EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 4 – The Salvation Covenant

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  4

WATER BAPTISM & THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Salvation Covenant

      Matthew 3:13 “Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

This is the record God has preserved for us to read, understand and follow.  Once again, Jesus is leading by example.

   Many, if not most Christian churches consider baptism as “an outward sign of an inward decision”;  a reenactment;  a sacrament, a religious ceremony or ritual.  But, it is so much more than that and should be considered for what it really means.

Let’s break this down and think on it.  First, the Apostle Peter says,

  • “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ,
  • for the forgiveness of your sins;and,
  • you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ, is for

  • the forgiveness of your sins, and for,
  • the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

   Secondly, baptism in the Name of Jesus, is an act of obedience to Jesus and for the Cause of Jesus, resulting in a supernatural event.

Baptism is a Covenant with God.  It is a contract, a compact, a treaty and an agreement;  it communicates an understanding, a pledge, and a promise.  It is  a bond, an indenture, and a guarantee between you and God.

Baptism is a commitment of your body, mind and spirit with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  This is serious business.

   Thirdly, baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ is a natural reenactment of supreme importance, with deep significance.  Baptism is Contract in Blood which ignites a series of supernatural events culminating in God the Holy Spirit enveloping and inhabiting the believer. One means little without the other.

   Finally, baptism both signifies and seals your covenant with God.  You covenant with God that you willingly die to your old life, as with Christ, on the cross of crucifixion. Your old life and your old ways are buried in His empty tomb, as you are being plunged into the waters of baptism.

Matthew 3:16 says  “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

You rise up, out of the waters of baptism, you are born again, to walk in a new life of freedom, forgiveness and servant-hood to Jesus and His Cause.  You agree to follow and serve God the rest of your life, now, and, into eternity and God seals the deal with His Holy Spirit of promise.

   Having completed your Baptismal Covenant with God, you are now possessed by the Holy Spirit and considered to have taken your first step into His Kingdom.  What comes next is the trying, and often terrifying, process of being purged, purified and refined – the beginning of the process of your sanctification.

Jesus is leading the way by His own willingness to be tested.  It is by His example, you will see the process unfold, and you will gain the necessary confidence as you enter your own testing.  God is with us!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“The Baptism of the Holy Spirit”.

(The previous episode can be found at Effective Spiritual Warfare – Water Baptism & The Holy Spirit)

(Please also notice, you can go to the webpage for this podcast and click links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

Pulpit Bullies, False Teachers, Apostates, Heretics – The Postmodern Church

The title of this article might suggest that misbehavior and apostasy is a recent malaise of the church.  Apostasy, from the Greek word, “apostasia”, means “a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith.” In the first-century world, apostasy was a technical term for political revolt or defection.   Actually, just like in the first century, spiritual apostasy threatens the Body of Christ today.

I have personally experienced pulpit bullies, false teachers, apostates and heretics in our postmodern church.  These same men seem to have started right, but, over time, their ‘true selves’ emerged, and they are the ravenous wolves which scriptures warn about:   Matthew 7:15-23  says, Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

      “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Before I go further, please watch the first 15 minutes of Pastor Trent Casto’s sermon broadcast (Senior pastor of Covenant Naples Church, Naples, Florida) to get additional background and context.  (If you prefer to shorten your viewing time, watch at least from the 4:42 minute mark of this video to the 13:35 minute mark.

The men, (and, now, women), as referred to in Pastor Casto’s sermon, are in pulpits and on TV screens, leading thousands and tens of thousands astray.

Finally, please, familiarize yourself with what the Bible says, since it is the way to life!  I have copied the following text from the website from the website GotQuestions.org as an excellent resource for details on the Biblical qualifications of a pastor.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Here are some additional links on this matter, for you to consider:

The Christian Betrayal of Jesus in America

Has The Great Apostasy Begun?

WARNING: The Gospel of Accommodation

FRACTURED

The False church Emerges

GOD is saying to His Church

EKKLESIA

A “Calling” or a “Cult”?

SHIPWRECKED

Church Scandals and Abuse

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 3- The Winnowing

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  3

THE WINNOWING

     Matthew 3:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals;

     He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

     His winnowing fork in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor ; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but, He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John the Baptist is pronouncing God’s preparations for His  final judgment and assault upon the rulers and against the powers of the world forces of darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness, has begun.

These few condensed verses from Matthew outline the fulfillment of prophecy from the book of Daniel chapter 12 and the books of The Revelation.

Daniel chapter 12, says, Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.  Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Daniel replies, and says, “As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  Michael the great Prince said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.  Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”

Chapter One, verses 1 through 3, of the Book of the Revelation says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

Matthew is the first book of the New Testament synoptic Gospels.  The word gospel means “good news,” which is the message of forgiveness for sin through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. It is God’s rescue plan of redemption for those who will trust in His Son in order to be reconciled to a just and holy God. The essential content of this saving message is clearly laid out for us in the Bible.  But, the “message” doesn’t end there.  Jesus is giving His disciples, then and now, instructions to carry on and complete His work until He returns to culminate the age.

Chapter three of Matthew gives the context of Jesus’ teachings for the next seven chapters of the book of Matthew.

The Context is that you are being called, saved, sanctified, taught, trained and sent into this world as ambassadors of Jesus in order to find and lead the lost to Him; to testify to the Truth; and to make disciples in His Name.

It is through this CONTEXT, Jesus will teach you on attitude, behavior, rituals and practices.  You will also learn much from the Apostle’s writings.  But the core message is THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS MISSION.  This is the Message and Mission above all else.

Here is an outline of the episodes to come, to help us with the CONTEXT of His teachings and ministry:

GOD IS PREPARING YOU FOR KINGDOM SERVICE AND FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE, through the teachings and by the processes of:

  1.  Repentance & Possessing the Kingdom of Heaven.   Matthew chapter 3, verses 1 through 6.
  2.  The Coming Judgment and your Separation as Wheat from the chaff.  Matthew Chapter 3, verses 7 through 10.
  3.  The Winnowing Fork & The Threshing Floor;  this will be your process of Sanctification, explained and the tribulation period, being pictured). Matthew Chapter 3, verses 11 through 12
  4.  The Water Baptism and The Salvation Covenant. Matthew Chapter 3, verses 14 through 15.
  5.  The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew Chapter 3, verses 16 through 17.
  6.  The Testing of Jesus by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit by Fire. (This is the process of Sanctification demonstrated by Jesus’ own testing). Matthew Chapter 4, verses 1 through 11.
  7.  Jesus’ First Sermon, “Repent for the Kingdom is at Hand”.  Matthew Chapter 4, verses 12 through 17.
  8.  “Jesus is Calling”.  Matthew Chapter 4, verses 18 through 22.
  9.  “The Works of Jesus”.  Matthew Chapter 4, verses 23 though 25.
  10. “Blessings of loss & persecution”;  this is a picture of Salvation and a description of your completed Sanctification.  Matthew Chapter 5, verses 1 through 11.
  11. Your completed transformation from a follower of Jesus into a Disciple of Jesus.  Matthew Chapter 5, verses 13 through 16.
  12. His Standards of Righteousness for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Matthew Chapter 5, verses 17 through 20.
  13. “Removing Obstacles” for entrance to His Kingdom.  Matthew Chapter 5, verses 21 through Chapter 7, verse 6.

