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DANIEL 9 – The 70 Weeks

The “seventy weeks” prophecy, found in Daniel 9 begins with Daniel praying for Israel, acknowledging the nation’s sins against God and asking for God’s mercy. As Daniel prayed, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and gave him a vision of Israel’s future. In verse 24, Gabriel says, “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city.”  The seventy “sevens” should be understood as seventy “weeks” of years, in other words, a period of 490 years. These verses provide a “timeline” that gives us an idea of when the Messiah would come and some of the events that would accompany His appearance.

IF YOU UNDERSTAND “DANIEL’S SEVENTY WEEKS”, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE JESUS RETURNS, USHERING IN THE “GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD”.

WE MUST BE READY The prophecy divides the 490 years into three smaller units:

• one of 49 years,
• one of 434 years, and
• one 7 years.
  • The final “week” of 7 years is further divided in half.

Verse 25 says, “From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be

• seven ‘sevens,’ and
• sixty-two ‘sevens.’ ”
  • (Seven “sevens” is 49 years, and sixty-two “sevens” is another 434 years: 49 years + 434 years = 483 years

The Purpose of the 70 Weeks (i.e., the 490 years) The prophecy contains a statement concerning God’s six-fold purpose in bringing these events to pass: Verse 24 says this purpose is: 1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God) 2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin) 3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness) 4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable) 5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions) 6) “to anoint the most holy.” (that is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.) Notice that the results of this six-fold purpose concerns the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness. The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom. *Of special note is the third in the list of results: “to atone for wickedness.” Jesus accomplished the atonement for sin by His death on the cross (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17). The Fulfillment of the 70 Weeks *Gabriel said the prophetic clock would start at the time that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem. From the date of that decree to the time of the Messiah would be 483 years.

• We know from history that the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8).

• The first unit of 49 years (seven “sevens”) covers the time that it took to rebuild Jerusalem, “with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.

• Using the Jewish custom of a 360-day year, 483 years after 445 B.C. places us at A.D. 30, which would coincide with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.

• Daniel 9:26 continues with a prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The “ruler who will come” is a reference to the Antichrist, who, it seems, will have some connection with Rome, since it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem.

The Final Week of the 70 Weeks

1. Of the 70 “sevens,” 69 have been fulfilled in history. This leaves one more “seven” yet to be fulfilled.
   • Most scholars believe that we are now living in a huge gap between the 69th week and the 70th week. The prophetic clock has been paused, as it were. The final “seven” of Daniel is what we usually call the tribulation period.

1. Daniel’s prophecy reveals some actions of the Antichrist, the “ruler who will come.” Verse 27 says, “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’” However, “in the middle of the ‘seven,’ he will set up an abomination that causes desolation” in the temple. Jesus warned of this event in Matthew 24:15. After the Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel, a time of “great tribulation” begins (Matthew 24:21, New King James Version).
2. Daniel also predicts that the Antichrist will face judgment. He only rules “until the end that is decreed is poured out on him” (Daniel 9:27). God will only allow evil to go so far, and the judgment the Antichrist will face has already been planned out.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks is complex and detailed There are various interpretations, and most interpretations are unnecessarily convoluted to fit a particular denominational view. However, if you will put biased ‘denominationalism’ aside, and read the prophetic scriptures, first for their plain face-value, then secondly, read them in the context of the entire Bible, an amazingly clear picture emerges. You will find a Pre-Wrath, pre-millennial view. One thing is certain: God has a timetable, and He is keeping things on schedule. God tells us what He has planned from the beginning though the end (Isaiah 46:10), and we should always be looking for the triumphant return of our Lord (Revelation 22:7).

The “Final Week” (Daniel’s Seventieth Week) of the 70 Weeks found in Daniel 9:25, tells us, “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Remember, the “BIRTH PAINS” is another name for the breaking of the 1st through the 5th Tribulation Seals, which began in AD 1. The “final week” of Daniel’s 70 week, is the 7 years of The Great Tribulation, which will commence with the breaking of the 6th Seal of The Tribulation.

The middle of this final week, (which is 3 1/2 years after the breaking of the 6th Seal), is the Mid-Tribulation point and is found at the blowing of the 7th Trumpet of God’s Wrath.

The flood, found in Daniel 9, verse 26, this time refers to “a flood of people”, that is to say that Jerusalem and her temple would be destroyed again by an overwhelming army. (This occurred in AD 70 with the destruction of the 2nd Temple). This was foreshadowed by the Great Flood in Genesis “A flood” was repeated in the Heavens by the old Dragon and manifest on the earth in the crucifixion of Christ.

NOTE: Verse 26 says, “And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.”  Each of the instances of “A Flood”, thereafter, came devastation. Each time God used “a flood” for the purpose described in Daniel 12:10, “Many will be purged, purified and refined” and made ready for the Kingdom of God.”

CONCLUSION:  The word “flood” is used about 28 times in the Bible. It is used eleven times in the Book of Genesis and refers to God’s Judgment on the world for sin by the Great Flood.

