Author: Michael Young, Sr.

I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a business man, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served or am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is for practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians. I have authored a few small books and I have a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. Write me at any time and let's become friends.

The Message to the “Laodicean Churches” in 2021

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

PREAMBLE:  If you come away from church services without having a sense of repentance of sin and a fervency for the work of God, you probably missed the point of going to church.

If you come away from church thinking you are a “Better You” or that you are going to give God some kind of special favor this week, you probably missed the point to going to church.

Read this letter to the Chruch a Laodicea and see how you are measuring up.

Revelation 3:14-22

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

      The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

      ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Laodicea = Word Origin from laos and diké;

Laós:  (the root of the English term, “laity“) – a people, particularly used of “the people of the Lord”

Díkē – penalty, punishment; properly, right, especially a judicial verdict which declares someone approved or disapproved; a judgment (just finding) that regards someone (something) as “guilty” or “innocent”;  judgment, punish, vengeance. See 1343 (dikaiosynē).

A city in Phrygia, in the Lycos valley in the Roman province Asia, near Colossae and Hierapolis.

NOTE: It is important to know, (#1), the CONTEXT of these, or any Bible verses, and, (#2), what the original Biblical Greek words mean.  Secondly, most ‘translations of the Bible’ are NOT TRANSLATIONS at all, they are VERSIONS of what man thinks the Bible should say.  A Bible concordance, such as Strong’s Bible Concordance gives details of the words usages, root words, context, parts of speech and more.

Start with the ‘plain, face value statement of the verse’; ask, ‘what does it say’ at face value.  Next, study the context of the verse, first by the surrounding verses, then, in the usual context of the entire Bible.  Then ask, ‘what does it mean’?

There are also social, economic, political and geographic influences to consider when reading the Bible. Then, you should consider the style, whether it is historical, poetic, prophetic, etc., and, whether the verses are literal, metaphorical, idiomatic, allegorical or parables.

But, most of this has less to do with the Truth you are to learn, than does the intention of the writer and the MEANING of the words he writes.  You can do the research and get to the Truth, if you want.  Pray, ask God for illumination, understanding and wisdom.

Finally, ask yourself, ‘what do these verses mean to me’, and apply it.

Never let anyone tell you the Bible was ever written only to a specific group of people or that it is just a story.  The Bible is the eternal, inerrant Truth of God, written to you and for you so that you can go do it and live it!

I have quoted these Bible verses in Revelation from the NASB 1995 version.  The Bible text is in RED and the re-quoted version with more detail of the words used, immediately follows in parentheses.

Revelation 3:14-22 says,

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

Question #1. To whom is this letter written?

Question #2. For whom is this letter written?

Question #3. Is is applicable to people and ‘churches’ today?  (If, not, why do we care it was written at all?  If so, is this your church?  Is this you?

Verse 15 says, ”I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot;” (In other words, “I know your works, you are neither cold-hearted nor are you fervent about your works as a church”)

Question #4. What does this say about God’s watchfulness?

Question #5. Who is “The Church”?

Verse 15 goes on to say, “I wish that you were cold or hot.”  (In other words, “I am wishing for the unattainable when I say that you were either fervent or cold-hearted about your works, because I see you cannot be anything but lukewarm.”)

Question #6. Why would God prefer the Church at Laodicea to be either hot or cold?

‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (In other words, “Because you are unrepentant and continually tepid and lukewarm about your works, I am repulsed and I vomit you out of My Mouth to show My utter rejection and total separation from you; a rejection of extreme disgust.”)

Question #7. Why does being ‘lukewarm’ disgust God?

Questions #8. Does God actually reject and separate Himself from ‘lukewarm’ church members?

‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked”

Question #9. What makes a persona wealthy?

Question #10. How can a person with wealth be considered wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked?

The world’s view (non-Christian view) of wealth is found in material things. God says, that real wealth is found in relationship with Him, who is the source of all things.  Material goods are temporary and fading away.  God’s riches are eternal.

 We see this Truth taught and repeated in Matthew 6:19-21, when we read, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

And, again in, Matthew 6:31-33, we read, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Again, in Matthew 19:21-24, “Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

“And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

And again, in Matthew chapter five, we see Jesus teaching that we are blessed when we are are dependent on God, alone.

(NOTE: An earthquake devastated the region in a.d. 60 and, Laodicea refused Imperial help to rebuild the city, successfully relying on their own resources. They didn’t need outside help, they didn’t ask for it, and they didn’t want it. “Laodicea was too rich to accept help from anyone. Tacitus, the Roman historian, tells us: ‘Laodicea arose from the ruins by the strength of her own resources, and with no help from us.’” (Barclay)

 Verse 18 says, “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Question #11: What does it mean to buy ‘gold refined by fire”?

Gold:  From Strong’s #5553 xrysíon – gold, viewed in terms of its purchasing power, i.e. what it brings about. “unlimited ability to purchase (acquire).”

Refined by fire:  From Strong’s #4442 pýr – fire. In Scripture, fire is often used figuratively – like with the “fire of God” which transforms all it touches into light and likeness with itself

God’s Spirit, like a holy fire, enlightens and purifies so that believers can share more and more in His likeness. Indeed the fire of God brings the uninterrupted privilege of being transformed which happens by experiencing faith from Him. Our lives can become true offerings to Him as we obey this imparted faith from God by His power.

[This is illustrated by God’s fire burning continuously at the entrance of the Tabernacle where the priests made sweet-savor offerings. Compare Lev 6:12,13 with 1 Pet 2:5,9.]

1 Peter 1:6-7 also tells us, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Daniel 12:10 also tells us that, “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.”

God says, in Zechariah 13:9,  “And I will bring the third part through the fire,
Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’
And they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

(Revelation 3:14-22, and specifically, verse 18, are too rich and too full of meaning to be fully explored here.  Suffice it to say, for now, that this verse encapsulates all the teaching of the process of salvation and sanctification. You can discover more on these matter by reading “A Tutorial on Effective Spiritual Warfare”, which is a work still in progress.)

God tells us in Verse 19, ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.”  (In other words, “Those whom I love, I expose you and convince you and convict you as guilty” so you will be fervent, hot and zealous and change you way of thinking.)

Reprove:  From Strong’s #1651 elégxō – properly, to convince with solid, compelling evidence, especially to expose, prove wrong, show to be guilty.

 Verse 20 says, ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Verse 21

“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.“

Question #13:  What does it mean to “overcome” in the Biblical sense?

Question #14:  How does one “overcome” in a Biblical sense?

(click on any of the text of verse 21 for a detailed commentary and explanation)

Verse 22 says, “‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Verse 22 is a word to you, the reader, and to me the writer, and to everyone who calls themselves a Christian.

These verses in The Revelation transcend the argument among the churches whether one is ‘once saved, always saved’ or if on can ‘lose their salvation or can turn away’.

