1:1

God began with the imperfect and created His Masterpiece. First in the heavens and then on the earth, He created. He completed His Work in just seven days, then He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for several millennia, as it becomes His Perfection.

This is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.

During this Journey, we will be discussing reasons for WHAT God has been doing and is doing in these Last Days – and WHY He is doing it the way He is going about it.

My prayer is that after hearing and reading this story, everything you’ve wondered about the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

THE NEXT EPISODE: “GOD’S PLAN FOR PERFECTION” – Episode 2 – An Introduction – IN SEARCH OF PERFECTION

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? “The Narrow Gate”, Part 30

December 19, 2022December 24, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 30

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 7:13-14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If your life habits and practices mirror the world around you, then you are definitely at the wrong gate. You are at the wide gate, where the way is easy, but it leads to destruction, and you are among the many who are entering by the wrong gate!

It is important to remember that we are living in the Last Days, as described by:

The Apostle Paul in Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 9:26,
The Apostle Peter in Acts 2:14-17, 1 Peter 1:20, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:3.
The Apostle Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1,

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

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

PREVIOUS: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Part 29, “Do unto others…”

NEXT: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Part 31, “Beware of false prophets…”

PROPHECY UPDATE, UPDATED – It’s Happening Before Our Eyes.

December 19, 2022December 19, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

I offered A PROPHECY UPDATE yesterday, Sunday, December 18, 2022, with these words:

“We, in America, and others around the globe, are now under ‘the curse of a broken treaty’, and sadly, Christians in America have the false understanding that, as Christians, they will be protected from the devastating effects of this broken treaty. Although our salvation is secure, we will suffer through the curses as outlined in chapter 28 of Deuteronomy. These are the Last Days.

Anyone who will argue and say, “that was meant only for the Israelites in those days”, I can only humbly say that you have a limited view and a limited understanding of prophetic scriptures. I entreat you to listen to Pastor Trent Casto’s message: God’s Covenant People.

We, as Christians, having been made aware that we are living in a time of great apostasy, in these last days as described in scriptures, have a great responsibility to patiently endure these days to the end and to preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2), saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation. (Acts 2:40).

“Dear friends, as we enter the Christmas season 2022, I pray and wish peace, joy and good tidings. Enjoy these holy days. But you must prepare yourself and use these days to good advantage.

His return is near and there will be no second chances to escape the coming wrath. Let’s prepare for action, now!”

TODAY, I am offering this urgent and important UPDATE of the previous UPDATE, taken from Pastor Trent Casto’s NEWEST message, “LAST WORDS”.

Although we are to face the trials of our broken treaty with God as a nation, God is still faithful to His own people and will protect, strengthen and encourage us through it all.

I have set the video to begin about two-thirds the way through the video. HOWEVER, to get the full impact of the message, I encourage you to listen and watch from the beginning.

As always, your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PROPHECY UPDATE – It Is Happening Before Our Eyes

December 18, 2022October 20, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XRKMz98zvDwjWEO2MEEOq

Pastor Trent Casto of Covenant Naples Church has been preaching through the book of Deuteronomy, one chapter a week. (That announcement is probably enough to send some of you scurrying, but that would be a mistake as it would be ‘judging a book by its cover’, so to speak. Pun intended).

I have been, like some of you, a serious Bible student for about the last twenty years, and although I realize that I still have very much more to learn, I feel I have a pretty good grip on the scriptures. However, hearing Pastor Casto teach and explain the contents of the Book of Deuteronomy, I now realize that I haven’t scratched the surface. Listening to pastor Casto, I have worn out several pens and filled pages with notes – and I use what I have learned, daily.

Let me also say that I am not learning just for the sake of learning. I am learning to gain understanding, and hopefully for gaining wisdom to live this life.

More to the point, I am realizing that what is written in the book of Deuteronomy is not just a series of farewell messages by Moses. Moses exhorts the new generation of Israelites to live as his obedient people in the promised land. It explains the covenant relationship of God with His people in the terms of a Suzerain King with his vassal subjects. (Later on this page, see Pastor Casto’s message “God’s Covenant People”, and learn why this matters.)

Deuteronomy tells how God’s people dealt not only with hardship, testing, and doubt, but also with promise, hope, and trust. The message of Deuteronomy can be summed up this way: devote yourself wholeheartedly to God. In the book, Moses commands his readers to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (6:5). He challenged the people to faithfully obey the Lord and reject all forms of idolatry. He called on the new generation to formally renew the earlier covenant with God that their parents had broken.

You can gain insights about Moses, and the Israelites and invaluable principles for life, conduct and more.

Above all, the Book of Deuteronomy is the ‘Breathed Word of God’. The Book of Deuteronomy is prophetic in ways the ‘average reader’ might never expect.

