Category: Christian Living

BE THE WATCHMAN – The Signs of Christ’s Return

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

BE A WATCHMAN

The Signs of Christ’s Return

We completed the last chapter, “WARNINGS ABOUT THE RISING PHARISAICAL SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, HIRELINGS & THE 8 WOES”, with the words from Matthew chapter 23 which are both an indictment of the Pharisees of Jesus day and a warning of the coming Apostasy as prophesied in the Bible. An Apostasy which is now spreading and intensifying and is evident in many, if not most, so-called mainline churches.

There are still many good and well-intentioned Churches, pastors and disciples of Jesus working diligently to follow Jesus and to do the Works He has prepared ahead of time. But, even among these faithful, there are the temptations and distractions of the Pharisaical spirit which have crept into their hearts and minds, leading them astray.

The easiest thing and yet the most difficult thing you can do is to…

  1. Be the salt and light of the Gospel of Christ where you are. Make your closest associations with likeminded Christ following believers. But do not hide. Make His influence felt through your life and behavior, wherever you go.
  1. Try to find a Church (a local Body of Christ) who are not staining themselves with the things of the world (see Galatians 5:19-21).
  1. Seek to become “the living stones, being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.( 1 Peter 2:5).

Remember that you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Next, Jesus gives us an account of the Last Days and The End of the Age from two distinct perspectives. We need to look at a Biblical comparison and correlation of The Seals of the Tribulation as seen in the book of Matthew and correlated with the book of The Revelation (1). so we can know the sequence of these events that may be prepared and ready at all times. (2). It is also important so that we will not be taken by surprise or frightened and lose focus and composure; (3). It is also a remember that we are to inform and warn others of the present and coming judgements. To Wit:

  • Matthew 24:1-5 tells us, “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
  • Revelation 1:1, says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place…”

These words were written sometime around A.D. 90. Over 1,900 years have passed since this prophecy was written, and according to the God-breathed and Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. The first ‘contradiction’, if that is possible, is if these were ‘to soon take place’, why haven’t they? But that is the wrong question to ask.

  • The right question to ask is, “Is this is more rock-solid evidence that the breaking of the first tribulation seals began at the birth of Christ and ‘the things which must soon take place’  began to appear around the time John the Apostle wrote his Apokalupsis?”.
  • Later, Jesus and these same disciples testified that these present and coming prophetic judgments and events had already begun in or around A.D. 30, calling them “events of These Last Days”: 
  • Hebrews 1:2, “but in these last days He (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
  • Hebrews 9:26, “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He (Christ) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
  • Acts 2:14-17, “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

  • 2 Timothy 3:1,“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.‘
  • 1 Peter 1:20-21, “ He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
  • 1 Peter 4:7, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (Spoken in or around A.D. 30).
  • 2 Peter 3:3, “Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
  • 1 John 2:18, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have (already) come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.“
  • Matthew 24:29-31, ““But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

It is important because we must be mentally, physically and spiritually of and ready for the things that are upon us so we do not faint or fall away.

It is important because the context, the uses and meanings of these various words which refer to Tribulation affect our attitudes and our motivation for GETTING and STAYING READY for His return. They also affect our view of the timing of the coming Tribulation and the Great Tribulation.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Why does it matter “when” the tribulation starts or “when” Christians are to be raptured into heavens?

It matters because being ready for His Return is proof of True Christianity and only a True Believer in Christ will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.

It matters because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

It matters because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger.

It matters because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.

It matters because as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior
Are speaking louder than our words if these things are coming to pass – we need to be getting ready.

Correlation of the Seals from equating Matthew to Revelation:

(Jesus, in the book of Matthew gives a present view looking to the future – Jesus, in The book of The Revelation gives a panorama of a continuous past, present and future.)

After reading the following, please ask and answer, WHAT IS GOING ON in:

  • Matthew 24:1 –5, “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them. “See to it that no one misleads you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
  • Revelation 6:1-2, “Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” I looked, and behold…”

Seal 1 – Matthew 24:6-7 – also in Revelation 6:1 – 6:3 – WARS & RUMORS OF WAR, RIDER ON WHITE HORSE.

 

WHAT IS GOING ON in the First Seal in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:6. “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

  • “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars -Matthew 24:6”
    • (future tense – spoken in A.D. 30).
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).

WHAT IS GOING ON in the First Seal in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:7-8, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

  • “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against – Matthew 24:7”
    • (future tense – spoken in A.D. 30) .
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur have been are increasing in intensity to this day).

WHAT IS GOING ON in the First Seal in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:1–2, Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

  • “A white horse rider went out conquering and to conquer – Revelation 6:2”
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D.)
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).

-The Completion of the First Tribulation Seal –

Seal 2 & 3: Matthew 24:7-8 – also in Revelation 6:5 – FAMINES & EARTHQUAKES & A RED HORSE.

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Second and Third Seals in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:7-8, “…and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

  • and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
  • “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
    • (This is the beginning – in or around A.D. 30,and they have been continuing to occur and are increasing in intensity to this day).

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Second and Third Seals in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:3-4. “When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

  • “A red horse went out to take peace from the earth and people would kill one another – Revelation 6:4”
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing in intensity to this day).
  • People would kill one another.
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing intensity to this day).

 -The Completion of the Second & Third Tribulation Seals –

Seal 4: Matthew 24:9 – also in Revelation 6:7 – PERSECUTION, DISEASE, FAMINE, DEATH.

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Fourth Seal in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:9, “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

  • “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Fourth Seal in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:7-8, “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.”

  • An ashen horse of death.
  • Death by sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts.
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity and will culminate with over one-fourth of earth’s inhabitants killed).

– The Completion of the Fourth Tribulation Seal –

 

Seal 5: Matthew 24:10-15 – also in Revelation 6:9 – APOSTASY, FALSE PROPHETS, HATRED, LAWLESSNESS, ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, GREAT EARTHQUAKES, MARTYRS, DEATH.

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Fifth Seal in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:10-15, “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 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. 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. (this is the last of the prophecies to come).

  • Many will fall away and hate one another (the great Apostasy).
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
  • False prophets will arise and mislead many..
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity to this day).
  • The Abomination of Desolation (<-link).
    • (A past event foreshadowing the future event which marks the last of the prophecies and the coming End).

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Fifth Seal in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:9-11, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”

  • Persecutions, martyrs and death of the saints of God.
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 30, are continuing to occur and have been increasing in intensity until the end).

 – The Completion of the Fifth Tribulation Seal –

Seal 6: Matthew 24:29-31 – also in Revelation 6:12 – COSMIC CATACLYSMS after the tribulation of the previous days, TERROR, SUN DARKENED, MOON WILL NOT SHINE, STARS WILL FALL, HEAVENS SHAKEN, SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN, SON COMING ON THE CLOUDS, GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, GATHERING OF THE ELECT, RAPTURE.

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Sixth Seal in Matthew 24?

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

  • “But immediately after the tribulation of those days
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
  • THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
  • THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
  • THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
  • the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
  • the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
  • they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
  • He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).
  • THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
    • (A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 6?

Revelation 6:12-17, “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

  • There was a great earthquake.
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
    • (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
  • The sun became black

    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
    • (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
  • The moon became like blood.
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
    • (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
  • The stars fell from the sky.
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
    • (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
  • The sky was split apart like a scroll.
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
    • (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
  • Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
    • (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
  • Him who sits on the throne.
    • (Present historical tense; is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
    • (It has always been this, from the past to the present).
  • Hide us from The Wrath of the Lamb.
    • (Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95).
    • (has been prophesied to occur as of A.D. 95, therefore, it is continuing to occur in God’s Time until its completion).
  • The Great Day of Wrath has come.
    • Notice this is in the Aorist tense; has occurred, is occurring, is continuing to occur – spoken in A.D. 95)
    • (has been occurring since A.D. 95, are continuing to occur and has been increasing in intensity).(A coming event such as the world has never seen before and never will again – The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb – the final 7 years).

An Interlude between the 6th Tribulation Seal and the 7th Tribulation Seal. (the last of the prophecies yet to come)

 

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 7?

  • Revelation 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

 WHAT IS GOING ON in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 7?

The 144,000 Sealed

  • Revelation 7:4-5 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
  • from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Tribulation – The Rapture

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 7?

Who is the ‘great multitude’

  • Revelation 7:9-16, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10and they cry out with a loud voice,

 WHAT IS GOING ON in the Sixth Seal in Revelation 7?

Where is this great multitude?

  • saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
  • saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Where did this great multitude come from?

  • “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”
  • “I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
  • “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
    • See Revelation 22.
    • All of these final events have culminated with the elect of God having been raptured before the Throne of God and in their eternal home, God’s Eternal Tabernacle.

– The Completion of the Sixth Tribulation Seal –

Seal 7: Revelation – SILENCE IN HEAVEN for half an hour, SEVEN ANGELS and SEVEN TRUMPETS, PEALS OF THUNDER, SOUNDS AND FLASHES OF LIGHTENING AND AN EARTHQUAKE.

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Seventh Seal in Matthew 24?

Silence. (Jesus will continue in Matthew with instruction of recognizing the times and days, preparing for these Last Days and the Blessings and Consequences for not preparing ahead of time – preparing NOW!

  • The scene now moves to the heavens (see Revelation chapter 8).

WHAT IS GOING ON in the Seventh Seal in Revelation 8?

  • Revelation 8:1-2, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
    • A lull in the cosmic and terrestrial storms.
    • 7 angels standing BEFORE GOD and 7 trumpets are given to them. (These are the 7 trumpets of judgement).
  •  Revelation 8:3-5, “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

 – The Completion of the Seventh Tribulation Seal –

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: Jesus’ Instructions and warnings about getting ready, being ready and staying ready for His return.

THE RISING PHARISAICAL SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

WARNINGS ABOUT THE RISING PHARISAICAL SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, HIRELINGS & THE 8 WOES

THE WARNING SIGNS OF WOE

(An Expression of Grief or Denunciation)

It is interesting to me, that in this postmodern age of religious humanism, those infected with the Pharisaical spirit and the Hirelings who do their dirty work, will attack the Biblical Church by calling it names such as “Legalist”, “Fundamentalist” or “Pharisees”, which meant to be derogatory, but is in fact façade, a mask or a diversion to cover their true identity: The workers of the antichrist, possessed by the spirit of the antichrist, “which you heard is coming, and even now, is already in the world”. (1 John 4:3)

Jesus spoke directly to this matter in…

Matthew 23:1-3, “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying:

“The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them.”

Jesus led by example. At the risk of overemphasizing this statement: Jesus is our Lord, Teacher, Leader, Master and King. He taught by example and He led by example. He did everything He expected of His disciples.

Does the pastor of your Church, and the elders, the deacons or other ‘church leaders’ DO what they tell (or expect) you to DO? Do they witness Jesus to others, lead others to Jesus? Do they greet those coming in the doors? Do they spend time with ‘the flock’? Do they Invite others or bring others to Church? In other words, do they lead by example? Or do they just wait for you to do these things so they can ‘finish the job’ and take the credit? (Roles and responsibilities within the Church are about Spiritual Gifts, and not a façade invented to avoid following Jesus’ example.)