(a) Removing the Obstacle of Anger

(b) Removing the Obstacle of Lust

(c) Removing the Obstacle of Divorce

(d) Removing the Obstacle of Secrecy & Lies

(e) Removing the Obstacle of Revenge

(f) Removing the Obstacle of Hate

(g) Removing the Obstacle of Pride & Hypocrisy

(h) Removing the Obstacle of Worry & Anxiety

(i) Removing the Obstacle of Being Judgmental

  1. Instruction on “Praying, Asking, Seeking and Knocking” for guidance in the Kingdom of God.  Matthew Chapter 7, verses 7 through 12.
  2. “The Two Gates” which lead to life or to destruction.  Matthew Chapter 7, verses 13 through 14.
  3. Discernment & about bearing the Righteous Fruit which lead you into the Kingdom and to Life.  Matthew Chapter 7, verses 15 through 23.
  4. The Foundations of God’s Word. Matthew Chapter 7, verses 24 through 27.
  5. Jesus’ absolute Authority over heaven and the earth.  Matthew Chapter 7, verse 28 through 29.
  6. Jesus’ Authority as demonstrated through miracles and focus of ministry.  Matthew Chapters 8, verse 1 through Chapter 9, verse 38.
  7. Jesus’ Final Instructions as His disciple.  Matthew Chapter 10, verse 1 through Chapter 11 verse 1.
  8. Commissioned to “Go 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 observe all that I commanded you”.  Matthew Chapter 28, verses 16 through 20.

These chapters give us the lens of the CONTEXT through which we must see the meaning and application of Jesus’ teaching of His Gospel Message.

These Teachings are revolutionary,  and we are participants, revolutionaries on Mission with Jesus, engaged in a Spiritual War.

We are not saved by God for ourselves or for worldly pleasures.  We are saved by God to be in relationship with Him; to be in service to Him; for His purposes and for His Glory – all to our benefit.  One day, when this war concludes, we will walk with Him in person, again, in the coolness of the evening.

Please, read, pray, study and let’s be “doers of His Word”, just as Jesus is instructing.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

WATER BAPTISM, The Salvation Covenant”.

(The previous episode can be found at Effective Spiritual Warfare – The Judgment)

(Please also notice, you can go to the webpage for this podcast and click links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 2 – The Judgment

(You can listen while you read along)

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  2

THE JUDGMENT

It is important to note that, the book of Second Timothy, chapter 3, verse 16 says, “The Bible is inspired by God”.  The word ‘inspired’ comes from the Greek word,  ‘theopneustos’, which means ‘God-breathed’.  This verse explains that “the Bible is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; so that the man (or woman) of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

God, speaking through the Bible, is telling us that we are to join Him in this cosmic battle, of these Last Days.  He is telling us how He prepares us for what is already upon us (as explained by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24), and for the coming Judgment known as “The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord”, also known as “The Day of the Lord”.

This narrative is about preparation, instruction and ‘marching orders’, in Spiritual warfare.  It started in Matthew chapter 3 and will continue through Matthew chapter 10 and will conclude in Matthew chapter 28.

Know this:  No one will survive these days unless they have come to God by faith in Christ.  And, all who have come to Him by faith and, are known by Him as His Own, will, and must, participate in this battle.  There is no escaping this truth.

     Matthew, chapter 3, verses 7 through 10 say,  “But when John the Baptist  saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;  and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.  “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

John the Baptist plainly states that a “wrath in coming”.  This is God’s coming Judgment on the unrighteous which will follow the ongoing war of tribulation and the days of distress.  Ushered in by the culmination of this age, a greater war, will rage in the realm of The Heavens and upon the earth.  Christians, in these Last Days, have been appointed to participate in the ongoing Battle.

The second step of your preparation for this Spiritual war is a process known as “Sanctification”.  Through sanctification, God will strip away your old life and make you new – new in your mind, body and spirit – made ready for this warfare and for service to Him.  This is what you can expect to experience when you fully surrender your life to God, His Purposes and Ways.

Jesus demonstrates this process in the book of Matthew, chapter four.  Most of us may work hard to avoid this most difficult, painful and bewildering process. But, actually, it is the amazing, supernatural work of God transforming us into His Own, children of Light.

The phrase, “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees”  is found in verse 10, and, is saying that God’s judgment is now at hand.  The prophesied Messiah is here.  It also says, your salvation is at hand, and that, you cannot depend on your traditions, rituals, good works, heritage or lineage to be saved from the coming wrath.  It is time to repent and bear fruit of Righteousness which is in Jesus the Christ, for your salvation – or you will perish.

John is pointing the way to Jesus.  He baptizes with water for repentance which requires that you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, so you will be saved and escape the coming wrath; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

Footnote: “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees” is a metaphor for the beginning of the tribulation period.  This is an urgent message, necessary for understanding and wisdom.

Now, you must decide, are you going the way of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, being wise in your own eyes, only “to be cut down and thrown into the fire”?  Or, are you willing to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance“, and live?

We are on our way, now.  Prepare yourselves for His Sanctifying of your life.  Read, study, pray and BE DOERS OF THE WORD:  Go, today, and tell others this exceedingly Good News.  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter, “THE  WINNOWING.”

(The previous episode can be found at Effective Spiritual Warfare)

(Please also notice, you can go to the webpage for this podcast and click links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

 

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 1- Outline

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

THE OUTLINE

 Jesus teaches in this order:

  1.  Jesus speaks Words of instruction
  2.  Jesus shows the Works
  3.  Jesus sends the Workers

YOUR PREPARATION

You should prepare by praying for understanding and wisdom; read and study and apply what you are learning as you go.  And above all, endure the training to its completion.  This is the method all his disciples must use.  Lead by example.

We will use the following rules for study:

  1.  What is the CONTEXT of the teaching?
  2.  What does it say?
  3.  What does it mean?
  4.  What does it mean to me / you?
  5.  How can I do it?

