Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to, “Go and sin no more”. 

Is that even possible?

This question reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s lament, (heavily paraphrased here) from Romans 7:14-24

I know that the spiritual laws are spiritual in nature;  but I am unspiritual.  I am like a slave who has been sold to an owner by the name of “Sin”.

Even though I know I am a slave to “Sin”, I still don’t understand why I act like I do.  I want to do good, I do not do good, but instead I am doing sinful things I hate.

I realize that it is not the “real me” acting this way, and that it is actually my owner, “Sin”, acting this way.  But, it is “Sin” who is living within me.

I know that good does not dwell within me.  What is within me is a sinful nature. 

I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

You see, I am not doing good even though I want to do good.  I keep on doing evil, and I do not want to do evil.  So, when I do the things I do not want to do, I realize that it is “Sin” living in me who is doing these evil things through me.

So, I find this principal at work:  Although I want to do good, evil is right here, within me, causing all this trouble.

I delight in God’s law in my innermost being;  but I see this principal at work within me, waging war with my mind and making me a prisoner of sin. 

Sin is working within me, waging war against my desire to do good.  I am wretched and tormented!  Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?   

IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?

If this is true with Paul, I have to ask, “Is it even possible to, sin no more as Jesus said?”

We have already discussed how continual sin interrupts our walk with God and robs us of ability to complete our God Given mission and calling effectively – and even negates our ability to submit to God and see Him work through us.

Well, the Bible says it is possible to “Sin no more”, and I need to know how.  Let’s solve this awful mystery:

1 John 1:8  tells us that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” and, v10  says “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

But, 1 John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.“

The Apostle Paul says to us in Romans 6:1  “Well then, shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us more and more kindness and forgiveness?

^2-3 Of course not! Should we keep on sinning when we don’t have to? For sin’s power over us was broken when we became Christians and were baptized to become a part of Jesus Christ; through his death the power of your sinful nature was shattered. ⁴ Your old sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism when he died; and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy.

⁵ For you have become a part of him, and so you died with him, so to speak, when he died;^[a] and now you share his new life and shall rise as he did. ⁶ Your old evil desires were nailed to the cross with him; that part of you that loves to sin was crushed and fatally wounded, so that your sin-loving body is no longer under sin’s control, no longer needs to be a slave to sin; “

If this is so, why do I still have the urges to sin?

IT TAKES TIME

Look at it this way.  Suppose your doctor says that you need to lose weight or you will suffer deteriorating health, eventually even death.  And, let’s say he tells you that you need to lose thirty pounds to be healthy.  The doctor will give you guidance, encouragement, assistance, and the hope of the promise of good health.

(The weight is SIN.  The doctor is JESUS.  The diet is your SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE.  The loss of 30 pounds is your desire or GOAL of being weight (sin) free)

So, you begin.

After one month you have lost 5 pounds.  Are you healthy yet?  NO you are not.  But, you are HEALTHIER.  And, you are moving toward your goal.

After three months you have lost 15 pounds.  Are you healthy yet?  NO you are not.  But, you are even HEALTHIER.  And, you are moving closer to your goal.

After four month you have gained 5 pounds back.  You have slipped.  Are you healthy yet?  NO you are not.  But, you are still HEALTHIER than when you started.  You need to admit your fault, and get moving toward your goal again.

After ten months you have lost 30 pounds!  Are you healthy yet?  YES you are.  But, you know that this will now be a lifetime of weight (sin) management.

There may be times you ‘slip back’.  You must call your doctor.  You know he will not condemn you or criticize you. He is there to help you. 

So, you call your doctor and admit your faults, knowing that it is your work to do, but your doctor is committed and able to get help you get cleaned up and back on the road of good health!

If you will stay with it and don’t look back at the pleasures of poor eating habits, you will make it!  One day you will realize you are much healthier and much more satisfied.

So it is with our walk with God.  Like the old hymn says, if we stay with Him and continue or walk with Him, one day we will realize that “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before”! 

We will look around and see what God has done and is doing in and through our lives and say, “Yes, indeed, our God is a mighty God!”  Praise to our God.

STAY WITH IT AND STAY WITH HIM!

THIS WILL HAPPEN. THESE THINGS ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR YOUR GOOD!

Until then, GO AND SIN NO MORE, remembering that He Who is in you has overcome the world!

