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.

NEITHER RIGHT NOR LEFT

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“He will baptize you with The Holy Spirit and Fire”  John 3:11(b)

The literal and practical outcome of our baptism “With The Holy Spirit and With Fire” is found in the book of Joshua and it shows us how we enter a Kingdom Relationship with Him.

Joshua 1:3 “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.

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

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

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

7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

v8 “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.”

These prophetic words of God show us HOW WE CAN ENTER INTO A PRACTICAL KINGDOM RELATIONSHIP with Him.

Again, we are told, in John 6:31-35  “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’”

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.

“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”

Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.

“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.   “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.

 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him

 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.

“This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

These prophetic words of Jesus tell us HOW WE CAN ENTER INTO A SPIRITUAL KINGDOM RELATIONSHIP with Him.

Jesus is telling us that His Baptism of believers “With The Holy Spirit and with Fire” requires that His Word permeate every part of your being: body, soul, mind and spirit.  You are called to continue His Works until He returns to consummate the age.  This His Command and this is your calling!

This command is NOT A METAPHOR or is it HYPERBOLE.  THIS COMMAND IS LITERAL! 

For this to happen, for you and I to obey Jesus’ Command and to respond to our calling, we must do as John (and Jesus) say, and “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

The Kingdom of Heaven, The “Basileia”, is of royal power, kingship, dominion and rule, the right or authority to rule over a kingdom.  It is the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah and of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom.

It is at hand, “Eggizo”, the Greek words which means it is so near that is joined as one thing to another.  In other words, nearer than is your wrist to your hand.  This word refers to the crook of your arm or a curl as in a wave.  It is near, it is active and powerful, it can overpower and you can be joined to This Kingdom.  You can enter into it, or better understood, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU!  (Luke 17:21)

Jesus is revealing the location of His Kingdom which is accessible – but only for the few who are willing.  Jesus  makes no secret of it, yet, not many will understand and fewer yet will be willing to follow Him and enter His Kingdom.  (“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”)  Matthew 7:14

As the word of The Kingdom spread, questions began to surface.  “Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; (v21)  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in within you.”  Luke 17:20

You can only imagine the consternation created, especially among the religious ruling elite.  They must have asked, “Is Jesus saying that Heaven has come down to earth?”  And, in the minds of the Pharisees, they wondered “who is this Jesus and what gives Him the right to say these things?”

These same questions and this same controversy persist until this day.  For example, many of the contemporary Bible translations or versions, purposefully and deliberately changed the Greek-to-English translation of Luke 17:20-21,

from saying…

“The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in within you.”  

to saying…

“The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” 

“In your midst” is a deliberate misquote and a deliberate misinterpretation of God’s literal Word which should read “Within you”!  They are miles apart in meaning and will have the effect of misleading and misdirecting a Believer from his or her ultimate goal in serving God.

In this day and age, The Kingdom of God is at hand and Jesus will baptize the willing believer with The Holy Spirit and with Fire. 

“Now therefore arise, you and all this people, cross this Jordan, to the land which I have given to you.

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

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

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

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

“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

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

Read these words, drink them in, consume them.  Now, GO!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

ESCAPE THE COMING WRATH – Matthew 3:8

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

WHAT DOES THIS SAY?

“Bear Fruit in keeping with repentance”: 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

This is the “Gateway to Safety and Freedom”.  I will almost guarantee you that most have never heard this verse taught or preached in any detail.  Why is that? 

Going forward in some church building, whispering or whimpering some ‘magic words’ which we call “the sinner’s prayer” is not going to save you.  Oh, it might be a ‘first step’, but, until you “Bear Fruit in keeping with repentance”, you are not safe.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME?

Have you ever heard this before?  “Please, bow your heads and close your eyes and repeat this prayer after me. 

“I know that I am a sinner.  I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins.  I ask you to come into my heart.  I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“For all who prayed this prayer, CONGRATULATIONS!  You are NOW, a child of God!!  (Congregational applause)  Please pick up some literature after our service.  It will tell you what to do next.”

It is called, “The Sinner’s Prayer”.  But, is It Biblical?  And, is it enough to save your soul and get you into heaven?  The Sinners prayer – is it biblical?

Is it enough, to utter a scripted prayer, and expect a magical transformation of your life and a free pass to heaven?

Perhaps this little mimicked prayer, almost like an incantation, will get you thinking about salvation, but, the Bible seems to consider this a more serious matter and addresses it a bit differently.

The Bible and Jesus say there has to be a commitment to follow Jesus in His teachings and His commandments.

The facts are that neither Jesus nor His disciples ever used a “sinner’s prayer” to induce people to follow Jesus.

And, neither Jesus nor His disciples minced their words on this important matter.  They just gave it straight, and then you either dropped what you were doing, what you had been, and followed Him – or not. 

So, what are you to do?  Has Jesus changed His mind about how we are to follow Him and become a Christian?

Additionally, and more importantly, the Bible tells us, in Matthew 4:17  “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Repentance, a necessary step for Salvation, refers to an emotional change, and to a change of choice and has reference to particulars for one’s entire life.  Repentance signifies only regret, even amounting to remorse.  In a Christian sense, repentance is a reversal of moral purpose, a change of attitude and behavior to the teaching of model of Jesus.

Another example of the seriousness of this matter is found in Philippians 2:12 which says,

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling…”

Being saved is not just a simple prayer, repeated at the urging or insistence of someone else. It requires a serious commitment to follow Jesus and to accept a radical change in our life.  And, once prayed, it is someone’s responsibility to then disciple, walk with the person who is seeking salvation in discipleship.

