Author: Michael Young, Sr.

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

THE NARROW GATE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #19

  • Choose the Narrow Way

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

14  “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Training, precision, discipline, hard work, diligence, resolve, dedication, faithfulness, loyalty, clarity of purpose.

As if it were a coded message for a secret mission, the wording is precise, terse and clear:  “Enter through the narrow gate”.

All of the commands and disciplines listed in this study which are a Disciple of Jesus, have two things in common: 

1.  They are hard, if not impossible, for the natural mind.

2.  The only way is for a Disciple of Jesus is by God’s Grace through our faith in Jesus.  Jesus is the way, the Truth and the Life.  There is no other way except by Him.

“Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

“7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.”  John 10:1-9, CSB

JESUS IS CLEAR, HE IS THE ONLY WAY


Now it is your turn:

 

HOW MUST YOU DO IT? ____________________________________

 

HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT? ________________________________

 

NOTE: This teaching by Jesus is critical for us to know and to do especially in the day and this age. His Return is near, and the ONLY way we will successfully “endure to the end” is by being His Disciple.

Your Brother and Friend,

 

 

 

 

Mike Young

https://www.whitestone2014.com/and-you-shall-be-my-disciple

ARE WE SEEING THINGS?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 I don’t know exactly how to explain what I experienced yesterday.  So, I will just guess at how to say it. (And I hope this finds a listening ear).

Call me crazy. 

Call it an ‘epiphany’. 

Call it a vision (I really don’t like that description, but…)

I was simply sitting on our lanai (that’s a screened patio area, for you who are not familiar with Florida patio names) drinking a cup of coffee, taking in the scenery across our pond and thoughts or visions began to flash across my mind.  They were so vivid that they almost seemed visible (notice, I said ALMOST).

These images were reminiscent of scenes from “The Lord of the Rings” movies.  The images were not of the ugly distorted creatures or monstrous figures like in the movies, but they were people with hatred and anger distorting their expressions.  They were  charging across a landscape, destroying everything in their path.

But, this was not movie.  I thought, perhaps these are just images from the news media of the recent riots which my mind is recalling.  Maybe it was as simple as that.

But, I couldn’t shake the realism.  And, it was easy to relate what I was “seeing” to what is happening in our world.  I kept thinking, “How could the people of our nation go from law-abiding citizens to domestic terrorists in such a short time?

How could almost half the population, in the year 2020, endorse a political party espousing godless Socialism and Communist style rule?  How could so many people endorse desecrating our religious institutions, our history and legacies, going about indiscriminately killing our police and first responders?  They are destroying business, killing the owners, looting, stealing and rioting saying it is for justice?  How could the Democrat Senators, Governors, mayors and public officials allow and even encourage this anarchy?  Have they lost their minds?

As I pondered on the thought “Have they lost their minds?”, I wondered, “Or, is something more sinister occurring?”

I asked myself, “What would cause so many people to begin to call what been considered as ‘good’, for centuries, now call it ‘evil’ and call evil as being good? 

They murder babies for body parts, kill our police our of anger, disparage and attack those who don’t agree with their points of view.  These people loot, steal, threaten, murder for no real reason or for any reason.  Dishonesty is rampant is all areas of society.  Immorality, perversion and pornography is so prevalent and pervasive that one cannot escape it.

I’ll spare the continuing long-winded review of this upside-down world-wide phenomenon, but the one thought that struck me:  “Something is going on that is just not right.  It is not of this world.”

That’s when the lights came on in my head.  “It is not of this world”.

Read Ephesians 6:11 – 12

(verse 11)  “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  (verse 12)  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

OUR STRUGGLE IS AGAINST

THE RULERS AND POWERS AND WORLD FORCES OF DARKNESS

AGAINST SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY

What we read in Ephesians 6 is nothing new.  But, the trouble seems to be intensifying, just like Jesus said it would intensify.  It has become just like in the days of Noah, before the flood.

Genesis 6:5-6 tells us what was going on in the days of Noah. “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

We read in Genesis 6:11 that “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” Pick up the newspaper, and you will see the hostility that fills the earth.

For those who have read (or have not read) the “White Stone” articles on the Tribulation, maybe this will bring you “to the table”, so to speak. 

1.  We MUST recognize where we are in “eschatology“.

2.  We are at the 12th hour, we are seeing the opening of the 5th Tribulation Seal of the “eschatological clock“.  (There is only one more Seal left)

3.  There is only ONE WAY we can deal with what is upon us, until our Lord returns. 

4.  And we are called upon to BE READY!

This is URGENT, dear friends.  If you have come this far in this letter, thank you!  Now please click and read the links.

We must be ready.  Please, call, email or text me if you want to talk further.  Let’s join together and get this word out.  Christ is our ONLY and BEST HOPE!

Your Friend and Brother in Christ,

 

 

 

 

Mike Young

DO UNTO OTHERS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“The Law of Reciprocity”

 

 

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #18

  • Do Unto Others

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The opening of this verse is read at plain face value, “treat people the same way you want them to treat you”. 