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

 

 

It seems to me that most everyone who claims to be a Christian (and I say most everyone to leave me some wiggle room) falls far short of what Jesus modeled. 

And most of us seem to fall far short of what He said we should be able to do in His Name.

In this day and age and with our world spinning wildly out of control, this could be the most important thing you could read and do.

NOT AND EXCUSE

I hear all the excuses we make.  But, no one is willing to explain what seem to be the obvious.

I know the Bible says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”(Romans 8:23), but, this is not meant to be an excuse for our failure to see His works in our lives.  It is a word of correction and instruction, not to be used an excuse.

Despite the fact that we all have sinned and fall short, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” John 14:12 

(And by the way, “greater” (mega) in this case does not mean just ‘greater in number’ but it means greater in value, in size, in compass, in stature, in scale, in strength, etc.)

Here is an example. (Matthew 28:16) “… the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.

17  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.

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

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

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

SOME WERE DOUBTFUL, even after all the had seen and experience with the living Lord Jesus.  They were doubtful!  BUT JESUS SENT THEM TO DO HIS WORKS, ANYWAY. 

Their doubt was not to be used an excuse and falling short of the glory of God is not to be used as an excuse, either.

We are to GO “and be confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I do not intend to take these verses out of context (Eisegesis) in order to make a point, however, these two verses are not contradictory, they are complimentary.

Verse thirteen of John chapter 14, then gives us the “How” this is possible:  “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  Jesus does the works, through the believer and submitted follower.

In other words, this is saying that the person who believes in Jesus, and is yielded to Him will experience the works of Jesus in and through their life – and even greater works because Jesus is now at the right Hand of the Father, and it is He who will do those works through His yielded disciples.

So, what if the Bible is not so much about “what we can or should do” as it is about what to avoid – and that is sin!

The obstacle that negates or defeats our purpose in Christ

Sin, it would appear, is the obstacle that negates or defeats our purpose in Christ.  So I ask you, are His works blatantly missing in your life?

The Bible does say that sin separates us from God.  And, that if we regard iniquity in our hearts that God cannot hear our prayers.

What if, to speak in similes, we, as jars of clay, are so full of rubbish, that the works of God cannot enter in order to pass through us?  Or, perhaps our spiritual communication with God is interrupted and unintelligible because of the ‘static of sin’ in our lives?

In order to further this point, I am curious why most of the people are going to the altars in our church just to ask for things, Good things perhaps, like healings, family needs, financial needs, etc., but it seems that very, very few, go to the altar to mourn, confess and repent of their sins.

Could this be the problem of spiritual impotence, which we are not addressing?

I have even heard a senior pastor teach, many times regarding sin, “God loves you so much, that He cannot love you any less.  He understands your frailty and overlooks your sins thanks to Jesus.”  I have to say in response, “Are you kidding me?”

For many people, admitting they are sinful is a tough thing.  They feel they are admitting that they are just bad people, when they don’t believe they are essentially bad.  They say, “I may do some bad things occasionally, but I am basically a good person.”

In dealing with sin and a woman caught in adultery, Jesus said to her (and to all of us by extension) “Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” John 8:10-11

God is merciful and forgiving, but, the command is to “Go, and sin no more”.  Sin obstructs our connection to God.

Paul also weighed in on this matter when he taught, “Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” 1 Corinthians 15:34

Being good or bad isn’t the point.  Sin, is the point. 

• Sin causes us to “miss the mark” of God’s provision. 
• Sin causes us to “miss the mark” of God’s presence. 
• Sin causes us to “miss the mark” of God’s works in and through our mortal bodies.

So.  Do you want to change your walk with God into a “Power Walk”?  Do you want to see the Works of God in and through your life?

Let’s all Clean our jar of clay.  Let’s all clear our spiritual airwaves of the ‘static of sin’. 

Let’s all, Go, and Sin no More!

Now, listen to this GREAT audio recording for a recap.  https://activechristianity.org/why-did-jesus-say-go-and-sin-no-more-if-thats-impossible

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please hear these thoughts about prayer, from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest,

“A child of God never prays to be made aware of the fact that God answers prayer, because he is so restfully certain that God always answers prayer.” August 21, 2018,

​”We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.” August 14, 2014

“To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me and then I change things.” August 14, 2014

I have heard it taught, by most Bible teachers in the reformed evangelical church, almost as a doctrine, that God answers prayers 3 ways:

• “Yes”
• “No”
• “Later”

I wondered. So, I studied and searched – for many months. I found this:

God answers prayers.

