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.

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “I will; be clean”, Part 34

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 34

“I will; be clean.”

”When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 8:1-4.

Imagine this scene with me, if you will: When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. Dozens, hundreds, thousands of people? Such an audience, full of questions, anticipation and perhaps, excitement.

And a leper came up to Him in this throng of perhaps thousands of people,  and bowed down before Him. Most likely, no one noticed at first. No one except Jesus. And, if anyone had noticed, they would have been, no doubt, terrified and repelled by this man’s disease.

The leper spoke, “Lord, if You are willing, You are able to make me clean (well).” Again, how could he have been heard above the crowd noise? Nonetheless, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. He touched him despite the disease, despite the potential reaction from the crowd, and said, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Immediately, his leprosy was cleansed.

There are many more millions who claim to be Christ followers, Christians, and deny that these things happen any longer. I have personally heard those who attend church regularly and open declare they are Christians, say these miracles have ceased, “ with no Biblical justification. They say that Jesus did these things to draw crowds, and since He has been crucified and His Church established, these things (miracles) are no longer necessary”, or so they say. And, by the words of their mouth, it has come to pass – at least in their presence.

Jesus said the reason miracles had ceased or slowed, or that even He could do few things in some places, was because of their “unbelief’ (see Matthew 17:20 and Mark 6:1-6 ).

Imagine, at any time, anyone standing in judgement on Jesus’ ability or standing in judgement on the veracity of the Holy Scriptures. A terrifying thought.

Nonetheless, Jesus said to the now-cleansed-leper, “See that you tell no one [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest [for inspection] and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony (evidence) to them [of your healing].”

This man is restored physically, undoubtedly renewed spiritually and ready to be reintegrated into society. Made whole, made safe, healed; the very definition of ‘to be saved’ (sozo).

Finally, what about the crowd? Where have they gone? They aren’t mentioned again. They must still have been there, watching. Our attention is drawn away from the crowed and what they think. It doesn’t matter. The business at hand is Jesus healing a person in need. That is what matters. That is all that has ever mattered. You and Jesus, renewing your spirit, saving your soul, healing your mind, body and spirit.

If He calls you, come to Him. If you come to Him, ignore the crowds – they are just a curious distraction. Follow Jesus, only.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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A seminary professor recently remarked that in his 40-something years in ministry as a pastor, teacher and professor, training young men and women for ministry, he has never seen such a dearth of young men desiring to become pastors. He attributes this decline to the complexities of requirements, the mounting pressures of becoming more than a pastor to be a pastor and fear; the fear of having to say things that society is becoming increasingly hostile toward. The fear of speaking Biblical truth that results in rejection, animosity and isolation from society at large and even in the church, in part.

TO ASPIRING PASTORS:  Don’t come if you are not called. If you are fearful of what you will have to say, don’t come.

If you do come, fear not! And, don’t let the crowds rule you – they are just a curious distraction. Follow Jesus, alone.

BAIT AND SWITCH ETHICS?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

I was guiding a Sunday evening bible study class at our church, when I notice a fellow in the class whispering to others in the class. It was disruptive and I considered it impolite.

 

It turns out he was trying to sell Christmas card subscriptions, Christmas ornament subscriptions, and the like, before class time and during our teaching and discussion times.

I stopped our Bible teaching discussion and asked “Rick” what he was doing. He look surprised that I would confront him and blurted, “Just sharing some Christmas stuff”.

I replied that it looks like you are selling things to a ‘captive audience’, taking advantage of the trust we had developed in our group. We came here for Bible study and fellowship – not to be pressured into buying things. People will feel like this is a ‘Bait and Switch’ shop instead of a Church fellowship.

I asked him to put his materials away and not sell anything during, before or after our class time – or in the church without the church staff’s permission.

He sheepishly explained that, as an ‘out of work’ pastor, and working as a house painter, his family needed the money. I repeated myself and continued our class.

“Rick” and I had been acquainted as friends for some time, so he came to me afterwards to explain his position. I listened but maintained his methods were opportunistic and manipulative. There were better ways to make extra money and if they were in financial straits the Church could help them. He explained that he just needed ‘extra income’ for the holidays.

What are the ethics, here? Do the situations surrounding this event affect how it should have been handled, i.e., are “situational ethics” involved here? Could I have handled this better? This was a minor situation, hardly worth mentioning, and certainly not worth discussing. It was dealt with and is done.