We will start our study and training in Matthew chapter three, in order to get the full instruction and the CONTEXT of the teaching.  (NOTE: This is not a Bible study. It is “a calling, training and a commissioning”.)

–  Chapter  1  –

REPENTANCE & THE KINGDOM

(Please note: The green text is hyper-linked to teaching details and/or scripture references.)

Matthew 3:1  says“Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This is a practical truth, a spiritual truth and a mystery.

The greatest pronouncement and call to readiness for all Christians: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The hour has arrived. Final preparations are being made. You must ready yourself for the Heaven’s final assault upon the earth. Satan is to be defeated and you and I are part of God’s invading force.

This is not a metaphor. It is not hyperbole. It is the literal call from God through His Son, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Repent, in the Biblical sense, literally means, “To change one’s mind; to change one’s mind for the better” and it comes from two root words which mean, “Hereafter, have this understanding or perception”.

Repenting is the act of changing your mind which means your mindset, your values, and your worldview is changed. Some would say you then live by new standards. But it is much greater than just living by new standards.

A person of sound mind cannot simultaneously think one thing and do another, repentance results in a complete change of mind and direction of one’s life.

This is a mystery, an oracle of God.  Jesus is saying His Kingdom is at hand – as close to you as your hand is at the end of your arm.  Jesus is telling you, “The Kingdom of God is within you“.  This cannot and must not be minimized.  You are standing at the threshold of “doing the Works of Jesus and even greater works because He is with The Father”.

Like Joshua and the Israelites, you are in the process of “crossing over into the land He has promised you, and everywhere the sole of your foot treads is yours, declares the Lord, and no man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.”

Matthew3:2 says“For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’”

It is our calling to make ready the way of the Lord and to announce it to the world.  We are commissioned to tell everyone to make straight the paths, in their lives, for His arrival.

Matthew 3:3-6Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.”

Jesus told all His disciples, then and now, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, 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 coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.” These are our instructions to be followed carefully and exactly.

We must not watch, envy or imitate the postmodern church as it defies the Word of God, acquiring their gold, entertaining their guests, telling their stories about the Bible – always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 

Once we “repent”, new desires move us to a new way of living, new actions, which are the direct manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance means it is no longer you or me who lives, but it is Christ, literally, living in us.

Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”

If you are living in the sin of doubt or fear,  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

If you are living under the oppression of poverty, sickness, lack or want, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Joshua 1:2 tells us, like the sons of Israel before us, to rise up and cross over!   Matthew 4:24 tells us to “Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness, help all who are ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics”.

We are on our way, now.  Read, study, pray and BE DOERS OF THE WORD:  Go, today, and tell others this exceedingly Good News.  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter, “The teaching, training & commissioning”:  THE JUDGMENT .

(Previous episode = Following Jesus – What You Need to Know )

(Please also notice, you can go to the webpage for this podcast and click links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – FOLLOWING JESUS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

FOLLOWING JESUS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Luke 9:57 – As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  To another, he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”  Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

We need to know why Jesus came, so we are not distracted to go astray or to follow false teachers.  We need to know what He is teaching and that we are to be the method, ambassadors if you wish, by which He delivers His message, so we remember to remain yielded to Him, His purposes and His ways.

Jesus tells us that He came to earth for three primary reasons:

1. “The Son of man came to save that which was lost.  ”Matthew 18:11

2. “I have come into this world to testify to the Truth”.   John 18:37

3. Jesus summoned His twelve disciples, gave them authority, told them to go and preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you”.  Matthew 10, Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus’ teachings are always the revelation of Truth and are meant to be demonstrated in and through our lives.  This is a primary objective when becoming a disciple of Jesus and in preparing for Spiritual Warfare.

Jesus’ method of teaching is, first He teaches with words, then He demonstrates His teaching by example, and completes His teachings by sending His disciples to apply His Teachings.  This is His method, and it is our pattern, also.

This process, this cycle of ministry, includes (1) “Being Called by God, (2) Being Saved by God, (3) Being Sanctified by God, (4) Being Taught by God and (5) Being Sent into the world by God”.

Said another way, we are (1) called by Jesus to become His disciples and when we respond (2) we will hear His Word, (3) we go with Him, and we will watch His methods and ways, (4) we will learn and apply His teachings, and then (5) we will go and make disciples of Jesus.

You will see that this training is systematic, rigorous and difficult and, in one sense, can be life-threatening.  In another sense, however, His yoke is easy and, His burden is light, as you submit yourself to Jesus, He does the work through you.  Either way, it is life changing.

THIS IS THE WAY

By way of His Words, you will begin to literally “Walk by the Spirit of God”. You will effectively engage in “The struggle against the rulers, powers, and world forces of darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  And, you will overcome!

 This will take time, dedication and personal discipline, but, the results will astound you.  You will scarcely recognize the person you have become, and the world won’t know what to do with you, at times.  (A word of caution and encouragement:  most who start, will not ‘endure to the end’ of this process.  But, I encourage you to endure.  I encourage you to take your lifetime, if that is what is required.  It will be worth your investment, and the rewards are beyond anything, you can imagine.)

The time is now – His return is near.  We are about to begin the greatest journey of our lifetime, and in a way you may have never experienced.  Let’s place our trust in Him as we join together and do His Works and greater works as He promised.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter, “THE TEACHING, TRAINING & COMMISSIONING”

previous page at: A Tutorial on Effective Spiritual Warfare

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Preface

PREFACE

I toured the Revolutionary Museum and some American Revolutionary War battlefield sites in Yorktown, Virginia.  The tour guides and docents were well-informed and helpful.  The postings and literature at the various sites which was written by experts on the Revolutionary war, was also helpful and informative.  This information was written by highly educated and informed people.  But, as expert as these sources seemed to be, none of them could actually wage a war.  They could not implement the tactics of Revolutionary warfare nor could they establish an effective government in the aftermath of such a war – despite their extensive knowledge.  (And, if you knew anything about the American Revolution, you could spot areas where American history is being revised by these same people.)

Interesting and disturbing as the tour was, it still reminded me of a funny commercial where a bank is being robbed and a fellow appearing to be a bank guard is asked “aren’t you going to do something?”  The bank guard answers, saying, “Oh, no. I’m not a bank GUARD.  I’m just a bank MONITOR. I don’t stop bank robberies, I just report on them.”  Much like the experts on the American Revolution, they don’t fight wars or establish governments, they just report on them.