Matthew 23:4-5, “And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.”

Do you not hear it all the time: “Give sacrificially; Give until it hurts; Bring your friends”. Then they stand in the pulpit, in their classrooms at their positions, trumpeting their accomplishments. We may not see phylacteries and tassels, but these same ‘officials’ substitute identifying garments and garbs to project ‘the look’ of authority and self-importance..

Matthew 23:6-10, “And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people.”

This is easy enough to figure out. If your pastor and ‘church leaders’ cluster together at the ‘head table’ or gather at the same table together, excluding ‘you and the others’ to watch and listen to them, then Matthew 23:6-10 applies to your church. Advice? Find a Church.

But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

This one is too easy. There is a reason ‘the clergy’ does this – using titles reserved for God – and it is never good.

Words are powerful. And these words (Rabbi, Teacher, Father, Leader), create perceptions, ideas, and religious ideologies. This is where the ‘form of words wrongly creates the false image of religious function’. The deliberate misuse of these words when relating to the Church has led many astray, and has deformed the image of the Church of  Jesus.

Matthew 23:11-12, “But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Who sets up and cleans up? Who leads in prayer? Who tends to the needs of the ‘sheep’? When within this paradigm do the ‘sheep’ visibly become THE CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that they may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light? Or is the spotlight always on the hirelings and the credit given to the professionals?

Eight Woes – The Indictment

(Try to read these WOES at face value as you are able and whenever possible relate them to the Church in this age – especially to your Church. However, since some of these statements are from a time and an era with which we are unfamiliar, I am providing a commentary page for your convenience. Enduring Word Commentary.)

Matthew 23:13-14, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

The word ‘hypocrite’ here, is a Greek word meaning ‘an actor or a pretender’. These are the men (or women) who put on a good act of being holy and righteous but do not follow Jesus. You can know them by their fruit if you are willing. These are the ones always putting on and leading the ‘show’, but never doing the things Jesus has done. Their destination and fate is “depart from Me, I do not know you”. Do not follow these men or you will find the same end.

Matthew 23:15, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Matthew 23:16-22 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering that is on it is obligated.’ You blind men, which is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies the offering? Therefore, the one who swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. And the one who swears by the sanctuary, swears both by the sanctuary and by Him who dwells in it. And the one who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.

These verses have to do with the complex system the Pharisees invented for the making oaths in order to circumvent the plain prohibition of making oaths sound grave and authoritative by swearing on the temple (sanctuary) or the altar. However, it is also reminiscent of the inordinate and unrighteous value placed on ‘church properties’ over the value of the Church (Body).

Sadly, I have seen members of churches who are not willing to ‘fall into line’ and obey the pastor’s or ‘church leadership’ wishes when it comes to building larger buildings or expanding facilities, sacrificed on these same ‘altars’. They are marginalized and eventually driven away.

Matthew 23:23-24, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Matthew23:25-26, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean.

The ‘outside of the cup’; that which is visible to the audience. The illusion you want to display. Pastor salaries which put the Church and the members of the Body under financial stress or wasteful spending. Salaries that are twice, three times or more that what is reasonable – pastor’s being paid millions, “getting a percentage of the take” of the fleecing of the sheep! (And these ‘pastors’ justify their theft by their own greatness).

Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So, you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23:29-36, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So, you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. You snakes, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you will fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

These words from Matthew chapter 23 is both an indictment of the Pharisees of Jesus day and a warning of the coming Apostasy as prophesied in the Bible. This Apostasy is spreading and intensifying and is evident in many, if not most, so-called mainline churches.

There are still many good and well-intentioned Churches, pastors and disciples of Jesus working diligently to follow Jesus and to do the Works He has prepared ahead of time. But, even among these faithful, there are the temptations and distractions of the Pharisaical spirit which have crept into their hearts and minds, leading them astray.

So, what should our response be? In two simple words: Follow Jesus.

In a few more words: This will most likely be, both, the easiest thing and yet the most difficult thing you can do. But you CAN DO it.

  1. Be the salt and light of the Gospel of Christ where you are. Make your closest associations with likeminded Christ following believers. But do not hide. Make His influence felt through your life and behavior, wherever you go.
  1. Try to find a Church (a local Body of Christ) who are not staining themselves with the things of the world (see Galatians 5:19-21).
  1. Seek to become “the living stones, being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.( 1 Peter 2:5).

Remember that you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Please, dear friends, let’s take this as if our lives depend on it, because our lives and many other lives do depend on this.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  BE WATCHMEN – Signs of Christ’s Return.

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe).

TAMING THE JESUS REVOLUTION

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 3 Comments

THE TAMING OF THE JESUS REVOLUTION

“IN PLAIN SIGHT”

I call this chapter, “IN PLAIN SIGHT”,  because the problems facing the 21st century postmodern Church are hiding in plain sight. The evidence of the illness in the Church is there for all to see – but we are blinded by our own desires. We either cannot see the root cause of the spreading malaise and the apostasy engulfing the Church or we choose to ignore the symptoms and a diagnosis because of our expediencies.

We ended the previous chapter, saying, “The height of this Jesus Movement was from 1968 through approximately 1976. The beneficial effects lingered and spread for decades afterward. There have been attempts to copy or replicate this so-called JESUS REVOLUTION, but they have been just imitations, using the form and hoping for the function. But sadly, as is usually the case, the religious bureaucrats and the religiously politically astute arrived and have ‘organized the movement to death’.

What has remained, however, is what has always been in the heart of every man, woman, boy and girl from birth: A God-shaped vacuum. That is, a need to love and to be loved just as we are. A need to belong and to have a sense of purpose and usefulness. A Cause bigger than oneself that give hope and makes an eternal difference. A means to escape the mental prisons of fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, sickness, disease, hate, loathing and the like. A way to a peace that brings joy. A way not only to receive these things, but to give these things in return.

When someone says the Church needs to be more relevant to the society around it, remind them that the Church has always been irrelevant to the world’s ways, is counter-cultural to the world’s ways and is relevant only to God and His Ways of life, peace, joy, holiness and righteousness.

When someone says we must return to the ways of the early Church, remind them that we do not need to return to the ways of the early Church – we need TO TURN to the ways of Jesus and we will BE THE CHURCH.”

Before I continue this message, I want to be clear that I love the Church that Jesus built. I very much like the Church I attend and the staff at that Church. The Church and staff I attend, in my opinion, are doing all they can possibly do to follow, obey and implement the commands of Jesus and the Bible. I will venture to say that the Church I attend, and of which I am a ‘member’, if put on a scale of effectiveness and obedience to God’s Word, would rank in some regards, near the Churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna (from the Book of The Revelation).

Contained within the wording of the preceding paragraph, however, lies the problem. Phrases such as “Attending Church”, or “at the Church”. The Church of Jesus, the Bride of Christ, cannot be ‘attended’, ‘gone to’, ‘visited’, or given a physical street address. The Church is the Body of Christ. And the sooner we get back to the idea that The Church is an Ecclesia (Ekklesia – “Ek” = ‘out of or out from’ + “Kaleo” = ‘called or summoned’ = “The Called Out Ones”, the sooner we can function as Jesus intended.

What follows is not a complaint about the Church nor is it a judgment or a condemnation of the Church. I pray this will be heard and received as a wakeup call to the Church.

It is up to you, however, to read what is presented, study the scriptures presented and to compare the “Church you attend”, your idea of Church, to the “Ekklesia” of Christ – and, I pray, make any necessary adjustments.

INHERITING THE ‘EDIFICE COMPLEX’

“THE CHURCH BUILDING” vs BUILDING THE CHURCH

(The following paragraph within quotation marks denotes  (Excerpts taken from Frank Viola & George Barna’s book, “Pagan Christianity”, Tyndale Publishing, 2002, 2008).

“The idea, that the Christians in the apostolic age, erected special houses of worship is out of the question.

“The Savior of the world was born in a stable, ascended to heaven from a mountain. His apostles and their successors down to the third century, preached in the streets, the markets, on mountains, in ships, sepulchers, eaves, and deserts, and in the homes of their converts.

“Thousands of costly churches and chapels have since been built and are constantly being built in all parts of the world to the honor of the crucified Redeemer – who in the days of his humiliation had no place of his own to rest his head!” — PHILIP SCHAFF, NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICAN CHURCH HISTORIAN AND THEOLOGIAN

“MANY CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIANS have a love affair with brick and mortar. The edifice complex is so ingrained in our thinking that if a group of believers begins to meet together, their first thoughts are toward securing a building. For how can a group of Christians rightfully claim to be a church without a building? (Or, so the thinking goes.)

The “church” building is so connected with the idea of church that we unconsciously equate the two. Just listen to the vocabulary of the average Christian today:

“Wow, honey, did you see that beautiful church we just passed?”

“My goodness! That is the largest church I have ever seen! I wonder what the electric costs to keep it going?”

“Our church is too small. I’m developing claustrophobia. We need to extend the balcony.” “The church is chilly today; I am freezing in here!”

“We have gone to church every Sunday this past year except for the Sunday when Aunt Mildred dropped the microwave oven on her toe.”

“Or how about the vocabulary of the average pastor:

“Isn’t it wonderful to be in the house of God today?”

“We must show reverence when we come into the sanctuary of the Lord.”

“Or how about the mother who tells her happy child (in subdued tones), “Wipe that smile off your face; you’re in church now! We behave ourselves in the house of God!”

“To put it bluntly, none of these thoughts have anything to do with New Testament Christianity. Rather, they reflect the thinking of other religions—primarily Judaism and paganism.

FROM HOUSE CHURCHES TO HOLY CATHEDRALS

“The early Christians believed that Jesus is the very presence of God. They believed that the body of Christ, the church, constitutes a temple. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He made some radically negative statements about the Jewish Temple.’

“The one that angered many Jews most was His announcement that if the Temple was destroyed, He would build a new one in three days! (See John 2:19-21.)

“Though Jesus was referring to the Temple that existed in the architectural sense, He was really speaking of His body. Jesus said that after this temple was destroyed, He would raise it up in three days.

“He was referring to the real temple—the church—which He raised up in Himself on the third day (Ephesians 2:6).

“Since Christ has risen, we Christians have become the temple of God.

“At His resurrection, Christ became a “life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Therefore, He could take up residence in the believers, thus making them His Temple, His house. It is for this reason that the New Testament always reserves the word church (Ekklesia) for the people of God. It never uses this word to refer to a building of any sort.” (Excerpts from Frank Viola & George Barna’s book, “Pagan Christianity”, Tyndale Publishing, 2002, 2008)

“When Christianity was born, it was the only religion on the planet that had no sacred objects, no sacred persons, and no sacred spaces.

“Although surrounded by Jewish synagogues and pagan temples, the early Christians were the only religious people on earth who did not erect sacred buildings for their worship. The Christian faith was born in homes, out in courtyards, and along roadsides. For the first three centuries, the Christians did not have any special buildings!