Finally, and most importantly, Jesus told us at least a couple of things we are to BE and what we are to BE DOING while we wait for His return:

1.  Matthew 10:7  “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Verse 8. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

a)  Verse 9. “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, Verse 10. or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

b) Verse 11. “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. Verse 12. “As you enter the house, give it your greeting. Verse 13. “If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.

c) Verse 14. “Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Verse 15. “Truly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

2.  Verse 18. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Verse 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,

a)  Verse 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 THE CHURCH  have been warned by Jesus

“Matthew 7:21  “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. Verse 22. “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?’ Verse 23. “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’  

We, THE CHURCH, need to get to the Gospel Message and the Teachings of Jesus and make disciples in the likeness of Him.  We have drifted far and are now at great risk.

A BROOD OF VIPERS – Matthew 3:7

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

                     A PROPHECY FOR TODAY – Part 3

Matthew 3:7, says, “But when he 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?”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

Suppose with me, that you were sent to deliver a message, a warning of a pending disaster, to a specific group of people.   And, you were tasked with getting them ready to escape a coming disaster.  How soon would you tell them?

Also, would you be busy warning people who would not encounter the disaster, or would you spend your time warning those who would be affected?  This is a simple, if not a silly question, isn’t it?  No one in their right mind would waste time telling someone to flee a coming disaster if it was not going to affect them!

John the Baptist is warning and preparing those who would be affected by the wrath to come.  And, he was wondering who had warned the Pharisees and Sadducees – the brood of vipers – who were coming for baptism, to flee from the wrath to come.

There are two important messages here:

1.  The “coming wrath” was immanent!  In fact, it would begin within just a few years of John’s warning.  And, it began as Jesus said, “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”  And, these birth pangs continue to this day!  And, they are intensifying as we near the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal.

This has not been our only warning. 

The period of the breaking or opening of the first FIVE Tribulation Seals, which began between around A.D. 33 is also referred to THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS or the LAST DAYS.

John the Baptist began warning about this period in or around A.D. 27, the time of Jesus’ baptism.

Jesus calls this period the LAST DAYS or the END OF THE AGE in Matthew 24:3-8

The Apostle Peter calls this period the LAST DAYS in Acts 2:16-17

The Apostle Paul calls this period THESE LAST DAYS in Hebrews 1:1-2

The Apostle Peter again reminds us THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS in 2 Peter

The Bible tells about the END OF DAYS and the Tribulation.  It is important to know that the Tribulation period actually is called by three prominent, although variant names: 

(a)  The Beginning of Sorrows, Birth Pangs, The End of The Age or the Last Days

(b)  The Tribulation also known as The End of Days 

(c) The GREAT Tribulation also know as the Wrath of God or the Wrath of the Lamb.

2.  This warning was for the “children of God” only.   You can know this since  John 1:10 tells us that “Jesus was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  v11  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  v12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name”.

And,  Matthew 13:10 tells us, “The disciples came and asked Jesus, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11  Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”

YOU have been warned.  The time is near.  Are you ready?  (And, if you do not know what “being ready” entails, you are not ready.  BE WARNED! )

If you have concerns, please contact me and let’s talk.

Your Brother and Friend,


Mike Young

Whitestonefellowship1@gmail.com

The Next Teaching from Matthew  3:8, Escape the Coming Wrath

(More reading on this subject: It Has Been Spoken)

POVERTY & THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? – Matthew 3:4-6

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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

Matthew3:4  Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Verse 5.  Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;

Verse 6.  and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

The Bible can be easier to read with all the ‘new versions’ floating around.  And, assuming they are correctly written, you can begin to think you understand what the Bible is saying.

But, even that is not enough.  Unless you have the Holy Spirit and you see the Word in the correct context, you are still “seeing through a glass darkly”.  In the case of these verses, context is everything to understanding and to doing.

We are told that John is living in the wilderness, dressing in garments of camel’s hair, eating locusts and wild honey.  This is a description of first century poverty.  In reality, John is beyond being financially poor, he is destitute of any earthly possessions. 

So, why so much talk about poverty and the seeming conflict between wealth and poverty in the Bible?  Should we embrace poverty also?

Matthew 5:3, will give you understanding of the meaning of true poverty, its purpose and insights through context. 

We learn that,  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Again, Matthew 19:21  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.”

And again in Mark10:17  “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Verse 18.  And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

Verse 19.  “You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’”

Verse 20.  And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”

Verse 21.  Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Verse 22.  But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Verse 23.  And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”

Verse 24.  The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

Verse 25.  “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.”

Verse 26.  They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”

Verse 27.  Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

Verse 28.  Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”

Verse 29.  Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,

Verse 30.  but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

John the Baptist is an example to us that it is possible to live and walk in the power, in the provision and in the presence of The Kingdom of God, while on earth. 

Setting your mind, your focus, on Earthly possessions effectively blocks access to Kingdom life.  If you dispute this, look at Jesus’ life and example and hear His Words again:  “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Everything you have is the result of how you think.  Very few come by their possessions by accident or happenstance.  People toil, day and night to earn and possess.  And this is what God is saying to you, “Think on Me.  Toil, day and night, to possess Me and my Greatest of all Gifts to you.”

Jeremiah 29:13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’

Matthew13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

Matthew 13:45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, Verse 46, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

It is not wealth or possessions, in and of themselves, which blocks access to Kingdom life and walking in His Authority.  IT IS THAT YOUR MIND IS SET ON THINGS OF THIS WORLD which blocks access.

Romans 7:6 says, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, Verse 7, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, Verse 8, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

 And finally,  Matthew 6:19 cautions us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Verse 20. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; Verse 21. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

 Verse 22. “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Verse 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, (douleuo, Greek = be a slave to), God and wealth.

Poverty, difficulties, stress, lack, need and want are the trip wires at the doorway into the Kingdom of Heaven, placed there by God to assist us, to strip us of the obstacles preventing us access to the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Jesus has already said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that you will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

1.  Let go of your possessions of wealth, intellect, position, status or anything you treasure on earth and you will receive a hundred times as much NOW!  (If you cannot let go on your own, God will aid you, just don’t resist Him)

2.  You will also receive persecution.

3.   And, you will inherit Eternal life.

These are some of the greatest secrets contained in the Word of God.