The word “flood” is used twice in the book of Job, either in general terms or symbolically; then, five times in Psalms, once in Proverbs, Isaiah and Nahum, once in Luke. It is used in reference to God’s Judgments, once in Daniel, twice in Matthew, once in Luke once in 2 Peter and once in Revelation. All of these references are related to the End of Days in some way, except for 2 Peter. 

But, I want us to focus on the mention of a flood in conjunction with God’s Judgment and the “End of Days” as mentioned, in Daniel 9, Matthew 24 and Revelation 12. This will tell us about God’s plan and your purpose and need for preparation to take part in His Plan,

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Also see: Noah’s Flood

Also see: The Flood in Matthew 24

ALSO, click here for a TIMELINE comparison on #1. Secular World History with #2.  Daniel’s 70th Week and #3. Biblical World History.

NEXT: Is there ANOTHER type of Flood Coming?  

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WHY DO YOU “STUDY” THE BIBLE?

I have a few questions to help us get started.  First, what is the Bible? (I’ll wait).

                                                                                                                                                    .

What is “Bible Study” and why study the Bible?

                                                                                                                                                    .

Just one more question:  Try and be honest with yourself.  Why do you study the Bible?

                                                                                                                                                    .

If you do an internet search on the first two questions, you will spend hours, if not days or weeks, reading the responses. The third question is subjective and, although it takes some thought, should be relatively brief and easy to answer. I like simple, so let’s keep this simple and direct, OK?

As an example, simply read Psalms 1:1-3,

Verse 1. “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

Verse 2. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,

And on His Law he meditates day and night.

Verse 3. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season,

And its leaf does not wither; “

And in whatever he does, he prospers.”

What did you get from the reading?

I asked one of my sons, recently, how he was studying the Bible.  He said that he was following a reading plan to “read through the Bible”.  I said that was great, however, I asked him if he would add three elements to his reading;

 First, and most importantly, personalize what you read, wherever possible. In other words, read the Bible as if it were written by God, specifically and personally, to you.

Secondly, read it, as much as possible, at “face value”, keeping what you read in the context of the surrounding verses, chapters and of the entire Bible.

Finally, always try to read with an eye, (that is, ‘keep your thinking’), toward the future. In other words, ask yourself, ‘where is this leading me?’.

Now, read Psalms 1:1-3, again, and:

1. First, personalize the text. Read it as a letter from God, to you. (I am giving an example below here).
2. Secondly, what does this say at plain ‘face value’?
3. Thirdly, ask yourself, ‘based on what this says, and if I do this, how will it affect my future’?

Verse 1. “Blessed am I when I do not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

Verse 2. But my delight is in the Law of the LORD,

And on His Law I meditate day and night.

Verse 3. I will be like a tree planted by streams of water,

And I will yield fruit in season,

And my leaf will not wither; “

And in whatever I do, I will prosper.”

Now, what did you get from this reading?

(Please be careful not to change the meanings of worlds to suit yourself, just make it personal.)

Practice this and let me know how it goes for you.

Later, I would like to introduce two other ways to go deeper into a personal study of God’s Word:

One, is to learn how to find the meaning of the Greek or Hebrew words used for context, definition and usage;

The other is to practice ‘inductive Bible study techniques’, (I.e., what does it say, what does it mean, and what does it mean to me?).

In closing this section, let’s all remember to

(New American Standard version)

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”  (2 Timothy 2:15-9)

 (Personalized)

 I will be diligent to present myself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. I will avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and that kind of talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”  (2 Timothy 2:15-9)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(You can listen to audio of the article and pause the audio to follow page links, then, resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of references or footnotes for important details on this teaching.)

The “Breathed Word”, The ‘Ruah‘, The ‘Pneuma‘ of God.

It has become the practice of Christians, that by telling God what they want or need that they can bring about change or get what they are asking for.  Then, sadly, many prayers go unanswered.

Then, many Christians will act own their own initiative to bring about what they desire, and suffer the consequences.

A careful study of God’s Word will show us that it is God who initiates prayer in a person; it is God who hears those same prayers; it is God who makes us aware of our needs, and it is God who answers those prayers. Then, it is God who moves us to action as a result of those prayers. He is the ‘lamp unto our feet’.

1 John 5:14, tells us, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Verse 15. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

1 Peter 1:3, instructs us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, verse 4, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, verse 5, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

John 15:7, reminds us that, “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Now, please read, with me, God’s revealing on this mystery:

John 15:3, says, “You are already clean because of the word (Strong’s concordance #3056 lógos (from 3004 /légō, “speaking to a conclusion”) – a word, being the expression of a thought; a saying. 3056 /lógos (“word”) is preeminently used of Christ (Jn 1:1), expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit.) which I have spoken to you.

Verse 4.  “Remain in Me, and I in you.

• • • Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine,
    • so neither can you unless you remain in Me.
    • Verse 5.  I am the vine, you are the branches;
    • the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit,
    • for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Verse 6. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Verse 7.  “If you remain in Me, and

• • •  My words (Transliteration: “Rhema“. Phonetic Spelling: (hray’-mah); Definition: a word, by implication a matter; Usage: a thing spoken, (a) a word or saying of any kind, as command, report, promise, (b) a thing, matter, business.).
    • remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

The “word’, Logos, is the expression of a thought used of Christ expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit. (see Strong’s Bible Concordance). It is the breath of God, the Pneuma, (The Spirit).