INTRODUCTION

I sat in on a Church Bible study class and listened, hoping to participate in a study on “The Beatitudes”.  I want to know more about and discuss matters in the Bible.  The problem for me, as it turned out, was that this was a lecture instead of a discussion or a study.  And, it was so far out of context of what Jesus had said, according to the verses reviewed, that it made little contextual sense.

The second problem for me was that this lecture was also an example of an *EISEGESIS of scriptures.  (*The process of interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one’s own presuppositions, agendas or biases. It is commonly referred to as “reading into the text”.  It is often done to “prove” a preconceived point of concern, and to provide confirmation bias corresponding with the preconceived interpretation and any agendas supported by it.”)

The class leader was sincere, but, he taught from a book other than the Bible and only used the Bible in support of the preconceived ideas from the book he was using as his source material.  It was ‘logical sounding lecture’ using some good Biblical principles, but, it had little to do with what Jesus was teaching in Matthew chapter five.

Unfortunately, this is not unusual in this postmodern church era.  Jesus’ teachings, all-to-often, have been reduced to little more than lessons on proper Christian etiquette and cultural norms framed in Biblical terms.  The postmodern church, all-to-often, views Jesus’ teachings with human logic inculcated upon us by our present world.

Here is a message from Senior Pastor Trent Casto, of Covenant Church, Naples, Florida.  (I have cued the video to start at 13:00 minutes, at a relevant point. If it does not start at the 13:00 minute mark, fast-forward to that point)

(I consider Covenant Naples Church, Pastor Trent Casto and the entire staff as presenting and “doing” the Gospel of Christ, accurately and effectively.  I strongly recommend this church as a solid Bible based and Bible teaching church)

However, many church leaders and pastors are not capable of actually implementing or doing what the Bible says, they are just reporting.  Oh, they can come close.  But, they are blending a secular worldview with language of the Bible in order to sound religious,   The application of these revised types of religious teachings may be informative at times, but, they have no Spiritual or practical power to transform individual lives nor to reform cultures, societies and nations.  They are presenting a type of “religious humanism”.

The Teachings of Jesus, on the other hand, are antithetical to worldly standards, practices and norms.  Jesus was crucified as a sacrifice for our sins.  But, as far as the unbelieving world was concerned, it was for His controversial and counter cultural teachings.

Jesus made it clear that if you choose to follow Him, you will have to pay the price of a disciple, and that cost is high.  Both the religious and secular worlds persecuted Jesus and His followers because of His teachings.  And, they will persecute you, too, if you choose to be His disciple.

Jesus came to show us the way to Life, and He warned that the gate is small and the way that leads to life is both narrow and difficult, and there are few who find it.

I am making this meager effort, writing an outline of Jesus’ teachings about (1) what it means to be His disciple, (2) what it takes to be a disciple – a true follower of Jesus and, (3) about the rewards.  I pray God will use this plain and simple language to make it clear for all who would follow Him, regarding:

  • God’s Salvation of humankind, The Cost
  • God’s Redemptive purpose, The Course
  • The Baptism Covenant, The Commitment
  • The Sanctification process which every follower of Christ will experience and have to endure to the end, The Cause.

This is the process by which a person is transformed into a Disciple of Jesus.

This teaching can be found in the Gospels of the New Testament.  I will use chapter 3 of the book of Matthew and continue through chapter 10.  Our final instructions will be found in chapter twenty-eight of Matthew.

Please bookmark this page for future updates, and pray with me that we don’t become “hearers only” but that we remain “doers of the Word”.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Go to the next Episode hereFOLLOWING  JESUS –WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

YOU SHALL HAVE A DOUBLE PORTION?

Gratitude.jpg

INSTEAD OF SHAME, YOU WILL HAVE A DOUBLE PORTION

Have you ever received a gift you didn’t expect which exceeded what you could imagine?

How did you, or how would you react?

There are some people who would reject such a gift. They might say, “Oh, you shouldn’t have, and I can’t accept that.”

I have tried something as simple as to buy dinner for friends, and some of them say that exact thing, “Oh, I can’t let you do that!”

Maybe they are embarrassed or don’t want to feel obligated?

Listen to this and tell me what you think about this Gift:

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;

I have read commentary after commentary on Isaiah 61. Each tells everything you would want to know. EXCEPT ONE THING.

I read that Isaiah is saying that God is at work in the historical events of the day to bring restoration and vindication of the people of God. As God’s people are renewed and restored they would again assume their role as witness to God in the world (55:3-5).

Chuck Swindoll says “the book of Isaiah provides us with the most comprehensive prophetic picture of Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament. It includes the full scope of His life: the announcement of His coming (Isaiah 40:3–5), His virgin birth (7:14), His proclamation of the good news (61:1), His sacrificial death (52:13–53:12), and His return to claim His own (60:2–3)”

THIS ONE THING

These commentaries tell everything, EXCEPT THIS ONE THING: What does it mean to me, and should I apply it to my life, today?

Should I try to apply Isaiah 61 to my life?

Here are some of the scriptures that I know we are to apply to our lives – daily…

THIS WE ARE TO DO.

Jesus said, in Matthew 4, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

We are to do this as Jesus does.

THIS, WE ARE TO DO.

Jesus said, in Matthew 16:24 “Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

We are to do this as Jesus does.

THIS WE ARE TO DO.

Jesus said, in Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We are to do this as Jesus does.

THIS WE ARE TO DO.

Philippians 2:5 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus”.

We are to do this as Jesus does.

BUT, ARE WE ARE TO DO THIS, TOO?

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;

If this is a PROPHETIC WORD from God… Are we to do this?

2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,

3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.

GOD WILL DO THIS / GOD HAS DONE THIS

(Dear friends, repeat and meditate on the words in the ‘blue lettering’ and make them your confession as you read what God has done)

5 Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,

(and strangers will stand and pasture my flocks)

And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

(And foreigners will be my farmers and your vinedressers)

6 But you will be called the priests of the LORD;

(But I will be called a priest of the LORD;)

You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.

(I will be spoken of as a minister of our God.)

You will eat the wealth of nations,

(I will eat the wealth of nations)

And in their riches you will boast.

(And in their riches I boast.)

7 Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,

(Instead of your shame I have a double portion,)

And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion.

(And instead of humiliation I shout for joy over my portion.)

Therefore, they will possess a double portion in their land,

(Therefore I possess a double portion in my land,)

Everlasting joy will be theirs.

(Everlasting joy is mine.)

BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL. BLESS HIS HOLY NAME. YOU HAVE CROWNED MY HEAD WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND COMPASSION.

May it be as The Word of God says.