“As one scholar put it, “The Christianity that conquered the Roman Empire was essentially a home-centered movement. Meeting in homes was a conscious choice of the early Christians.”

“Then, in the late second and third centuries a shift occurred”

“Christians not only had adopted sacred spaces; they also had created sacred objects. (They would soon develop a sacred priesthood.) It might seem they had forgotten Moses and the golden calf.

“In all of this, the second and third century Christians began to assimilate the magical mind-set that characterized existent pagan thinking.

“These factors made the Christian terrain ready for the man who would be responsible for creating church buildings. In AD 327, Constantine began erecting the first church buildings throughout the Roman Empire, some at public expense.’ In so doing, he followed the path of the pagans in constructing temples to honor God.

“Interestingly, he named his church buildings after saints — just as the pagans named their temples after gods. Constantine built his first church buildings upon the cemeteries where the Christians held meals for the dead saints.

“Constantine brought peace for all Christians.'” Under his reign, the Christian faith had become legitimate. In fact, it had risen to a status greater than Judaism and paganism.

“For these reasons, the Christians saw Constantine’s rise to emperor as an act of God. Here was God’s instrument who had come to their rescue.

“Christianity and Roman culture were now melded together.”

“The Christian building demonstrates that the church, whether she wanted it or not, had entered into a close alliance with pagan culture.’ As Will Durant, author of The Story of Civilization (a sweeping, eleven-volume work on world history that earned him a Pulitzer Prize), put it, “Pagan isles remained in the spreading Christian sea.”

“This was a tragic shift from the primitive simplicity that the church of Jesus Christ first knew. The first-century Christians were opposed to the world’s systems and avoided any contact with paganism. This all changed during the fourth century, when the church emerged as a public institution in the world and began to “absorb and Christianize pagan religious ideas and practices.

“As one historian put it, “Church buildings took the place of temples; church endowments replaced temple lands and funds.”

“Under Constantine, tax-exempt status was granted for all church property.

“Consequently, the story of the church building is the sad saga of Christianity borrowing from heathen culture and radically transforming the face of our faith.

“To put it bluntly, the church buildings of the Constantinian and post-Constantinian era essentially became holy shrines. The Christians embraced the concept of the physical temple. They imbibed the pagan idea that there exists a special place where God dwells in a special way. And that place is made “with hands.”‘

“As with other pagan customs that were absorbed into the Christian faith (such as the liturgy, the sermon, clerical vestments, and hierarchical leadership structure), third- and fourth-century Christians incorrectly attributed the origin of the church building to the Old Testament. But this was misguided thinking.”

“Most Americans are struggling to clarify their identity. They tend to see themselves as unique individuals, Americans, members of their family, occupational professionals, consumers, and then as followers of Christ — in that order of priority.

“In the minds and hearts of most Americans — even those whose beliefs classify them as “born-again Christians”— their identity as a follower of Christ pales in importance in comparison to the other roles they embrace.

“Oddly, most of the born again Christians consider themselves to be servants of God and to have been transformed by their faith in Christ.

“Clearly, there are some missing connections in this self-evaluation. Perhaps the confusion is due to the enormous number of inter-actions and responsibilities that people take on each day.

“Maybe it has to do with the disjointed, topical teaching that most of us receive from our churches. It may even be attributable to the lure of competing perspectives and images bombarding us from the ever-present media.

“The bottom line is really quite simple: You are a priest of God, a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a member of His glorious body. Through your declaration of allegiance to Jesus and your stated desire to live with Him forever, you have a responsibility to be a functioning priest, minister, and member of the Body .

“The organized church has moved down a winding path over the past two thousand years. The only way to get it back on track is for each of us to begin prayerfully exploring the original plan that God had for His people, and then to be willing to respond faithfully to that plan.

“In this way, the Revolution that has begun to take root in our day will spread far and wide. And God will get what He has always been after.” (End of excerpts from Frank Viola & George Barna’s book, “Pagan Christianity”, Tyndale Publishing, 2002, 2008)

I humbly offer this assessment after eleven years of prayer, study, seeking God, asking for His Wisdom to know and follow His Call. I sincerely and prayerfully urge you to do the same.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  WARNINGS ABOUT THE RISING PHARISAICAL SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, HIRELINGS & THE 8 WOES

PREVIOUS:  A JESUS REVOLUTION?

A Jesus Revolution?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

I have recently watched the movie ”The Jesus Revolution”.  It is rare for me, now-a-days, to be moved to tears of any kind by a movie, television production, a book, play or show.

The JESUS REVOLUTION is a 2023 American Christian drama film directed by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle. Based on the autobiographical book of the same name co-written by Greg Laurie, the film follows Laurie, Christian hippie Lonnie Frisbee, and pastor Chuck Smith as they take part in the Jesus movement in California during the late 1960s.

This is the story of one young hippie’s quest in the 1970s for belonging and liberation that leads not only to peace, love, and rock and roll, but that sets into motion a new counterculture crusade – a Jesus Movement – making a change in the course of American religious history.

Inspired by a true movement, JESUS REVOLUTION tells the story of a young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) being raised by his struggling mother, Charlene (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) in the 1970s. Laurie and a sea of young people descend on sunny Southern California to redefine truth through all means of liberation. Inadvertently, Laurie meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie-street-preacher, and Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer) who have thrown open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to a stream of wandering youth. What unfolds becomes the greatest spiritual awakening in American history. Rock and roll, newfound love, and a twist of faith lead to a JESUS REVOLUTION that turns one counterculture movement into a revival that changes the world.

This movie, in my estimation, faithfully depicts the moment in time it sets out to capture – and may remind many viewers of their own path to religious conversion.

The questions that remain are “how could this have happened”? What were the prevalent political, social and spiritual circumstances that gave birth to such a widespread phenomenon? What was the condition of the heart and minds, the longings, in so many young people, all at this particular time, that the Message of Jesus would become their lifeboat?

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE – ACCEPTANCE – A FUTURE AND A HOPE – A REJECTION OF THE STATUS QUO that had brought fear, doubt, abandonment and competition for acceptance.

The height of this Jesus Movement was from 1968 through approximately 1976. The beneficial effects lingered and spread for decades afterward. There have been attempts to copy or replicate this so-called JESUS REVOLUTION, but they have been just imitations, using the form and hoping for the function. But sadly, as is usually the case, the religious bureaucrats and the religiously politically astute arrived and have ‘organized the movement to death’.

What has remained, however, is what has always been in the heart of every man, woman, boy and girl from birth: A God-shaped vacuum. That is, a need to love and to be loved just as we are. A need to belong and to have a sense of purpose and usefulness. A Cause bigger than oneself that give hope and makes an eternal difference. A means to escape the mental prisons of fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, sickness, disease, hate, loathing and the like. A way to a peace that brings joy. A way not only to receive these things, but to give these things in return.

So it was in 1968, God put a series of events into action that made a difference. The Message was Jesus and the promise was all these things we long for, and millions responded.

(Please note: The movie also depicts the failures, even in the lives of these God-led men and women. Even in our most sincere pursuits of, and service to God, we are subject to sin and failures.

But just like when Jesus sent His first eleven disciples to go and make disciples of the world, teaching them to “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 follow all that I commanded you”, some were doubtful. Some would fail from time to time.

Knowing this, Jesus sent them anyway – all of them – reminding them and us, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

As The CHURCH goes – So goes America

In this vein, it is no mistake nor is it a coincidence that the first three chapters of Revelation describe the state of the Church in and around 95 A.D. in both real time and as a prophetic predictor. In other words, although each of these Churches were real and active Christian Churches, they are also a characterization or profile of seven characteristics of Churches to be found in these Last Days.

In their sincere pursuit and service to God, some of these Churches would succeed, some would have failures, but God used them anyway – all of them.

A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH in the 21st CENTURY

Here is an excerpt on the Seven Churches in Revelation and what they stand for, as presented by Got Questions Org:

The seven churches described in Revelation 2-3 are seven literal churches at the time that John the apostle was writing Revelation. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today. The first purpose of the letters was to communicate with the literal churches and meet their needs. The second purpose is to reveal seven different types of individuals/churches throughout history and instruct them in God’s truth.

A possible third purpose is to use the seven churches to foreshadow seven different periods in the history of the Church. The problem with this view is that each of the seven churches describes issues that could fit the Church in any time in its history. So, although there may be some truth to the seven churches representing seven eras, there is far too much speculation in this regard. Our focus should be on what message God is giving us through the seven churches.

The seven churches are as follows:

(1) Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) – the church that had forsaken its first love (2:4).

(2) Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) – the church that would suffer persecution (2:10).

(3) Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) – the church that needed to repent (2:16).

(4) Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) – the church that had a false prophetess (2:20).

(5) Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) – the church that had fallen asleep (3:2).

(6) Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) – the church that had endured patiently (3:10).

(7) Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) – the church with the lukewarm faith (3:16).

 I would like to have characterized these Churches by ascribing each with a more contemporary moniker:

The Don Juan Church – The Church at Ephesus

Revelation 2:4, But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

 

 

 

 

The Suffering Church – The Church at Smyrna

Revelation 2:10, Do not fear what you are about to suffer.

 

The Kramer Stumbling Church – The Church at Pergamum

Revelation 2:14, But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

 

 The Kardashian Church – The Church at Thyatira

 Revelation 2:20, But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols

 

 

The Baked in the Squat Church – The Church at Sardis.

Revelation 3:1, “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead.”

 

The Open Door Church – The Church at Philadelphia

Revelation 3:8, ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name.

 

The Don Quixote Church – The Church at Laodicea

 Revelation 3:15, ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

 

 

There are many church leaders today who are attempting to either re-create the early church experience or to adapt the Church to be more relevant to the 21st Century postmodern world.

This is nothing new. In 313 AD, the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which accepted Christianity. He completely altered the relationship between the church and the imperial government, thereby beginning a process that eventually made Christianity the official religion of the empire. During the process of making Christianity the official religion of Rome, Constantine refashioned and church according to an acceptable form and function followed, evolved and some 1,700 years later the church in entering a terrible time of apostasy (2023).

It would seem these church leaders (pastors, preachers, Bible teachers, theologians, etc.) are utilizing the principle of “Form Follows Function” – and both the effort to re-create the church and to adapt the church are failing.

The problems with re-creating the early church stem from the fact that the early church’s form was the result of factors pressing the Church into its form – for survival, which resulted in growth.

The problem with the theory of “Form Follows Function” which states that the shape of a building or object should primarily relate to its intended function or purpose, is it is to be applied to architecture and industrial design – not the Church which Jesus is building. Jesus’ Church “is not made by hands, that is, not of this creation, but through His Blood.”

The main problem with building the church modeled after external influences is that the Church is the Body of Jesus, and we are to have the “mind of Christ” and to be filled by the Spirit of God. The Church can never be RE-modeled. It is already modeled, made and complete – once and for all times.

The Bible instructs and warns that “a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one.  For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

WARNING: Those who would re-create or attempt to adapt or fashion the Church into an image of the world are “a natural person who does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him”.