The “word”, Rhema, is the spoken word or saying.

When you use the “Rhema-Word” in conjunction with the Logos or by expressing the Logos, a thought by Christ, of the Father, through the Holy Spirit, you are BREATHING THE BREATH OF GOD, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

The Bible clearly states that The Bible IS the Word and The Word IS God.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Verse 2. He was in the beginning with God. Verse 3. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”

You must know that the Word of God is the breathed Word, The ‘Ruah‘, the ‘Pneuma‘ of God.

Breathe it in and let the Breath of God breathe through you. Consume it and let It consume you.

AND, NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU.  Matthew 17:20

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Also see, THE BREATH OF GOD

(You can listen to this study by audio, and you can pause the audio to follow page links, then resume when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of references or footnotes for important details of this teaching.)

“God with us”, Emmanuel, a name of Christ. Emmanuel, a Messianic title derived from Isaiah 7:14 = God with us.

The name “Emmanuel” gives us images and thoughts of Christmas and rarely takes us any further in our thinking. But, God came and dwelt among us and the greatest of mysteries began to unfold:

He came and dwelt among us; He was crucified and died and was raised up to life on the third day; He ascended into heaven; But, He is still among us.

Matthew 1:23, “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY SHALL NAME HIM IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Verse 14. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

A MYSTERY

God came to earth, and dwelt among us.

THE MYSTERY DEEPENS

John 14:19 “After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. Verse 20. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you.”

THE ASCENSION

Acts 1:7 “But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; verse 8, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

Verse 9. “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. Verse 10. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, verse 11, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” 

HE WAS, HE IS, HE ALWAYS SHALL BE

John 17:21 “that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

THE MYSTERY APPLIED

Although Jesus came to us and dwelt among us, died and was resurrected, ascended into heaven and is coming again, He remains with us, that is, He is in us, still.

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.

Verse 15. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Verse 16. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; Verse 17, the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.”

YOU ARE NO LONGER YOUR OWN

1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”

AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST

2 Corinthians 5:20, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us.”

Presbeúō: To “act as an ambassador”; means to act as an established statesman, a diplomat, a trusted, respected ambassador who is authorized to speak as God’s emissary; one ho represents His kingdom.

This term is used in the ancient phrase, “I am on embassy to the Emperor, I am an ambassador, (Souter), i.e. as someone respected as trustworthy, loyal and knowledgeable, especially in the opinion of those they know.

Now, you know. But, knowledge without application is just idle information, and idle information is like salt which has become tasteless. How can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.

James 1:22, tells us, “So, prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. Verse 23. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; verse 24, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [w]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. Verse 25. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(You can listen to this study by audio, and you can pause the audio to follow page links, then resume when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of references or footnotes for important details of this teaching.)

THE PROMISE OF GOD

The Bible verse you are about to read, from the Books of Numbers and Joshua, are

• • • Actual events,
    • Prophetic instructions for all believers in Christ Jesus for all the ages, and they are
    • A prophecy to be fulfilled in these Last Days.

These prophecies must be studied by prayer and fasting. Neglecting the significance of these verses, is to your peril.

God promised Moses and the Israelites a land that was flowing with milk and honey as an  inheritance. The same is true for the Christ follower, today.

The short version of this story is that Joshua, Caleb and 10 other spies reconnoitered the land and found it was indeed rich with all the promises of God.

THE PROMISE

On their return, Caleb told the assembly that “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it”.

The SIN of FEAR and DOUBT

However, the spies other than Joshua and Caleb brought a report of doubt, fear and rejection saying it would be impossible to defeat the inhabitants of that land.

This negative report of fear caused the entire nation to draw back and demand of Moses that they go back to the familiarity of Egypt.

THE PENALTY of SIN

God condemned that generation to die in the wilderness as mere shepherds of flocks and in the end, they would die, homeless, and “their corpses would lie in the desert”.

THE DREAM DELAYED

The Israelites did not see the opportunity of God’s Promise through God’s eyes. They were blinded by fear. They had their eyes fixed on the problems in the land and not on the Promises of God. They saw the impossibilities and rejected the possibility of possessing the Promises of God.

THE PROMISED DELAYED

The dream died and so did the people.  The promises were forestalled for a future generation of people of faith. This is a prophetic truth for all ages.

Their descendants did obey God and inherited that Promised Land.  And, Joshua warned them that if they turned away from God, He would bring upon them all the threats, until He has destroyed them from off the good land which He had given them. “When you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.”

A PROPHECY FOR TODAY

We, in America, are face with a similar scenario, after many years in the land, we have transgressed our covenant and we have turned away from our God.  Now, an enemy has invaded our land and God is threatening to remove us. We are shrinking back and surrendering the land God has given to us.

This did not begin at the National level. It began in our personal lives, in our homes and with our families.  It has crept into our churches, our schools and finally into our government. It began with our neglect of God. Then, fear set in and evil now rules our once great nation.