What it does remind me of, in a round-about sort of way, is how people will ‘say one thing, then do another’, or will ‘buy one thing and get something altogether different’, like the ‘bait-and-switch technique’.

This may be all-too-common in our world, but it should not be so in Christian’s lives and certainly not so in our Churches and this is where common sense and ethics – Christian Ethics – come into play.

I would like to explain this point by defining the parameters and by giving a few examples:

First, and as ridiculous as it sounds, you do not go to a football field to play basketball; nor do you go to an airport to catch a cruise ship or climb mount Everest for dinner and an evening matinee.

Additionally, I go to the doctor expecting to get healthcare. I don’t expect and don’t understand why (nor do I appreciate) being sold ‘aroma therapy products’, health insurance alternatives or a being sold a new ‘concierge health plan’. I came for what they advertised – and for what I signed up for: getting well and staying well.

The same goes for my dentist, my bank, and especially for my church.

Secondly, when you or I became a Christian the ‘playing field changes’ – completely! In other words, we don’t operate by the world’s standards. Jesus has told us that we are not to look like or operate like this world because we are no longer part of this world. Ours are the higher standards of the Word of God. Read John 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

And, again in John 17:16, in His prayer to The Father, Jesus says, “They (His disciples – i.e., Christians) are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

The point is that we cannot be effective as a disciple of Jesus if we are doing the wrong things, in the wrong ways in the wrong places.

“We are ambassadors for Christ. God is making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16)

We are not to be conformed to this world. We are to be transformed by the renewal of our mind, so that we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (see Romans 12:2)

The issues of having a Christian World View, engaging a lost world and making Christian disciples, must be a pretty big problem in religious circles and in the Church. In fact, our Church is offering classes on the subject of how to engage this world ethically and still be effective without disputes. We have even had a Seminary Professor come to speake on the subject of Christian Ethics.

Focus on the Family ministry and Dr. Del Tackett through The Truth Project have spent enormous effort and resources over the last twenty years to teach and promote a “Christian World View” in the areas of ethics, philosophy, law, the media, history, humanities, sociology, the church, impacting over 20 million Christians and their Churches. Still, the problem persists and is growing.

I have attended training as a facilitator and teacher for the Truth Project and held sessions in my home and at our church, teaching and training others. I continue to attend classes and teaching sessions at my church to stay current. But our society and social our norms are changing so rapidly that it is hard to keep up.

What I have learned has taken scores of hours and hundreds of hours of practice through application and has been only marginally successful. It is just too much and too complex.

So, I have gone to prayer and Bible study and have found the answer to “How do we engage our world with Christ, going forward?” (A question asked frequently in training classes.)

ANSWER: We go forward by going back. Going back to the Bible and the few simple things Jesus taught and demonstrated.

First, Jesus did not engage in idle discussions or worthless, silly or divisive debates. He was silent when silence was best and answered questions that were relevant to His Mission. This is our example:

“Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”  (Matthew 27:11-14)

Jesus says, “It was for this reason that Jesus came into the world”.

 1.  TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

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

 2.  TO BRING A SWORD

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

 3.  TO FULFILL THE LAW

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

 4.  TO CALL SINNERS

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

 5.  TO SAVE THE WORLD

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

 6.  TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH

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

The Point here, is that as followers and disciples of Jesus, the attitude, methods and ways of Jesus are to be our calling, our attitude and our methods and ways, also.

 “WHAT HE REALLY MEANT?”

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

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

It is interesting that Jesus commanded His disciples (Christians) to do the works that He has done and even greater works than these.  We are to continue in His mission, using His methods and His ways. (John 14:12, Matthew 10:1)

This can be a bit confusing, but only if you are at the ‘wrong place, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time’.

These words and these actions make perfect sense if you understand that you are not from this world – and that your ‘home field’ is the Kingdom of Heaven; these are not your words, but the ‘Word of God’; and, the time is now.

Your Hope isn’t in ‘what you can accomplish’, it is in what Jesus has already accomplished. It is your mission and calling to ‘walk in these good works which God prepared ahead of time”.

He promised us that He will be with us, in His authority, giving us direction and even giving us the words we should use.  (Matthew 28:16-19, Luke 21:15, Luke 12:12).