 

Here is the  JESUS Model for Ministry.  An outline and Model for Ministry is Jesus as compared to the counterfeit: Follow Him, follow His ways. (denoted by BLUE text).

 

(I).  Repent

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

(1).  Here is the World’s Postmodern Model for Ministry: (denoted by GREEN text).

You will rarely or never see the a sign in front of the Church or hear the words which say “repent.

Instead you’ll see and hear, “Come, Grow, Go. (Attend church, make a “profession of faith”, join church membership, learn about our church denominational ways, tithe, serve in some function around the church organization.

(II). GO – Make Disciples – Follow Him

  • Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

(II). GO – The unspoken but implied message in the Postmodern churches is “do it our way or GO AWAY”.

  • We (the postmodern Church) Do it our way and GO into a new members class. Learn to “witness” from a script or in a classroom; go on a “mission trip”; go to church; go to Sunday school.

III. Teach, Preach, proclaim the Gospel, lay hands on the sick

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

(III).  The postmodern way is to talk, talk talk. Talk about it in classrooms and small groups and then we send the paid professionals to do the Work.

IV. Learn and teach – BE BEREAN – STUDY TO BE APPROVED – WHAT & WHY.

Jesus teaches His disciples 5:31 through Matthew 9:38

  • Disciples and the World
  • Regarding Personal Relationships
  • Giving to the Poor and Prayer
  • Fasting; The True Treasure; Wealth (Mammon)
  • The Cure for Anxiety
  • Prayer and the Golden Rule
  • The Narrow and Wide Gates
  • The Two Foundations
  • Jesus Cleanses a Leper; The Centurion’s Faith
  • Examples Peter’s Mother-in-law and Many Others Healed
  • Discipleship Tested
  • Jesus Casts Out Demons
  • A Paralytic Healed
  • The Calling
  • The Question about Fasting
  • Miracles of Healing

(IV).  The Postmodern Churches talk about these things, in brief and largely explain most of them away as outdated or ended with the Apostle – or hand them off.

(a). Matthew 10:1 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

(a). We (the postmodern Church) do nothing of the sort…

(b) Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them:

“Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(b). The Postmodern Church, (we), reason that since God sent Paul and other to the Gentiles, and that we are now grafted into the ‘Olive Tree’, and Jesus has since sent us to all the world, we are doing our small this part of the Whole. Command.

(c) Matthew 10:7“, And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

(c). We (the postmodern Church) do nothing of the sort…

(d) Matthew 10:8“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

(d). We (the postmodern Church) do nothing of the sort…

(e) Freely you received, freely give.

(e) A few of us (the postmodern Church) might be doing some of this – in part…

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

(f). We (the postmodern Church) do nothing of the sort…

(g) Matthew 10:11“And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.

(g). We (the postmodern Church) do nothing of the sort…

(h) Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves;

(h). (the postmodern Church) largely avoid this.

(i) Matthew 10:24“ A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.

(i). We (the postmodern Church) do nothing of the sort. Ministry has become very competitive. Each one striving to outdo the other.

(j) Matthew 10:26“ Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

(j). We (the postmodern Church) do nothing of the sort…

(k) Matthew 10:32“ Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. Verse 33. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

(k). We (the postmodern Church) largely ignore speaking these words in order to be relevant to the world’s systems…

(l) Matthew 10:34“ Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

These words are ignored and are never spoken aloud. We (the postmodern Church) do nothing of the sort.

(m) Matthew 10:38“ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. Verse 39. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

(m.) We (the postmodern Church) act, largely, as scribes and Pharisees. Some, but not many will follow this instructional warning.

(n) Matthew 10:40“ He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

We (the postmodern Church) do not teach these sort of things. (Let’s not be like the postmodern church. Let;s BE the Church that Jesus built).

SO, PLEASE NOTE:

When someone says the Church needs to be more relevant to the society around it, remind them that the Church has always been irrelevant to the world’s ways, is counter-cultural to the world’s ways and is relevant only to God and His Ways of life, peace, joy, holiness and righteousness.

When someone says we must return to the ways of the early Church, remind them that we do not need to return to the ways of the early Church – we need TO TURN to the ways of Jesus and we will BE THE CHURCH.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Don’t be like the procrastinating Church at Sardis.

(<–click the biscuits)

 

NEXT –  JESUS WARNS ABOUT THE RISING PHARISAICAL SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST & HIRELINGS – THE 8 WOES.

 

WIVES SUBMIT: It Is Not What You Think

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

Come, Let us Reason

greek-spear.jpeg

“TIP OF THE SPEAR”

What does that phrase mean to you?

The “Urban Dictionary” puts it this way: “An American idiom commonly used in military operations to mean the first soldiers to go into a war zone. In common usage, it means the first to venture into a new endeavor. A trailblazer.”

The Bible uses a similar term to describe relationships between Christians in general and between husbands and wives in particular. The word is “Hupotasso“.

You will never find that word spelled, as such, in your Bible, though. It is the Greek word ‘hupotasso’ used for “Submit to” or “be subject to”.

The King James uses the word “submit” but, it reads this way in the New American Standard version of the Bible:

Ephesians 5:21, “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”

Verse 22. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Verse 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. Verse 24. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

The word “Hupotasso” literally means:

1) to arrange under, to subordinate;

2) to subject, put in subjection

3) to subject one’s self, obey

4) to submit to one’s control

5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice

6) to obey, be subject.

HUPO – arrange under; TASSO – mutually agree upon

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

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

Specifically, “Hupotasso” comes from a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”.
These troop formations were called a Phalanx. The Phalanx was the formation, usually in triangular form, in which The hoplite phalanx of the Archaic and Classical periods in Greece (c. 800–350 BC) was the formation in which the hoplites would line up in ranks in close order.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interestingly, Ephesians 5:22, “be subject to your own” uses the word “idios” which means, uniquely one’s own, peculiar to the individual. It is “stronger than the simple possessive pronoun (‘own’). This emphatic adjective means ‘private, personal’ “.

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

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

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

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

Neither, the husband nor the wife, can be made complete as persons when finding refuge, protection and provision. But as a God given ability, you can mature and sustain one another, until you understand this Spiritual principal and follow it.

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: A great article and some excellent resources for marriage at Focus on the Family – Marriage, preparing for marriage – marriage means leaving home and cleaving to each other.

THE OLD CROSS and THE NEW CROSS – by A.W. Tozier

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 2 Comments

The OLD CROSS and THE NEW 

– by A.W. Tozer –

In case you might have doubted how far the Church has drifted from her holy moorings of the Gospel, please read the following by Pastor, Dr. A.W. Tozer, (1897 – 1963), an American Christian pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor, who, for his accomplishments received honorary doctorates from Wheaton and Houghton colleges.

(This article first appeared in the Alliance Witness magazine in 1946)

ALL UNANNOUNCED AND MOSTLY UNDETECTED, there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different: the likenesses are superficial; the differences, fundamental.

From this new cross has sprung a new philosophy of the Christian life, and
from that new philosophy has come a new evangelical technique, a new type of meeting and a new kind of preaching. This new evangelism employs the same language as the old, but its content is not the same and its emphasis not as before.

The old cross would have no truck with the world. For Adam’s proud flesh it
meant the end of the journey. It carried into effect the sentence imposed by
the law of Sinai. The new cross is not opposed to the human race; rather, it is
a friendly pal and, if understood aright, it is the source of oceans of good
clean fun and innocent enjoyment. It lets Adam live without interference. His
life motivation is unchanged; he still lives for his own pleasure, only now he
takes delight in singing choruses and watching religious movies instead of
singing bawdy songs and drinking hard liquor. The accent is still on enjoyment, though the fun is now on a higher plane morally if not intellectually.

The new cross encourages a new and entirely different evangelistic approach.
The evangelist does not demand abnegation of the old life before a new life
can be received. He preaches not contrasts but similarities. He seeks to key
into public interest in showing that Christianity makes no unpleasant demands; rather, it offers the same thing the world does, only on a higher level.

Whatever the sin-mad world happens to be clamoring after at the moment is cleverly shown to be the very thing the gospel offers, only the religious product is better.

The new cross does not slay the sinner, it redirects him. It gears him into a
cleaner and jollier way of living and saves his self-respect. To the
self-assertive, it says, “Come and assert yourself for Christ.” To the egotist, it says, “Come and do your boasting in the Lord.” To the thrill seeker, it says, “Come and enjoy the thrill of Christian fellowship.” The Christian message is
slanted in the direction of the current vogue in order to make it acceptable to the public.

The philosophy behind this kind of thing may be sincere, but its sincerity
does not save it from being false. It is false because it is blind. It misses
completely the whole meaning of the cross.

The old cross is a symbol of death. It stands for the abrupt, violent end of
a human being. The man in Roman times who took up his cross and started down the road had already said goodbye to his friends. He was not coming back. He was going out to have it ended. The cross made no compromise, modified nothing, spared nothing; it slew all of the man, completely and for good. It did not try to keep on good terms with its victim. It struck cruel and hard, and when it had finished its work, the man was no more.

The race of Adam is under a death sentence. There is no one to commute it and no escape. God cannot approve any of the fruits of sin, however innocent they may appear or beautiful to the eyes of men. God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him again to newness of life.

That evangelism which draws friendly parallels between the ways of God and
the ways of men are false to the bible and cruel to the souls of its hearers. The
faith of Christ does not parallel the world, it intersects it. In coming to
Christ, we do not bring our old life up onto a higher plane; we leave it at the
cross. The corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die.

We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations
agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not
imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.

God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out
of death. It always stands on the far side of the cross. Whoever would
possess it must pass under the rod. He must repudiate himself and concur in God’s just sentence against him.

What does this mean to the individual, the condemned man who would find life in Christ Jesus? How can this theology be translated into life? Simply, he
must repent and believe. He must forsake his sins and then go on to forsake
himself. Let him cover nothing, defend nothing, excuse nothing. Let him not seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God’s stern displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die.

Having done this, let him gaze with simple trust upon the risen Savior, and
from Him will come life and rebirth and cleansing and power. The cross that
ended, the earthly life of Jesus now puts an end to the sinner; and the power that raised Christ from the dead now raises him to a new life along with Christ.

To any who may object to this or count it merely a narrow and private view of
truth, let me say God has set His hallmark of approval upon this message from Paul’s day to the present. Whether stated in these exact words or not, this has been the content of all preaching that has brought life and power to the world through the centuries. The mystics, the reformers, the revivalists have put their emphasis here, and signs and wonders and mighty operations of the Holy Ghost gave witness to God’s approval.

Dare we, the heirs of such a legacy of power, tamper with the truth? Dare we
with our stubby pencils, erase the lines of the blueprint or alter the pattern
shown us in the Mount? May God forbid. Let us preach the old cross, and we will know the old power.

SOURCE – The Alliance Witness magazine.

End Note:

I, and some of my friends, have been personally attacked by many pastors and ‘church leaders’ over the years, for pointing out the spiritual and moral drift of the postmodern Church. The Bride of Christ is being sullied by the teaching and example of these same pastors, preachers and Bible teachers, who willingly and enthusiastically teach and encourage following a false gospel. But far worse, the Bride is being soiled by the Christians who endorse these false teachers by their own lackadaisical and errant attitudes and behaviors, which are defiantly on full public display.