Now, let’s go and BE BLESSED – just as you have BLESSED THE LORD.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

OZ, “CRT”, THE DRAGON & THE BEASTS

THE WIZARD OF OZ

CRITICAL RACE THEORY- The Threat

THE DRAGON & THE BEAST

AS THE STORY GOES, it was the fault of the wicked witch of the West, collaborating with the wicked witch of the East with the help of their ugly winged monkeys – they caused all the troubles.  But, wait!  If there had been no tornado, none of this would have come to light.  Perhaps climate change was the culprit!

This was a mystery filled with dangers and threats as you progressed down “the yellow brick road”, trying to find your way back home.  There were heroes and antiheroes and troublesome things Dorothy had to struggle against in the the land of Oz.  But, alas, those things, as it turned out, were just a fabrication of the real culprit – the machinations of the Great and Mysterious Wizard of Oz.

The Wizard of Oz was a play.  And, there were some real life lessons to be learned.  One of which is “Things are not always as they seem”.

Now, there is a greater drama being played out on the world wide stage.  We have had holes in the ozone, of which we were warned, would cause loss of our atmosphere and would cause the earth to burn up!  It scared a lot of people, created new taxes and a new world Agency to deal with it, but, it never happened.

Then, we  were warned that we had depleted our natural resources and the earth would die.  Again, the problem was, it didn’t happen.  It scared a lot of people, created a lot of new taxes and even established a Global Entity to deal with it, but it never happened.

First it was called the “Greehouse effect” and as that scenario grew old, they renamed it to “Global Warming”.  But the “Globe” wasn’t warming fast enough, so, now called it “Climate Change”, and VOILA!   We are now warned that “Climate Change” is bringing wide spread devastation and the end of the world –  that is unbless  we create the Agenda-21 agency, the Paris Climate Accords.  And, oh yes, new taxes.  Lots of new taxes taken from American’s earning to be spread around the world to the “less fortunate”.  But, you won’t see that happen becasue it takes place “behind the curtain”.

 BREATKING NEWS!!  The news headlines in 2020 scream, “Black lives matter” and everything and everyone else are racist murderers.   Transgenders deserve protections ahead of our children.  New laws are created along with the taxes to enforce them.  Homosexuals are the new oppressed. New laws are created along with new taxes.

The newest and scariest act in this play is the “Covid-19 drama”.  It began in a secret lab in China.  This evil virus escaped the lab and is now “making ‘the sky fall’ for millions.

 

Human rights issued are also front page news.  Open borders are the humane and just thing.  Social justice slogans are created.  Abortion is expanded.

MARXISM & CRITICAL RACE THEORY is being established right under our noses, influencing America’s education, the courts and the doctrines of our churches.

Hey!  Wait a minute.  Haven’t we already seen this play?  And, what exactly was the lesson to be learned?  “THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM”?  Why are we falling for this, again?  (Because it works!)

Someone or some group is always behind the curtain, pulling levers to distract us from the real cause, the real culprit.  They use stealth, distraction, misdirection, fabrication and lies.  Examples of FALSE FLAGS, DISTRACTIONS and DIVERSIONS.

While these are real matter, in truth, they are just ‘brush fires’ which distract us from the root cause of a spreading evil.  These ‘brush fires’, as I will call
them, are skirmishes within a Global conflict, which have succeeded in
deflecting our attention from the real culprit, the author and father of
Globalism.  And because we are distracted and at odds over how to deal with
these ‘brush fire distractions’ the real Culprit goes unnoticed and unhampered.

WHO’S WHO?

Some would say that the real culprit or force behind the movement for a One World Community to be run by a One World Government would be the “ILLUMINATI”.  One website claiming that name, “ILLUMINATI”, says they are “an elite organization of world leaders, business authorities, innovators, artists, and other influential members of this planet.  They are a coalition uniting ‘influencers’ of all political, religious, and geographical backgrounds to further the prosperity of the human species as a whole.” Some say the real culprit is an International banking cabal. Others say the real driving force, or culprit, is the United Nations or Agenda-21.

These things may be part of the One World Movement movement, tentacles of the Real Culprit.  But, in reality, they are FALSE FLAGS, DISTRACTIONS and DIVERSIONS.

THE REAL CULPRIT?

The person(s) “behind the curtain” are known by various names and aliases.  But, let’s just come to the point.  The REAL CULPRIT is to be found in the ancient writings of the Bible.  (The following text and explanation is ‘color coded’ for the convenience of the reader to know “who’s who” among the players in this real life prophetic drama).

The Great Red Dragon = Satan, the devil

The Beast = The Ten Nations, the Spirit of Antichrist

The Second Beast = The Antichrist

Bible prophecy has proven to be correct in prophetc matter with uncanny accuracy.

Now let’s have a look at what is coming next:

Daniel 8:23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

Daniel 8:26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.

You can read more about this on THE UNRAVELING

 Daniel 7:7  “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 While I was thinking about the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the previous horns were plucked out before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like human eyes, and a mouth uttering great boasts.

Danile 7:19 “Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of the horns fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

23 “This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth and trample it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will humble three kings. 25 And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. 

Revelation 12:3  says, “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. Verse 4.  His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. Verse 5.  She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rulea all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, Verse 6.  and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

Revelation 12:7 continues with, “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, Verse 8. but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Verse 9. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Verse 10. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Verse 11. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Verse 12.  Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Verse 13.  And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. Verse 14. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Verse 15.  The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. Verse 16 .  But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Verse 17. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stoodc on the sand of the sea.

THE FIRST BEAST

Revelation 13:1-18 says,  “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling,a that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

THE SECOND BEAST

Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,c and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.  It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,  and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for

that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,e to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

In Revelation 13 John sees a nightmarish vision of a and two beasts. The first beast comes out of the sea and receives power from the dragon, or Satan. This beast is a true monstrosity: “It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion” (Revelation 13:1–2). Daniel’s vision of the beast is similar in many ways to John’s (Daniel 7:7–8, 19–27). Studying both Daniel and Revelation in tandem is profitable.

In Revelation, the term beast refers to two related entities. Sometimes the beast refers to the end-times’ empire. The seven heads and ten horns indicate that the beast will be a coalition of nations that rises to power to subdue the earth under Satan’s control. Later references to the beast in Revelation picture an individual—the man who is the political leader and head of the beastly empire.

The beast will receive a deadly wound and be healed of it (Revelation 13:3). He will exert authority over the whole world and demand worship (verses 7–8). He will wage war against God’s people, and he will prevail against them for a time (Revelation 13:7; Daniel 7:21). However, the beast’s time is short: according to Revelation 13:5 and Daniel 7:25, he will only be permitted absolute authority for forty-two months (three-and-a-half years).