Period.

For those who would say that God says ‘wait’, actually, there is no direct Biblical reference or evidence of God making you wait. Some may point to Sarah and Abraham and say that God made Sarah wait. But the time that elapsed from God’s Promise to the time it was fulfilled, shows only that God delivers on His Promises.

Time is relevant only to our frames of reference. For God, time is eternal. God Answers Prayer! Period!

The same goes for “no” answer.

​I like to study the Bible, so I can know what the Bible says and so I can obey and apply the Truths and principles of the Bible to my life. However, I consider myself a simple minded person, so too many conflicting ideas about anything tends to confuse me to inaction. So, I have to keep this simple.

Here are 7 things the Bible says about praying. And these verses will answer all the ‘objections’ to

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER.

PERIOD.

​1. God says we are to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

2. God says, ” You do not have because you do not ask. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (and the word “pleasures” means lusts or selfish pleasures. It is the Greek word is ‘hedone’ from which we get our English word ‘hedonism’ which is unaccountable pleasure and usually not virtuous).

3. God says, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, God will not hear (my prayers).” Psalms 66:18

4. God says, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

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

6. God says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:7

7. God says, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:21-22

Could this be any clearer?

I have listed SEVEN TRUTHS about prayer. I could take these 7 Truths about prayer and turn the into seven chapters for a book. I don’t think I will try to write a book about this because when I read books with many caveats and multilayered methods to pray it’s almost like learning to hit a golf ball the first time. (Head down, eye on the ball, left arm straight, wrist locked, elbow in tight, shift your weight, strike the ball first then the turf, turn your belt buckle toward the target, rotate shoulders, extend your arms for follow through – then pick your self up off the ground because you missed the ball completely and fell over. In fact, you have missed the point completely, lost in the details, so, you quit.)

For the person reading this who would like to see their prayer life manifest God Sized results, then please, let’s re-read these Truths and begin to apply them, together.

1. God says we are to

Be anxious for nothing,

but in every situation, by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.”Philippians 4:6

What would it look like to pray without anxiety, in every situation? (Think on this!)

How do you pray and ask with THANKSGIVING? (Think on this!)

Now, do it that way!

2. God says we are to

Ask.

Matthew 7:7-11

James 4:3

Ask, Seek and Knock. Ask without motives that lead to sensually, self-indulgent pleasure.

3. God says we are to

cleanse ourselves of wickedness.

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

Take the time and self discipline to cleanse ourselves. Remembering that we are approaching a Holy God through Christ Jesus. Galatians 5:19-21 gives a good place to start: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 John 1:9ff tells us to confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

4. God says we are to

Have confidence in Him, so that, anything we ask according to His will, He hears us.

And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask,

we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

1 John 5:14-15

This is a powerful Truth that only comes from a constant, disciplined, prayer relationship with God, but, imagine the powerful results.

5. God says we are to

Ask, and it will be given to you;

Seek, and you will find;

Knock, and it will be opened to you.

Read this plain language from the Bible and let it seep into your mind, heart, soul and spirit:

Everyone who asks receives, and

He who seeks finds, and

To him who knocks it will be opened.

Your Father who is in heaven gives what is good to those who ask Him!”

6. God says we are to

Abide in Him, and

His words are to abide in you,

Then, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:7

Consider carefully the word ABIDE. This is the only way.

7. God says we are to “…

7. God says, we are to “have faith and do not doubt,

“you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Matthew 21:21-22

Then, and only then, we may ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for you.

We must remember that these 7 Truths of prayers are not ‘individual Truths’. These 7 Truths are connected to one another; they are interrelated. Each must be observed as each is dependent upon the others.

And the motives or our prayers must be that Our Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and prove to be My disciples.

And this is the power of the Gospel: The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

​WOW, huh?

​One last story: We were attending a new members class at a Church we were considering joining. The pastor of this church was teaching this class. This particular module of the class was about prayer and spiritual gifts. At the conclusion of this class the pastor emphatically (and sarcastically) said, “So, if you have the gift of prayer that raises people from the dead or heals people, you don’t need to join our church. You should just go to the local hospital and empty it out!”

We moved on in search of another church. Friends, I am not a Christian because of what I can get or what I can do.

