MY LETTER TO GOD

“AND, OH YEAH,  HOW ABOUT MY GOOD WORKS?”

Dear God:

I just wanted to write to you and let you know that I am working hard for you.  I wanted to tell you all that I am doing for you.

I am prophesying in Your name! And, in Your name I have cast out demons.  In Your Name I performed many miracles.  I give to the poor, support my church and I support missions.  I serve at the local food bank and the local food kitchen, feeding many.  I pray.  I testify.  I invite others to church.  Doesn’t that count for something?

(I know, you or I would not deliberately write to God in this fashion.  But, I have to wonder if some of our prayers and behaviors don’t say as much?)

GOD REPLIES:

(Your name/my name), My Dear, Child:

Isaiah 40:13

” Who (are you, who) has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or (acted) as His counselor has informed Him?” (New American Standard Bible, 1995)

Isaiah 64:6 

For all have become like one who is unclean,
And all your righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
And all of you wither like a leaf,
And your iniquities, like the wind, take you away.

Romans 3:10

“As it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;”  (New American Standard Bible 1995)

  Isaiah 57:15

“For thus says the high and exalted One, Who lives forever, whose name is Holy:   “I dwell on a high and holy place with the contrite and lowly of spirit,
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”  (New American Standard Bible 1995)

 Matthew 7:21-23

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

My Reply:

John 6:28-29

“Then (I say) to (You), “What must (I) do, to be doing the works of God?”

Jesus answered:

“This is the work of God:  Believe (in) Him whom HE has sent.”

My Response:

Isaiah 57:15-17

“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;  you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (New American Standard Bible, 1995)

Job 42:2-6

“I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

‘Who (am I) that hides counsel without knowledge?’
“Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

‘Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.’

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;

Therefore, I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes.”

DEAR GOD.  I WILL BE STILL AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOD.

His Son,

(Your Brother and Friend),

Mike Young

GOD says, PS:   “I love you     (your name)    .  I love you so much, that I really did die for you.  And, my Child, I want you to know that my love for you is as high as the heavens are above the earth.  (And, don’t try to figure that one out.  It’s A LOT.  It’s unsearchable.)

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 6 – The Sermon

 

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  6

THE SERMON

Matthew 4:12-17  “Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

      “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
            BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—

      “THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
            AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
            UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

This is, by far, the shortest sermon Jesus ever preached. This is not meant to be just a recapitulation of Scriptures, nor is it meant to be just a commentary. 

We, as Jesus disciples, find, contained within these words, the path Jesus carefully laid out for us ‘to walk therein’.   

This is the path of His Authority and of His Works.  

  • The path of health and healing,
  • The path of purpose and of Kingdom conquest.
  • This is the path that leads us to the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
  • This is the path leading to the healing of the nations where there will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and we, His bond-servants, will serve Him, and we will see His face, and His name will be on our foreheads and there will no longer be any night; and we will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine us; and we will reign forever and ever.

A quick study of a few of the words Jesus used in Matthew 4:17, will give us additional insight and understanding, when He said ”From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The word “Began”, from Strong’s Concordance #757, “archo”, means to rule over or to reign over; to be chief, to lead and to rule. This word tells us that Jesus time was at hand, to rule and reign over the physical and spiritual world.  This is vitally important, as you will see a little later.  We need to remember this.

The word “Preach”, from Strong’s Bible Concordance  #2784, “kerusso”, means to be a herald, to officiate as a herald; The word used here is a word of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed; this is something which has already been done, first in the Spiritual realm, then, to be manifest in the natural world.  It is not a general statement nor is it a request.  It is a prophetic command.

Jesus, in effect, is binding on earth what has already been bound in heaven.

Jesus then astounds his disciples when He says, in Matthew 6:18, “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

He goes on to teach about “binding and loosing” in Matthew 16:19, saying, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

In these verses, Jesus is speaking directly to the apostle Peter and indirectly to the other apostles, (and subsequently, to future disciples).  Jesus’ words meant that Peter, and all of His future disciples, would have the right to enter the kingdom, and that through Jesus’, would have general authority symbolized by the possession of the keys, and that preaching the gospel would be the means of opening the kingdom of heaven to all believers and shutting it against unbelievers.

The book of Acts shows us this process at work. Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, found in Acts 2:14-40, Peter opened the door of the kingdom for the first time.

The expressions “bind” and “loose” were common to Jewish legal phraseology, meaning to declare something forbidden or to declare it, allowed.

This is IMPORTANT as we are seeing what Jesus says about the Authority of the Kingdom and who may enter and what we, as his disciples, are commanded to do in His Name.

As we move forward in our preparation and training, let’s please remember:  It is Jesus who grants His Authority to whom He chooses;  It is Jesus who does His Works through His yielded servants;  it is nothing we do of ourselves.  And, that with such a great authority granted to His disciples, there comes even greater responsibility for our obedience to Him and His Words.

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, “Your Calling

(The previous episode can be found at “The Testing of the Baptism of Fire”)

(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. 5 – Testing by The Baptism of Fire

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

 Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  5

THE TESTING BY THE BAPTISM OF FIRE

(First came the Baptism of Water, now of Fire)

Matthew 4:1-11 says, Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.  And the tempter came and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

   “Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,
            ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and
            ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP,
            SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”

“Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”

 “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

This is a demonstration of “the process of sanctification”, a necessary step in our preparation to follow Jesus, in order to do His works and to engage in the inevitable Spiritual warfare, which awaits us.  We will hear more about this in Matthew chapter 5.

Here, we see “the temptation of Jesus”.   The word “Temptation”, as it is used here, comes from the Greek word, “peirazó”, which means “a test or a trial”.

This is a testing, and a proving trial.