And now, just as the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, we here in America must do the same – or perish.

1.  We must take up “twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan”, just as the LORDspoke to Joshua.

The Number TWELVE, typically means perfection or authority, often used in a context of government. For instance, because Jacob has 12 sons, they form the 12 tribes of Israel. There are also 12 minor prophets that ‘dot the text’ of the Old Testament.

The number TWELVE makes a special appearance in Revelation, showing the authority and perfection of God’s kingdom

(TWELVE, more often than not, tends to represent the outcome of something good. The new Jerusalem, for instance, is replete with the number TWELVE (12 stars in a crown, 12 gates, 12 angels, 12 foundations, 12 Apostles, 12 pearls, 12 kinds of fruit, 12 furlongs measurement of the city.)

Jesus spoke, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Jesus then summoned His disciples and gave them authority.

 Likewise, we are to take authority by the Great Name of Jesus He will, through us, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to prisoners, and to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God;  God will grant those who mourn a garland instead of ashes, oil of gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.  Then we will be called oaks of righteousness,

We will be the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Then we will rebuild the ancient ruins, we will raise up the former devastations; and we will repair the ruined cities and the desolations of these many generations.

2.  Just as Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, so are we to become firmly established in His Name and in His Cause.

We are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  We must have put on the full armor of God, so that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

For our struggle is against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, we will take up the full armor of God, and resist evil, and we will stand firm.

Now is the day, like the day of Joshua, we must hurry and cross our ‘Jordan’ which is the demarcation between living in the Kingdom of God and perishing.  We remain within the our ark of salvation, which is Jesus, dressed in battle array, equipped for war, going for battle before the LORD to the desert plains of Jericho.

OBEDIENCE

Numbers 13:1, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses saying, Verse 2, “Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel; you shall send a man from each of their fathers’ tribes, every one a leader among them.” Verse 3. So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran at the command of the LORD,

Numbers 13:25, “When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, verse 26, they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; and they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. Verse 27. Thus they told him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

OBSERVATION

Verse 28. “Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. Verse 29. “Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.”

ENCOURAGEMENT

Verse 30. “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.”

OBSTINENT FEAR

Verse 31. But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” Verse 32. So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. Verse 33. “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

DEFIANT REBELLION

Numbers 14:1. “Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. Verse 2. All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Verse 3. “Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” Verse 4. So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

Numbers 14:26. “The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, Verse 27, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. Verse 28. “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; Verse 29, your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. Verse 30. ‘Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Verse 31. ‘Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey—I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. Verse 32. ‘But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Verse 33. ‘Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness. Verse 34. ‘According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition. Verse 35. ‘I, the LORD, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die.’”

THE PROMISE PURSUED

Joshua 1:10 “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, verse 11, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.’”

Verse 12. “To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, verse 13, “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest and will give you this land.’ Verse 14. “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, verse 15, until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

Verse 16. “They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Verse 17. “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you as He was with Moses. Verse 18. “Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

Joshua 3:1. “Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. Verse 2. At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; verse 3, and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Verse 4. “However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

Verse 5. “Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” Verse 6. And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.

OBEDIENCE – THE PROMISE DELIVERED

Joshua 4:8. “Thus the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and put them down there. Verse 9. Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. Verse 10. For the priests who carried the ark were standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the LORD had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. And the people hurried and crossed; verse 11, and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed before the people. Verse 12. The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over in battle array before the sons of Israel, just as Moses had spoken to them; verse 13, about 40,000 equipped for war, crossed for battle before the LORD to the desert plains of Jericho. Verse 14. “On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; so that they revered him, just as they had revered Moses all the days of his life.”

You can read “the rest of the story” yourself.  Joshua and Caleb and the Israelites, over a period of many years and through many battles, capture the Promised Land.

Finally, read this part of Joshua’s old-age farewell address:

THE PROPHECY AND PROMISE FOR TODAY

Joshua 23:14 “Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. Verse 15. “It shall come about that just as all the good words which the LORD your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you. Verse 16. “When you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.”

I pray we all meditate on this, ruminate on it, let is seep deep within our minds and hearts, so His Word is fulfilled in and through us and we can experience and do all that He has promised.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(You can listen to this study by audio, and you can pause the audio to follow page links, then resume when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of references or footnotes for important details of this teaching.)

What’s in a name?  Well, when it comes to God – everything.

Joshua:  Comes from the two Hebrew words (1) Jehovah= “the existing One”  (2)  To save, be saved, be delivered, to be liberated, to be saved (in battle), be victorious to save, deliver from moral troubles, to give victory to.

Why is this important?  Because God, through His written Word, gives us prophecies.  Some come as a warning.  Some come as a promise.  Either way, prophecies give the Believer a chance to order his or her life accordingly.  It can the difference between life and death or between success and ruin.  The consequences or blessings can be temporal or eternal.

The Book of Joshua gives us both, God’s warnings and God’s promises, and it is supremely prophetic.

These verses, when read with the correct understanding, are able to lead you to a source which contains an unimaginable power, and explosive power.  And, this power can radically and thoroughly transform your life and your experience.  When the work of this Prophetic Word is accomplished, you would hardly recognize the person you were beforehand.