The interesting word in this verse is “treat“.  It comes from the same Greek word as “make“.  As in Matthew 4:19, Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

TREAT and MAKE. as used here, is translated from the Greek word “poieo”.  “Poieo” is a CREATIVE word.  It means to make something according to what it is called.  This is the New Testament Greek word equivalency to the Old Testament Hebrew word CREATE, or “Bara”.   As in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

“WHAT IS VISIBLE COMES FROM THAT WHICH IS UNSEEN”

Please, proceed intentionally.  What comes next, is a game-changer for most Christians and particularly for a Disciple of Jesus:

In other words, when you TREAT others the same way you want to be TREATED you, are MAKING (creating) a relationship by the way you think and behave, from what is unseen, the Spiritual realm, which manifests itself into the natural world!

To wit:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Hebrews 1:1-3

To reinforce the fact that this teaching or command rests on a Spiritual basis, Jesus finishes with the profound remark “for this is the Law and the Prophets“.

“The Law and the Prophets“. is another way of saying “the entire Old Testament”.  The night before his death, Jesus meets with Moses (the LAW) and Elijah (the greatest of the prophets) and talks with them at length. This is important because Jesus was clearly not on Earth to oppose the law and the prophets but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17)

In other words, as a Disciple of Jesus,

  1. How you TREAT people reveals your true relationship to Jesus
  2. How you TREAT people allows Jesus to CREATE or MAKE a relationship come to pass which is according to His Righteousness.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” Ephesians 2:10

 

We must remember that it is Jesus Who prepares the Works ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

It is both an awesome responsibility and the highest honor to Walk in Works of Jesus, (and in His own Words), and even greater Works than these, because He is with the Father.  So, it is no wonder that Jesus said,

“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.  Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:12-15

Now it is your turn:

HOW MUST YOU DO IT? _______________________________________

HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT? ____________________________________

He Who is in us, is greater than he who is in the world, and He has overcome the world!

Your Brother and Friend,

 

 

 

Mike Young

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #17 

  • Ask, Seek, Knock

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; 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. (Matthew 7:7–8).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?  This teaching is, essentially, about prayer.  Jesus is not teaching just how to pray, but, He is commanding His Disciples to pray effectively.

Jesus is, by this teaching, is teaching about the critical importance or prayer.

He is telling us how we get results!  In contemporary terms (metaphorically), Jesus is saying that prayer, is a search and rescue mission!

At first look, it may seem like praying is making a simple request and presto, like calling a genie from a bottle, we have our answer. Or, glancing about and easily finding that which you are hunting.  Or,  tapping on a door and the gates of prosperity swing wide open to you.

Reading the rest of the verses in context of the Biblical teaching on prayer we see the seriousness urgency of the matter.

verse 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!

In this case “Ask”, literally means to beg, to call for, to crave, to deeply desire, to require.  It is in the “imperative mood” which expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding.  Thus, the word Jesus uses, “Ask”, is not at all an “invitation,” but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.

It is the same for “Seek”.  In this case, “Seek” means, seek in order to find out by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into; to aim at, strive after, to require, to crave, to demand something from someone.  This too, is in the “imperative”.

To “knock” is in the imperative and carries the idea of “unfailing”.  This is saying that it is not enough to ask and seek, but you must not fail to knock, also.

God tells us we must pray fervently to have effectual prayers.

In other words, you must use all resources at your disposal, praying fervently, seeking intensely, knocking persistently, with purpose of obtaining the thing you seek, keeping in mind that God tells us that His Word will achieve the very thing it is purposed to achieve.

Most importantly, Jesus reminds us that He can only do what He sees the Father is already doing, and we, AS HIS DISCIPLES, must do that very thing.  It is His Will, not our own ideas, to accomplish a thing.

THE EFFECTIVE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS CAN ACCOMPLISH MUCH

James 5:16

 

 

Now it is your turn:

HOW MUST YOU DO IT? _________________________________________________________

HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT? _____________________________________________________

 

Your Brother and Friend,



Mike Young

DO NOT CAST YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #16 

​

  • Do Not Cast Pearls before “swine”

​

​“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.” (Matthew 7:6).

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Jesus has just finished teaching His followers, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.  For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”  

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?”   (Matthew 7:1–5).

Now Jesus is telling us to make a judgment on what is Holy, who are the “dogs”, what is a “Pearl” and who or what are the “swine”.

It is important to understand the words and the context being used.

Jesus is NOT SAYING we should never make judgments. He IS SAYING we should not judge people unfairly but we are to make right judgments. THIS IS IMPORTANT, especially in our world.

I will define terms so we can begin to understand the differences between being judgmental and making righteous judgements.

“Holy” is the word hagios (hag’-ee-os) which refers to the Holy characteristic of God, or being separated to God, who is worthy of veneration. 

Its highest application is to God himself, in His purity, majesty and glory.  It is also applied to persons as separated to God’s service and is in regards to Christ, of Christians and in the moral sense of sharing God’s purity, including sacrifices and offerings.

“Pearls” are referred to as a Proverb or a word of Great Value.

A “Dog” is a metaphor for an impudent person.  Someone who shows no respect for another person.

A “Swine” is colloquially, the ultimate symbol of loathing by ancient Jews.  Pigs were considered as symbols of disease, filth and hypocrisy.