Please, brothers and sisters in Christ, do not turn the Bible into a text book.  It is a portal into the Kingdom of God.  It contains all the mysteries of God, the earth and the entire cosmos, and it unlocks those mysteries. 

You have the opportunity to know by experience that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them!  This is WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU, NOW!

More to come.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The Next Teaching:  A Brood of Vipers, (Matthew 3:7)

Previously:  A PROPHECY FOR TODAY – Matthew 3:2-3

A PROPHECY FOR TODAY – Matthew 3:2-3

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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

Matthew 3:2, says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Verse 3.  “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!’”

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME?

This is important to you because you must be ready for His Return.  Most protestant denominations have been taught that the tribulation period will begin at some future date and that all Christians, without exception, will be Raptured off the earth and into heaven.  They teach that if you have prayed ‘a sinner’s prayer’, nothing more is needed for you to avoid the coming tribulation and to go to heaven.  This is a false and dangerous message.

The Bible teaches, and we see this teaching here, that the “Days of Distress” also known as “The Birth Pangs” of the tribulation began in the early 1st century.  Earth and all its inhabitants will experience – and, already, have experienced – the opening or breaking of the first 5 Tribulation Seals. 

The 6th Tribulation Seal will signal the beginning of the Great and Terrible day of the Lord, the Rapture, followed by a half hour of silence in the heavens while the saints are sealed and found to be before the Throne of God, and the 144,000 of faithful Jews will be sealed.

However, if you are not found doing or to have been doing what Christ has commanded of all Christians, before His Return, you are is grave danger of being left behind and cast into the outer darkness where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth!

The day of His return is very near.  There is likely little time left.   If you should die before that day, you are still accountable.

The Great Apostasy, found in the 5th Seal, has begun.  The revealing of the anti-Christ is all that is left to happen before Jesus Returns.

Matthew 3:1, says, “Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,”

The spirit of Elijah, (John the Baptist), has come as prophesied.  (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!’”) 

John’s preaching (kerusso, Greek) is one of authority to be a herald, to officiate as a herald to proclaim after the manner of a herald, always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed.

His message is, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  This message is the “golden key” for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.

His method is, “I baptize you with water for repentance”.  This is the preparation for your salvation.

His missive is, “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.  This is your salvation and your calling.

John is announcing to you the Day of the Lord is now at hand.  John conducted his ministry with an eschatological authority that demanded immediate action. He taught that judgment is at hand.

Interestingly and importantly, Jesus is telling you that whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. And, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.

John is still speaking, and he is pointing you to Jesus.  He is telling you that you must be baptized 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 you will escape the coming Day of God’s Wrath; for it is 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.”

Baptism is a form of binding.  Once you have believed, called on the name of the Lord, repented of your past life, the covenant of baptism is next.  Once that is completed, thankfully, God’s promises and covenants are permanent.  Make your decision and agree with another believer and make it permanent.  (Remember, that breaking this vow can be catastrophic.  Make your decision wisely.)

You can remain safe in the shelter of God.  Your present life made new and clean;  your past forgotten and your future secure.  Do so, and you will be on the greatest adventure of your life. 

Embrace it.  Do it.  Finish strong!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  Many think that ‘repentance’ is a one-time act.  It is a daily act.  Every day is made new in God.  Stay up-to-date with God and let’s get this done, together!

The Next Teaching:  Poverty and the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 3:4)

Previously:  The Axe is Laid – A Prophetic Word, (Matthew 3:10-12)

LIFTER OF MY HEAD

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A Prophetic Word

I woke up this morning with this portion in my mind. Repeating over and over, “He is the Lifter of my head”.

Of course, I wondered why the Lord would give me this portion of this verse? What does it mean?  What could it mean to me?  What could it mean to others?

This in The Scriptures:

“O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
Many are saying of my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.

“But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and

The One who lifts my head.
I was crying to the Lord with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.”

Psalm 3:1-4

Also This:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.

And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

Psalm 27:1

Here is the Meaning:

As the day of His return draws near, remember, God is the One who raises us up.

He is exalted, and we are set on high with Him, and we shall not be shaken.

We are no longer the tail but we are the now the head because He has brought us to the front, to the summit, to be with Him. Our head will be lifted up!

Confirming Scriptures:

Ephesians 2:4-6 He has raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

Deuteronomy 28:1 “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God:

3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

4 “Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock.

5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

7 “The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways.

8 “The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

9 “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10“So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you.

11 “The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

12 “The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

13 “The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, 14and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

The Time of His Return is very near. We know that “Immediately after the tribulation of these 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.

“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.” He tells us to BE READY.

Let’s put this Word in our mind, in our heart and let it into our spirit so we may endure and overcome and live and Spiritually prosper by His Word

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Yᵉhowshuwa‘

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Yᵉhowshuwa‘ is the Hebrew for Joshua.   Joshua was a “type” of the prophesied Messiah, a foreshadowing of the coming Savior.  

Joshua Chapter 1 verses 1 – 4:  An Encouragement.  These verses not only give us a mighty picture of conquest, victory and salvation, but it is a LIVING PROPHETIC WORD.  It is applicable both to the coming Messiah (Jesus) and for our daily lives.  THIS IS A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THESE DAYS! 

Read it, Believe it, Apply it, Do all of it – Today!

VERSE 1

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

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

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

VERSE 2

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

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

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

VERSE 3

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

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

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

VERSE 4

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

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

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

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

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

VERSE 5 

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

The Prophetic Transcription:  No man of any kind, neither great or powerful, without exception, can stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you;

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

VERSE 6 

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

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

Your Application:  You have already inherited this.  The land is now yours, that is all the earth.  This is the oath, God’s Oath, which He swore to your fathers.  Now, YOU possess it.  Take your possessing, today!