This is a warning and a call to everyone to check yourself:  Are you “hot” or “cold” toward the Gospel and toward the work of the Church?  Or, do your actions tell of a “lukewarmness” that spells doom?

Dear friends, loved ones and reader:  Christianity is a dangerous game to be trifled with. It can give you safe harbor and hope during this life and save your soul for all eternity, or, it can spell doom to those who are deceived into thinking you can casually stroll along with Jesus.

Christianity is a purging, a refining a cleansing and a preparation to follow Jesus and do the works He has done, and even greater works; and, then, eternity with Him.

Following Him means to be blessed, made safe, whole and full of purpose.  Following Him means doing what He says to do, just as He has done it.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

CRITICAL RACE THEORY – The Threat

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

The pundits of Critical Race Theory (CRT) will tell you, (in unison), that “the Critical race theory is an academic movement made up of civil-rights scholars and activists in the United States who seek to critically examine the law as it intersects with issues of race, and to challenge mainstream liberal approaches to racial justice.”

The Encyclopedia Britannica says, “Critical race theory (CRT), an intellectual movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of color. Critical race theorists hold that the law and legal institutions in the United States are inherently racist insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially African Americans.”

The American Bar Association, in an article written to and for attorneys, says “CRT is not a diversity and inclusion “training” but a practice of interrogating the role of race and racism in society that emerged in the legal academy and spread to other fields of scholarship. Crenshaw—who coined the term “CRT”—notes that CRT is not a noun, but a verb. (read this entire article at this link).

Confused?  Tired of reading?

SIMPLIFY, PLEASE?

Reading about CRT is a never ending task.  Understanding what you read is  even more (unnecessarily) difficult.  I believe the interminable defining of CRT is intended to discourage the reader and cause him or her to throw up their hands and say, “Oh well.  Whatever!”  But, we cannot do that.  We cannot give in.  We must understand what is happening and learn to fight back!

SIMPLIFIED

Critical Race Theory, which is deeply rooted in the Marxist doctrine of ‘Critical Theory’, says that racism is embedded in every institution in America.  And, that everyone who is not “a person of color” (Black) has been taught to be racist and needs to be retrained in their thinking or eliminated (cancelled or removed).

Marxism, while hiding under the guise of ‘social justice’ or ‘racial justice’, has the goal is to subjugate every man woman and child under ‘state control’, eliminate the right standards of living according to the Bible, and to vanquish God from His Throne.”

NOTE:  Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a deeply rooted in the Marxist doctrine of “Critical Theory”.  It has been borrowed and cultivated by modern Marxists to say “If you are not ‘black’ or some other ‘minority skin color’, you are racist, and you need to be retrained or eliminated.”

The message that “anyone who does not believe in systemic racism is part of the problem” and that message, is sadly, permeating all the literature on race in America today, our school systems, the courts and our churches.

These ideas of oppression and systemic racism come from a Marxist doctrine called “critical theory.”

It is important to note that Marxism is the theory and Communism is the practical implementation of Marxism.  Communism has never worked as advertised.  It is an inhumane, murderous scheme to enrich a few at the cost of hundreds of millions of lives.

Examples of the viral spread of this lie can be found in Buffalo, New York, the school district’s “Emancipation Curriculum” told children that “all white people play a part in perpetuating systemic racism.”

Another example is at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, a Smithsonian institution funded by taxpayers.  Officials released a document last year intended for use in schools that claimed ideas such as “hard work is the key to success” and that trying to “be polite” are evidence of an oppressive society.

Contemporary Marxists claim that Karl Marx “was well aware of the centrality of race under capitalism”.  Even though Marx never wrote on the question of slavery and its racial impact in societies, he did write about America from his own egocentric and psychopathic point of view:

According to Marx: “The discovery of gold and silver in America, the extirpation, enslavement and entombment in mines of the aboriginal population, the beginning of the conquest and looting of the East Indies, the turning of Africa into a warren for the commercial hunting of Black skins, signalized the rosy dawn of the era of capitalist production.”

Although Marx never personally witnessed anything of what he wrote about regarding America, he found it expedient to ‘fill in his necessary blanks to make his points.  He wrote:

“Direct slavery is just as much the pivot of bourgeois industry as machinery, credits, etc. Without slavery, you have no cotton; without cotton, you have no modern industry. It is slavery that has given the colonies their value; it is the colonies that have created world trade, and it is world trade that is the pre-condition of large-scale industry. Thus, slavery is an economic category of the greatest importance.

“Without slavery, North America, the most progressive of countries, would be transformed into a patriarchal country. Wipe out North America from the map of the world, and you will have anarchy–the complete decay of modern commerce and civilization. Cause slavery to disappear, and you will have wiped America off the map of nations. Thus, slavery, because it is an economic category, has always existed among the institutions of the peoples. Modern nations have been able only to disguise slavery in their own countries, but they have imposed it without disguise upon the New World.”

Thus, Marx proposed a fundamentally flawed and a gross misunderstanding of the centrality of slave labor in the national and international economy.

But what about race?  Marx never addressed race. Let me repeat:  Karl Marx never addressed race.  His supporters and adherents state unequivocally that Marx addressed race, but with the implied disclaimer, “What Marx meant to say” – even though he never said it.  And, for a man to write as prolifically as Marx, to never have mentioned a matter simply means it was not relevant in his thinking.

KARL MARX WAS PROFOUNDLY RACIST in his advocacy of the fundamental tenants of Critical Race Theory.  In fact, Marx used the ‘underprivileged’, the ‘oppressed masses’ for his own ends from the beginning.

In practical terms, CRT is being WOKE.

Merriam-Webster added the word to its dictionary in 2017, defining WOKE as, “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” The Oxford dictionary adopted it the same year, defining it as “originally: well-informed, up-to-date. Now chiefly: alert to racial or social discrimination and injustice.”

“WOKE is a slang term that is easing into the mainstream from some varieties of a dialect called African American Vernacular English (sometimes called AAVE),” according to Merriam-Webster. “In AAVE, awake is often rendered as woke, as in, ‘I was sleeping, but now I’m woke.’”

WOKE, in my studied opinion is, besides being very bad grammar, is a spreading twisted narcissistic pathology.  It says, that ‘I had a hard time growing up’.  Most likely you were treated unfairly, perhaps abused in some fashion, and/or denigrated, marginalized, criticized, demonized and cast aside. You felt unloved and mistreated, and you probably were, to some degree, great or small.

Now you are AWAKE to the facts of your hardships and the injustices you suffered, and you are going to get even. You are going to get what you are owed – whatever you decide that might be.

You are going to make others pay. It doesn’t matter that maybe only a few people are responsible for your mistreatment. It doesn’t matter that it was a very long time ago and that most of ‘those people’ are now dead. In your WOKE state of mind, EVERYONE has to pay, now that you are WOKE.