We learned, in Lesson #14, the we are not to “judge hypocritically”.  Jesus teaches us that we are not to pronounce judgment on someone and that we, as Jesus’ disciples, correct our own attitudes and behaviors.

At the same time, we are told to judge, and “judge righteously”.  That is to say, we are to judge using righteous discernment.  “Do not judge according to appearance, but do judge with righteous judgment.”  John 7:24

Discernment  is the word, dokimazo (dok-im-ad’-zo ) which means to “prove” or to try, to discern and to examine.  To test, examine, prove, scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not, such as metals.  To recognize whether it is genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy.

Judgment is the word, krino (kree’-no ) which means to determine, to condemn, go to law and to call in question.  It involves esteem.  It is to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong.

RECAP:

Disciples of Jesus are not to judge hypocritically.  We are to judge righteously using righteous Discernment.

  • DISCIPLE OF JESUS, are to judge righteously. 
  • We are to pray for and use righteous discernment
  • We are to determine (judge) who is worthy of the things of God. 
  • We are to Determine what is Holy and Pure, His majesty and glory. 
  • We are to determine who are the people of God and Christ and in His service.  
  • We are to know who is sharing the Truth of God’s purity, including sacrifices and offerings. 
  • We are to determine what are the “Pearls” of God, which is a Proverb or The Word of God, which is of Great Value.
  • ​Disciples of Jesus are not to give what is Holy or of Great Value to those those who prove to be impudent people full of hate and hypocrisy.

​

“Do not judge according to appearance, but do judge with righteous judgment.”  John 7:24

 

Now, it is your turn:

HOW MUST YOU DO IT? _____________________________________________

 

HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT? __________________________________________

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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Thank you for your response. ✨

SAYS WHO?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment
Who says3.jpg

​Remember that phrase?  Siblings arguing.  One kid says “I can do what I want!”, and the other sibling says, “Oh, yeah?  Says who?”

Now the argument gets serious.  In other words, the second sibling is saying, “On whose authority do you do these things?”

If the first kid says, “I say!”, then he carries only the weight of brute force or superior intellect.

But, if he or she says, “Dad said so!” then the first sibling has assumed a superior and credible position.  He or she is speaking from authority.

Incidentally, I was in a discussion with a friend and he said, “I believe we are close to the Rapture and we won’t have top see or endure much more of the troubles of this earth.”

I asked, “Isn’t that time called the Tribulation or the “Last Days”, or the “End of Days” or the “Great and Terrible Day of the Lord”?”

“Yes, it is”, my friend replied.

I responded with, “Oh, yeah.  And, when is that supposed to happen?”

My friend said, “You know, before the tribulation starts.”

I responded again, asking, “When is that?”

He looked at me quizzically and said, “Before the seven years of tribulation.”

I had to say it, “Oh, yeah?  Says who?  Who in the Bible says that?”

(I honestly could not help myself.  But, I know it had to be some pastor or Bible teacher who said what my friend is now saying.   My friend is just repeating some guy.)

​But, now the discussion began in earnest

​So I continued with, “I have it on good authority that The Apostle PETER SAYS, in Acts2:14  

“Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15“For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

​      17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
            ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
            AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
            AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
            AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;

      18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
            I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
            And they shall prophesy.

      19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
            AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
            BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.

      20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
            AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
            BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.

      21 AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’

PETER GIVES THESE KEY POINTS:

  • This is what Peter said about Pentecost, in AD 1, “but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel’  indicating the LAST DAYS have begun.
  • AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says.  (also in Joel 2, Matt 24, Rev 1 – 13)
  • This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel about the Last Days (Joel 2)
  • AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE  (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2)
  • AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2)
  • BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.  (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2)
  • THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2)
  • BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. (also in Matt 24, Rev 6, Joel 2:2)

And I continued with, “I have it on good authority that The Prophet JOEL SAYS, in Joel 2:1 

“Blow a trumpet in Zion,
            And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!
            Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
            For the day of the LORD is coming;
            Surely it is near,

      2A day of darkness and gloom,
            A day of clouds and thick darkness.
            As the dawn is spread over the mountains,
            So there is a great and mighty people;
            There has never been anything like it,
            Nor will there be again after it
            To the years of many generations.


         28“It will come about after this
            That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
            And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
            Your old men will dream dreams,
            Your young men will see visions.

      29“Even on the male and female servants
            I will pour out My Spirit in those days.


30“I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
            Blood, fire and columns of smoke.

      31“The sun will be turned into darkness
            And the moon into blood
            Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

      32“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD
            Will be delivered;

JOEL GIVES THESE KEY POINTS:

  • Display of wonders in the sky and earth (also in Matt 24:29 and Rev 6:12-14)
  • The sun will be turned into darkness (also in Matt 24:29 and Rev 6:12-14)
  • and the moon into blood (also in Matt 24:29 and Rev 6:12-14)
  • BEFORE the day of the Lord comes

And, I went on with, “I have it on good authority that The Apostle PAUL SAYS, in 1 Thessalonians 4:16

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

PAUL GIVES THESE KEY POINTS:

  • The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout AFTER wars, famines, plagues, death, (also in Matthew 24:31)
  • with the voice of the archangel (also in Matthew 24:31)
  • and the trumpet of God (also in Matthew 24:31)

And, I went on with, “I have it on good authority that The Apostle PAUL SAYS, in Hebrews1:1 

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son,”

PAUL GIVES THESE KEY POINTS:

  • In these last days, and these Words were spoken in 62 AD.  These were the Last Days.
  • God has spoken to us in His Son in these Last Days.  AD 62.  The End of Days had begun.