  • It is the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy;  the enticement to sin, arising from personal desires or from the outward circumstances;  In this case, it is to reveal and to remove the obstacles to righteousness in fidelity, integrity, virtue and constancy.
  • In this case it is the temptation by which the devil sought to divert Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand;  Beware, because the devil seeks to divert and devour you, as well.
  • It also shows the condition of a person, their mental state and the way which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness;  This testing will be your training ground for endurance to holiness.
  • This testing comes by the way of adversity, affliction and trouble, sent by God, serving first, to test or prove one’s character, faith, holiness; secondly for training and preparation of one’s character, faith and holiness in order to follow Jesus in completion of His Mission.
  • WARNING:  This type of temptation can culminate in rebellion against God, by which His power and justice are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to show themselves.  Scriptures warn us that we are not to tempt nor to test God in this way.  We are to trust and obey Him.

Jesus has shown us the way through His own testing.  He is reminding us that He is faithful, and that He is with us, wherever He leads.  Be certain to follow Him closely!

(As a reminder, please click the blue italicized links above, and in each chapter, in order to get important details on these Bible teachings)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,  “The Sermon

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

(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. 4 – The Salvation Covenant

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  4

WATER BAPTISM & THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Salvation Covenant

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

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

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

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

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

Baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ, is for

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

“The Baptism of the Holy Spirit”.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

The Christian Betrayal of Jesus in America

Has The Great Apostasy Begun?

WARNING: The Gospel of Accommodation

FRACTURED

The False church Emerges

GOD is saying to His Church

EKKLESIA

A “Calling” or a “Cult”?

SHIPWRECKED

Church Scandals and Abuse

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 3- The Winnowing

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  3

THE WINNOWING

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

     He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Removing the Obstacle of Anger

(b) Removing the Obstacle of Lust

(c) Removing the Obstacle of Divorce

(d) Removing the Obstacle of Secrecy & Lies

(e) Removing the Obstacle of Revenge

(f) Removing the Obstacle of Hate

(g) Removing the Obstacle of Pride & Hypocrisy

(h) Removing the Obstacle of Worry & Anxiety

(i) Removing the Obstacle of Being Judgmental

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and watch for our next chapter,

WATER BAPTISM, The Salvation Covenant”.

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

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

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 2 – The Judgment

(You can listen while you read along)

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

Chapter  2

THE JUDGMENT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

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

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

 

EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Ch. 1- Outline

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

THE OUTLINE

 Jesus teaches in this order:

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

YOUR PREPARATION

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

We will use the following rules for study:

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

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

–  Chapter  1  –

REPENTANCE & THE KINGDOM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus told all His disciples, then and now, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.” These are our instructions to be followed carefully and exactly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

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

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

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

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Teaching, Training & Commissioning

FOLLOWING JESUS – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THIS IS THE WAY

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

previous page at: A Tutorial on Effective Spiritual Warfare

A TUTORIAL ON EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL WARFARE – Preface

PREFACE

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

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

INTRODUCTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

YOU SHALL HAVE A DOUBLE PORTION?

Gratitude.jpg

INSTEAD OF SHAME, YOU WILL HAVE A DOUBLE PORTION

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

How did you, or how would you react?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THIS ONE THING

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

Should I try to apply Isaiah 61 to my life?

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

THIS WE ARE TO DO.

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

We are to do this as Jesus does.

THIS, WE ARE TO DO.

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

We are to do this as Jesus does.

THIS WE ARE TO DO.

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

We are to do this as Jesus does.

THIS WE ARE TO DO.

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

We are to do this as Jesus does.

BUT, ARE WE ARE TO DO THIS, TOO?

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

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

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

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

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

GOD WILL DO THIS / GOD HAS DONE THIS

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

5 Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,

(and strangers will stand and pasture my flocks)

And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

(And foreigners will be my farmers and your vinedressers)

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

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

You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.

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

You will eat the wealth of nations,

(I will eat the wealth of nations)

And in their riches you will boast.

(And in their riches I boast.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everlasting joy will be theirs.

(Everlasting joy is mine.)

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

May it be as The Word of God says.

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

OZ, “CRT”, THE DRAGON & THE BEASTS

THE WIZARD OF OZ

CRITICAL RACE THEORY- The Threat

THE DRAGON & THE BEAST

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

WHO’S WHO?

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

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

THE REAL CULPRIT?

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

The Great Red Dragon = Satan, the devil

The Beast = The Ten Nations, the Spirit of Antichrist

The Second Beast = The Antichrist

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

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

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

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

You can read more about this on THE UNRAVELING

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

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

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

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

Satan Thrown Down to Earth

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

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

THE FIRST BEAST

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

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

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

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

THE SECOND BEAST

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

THE FINAL TRUMPET

SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL

When does the 7 Years begin?

WHAT IS GLOBALISM

WHAT IS GLOBALISM?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Our war is not with the government.  Our war is other-worldly.  The world we see with our eyes comes from the world of the heavenlies.  We must “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young  (comments section below)

CHOSEN

THE GREAT RESET

Globalism and The Tower of Babel

THE ONE WORLD CHURCH

COVID-19 and GLOBALISM?

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

The Pre-Wrath Rapture

I AM HERE TO GET MY KIDS BACK

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD – Lesson 14

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #14

  • Seek God’s Kingdom

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

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

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

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

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

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

    • You cannot serve God and wealth.

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

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

“THE THREE BIG TAKE AWAYS”

For the Christian – The Disciple of Jesus

I Will Not Serve Two Masters

I Will Ask in Faith Without Any Doubting

I Will Put on The Full Armor of God

MY CONFESSION:

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

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

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

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

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

HOW CAN YOU DO IT?___________________________________________

HOW CAN YOU TEACH IT? _______________________________________

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Further reading about The Kingdom of God:

The Kingdom of Heaven

Heirs of The Kingdom