This is what is being passed of as Critical Race Theory the movement for Reparations for Black Americans. This narcissistic pathology has seeped, or has been force-fed into the thinking of many everyday Americans. Worse yet, our school children are being indoctrinated, they are having their minds poisoned, by this HATE THOUGHT, and it is in part thanks to the efforts of co-conspirators, the National Teachers Association and Union.

Americans who are just doing their best to be good people by being honest, fair, just, hardworking, kind, generous and faithful are being both unfairly punished and indoctrinated with this Marxists Hate Doctrine by the enemies of our educational systems and of our government.

CRT (Critical Race Theory) is rooted in Marxism.  But, it is nothing more than another fabrication of The Beast and the Dragon of the Bible, this thinly veiled “New Marxism” has come only to steal, kill and destroy!.

An article by Christopher F. Rufo, founder and director of Battlefront, A public policy research center, explains Critical Race Theory, its dangers and how to fight it. You can read this article by clicking this link.

It is a good article, and gives us an idea of how to respond, how to fight the manifest evil known as “CRT”.  But, it also falls short of giving us a grassroots remedy.  None of us can muster up a “PhD Quality dissertation” to fight with.  We need a simple and powerful method. I have listed some links to additional articles which will help can you find methods that will work.

Let me conclude this very brief introduction to CRT by saying, Critical Race Theory is a Marxist battle plan to divide, subvert and to overthrow the American system of government, and our way of life.  Marxism’s goal is to subjugate every man woman and child under ‘state control’, to eliminate the right standards of living according to the Bible, and to vanquish God from His Throne.

It is time to get serious.  Find groups in your area who are fighting this battle.  Also, consider supporting a frontline legal team, such as Alliance Defending Freedom, and ADF Church Alliance who are busy engaging this enemy.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

For Additional reading, click these links:

Critical Race Theory simplified

Critical Race Theory (CRT) Exposed

Oz, Critical Race Theory, The Dragon and The Beast

How to Engage in Effective Biblical Warfare

The Enemy:  How to Identify Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

How to Deal with Marxists in the Church

How to Overcome

Why America is Unraveling and What You Can Do

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 12, Ep. 4 – Removing the Obstacle of Lies

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter 12, Episode 4

REMOVING THE OBSTACLES OF SECRECY & LIES

We are told by the Holy Spirit in Romans 12:2 that, as disciples of Jesus, you are not to be conformed to this world, but you are to 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.

There are obstacles to (1) being transformed into a Child of God and (2) becoming a disciple of Jesus (3) entering the Kingdom of Heaven, now, and (4) walking in the power of His Spirit.  Galatians 5:19-21 tells us of these obstacles and that those who practice these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Teachings of Jesus 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.

These next episodes will lead you to the “small gate which is narrow” and we will continue to identify the obstacles to our transformation for their removal from your life.

(For our convenience, I have coded the Obstacle in green, the penalty in purple and the Remedy in Blue.)

Episode 4:  Removing the Obstacle of Secrecy & Lies requires Transparency and Truth.

Matthew 5:33-37 says, “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ 

“But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.  “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; 

anything beyond these are of evil.”

When you brag about what you can or will do and fail to do it, you look like a fool and a liar.  This is not the representation a Christian can make as a follower of Jesus.

Deuteronomy23:21 helps us understand the gravity of an unfulfilled pledge or vow:  “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you.

“However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you. 

“You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised.”

James 4:13-17 picks up on Jesus teaching and reiterates, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet, you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.   Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”  But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.  Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us that,

There are six things which the LORD hates,
            Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

      Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
            And hands that shed innocent blood,

      A heart that devises wicked plans,
            Feet that run rapidly to evil,

      A false witness who utters lies,
            And one who spreads strife among brothers.

 

Finally and conclusively, Jesus tells us, in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

The remedy for making false vows is, at the same time, both simple and difficult. The only way to the stop living in secrecy and living in lies is to begin, now, telling the truth in all matters.

You may, at first, think others will regard you lightly.  But, the cloak of humility and honesty brings honor, both to you and to God.

Just do it and be transformed.

Be His disciple.  

Inherit the Kingdom of God.  

And, walk in the strength of His Might.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“Removing the Obstacle of Revenge”

(The previous episode can be found at “Removing the Obstacles of Divorce”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 12, Ep. 3 – Removing the Obstacle of Divorce

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  12  Episode  3

REMOVING THE OBSTACLE OF DIVORCE

Commitment to the Covenant

We are told by the Holy Spirit in Romans 12:2 that, as disciples of Jesus, you are not to be conformed to this world, but you are to 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.

There are obstacles to (1) being transformed into a Child of God and (2) becoming a disciple of Jesus (3) entering the Kingdom of Heaven, now, and (4) walking in the power of His Spirit.  Galatians 5:19-21 tells us of these obstacles and that those who practice these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

These next episodes will continue to identify these obstacles and remedies for their removal from your life.

Divorce and remarriage is a common error committed by people calling themselves “Christian”, who want the benefits of but reject the requirements of becoming a Christian as they are often overcome by fleshly or emotional desires.

(For our convenience, I have coded the Obstacle in green, the penalty in purple and the Remedy in Blue.)

Episode 3:  Removing the Obstacle of Divorce requires cooperation and commitment to the covenant of marriage.

 Matthew 5:31-32 says “WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;

but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of un-chastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Jesus, first, gives us an understanding of divorce in Matthew 19:3-6 and then the remedy for divorce in Ephesians 5:21-24:

Jesus explains, in Matthew 19:3-6, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?

 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Imagine having your arm our your leg amputated.  Can you imagine the pain and the loss?  Literally losing part of yourself would impact and affect your body, your mind, your soul and your spirit.  Please dear ones, do not deliberately wound yourself and others.

The remedy to divorce is found in Ephesians 5:21-24.  

Ephesians 5:”21-24 says “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.”

The word Greek word for “to be subject to” or “submit to” is “Hupotasso”, which literally means:

  1. To arrange under, to subordinate;
  2. To subject, put in subjection
  3. To subject one’s self, obey
  4. To submit to one’s control
  5. To yield to one’s admonition or advice
  6. To obey, be subject.
  7. To mutually agree upon

HUPO – arrange under; TASSO – mutually agree upon

The intention of “submission or subjection” is found in the CONTEXT of the words in this chapter of Ephesians which encourages us to be wise and moral, kind and pure, gentle and forgiving.

The context is also found in the meaning of the words in these verses.

Specifically, “Hupotasso” comes from a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”.

These troop formations were called a Phalanx. The Phalanx was the formation, usually in triangular form, in which The hoplite phalanx of the Archaic and Classical periods in Greece (c. 800–350 BC) was the formation in which the hoplites would line up in ranks in close order.

Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. Hoplite soldiers utilized the phalanx formation in order to be effective in war with fewer soldiers. The formation discouraged the soldiers from acting alone, for this would compromise the formation and minimize its strengths

The hoplites would lock their shields together, and the first few ranks of soldiers would project their spears out over the first rank of shields.

Those at the front were, what we would call today, THE TIP OF THE SPEAR or the POINT MAN. They presented the first defense against the enemy and were the first to engage the enemy and the first to take casualties.

The phalanx therefore presented a shield wall and a mass of spear points to the enemy. Making frontal assaults against it very difficult.

It also allowed a higher proportion of the soldiers to be actively engaged in combat at a given time, rather than just those in the front rank.

This word, “Hupotasso”, in non-military use, is “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.

The Bible gives this as an example for husbands and wives to cooperate and to successfully navigate life and in waging wars against ‘their common enemy’, Satan.

The wife is fully engaged in the marriage relationship, but, God says the husband is to be the Tip of the Spear in order to protect and preserve and, if necessary, the first to fall.

Interestingly, Ephesians 5:22, contains the phrase, “be subject to your own”, which include the word Greek word, “idios”, and means, “uniquely one’s own, peculiar to the individual”.  “Idios” is a stronger word than the simple possessive pronoun, ‘own’.  This emphatic adjective means ‘private and personal’ “.

In other words, God gives each husband a wife, designed by God, Himself, to fulfill a role specifically for that husband. God gives the wife gifts, talents, abilities and a calling uniquely designed to serve God and to compliment and to complete the husband.

This is why the Bible says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself”.

It is also why God says, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

Neither, the husband nor the wife, can be made complete as persons, finding refuge, protection and provision as provided by God;  neither can they mature and sustain one another, until they understand this Spiritual principal and follow it.

Marriage has mutual strength through commitment and cooperation with one another under God’s Steady Hand.

Please take this to heart, dear ones. This message is so important.

The world and the Devil are deceiving the family in to thinking ‘what works for you is OK”. It is NOT OK. God’s design, His plan and His Word is what gives life, and life more abundant. Stop following the world and REASON through God’s Word. Understand it and live!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  Marriage makes the two into ONE.  Divorce is a violent tearing apart, no matter how amicable you try to be.

Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“Removing the Obstacle of Secrecy and Lies”

(The previous episode can be found at “Removing the Obstacles of Lust”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 12, Ep. 2 – Removing the Obstacle of Lust

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  12   Episode  2

REMOVING THE OBSTACLE OF LUST

We are told by the Bible, in Romans 12:2 that, as disciples of Jesus, you are not to be conformed to this world, but you are to 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.

There are obstacles to being transformed into a Child of God and becoming a disciple of Jesus and entering the Kingdom of Heaven.  Galatians 5:19-21 tells us of these obstacles and that those who practice these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

For our convenience, I have coded the Obstacle in green, the penalty in purple and the Remedy in Blue.

Episode 2:  Removing the Obstacle of anger requires Reconciliation

  Matthew 5:27 says “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; 

for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

“If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; 

for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”

God considers lust an offense worthy of death. Leviticus 20:10 says “If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”

Jesus uses an extreme figure of speech when He says to pluck out your eye or to cut off your hand in order to illustrate the serious consequential reality of lust, “your whole body will go to hell”.

  1. Lust is destructive. Proverbs 6:32 says “The one who commits adultery with a woman is
    lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.”
  2. Lust is a sin that spreads like a virus. Matthew 5:32 says “but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of un-chastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
  3. Lust is powerfully seductive and fatally addictive.

James 1:14-15 says, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

  1. Lust leads to corruption of the soul, debauchery and a reprobate mind.

James 4:2 says, “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.

A true disciple, a true Christian, must avoid lust at all costs. But, when we find ourselves caught in the vortex of strong delusions and web of sin, we must start by admitting it and begin the long and difficult journey back to freedom and ridding ourselves of this obstacle.

1 John 1:8-9 says , “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God will set you free and strengthen you, and He will reward you.  But, as we have already seen, the cost of discipleship is high and the process of sanctification is difficult.  His reward is more than just worth the cost; it is everything.

And, be encouraged! God will perform His Word in your life!  And, you can know and do the Will of God!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“Removing the Obstacle of Divorce”

(The previous episode can be found at “Removing the Obstacles to Transformation”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

ANCIENT WISDOM

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A proverb is a sense of mental action; a pithy maxim, a simile; wisdom gained through practice, over a long period of time.

The Old Testament Book of Proverbs was written almost 3,000 years ago, in which we find Biblical wisdom literature, which raises questions of values, moral behavior, the meaning of human life, right conduct.  Its theological foundation is that “the fear of God (meaning submission to the will of God) is the beginning of wisdom”.

Wisdom is praised for her role in creation; God acquired her before all else, and through her, he gave order to chaos; and since humans have life and prosperity by conforming to the order of creation, seeking wisdom is the essence and goal of the religious life.

Perhaps another way of looking at this is that wisdom is knowing what to do with the knowledge you possess.

It is an undeniable fact that access to knowledge in America and around the world is abundant and increasing and accelerating. Daniel 12:4 told us about this, saying that, “many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” But, wisdom is largely missing in all our knowledge.

It is not uncommon to see a sign or a social media post by Christians, telling the reader that we need to put God back into our schools. But, is that wise?  Is it what the Bible tells us, and is it what the evidence shows us?

Proverbs 9:10 tells us that

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

And, Hebrews 8:10 tells us that God says

“I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE”

God has designed us to acquire knowledge and to apply that knowledge with wisdom. Deuteronomy 6:5-11 tells us that

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

“Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build,  and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied”

We are reminded, in Joshua 1:8, to continue in the success that wisdom brings us, that

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

Finally, in order to insure generational success, Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it. 

The Bible tells us that the Word of God is foolishness to those who are perishing, and they cannot be entrusted with His Word, and they cannot be entrusted with our children.  It is clearly the Christian parent’s responsibility to teach their children.

God’s Word says that we need to put God into our hearts, minds and souls, and to insure generational success, parents need to plant the word of God into their children’s hearts, minds and souls.

The Bible and human experience tells us that it is the right and responsibility of the heterosexual, two-parent family, to raise and train children.

Are there exceptions?  Of course, there have been exceptions.  But, when a culture has deliberately abrogated long-held Biblical familial practices and discards the successful social norms therein, the results have always been catastrophic for that culture.  Always.

Secondly, a society cannot rule itself or its formulate its culture as a nation, ruling by exceptions.  Knowing that a certain social aberration works for only small portion of the population, then applying it as a “normal” or routine practice for the entire society is inviting societal fragmentation, calamity, chaos and collapse.

We, Christians, can make a difference.  We can correct the course of our nation and our world.  It will take time and effort.