​And, I went on with, “I have it on good authority that JESUS SAYS, in  Matthew 24:4

     “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

      9“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10“At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13“But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

JESUS GIVE THESE KEY POINTS:

  • “See to it that no one misleads you.
  • “For many will come in My name, and will mislead many.
  • “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. (Rev 6:3)
  • But that is not yet the end.
  • For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, (Rev 6:1)
  • and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. (Rev 6:5)
  • “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
  • Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
  • “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. This is the Apostasy.
  •  “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” and Jesus says wars, rumors of wars, famines & earthquakes are only the beginning of birth pangs, but it is NOT THE END.

And, I went on with, I have it on good authority that JESUS SAYS, in Matthew24:15

“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),  21“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”

JESUS GIVE THESE KEY POINTS:

  • When you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, Then there will be a great tribulation (also in Daniel 9:25-27, Dan 11:29-32, Dan 12:11-12, 2 Thess 2:3-4)
  • Then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.” (also in Daniel 12:1, Joel 2)

I finished with, “AND I HAVE THIS ON GOOD AUTHORITY. “

​RECAP:

  1. The Last Days, The End of Days, began in AD 1, according to the Apostle Peter. 
  2. The Apostle Paul repeats the same thing as late as AD 62. 
  3. The again the Last Days had begun as witnessed by Jesus remarks when referring to the first five Tribulation Seals, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
  4. The world has suffered wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines and deaths from global plagues (Tribulation Seals 1 through 4) for many centuries. 
  5. The Church is now undergoing a phenomenon of a worldwide Apostasy, the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian. The term apostasy means a departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity, which we see as churches, worldwide, have rejected the Bible and the final authority and twist scriptures of satisfy their own lust and their seared conscience. (the 5th Tribulation Seal).
  6. Everything up to and including the Great Apostasy have occurred and is occurring. 
  7. We are now waiting for the revealing of the “Man of Perdition”, also known as the antichrist, the one who stands in the Holy Place and commits the Abomination if Desolation.  And, once that occurs, the timing of events will accelerate wildly.
    1. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
    2. “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
    3. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
    4. “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.


We have to get this right because we have His Work to do until this has come to an end.  And standing around, looking skyward, waiting for the Rapture is a fatal mistake.  He is going to ask what we have done of which He told us to do.  By this we will know if we are His disciples

So, what do we need to be DOING until He Returns and takes us Home?  What does it mean “TO GET READY“?

Your Brother & Friend in Christ,

Mike Young

I HAVE COME INTO THE WORLD TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

There are a group of us participating in a Home Study, “THE TRUTH PROJECT“. 

The study itself is called a “World View Tour”.  We are told that “there is no direction you can travel that God has not spoken”.  It teaches the Christian World View from twelve areas and disciplines:

1.  Truth

2.  Philosophy

3.  Anthropology

4.  Theology

5.  Science

6.  History

7.  Sociology

8.  “Unio Mystica” – Am I alone?

9.  Law

10. The American Experiment

11. Labor

12. Community

Each week’s lesson is called a “Tour” of one of the twelve “tours” or disciplines.

The first Tour started by asking the question, “Why did Jesus come into the world?”.  Jesus answers that question in John 18:37,

“Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

THE COSMIC BATTLE

Which brings us to the Cosmic Battle:  TRUTH vs THE LIE which has been raging since the very beginning of time.  And, Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  Those who say they are Christians, but do not do as Jesus said, are liars and do not follow Him.

Jesus gave Peter these marching orders:  Matthew16:18  “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

We are still in this Cosmic Battle.  It is not just defensive.  We are on the offense and crashing the gates of hell.

Which brings me to the point, if we are FOLLOWING JESUS, where is He telling us to go and what are our “Marching Orders”?

THE MARCHING ORDERS

1.  Jesus said we are to follow Him.  Have His mindset.  We are to do The Works He has done and even greater Works. We are to be going and making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to observe and do all He has commanded us.  (Follow: Matthew 4, 8, 16, 19, John 12.  Have His mind:  Philippians 2:5.  Do His works:  John 14:12.  Make disciples:  Matthew 28:19)

2.  We are to gird ourselves up with Spiritual Armor and stand strong.  We are in a spiritual Battle which is being fought in the Heavens and is being played out on the earth through men and women.  The origins and spiritual but the manifestation of the battle are real and deadly.  (Ephesians 6)

THE CAMP OF GOD’S SPIRITUAL ARMY

A.  The Camp:  The prayer warriors, planners and doers of the Word, deacons and pastors.  Those who don’t mind (would prefer) to be in the background, working without notice, helping.  Praying, encouraging, protecting, planning, supporting, serving, building up the Body.

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

B.  The Front Lines:  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 prayer warriors.  Preaching the Gospel, teaching everything Jesus taught, prophesying the truth, calling out evil, casting down strongholds.