The day of our Lord’s return is near – it could happen at any time. Please, let’s set our course to return to the ways of Jesus, so the watching world can see. No more compromising. No more self-serving. Let’s work out our salvation with holy fear and trembling before His Cross.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“SHIPWRECKED” – Enemies Within the Church

CHRISTIANITY and PAGANISM

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

ARE YOU PRACTICING PAGANISM, ‘UNAWARE’?

THE OUTCOMES OF PAGAN BELIEF SYSTEMS:

Christianity declared a form of terrorism.

Christians declared morally repugnant and ignorant.

‘Climate Change’ top priority – trumps personal freedoms.

Promotion of ‘transgenderism’ and exclusion of parental rights.

Self-defense prosecuted as crime.

Free speech redefined as hate – constitutional rights stripped.

The world arms for global war.

Global alliance – One World Government – Near Completion.

        

Paganism and Pagan idealism has infiltrated the Church in America. Tell me it is not so.  Where do you fit in?

From Answers in Genesis

64% of Americans agree that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam.”

Only 52% agree that “the Bible alone is the written word of God.”

Only 58% agree that “God is the author of Scripture.”

65% agree that “everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.”

44% agree that “the Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true.”

51% agree that “the Bible was written for each person to interpret as he or she chooses.”

Only 47% agree that “the Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches.”

59% of Americans agree that “worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.”

Only 45% agree that “churches that do not preach from the Bible should not be considered a Christian church.”

Only 49% in churches agree that “sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin.”

Only 49% agree that “abortion is a sin.”

42% agree that “the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.”

38% agree that “gender identity is a matter of choice.”

45% agree that “modern science discredits the claims of Christianity.”

52% agree that “by the good deeds that I do, I partly contribute to earning my place in heaven”

Only 60% agree that “Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.”

Only 52% agree that “it is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.”

Only 54% in churches agree that “only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.”

From the Pew Research Center

Survey among Christians, when asked, “Do you believe in God”. (Pew Research Center on belief in God)

Survey year Believe in God; absolutely certain Believe in God; fairly certain Believe in God; not too/not at all certain Believe in God; don’t know Do not believe in God Other/don’t know if they believe in God Sample size
2014      76%     18%       3%      1%     1%         1% 25,048

Pew Research on casual sex among professing Christians

Half of Christians say casual sex – defined in the survey as sex between consenting adults who are not in a committed romantic relationship – is sometimes or always acceptable.

  • Six-in-ten Catholics (62%) take this view, as do 56% of Protestants in the historically Black tradition, 54% of mainline Protestants and 36% of evangelical Protestants.
  • Among those who are religiously unaffiliated, meanwhile, the vast majority (84%) say casual sex is sometimes or always acceptable,
  • including roughly nine-in-ten atheists (94%) and
  • agnostics (95%) who say this.
  • The religiously unaffiliated, also known as “nones,” are those who describe themselves, religiously, as atheist, agnostic or as “nothing in particular.”

From CNS News

A study released by the Rasmussen Reports polling firm on Good Friday found that only 64% of Americans believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

From the Cultural Research Center – George Barna Research

Today, 176 million Americans claim to be Christians—69% of the population. Yet, only 6% of U.S. adults—which is 9% of those identifying as Christians—possess a biblical worldview, believing the Bible to be accurate and reliable, among other convictions.

That’s according to a new study by researcher George Barna and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University in Glendale, Arizona.

Large majorities of self-identified Christians also report many beliefs “not in harmony with biblical teaching,” according to the survey. These include:

  • 72% argue that people are basically good
  • 66% say that ‘having faith’ matters more than which faith you pursue
  • 64% say that all religious faiths are of equal value
  • 58% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their way into Heaven
  • 57% believe in karma

By contrast, the survey cohort termed as Integrated Disciples—a small subset of those claiming to be Christians—are noted as being consistent in their beliefs and integrating those convictions into their behaviors.

  • 99+% believe that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful and just Creator of the universe who still rules the universe today
  • 99+% believe that the Bible is the accurate and reliable words of God
  • 96% claim that every moral choice either honors of dishonors God

However, Barna’s survey finds that even some believers classified as part of this highly discipled cohort hold to some views that “challenge biblical principles.” Those “shocking” beliefs of Integrated Disciples include:

  • 52% argue that people are basically good
  • 39% contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power, presence, or purity
  • 33% believe in karma

“There is a remarkable level of self-deception (even among) born-again Christians,” said Barna, commenting on his recent worldview research. “It represents a huge educational challenge for those responsible for biblical worldview development.”

Many postmodern churches are teaching a type of gospel that does not conform to the Bible and, in fact, reveals many of the traits and teachings of Paganism. Likewise, a majority of people claiming the name of Christian may not be Christians at all. Many postmodern Christians don’t fully believe the Bible and practice aspects of Paganism.

Pagan comes from the Latin word paganus, which means “country dweller”; paganism can refer to polytheism, (the belief in many gods), or the worship of more than one god, such as in ancient Rome. A pagan is also considered to be one who, for the most part, has no religion and indulges in worldly delights and material possessions; someone who revels in sensual pleasures; a hedonistic or self-indulgent individual. Another, more modern term is neo-paganism, which refers to some of the contemporary forms of paganism such as Wicca, Druidry, and Gwyddon.

Modern “pagan” practices are actually similar to their ancient counterparts in that they rely heavily on hedonism—sensual gratification and self-indulgence and the pursuit of happiness and pleasure to the exclusion of everything else. In ancient times, sexual ceremonies were a major part of pagan religions. The Old Testament references these perverted religions in such passages as Deuteronomy 23:17, Amos 2:7–8, and Isaiah 57:7–8.

Though they are numerous and varied in their practices and beliefs, pagans do hold to some similar beliefs. For example:

• The physical world is a good place, one to be taken pleasure in by everyone.
• Everyone is considered to be part of this Mother Earth.
• Divinity reveals itself in every facet of the world.
• Every being, man and animal, is a derivative of the Divine. As such, all are gods and goddess.
• Most pagan religions do not have gurus or messiahs.
• Doctrine is superseded by one’s own responsibility.
• Solar and lunar cycles are significant in pagan worship.

From a Christian viewpoint, pagans are generally characterized as those who are caught up in any religious ceremony, act, or practice that is not distinctly Christian. Correspondingly, Jews and Muslims also use the term pagans to describe those outside their religion. Others define the term paganism as any religion outside of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity; whereas some argue that a pagan is anyone with no religion at all.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Furthermore, since they, (pagans), did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28).

In spite of common assumptions, most pagan worshipers claim they don’t believe in Satan. However, there’s no question that Satan is their chief source of influence and control. Though they will deny it, they deify him in their worldly and sensual practices. Paul tells us plainly how Satan works in the lives of people without God, through his power, his signs, his deceit, and his lies:

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).

That Satan is alive and well is powerfully evidenced in these pagan practices. This was not only clear in the times of the first-century church, but also in today’s postmodern world. To the faithful believers who know the Lord, pagan worship is what it appears to be—the power and deceit of the prince of this world, Satan (1 John 5:19), who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). As such, paganism should be avoided.

CHRISTIANITY

According to Wikipedia, Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world’s largest religion, with about 2.5 billion followers. Its adherents, known as Christians, make up a majority of the population in 157 countries and territories, and believe that Jesus is the Son of God, whose coming as the messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible (called the Old Testament in Christianity) and chronicled in the New Testament.

According to CARM (Christian Apologetics And Research Ministry), Christianity is a religion based upon the teachings and miracles of Jesus. Jesus is the Christ. The word “Christ” means anointed one. Christ is not Jesus’ last name.  Jesus is the anointed one from God the Father who came to this world, fulfilled the Old Testament laws and prophecies, died on the cross, and rose from the dead physically.  He performed many miracles that were recorded in the Gospels by the eyewitnesses. He is divine in nature as well as human. Thus, He has two natures and is worthy of worship and prayer.

According to GotQuestions.Org,, the term Christianity seems to imply a religious system in the same way that Islam and Buddhism are religious systems. Within religious systems are core beliefs, along with codes, rules, and standards that must be mastered in order to achieve a desired end. Christianity does not fit that definition and therefore the term can be slightly misleading.

Jesus did not come into the world to start another religion. There were already plenty of religions (see Acts 17:22–23), including Judaism, which had begun as a relationship with Almighty God (Leviticus 20:12) but had deteriorated into another religious system on par with idol worship (Matthew 15:8). Jesus came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37), to seek and to save the lost—those separated from God by their sin (Luke 19:10)—and to “give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:32). With that said, those who follow Christ do share some core beliefs.

Biblically speaking, Christians are those who are forgiven of their sins and who have entered a personal relationship with Almighty God through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 10:9–10). In order to become a Christian, a person must fully accept as part of his or her own personal worldview the following core beliefs:

• Jesus is the Son of God and is equal with God (John 1:1, 49; Luke 22:70; Mark 3:11; Philippians 2:5–11)
• Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life (Hebrews 4:15; John 8:29)
• Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty for our sins (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 15:2–4)
• Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:46; Mark 16:6)
• We are saved by the grace of God; that is, we cannot add to or take away from Christ’s finished work on the cross as full payment for our sin (Ephesians 2:8–9)

PAGANISM contrasted to CHRISTIANITY

  • The physical world is a good place, one to be taken pleasure in by everyone.
  • The physical world is fallen and, for now, is ruled by Satan. (1 John 5:19)
  • There is pleasure to be found in the world, but as Christians we are strangers to this world, scattered about, being distressed by various trials for the proving of our faith until Jesus returns. (1 Peter 1:1-9, Matthew 24:29-31)
  • Divinity reveals itself in every facet of the world.
  • The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun. (Psalms 19:1-4), but the Bible says we are to worship only God, and not to worship His creation (Romans 1:25).
  • Every being, man and animal, is a derivative of the Divine. As such, all are gods and goddess.
  • We are made in the image of God but with a flaw and afflicted by the curse of sin and condemned to eternal damnation. It is only by being born again by the Spirit of God by His grace and great mercy and through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are we to be saved from destruction.
  • Some false religions and cults teach that we are ‘made in his image’ and that we become like gods. This is a twisting, a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the Bible which says ‘we will become like Him’.
  • Doctrine is superseded by one’s own responsibility.
  • There is a way that seems right to a person, but ends in death. (Proverbs 14:12)
  • Our good deeds are no better than filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6)
  • God will judge us by our deeds. (Romans 2:6)

Again, scriptures say, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but ends in death.” Proverbs 14:12).

The Apostle Paul emphasizes “the whole counsel of God” as a way to affirm the completion of his duties toward the Ephesians and to remind them of the Truth, WHICH IS ALSO OURS TO AFFIRM TO THE WORLD AROUND US. Paul warns, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” (Acts 20:29–31).