The beast in Revelation is the Antichrist, the one who will “oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). He is also called “the man of lawlessness” and “the man doomed to destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). In Daniel’s vision, the Antichrist is the “little horn” that rises from the head of the terrifying beast (Daniel 7:8).

Even if you got lost while tracking events and ‘players’, suffice it to say that the world is careening out of control, comeing to its conclusion.  This is the final act of this human global drama.  You must get ready now.  Accept and follow Jesus to safety, today.  (If you are already a believer, it’s time to become a follower).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Click this link to “CRITICAL RACE THEORY – The Threat”

THE FINAL TRUMPET

SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL

When does the 7 Years begin?

WHAT IS GLOBALISM

WHAT IS GLOBALISM?

Merriam-Webster gives a completely inadequate definition, saying “Globalism is “a national policy of treating the whole world as a proper sphere of political influence, similar to imperialism or internationalism”.

Socialists and communists say Globalism is the key to worldwide prosperity. But, the truth is that Globalists privately, they admit it is the key to controlling people under the dictatorial rule of godless communism.

The Bible tells of the beginnings of this idea and warns this system is coming again in the Last Days.

“They said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’

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

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

Revelation 13:16  “And he (the “beast” aka, the anti-Christ) causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”

A plausible, but false narrative is presented by a well coordinated, world-wide media effort, to obscure the real definition and agenda of Globalism – a One World Government.

The UN (UNESCO) and The Ecumenical movement and The World Council of Churches are just three, but three integral and potent mechanisms of Globalists.  Three more steps on the ladder to One-World-Government, aka, Globalism.

The main stream media, including publications like Wikipedia and “The Economist,” deliberately obfuscates the definition and the objectives of Globalism by asserting there are various kinds of ‘Globalism’. (disassembling the word into component parts and delving into fabricated systems).

This creates distractions from the real issue and diverts our attention onto ‘rabbit trails’ of such as the flawed and erroneous ‘critical race theory’, inadequate voter ID laws, the packing the US Supreme Court, ‘gay rights issues’, transgenderism, the so-called ‘Covid-19 pandemic’, climate change issues, etc., which gives the Globalists the unhampered and unrestricted freedom to implement their scheme.

We complain and argue about the secondary issues, while the Globalists drag the Unites States and entire world into the clutches of a One World Government.  Their efforts are nearly completed, and we continue to fight skirmishes while ignoring the war.

There are those who warn of Europe’s death at the hands of invading Muslim hoards .  But, don’t be fooled. Europe is neither dead nor dying. And, Europe is not being ‘reborn’ (an unfortunate choice of words in a recent article). Europe was being infiltrated until around 2014. Since 2015 it became a full scale INVASION.  Europe is not dying, but it is being transformed – made ready for a merging of countries.  4 stages of Islamic conquest.

This same this phenomenon was occurring in America during the Obama administration.  President Trump put a stop to this INVASION but, the American democrat party (Socialists) subverted his presidency and overthrew the US government in November 2020 through a silent coup.

But the agenda of this “migration” is not the stuff of any book. It is stuff of THE BOOK, that is THE BIBLE.  A foreshadowing of this event can be found in Genesis 11.

The Tower of Babel, as told in Genesis 11:1-9 is an origin myth meant to explain why the world’s peoples speak different languages.

According to the story, a united humanity in the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar. There they agree to build a city and a tower tall enough to reach heaven.

(NOTE: “tall enough to reach to heaven” is a metaphor for “mankind reaching to heaven, making himself god, to accomplish his own desires.” This is the foreshadowing of the State being your god – from cradle to grave)

What to do? This is ‘forecast’ or Prophesied in the Bible. It will occur. So you and I must PREPARE.

1. Come to Jesus for Salvation, wisdom, strength, courage and knowledge.  Unfortunately, the church in most of the world has been invaded by Ecumenicalism and being “Born Again” in the 21st century is but a faint shadow of the salvation of the Bible.  You must pray and come to God on His terms; find others who understand this dilemma and join with them.

2. Educate yourself. Know what the Bible actually says and mean.  BEWARE:  The Bible warns that in these days “Both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom…” Revelation 13:16-18

3. Our war is not with the government.  Our war is other-worldly.  The world we see with our eyes comes from the world of the heavenlies.  We must “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 observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

These are urgent matters.  We must be prepared and act, now!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young  (comments section below)

CHOSEN

THE GREAT RESET

Globalism and The Tower of Babel

THE ONE WORLD CHURCH

COVID-19 and GLOBALISM?

https://whitestone2020.com/when-does-the-7-years-begin/

The Pre-Wrath Rapture

I AM HERE TO GET MY KIDS BACK

“I have come to seek and save the lost” – Jesus, Matthew 18:11

This is a message from Pastor Chris Voorhees, Congregational Life Pastor at Covenant Naples Church, Naples, Florida.   The event pastor Voorhees is describing is centuries old.  It has been recounted multiple millions of times from hundreds of thousands of pulpits.  But, the insights given by God to Chris on this day, defy his age and training.  Simply put, Chris has peered behind the veil and brought us some really great news:

JESUS CAME TO GET HIS KIDS BACK, including those “kids” of His who don’t recognize Him and who now reject Him.  (Pastor, Chris Voorhees)

When you encounter Jesus, He not only gives you The Good News, He prepares you to embrace that Good News.  He doesn’t just leave you ‘feeling good about yourself’, He points out the sin in your life cleans up the mess.  You are getting a NEW START.  The old you will have passed away and the New You will walk in a New Life!

I cannot shake the idea that Jesus came to get His kids back.  That thought is changing the way I look at every single person I encounter, now.

Christianity, is not about a religion or a philosophy or a church building program – We are joining Jesus is getting His kids back.  He found you and got you back, and He found me and got me back, now let’s join Him and bring the rest of them back Home to Him!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD – Lesson 14

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #14

  • Seek God’s Kingdom

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?   This teaching, once again, is about your state of mind or attitude.  This time, Jesus is specifically teaching about worry.

The word ‘worry’, as used by Jesus, means to be anxious, to be troubled with cares and to seek to promote one’s own interests and to be divided in your mind or to be ‘double minded’.

Worry is similar to doubt, which also mean to be double minded, divided against yourself, torn in your thinking.

Worry and doubt can be stumbling blocks to the Christian, the disciple of Jesus.  They both present an ongoing struggle for our flesh.  So, we are warned and instructed on how to overcome these obstacles.  In face, we must.

1.  This teaching begins in Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.

    • You cannot serve God and wealth.