So, I repeat,

(#1). Jesus makes a distinction between sin and the sinner, or evil and the one perpetrating evil. God sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, to save the world, not to condemn the world. But Jesus came to show us the way to defeat the evil one, and He will destroy every last vestige of evil.

(#2). We have new weapons for this warfare. Spiritual weapons, which are much more powerful than man made weapons. Because we are carnal creatures, we love to take matters into our own hands. But the physical world is the final manifestation of the Spiritual world. We must believe and know the battle is to be fought and won in the Spiritual realm, first. Then, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

(#3). The shift is away from the temporal or the physical manifestation of evil, and onto the source and root cause of evil which is being fought in the heavens or the spiritual world, so it would not manifest in the physical world.

Just like the first disciples and Apostles, we are to lift the name and person of Christ, in how we live and what we say. We are to present the Living Word and call all people to Christ.

At the same time, we are to confront evil wherever it is found and to pull down the strongholds of evil, silence the ignorance of the foolish, take captive every thought through the spoken Word of God.

Having done all this, we are to continue to stand strong, trusting in the Lord, and He will exact His righteous justice and vengeance toward the unrepentant and the wicked.

Although there may be times when God will call upon you as His instrument of judgment, be very cautious. Anything more that we may do on our part is an assumption that we can replace God by taking matters into our own hands.

WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE? 

It was for this reason that Jesus sends you into the world:

 1.  TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

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

So, you say you are a Christian? Answer: Yes.

Where do you get your information and authority?

ANSWER: My information, as you put it, comes from God, the Bible and my authority is the authority of Jesus.

 2.  TO BRING A SWORD

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

I thought you were supposed be nicer, bringing peace? Answer: Yes. But, there is not peace in this world. Jesus is that peace you are looking for.

Where do you get your information and authority?

ANSWER: From God, the Bible and Jesus.

 3.  TO FULFILL THE LAW

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

Aren’t you being ‘legalistic’ and old fashioned?  ANSWER: (Silence).

Didn’t Jesus come to set us free from the law? 

ANSWER:  Jesus set us from the ‘law of sin and death’, and He fulfilled the law and the prophets of the old testament.

 4.  TO CALL SINNERS

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

Who are you to call me a sinner?

ANSWSER:  No one human being is without sin, not even one person. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of perfection.

What if I don’t believe you, the Bible or in God?

ANSWER:  Though you are a sinner, God still loves you. Neither God nor I condemn you. It is your unbelief that judges you and condemns you.

 5.  TO SAVE THE WORLD

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

You are being judgmental.

ANSWER: I am not judging you and neither does God judge you; your own unbelief are your judge and your condemnation.

 6.  TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH

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

You are being divisive and the Bible is divisive. Can’t we just co-exist?

ANSWER: It was written in the Bible, centuries ago, that as all things come to an end, God will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, entire families will be separated on this account.

It gives God great joy that those who have been justified in His sight will be rewarded with blessing untold.

It grieves God that those who have rejected Him have chosen to an eternal damnation, an eternal darkness, punishment in a fiery hell where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The Point here, is that as followers and disciples of Jesus, the attitude, methods and ways of Jesus are to be our calling, our attitude and our methods and ways, also.

 “WHAT HE REALLY MEANT?”

I have heard so many so-called pastors, preachers, bible teachers and detractors alike, try to justify or explain away these Words of Jesus because they just cannot fathom the gentle and sweet ‘dashboard Jesus’ saying such things as we find in the verses cited.  Jesus said what He meant and meant exactly what He said.

Regardless of what form the growing apostasy toward the Bible and the Gospel and rebellion against God takes, whether it is through anthropology, geology, history, labor, law, philosophy, politics, science, sociology, theology or  even the threat of Communist-Marxist-Globalism.

Jesus is our model and His ways are our method for counter-culturalism and the resistance to the growing threat of evil.

Our message is the Gospel. A message of reconciliation with God for all people. And we need to gird up and get on with it.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-13

PS: A quote from a movie, where a general, upon being advised the strategy of the war has changed from destroying a nation and killing the its inhabitants as the enemy, to restoring relations with the nation and saving the people of that nation, the general says, “So, you are telling me we are going to save these people? And, in order to save them, we have to stop killing them?”