These are the Works He prepared ahead of time that we should walk in them.  Now let’s take our rightful place and walk therein!       Ephesians 2:10

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Note:   

  • “The Verse” is from the NASB version of the Bible; 
  • “The Prophetic Transcription” is a literal translation from the Hebrew language with all the detail and nuances of what is written.
  • “Your Application” is the “Prophetic Transcription” transcribed and is for YOU to actually do – today!

 

PANDERING TO THE CULTURE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

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

A few years ago I was suffering with middle to lower back pain and an ugly rash over my torso.  After several failed attempts to diagnose and treat my increasing discomfort, my family doctor referred me to a dermatologist, but with no success.

Next, my doctor sent me to an exotic disease specialist.  Complete failure.

All these medical professionals kept saying they could not find a reason for the spreading rash or awful back pain.

Next, I was sent to an urologist.  The urologist was unable to diagnose the problem with blood and urine test so he tried a cat-scan and finally an MRI.  Still in a quandary, he decided to treat me with antibiotics.  First one kind and then another.  No results.

He could see my pain was increasing to the point of becoming debilitating, so he tried yet another and different antibiotic and he increased the dosage.

Finally, after nine months, he gave up.

My wife, an avid reader, suggested, or rather demanded, that I stop all medications.  I was taking a cholesterol medication and a blood pressure pill.  I protested saying I might die!  Whereupon, she insisted that my incessant complaining was going to kill her first!

So I quit my meds.

Within two weeks my rash and all my pain was gone.

We suspected the culprit was the cholesterol medicine.  I told my family physician.  So, he prescribed a different cholesterol medicine.  The pain returned.  So he tried another.  This time both the rash and the pain returned.  He tried another, the pains returned.  Finally, the doctor proclaimed me allergic to cholesterol medicines!

I turned to proper diet, free from ‘bad foods’, regular daily exercise and I have become healthy.

It wasn’t the high cholesterol – it was ‘the cure’ which was killing me.

I guess I shouldn’t blame my doctors.  They were just doing for me what they have done for everyone else.  You could say, in a funny way, they were pandering to my needs.  But, I am not everyone else and the traditional treatments did not work on me.  I needed THE CURE.

WHICH REMINDS ME

We visited a local church fairly recently.  They list themselves as “Non-denominational” but, with prompting, they will admit they are actually Southern Baptists.  We entered their big auditorium and took a seat.  The ‘lead pastor’ arrived with a bottle of Perrier, perched himself upon his ‘preaching stool’ next to an acrylic podium.

He greeted the crowd with a friendly smile and introduction.  But, I missed some of what he said because my attention and thoughts had been drawn to the tattoos down his left arm, his Hawaiian flowered shirt, his worn-looking jeans and his Millennial-style language.   In my era we would have called him a hipster I guess, except that he is 50 years old.

His ‘sermon’ was preceded by a slick video of a house and flower garden.  The subject was “Living a Healthy Life”, which was taken from the book of 1st Corinthians, I think. 

He read and quoted scriptures.  But, his perspectives were solidly based on a postmodern worldview.  His appearance and language and message seemed incongruous with the Gospel.

I’ll make this short by saying that after I met some of the prospective members in a new member’s introduction class I formed an opinion.  Everyone in this group said they had been Christians for a number of years.  But, what struck me was how little they knew about what they professed about Christianity.  Most of what they said sounded more like advertising sound bites.

I already knew a few people who have been long-term members of this church.  They are friendly and nice people.  And I know of their lifestyles, practices and habits which also strike me as incongruous with what the Bible and the Gospel teach.

On another occasion, a friend visited a nearby church.  I’ll save you the buildup.  It was almost the same.  But, this time, the pastor was wearing pointy leather shoes, leather pants and a white fluffy shirt with ballooning arm material.  To me, he looked like a pirate who had strayed from his ship.

I think the music damaged his hearing and the strobe lights partially, although temporarily, blinded him (exaggerating here).  He might have told me more, but he said the stage smoke obscured his view.

He could not tell me exactly what this preacher-man said, but, he thought it was a religious motivational speech.  It had the “twenty-somethings” sort of cheering.

My friend said he left early.  Said he felt uneasy, uncomfortable and a bit sick to his stomach from what he had experienced.

I’ve been wondering why so many in the post-modern church have become what I call “entertainment oriented religious consumers“?   I think, in part, it is because that is what the churches are selling.

So many in the postmodern American Church are struggling in their personal and private lives.  So many are caught in a web of addictions and sin.  So many are stressed out and on medications for relief.  “WHY has this happened?”, I wondered.

One recent morning at breakfast, my wife and I were discussing these experiences and these matters, and she casually made the comment, “They are pandering to the culture”. 

“What?”, I asked.

“Those churches” she replied, “They are pandering to the culture“.

“WOW”, I thought.  “That is exactly right!  Brilliant!”

Now, just between just you and me, I was not exactly sure what the word ‘pandering’ really meant, so, I looked it up.

Here is what I found at Dictionary.com: 

followed by the word Panderer.  A noun,

a person who furnishes clients for a prostitute or supplies persons for illicit sexual intercourse; procurer; pimp.

a person who caters to or profits from the weaknesses or vices of others.

a go-between in amorous intrigues.

Verb (used without object)

to act as a pander; cater basely: to pander to the vile tastes of vulgar persons.

“Oh my, That’s it!”, I thought.  Dare I say it?  Somehow these guys seem to think that when the Apostle Paul said, “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.”  that he meant we are to BE like them in order to win them to Christ.  But, that is just wrong on every level!

IMMATURE, UNSTABLE (AND NUTS)

Yes, try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything you can to save some. But, becoming like the world, living like the world, looking like the world, talking like the world in order to save the world is a perversion of the Apostle’s meaning as to “gaining men”.  And, it’s just immature, unstable and nuts!

Hey, Hipster:  Jesus alone, saves.  Your apparel does not save, tattoos don’t save, loud music flashing lights deliver a false emotion and being a hipster does nothing.