The Evangelist, Preacher, Teacher – Euaggelistes- kerux- didaskalos (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’- kay’-roox- did-as’-kal-os)

C.   These are the guards of the camp:  These are ones who will defend the camp, using force, if necessary.  These are called the “Army of God”  – 1 Chronicles 12:22.  Defending the Body, apologists, warriors, self sacrificing for the good of the Church.

The Army of God.  ‘Elohiym-machaneh  (el-o-heem’- makh-an-eh’

THE MISSION’S MULTI-PRONGED ATTACK PLAN

Details of the Mission

Reach –   “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Teach – “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Send -Jesus said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Details of the Mission

Comments or Questions?  Contact me.

whitestonefellowship@earthlink.net

                                   or

https://www.whitestone2014.com/white-stone-fellowship  (at the bottom of that web page)

Your Brother and Friend,






Mike Young

Prosperity in the Bible (page 1)

~ Michael Young, Sr.

Prosperity begins here.

We are told to make a choice:

Choose life and prosperity

or

death and adversity.

Deuteronomy 30:8 “And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today.

9 “Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;

10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

11 ¶ “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.

12 “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

14 “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

15 ¶ “See, I have set before you today

life and prosperity,

and

death and adversity;

16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

But, is what we hear about prosperity from Christian Preachers today the same as what we read from the Word of God?

The Bible tells us that we will experience both prosperity and adversity and life and death.

The balance of scriptures. This is what is usually omitted from “prosperity preaching” today. We usually only hear about the Victory and the Prosperity.

But, the Bible tells us to expect to encounter both.

Read the following and consider that this is the Eternal, Unchanging, Word of God:

Deuteronomy 27:1 ¶ Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying, “Keep all the commandments which I command you today.
2 “So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime
3 and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
4 “So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime.
5 “Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them.
6 “You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God;
7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God.
8 “You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly.”
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God.

10 “You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”

11 ¶ Moses also charged the people on that day, saying,
12 “When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
13 “For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 “The Levites shall then answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Biblical Prosperity? “The Curse?” (Page 2)

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Prosperity begins here.

We are told to make a choice:

Choose life and prosperity

or

death and adversity.

I will comment briefly and ask questions. But, I have decided to let the WORD of God speak for itself. You will need to read and study and mediate on His Word and decide: What is Prosperity in the Bible? And can it help or hinder? (I have made separation in paragraphs and used bold type for emphasis)

Deuteronomy 30:8 “And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today.

9 “Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;

10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

11 ¶ “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.

12 “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

14 “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

15 ¶ “See, I have set before you today

life and prosperity,

and

death and adversity;

16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

1. But, is what we hear about prosperity from Christian Preachers today the same as what we read from the Word of God?

The Bible tells us that we will experience BOTH, prosperity and adversity and life and death. It is withing our reach – it is in our mouth and in our heart that we may observe it.

This is the balance of scriptures.

Observation #1. The Bible tells us to expect to encounter both prosperity and adversity.

Observation #2. Is this what we hear and see in the Western-style Christianity being practiced by most American Christians today? Many, if not most, churches and Christians have discarded much of the clear teaching in the Bible in favor of “what sounds reasonable in post-modern America” and thereby fail to appropriate the Promises of God contained in His Word.

We cannot understand God’s Word from a modern perspective. We cannot understand God’s Word from a human perspective. We must come to know Jesus, be filled with The Holy Spirit and posses the Mind of Christ in our diligent, passionate and fervent pursuit of Him and His Word.

The Bible tell us that we must walk in His ways and keep His commandments and His statues and His judgments so we may live and so that the LORD our God may bless us in the land.

Please read the following, which I have titled “Page 1” and consider the Eternal, Unchanging, Word of God:

“The Curse” from Strong’s Concordance #07045 קללה qᵉlalah kel-aw-law’

from 07043; n f; [BDB-887a] {See TWOT on 2028 @@ “2028d” }

AV-curse 27, cursing 5, accursed 1; 33

1) curse, vilification, execration

from #07043 קלל qalal kaw-lal’, a primitive root; v; AV-curse

1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light

1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water)

1a2) to be swift

1a3) to be trifling, be of little account

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift

1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant

1b3) to be lightly esteemed

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to make despicable

1c2) to curse

1d) (Pual) to be cursed

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to make light, lighten

1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour

Deuteronomy 27:1 ¶ Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying, “Keep all the commandments which I command you today.

2 “So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime
3 and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
4 “So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime.
5 “Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them.
6 “You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God;
7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God.
8 “You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly.”
9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God.

10 “You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.”

11 ¶ Moses also charged the people on that day, saying,
12 “When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

13 “For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 “The Levites shall then answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
17 ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
18 ‘Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
19 ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s skirt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
24 ‘Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
25 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
26 ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

(Next: The Blessings, Page 2

Biblical Prosperity? “The Blessing”(Page 3)

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Prosperity Begins Here.

We are told to make a choice:

Choose life and prosperity, or choose death and adversity.