2.  James warns us that we must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

  •  “For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

“THE THREE BIG TAKE AWAYS”

For the Christian – The Disciple of Jesus

I Will Not Serve Two Masters

I Will Ask in Faith Without Any Doubting

I Will Put on The Full Armor of God

MY CONFESSION:

As a disciple of Jesus – A Christian – I will be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  I will put on the full armor of God, and stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  I will not worry.  I will not doubt.  But if I do, I will pray, believing.

I know I will struggle against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

But, I am able to resist in the evil day, and I stand firm.  I will not worry.  I will not doubt.  But if I do, I will pray, believing.

HAVING GIRDED MY LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod MY FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, I will stand firm.  I will not worry.  I will not doubt.  But if I do, I will pray, believing.  (Taken from Ephesians 6)

This is what we do as Christians – Disciples of Jesus.

HOW CAN YOU DO IT?___________________________________________

HOW CAN YOU TEACH IT? _______________________________________

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Further reading about The Kingdom of God:

The Kingdom of Heaven

Heirs of The Kingdom

LAY UP TREASURES – Lesson 13

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #13

  • Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20  “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

21  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?   Treasures on earth versus Treasures in heaven?

These words of Jesus, reveal.  They reveal the focus of the mind and heart and tell of your eternal destiny.

Jesus speaks of this “treasure” when He tells us that The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44  

The hidden Treasure, The Pearl of Great Price, all point to The Kingdom of Heaven.

Also, Romans 8:6 tells us, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”

There is not escaping the reality of this teaching.   

  • Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
  • The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Treasure.  
  • The mind set on the flesh is death.  
  • The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

The Apostle Paul helps us finally understand this profound truth in Colossians 3:1-4:

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Simply put, this reveals true Christians, the true disciples of Jesus.

This is not something you do out of obligation.  This is something that is revealed about  you, the direction of your life and your eternal destiny .

Ask yourself, “Where am I storing my treasures?” and you’ll discover your destiny.  If you are displeased with what you see, begin now to set your mind on the things of the Spirit.

Now, it is your turn:

HOW CAN YOU DO IT?___________________________________________

HOW CAN YOU TEACH IT? _______________________________________

(I heard a man once say, “If you want to know what you treasure, look at your checkbook ledger.”)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

CHURCH – WDJD?

What Did Jesus Do”

“Around 2,000 years ago, in a far-flung province in the Middle East, a man emerged from the desert with a Message.  His Message would radically alter the course of world events and come to define the lives of billions.”

This man was named Jesus.  His life and story are recorded from the day of His birth.  But, His earthly ministry is said to have begun about 30 years later.

The year was around AD 30.  Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been arrested, so He withdrew into Galilee, left Nazareth where He had been living and moved to Capernaum by the sea, the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken by the prophet Isaiah, might be fulfilled.

From that time Jesus began to preach a message centered around repentance, and the kingdom of heaven being at hand.  About nine months into His ministry, large crowds were showing up to hear what Jesus had to say.

BREAK for an important NOTE:

The word “PREACH” as used in the Bible is vastly different from what we think of a “SERMON” when we hear the same word.  It is important to know the difference.

From Strong’s Bible Concordance, kérussó: to be a herald, proclaim

Original Word: κηρύσσω, Transliteration: kérussó
Phonetic Spelling: (kay-roos’-so)
Definition: to be a herald, proclaim
Usage: I proclaim, herald, preach.

The world used here is a word of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed; something which has been done, first in the Spiritual to be manifest in the natural.  It is not a general statement nor is it a request.  It is a prophetic command.

The word “sermon” is never found in the Bible. But, here are two contemporary definitions of a sermon:

SERMON = A sermon is an oration or lecture by a preacher. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. Elements of the sermon often include exposition, exhortation, and practical application.Wikipedia

SERMON - a noun - a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, especially one based on a text of Scripture and delivered by a member of the clergy as part of a religious service; any serious speech, discourse, or exhortation, especially on a moral issue; a long, tedious speech.

SYNONYMS FOR sermon, 2, 3 lecture. 3 harangue, tirade.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sermon 

Jesus did not “sermonize”, He preached with the authority of God, teaching the Truth of the Kingdom of God.

 

Word was spreading like wildfire about a young, charismatic Jewish carpenter, claiming that he was the Son of God.  That alone was enough to convince the first century Jew to have a look-see. But this man had other credentials that intrigued people to seek him out.

“The miracles he performed were unlike any that had ever been witnessed, and his incomparable wisdom often left the intellectuals of his day speechless. Even his ability to teach complex spiritual truths through parables, a then common-day form of storytelling, had both Jews and Romans alike shaking their heads in amazement.

“The Bible records that people traveled for days to see him – sometimes getting nothing more than a brief glimpse, or a momentary chance to reach out and touch his garment in hopes of being healed.”

THE FIRST SERMON

Jesus first sermon may have been the shortest, yet the most profound of all sermons ever preached.  In Matthew 4:17 we see, “Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  End of sermon.

But, the ramifications of His first “sermon”, when properly understood and acted upon, are utterly world changing.  (go to this link for details) https://whitestone2020.com/2020/12/24/in-the-beginning/

THE SECOND SERMON

What is now called, “the Sermon on the Mount”, was a bit longer that Jesus’ first sermon.  And, it attracted more than just a few curiosity seekers.  Many of them believed Jesus really was the Messiah that the prophets of the Old Testament had promised.  In this crowd were His disciples.

They listened intently while Jesus taught extensively” – for days!  And TEACH, He did.  The scriptures say “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him, and he opened His mouth and taught them.”  This was no “sermon” as we consider “sermons”.

Jesus was teaching His disciples how to be “saved” and the Process of Sanctification each of them would have to endure in order to follow Him.  Jesus was making disciples.  Jesus was building His Church.

 

Jesus carried His Gospel Message, with Him, at all times.  He would teach and in open fields, from the bows of boats on lakes and on the sea.  He taught in and during storms, in the marketplace, at community wells, under trees, at bathing pools and anyplace there were people.

THE THIRD SERMON?

The Bible says Jesus “preached”, only SIX times.  But, Jesus preached and taught the Gospel by His actions, everywhere He traveled.

Matthew 14:13, – 21  “But, when Jesus heard John had been beheaded, once again, He withdrew to a desolate place by himself.  And, once again, when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.  He had taken a boat onto a lake this time, and when he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

“Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”  But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”  They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.”  Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.  And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.  And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”

Jesus had preached the Gospel Message to over five thousand that day.

“SIMPLE CHRISTIANITY”

Simply put, Jesus did not ‘sermonize’ or lecture.  Jesus taught the Truth, lived the Truth and sent His disciples to live the same way.

Jesus set the pattern and method for His Church and For Preaching the Gospel.