Summarily, chapters 29 through 32 pronounce the blessing and curses that would fall upon the Israelites from obedience or disobedience to God and His Covenant Word. Remember, these Words are deeply and profoundly prophetic:

You will realize that what God has pronounced is true, not only for the Israelites in those days, but His Word remains true for Israel throughout all the ages. This Word also applies to all Christians of all ages, and yes, even to all people of all nations.

We, in America, and others around the globe, are now under ‘the curse of a broken treaty’, and sadly, Christians in America have the false understanding that, as Christians, they will be protected from the devastating effects of this broken treaty. Although our salvation is secure, we will suffer through the curses as outlined in chapter 28 of Deuteronomy. These are the Last Days.

Dear friends, as we enter the Christmas season 2022, I pray and wish peace, joy and good tidings. Enjoy these holy days. But you must prepare yourself and use these days to good advantage.

His return is near and there will be no second chances to escape the coming wrath. Let’s prepare for action, now!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE WORDS OF JESUS – THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Do Unto Others, Part 29

December 17, 2022February 25, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 29

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

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

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

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

“The English Standard Version translates the Golden Rule like this: “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus brilliantly condenses the entire Old Testament into this single principle, taken from Leviticus 19:18: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Again, we see the implication that people are naturally lovers of self, and the command uses that human flaw as a place to start in how to treat others.

…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Part 28, “Ask and it will be given to you…”

NEXT: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? Part 30, “Enter by the narrow gate…”

MERRY CHRISTMAS – or is it – HAPPY HOLIDAYS?

December 16, 2022December 16, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

MERRY CHRISTMAS – HAPPY HOLIDAYS?

You know the drill, it’s Christmas. It’s time to gear up, start spending the money and decorating the house. Then, spend some more money running amok buying gifts. Next, plan your visits (or be plan on being alone?). Go to all the Church Christmas programs (or watch on television?) You know, hurry, rush, have fun, and try and not stress!

It’s a holiday for some and for others it’s ‘celebrating the birth of Jesus’.

Let me quote you what the Bible says about “Christmas”:

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Okay. Now, let that sink in before we go on. Talk about ‘stressful’, huh?

Next: The Visit of the Wise Men

Matthew 2:1, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people, Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The Flight to Egypt

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Herod Kills the Children

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Political intrigue, deceit, murder plots and miracles. And this is the ‘Christmas story’?

Maybe we should look at this account through the eyes of Luke for a more relaxing narrative:

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Luke 2:1, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed who was with child. ⁶And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

^“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

Have you ever heard the term, “syncretism”? Syncretism is the

Reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief, as in philosophy or religion, especially when success is partial or the result is heterogeneous.
The merging of two or more originally different inflectional forms.
The attempted reconciliation or union of irreconcilable principles or parties, as in philosophy or religion.

I really hate being considered a humbug or a scrooge, but I guess it was inevitable:

Pagan customs and holidays, like those involved with the holiday we now call Christmas, came into the Christian church primarily through the Catholic Church’s efforts to adopt then “Christianize” certain holidays not found in the Bible – so they could attract more people in their pews on Sunday.

The Catholics began to syncretize pagan celebrations and holidays after the fourth century A.D. when the Edict of Milan openly endorsed Christianity as a religion. Pagan festivals celebrated around the time of the winter Solstice have far more to do with ‘Christmas’ than does Christ’s birth, which occurred in the fall.

In order to save space here (and to get on with the point) here are a couple of links to websites which give a fuller explanation of the ‘paganization of the Christmas’ we practice today: The pagan origins of Christmas and A BBC video “The astonishing pagan origin of Christmas.

Now, my point? Well, I suppose you get where I am going, or have gone. So, let me just reprint the salient points from the scriptures:

“They fell down and worshiped him.

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts.”

“The glory of the Lord shone around them, and

They were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When our sons were children, we would explain the differences between the ‘secular’ pagan celebration that takes place in December and culminates on December 25^th each year, and Christmas, the celebration and remembrance of the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

We chose to, or perhaps I should say ‘succumbed to’, the society and culture around us. We ‘played the winter solstice holiday game’ called Christmas, but we did emphasize the birth of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, as our reason for the season.

Listen, I know, as you know, the pressures to conform the societal culture and to this world. We have tried to resist and in retrospect, at times we have succeeded, at other times we failed. Would we change anything? Sure, I guess. But who really knows. We cannot start over. We only have today. So, as you think on this, pray and seek God, His wisdom and do your best. Celebrate the birth of Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It is great news!

Even if you can’t quit it, all together, (the hurry, shop, spend and stress), just slow down and take a breath. Maybe do half as much as feel others expect of you or that you expect of yourself, then next year do one fourth as much? Get your life back from the world and its demands.

Take a day and focus on Jesus, what He went through and what He has done for you.