The whole counsel of God includes some things that are difficult to hear—the fact that we are dead in sin and deserving of God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:1–3) and the fact that we cannot save ourselves through works (Ephesians 2:8–9). The gospel is a call to repentance and faith. Believers will face persecution (John 16:33) and likely be considered foolish. But none of these things can dissuade us.

We should follow Paul’s example and also preach and live the whole counsel of God. All Scripture is inspired, and all of it is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16). We must preach it and live it in its entirety and allow the Holy Spirit to use His sword as He sees fit (Ephesians 6:17). Paul did not share half-truths or only parts of the gospel; rather, he shared all of what God has revealed. We must do the same. (see GotQuestions.Org)

The Bible warns us of this ‘Deluding Influence’,“the mystery of lawlessness which is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He, (The Holy Spirit), is removed. Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved.  For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,  in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thesslonians 2:7-12)

In these Last Days, as the Bible says, the spirit of antichrist is present. False christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. We must hold fast to the example of sound words which we have heard and in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 

Let’s not forget to pray for one another as the Day of our Lord draws near.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE POWER OF ONE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

The Power of One.jpg

You have probably heard this story, before. But, let me repeat it for us all.

A man was walking along a beach, upon which thousands of starfish had been washed during a storm. He came to one of the stranded starfish, picked it up, and tossed it back into the ocean.

 

People watched him with an inquisitive amusement, as he continued to toss starfish back into the ocean.

A person, who had been watching, approached him and said, “Why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. Besides, what difference does it make?”

The man reached down and picked up another starfish and looked into the eyes of this person and, as he tossed the starfish into the ocean, said, “I know I cannot save them all. But it makes a difference – to this ONE.”

The person thought about what the man had said an done. Inspired, this person joined in rescuing starfish, tossing a few back into the sea.

Perseverance against great odds and against the criticism of others is the very hallmark of a faith based life. Refusing to accept failure. Understanding that by the Indwelling Spirit of God, we hold the power to change a life, a mind, or a circumstance in our hands, today — right now — is a powerful insight and motivator. Faith based living, acting on faith when circumstances seem to say otherwise, has the power to inspire others to act, and sometimes in numbers significant enough to make a major or impact on our chaotic, lost and dying world.

Faith based living, also known as “Walking in the Spirit of God”, is a powerful force for change in the world, even if it is for just one. It is never too late to start.

We hear about the strength of the Thrice Braided Cord: “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 This is a necessary, useful and powerful Truth from the Bible.

But, let’s not forget the Power of One.

Matthew 11:2, “Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Verse 4. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: Verse 5, the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. Verse 6. “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

It only takes ONE.

PETER WALKS ON THE WATER

Matthew 14:22-33 tells us of a time when Jesus walked across the lake to the disciples, who were crying out in fear because they were in a boat caught in a storm.

“Jesus, as He approached the boat, called out to His disciples and said, ““Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” Jesus said.

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

“Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You, of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

ONLY ONE

Only one of Jesus’ disciples got out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Only One.

The lessons we can learn from this event are numerous. But, we must remember Peter’s obedience to the Voice of his Master, his faith in Jesus and even in what appears to be an ultimate failure, innumerable people, over the last two thousand years have been inspired and influenced to do the same, all because of that ONE disciple.

MOSES MEETS WITH GOD

Moses, one man, hunted, scorned and exiled to the back side of a remote mountain, heard the Voice of God and reluctantly obeyed. And, because of his obedience, the Hebrew children were set free, the seeds of Israel were sown, and the world was changed forever. All because of ONE man.

Exodus3:13, “Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” Verse 14. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Verse 15. God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’”

ONLY ONE

Exodus 23:1, “Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. Verse 2. Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”

THE CROWDS FOLLOW JESUS

Jesus fame spread, and everywhere He went, large crowds followed Him. (Crowds Around Jesus)

But as the enemies of Christ grew in number and resistance to the Message of Jesus intensified, the crowds left. Then there were only a few.

John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48“I am the bread of life. 49“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. Verse 50.“This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. Verse 51. “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.”

Verse 52. “Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53So 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. Verse 54. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. Verse 55. “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Verse 56. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. Verse 57. “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. Verse 58. “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.”

Verse 60.” Therefore, many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”

Verse 66. “As a result of this, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. Verse 67. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Verse 68. Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. Verse 69. “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

THE ONE

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Are you ONE of the chosen? It is easy to tell if you are ONE of the chosen.

Are you following Jesus for salvation? For healing? For safety? For provisions and protection? In other words, are you following Jesus, what you can get from Him?

Or, are you following Jesus to partake in His Life and His Death? Are you doing what He has done? Are you doing what He has sent you to do?

Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

“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.”

Please note, Jesus did not call the apostles. Jesus called His disciples.

ARE YOU ONE?

Let’s BE ONE and let’s DO His bidding. Let’s turn this world BACK upside down in Jesus Name! Please. Join us as part of the THRICE BRAIDED CORD and BE THE ONE to rescue just ONE.

Your Brother and Friend, always,

Mike and Betty on the Beach.jpg

Mike Young

SOMETHING TO BE PROUD ABOUT

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

“I have read the entire Bible seven times”, he proudly stated.

“So, what have you learned?”, I asked.

“A lot”, he said.

“Like what?”, I asked.

He proceeded to tell me several things he learned about the Bible and ABOUT people in the Bible. He learned things ABOUT God, ABOUT salvation, ABOUT Jesus, ABOUT sin, ABOUT heaven, ABOUT hell, ABOUT the Old Testament feasts, ABOUT the tribulation, ABOUT the rapture ABOUT the synoptic Gospels, etc.”

“Sounds great!”, I said. “What are you doing with all you have learned ABOUT all these things?”, I pried.

He squinted his eyes and squeaked, “Huh?”

“Let me cut through all the theology and exegesis and history and socio-political-religious education and ask which “works” Jesus said we should be doing are you actually doing or have you already done?”

He sighed deeply and whispered, “What are you talking about? What are you driving at? You make no sense to me. Before I became a Christian, I sinned a lot. I was lost. I was very unhappy. I got saved, and now I am a Christian, I go to church, I teach Sunday school, I serve God in my own way, and I am going to heaven. My life is much better. I invite people to church and have even told someone about Jesus this year. Why are you asking me these things and what are you looking for?”

(note to self: count the “I’s”, “My’s” and “Me’s” in his response.)

“Nothing really. I hear from you about you, but I am Just curious as to which of Jesus’ works you are doing? You see, Jesus said we were to GO and DO certain things. He said we would DO HIS WORKS and even greater works than those, because He was going to the Father. I think that all you have said is great, and those are great things. But, the bottom line, or at least I thought the bottom line, was following Jesus and doing what He has told us to do. That’s all.”

I could tell I had irritated my friend, and it seemed that he was slightly exasperated with me.

I think most of us, as professing Christians, do a lot of good things, and a lot of those good things are “I-centered”. We do things in order to ‘get His blessings’.  We also do a lot of the things our church leaders or pastors tell us to do because we haven’t been doing, and apparently won’t do the things Jesus said we should do. We can make excuses for our lack of Works, and we make excuses because there are no good reasons.

Forgive me for saying so, but “our good works” are just not good enough. It is not about us. It is all about Jesus and what He has done (and continues to do). We are to be and do likewise.

There are a lot of discussions about these “Works”. Here are three very good resources, ranging the religious spectrum of thought. Any-and-all of them can be helpful. But the point is they all point to Jesus and His Works that we are to be found doing when He comes back to take us home.

World challenge.org – Doing the works of Jesus, David Wilkerson.

Desiring God.org – Doing the works of Jesus and greater works, John Piper.

Knowing-jesus.com – Christ’s Work

My favorite is found in John 6:29, “Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (You have to let this one sink in, deep.)

You see, it is Jesus Who does these works. Let me say it again: It is Jesus, alone, who does these greater works.

Jesus has ascended to the Father, and He does His works through His yielded and obedient servants: you and me. It is so, because He said so. It is by this that His Works are multiplied, enlarged and magnified, bringing Him glory. He alone is due all credit and all glory.

Please read Jesus’ Words on this matter in John chapter 6.

It’s all about Jesus. It is about having Jesus as the object of our faith, and if that faith is the size of a mustard seed…

Go and ‘do these greater works’ by yielding to Him as His servants, allowing Him to work these greater works through you – as He Wills and as He pleases.

(Nothing will ever be the same!)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Comments?

QUIZ TIME – Test Your Knowledge

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

QUESTION #1:

“Everyone is entitled to an opinion”, is a recipe for what ?

ANSWER:                                      .

If you said confusion, chaos and division, you are probably right.

QUESTION #2:

Who said, “A house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand”?

ANSWER:                                    .

If you said Abraham Lincoln, you were almost right. Lincoln repeated this phrase in 1858, but Jesus first said it in or around A.D. 25. (It is recorded in Luke 11:17, Mark 3:25 and Matthew 12.25.)

QUESTION #3: 

“HOW DOES ONE OBTAIN WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE and PROSPERITY”?

ANSWER:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      .

Psalms 110:10

 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

The reverent fear of the LORD is the beginning, the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the LORD; His praise endures forever.

 Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The reverent fear of the LORD that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge its starting point and its essence;

But arrogant fools despise skillful and godly wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.

 Proverbs 9:10

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

 The reverent fear of the LORD that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom its starting point and its essence.

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.

 Psalms 1:1-3

Blessed is the man, who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Blessed, fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God is the man or woman who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, following their advice and example, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit down to rest in the seat of scoffers and ridiculers. But their delight is in the law of the LORD, And on His law, His precepts and teachings, he or she habitually meditates day and night.

And they will be like a tree firmly planted and fed by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever they do, they prosper and come to maturity.

It is funny (as in odd) that people in the year 2030, whether they are five years old or 90 years old or anywhere in between, seem to have ‘a better idea’ than anyone else about ‘how to live life’. Their opinion is usually based on how they feel about something because of their past experience.  The reason they formed their particular opinion was probably because their experience was unpleasant or downright destructive, so they thought up another way. (Wow. Now that’s based on serious research and study! What could possibly go wrong?)

This also probably means that the circumstances or the people these creative folks encountered (or both) were probably living their lives based in their own flawed opinions also, and harmful results surely ensued.

Why is it that people will not follow tried and true teachings and examples on how to live a peaceful, wise and informed life rather than making up new ones?

The Bible’s extensive teaching on these matters reach back over 4,000 years. The results and the proof of Biblical teaching’s success can be traced even in secular history. Still, men and women, throughout the ages, form and follow their own opinions, based on their individual appetites, greed and selfish desires choose to ignore centuries of wisdom and success, and do it their own way. The result? Wars, pain, suffering, ignorance, poverty, hate, greed, avarice, chaos, immorality, disease and death.

Does this mean that if you come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, all your problems will disappear and all your desire and wishes will be fulfilled? NO, it does not.

Does this mean you will be ‘lucky’ or ‘luckier’ in life. NO, it does not.

Life is fraught with dangers, toils and troubles for everyone. But, it is the one who is guided by and held by the mighty hand of the Creator who will endure these trials and will not fall. He or she will not only survive, they will thrive. (See the example of Job in the Old Testament, or the nation of Israel to this very day).