I have decided to let the WORD of God speak for itself. You will need to read and study and mediate on His Word and decide: What is Prosperity in the Bible? And can it help or hinder? (I have made separation in paragraphs and used bold type for emphasis)

The “Blessings”: from Strong’s Concordance

#01293 ברכה Bᵉrakah ber-aw-kaw’, from #01288; n f;

AV-blessing 61, blessed 3, present 3, liberal 1, pools 1; 69

1) blessing

2) (source of) blessing

3) blessing, prosperity

4) blessing, praise of God

5) a gift, present

6) treaty of peace

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,

14 and 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.


1. Diligent Obedience, doing all His Commandments is what is missing from much of the “Prosperity gospel message” by many of the Word of Faith movement preachers.

Recognizing that it is The LORD Who will command the blessings upon you and not of yourself, is what is missing in the “Prosperity gospel message” by many of the Word of Faith movement preachers.

2. Diligent Obedience, doing all His Commandments is what is missing from the practice by many of the “Post-modern and traditional Westernized American Christians”.

The failure to recognize, understand and knowing how to appropriate The Blessings and prosperity promised by God.

(please click here to go to Page 3)

Biblical Prosperity? “It shall come about” (Page 4)

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Prosperity begins here.

We are told to make a choice:

Choose life and prosperity

or

death and adversity.

I will comment on this page. Although I have decided to let the WORD of God speak for itself, I will make these closing comments. Please, you will need to read and study and mediate on His Word and decide: What is true Biblical Prosperity? (Once again, I have made separation in paragraphs and used bold type for emphasis)

Be Warned

This is a Prophetic Word

It seems that we, Christians, pastors, teachers, evangelists, followers alike, in the churches of America, have forgotten the clear message of God regarding Prosperity and Adversity.

I have been in churches and I hear preachers warning Christians against believing these clear Words of Warning, contained in the Inerrant, Immutable, Prophetic Word of God.

I repeat: I have been in churches and I hear preachers warning Christians against believing these clear Words of Warning, contained in the Inerrant, Immutable, Prophetic Word of God.

So, we suffer without hope. We suffer want and lack, poverty and disease, fear and loneliness, adversity and meaningless death because we fail to obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which are command this day, so the LORD our God will prosper us abundantly. (Deut. 30:8, 9)

BE WARNED: Prosperity and Adversity are inextricably linked.

As I said earlier, we must choose: Life and Prosperity or death and adversity. We cannot escape this Word.

Again, Deuteronomy 30:8 prophetically states “And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today.

9 “Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;

10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.

11 ¶ “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.

12 “It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

14 “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

15 ¶ “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;

16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

It shall “Come About”: from Strong’s Concordance #01961 היה hayah haw-yaw

AV-was, come to pass, came, has been, were happened, become, pertained, better for thee;

1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out

1a) (Qal)

1a1)  —— 

1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass

1a1b) to come about, come to pass

1a2) to come into being, become

Deuteronomy 28:15 ¶ “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

Chapter 28 is a lengthy section of scripture, so I have linked it on Biblehub.com to save space (Click here for the remaining verses of Chapter 28)

Conclusion: I pray that we can see that Biblical Prosperity is NOT just about having money or things. And that Biblical Prosperity not only a Promise of God but is a Prophetic Promise and a Prophetic Warning.

Let’s conclude with these verses

Deuteronomy 29:1 ¶ These are the words of the covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He had made with them at Horeb.

2 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land;

3 the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders.

4 “Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.

5 “I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.

6 “You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that I am the LORD your God.

7 “When you reached this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out to meet us for battle, but we defeated them;

8 and we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites.

9 “So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.

It is my sincere prayer that this has been helpful and that I have not distorted or misused these Chapters and verses from God’s Word.

I also pray that we will get on with the call of God on our lives and He will permit and lead all of us to into His fields which are ripe for harvest to “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.”

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

22 “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Your Friend, Brother and Co-Laborer

Mike Young

Led by The Spirit: The Wilderness (p3)

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Part 3 – Led By The Spirit Into The Wilderness

The Path of the Disciple

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

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

Remember from page 2, Jesus is going before us, enduring the Trial, and showing us the way which we must go, also. But, He assures us that we too, can endure, because He has gone before us.

Likewise, as a true Believer and Follower of Jesus, there comes a time when we will find ourselves enduring trials, seemingly without help, without hope, without resources, at risk, isolated, with circumstance intensifying. It is now that the Great Work of God is beginning in our life. Endure this to the end, following the example of Jesus carefully, and our reward is glorious and eternal.

Resuming…

Matthew 4:2 “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.” He became WHAT?

(He became Hungry. No food or water for 40 days and 40 nights in a hot, dry, barren wasteland, He became hungry. This sounds logical. But, take a closer look at the word “hungry” as it appears in the language it was written:

The word “Hungry”, here, means not only physical hunger, but it means “to become poor, needy, suffer want, earnestly crave, the pinching toil of poverty, to be crushed in spirit, to pine”.

This is of the same base word found in Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Poor: Ptochos (Greek. Strong’s concordance),

1) reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms,

2) destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor,

2a) lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riche,

2b) helpless, powerless to accomplish an end,

2c) poor, needy,

3) lacking in anything,

3a) as respects their spirit.

3a1) destitute of the wealth of learning and intellectual culture which the 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).

This is the state that allows us to turn to God, void of all our own resources, humbly crying out, “help me, Father, for I am needy”.