Let’s all celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus, together!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

A Messiah Appears in Israel – September 2022

December 15, 2022December 16, 2022 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7L4YInS9owZFBfo7ESAB9d

– “Israeli Rabbi Says He’s Already Holding Meetings With Messiah” – Ryan Jones, Israel Today News, September 2022

“For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed.”

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” – (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)

I have studied Biblical eschatology diligently and seriously for 20 years, specifically regarding the timing of the periods of the tribulation (i.e., the Seals, Trumpets and Bowls), specifically to understand the second advent of Jesus, the rapture of the Church and our required preparation and response – with nothing to gain except understanding.

It is my studied understanding and iron-clad conviction that the 1st Tribulation Seal was broken coinciding with the birth of Jesus. This is confirmed by the statement and testimonies of the Apostles Paul, Timothy and Peter, and by the words of Jesus, Himself. (see link below).

Seals two through four have been broken sequentially, occurring around A.D. 30 to A.D. 90. They have overlapped and continue to increase in intensity and severity.

The 5th Seal has only recently been broken (in the last 75 years, perhaps) and is overlapping and continuing with the previous 4 seals.

A harbinger that the 6th Seal is close to being broken is the revealing of the antichrist.

(NOTE: The 6th Seal begins with a trumpet sounding and the appearing of Jesus in the clouds of the sky ‘for every eye to see’, the ‘gathering of the elect from the four corners of the earth’, cosmic and terrestrial cataclysms, the numbering of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel and the ‘appearing of an innumerable crowd of every tongue and tribe from earth before the throne of God’.)

For detailed information on the sequences and timing, see this LINK: “Immediately After the Tribulation of Those Days”.

NOW, on to Excerpts From The Israel Today News:

“Israeli Rabbi Says He’s Already Holding Meetings With Messiah”

“A snapshot of Israel’s spiritual hunger, as the biggest-named rabbis are afraid to leave the country lest they miss Messiah’s coming. By Ryan Jones | September 29, 2022 | Topics: Messiah“

“A recent interview on Israeli radio featured prominent rabbis explaining that the Messiah is just about to reveal himself.

“Rabbi Yaakov Zisholtz told religious broadcaster Radio 2000 that Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (who passed away earlier this year) had told him that he (Kanievsky) was already in direct contact with the Messiah.

“To understand why religious Jews are taking this seriously, it’s important to know that Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky was considered one of the two or three top rabbis of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Israel.

“And Rabbi Zisholtz says that Kanievsky and others of the mystical “concealed” rabbis had tasked him with informing the public of the Messiah’s imminent arrival.

“Rabbi Zisholtz began his explosive three-hour interview with a warning:

“…the process of redemption is about to start happening very quickly and at a fast pace. It is important that people remain calm and steady to act properly in the right time.

“There is a potential Messiah in every generation, and there are righteous men who know precisely who it is. This is, of course, true in this generation.

“Getting the word out now that the Messiah is closer than ever is a matter of life and death. Haven’t you heard of Gog and Magog? That is what is going to happen very soon. Right now, the situation is explosive more than you can possibly imagine. Everyone needs to know whether they are on the inside or if they are going to be left out.”

“He went on to reiterate a number of signs of which prominent rabbis have taken note and that they firmly believe to be evidence of the coming of Messiah

“Rabbi Dov Kook, as everyone knows, is a very righteous man. He is one of the greatest men of our generation…[and] ten years ago, when Israel was suffering from a horrible drought, someone asked Rabbi Kook when the Sea of Galilee will again be full.

“Rabbi Kook responded that when the Messiah arrives, the Sea of Galilee will be full. In a few weeks, the Sea of Galilee will be full for the first time since Rabbi Kook made this statement.”

“Another righteous rabbi said that according to the current situation in heaven, there will not be Israeli elections – rather, there will be a war. If the elections do take place, it’s pointless since it will end like the other elections; no government will come out of it.”

“Decades ago, Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, one of modern Israel’s most revered sages, as well as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, both predicted that Benjamin Netanyahu would be the State of Israel’s last prime minister prior to the Messianic Age. A great many, if not most, of the ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel continue to believe that to be true.” (End excerpts).

Whether these are ‘newsworthy reports’ and whether this is a just another false Messiah or is the Antichrist is yet to be seen. But there is no doubt that the world is spiraling out of control, and the air is full of expectation for the Return of Jesus and the beginning of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

Get ready – Stay ready. The Day is at hand!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: THIS IS A FALSE MESSIAH, one of those Jesus warns about. Prophecies coming true!

Israeli Rabbi Says He’s Already Holding Meetings With Messiah

Top Rabbi: Messiah’s Name Will Soon Be Revealed

Top Rabbis: Look at the Signs, Messiah is Coming!

Christians Anoint Young Rabbi as ‘False Messiah’