Jesus would Say The Words.

Jesus would Show the Wonders.

Jesus would Send the Workers.

 

 Jesus was making disciples.   Jesus was building His Church.

 

As Jesus was nearing completion of His mission of teaching His disciples, He gave His disciples authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

Jesus then gave them these instructions:

Matthew 10:7 “Proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’c 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,d cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunicse or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.”  (https://biblehub.com/esv/matthew/10.htm)

SERMONS?

The main difference between Jesus PREACHING the Good News (Gospel) of the Kingdom and the SERMONS we hear today, is that Jesus is teaching and demonstrating HOW TO be saved and sanctified;  HOW TO do the works He did;  HOW TO make disciples and the SERMONS we hear today are just telling us ABOUT what Jesus did while posturing on stage behind a pulpit under the glare of lights, and little more.

Jesus led by example.  We must do the same.  Not the ‘preacher’, but you and me – The Church!

Time is short.  Jesus’ return is upon us.  We, THE CHURCH – you and I –  must get back to our calling and “DWJD“.   (Do What Jesus Does)!

https://whitestone2020.com/2021/03/31/i-will-build-my-church/

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

https://bibleproject.com/blog/sermon-mount-jesus-new-moses/

 

JUST STOP IT

This video is funny.  There are some things we should JUST STOP!  But, it ceases being funny when, try as we might, we cannot break a bad habit, change our mindset, shake a phobia or escape an addiction.

Do you know what else is NOT funny?   Religion.   Religion is not funny, especially, when referring to Christianity.

WHAT IS RELIGION?

The definition of religion is controversial and complicated, and even religious scholars can’t agree on any one definition.  Oxford Dictionaries defines religion as “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.”  (Ugh!)

The MacMillan Encyclopedia of Religions states:

The very attempt to define religion, to find some distinctive or possibly unique essence or set of qualities that distinguish the religious from the remainder of human life, is primarily a Western concern. The attempt is a natural consequence of the Western speculative, intellectualistic, and scientific disposition. It is also the product of the dominant Western religious mode, what is called the Judeo-Christian climate or, more accurately, the theistic inheritance from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The theistic form of belief in this tradition, even when downgraded culturally, is formative of the dichotomous Western view of religion. That is, the basic structure of theism is essentially a distinction between a transcendent deity and all else, between the creator and his creation, between God and man.

The anthropologist Clifford Geertz defined religion as a

A system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.”

The theologian Antoine Vergote took the term supernatural simply to mean

whatever transcends the powers of nature or human agency. He also emphasized the cultural reality of religion, which he defined as the entirety of the linguistic expressions, emotions and, actions and signs that refer to a supernatural being or supernatural beings.

 Wikipedia says Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion

based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world’s largest religion, with about 2.4 billion followers. (Better, but, is this really no better than the other descriptions.)

3 REASONS

I would offer three main reasons why (I say) it is not funny to call Christianity a “religion”:

 Confusing– The term “religion” or “religious” is confusing and does not address the person, mission and work of Jesus.  Jesus railed against religion and religious men and women during His earthly ministry.  The Apostle James describes “pure and undefiled religion as to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Rules– Religion or religious carries the idea of (a) keeping a set of rules just for the sake of the rules themselves, (b) performing certain rituals for the just sake of the ritual or as a type of magic, and (c) pleasing your ‘leadership’, a system of religious dogma or pleasing people instead of pleasing God, alone.

Demeaning – The terms religion and religious are demeaning.  (a) Religion elevates a select few men or women as superior to their adherents, and relegates the rest to lower castes. (b) Religion elevates the ‘elite’ of certain men and women to a status that distracts from God, alone.

True Christianity, on the other hand, requires every man, woman and child to become a servant of Jesus Christ.

Jesus describes Himself as a Servant.  Jesus says, in Matthew 20:25,  “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and those in high position exercise authority over them. 26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

We, as Christians, are cautioned in Philippians 2:5, to “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. “

So, if you are thinking of Christianity as a religion, and inadvertently think being a Christian will make you something special in the world, or are treating it as such, then beware, because that mindset will keep you (or is keeping you) from entering His Kingdom.  So, please just STOP IT!  JUST STOP IT!  We, as Christians, are called to serve.  This is the key to the Kingdom.

CHRISTIAN – “A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST”

Let’s simplify.  The name Christian was first used in Antioch, Syria, in reference to a group of people who were followers of Jesus Christ.  You can find this reference in the book of Acts 11:26 “and when Barnabas had found Paul, he brought him to Antioch.  And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers of people; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

The Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos), meaning “follower of Christ“, comes from Χριστός (Christos), meaning “anointed one”, with an adjectival ending borrowed from Latin to denote adhering to, or even belonging to, as in slave ownership.

If you are practicing “a religion” or practicing a religious activity called “just going to church” and you have been expecting to fully encounter God, you will be disappointed.

Religion will not bring you to the Living God because religion (a) does not address the Person. Mission or work of Jesus.  (b) Religion is little more than a set of rules to be kept and rituals to be performed.  (c) It is demeaning and religion almost always (d) elevates a ruling class over the rightful priesthood of believers in Christ”.

JESUS IS THE DOOR 

Jesus did not come to establish a religion.  He came to seek and save the lost. He came to show us the way to The Kingdom of God.  Furthermore, He came to show us the way to live abundantly, now in this life, and to live eternally with Him in His Father’s House.

Jesus is not of this world.  He “other worldly”.  And, you cannot find “THE DOOR” and escape this world of limitation and death with a worldly mindset. You and I must change our mindset.  We must be transformed.

I realize this will sound weird to some, but, we are talking about an actual realm of God.  Jesus and the Bible tell us that there is a Kingdom of God, and it is near to us and within us.  And you find this Kingdom when you ‘repent’ and seek and surrender to Jesus and follow Him.

John, chapter 1, uses the name of Jesus and the Word (The Spoken and Written Word of God, the Bible) interchangeably.  Jesus and His Words are the portal into the supernatural realm of God, the Kingdom of God.

You won’t find Jesus in any religion.  You won’t find Jesus because of membership in a church organization or because you attend meetings in a ‘church building’.

You will find Him by God’s Grace and through your faith in that He does exist.  You must believe that God exists in order to come to Him.  Then He will prove to be One who rewards those who seek Him.  The person who comes to God must believe that He exists, and you will see that He will prove to be The One who rewards those who seek Him.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The Bible is both complex and simple, practical while seeming impractical, and gives us insights to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, that is, to be a Christian and to enter into and to live with Him, in His Kingdom.

Here are three short and helpful videos (3 minutes +/-):

Or

Or