It isn’t the culture killing the church – it is the ‘postmodern cure’ killing them.

I guess I shouldn’t blame these hipster preachers.  They were just doing what their contemporaries are doing for the world.  You could say, in a funny way, THEY ARE PANDERING TO THE CULTURE.  But, Church is not the world!  And the traditional treatments will not work on The Church and those seeking help. They need THE CURE, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

So, here is what I have to say to some of you preachers:  GROW UP.  Become mature and stable.  Psssst.  More are leaving and staying away from the church than are coming to see you clowning around in your ‘pretties’ on stage.

YOU ARE TO BE IN THE WORLD, BUT, NOT OF THE WORLD

There is a day at hand, when people will run to and fro, looking for answers to their greatest dilemma, and that time is NOW!  Listen, friend:

WHEN JESUS IS LIFTED UP – HE WILL DRAW ALL PEOPLETO HIMSELF John 12:32

Lift Him Up!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  If you are a preacher or a pastor, and you are offended by this and reject this, then hear what John the Baptist said so succinctly, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

JESUS?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Did JESUS really mean we should do GREATER WORKS than He did?

I heard a sermon and the Preacher said “The Greater Works” referred to by Jesus (John 14:12) were a direct reference to evangelism and coming to Jesus for Salvation. I don’t think so.

These Words spoken by Jesus were a profound and prophetic proclamation, empowering every believer to follow in the footsteps and Works of Jesus. Read this…

John 5:18  “For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

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.

20 “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.”

21 “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes

These are THE GREATER WORKS, as seen in verse 21

Now, Jesus turns His attention to us, His followers, His disciples…

John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

13“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

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

These are THE GREATER WORKS, as seen in verse 12

So, why are we, the Disciples and followers of Jesus, so impotent?

Read further:

Matthew 17:14  “When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?”

20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21[“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]

Listen, dear brothers and sisters in our Lord:   We huddle in our churches and shout or swoon at the words spoken by our leaders. We get excited by our music, our rituals and our gatherings. But our Lord has told us to GO, to DO and to BE.

GO – “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.”

DO – “For if you DO these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

BE – “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
“BE diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Unless we are perceived as hypocrites or lunatics, ourselves,  let’s GO and DO and BE all that our Lord told us.

Your Brother in THE CAUSE

Mike Young

HOW DO WE GET THERE FROM HERE?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

HOW DO YOU GET THERE FROM HERE?

The Disciples were good and dedicated men who made “honest mistakes”.  These men did extraordinary things, but, they sometimes acted out of passion, or from their traditions, certainly from their current understanding of matters or out of ignorance.

We do that at times, don’t we?

They have been named as Apostles of the Gospel.  And we have raised them to lofty positions in our churches and in our minds.  They have been venerated, and rightly so.

But, we seem to be struggling to follow them and get the results they obtained. So, how do we get to the point we can accurately follow Jesus and get the results He said we should get.  How do we get there from here? 

So, let’s be clear from here on:  Jesus is our example.  Jesus is the standard.  Jesus, always.  Jesus, alone.

THE CONTEXT OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE

We must always be careful to read the Bible n the entire context of the matter and in the context of the entire Bible.

We generally try to relate what we read in the New Testament to our day and time.  This can be very helpful but it can also be very reckless and dangerous. 

Jesus and the Apostles warned of a coming day when times would become very difficult.   A time when people would be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving,  irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,  treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  atime when people would hold to a form of godliness, although they will have denied its power.  It would seem that we are living in such a time.  (2 Timothy 3)

Jesus was on mission from His Father, as a sacrifice for the sins of many.  Nothing else could rise to the importance of His Mission.

Jesus has instructed us to continue His Works and Mission and we must be aware of the struggles and battles we must face and be be shrewd as serpents and yet innocent as doves.

During Jesus’ ministry on earth, there were two types of struggles or battles being waged in Israel. 

The first battle was with the Roman occupation of Israel and the Jewish resistance. 

Some Jews, in this struggle, colluded and collaborated with the Romans, such as the Jewish tax collectors or some political figures.

Some Jews simply cooperated and obeyed Roman law and occupation, to gain favor or to have the ability to continue their daily routines, to hold on to their position in Jewish society without much additional Roman interference, such as the Pharisees. 

But, some Jews resisted the Roman occupation with armed conflict and sabotage.  They engaged the Roman enemy to the point of death.  One of these such men was the infamous Barabbas.

The second conflict being waged was spiritual.  Jesus was on mission from His Father as savior of the world.  His march to the cross of crucifixion was on a timescale and He could not be distracted or diverted by world affairs.  Jesus was often confronted, His mission and his life threatened by the Jewish religious establishment, Roman authorities, many in Jewish society and at times, even by his own disciples.  But, He remained focused, on mission and on schedule.

Today, we are on mission from Jesus.  Ours is to continue and complete the Great Commission, “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 Jesus commanded us”.  Nothing else should rise to the importance of our mission.

We, too, are faced with two types of struggles or battles.

Our first struggle is with the distractions and threats of world and local affairs, religious establishments, politics and government authorities and from the segments of society which are hostile to the Cause of Christ. 

Just like during for Israel during the Roman occupation, many in our society collaborate with the godless Marxist and Socialist in our government to gain political power, position and wealth.  They are a direct threat.

Some in our society simply cooperate and obey onerous U.S or state laws, to have the ability to continue their daily routines without government to much government interference.  They can be an indirect threat.


Some among us are beginning to resist unfair and unjust laws and edicts. There is even talk of armed conflict as a response.  Like some Jews during the Roman occupation, they are willing to engage the enemy within, even to the point of death.