Your circumstances will miraculously conform, (yes, miraculously conform), to reflect the changes that will have taken place within you.  Even your family and friends will wonder what happened to the person they once knew, who now goes about in your name.

Read these verses from Joshua, with me, considering them in the model of The Trinity of God:  The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.  As God is Three, so we will find The Trinity in His Word:  The physical (soma), the soul (pseuche – mind, will and emotions) and the Spirit (Pneuma).

For the purpose of this study, I will enter the verse, then, I will enter ‘subscripts’ from the Hebrew language, so we can get a deeper and clearer meaning of the text, then I will enter the terms using a lexicon or bible dictionary for further clarification and understanding.  (All this is taken from Strong’s Bible Concordance).

NOTE:  This can be a difficult undertaking requiring much prayer, study and meditation on God’s Word.  This process will become clearer as we read and pray for understanding and wisdom.  But, make no mistake, the results will be astounding.

Here is a prophetic word and an encouragement for all of Christ’s followers, today.  Take this word, trust it, do it, share it.

THUS SAYS THE LORD – JOSHUA, CHAPTER 1 –

Joshua was a “type” of the prophesied Messiah, a foreshadowing of the coming Savior.  Joshua Chapter 1 verses 1 – 4, not only gives us a mighty picture of conquest, victory and salvation, but a prophecy, applicable both to the coming Messiah (Jesus) and for our daily lives.  This still rings true and is for you and for me to DO and to BE, TODAY. 

VERSE 1

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

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

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

VERSE 2

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

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

Your ​Application: You and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the eternal sons of God, prevail, you are now made mighty by God in His strength

VERSE 3

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

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

Your ​Application:  Every place and everything you touch, bow yourself to God, and the touch of God will grant you dominion in all circumstances.

VERSE 4

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

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

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

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

​ Your ​Application:From the time you were wild in your imaginations, without a heart, a living spirit within you or a mind, until God broke forth and gave you a fruitful heart and gives you a mind, an awareness of Him and in Him; you have dominion over all the terrors and low places you encounter in your life until you enter into His Kingdom of eternity, all of this is yours

VERSE 5 

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

The Prophetic Transcription:  No man of any kind, neither great nor powerful, without exception, can stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you;

Your ​Application:  You will not sink down today. I will not relax on your behalf.  You  will not drop back, you will not be disheartened.  You will know that I am always with you and I never forsake you, nor will I let you be alone, I never show slack.

VERSE 6 

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

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

The Application:  You have already inherited this.  The land is now yours, that is all the earth.  This is the oath, My Oath, which I swore to your fathers.  Now, you possess it.

Note:   

• • • “The Verse” is from the New American Standard Bible version of the Bible;  
    • “The Prophetic Transcription” is translated from the Hebrew language with all the detail and nuances of written within the words;
    • “Your Application” is the “Prophetic Transcription” to be applied to your life.

Act on this Word and you will see the Spirit of God move on your life and circumstances.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(You can listen to this study by audio, and you can pause the audio to follow page links, then resume when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of references or footnotes for important details of this teaching.)

New King James Version, Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

New American Standard Bible, Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.

NASB 1995, Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Strong’s Concordance:

FAITH, faithfulness: ‘pistis’

Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine.
Transliteration: pistis.
Phonetic Spelling: (pis’-tis).
Definition: faith, faithfulness.
Usage: faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

HELPS Word-studies

From Strong’s Concordance #4102, the Greek word, ‘pístis’. which comes from the word, ‘peithô’, means, to “persuade, or to be persuaded”. More correctly, it means persuasion; to be persuaded, to come to trust.

1. Faith, ‘pistis’,is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, ‘pistis’,(“faith”) for the believer, is “God’s divine persuasion“, and is therefore distinct from human belief, or human confidence, yet it involves it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. it is the persuasion of His will in the believer. (1 John 5:4).

“Pistis’, faith, in secular antiquity, was referred to as a guarantee, a warranty. In Scripture, faith is God’s warranty, certifies that the revelation He births in a believer will come to pass, His way.

Pistis faith, is also used collectively, seen in all the times that God has revealed, or given the persuasion of His will, which includes the full revelation of Scripture, (see Jude 3). Indeed, God the Lord guarantees that all of this revelation will come to pass! (Compare Mt 5:18 with 2 Tim 3:16).

‘Pistis’ Faith is always received from God, and never generated by us.

Romans 12:3 says, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith,”. 

Ephesians 2:8,9, says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”.

Gal 5:22,23, says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Reflection: Faith is given, exclusively, to the redeemed. It is not a virtue that can be worked up by human effort.

2. ‘Pistis’, Faith,enables the believer to know God’s preferred-will Accordingly, faith and “God’s preferred-will,(Strong’s #2307, ‘thelçma’) are directly connected in Scripture.

2 Romans 12:2,3, says, “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. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Hebrews 10:36,38, says, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”

“BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM”.

1 John 5:4: “For whatever is born of God conquers the world; and this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith.”