Psalms 34:17

When the righteous cry [for help], the Lord hears
And rescues them from all their distress and troubles.

18 
The Lord is near to the heartbroken
And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin).

19 
Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous,
But the Lord rescues him from them all.

So, if by chance, you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, try this for, let’s see, how about for the rest of your life and find out for yourself!

“Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God (reaching back over 6,000 years), being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today (reaching back over 4,000 years), the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the LORD your God…

(Black italicized inserts are my own comment).

Follow me as I follow the Bible and the voice of The Lord, and let’s live a little (or a lot)!

Your Brother and friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:

“All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the LORD your God.  “You will be blessed …””

Please bookmark this page for the next teaching episode.

BAKED IN THE SQUAT

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Zig Ziglar’s old classic, “See You at the Top” has a great story about Zig visiting his grandmother. He says that his grandmother baked beautiful, delicious, fluffy biscuits.

Well, one day young Zig went over there and the biscuits were hard, short and squat. His grandmother took one look and said something that Zig never forgot, “Well, look there. Those biscuits forgot to rise and got baked in a squat! They squatted down to get ready to rise, then took too long and forgot to rise.”

That is what happens to so many of us! We forget or fail to rise to our full potential and somewhere along the line we get baked in a squat, unable to rise any further.

You see, Granny Ziglar had left out the baking powder, an essential ingredient for the biscuits to reach their full potential. That is what optimism and encouragement is to you. That is what wise advice is to you. In the same book, Ziglar also says that:

“Too many people are SNIOP… Susceptible to the Negative Influence of Other People.”

We listen to the people who say ‘it can’t be done’ or that it is too hard or makes me too uncomfortable. We listen to those negative people and remove the positive hopes and dreams that could buoy us to rise to great heights!

 

 

 

Many of us, as we move through the stages of life, from childhood to adulthood, learn, grow and work hard to obtain things, achieve success and retire comfortably. But when it comes to spiritual matters, we just try to ‘fit in’.  We go to church (or not), ‘try to be a nice person’ (or not), give some money to our church because we can’t or won’t serve or ‘go on mission’ (or not) and we mind our own business (or not).

The Bible has something to say about spiritual maturity and rising to our full potential in Christ. The Apostle Paul says it this way, “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time, you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:11-14).

Again, in Hebrews 10:32-39, God says, “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.  Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.

For, “Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”

 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

It’s never too late to rise out of your comfort zone, come out of your complacency, and join God in what He is doing. Go on the greatest adventure of your life, join and follow Christ as He goes about, ‘teaching in the synagogues and churches, homes and hospitals, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. They brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and He heals them. And great crowds will follow Him (see Matthew 4:23-25).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: I have been a life-long sinner, saved by God’s grace. I remind myself, sometimes, of the images used by evolutionists (although I don’t subscribe or believe in evolutionist theories):

I have been dumb-as-a-monkey, stubborn as an ape, ignorant as a caveman, clumsy, dangerous and stupid as a neanderthal.

My weight varied between 185 and 195 pounds. I was grossly over-weight and stressed out.  My blood pressure was being controlled by two different medications. Then, at the end of 2012, I had a two-episode stroke.

I was lying on a gurney, in an emergency room stroke center. My vision was fading, my ability to speak was going away, and a nurse leans over me and asks, “Are you a praying man?”.  I nodded, yes. She said, “Now would be a good time to start praying”. Then I heard the neurologist on duty shout, “hurry up with the clot-buster meds! We are losing this guy!”

I spent four and a half days in intensive care. I survived, and on the fifth day I got out of my bed, walked (clumsily) down the hospital corridor and returned to my room to announce that I was going home.

The doctors protested, but allowed me to leave. I refused the wheelchair and walked (slow and somewhat unsteady) to the car. My wife had pulled to the exit and watch anxiously as I plodded toward her. (Still stubborn as an ape ).

I recovered completely over time, and the doctors called it ‘miraculous’. It was miraculous. I knew then that God had done His Work with me. (Even the scarring in my eye from a blot clot had healed over time, although my ophthalmologist said, ‘that just should not be possible!’)

A follow-up visit and another M.R.I. showed I had suffered, not one, but two-stroke events. There are two ‘dead spot’ injuries on my brain. The attending physician whistled and said something like, “Wow! Two of them. Pretty amazing. How are you feeling?”

I was put on blood thinners and cholesterol medication, a modified diet and cautioned to avoid stress. The medication I was taking was creating a poor quality of life for me. I had to stop the use of cholesterol drugs after two and a half years because of the severe side effects.

Then in early 2015 God led my wife to discover a book titled “Prescription for Life” by Dr. Richard Furman. In short, he prescribes eliminating foods that harm your system over time and to follow an effective exercise regimen. Dr. Furman also warns that once you have damaged your body and system, it is hard to recover. So, my wife and I began the Prescription for Life.

In my first four months, I lost between fifteen and twenty pounds. My blood pressure levels dropped dramatically, and my cholesterol level fell to healthy levels.

I am off all cholesterol medications (except the once-a-day blood thinner) with the blessing of my physician (as long as I stay faithful in my healthy eating, exercising and living regimens.)

God has brought me out of that darkness and into His marvelous Light. It is too bad that it takes suffering difficulties to realize how richly God has blessed us and the good He wants for us. Hopefully, that realization will move us toward maturity in Christ.

It’s working for me. It was the wake-up call I needed, I guess. I can still be a mess, but not in God’s sight. I am doing my best to serve Him and honor Him, daily. I pray that those who read this will skip the ‘trauma training sessions’ and just go on with the business of following and joining Jesus in what He is already doing!

I pray for blessings of health and spiritual prosperity for you!! Find and really follow Him!

STAND FIRM

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Are Christians allowing themselves to be led by sheep instead of being led by     The Lion of Judah?

Someplace along the way, over the last two thousand years, it seems that many of the people calling themselves Christians, have come to assume that Jesus was either some kind of a ‘progressive left-wing ideologue’ or a pacifist and have modeled their lives as such. Let’s be crystal clear: Both assumptions are wrong. Dead wrong! (If you are thinking, “I don’t believe either one of those attributes about Jesus”, then, please take this little test, just to make certain:

PART 1.
The Bible CONTAINS the Word of God. We can subjectively pick and choose what parts of the Bible are true.  YES    . NO    .
Jesus Christ was a GOOD MAN, probably the BEST MAN that has ever lived, but He was not necessarily God.   YES    . NO     .
The birth of Jesus Christ was NATURAL and not SUPERNATURAL.   YES    .  NO    .
God is the FATHER OF ALL MEN and not just Christians.  YES    .  NO    .
Man is the product of EVOLUTION  YES    .  NO    .
Man is the unfortunate VICTIM of heredity and environment, but through self-culture and self effort, he can save himself.  YES    .  NO    .
There are MANY ROADS that lead to Heaven  YES    .  NO    .
ALL PEOPLE WILL EVENTUALLY BE SAVED   YES    .  NO    .
PART 2.
A loving God would never condemn anyone to hell. YES    .  NO    .
The judgment and wrath of God was Old Testament. YES    .  NO    .
It is OK to have “MANY FAITHS” and “many faith expressions”  YES    .  NO   .
It is OK to UNITE all churches and all faiths to believe in God.  YES    . NO    .
THE GOSPEL is equal to Social action  YES    .  NO    .
It is OK to meet a person’s PHYSICAL NEEDS (food, clothing, medicine, etc.) without giving the Gospel message. YES    .  NO    .
Concerning the RESURRECTION: Jesus did not literally come back from the dead, it was “The influence and example of Jesus that lives on” YES    .  NO  .
THE PROPHETIC TEACHING of the second coming of Christ is all allegory. YES    .  NO    .
Jesus was a good man and a good teacher, but, He is not God. YES    . NO    .

IF YOU ANSWERED “YES” TO MORE THAN ONE QUESTION, PLEASE GO TO THESE LINKS. READ, PRAY AND THINK.

Christianity and socialism

Christianity and communism

 Bible hub.com

The examples being set by many post-modern preachers and pastors is appalling. Their agenda and practice ranges from CEO-types, dictators and control-freaks, to showmen, and the timid pacifist. (Finding an authentic ‘Fully devoted follower of Jesus styled pastor’ is a tough assignment. But, they are out there, and I strongly suggest you keep looking until you find one. And, for your own sake, don’t put anything ahead of finding a Church and pastor who models and follows the One and Only, Jesus.)

You may be asking, “So, what does the REAL JESUS look like?” It would take more time and space than I can afford at this time to describe all of the characteristics and traits of Jesus, found in the Bible. But, referring to Him as ‘The Lion of Judah’ will get started in the right direction. You can do that in your spare time. I want to focus on just one trait: The dependability and resolve of Jesus.

WHY DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?

 1. TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

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 purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”  

 2. TO BRING A SWORD

Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Verse 35, For I came to TURN A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; verse 36, and A PERSON’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.” 

  3. TO FULFILL THE LAW

Matthew 5:17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.”  

 4. TO CALL SINNERS

Mark 2:17 “And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

 5. TO SAVE THE WORLD

John 12:47 If anyone hears My teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”  

 6. TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH

Luke 12:49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! Verse 50,  But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Verse 51, Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather to create division;  

 “WHAT HE REALLY MEANT?”

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

I have heard so many preachers and bible teachers try to justify or explain away these Words of Jesus because they just cannot fathom the gentle and sweet ‘dashboard Jesus’ saying such things as we find in the verses cited.  These same confused preachers really get tied in a knot over John 14:12.  They will begin their commentary of teaching it with, “what this really means is…”.

Jesus said what He meant and meant exactly what He said.  We need to get over it and get on with it.

 Jesus’ time on earth was spent fulfilling the purpose, and will of His Father (Matthew 5:19, Matthew 5:39). Jesus was on a singular mission (John 6 :38) and nothing would stand in the way of accomplishing that mission: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus had a divine appointment with a cruel Roman cross. Read what He said when Peter proposed to get in the way of His mission:

Matthew 16:21– 23, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Jesus always, taught the Will of His Father, then, demonstrated what He taught. He expects us to do the same. Ephesians, chapter six, gives us a clear teaching and picture of the type of preparation and resolve we are to assume.

Strong’s Concordance: STAND FIRM (histémi): to make to stand, to stand

Definition: to make to stand, to stand

Usage: make to stand; set up and establish, to appoint; stand ready, stand firm, be steadfast.

Continue safe and sound, stand unharmed: Acts 26:22.

Stand ready or prepared: Ephesians 6:14.

Be of a steadfast mind; 1 Corinthians 10:12.

(Who does not hesitate, does not waver, of one who vanquishes his adversaries and holds the ground, also of one who in the midst of the fight holds his position against the foe, to persist, continue, persevere: (so as not to fall from thy faith).

Ephesians 6:10-17, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Jesus’ demonstration of steadfast, unmovable courage:

CONFRONTING THE STORM

  Mark 4:35-41, “On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

CONFRONTING DEMONS

Luke 8:26-33 “Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

“Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.”