I am a Christian because I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I need forgiveness of my sins and because I love and need Jesus. After this, I discovered there is much more to this Christian life and the walk with God than I could have ever imagined. Let’s do it all!!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

A MESSAGE ABOUT CROWDS

There are 16,435 sermons on the subject of CROWDS at sermoncentral.  One message struck a chord with me.  The speaker described crowds, to include gangs.  He spoke of why and how crowds form, the intentions of crowds, the makeup of crowds, the psychology of crowds, the effect of crowds and the different types of crowds.

Toward the end of the message, the speaker remarked, “And Christianity is one of the largest CROWDS in the world.  In fact, it is almost like a “GANG”.

You see, “GANG members” have their own titles, their own logos and symbols they wear.  They have their own music style, their way of dressing and acting.  And, sometimes, GANG members can be intimidating, just like Christians.

“But, Christians have even more.  They have their own buildings, artwork, radio and televisions and broadcast stations and satellite networks.  They have their own banking systems, clothing lines, banks and religious centers.”

The Bible mentions the word CROWD or CROWDS, in relation to Jesus, 137 times in the New Testament.

After I read these passages, I wondered.  “HAVE I BECOME A GANG MEMBER?  Or part of the CROWD?” 

After you read this letter, I’ll ask you, also, “Have you become a gang member?  Or part of a crowd?  

THE THING ABOUT CROWDS

I am giving just a few examples here, how crowds acted and reacted to Jesus following the pattern of Inquisitive to Amazement & Adoration, to and then Angry.  (You can read all the verses about the CROWDS which followed Jesus at this link https://www.whitestone2014.com/crowds ):

INSQUISITIVE

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.  (v24)  The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.  Verse 25.  Large CROWDS followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

AMAZEMENT

Matthew 7:28, “When Jesus had finished these words, the CROWDS were amazed at His teaching;

Matthew 8:1, “When Jesus came down from the mountain, large CROWDS followed Him.

Matthew 9:8, “But when the CROWDS saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew 14:19, “Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the CROWDS, verse 20, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.

Verse 21. “There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.

ADORATION

Matthew 21:9, “The CROWDS going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”

ANGRY

John 6:24 So when the CROWD saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.

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

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

Matthew 26:55, “At that time Jesus said to the CROWDS, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.

Matthew 27:20, “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

BEWARE:  The next step in this pattern is ANGER.  It doesn’t flare up all-at-once.  It is gradual and progressive.  As long as you think you are getting what you expected, you are full of wonder and amazement, showing adoration for God.

But then, perhaps the music at church, has become less than what you expect, and you become annoyed.  Maybe the sermons aren’t ‘feeding you’ just right, so you have become dissatisfied.  Maybe the sermons are too ‘hard’ or about Bible subjects you don’t like, such as sin or hell, and they bother you so you miss a Sunday here and there.  And maybe, on one of those missed Sundays, nobody from the church called to see about you, and you feel neglected or ignored, so you get angry.  Yep.  ANGER sets in and the patter is complete.

Now, you should ask yourself, are you following Jesus as His disciple?  Or, are you just following Him around – as part of the CROWD?

This is what can happen when you become part of the CHURCH CROWD.

Jesus did not call us to be THE CROWD.  He called us to BE THE CHURCH and to BE HIS DISCIPLES who go and make other disciples.

We are NOT to be part of the church gang, following after the conferences, the church programs and becoming just a weekly attendee of the religious services (aka, worship services).

Hebrews 6:4–8, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen ^c away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss, they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end, it will be burned.”

The Day of the Lord is near.  Let’s get ready and stay ready for His return.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The preacher gently places a cloth over the  mouth and nose of the young man and states these words, “You are buried with Christ” as he lowers the young man, back into the baptismal pool, “And you are raised to new life with Christ”.

The observers applaud.

 

The preacher then hugs the young man, ushers him out of the pool and exits, himself.

Many, if not most Christian churches consider baptism as “an outward sign of an inward decision”. A reenactment. A ritual. A sacrament (a religious ceremony or ritual).

However, The Apostle Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

Please read the verse again – and think: Peter said to them,

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

Baptism, in the name of Jesus Christ, is for

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

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

1. Baptism is a Covenant with God.

Baptism is a contract, a compact, a treaty and a pact.

Baptism is an accord, a deal, a settlement, a concordat and protocol.