Our second conflict being waged is spiritual.  Our primary struggle does not originate in flesh and blood, but it originates with the powers, the world forces of darkness as spiritual forces of wickedness, in the heavenly places.(See Ephesians6:12)

And, just as God protected Jesus and His disciples until His time came, God will protect us until our time comes.  As soldiers of the cross, we must be ready for anything.  Just as God appointed that some disciples suffer or die in His Cause, some of us could face that same fate.

Read Peter’s exhortation:

1 Peter 1:6  “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 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; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

How do we proceed?  By following the Biblical Pattern modeled by Jesus. 

You must organize yourself as the Body of Christ:

FIRST, as Pastors, Deacons – Poymane-Diakonos (poy-mane’- dee-ak-on-eh’-o)  (pastor-deacon)

The prayer warriors, planners and doers of the Word, deacons and pastors.  Those who don’t mind, and would prefer to be in the background, working without notice, helping.

SECONDLY as Preachers, Evangelists, Teachers – Euaggelistes- kerux- didaskalos (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’- kay’-roox- did-as’-kal-os) (evangelist-preacher-teacher)

The Tip of the Spear are the evangelists, teachers, preachers and front line workers.  Those who don’t mind being in view and out-front, taking the heat and standing strong with the support of the faithful praying saints.

THIRDLY, as The Army of God, 1 Chronicles 12:22 – ‘Elohiym-machaneh  (el-o-heem’- makh-an-eh’

These are the guards of the camp.  These are ones who are mighty in the Word of God.  These will defend the camp, with the Force of God, when necessary.  The “Army of God”  1 Chronicles 12:22.

NOTE:  DO NOT let your experiences, circumstances, education or training be an obstacle!  Equip yourselves and go!

 Acts 4:13  “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

1.  Realize (find) your Spiritual Gifting and apply what God has given you.

2.  Submit yourself to God

3.  The Holy Spirit will empower you

4.  Jesus will do His Works thought you

Time is short and our Mission is urgent.  Please, click on this image and continue to study, pray and receive from God!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

AN INTRODUCTION TO MIRACLES

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

– Introduction –

The Bible, is unity in diversity, expressing its unique message in a rich variety of literary forms. The literature of the Bible is an aesthetically beautiful interpretation of human experience from a divine perspective. The literary forms found in the pages of Scripture, including figurative language, narrative history, poetry, wisdom literature, prophetic literature, gospel, oratory, and epistle.

The mystery of the Oracles of the Bible are hidden in plain sight, woven into parables, allegories, similes, riddles and symbols and poetry ( Bible.org series page 4 – a literary forms bible ).

Matthew 13:44, tells us that “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” The “Kingdom of Heaven” is the Miracle, the “field” is the Scriptures, and the “Treasure” is Key to all the miracles of God.

Throughout The Scriptures we find the immutable and prophetic Words of God hidden in His Field.

Here are “25 simple keys” to Miracles for your life

  1.  The Key of Clean Hands & A Pure Heart

Psalms 24:3

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

4 (Key #1) The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,

(Key #2) who does not trust in an idol

(Key #3) or does not swear by a false god.

5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.

2.  The Key Of The Vine (link)

John 15:4

Verse 7 “If you abide in Me, and

(Key #6) My words abide in you,

(#6a) ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Verse 8. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. verse 9. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

Verse 10. (Key #7) “If you keep My commandments,

(7a) you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

Verse 11. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

3.  The Key Of The Mustard Seed

Matthew 7:20 “And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you,

(Key #8) if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

(#8a) you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21

(#8b) “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

4.  The Key Of The Mountain

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answered saying to them,

(Key #11) all things for which you pray and

(11a) ask, (11b) believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

25 “Whenever you

(Key #12) stand praying,

(Key #13) forgive,

if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

5.  The Key Of Asking, Seeking, Knocking

Matthew 7:1

(Key#15) 6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

(Key #16) 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you;

(Key #17) seek, and you will find; (Key #18) knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

 

(Key #19) 12“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

6.  The Key of Works

John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

11 (Key #20) “Believe Me that

(Key #21) I am in the Father and

(Key #22) the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

(Key #23)12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

13 (Key #24) “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

(Key #25) 15“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments

Many of my friends will read a verse like John 14:12 and say something like, ‘Yes, but it doesn’t mean you can really ask for “anything” ‘. The plain language of this verse says ANYTHING. Believe in Him – Ask anything in His Name – He will do it. (But then, why doesn’t it happen, “all the time”?)

Read the entire Guide. Do all of it. Try, try again! It will happen.

John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Jesus said, “These only come out by prayer and fasting”.  The same can be said about miracles.  You get ready and Jesus will do the works!

By What Authority

UNHOLY UNIONS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

(Please note, links are used in place of footnotes for references and citations.  Please review each link in order to get the full teaching on these matters.  Also, you can pause the Audio podcast to follow a link and resume the audio when ready.)

2 Corinthians 6:14-18, tells us, “Do not be  unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
 

INFLUENCERS:  “One who exerts influence – a person who inspires or guides the actions of others.”

The appearance and presence of INFLUENCE peddling is on the rise.  It would seem that everyone wants in the game, whether for commercial purposes, political reasons, social purposes or for religious reasons. 

Now, the question is (as it always has been) who do you listen to?   I have wondered about this, and, I have been searching for a leader on this matter.

After many failed associations, I have decided to “hitch my wagon”, so to speak, to LEADERS who are mature and stable and balanced by the Word of God.  (This goes for friends too.)

SET THE PARAMETERS

It’s not that I will exclude someone as a friend based on these criteria, but, I heard a sermon this past Sunday, which helped me set the parameters for my search. 

And, since there are so many ‘wannabes’, fakes and frauds vying for position, perhaps this criteria and these parameters would be of interest to you, also.

Now, I am only taking excerpts, ideas and principles from Pastor Trent Casto’s message, who is the senior pastor at Covenant Church of Naples, Florida.  You can get the entire message here, also:

UNHOLY UNIONS

The first command in 2 Corinthians 6:14 begins with, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers…”  This was written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth in the first century AD.