3. In sum, ‘Pistis’, faith,is a persuasion from God that we receive as He grants impulse. Faith is always the work of God and involves hearing His voice, whereby, the believer lays hold of God’s preferred-will, (J. Calvin).

More on what faith is and isn’t

•  In Scripture, faith and belief are not exactly the same. Faith always comes from God and involves His revelation therefore faith is beyond belief!
• Faith is God’s work; faith is never the work of people. We cannot produce faith ourselves, nor can we “drum it up at will.” Rather, faith comes as Christ speaks His rhçma-word within (see Ro 10:17, Gk text).
• In all of Scripture, only the term faith is ever used in the following way: Ro 14:23: Whatever is not of faith(4102/pistis) is sin.” Heb 11:6: “And without faith (4102/pistis) it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (NASU).

Reflection: Nothing quite like this two-fold witness appears elsewhere in the Bible. These sweeping statements sober the heart and inspire the soul!

Key quotes

“Faith always pre-supposes revelation” (W. H. Griffith Thomas, Genesis, 55).

“Faith is always a response to a divine revelation” (W. H. Griffith Thomas, Hebrews, 143).

“Faith, both in its initiation and every step of the way, is Spirit given . Faith is God given” (W. Hendriksen, Galatians, 197).

“Faith precedes works, and is not something merely deduced by reason of existing” (D. Edmond Hiebert, Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians 1:11).

“Faith is always a gift of God” (L. Morris, John, p 520). “The basis of faith is God’s revelation of Himself . Christianity came to be seen as a faith event” (O. Michel, Dictionary of New Testament Theology).

“Faith is the divine response, wrought in man, by God” (from Berkof’s Systematic Theology, representing the views of Barth and Brunner).

“Faith always has the element of assurance, certainty and confidence, and evidential value substantiating the thing we hope for. With faith, there is no strain or tension; rather, it has the element of assurance and confidence in it. If there is strain or tension, that is, by trying to persuade yourself to keep from doubting, you can be quite sure that it is not faith. Faith is not the law of mathematical probability; faith is not natural; faith is spiritual and is the gift of God. You cannot command faith at will, faith is always something that is given, it is in-wrought by God; therefore, if you want to be a man of faith, it will always be the result of becoming a certain type of person” (M. Lloyd Jones, Romans, Romans 4:18-25).

“Faith is the divinely given conviction of things unseen” (Homer Kent Jr., Hebrews, 217, quoting Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, volume 2, 476).

“Faith is the organ which enables people to see the invisible order” (F.

1. Bruce, Hebrews, 279).

“Right faith is a thing wrought in us by the Holy Spirit” (William Tyndale).

“We have made faith a condition of mind, when it is a divinely imparted grace of the heart. We can receive faith only as he gives it, but, you cannot manufacture faith, you can not work it up. You can believe a promise, and at the same time not have the faith to appropriate it. Genuine, Scriptural faith is not our ability to ‘count it done,’ but is the deep consciousness divinely imparted to the heart of man that it is done, it is the faith that only God can give. Do not struggle in the power of the will.  What a mistake it is to take our belief in God and call of faith.  Christ, the living word, is our sufficiency. (Charles Price, The Real Faith, Logos/publications).

Summary

Belief and faith are not exactly equivalent terms. When Jesus told people, “Your faith has made you well,” faith was still His gift (Ephesians 2:8,9). Any gift however, once received, becomes the “possession” of the recipient. Faith however is always from God and is purely His work (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Note: The Greek definite article is uniformly used in the expressions “your faith,” or, “their faith”, (which occur over 30 times in the Greek NT). This genitive construction with the article refers to “the principle of faith (operating in) you” – not “your faith” in the sense that faith is ever generated by the recipient.

Reflection: Demons believe (and shudder), but they do not have, i.e., they do not experience faith!

James 2:19, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder“.

(Note: the foregoing, in majority, is taken from Biblehub.com).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Matthew 21:21, 22, informs and instructs us, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all.”

Let’s, by faith, join God in the Spiritual Battle of these Last Days. Let’s gird up, take up our Sword and Shield, and put the enemy to flight!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Deleted: The word ‘faith’ occurs in scriptures over 230 times (NASB). Here are just a few of those verses

Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.

This word ‘pride’ is a profanity in the Hebrew language. It refers to being heedless and presumptive, unable to submit oneself to authority, as contrasted to living by faith which requires humility and subjection to God, alone.

Matthew 6:30
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Matthew is reminding us of the natiure of God, YAWEH YIREH or Jehova Jireh, ‘the Lord wil provide’ or ‘God is my provider. Unless we diligently seek the provions of God we err and our faith grows weak.

Matthew 8:10
But the centurion replied, Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.

The centurion shows wisdom and understanding regarding faith. He understands that faith comes from one with sup

Matthew 8:26
He *said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.

Learn here, that as you exercise your faith, fear will fade away. Inordinare fear is a litmus test of faith.

Matthew 9:2
And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

When hope is found in a hopeless situation, take courage. Your salvation is near, in Christ. Don’t just ‘know about’ Him; Know Him.

Matthew 9:22
But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

Again, in hopeless circumstances or difficult situations, always take courage, put your faith in Jesus and you will be made ‘well’. You must PRACTICE these things persistently and with endurance and your faith will grow.