It is an agreement, an arrangement, an understanding, a pledge, a promise, a bond, an indenture, a guarantee, a warrant, an undertaking.

Baptism is a commitment between you and God; between your body, mind and spirit with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

2. Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ is a natural reenactment of supreme importance, with deep significance.

Baptism is Contract in Blood which ignites a series of supernatural events culminating in God the Holy Spirit enveloping and inhabiting the believer. One means little without the other.

3. Baptism both signifies and seals your covenant with God.

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

Then, as you rise up out of the waters of baptism, you are born again, to walk in a new life of freedom, forgiveness and servant-hood to Jesus and His Cause.

You agree to follow and serve God the rest of your life, now, and, into eternity.

Your Friend and Brother,

Mike Young

PS: Have you “sealed the deal”? Have you been baptized – with the Prophetic Words of the Apostle Peter in mind?

Every Word and command of the Bible leads us to Jesus. The results should be miraculous and spectacular. You should never be the same again.

If you are mixing the thinking of this world and trying to follow Jesus, IT JUST WON’T WORK PROPERLY. You just cannot mix salt water into your drinking supply and get fresh water. IT JUST WON’T WORK.

FOLLOW HIM, COMPLETELY. IT WORKS.

(NOTE: The prophecies of the Book of Daniel have proven to be amazingly accurate to this day.  Some prophecies are still unfolding such as the following prophetic text which was written in the 6th century BC, sometime between 605 BC and 540 BC.  I have highlighted and linked some text for easy reference.  Please open and read links for detailed explanations.)

  Daniel 12:1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 

(Commentary:  Daniel 12:1 is a panorama of the LAST DAYS, which encompasses the Ascension of Christ, this current day, and culminates at the White Throne Judgment.)

Verse 2. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 

(Commentary:  This is a description of the Rapture from an earthly perspective)

Verse 3. “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 

Verse 4. “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

(Commentary:  Jesus OPENS the seals of this book, which began after His resurrection and continues to this day)

Verse 5.  “Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. verse 6. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”  verse 7.  I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time;  and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. 

(Commentary:  These verses are a summary description of the 7 Years of Tribulation, also known as The Great Tribulation, which will begin with the opening of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation.)

Verse 8.  “As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” Verse 9. He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 

(Commentary:  These events were kept hidden, concealed, until the Ascension of Christ and were written sometime between AD 35 and AD 100)

Verse 10. “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.Verse 11. “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 

(Commentary:  Verse 10 give us the purpose of The Days of Distress (Tribulation Seal 1 through Seal 5.  Seals 6 and 7, The Trumpets and the Bowls are Judgments.  Verse 11 is a summary of the endurance of the Great Tribulation Period or 7 Years)

Verse 12. “How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! 

(Commentary: go to “Gotquestions.org”, and read about the tribulation and the 1260 days, the  1290 days and the 1335 days)

Verse 13. “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

(Commentary: Every man, woman and child of God has their own way to go, end to meet and there is a rest and an inheritance provided for each at the end of the age.)

Take great Hope, dear friends.  God’s plan for our world and the timetable are set by Him.  We may rest securely in Him.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  Here is a great video to accompany this post.

I want to go out on a limb, with this one. 

Have you ever bought something you expected to work a certain way only to find out it didn’t seem to work that way at all?

Perhaps, you have bought a certain electronic device and try as you will, it does not perform as promised.  So you might think, “I should just send this thing back or throw it away!”  Only to have your child or grandchild come to you, take the device, push a button here or there and PRESTO!  Just as promised.  You discover it wasn’t the “thing”, it was you!!

It can be the same way in our relationship with God and His Word.  When I hear and see some of the “things” people do and say in relation to God and His Word, it is no wonder that Christianity does not perform like it is Written.

Additionally, much of what is being preached today, and is passed off as The Gospel of Jesus Christ is, well, FAKE NEWS!”

For example:

#1.  We are being told to “Pray a little prayer and ask Jesus into our heart and we will be saved”.  FAKE NEWS!

The audacity to think that we, a puny, finite creation, made of dust, would assume we are worthy of or could even begin to tell The One and only True God, Creator of all things, what to do?! 

Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

v10  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

v11  For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

#2.  We are being told we should “Claim the promises of God”.  FAKE NEWS!

God’s promises exist and permanent whether you claim them or not.  Claiming them does not validate God’s promise in your life.  The Bible uses the word promise, promises or promised 139 times.  And not once does it tell you to claim what is already yours.