THE ANSWER:  Yes.

PPS: One of our seminary professor-guest-speakers asked this off-handed question, “Do you think you should you invite a Marxist to Church, and if so, what would you say to them?” (He said ‘yes’, should.)

I say however, go ahead and invite a Marxist to Church, but be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. Understand that they are not ‘born that way’. They are not confused about what they believe. They are indoctrinated and trained zealous idealogues. They believe, teach and practice the subjugation of Christians and the eradication of Christianity. There is no middle ground.

Preach and teach the Gospel. Do not incorporate those who reject the Gospel into the household of God.

Jesus said what He meant and meant exactly what He said.  He is our model for our counter cultural resistance to the growing global threat.

THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Build your house on the Rock”, Part 33

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 33

Build Your House on the Rock

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 7:24-27

Having issued His warning that “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” and to some who erroneously thought they were following Him, He will say, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’  Jesus continues His teaching, speaking to “everyone who hears these words of mine and does them…”

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only those who truly know Him “can hear His words and can do them”, for His Words are the will of His Father.

There are thousands upon millions of people who consider themselves as Christians and believe they will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, but they will not. They are living a strange and impotent form of Christianity, a strange form of the Gospel which they have created from their own imagination, in their own image, according to their own wishes and desires. Jesus address this matter by giving instructions and showing the results of obedience to His spiritual disciplines, and what happens to those who have another way.

You need to ask yourself which group you inhabit.

Group #1:  “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

First, this hearkens to Matthew 16:18 when Jesus 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.” In this verse, Jesus explain “two rocks”.

#1. Peter, which comes from the Greek words, “Pétros”, meaning “a detached stone or a small rock“.

#2. “Pétra” which translates from the Greek word for a “a huge mass of rock, a boulder, such as a projecting cliff. Solid native rock, rising up through the earth”.

Jesus is going to use many ‘detached stones’, coming together into “a huge mass of rock, a boulder, such as a projecting cliff. Solid native rock, rising up through the earth” and resting upon the chief cornerstone, the “Lithos”.

A stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘A stone which the builders rejected, This has become the chief cornerstone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘A stone which the builders rejected, This has become the chief cornerstone;

But Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what is this statement that has been written: ‘A stone which the builders rejected, This has become the chief cornerstone’?

He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone.

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, “A stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief cornerstone,”

Secondly, notice “it will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” You will not escape trials and tribulations having built your ‘home’ upon this Rock, but you will not fall. You will endure successfully to the end.

Group #2:  Finally, Jesus clearly states, “And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Great, “Megas”, exceedingly large in the widest sense; loud, mighty, enduring.

Fall of it, “Ptosis”, a falling into ruin. This word comes from a root word, “piptó” which means to fall under condemnation.

Jesus, in the previous verses, warns that He will tell some who are deceived and disobedient to the Father, “Depart from Me, I never knew you”. He casts them out. Now, He is warning of condemnation for the foolish man who would ‘build his house on the sand’, a metaphor for ‘doing things your own way, from your own imagination, in their own image, according to their own wishes and desires.”.

This will conclude, for now, these teachings of preparation to walk as Jesus’ disciple in His footsteps, doing the works He has done and greater works than these.

The importance of these verses cannot be over-emphasized.  Be a wise man or woman, who builds their house on the rock, and when the rain falls, and the floods come, and the winds blow and beat on your house, as they will, you will not fall, because you have been founded on the rock.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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SPIRITUAL GIFTS – Are they still valid, today?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(There is a Link to a Spiritual Gifts Test at the end of this article)

 “DO YOU KNOW YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT?”

​Have you ever been asked that question before?

So, do you?  Do you know your Spiritual Gift?  And, if you do know your Spiritual Gift – SO WHAT?

​What I mean is, SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR PRECIOUS GIFT from the Holy Spirit?

​Spiritual gifts, (charismata) are an endowment or extraordinary powers given by the Holy Spirit.

These supernatural graces, are given to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit with the purpose of building up the Body of Christ which is The Church and are needed to fulfill the mission of the Church.  Spiritual Gifts enable Christians to serve the Lord and His Church.

Two important Truths have been lost over time, and this loss is rendering God’s Church as less effective in Her mission and, is in fact, soiling His Bride.