1.  I am challenging all who read this, begin today, and store up God’sword in your own heart, that you might not sin against Him. (Psalm 119:11)

2.  I am challenging each Christian parent to begin, today, to train up your child in the way they should go, so that, even when they are old they will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

3.  Let’s return to the ways of God and adhere to His Word, in all we do. Let’s remove all those things from our lives that are counter to Godliness and an offense to God.

4.  Let’s put aside our greed and self-indulgence, humble ourselves before God and before one another.  Please.  Let’s consider one another as more important that ourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

If we do these small things, GOD will do the big things, and, we will find God back in our schools. He will once again rule in our courts. God will once again be found in the sanctuaries of our churches.

Prayerfully

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

SIGNS, WORKS and MIGHTY WONDERS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen as you read using the Spotify link above, pausing to click other links.  Also, watch the video at the end of this page)

I believe in miracles.

Several years ago (2012), I spent three and a half days in a hospital intensive care unit after suffering two strokes.  When I was admitted to the hospital, I was losing my ability to see and talk.  I could barely walk.   I was rushed into the ER, and as I was lying on a gurney, I heard the neurologist tell my wife, “We are losing him”.  I was dying.  The attending ER nurse whispered to me and asked “are you a praying man”.  I nodded affirmative.  She said “you should start praying right now!”

I laid in an intensive care unit room for three and a half days.  Then, miraculously, I regained my vision and speech.  Two neurologists and a doctor visited me at my bedside, musing over the fact that I, not only had not died, but that I appeared to be recovering.  I was moved to a room in the general population of the hospital.

On the fourth day I got out of bed and walked, slowly, down the hospital corridor and back to bed.  I told my wife, we were going home.  She doubted me.  When the nurse came in, I announced that I wanted my clothes because I was going home.  The nurse said no and called the attending physician.  He, also, said “No, you cannot go home yet”.

I packed my bag, paid my bill and prepared to leave.  I refused the “mandatory wheelchair ride to the exit” and, I walked, although very slowly, to our car, and we went home.

Incidentally, I  had been scheduled to preach a Wednesday evening service at our church.  My pastor called to say that he would cover the Wednesday evening service.  I pleaded with him to let me keep that date, and, with my pastor’s blessing, I preached that Wednesday night, just two weeks after my stroke, and God blessed.

One last note of interest, was that I had scarring in one eye from a blood clot due to the stroke.  My ophthalmologist said the scar was permanent, but, that I would get used to it.

About a year later, a lady at our church prayed for my eyes and soon afterwards, the scar faded away.  During my next ophthalmologic appointment, I asked my doctor about the scarring in my eye, and he remarked, “What scarring.  There is no scarring.”

I reminded him about the scar, so, he checked my records and said, “Well, how about that!  The scar is gone!  That never happens.”  I told him that God had healed me, and he replied, “That’s nice”, with a wry smile.

So, I ask:  “Do signs, works and mighty wonders still occur?”

Here are the two extreme positions within the church, on that question.

THE ONE EXTREME

I was invited to “fill the pulpit” of a friend’s church for a few weeks.  During that time I was repeatedly challenged by a deacon in the church, whom I believe was sorely disappointed that I had been called instead of him.

One particular Sunday, before I preached, I attended this man’s Sunday school class.  During his lesson, he emphatically stated that “miracles had ceased” because Jesus only used them to draw a crowd, and since the time that the Church was established, miracles were no longer needed and had ceased.

My wife poke me in the ribs and whispered, “Say something!”  I remained silent.

I taught on this matter, from the Bible, during my sermon.

Later, this deacon confronted and castigated me for preaching, as he put it,  “heresy, lies and falsehoods”.   I offered to have an open discussion the coming Wednesday night, after my teaching time.  He eagerly accepted.

Most of the church membership stayed for the discussion after my Wednesday evening teaching.  It was a good-sized crowd.

This deacon was emphatic:  miracles had ceased, and I had taught lies from the pulpit.  I smiled and said, “Show me.  Show me, in the Bible, where it says what you claim.”

This deacon, stammered and blurted, “Well, it is implied.”

I repeated, “Show me, please.  Show all of us.”

He became angry, shouted some disparaging remarks and stormed out of the fellowship hall.

THE OTHER EXTREME

I had become a member of an Assemblies of God church.  The teachings and ministry, for the first several years, although more expressive than I was accustomed, were not unlike what I had studied, believed and practiced during my time as a Christian and a minister.

But that all began to change as the church grew.  First, began the practice of speaking and praying in tongues in public.  Then other ‘manifestations’ began to take place.  When I questioned their Biblical legitimacy, I was ‘put in my place’.

Then, during church services, very loud and chaotic interruptions of a man screaming or shouting an unintelligible utterance followed by an interpretation.  It seemed always to be the same two guys, ‘tag-teaming’ these outbursts.  The ‘interpretations’ were always the same or very near the same.

Then, the matter of miraculous healing took ‘front stage’ at this church, accompanied by proclamations of prophecies, predictions and the ‘claiming promises of abundance’.

The problem was that people began to go to the altar for “prayer needs” (for what they could get from God) instead of sorrow for sin and repentance.  No one had a healing at the point of prayer.  Most folks, either recovered over time, stayed ill or died.  The prophecies NEVER came to pass and the only ‘abundance’ I witnessed was the accumulating church debt, the repeated handouts by a sister church to help pay our bills and the staff’s salaries.

NOTE:  Signs, Works and Mighty Wonders are not of ourselves and are not for ourselves.  It is God, it is Jesus, doing His Works through us.  Read:

Acts 2:2  “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know

Mark 16:20  “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

John 5:19 “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”

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

THE BIBLE PROVIDES THE BALANCE

I am providing the sermon excerpt (with permission) by Pastor Trent Casto, senior pastor or Covenant Church, Naples, which addresses this matter from the Scriptures.

(The entire service can be seen on this link: “Appreciating Least Those Who Serve Us Most“)

We are at a critical time in world history.  The world is turning to the Godless evils of Socialism, Marxism and Communism for relief and the promise of a better life.

All forms of Marxism are lies from Satan, and, history has shown they are murderous lies.  Hundreds of millions have been slaughtered by these regimes, and, we have forgotten.  And, millions of these souls have been lost to the fires of hell for eternity.

And, now, we are being sold false consumer-gospels, social-gospels, false prosperity-gospels and religious humanism by the majority of our churches.  We have forgotten the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and can longer discern the counterfeit from the True Gospel.

We must turn back to God, the Bible and The Gospel of Jesus.  Time is short.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Globalism and The Tower of Babel

HAS THE APOSTASY BEGUN?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”

IN PLAIN LANGUAGE

(AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE)

2 Thessalonians 2:1- 4 Now we request you, brethren, (1) with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you (2) not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

(3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for (4) it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and (5)the man of lawlessness is revealed, (6) the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that (7) he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Outlined, verse by verse (easy-to-understand; just read slowly and take it at face value)

1. With regard to the coming of our Lord and the gathering together to Him

2. Do not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

3. Let no one in any way deceive you

*4. For the day of our Lord and the gathering together to Him will not come unless the apostasy comes first

*5. For the day of our Lord and the gathering together to Him will not come unless the man of lawlessness is revealed

6. The man of lawlessness is the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,

7. He takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

WHAT IS THE APOSTASY: In Christianity, Apostasy is the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian. The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia (“ἀποστασία”) meaning defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity.