Remember, It is he or she who endures to the end, who will be His Disciple.

Hear, again, the Words of Jesus in Matthew 19:24

“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

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

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

27 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

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

29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

The testing is about to begin and The Greatest Work of God in your life is at hand.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Next, the testing begins.)

 

Led by The Spirit: The Wilderness (p2)

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Led By the Spirit – Part 2

The Path of the Disciple

The Living Message, demonstrated by the Son of God, will prepare you to do the Works of God, and yes, even greater works, which He said we must do.

Let’s begin.

Matthew 4:1 says “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Remember, if you desire to follow Jesus, you will encounter and suffer these prophetic words found in Matthew Chapter 3. Endure to the end and you will be ministered to by Angels and you will see the Glory of the Lord in the land of the living. You will be one of His Disciples.

Following Jesus is not just about attending church and saying you believe in Him. Following Him means you go where He goes, and you will do what He does.

Some say they will follow Him, but they cannot or will not:

John 6:53-66, So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.

“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.”

“These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

“Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”

“But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?

“What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?

63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.

“And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.

“As a result of this, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

Count this cost because Jesus not only calls, but He actually MAKES Disciples. Consider this carefully so when the testing begins, you will not lose heart and turn back.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit”... WHEN was Jesus led up by the Spirit?

(Immediately after His baptism. Don’t be surprised or taken unaware that this testing begins so quickly. So will it be with you.)

…led up by the Spirit. WHO led Jesus?

(The very Spirit of God. This is the Spirit of God, present at creation. The Spirit of God who comforts, guides, leads, empowers, convicts of sin, prays on your behalf with Words and Groanings, too deep for our understanding. Jesus is showing us, by His example, the path we must walk to become His Disciple.)

This is one of the most powerful events in the life of a Believer and Follower of Jesus. It is not imaginary. This is deadly serious and gloriously real.

…into the wilderness (Judean desert ). WHERE was Jesus led?

(The Judean wilderness was and is a dangerous, barren, dry, life-threatening environment. There were scarce resources of food and water, or no resources at all. The temperatures were extreme. Any wildlife that could survive in these areas were predatory. This is where the Spirit led Jesus, and likewise, where He will lead the willing Disciple.)

This is an apt description of what you endure in your preparation to follow Jesus and become His Disciple. Be warned)

…to be tempted by the devil. Tempted by WHOM?

(The Devil, and he is real. He is “the ruler of this world,” a spirit creature who became wicked and rebelled against God. (John 14:30; Ephesians 6:11, 12) The Bible reveals the Devil’s personality through these names and descriptions:

· Satan, which means “Resister.”—Job 1:6.

· Devil, which means “Slanderer.”—Revelation 12:9.

· Serpent, which is used in the Bible to mean “Deceiver.”—2 Corinthians 11:3.

· Tempter.—Matthew 4:3.

· Liar.—John 8:44.

Some view Satan the Devil as just a principle or quality of evil that exists inside us. The devil is not a principle or quality of evil. The Bible records a conversation between God and Satan and remember, God is perfect, so he could not have been talking to an evil part of himself.

The devil is real, and you will be tested by this evil one, at some time. Be prepared.

Matthew 4:2 “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.” And after He had fasted… WHEN?

(After He had fasted. Not before, not during. After He had fasted He became “hungry”. The importance of this one verse take will take prayer, study to gain a proper understanding.)

(Fasted. Abstaining from food and nourishment. We have to put this fasting into the context of these verses. Jesus was led into the wilderness where He had no food, no water, no companionship, no resources, no help. He was isolated and alone, except for the Spirit of God. His physical Self was at great risk.

This fast began with no food, but continued with the lack of any sustenance for His physical, mental, or emotional well-being. This fast intensified as it affected every aspect of Jesus, yet Jesus obeyed and followed the Spirit. )

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights… HOW long?

(The significance of the “forty days and forty nights” cannot be ignored.

  • Before his temptation, Jesus fasted “forty days and forty nights” in the Judean desert. (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2)
  • Forty days was the period from the resurrection of Jesus to the ascension of Jesus. (Acts 1:3)
  • Biblical verse Numbers 14:33-34 alludes to the same with ties to the prophecy in The Book of Daniel. “For forty years–one year for each of the forty days you explored the land–you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.'”
  • In modern Christian practice, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter. In much of Western Christianity, Sundays are excluded from the count; in Eastern Christianity, Sundays are included.
  • Rain fell for “forty days and forty nights” during the Flood. (Genesis 7:4)

The number forty symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation. In fact, the word “tempted” in this verse “to be tempted by the devil” means to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself. So it will be for you and me.

Remember, this is Jesus going before us, enduring the Trial, and showing us the way which we must go, also. But, He assures us that we, too, can endure, because He has gone before us.

Likewise, as a true Believer and Follower of Jesus there comes a time when we will find ourselves seemingly without help, without hope, without resources, at risk, isolated, with circumstance intensifying. Now the Great Work of God is beginning in our life. Endure this to the end, following the example of Jesus carefully.)