His purpose was to instruct and warn followers of Jesus about relationships and the influence they can have on a person, whether good or bad

In our culture, as the violence and hatred between groups of people grows, and the government becomes more intrusive and threatening, and huckster are constantly at work to deceive and defraud us, we have to ask, “Who can I trust”?  So, Paul advice is not only good for forming relationships, but for your personal safety.

We should know that Believers and Unbelievers have different moral values, belong to different spiritual spheres and serve different masters, and that seems straight forward enough. 

But then we are faced with the challenge “Tares” within the church.  (A “tare” is a weed which resembles a head of wheat, a kind of darnel, resembling wheat except the grains are black).  How should we tell them apart, so we can find trustworthy people?

Here is Biblically based advice and very wise counsel from Pastor Trent Casto as he quotes the late theologian, Frances Schaeffer, regarding relationships and associations and our need to be careful to avoid becoming separatists, isolated from others and the world, but also not to be drawn into alliances that would compromise us and our mission.

The two terms he used were “ALLY” and “CO-BELIGERENT“:

“An ALLY is a person who is a born-again and fully devoted follower of Christ with whom I can go a long way with, down any path.

“A CO-BELIGERENT is someone who may not have any sufficient basis for taking the right position, but takes the right positions on a single issue.  I can join with this person without any danger as long as I realize that he is not an ALLY, that we are cooperating only on a single issue.”

1.  So when it comes to issues of the common good, such as ending abortions, preserving religious freedom, healing racial divisions, or relieving poverty, we can be CO-BELLIGERENTS and cooperate with people or organizations who do not share our Christian convictions.  But we must not be drawn into becoming full ALLIES and careful not to  disclose detail about our organizations, personnel or our ongoing methods, lest our CO-BELLIGERENTS would use these against us on other issues.

2.  Secondarily, but just as important, we are defined by our associations.  This can hamper the effectiveness of our mission going forward.

3.  Finally, we can be INFLUENCED by close relationships and continuing associations.  Should this happen, be certain you are at risk of losing your “Savor and Light“, and if that happens you are rendered impotent.

A NEW WORLD ORDER

Where is all this going?  A new era has dawned.  It would be prudent to understand and accept the fact that things will never be what they have been in our past.  We can never go back.

We have entered a new era, and we are seeing things, both amazing and terrifying, on a worldwide scale.  We are seeing things in America we would never have imagined could happen.  Yet, here we are. 

Read what has already happened:

                                 Click above image for link

“The foundation of The Global Governance Foundation has a set of core values, a belief system, which contains ideas that are foreign to the American experience, and ignores other values and ideas that are precious to the American experience.

The values and ideas articulated in the Commission’s report are not new. They have been tried, under different names, in other societies. Often, the consequences have been devastating. These values, under new names, have been emerging in UN documents since the late 1980s, and have dominated international conferences, agreements, and treaties since 1992. This set of core values underlies Agenda 21 adopted in Rio de Janeiro. Virtually every international treaty and agreement introduced during this decade reflects this set of core values. The Commission’s recommendations to achieve global governance seek to enforce these values through the programs authorized and implemented by a global bureaucracy growing from a revitalized and restructured United Nations system.”

We, Christians and Conservatives, are just now awakening to the fact that we are in a war for our very existence.  An ideological WAR has been raging for the past 175 years. 

Alarmingly, this ideological phase of this war has been won and the enemy has advanced their ideologies, methods, agenda and troops, taking up positions in our nations highest offices, in our states legislatures, our city governments, in our universities and in our churches.  They are living in our neighborhoods and sleeping in our beds.

And, still, we cry out

‘Peace, peace!’ but there is no peace.“

Ezekiel 13

  Verse 1.  “Now as to the times and the epochs, friends, you have no need of anything to be written to you. verse 2. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

verse 3. “While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

Verse 4. “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;

verse 5.  “for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

Verse 6. “so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk drunk at night.

verse 8.  “But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

verse 9.  “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, verse 10. who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. verse 11. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

Please read and re-read this until is sinks in, the TIME IS NOW!  TODAY IS THE DAY!

  1. SEARCH OUT AND MAKE ALLIES
  2. CAREFULLY CRAFT “CO-BELIGERENT REALTIONSHIPS”
  3. AVOID UNHOLY ALLIANCES

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

CONTACT ME!

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CHAOS?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever seen a fire hose get loose?  The water pressure becomes to great and causes the hose to slip from the hands of the fireman and the hose swings wildly, to and fro, up and down, like a snake gone wild, trying to escape from itself.  It can be a danger.  The remedy is to relieve the water pressure, so the hose will lay still.

Likewise, I see stress fractures in my friends lives and in the lives of people around us.  Even in my own life.

It is the pressure building up around us, and within us, squeezing us.  And, like the fire hose, I see the erratic behavior from that stress.  Emotions swinging wildly, to and fro, up and down, a like a person trying to escape themselves.  It hardly makes any sense.  The only remedy is to relieve the pressure so we may lay still and rest.

HERE IS HOPE

There is an answer.  But, we must embrace the answer – or better yet, The Answer, let Jesus, embrace us, so we can rest.

I could go into a long and detailed message copied from some psychology oriented website, but, few would read it.  So, let’s keep this short and to the point. 

1.  This requires you trust what is being written and just do it.

2.  Your mind needs to be a wiped clean of the daily distractions:

a.  For the next 24 hours:  No News Channels;  No Newspapers;  No FACEBOOK or other social media.

b.  Your mind needs to be as close to a clean sheet of paper as possible for this to work.  The Bible refers to this state as “childlike faith”, untainted by the world and untarnished by the sin of this world.

c.  Revelation 3:17  “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”

d.  You must come to Jesus as His disciple, admitting you are “Poor in Spirit“,  (from the Greek language), “Ptochos,” (Matthew 5:3) – You actually need to act this out, aloud.

i)    Jesus, I am reduced to begging and asking alms;

ii)   Jesus, I am destitute of wealth, influence, position or honor.

iii)  Jesus, I am lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches.

iv)  Jesus, I am helpless, powerless to accomplish an end.

v)   Jesus, I am poor, needy.

vi)  Jesus, I am lacking in anything as respects the spirit.

vii) Jesus, I am destitute of learning and intellectual culture .which schools afford.