WHAT IS THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS / ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION:

Mattew24:15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

1. You will see him

2. He will be standing in the Holy Place

3. Then, there will be a great tribulation

WHAT IS THE DAY OF THE LORD:

The Day of the Lord” is a biblical term and theme used in both the Hebrew Bible (יֹום יְהוָה) and the New Testament (ἡμέρα κυρίου), as in “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:31, cited in Acts 2:20).

Matthew 24:21 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22“Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Matthew 24:29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31“And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

1. For then / Immediately after the tribulation of those days (prior to the day in question, i.e., (the 5th seal)

2. THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (The 6th Seal)

3. They will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory

4. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

The-Emeny-Within.jpg

(Look on page 17 and following on the presentation  for relevant explanation of verses noted; also, see video links below presentation)

Deception within the Church

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT.  WE MUST TURN AWAY FROM WESTERN POST-MODERN RELIGION, AND RETURN TO JESUS AND HIS GOSPEL AND PRACTICE THESE THINGS

Come and join in the harvest, as we go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He commanded; and lo, He is with us always, even to the end of this age. Contact me above here for further information, or click the invitation link below.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

invitation2.jpg

More on  HAS THE GREAT APOSTASY BEGUN?

HAS THE GREAT APOSTASY BEGUN?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

The GREAT APOSTASY

The “falling away from the faith”

(The 5th Seal of Tribulation)

2 Thessalonians2:1- 4, “Now we request you, brethren, (1) with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you (2) not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

(3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for (4) it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and (5) the man of lawlessness is revealed, (6) the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that (7) he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Pew Research and Barna Research, both, are revealing what the corporate Church is unwilling to admit, that many are leaving the church and are not returning. But, the other half of this ‘equation’ is that many are LEAVING THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS – falling away from the faith – but are staying in the church .

This “falling away from the faith”, alone, may not signal what prophetic scriptures has foretold regarding the “Great Falling Away” (The Great Apostasy) but, considering all has already come to pass (the breaking of the first four Tribulation Seals) you can be confident this is what is prophesied.

We are so very close to the 6th Seal. So, please LISTEN you who are Pastors, teachers, Bible “scholars” and all Christians. Please, let’s get off our religious and denominational ‘high horses’ and sound the Shofar!

THE FIFTH TRIBULATION SEAL IS NOW INTENSIFYING and the DAY OF THE LORD and the Rapture is near.

The SIXTH SEAL of Tribulation will be broken soon, and it will be too late for those who are procrastinating or for those who think they are saved but have never surrendered their lives to Christ as Lord.

We must be DOING what Jesus said we were to be DOING, or face the consequences:

Matthew 24:48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

God has commanded us to follow Jesus, to carry on His Works, to love one another and to preach the Gospel, make disciples and to teach them to follow Him.

Let’s be ready!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

More on “Has the Apostasy Begun?”

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – CH. 12, Ep. 1 – Removing the Obstacle of Anger

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  12   Episode  1

TRANSFORMATION

REMOVING THE OBSTACLE OF ANGER

We are told, in Romans 12:2, that as disciples of Jesus, you are not to be conformed to this world, but you are to 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.

Let’s say that another way.  You are transformed (from the Greek word, “metamorphóō” or metamorphized, metá, “change after being with” and “morphóō”, “changing form in keeping with an inner reality), by the renewing of your mind, which PROVES WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS:  (#1), That which is good, (#2), that which is acceptable, and, (#3), that which is perfect.

The result is a visible demonstration of God living within you.

There are obstacles to being transformed into a Child of God and becoming a disciple of Jesus and entering the Kingdom of Heaven.  Galatians 5:19-21 tells us of these obstacles and that those who practice these things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The next ten chapters (episodes) will discuss these obstacles and their remedies.

For your convenience, I have color-coded

  • The Obstacles to your transformation in green,
  • The penalty of the obstacles in purple and
  • The Remedy of the obstacles in Blue.

Episode 1:  Removing the Obstacle of anger requires Reconciliation

Matthew 5:21-22 says “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother

shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

Verse 23 through 25 says, “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way,

Verses 25 and 26 say “so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

This anger, from the original Greek word, “orgizó”, means to provoke or enrage. It expresses a “fixed anger” and a settled opposition, which is positive when inspired by God, but, always a negative when arising from the flesh.  It is a seething, consuming anger and a wrath full of passion, directed at a person.  This anger intends punishment and vengeance as its objective.

It is a sinful and unnecessary anger which focuses on punishing the offender rather than focusing on the moral content of the offense.

This anger is both an obstacle and a trap. Once ensnared, your effectiveness as a disciple of Jesus is negated.  (In other words, your light is extinguished, and your salt has lost its savor and is good for nothing except to be thrown out and trod under foot of man.)

When this type of anger becomes your ‘mindset’ and is expressed toward another person, it is tantamount to murder. It will sentence you to a lifetime “mental prison” of your own making.

Romans 8:5–6 says, “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”

The remedy is both simple and difficult. It does not matter if you are innocent of the offense, you must assume full responsibility for both the offense and for reconciliation.  Nothing held back.  Complete forgiveness. This is the only way for the disciple of Jesus.

Remember:  This is a necessary step in your training and preparation in becoming Jesus’ disciple and to effectively engage in this Spiritual war.  You 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.  This is a big step in that direction.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“Removing the Obstacle of Lust”

(The previous episode can be found at “The Standard of Righteousness”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 11 – The Standard of Righteousness

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  11

THE STANDARD is HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Matthew 5:17-20  “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The “Laws and the Prophets” were meant to teach and guide the Jewish people in all their thought and conduct in order to live a life pleasing to God to have success in their affairs.

Then, In one bold and sweeping statement Jesus announces that He is the fulfillment, the revealing and the completion of all the Law and the Prophets spanning their four thousand years of history.

Jesus is saying that His life, ministry and teachings not only explain Law and the Prophets but completes their meanings and requirements.

The significance of this announcement is that not only does it satisfy all the requirement of the Jewish Law, that is the Torah, but, it relegates the Law and the Prophets as being subject to Jesus and His teachings.

The requirements of the law said that in order to be in right standing with God, the Jew had to perfectly obey over 600 laws in order to atone for sin and gain the favor of God, which no one could do.

This is not dissimilar to the person who believes they can earn ‘saving favor’ with God, or can earn their way into heaven by way of their own set of rules or laws of good behaviors and good deeds.