 BEFORE PILATE

John 19:8-12  ”Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

BEFORE THE SANHEDREN

Matthew 24:57-67, “Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

“Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, 61 and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?”  But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;  what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him.”  

Jesus did not draw back.  He proceeded boldly to the Cross and secured our salvation!

Remember, Jesus came to earth for these stated reasons:

TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH. This, too, is our calling!

TO BRING A SWORD. This, too, is our calling!

 TO FULFILL THE LAW. This, too, is our calling!

TO CALL SINNERS. This, too, is our calling!

TO SAVE THE WORLD through Jesus. In a very real sense, this, too, is our calling, by lifting the Name of Jesus, telling others and leading them to Him

TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH. This, too, is our calling!

Don’t be led or misled by the sheep. Follow the Lion of Judah!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

LOVE – HATE – WOKE – LOVE – HATE – WOKE – LOVE – HATE – WOKE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

I had a friend who was, well, it’s hard to describe what she was. She was a lot of things from my perspective. First and foremost, she was a friend. My family loved her. We love her husband and all of her children as a second, (or third), family. But there were many who did not understand her and did not care to understand and, frankly, did not like her.

She was a Christian who hung tenaciously to Christian values.  She loved God, trusted God, and willingly and fearlessly told others about the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. But like the Apostle Paul, as recorded in Romans 7:14-25, this lady could also say:

 “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am nonspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

“So, I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ, our Lord!”

She was horribly conflicted, even tormented by her occasional aberrant behavior.

What I am about to say is not meant to be harsh or critical, but is my experience with this lady, and it was endearing, but it could also be dangerous at times.

She was a quick learner, a talent at almost everything she attempted, yet she could be profoundly socially awkward and tended to make very bad life decisions when it came to handling personal relationships.

She could be fiercely loyal and extremely disloyal at the same time to the same person.

She could be very generous to those in need and withhold from anyone she perceived as unworthy.

She could be gentle and full of joy one minute and insanely angry and out-of-control the next minute.

She demanded honesty, truth, fair treatment and justice from others, but she could be patently dishonest and dangerously untrustworthy when her end would justify her means. It was almost, at times, as if she felt she was due what she was never paid, and she would collect that debt by taking it as an emotional toll on others.

Her private cry was, “If people could just understand where I have come from, what I’ve been put through, how I have been treated, then perhaps others could understand why I am the way I am, and I could be forgiven, justified, and they could like me”.

I think what she was saying is that if people could see the trials and injustices she had suffered while growing up, people would possibly see WHY she feels like she feels and acts how she acts. Then perhaps they could see past her failings and perhaps even come to accept her as she is – and maybe, even like her ‘as she is’.

Later in her life, she was so obsessed with making herself better understood and better known and perhaps as a means of ‘confession’ that she wrote a book. Maybe this was a way to ‘confess her sins’ and to find some kind of forgiveness and perhaps even a sliver of affirmation of her life.

This synopsis by Professor Valery Legasov is associated with this book:  We live in a broken world: broken families, homes, marriages, hearts, and relationships. We’re broken, and we stay broken because of one thing, we refuse to speak the truth about ourselves. We are apt to believe the lies we tell ourselves to defend our position, attitude, and actions. The more we are pressed, the more likely we are to double down. We harden our hearts to our own hurt, which extrapolates out and affects every area of our lives. The life you have is the life you built by the lies or the truth you live by. “Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth. Sooner or later that debt is paid.”

THIS LADY’S JOURNEY, at least for me, DESCRIBES THE VERY ESSENCE OF the term “WOKE”; not in racial terms, but in terms of social justice and human in very real and very personal terms. What separated her from the consequences of the WOKE movement is God’s grace and her faith in Jesus Christ.

What is WOKE?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who are these people? Oddly enough, they can be traced and found to be an odd mixture of practicing racists, pseudo-intellectuals (with accompanying high-sounding degrees), practicing Marxists, Black Lives Matter acting as their militant arm and members of the Democrat party in America. (Most sources are biased, but, Wikipedia on CRT gives some Leftist insight. An article in The Atlantic also offers some insights.

I offer this short and abbreviated series for more detail and a more complete understanding:  “Critical Race Theory – The Threat, Exposed and Simplified”. (Please. This link is a‘must read’ in order to complete this reasoning and explanation of what is happening to our country, government, our schools and churches AND WHAT YOU AND I CAN DO ABOUT IT.)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  I want to be VERY CLEAR that I do not condemn or criticize those who are snared by the insidious evil of Satan. Being honest about where we are, what afflicts us, is the first step to a long recovery and being made whole as God intended.

So, we are not too quick to judge and condemn, read what afflicts us all in these Last Days:

Matthew 24:4, “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Verse 5. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. Verse 6. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. Verse 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Verse 8. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

Verse 12. “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.”

NOW FAITH

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

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

ABRAHAM, BY FAITH – Episode 3

Has a coddled and pampered postmodern Church has produced generations of coddled, pampered, spoiled and rebellious people. The time has come, and is now, that they do not tolerate sound doctrine; always wanting to have their ears tickled, they accumulate teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Are we that generation who calls evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitutes bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Are we that generation who is wise in our own eyes and clever in our own sight!

Who are heroes in drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing intoxicating drink, who declare the wicked innocent for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!

As a tongue of fire consumes stubble, and dry grass collapses in the flame, so our root will become like rot, and our blossom blow away like dust; for we have rejected the Law of the LORD of armies, and discarded the word of the Holy One of Israel.

For this reason the anger of the LORD is burning against His people, and He has stretched out His hand against us and will strike us. The mountain will quake, and our corpses will lay like refuse in the middle of the streets.

Despite all this, His anger is not, yet all spent, but His hand is still stretched out. (See the prophetic Word of Isaiah, chapter 5)

Now is the time that we return to Him and live not by our selfish and self-centered faith, but, according to the faith shown to us by our fathers of long ago:

Hebrews 11 is our source material, paraphrased and personalized:

Verse 1.  “It must be now that we return to the faith that is the certainty of things expected, the proof of things not yet seen. Verse  2 Now, we must return to the faith that the people of old obtained a good testimony.

Verse 3. “Now, we must return to the faith that causes us to understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.

Verse 4. “Now, we must return to the faith that Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

Verse 5. “Now, we must return to the faith by which Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God.

Verse 6. “We must know that without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

Verse 7. “Now, we must return to the faith that, Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Verse 8. “Now, we must return to the faith that Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. Verse 9. The faith by which he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; Verse 10. for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Verse 11. “Now, we must return to the faith that Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Verse 12. Therefore, even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

Verse 13. “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Verse 14. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. Verse 15. And indeed, if they had been thinking of that country which they left, they would have had opportunity to return. Verse 16. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

Verse 17. “The faith by which Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had received the promises was offering up his only son; Verse 18. it was he to whom it was said, “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE NAMED.” Verse 19. He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

Verse 20. “The faith by which Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

Verse 21. “The faith by which  Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Verse 22. “The faith by which Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

Verse 23. “The faith by which Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

Verse 24. “The faith by which Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, Verse 25, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, Verse 26, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. Verse 27. The faith by which he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though seeing Him who is unseen. Verse 28. The faith by which, he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. Verse 29. The faith by which they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

Verse 30. “The faith by which the walls of Jericho fell down after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. Verse 31. The faith by which the prostitute Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

Verse 32. “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, Verse 33, The faith by which they conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, Verse 34, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Verse 35. The faith by which women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; Verse 36, the faith by which others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and imprisonment. Verse 37. The faith by which they were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tested, they were put to death with the sword; The faith by which they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented Verse 38, (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.

Verse 39. “And all these, having gained approval, a good testimony through their faith, did not receive what was promised, Verse 40, because God had provided something better for those who would follow, so that along with them, we will be made perfect through Christ.”‘

What more is to be said? The “Day of the Lord” is at hand. Be ready!

Thus says the Lord. Amen and Amen!

The following chapters in this series are Biblical teaching on the exercising of your faith and the outcomes. This is not just for reading, but, for you and me to learn to exercise our faith and to see these outcomes in our own lives.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Go to the Next Episode, SAVING FAITH AND THE DEMONIAC

A REEMERGING ANCIENT PANDEMIC

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Also, available on Google Podcast and on Apple Podcast

THE OLDEST PANDEMIC IS HERE, AGAIN

THE OLDEST PANDEMIC HAD KILLED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, and was thought to be eradicated, but, it has reemerged and t is already in your homes, in your government, in your schools, in your health care systems and in your hospitals. It is in your churches and in your food production. The media knows it and is strangely silent.

Prowling, encircling its prey and waiting to pounce, this virus is the decades old, Socialist-Marxism.  It is here and it is entrenched. The Democrat party in America, in full cooperation with the United Nations many tentacles of Marxism, are in full attack mode, pushing to complete the destruction of America’s way of life, her legacy and America as a freedom loving democratic republic, by the year 2030. Transforming our once great nation into a servant of the new One World Government – The United Nations.

ALERT TO CHRISTIANS: THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST you have been warned about. It is here, and it is cloaked in Socialism, Communism and all its variants, such as Leninism and Marxism. It is time to prepare for the final assault.

The media is strangely quiet about this deadly re-emergent Communist pandemic. Unimpeded, it is spreading like a wildfire throughout our Federal, State and local governments. Its formal name is the Agenda 21 and is under the direction of the U.N., and an organization known as the I.C.L.E.I., an unconstitutional and subversive organization is the implementation of this worldwide coup.

This deadly virus was introduced into the United States by way of a treasonous  executive order, by, then president, Bill Clinton. Later, it was endorsed and promoted by President George H. Bush.

The President’s Council on Sustainable Development submitted its report, “Sustainable America: A New Consensus”, to the President in early 1996. In the absence of a multi-sectoral consensus on how to achieve sustainable development in the United States, the President’s Council on Sustainable Development was conceived to formulate recommendations for the implementation of Agenda 21.

In the United States, over 528 American cities are members of “Local Governments for Sustainability” or “I.C.L.E.I.”, is an international Marxist and Socialist leaning sustainability organization, that helps to implement the Agenda 21 and Local Agenda 21 concepts across the world. The United States has nearly half of the I.C.L.E.I.’s global membership of 1,200 cities promoting sustainable development at a local level.

Here is the latest:

The Democrat sponsored “Build back better Bill” is democrats down payment on socialism.

Additional news media resources: THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL IS WHAT?

This is not just another doom-and-gloom message. We have exhausted the time necessary for debating, compromising and voting in another fraudulent election. This is a WAKE-UP call and a CALL TO ACTION.

  1. Pray for wisdom. Watch for opportunities.
  2. Become Bible literate about God’s economies.
  3. Promote the Gospel, both, by how you live and be word of mouth.
  4. Become an activist. Reach out to others and to the government and explain why we must reject the new Liberalism, Socialism and Marxism.
  5. Be confident that God will complete what He has started. Stay calm, be direct.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Resources:

Globalism and The Tower of Babel

Christianity and Socialism?

A New World Order?

A One World Church?

Socialist-Marxism takeover and the United Nations

The United Nations Marxist Agenda-21 is here!