Matthew 9:29
Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.”

This statement is either of great comfort or can bring distress, depending on your faith. If at first you don’t succeed, endure. PRACTICE these things persistently and with endurance and your faith will grow.

Matthew 14:28-31
Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Jesus frequently tells us to ‘take courage’. Peter took courage and in faith, walked on the water. Then doubt crept in and his faith failed him. We must always stay focused on our Hope, the object of our faith.  Practice this.

Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

Matthew 16:8
But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?

Matthew 17:20
And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

Matthew 21:21
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.

Mark 2:5
And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 4:40
And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 5:34
And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

Mark 10:52
And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.

Mark 11:22
And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.

Thus says the Lord. Amen and Amen!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The following chapters in this series are Biblical teaching on the exercising of your faith and the outcomes. This is not just for reading, but, for you and me to learn to exercise our faith and to see these outcomes in our own lives.

Go to, Episode 3 – NOW FAITH

(You can listen to this study by audio, and you can pause the audio to follow page links, then resume when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of references or footnotes for important details of this teaching.)

One dictionary defines the word ‘fool’ as, “a person lacking in judgment or prudence”.

The Bible says, Fools despise wisdom and instruction and that the complacency of fools will destroy them.

The Bible says, Foolishness is boisterous, she has a lack of understanding and knows nothing.

The Bible says, With the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

The Bible says,  Fools die for lack of understanding and a companion of fools will suffer harm.

The Bible says, A fool is arrogant and careless, and mocks at sin.

The Bible says, Therefore, you have no excuse, you foolish person, every one of you who passes judgment; for in that matter in which you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice those very things.

And as you can see, fools have many ways of expressing their foolishness which brings destruction. But, God has called us to this Spiritual battle, and He has willed, that by doing right you will silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Please click the links below for more reading on this important matter and for some relevant videos which will inform, instruct, inspire and ignite you to action!

Enemies Within the Church – How to Confront Fools within the Church.

Marxism in the Church – How to Confront religious humanists and religious Marxists.

Ship Wrecked – Damage Caused by Fools in the Church.

Confronting Evil in our day – Confronting Fools in the world.

Not of This World – Christians are foreigners in a foreign land.

Ephesians 5:17, instructs us, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

1 Peter 2:15, tells us, as Christians, “For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people.”

This is our calling!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(You can listen to this article via this podcast audio, and, pause the audio to follow important page links, then, resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links critical to this article in lieu of references and footnotes.)

(The following is an opinion piece written by, Dr. Curtis W. Freeman, Commentary, Times Union, June 21, 2018)

“The Bible verse “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1) has joined “Let your women keep silence in the churches” (1 Corinthians 14:34) and “Slaves obey your earthly masters” (Ephesians 6:5) as one of the most abused passages of scripture in history. There is a long history of misusing this text to argue that Christians are always duty-bound to obey the civil authorities. This past week U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions added his name to that history.

“According to this absolutist view, to resist the civil authorities is to oppose God. God, it is argued, appointed government both to punish wrongdoers and promote good. Civil and religious leaders across the political and ecclesial spectrum have widely invoked this interpretation as a theological weapon, ascribing punishment and damnation to dissenters.

“Based on this reading of Romans 13, evangelical Christians in Germany during the Third Reich believed they could question political authorities only if they were forbidden from preaching and practicing their faith. So they said nothing. As the regime’s evils mounted, these people of faith remained silent and deaf to the cries of the oppressed. That history is grounds for suspicion that absolute obedience to civil government is neither wise nor warranted.

“Paul himself did not obey civil authority. Nor did he suggest that the state and its officials must always and absolutely be obeyed. He recognized that the power of law can be used for justice or for injustice and evil. So he urged his readers to be subject insofar as conscience allows (Romans 13:5). Eventually his own conscience got him in conflict with Roman authorities, for which he was imprisoned and finally put to death at their hands.

“When Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, because he violated laws that were being used to maintain policies of racial discrimination and segregation, he wrote a letter to white ministers explaining his use of nonviolent direct action. He wrote, “One may well ask: ‘How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?’ The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that ‘an unjust law is no law at all.'”

“Romans 13 is not a manifesto on the divinely ordained power of the state, and it does not call for absolute obedience to civil authorities. Instead it offers a provisional account of the limits of civil authority for all people of conscience.

“By invoking Romans 13 as calling for absolute obedience to civil magistrates, Jeff Sessions and the Trump administration have embarked on a highly problematic path. They are standing on unstable ground that has been used as a license for tyrants and a justification for abuse. In doing so they invite people of conscience not only to oppose but to disobey unjust laws.

“I urge those who would stop reading Romans 13 at verse one to continue a little further. There they will discover that the true civic duty is not blind obedience to civil authority but love for God and neighbor. “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law,” Paul wrote (Romans 13:10). Let’s start with love.”

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(Book review and synopsis on “Undomesticated Dissent: Democracy and the Public Virtue of Religious Nonconformity.”)