The Jewish Law adequately points out our sinfulness and condemns us for our sin, just as the non-Jew is condemned by their own heart.  Just as the Law is inadequate when it comes to changing our sinful nature and canceling the curse of sin; so is the human heart since it is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.

We need something better than an external set of Laws or the imaginations of our heart to accomplish that, and that something better is Jesus.

What this leads to is that the disciple of Jesus is not to be bound by and must not adhere to any external Law, social norm, familial, political or national allegiance over their loyalty, allegiance and obedience to Jesus, our Christ.  Doing so is tantamount to the annulment of these commandments, and the teaching others to do the same; that person shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. This is also the annulment of your effectiveness as a disciple of Christ.  In Jesus’ own words, “Your salt will have lost its savor”.

Secondly, generation after generation of people have been condemned to perish because of their ignorance of God or their rejection of Jesus; and we as “The Called of Christ, are charged with the mission to preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

This is not a metaphor.  

It is every Christian’s charge and mission.

The time has come when even those who “attend church” do not endure sound doctrine; but they want to have their own way.  So, they seek teachers according to their own self-centered desires.  They turn away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

We must be sober in all things, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist and fulfill our mission and ministry as His disciples.

Finally, know that Jesus is our righteousness which surpasses the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, and only by His Righteousness do we enter the kingdom of heaven.

We have been conditioned and taught to “attend church”, (which, by the way, is a nonsensical term).  We sit, watch, listen, participate in a few good deeds and then go to the relative safety of our homes, having never engaged the enemy of Christ or reached a lost person in Jesus’ Name.

Please, dear loved ones, let’s not be like the son who said he would obey his father, but did not.  Let’s be the son who does what his father asks of him.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“Removing the Obstacles”

(The previous episode can be found at “The Transformation”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 10 – Transformed

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  10

THE TRANSFORMATION – A DISCIPLE IS MADE

Matthew 5:13-15.  “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how  can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

      “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

You, as a disciple of Jesus, are sitting with Him as He talks to you and teaches you about the difficulties, and the blessings, of becoming His disciple and entering the Kingdom of God.

He has just called you, “The Light of the World”.  Now, He calls you “salt of the earth”.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The most common and important seasoning in Israel was salt, demonstrated by how it is referenced throughout the Bible, and by how its use was mandated with most sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13).

You would have been referred to as a person who, like salt, is precious.  In Jesus’ day, salt was a valued commodity. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid with salt, giving rise to the phrase “worth his salt.”

Jesus is saying that, like salt, you, His disciple, would have a preserving influence. Salt was used to preserve and to slow decay. Likewise, Christians should have a preserving influence on their culture.

Disciples, like salt, should add flavor to their community, making the earth a purer and more palatable place to live.

This is one of the tactical maneuvers of our Spiritual warfare.

Then, without pausing, He looks directly at you and says, “But, if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?”

The word “tasteless” was a familiar word to the Jewish audience of that day as to mean “to be foolish, to turn to foolishness, tainted, and thus: tasteless, made useless.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

So, the question with which you are faced is:

“If you, as a disciple of Jesus, who should be a preserving influence and a purifying influence on those around you, have lost those qualities and thus, have become useless as a disciple of Jesus, how you can be made useful again?”

This borders on shocking; almost an indictment. The question Jesus is asking is a direct interrogatory. In other words, “if you know of another way, tell me, because there is no other way.”

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Then, as if to hammer the point home, Jesus bluntly says, ”It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.”

Staying with the metaphor of salt, at that time, garbage would have been disposed by throwing it out, into the street. This explains why once the salt is cast out it will be trodden under the foot of men as useless garbage. A stark warning to the disciples as to the commitment required to follow Jesus as His disciple and the consequence of failure.

Jesus is saying that, if you are going to enter into a covenant agreement to follow Him as His disciple, the standards are impossibly high, the disciplines are impossibly strict, and the commitment is for life.

We should be reminded of another time Jesus was talking to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?”

And looking at them, Jesus said, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The Disciples’ Reward

Somehow, you would expect it would be Peter to respond to Jesus and boldly ask, “We have left everything and followed You; what is in this for us?”

Jesus answered Peter and said, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, now in this life, and in the age to come, will inherit eternal life.”

The good news is that God is eternally faithful to finish the work He has begun in you. He is rich in grace and abounding in mercy and loving kindness. Jesus reminds you that His burden is light, and His yoke is easy and that all who come to Him will find rest for their soul, and He will in no way cast you out.  Jesus saves!

The war is raging, people are perishing, and Jesus is calling you and me to join Him in “His Great Rescue”.  So, now that you know a little more, will you still follow Him and join Him on this Mission?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

CAUTION:  “Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:62

Let’s endure to the End!

Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“The Standard”

(The previous episode can be found at “The Blessings”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 9 – The Blessings

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  9

THE BLESSINGS

Matthew 5:1-11.  “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

       “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

       “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

       “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

       “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

       “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

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

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

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

       “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

It sounds odd that being poor in spirit, mourning, being insulted and persecuted could be considered a blessing.  But, this is the Process of Sanctification which brings the blessing, which is the fruit of righteousness in one’s life.  “Righteousness” as defined by the Bible, is right standing with God and with man.  It produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

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

SANCTIFICATION is the process you experience after you fully surrender your life to God, His Purposes and His Ways. God will, through the work of the Holy Spirit and through circumstances, strip away your old life and make you into a new creation.  New in your mind, body and spirit.

Sanctify:  Is the Greek word, “hagiazo” (hag-ee-ad’-zo), To make holy, consecrate, sanctify; to dedicate, separate, set apart for God; To purify, make conformable in character to such dedication; Forensically, to free from guilt.

Holy: (“Sanctify” comes from the word Hagios which means holy; it is a characteristic of God, to be separated to God, to be worthy of veneration.  In the moral sense of sharing God’s purity: Of pure, clean sacrifices and offerings.

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.

By the Hand of God and by way of this process, you will become:

Poor in Spirit:  Literally, to be crushed in your spirit; to be pinched by toil, hopelessness and extreme poverty; A beggar with no hope of rescue, on the verge of death and perishing.

 One Who Mourns:  “Mourning”.  An understandable response upon finding yourself severely pinched by poverty, reduced to begging; destitute with no influence, no position; lowly, afflicted and helpless; powerless to change your circumstances for the better; lacking in anything and terrified.

 Gentle in Spirit:  You may have now had enough time to reflect on what has happened, and you lapse into a time of quiet, gentle appearing reflection. Your emotions and spirit are quieted for a time.

 Hungering & Thirsting for Righteousness:  The ‘calm the followed the storm’ in your soul.  The storm of your life behind you, you were actually hungry, in need of nourishment.  It is the same in our spirit.  It is usually at this point that we begin to make life-decisions.  