Truth #1.  Many in the Church have become grossly “self-serving”.

It is through Spiritual Gifts that God empowers and enables us to serve Him and to serve His Church, which is His Body.  We are, as Christians, to serve the Lord and His Church.

Jesus, Himself, said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

That is our calling also. ​We are not here to be served, we are here to serve.

​Truth #2.  You and I are The Body of Christ, that is we are “The Church”. 

​We have become accustomed, over the last two millennium (beginning with Constantine) with the idea that we ‘go to church’, but that is impossible in God’s Kingdom and in His economy because we are The Church.

Jesus created His Church, His Body, and made it so the whole Body fits together perfectly.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

The Holy Spirit guides us, convict us, defends us and empowers us.

Jesus transformed the practice and attitude of ‘going to church’. He also teaches about not allowing external things to convict or to defend us. We are to depend on and call upon the Holy Spirit for those things.  Jesus has told us that His laws are now written upon our hearts and in our consciences.

We must BE the Body of Christ, The Church, and behave as such, or we simply are not following Jesus.

​No matter what we believe or say or do, we are not a follower of Jesus and we should not call ourselves by His Holy Name, if we are not behaving as Jesus says.

​We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus and called to serve. ​We are God’s church.

Here is a list of the Gifts which God gives His Body.  See if you can find which gift or gifts are yours.  Can you imagine how different things would be in The Church and the world around us if we engaged and used these Gifts, daily?

GIFTS                      MINISTRIES                EFFECTS                 OFFICES

​Romans 12             1 Corinthians 12         1 Corinthians 12:28       Ephesians 4:11

Prophecy               Word of wisdom            Apostle                        Apostle
Serving                  Word of knowledge       Prophet                       Prophet
Teaching                Faith                                Teacher                       Evangelist
Exhortation           Gifts of healing              Miracles                      Pastor
Giving                     Miracles                          Kinds of healing        Teacher
Overseer                Prophecy                         Helps
Mercy                     Distinguishing spirits   Administration
Tongues

​Sometimes, Spiritual Gifts are mistakenly considered to be a natural talent or a person’s proclivity, a natural inclination.  Natural talents can mimic Gifts of the Holy Spirit, but, they will never accomplish God’s purposes effectively.

Please remember, these are not natural talents.  These are supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

(ALSO PLEASE NOTE the order of these gifts and offices. They seem, in each case, to be listed by order of importance and priority.

The Apostle Paul speaks to this when he teaches on the gifts of toungues, which mentioned LAST but seems to be practiced most and with greater emphasis by many.  1 Corinthians 14:20-25, “Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written:

“By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.

“Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.“)

Here are more detailed descriptions and functions of these Gifts.

Apostle:   The title apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos which means “a messenger, one sent forth with orders”.  It refers to one who has been delegated authority by another in a foreign land.  Apostles were the first leaders of the Church; they were commissioned by Jesus to initiate and direct the preaching of the gospel. (There is no passage in the Bible saying this gift was temporary nor that is has ceased)

Prophet: In the New Testament, the office of prophet is to equip the saints for the work of service through exhortation, edification, and consolation (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:3 Ephesians 4:11).  The prophet’s corresponding gift is prophecy. Prophecy is “reporting something that God spontaneously brings to your mind”.

Prophecy is addressed to the human understanding “he who prophesies speaks to men,” Corinthians 14:1-25. The prophet “edifies the church” (14:4).

​Evangelist:   An evangelist is one who devotes himself to preaching the gospel. In the New Testament, evangelists preached from city to city, church to church.

Pastor:   This term derives from a Greek word for “shepherd”.  Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion.

(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.

​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.)

Teacher:  Someone who devotes his or her life to preaching and teaching the Christian faith. When teaching is provided for the Church by God, two gifts are actually given—to the Church is given a teacher and along with the teacher comes a divine capacity to teach.

Service: The word translated as “ministry” is diakonia, which can also be translated “service”.  Since there are many types of ministries and service to the Church, this then describes a broad array of gifts rather than a single gift.

Exhortation: The ability to motivate Christians “to patient endurance, brotherly love, and good works”.

Giving: Those with this gift share their own possessions with others with extraordinary generosity. While all Christians should be givers, those possessing this gift will go beyond this normal giving.