Matthew 4:2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Please proceed to part 3)

(Back to Part 1)

 

Led by The Spirit: The Wilderness (p.1)

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

LED BY THE SPIRIT – Part 1

The Path of the Disciple

Before we study and meditate on the Word of God, it is important to pray and be reminded about the magnificence, the power and the Truth of The Word of God.

Remember, there is nothing apart from God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

God’s Word is God Breathed: As surely as God breathed The Breath of life into created man, God still breathes His Word into the heart and mind of man, today. This can only be taken by faith. He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He rewards those who seek Him. We are to breathe this Breathe of God.

God’s Word is perfect: God’s Word is infallible, It is inerrant, It is immutable, It is eternal. God’s Word never fails to do what it says It will do. Seek Him and you will find Him. God’s Word is without error, and you can and must depend on It, if you will.

You cannot change it, you cannot deny it, you cannot hide from it, even if you try. It accomplished everything God Intends. The Truth of God’s Word is everlasting.

God’s Word is prophetic: It tells the Truth – to you – and when you hide His Word in your heart, it will tell the Truth through you. Imagine, if you can, the Majestic Word of God, being alive and speaking through your mortal body.

God’s Word is powerful: To the creating of worlds; To the pulling down of strongholds; Piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

The book of Matthew contains secrets of the Oracles of God. The entire book is vital to our understanding and our application of the Purposes and Methods of God. The Word will make us, fashion and shape us, into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.

This is not hyperbole or metaphor. This is not a doctrine or a philosophy. This is the Living Truth of the Word of God, demonstrated on the stage of human history by none other than the Son of God, God Himself: Jesus Christ.

Words of the Bible, are not just stories about Jesus or other people. Nor is it just words used to communicate ideas. These Words are alive.

As one quote says,”Even those who say they love the Bible are likely to make the mistake of looking upon the Bible as merely a book. They may agree that it is the greatest book ever written, but still a book; the truth is the Bible is really a spiritual vortex, from which spiritual power, the Breath of God, pours into the heart, mind and soul of any willing Believer.”

The Bible is The Only source of Eternal Truth. Any other book making such a claim is either an illegitimate copy or a fraud. Most likely, both.

Among the Gospel books of the Bible, Matthew is the Pathway of Discipleship. It is the “narrow gate” and few there are who find it.

It is a difficult and a dangerous path, yet its reward is the transformation of your life. Now and forever to be reigning with Him. Perhaps you are now seated, reading this, where ever you might be at this moment. If you believe and follow in His steps, you will find yourself suddenly “raised up with Him, and seated with Him in the heavenly places”. (Ephesians 2)

This is the model and the pattern you must encounter. This is the instruction you must endure. This is the test you must complete in order to truly be His Disciple.

This Living Message, demonstrated by the Son of God, will prepare you to do the Works of God, and yes, even greater works, which He said we must do.

Let’s begin.

Matthew 4:1 says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Please proceed to part 2)

 

IN THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

‘“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

God told Joshua to, “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)  But, if this promise was only for Joshua, why tell all people throughout the ages?  God has told Joshua about His very nature, and this promise – this Guarantee – is for all people who love God, who will obey Him and follow Him.

This “Guarantee” is for you and for me!

What is life casting upon you?  What are life’s circumstances demanding of you?  Stop and think on this.  God is with us wherever we go.  

And, God is not just “along for the ride”.  His Presence erases all fears.  He is, in reality, a mighty fortress for us.  We can enter into Him and be safe.

Knowing the Key to this “Secret” will enable us to see Him with Spiritual eyes and to know He is here.  He is literally with us to deliver us from life’s snares and traps, from terror and dangers, from pestilence and destruction, from the wicked and to keep you safe from plagues.  

Would that be enough?  God has more for us.  Because of His Presence, the troubles of the enemy will fall harmlessly aside as you will watch on.  God is keeping you safe and troubles cannot touch you – if you know “The Secret”.

And He has even more for us.  God is holding you up and making you steady.  He is giving you His ability to trample down any attack of the enemy.  

You may think, “That would be great, but, how can I know this.  How can I have this in my life?”  The reality of this Truth lies hidden within “His Secret Place”.  God says you must “dwell in the Shelter of God and in the Shadow of the Almighty” to know this for your life.

We know that faith comes from hearing the Word of God.  You will enter into “His Secret Place” by saying to the Lord, “You are My Refuge and my Fortress, My God, in Whom I trust”.

I will meditate on this.  Let’s Pray this.  Enter in, and He will cover you with His mighty Wings of refuge!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“THE GUARANTEE”

Psalms 91:1  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
            Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
            My God, in whom I trust!”

      3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
            And from the deadly pestilence.

      4 He will cover you with His pinions,
            And under His wings you may seek refuge;
            His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

      5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
            Or of the arrow that flies by day;

      6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
            Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

      7 A thousand may fall at your side
            And ten thousand at your right hand,
            But it shall not approach you.

      8 You will only look on with your eyes
            And see the recompense of the wicked.

      9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
            Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

      10 No evil will befall you,
            Nor will any plague come near your tent.

      11For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
            To guard you in all your ways.

      12 They will bear you up in their hands,
            That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

      13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
            The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

      14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
            I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

      15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
            I will be with him in trouble;
            I will rescue him and honor him.

      16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
            And let him see My salvation.”