For those being redeemed by the mercies of God, the process is to ‘hunger and thirst for right-thinking and right living’:  which is the very definition of Righteousness.

It is through this process that we gain new insights and understanding.

Merciful:  The word ‘mercy’ in this verse literally means “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them; of men towards men: to exercise the virtue of mercy, show one’s self merciful

 Pure in Heart:  Showing mercy is a sign that our hearts are changing and become pure in the sight of God.  We are being transformed in what we see and in how we see.  We are beginning to see matters as God sees them.

 A Peacemaker:  A peace will begin to settle over the heart and mind of the redeemed and sanctified Believer.  We, not only begin to experience ‘a peace that passes understanding’ from our deepening relationship with God, but we begin to demonstrate and practice that peace of God which earns us the title “sons (and daughters) of God”.  We are being made into His image.

 Persecuted for Righteousness: 

The bible tells us, it is at this time, we inherit and possess the Kingdom of Heaven with all the rights, responsibilities and authority of a son of God, a joint heir with Jesus.

This statement is staggering, even for the fully devoted and fully surrendered follower of Jesus.  And, it is too rich and too profound for the “casual Christian” or “casual Believer” to begin to understand.

 The Light of the World:  This is what “Entire Sanctification” looks like.  These verses should leave the child of God breathless. Jesus tells us in John 8:12  that He calls Himself, “The Light of the World”, and, again in John 9:5 Jesus says, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

Jesus is now calling you by that name!  Truly, in His Image.

Your training is now, well under way.  You are being made ready for the Teachings of The Master.  It is now beginning.

“I pray that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened, so that we will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

A Note Of Caution:  You can resist the sanctifying work of God, and if you do, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:13 that, “It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“The Transformation”

(The previous episode can be found at “The Works”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 8 – The Works of Jesus

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter 8

THE WORKS

Matthew 4:23-25  “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

      The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.  Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.”

WHICH WORKS?

“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

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

    • This is how we fight this Spiritual war.
    • This is how we overcome by the word of our testimony and by the Blood of the Lamb.
    • This is how we endure to the end.

Those following Jesus, misunderstood what He was saying about His Works, and not much has changed to this day.

For example, a large crowd that had stayed on the far shore, saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them.  Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So, when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.  They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

“Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”   John 6

It can be a bit confusing, but, take heart.  Jesus told us that He has prepared His Works ahead of time so that we, His disciples, would walk in them.  And, He promised us that He will be with us, in His authority, giving us direction and even giving us the words we should use.  (Matthew 28:16-19, Luke 21:15, Luke 12:12)

Many churches are teaching to do your own good works, in your own ways as if to say, “those were things they did THEN. But, these are the things we do NOW.

But, NO!  Man’s ways are failing.  They are failing to engage the enemy .  Our enemies are evil, fear, doubt, hatred, vengeance, lust, poverty, war, disease, sickness and more.

Here are Jesus’ methods and ways and here is exactly what He has told us to do:

And, Jesus said, “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Imagine with me, if you will, that the world could witness these works being performed on a global scale. Don’t you think it would change how the world thinks and behaves?  It’s our job now.

Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“The Blessings”

(The previous episode can be found at “Your Calling”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 7 – Your Calling

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter 7

YOUR CALLING

      Matthew 4:18-22  “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”

Jesus is setting the example for you and all of His disciples, present and future.  Jesus was “walking” by the sea of Galilee.  The word ‘walking’ from the Greek word ‘peripateo’, means to make one’s way and to make due use of opportunities; to tread down, to trample, to crush with the feet. This is reminiscent of Psalms 91:11-13, and “trampling down the serpent”. It is demonstrating Jesus’ Authority.

We must take notice, for by this He is teaching us to be His disciples.  We will walk in His Steps, doing His Works, engaging the battle, as we go.

Secondly, we see that Jesus is on mission.  He was watching for and “saw” (from the Greek word, ‘horao’, which means to see with the mind, to perceive and to know).  Jesus saw Peter and Andrew, with His eyes and with His Mind. In other words, Jesus knew them and knew their destiny, before he had met them.

So it shall be with us, we are being filled with His Holy Spirit, we shall be watching for, and we will “see” those to whom we must reach with the Gospel, as we are making our way, making use of our opportunities, treading down the enemy beneath our feet.

Read the text with me, again.  “Peter and Andrew were ‘casting’, (from the Greek word, ‘ballo’ which means ‘to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls, uncertain about the results’).  They were casting their ‘net’, (from the Greek word, ‘amphiblestron’, which means ‘anything thrown around one to impede one’s motions, such as chains or a net for fishing’).  This is a straight forward statement on the surface.  However, hidden in the language, we see that this word is a good description of how most people view their lives, in general.  “They feel trapped, casting about in their scattered lives without caring where it falls, uncertain about the results.”

Jesus is calling His disciples, past, present and future, Jesus is calling you, to a life of freedom, to a life of eternal purpose, eternal meaning and eternal value.

Jesus called these men to Himself, and He is calling you, and me, to follow Him, today.  This is an urgent command.  Jesus is saying, “Come, Now!  It is IMPORTANT that we remember Jesus was speaking prophetically then and is a speaking prophetically to us, today!  He will make you, fashion you into fisher of men!

We are the clay in the Potter’s Hands; once He touches our lives, we are made new, into His image for His purpose.  This is IMPORTANT to grasp.

This word tells us, not only of the urgency of Jesus’ call, but of how the state of our lives is to be made well off.  We will fare well and prosper, by answering His call and following Him.

Jesus’ words are so descriptive that you must take each definition and consider the impact and importance.  Remember, you are entering His Kingdom. A Kingdom of “royal power, kingship, dominion, and rule. You are being given the right and the authority to serve in His Kingdom;  the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah and the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom.”

This is our calling and our role as Christians, Disciples of Jesus,

The definitions of this word are complimentary:  To serve, to worship, to heal, to cure, to restore to health.  Jesus heals the whole person, body, mind/will/emotions and spirit.  His healing is complete.  We are called to this ministry, we will learn as His disciples, to do His Works.

Again, Jesus heals the body, the mind, the soul and the spirit of all infirmities. There is nothing outside the reach of God, and we are on mission with Jesus.  We cannot stand idly by and watch.  To be His disciple means we join God is what He is already doing.

I encourage you to study the details of this teaching by clicking this link “In the Beginning”.

Study the definitions of the words used, and, apply them to yourself, as you journey into His Kingdom and prepare yourself to be on Mission with Jesus, engaging in this Spiritual War.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Please remember to click the blue italicized links in each chapter, in order to get the important details on these Bible teachings)

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“The Works”

(The previous episode can be found at “The Sermon”)

(Please also notice, you can listen by podcast as you read along.  You can pause the audio in order to click the links for details and references which are necessary for the entire teaching)