Overseeing:  This gift speaks to the various roles found in the Church. While many think of roles such as administration, management of funds, strategy planning, etc. as functions outside of the supernatural realm, in reality individuals in these positions are just as in need of supernatural empowerment as are ministers of the gospel.  This is sometimes inappropriately called ‘leadership’.

Mercy:  Possibly identical to the gift of helps, the mercy-shower possesses a ministry of visitation, prayer, and compassion to the poor and sick.

​Word of wisdom:   An utterance or message of wisdom supernaturally granted to an individual. For Paul, wisdom refers to “the knowledge of the great Christian mysteries: the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Christ, and the indwelling in the believer of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2; Ephesians 1:17)”.

​Word of knowledge: The knowledge referred to is often said to relate to understanding Christian doctrine or scriptural truth.  It is sometimes said to be connected with the ministry of teachers.

Faith:  This refers to that strong or special faith “which removes mountains, casts out devils (Matthew 17:19–20), and faces the most cruel martyrdom without flinching”.  It is distinguished from the “saving” and “normal” Christian faith.

Gifts of healing:  The ability to supernaturally minister healing to others. The plural indicates the variety of sickness healed and the many forms the gift takes, such as healing by anointing with oil, by the laying on of hands, by saying the name of Jesus or by the sign of the cross.

​Working of miracles: The performance of deeds beyond ordinary human ability by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Visions. An outpouring of this gift is prophesied in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 and is expected to increase and be of great value in the “last days”.

Discerning of spirits:  The capacity to discern, distinguish, or to discriminate the source of a spiritual manifestation—whether it emanates from a good or evil spirit. It seemed to have been particularly associated with prophecy as it would be necessary to know whether a prophetic utterance was truly inspired by God.

​Tongues:  The supernatural ability of speaking an unlearned language.  Paul seems to have distinguished between the public use of the gift (which must always be interpreted) and the private use which was for the spiritual strengthening of oneself.

​(Among Christians there is a discussion as to whether tongues were/are always xenoglossy, which is speaking an unlearned human language, or whether it also included/includes glossolalia, which is speaking an unlearned and allegedly non-human language of heavenly or angelic origin).

Interpretation of tongues:  This gift always follows the public exercise of the gift of tongues.

(In 1 Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul required that all speech in Christian worship should be intelligible. This required that speech given in an unknown tongue be interpreted in the common language of the gathered Christians.)

​Helps:  This gift has to do with service to the sick and the poor.   Possessor of this gift has a “spiritual burden and a God-given love for the needy and afflicted”.

Administration:   Also called the gift of governing, the Greek word translated “governments” is kubernesis, the verb form of which means “to steer” or “to be a helmsman”. This gift then refers to the God-given capacity to oversee or guide the Church through storms and difficult seas.

(NOTE:  Many versions of the Bible and many theologians and bible teachers say the word “leader” or “leadership” is a Spiritual gift.  That is a misunderstanding of the correct word and intention of the word “overseer”. )

Now, to answer the question, “Are Spiritual Gifts still valid today?” The answer is YES. These supernatural graces, are given to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit with the purpose of building up the Body of Christ which is The Church and are needed to fulfill the mission of the Church.  Spiritual Gifts enable Christians to serve the Lord and His Church.

I pray that you will consider the Gifts God has given you and how you can serve His Church and affect the world around you as we make ready for His return.

​There are many places you can find and take a Spiritual Gifts test for the purpose of applying what God has so graciously and generously given you.  Here are just two of such web sites:

​Click here on the image below for an online digital Spiritual gifts test link to an external site​

Or, you can click here or on the image below to take a downloadable written test in PDF format, test yourself and grade it manually.

In His Service – Your Friend and Brother

​Mike Young

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

~ 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 5th 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 6th 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 6th 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). 7th 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

2nd 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.

3rd 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.

4th 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.

5th 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.

6th Trumpet – The Army from the East

The 7th 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

1st Bowl of Wrath – loathsome and malignant sores.

2nd Bowl of Wrath – the sea became blood.

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

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

5th Bowl of Wrath – it became dark.

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

Armageddon

7th 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

~ 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

~ 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?

~ 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

~ 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

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TEETH

~ 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

~ 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:

“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.’

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?

~ 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

~ 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

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 30

“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.”

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 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.

~ 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