People of this class most readily give themselves up to Christ’s teaching and proved themselves fitted to lay hold of the heavenly treasure.

Once you reach out to Jesus, in this state, you are where it can begin:  NOW, YOURS IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

NOW, “You will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11)

3.  Set the conditions of worship.  Prepare the mind to relax and receive.

a)  Go to the videos and listen and meditate and rest.  If you fall asleep, just rest: 

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“Abide” –  Christian Bible Meditation

“Abide” –  Christian Meditation

“Abide” –  Christian Meditation

 

CHRISTIANITY AND COMMUNISM?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

persecution.jpeg

“Communism emerged in history as a sworn and bitter enemy of Christianity.   For its part, Christianity recognizes it as completely alien and inimical with itself.”   from Christianity and Communism

​Let us now examine the question of the relationship of Christianity with Communism, more precisely, to that particular form of communism which has now appeared as an attempt to realize the ideas of socialism. This form of communism emerged in history as a sworn and bitter enemy of Christianity. For its part, Christianity recognizes it as completely alien and inimical with itself.

​The history of the Church in apostolic times reveals that, in those times, it had its own Christian communalism and the faithful held everything in common, as the Acts of the Apostles says. Even now, this Christian communalism exists in the form of Koenobitic or Cenobitic monasticism. Both the concept and reality of communal property is a bright, idealistically elevated type of Christian interrelationship, examples of which have always existed in the Orthodox Church.

How great is the difference between such Christian communalism and Soviet communism – One is as far from the other as the heavens are from the earth. Christian communalism (sometime referred to as Christian communism) is not an independent self-motivated goal to which Christianity might strive.  Rather, it is an inheritance bred of that spirit of love by which the Church has breathed from the first. Moreover, Christian communism is totally voluntary. No one says, “Give us what is yours, it belongs to us,” rather, Christians themselves sacrificed so that “none of them considered any of their possessions to be their own.”

The communalism of property in Soviet communism is a self-motivated goal which must be attained no matter what the consequences and regardless of any considerations. The builders of this type of communism are attaining it by purely violent means, not balking at any measure, even the slaughter of all those who do not agree.  The bases of this communism are not freedom, as in Christian communalism, but force; not sacrificial love, but envy and hatred.

In its struggle against religion, Soviet communism goes to such excesses that it excludes even that most elementary justice which is recognized by everyone.  In its class ideology, Soviet communism tramples on all justice.  The object of its work is not the common weal of all the citizens of the state, but only the interests of a single class. All the remaining state and social groupings of citizens are “thrown overboard,” outside the care and protection of the communist government. The ruling class has no concern for them.

​

Communist, Vladimir Lenin, once said, “Atheism is a natural and inseparable portion of Marxism, of the theory and practice of Scientific Socialism.”  Where there is a supreme God, there is a less supreme man who is necessarily under subjection to the supreme God. Therefore, where there is a supreme God, man has limited power, especially since the supreme God may “interfere” at any time and take charge — unpredictably, according to His own counsel”.  

In other words, as the anti-Communism expert, Dr. Fred C. Schwarz, put it, “If God exists and is in supreme command of the universe, He possesses discretionary power, and His actions cannot always be calculated accurately in advance.”   The reality of a ruling God topples Communism’s man-centered, predictable-circumstance-based sandcastle; so the idea of God must go–as a “law.”

​Aggressive Christianity means

​It is this my position that Socialism and Communism are the anathema of Christianity.  They cannot coexist.  They are incompatible.  One must survive, and the other must cease to exist.

The Christian doctrine of eschatology teaches the complete eradication of Socialism, Communism and their adherents. (Read the New Testament Book of the Revelation).

​Your Brother and Friend in the Bonds of Christ, alone!

Mike Young

CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIALISM?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

​cross and a fist.jpg

The Social Gospel:  The 21st Century 

​In the United States, the Social Gospel is still influential in mainline Protestant denominations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church USA, the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church; it seems to be growing in the Episcopal Church as well, especially with that church’s effort to support the ONE Campaign. In Canada, it is widely present in the United Church and in the Anglican Church. Social Gospel elements can also be found in many service and relief agencies associated with Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church in the United States.

It also remains influential among Christian socialist circles in Britain in the Church of England, Methodist and Calvinist movements.

In Catholicism, liberation theology has similarities to the Social Gospel. In the Anglican Church, the social gospel has found expression in pacifism.

Christian Socialism 


Christian 'socialism'

Christian socialism generally refers to those on the Christian left whose politics are both Christian and socialist, and who see these two philosophies as being interrelated. This category can include Liberation theology 

cross and a fist liberation theology.jpg  and the doctrine of the social gospel. The term “Christian Socialism” is used in this sense by organizations such as the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM), a specifically Christian grouping affiliated with the British Labour Party.

Christian socialists draw parallels between what some have characterized as the egalitarian and anti-establishment message of Jesus, who — according to the Christian Gospel — spoke against the religious authorities of his time, and the egalitarian, anti-establishment, and sometimes anti-clerical message of most contemporary socialists. Some Christian Socialists have gone as far as to become active Communists (see Christian communism).

This author’s position:  Socialism and Communism are the anathema of Christianity.  They cannot coexist.  They are incompatible.  One must survive, and the other must cease to exist.

The Christian doctrine of eschatology teaches the complete eradication of Socialism, Communism and their adherents. (Read the New Testament Book of the Revelation).

NEXT:  Christianity and Communism  christian communism.jpg