“Curtis W. Freeman is a research professor of theology and director of the Baptist House of Studies at Duke University Divinity School. He is also the author of “Undomesticated Dissent: Democracy and the Public Virtue of Religious Nonconformity.” Undomesticated Dissent provides a sweeping intellectual history of the public virtue of religiously motivated dissent from the seventeenth century to the present, by carefully comparing, contrasting, and then weighing the various types of dissent, evangelical and spiritual dissent (Bunyan), economic and social dissent (Defoe), radical and apocalyptic dissent (Blake).

“Freeman offers dissenting imagination as a generative source for democracy, as well as a force for resistance to the coercive powers of domestication. By placing Bunyan, Defoe, and Blake within an extended argument about the nature and ends of democracy,  Undomesticated Dissent reveals how these three men transmitted their democratic ideas across the globe, hidden within the text of their stories.

”Freeman concludes that dissent, so crucial to the establishing of democracy, remains equally essential for its flourishing. Buried deep in their full narrative of religion and resistance, the three monuments at Bunhill together declare that dissent is not disloyalty, and that democracy depends on dissent.”

Although Freeman makes some good points, carefully comparing, contrasting, and then weighing the various types of dissent, evangelical and spiritual dissent, economic and social dissent, radical and apocalyptic dissent, it seems sadly obvious to me that exposes himself as a liberal-leaning research professor of theology, standing in judgement on the Word of God as he crosses too many Biblical and theological lines when he conjoins

Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities”,

with

1 Corinthians 14:34, “Let your women keep silence in the churches”,

and

Ephesians 6:5, “Slaves obey your earthly masters” as being “one of the most abused passages of scripture in history”, to argue that there “seems to here is a long history of misusing this text to argue that Christians are always duty-bound to obey the civil authorities”.

It is apparent that he does this in order to make his point that, “There is a long history of misusing this text to argue that Christians are always duty-bound to obey the civil authorities,”, since 1 Corinthians 14:34 and Ephesians 6:5 have nothing to do with the matter of civil authorities. It is the slick literary trick of eisegesis to sublimely give the context of these scriptures into a completely different meaning carrying a liberal ideology. This also brings to question whether Dr. Curtis W. Freeman, a highly respected, capable and qualified professor, is equally unqualified to exegete scriptures.

Scriptures must be read at ‘face value’ and understood in the context in which they were written. Neither the passage of time nor societal or cultural shifts, change the meaning and the truth of God’s Word. Freeman violates all these standards for political expediency and profit.

But, Freeman is right on this one point: dissent is crucial to the establishing and the flourishing of democracy. Religion, resistance and dissent is not disloyalty, and in fact, democracy depends on dissent.

NOW, LET’S THINK, TOGETHER

Here is the Bible text in question:

Romans 13:1-10, “Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.”

First, and most importantly, is for the reader to get the context of these verses. Verses 1 through 5 seem to be a manifesto on the divinely ordained power of the state, and seems to call for absolute obedience to civil authorities, and seems to be calling for absolute obedience to civil magistrates at any and all costs.

But, if you will read the preceding chapter, (12), and continue reading in chapter 13, you will find the context is actually about “present(ing) your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And not to 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.”

This is truly The Great Spiritual Law of Non-Conformity stemming from the fact that we, as Christians, are not “of this world”, we are merely “in this world”. A colloquial way of saying it could be, “you are to slip in among them and don’t create a stir or an unnecessary distraction. When you draw attention to Christ, and that will be enough of a stir of its own”.

Secondly, many times, the construct of government, being established by God, is a reflection of our own selfish disobedience to God and His Word. In other words, the government is largely a reflection of those who voted it into power.

Read Psalm 81:11-12,

“My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. “So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk by their own plans. “

Also, read Hosea 13: 9-11,

“It is to your own destruction, Israel, that you are against Me, against your help. Where then is your king, that he might save you in all your cities; and your judges, to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath.”

And, Romans 1:28-32 

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, so, God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper, people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.”

Thirdly, the Apostles had it right when, in Acts 5:29, “Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Getting back to the idea that there is a ‘moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws’, there really is no way to compare or contrast a Christian’s obligation to obey man’s laws versus his or her mission on earth as an emissary of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21, tells us that, “If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be in in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Romans 13 is clear on these three points:

1. It is an accurate description of the placement of, the responsibility of and the benefits of civil authority. It also describes the possible consequences of disobeying civil authority.
2. It is a warning and a guide for Christians navigating the maze of laws set down by earthly governments, while accomplishing our primary task as ‘pilgrims of the Dispersion’, ambassadors for Christ.
3. It is a clear lesson the on counter-cultural and non-conformity nature of The Body of Christ while living, scattered, as aliens, exiles, sojourners and soldiers of God, invading a foreign soil for the purposes of Christ.

In Summary, Christians have a calling and a mission, above all else, to “go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that Jesus has commanded”.

All the while, as we work to accomplish our mission, we must be careful not to entangle ourselves in the affairs of this world, while and at the same time, obeying God’s laws over man’s laws, when they come into conflict.

This is truly a God-sized task which only God can accomplish – and He has chosen to do so, through the yielded servant of Christ.

Let’s be one and get this done!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young