In fact, claiming what is already yours sounds extremely childish and one who teaches ‘claiming God’s promises’ is immature in their thinking.

Imagine an adult friend standing in his or her driveway, loudly proclaiming, “In the name of God I claim this car!  Thank you God for the car which is coming.  I receive your car!” 

You want to shout at this person, “Hey, it’s already your car! It-is-already-yours.  Just drive it!  And, will you please, stop claiming God is going to give you something you already have? You look and sound ridiculous.”

We should, instead, appropriate what God has already given us for His Glory and for our own use.  (Appropriate defined:  “Take (something) for one’s own use, typically without the owner’s permission”.)

#3.  We are being told that God answers prayer by saying, “Yes, No or Wait”.  FAKE NEWS!

This is found NOWHERE in the Bible.  The Bible says that God either hears your prayers and answers your prayers or He does not hear you and cannot answer what He does not hear.

Matthew 7:7 ¶  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Psalms 66:18  If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

#4.  We are told that God wants everyone to always prosper and to always be in good health.  FAKE NEWS!

This idea probably comes from the Apostle John’s greeting to Gaius in 3rd John 1:2, where he says, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

The Bible says you can prosper and God gives us instructions and ways to help us prosper, both in our soul and in our natural body.

For example, the Bible say you will be healthier if you eat right, happier think right and more prosperous if you do right.

But what God wants is for humankind to come to Him, to love Him and to love one another.  God wants us to obey Him, to follow Him and to spread The Good News about His Son, Jesus.

Listening to God and obeying Him may assist us in living a more prosperous and peaceful life.  But, oftentimes in our service to God, we will suffer and experience poor health.

Avoidance of trouble is not God’s goal for us.  Serving Him faithfully, obediently and Eternal life are.

#5.  We are taught that prayer changes things or “moves the Hand of God”.  FAKE NEWS!

The Bible gives us examples where prayer brings results.  But, too often we are taught to pray to get God to do things on our behalf or to give us things.

In other words, we use prayer as a way to get God to serve us.  HOW LUDICROUS!

We are told to be like Jesus and Jesus said, “I did not come to be served but to serve”.  This is our calling, also.

Jesus also reminds us that even He could only do what He saw the Father doing ahead of time, and He only said what the Father had already said.  (John 5).  We should be mindful and pray “according to His Will” which is revealed in His Word.

Rather than “twisting God’s Arm” our prayers should be “How may I serve You this day”, shouldn’t they?

To echo an Oswald Chambers quote,

“We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.  To say that prayer changes things is not as close to the truth as saying, Prayer changes me and then I change things.”

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News.  But, it is His Gospel, not ours.

Listen to what Pastor John MacArthur, said, “No temporal, political, social enterprise is a component of the Saving Gospel. 

“You can go to the New Testament and you will never find anything except ‘Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing Him as Lord, believing in His death and resurrection,  confessing your sins, repenting – THAT’S THE GOSPEL.  Nothing can be added to that.”

And, hear what Pastor Alistair Begg said, “Our mandate in the world is not political, it’s not social, and it’s not economic.  The calling of the church is to proclaim the gospel. 

“Our responsibility is not to disrupt that environment, but it is instead to show the difference that the gospel makes.“

If you and I want see the Presence of God in our daily lives, if we want to see our prayers powerfully answered and if we must know and do God’s Word in order to experience God‘s Word, just as it is promised!

Let’s pray for one another and encourage one another to know God better each day so we may walk in the Works which He prepared for us, ahead of time.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Whitestonefellowship@earthlink.net

Last evening we had our second group gathering in Our study of Worldviews by the Truth Project, a Focus on the Family sponsored study lead by Dr. Del Tackett, Senior Vice President of Focus on the Family.  The topic / tour this week was “Philosophy & Ethics”.

 There were several ‘takeaways’, but the one thing we discussed the most was titled,

“What is Right? What is wrong? – Ethical implications of postmodernism”.

The conclusion presented by the Dr. Tackett and other theologians on the video was that there is no basis for ethical standards or ethical language in a naturalistic or Non-Christian, Non-Biblical worldview”. To emphasize that point, I told of this real life occurrence:

I was stopped by an acquaintance while on a walk and he asked me, “What do you think of these riots and the looting?”

I responded with, “I think it’s a shame that people are burning down cities and business after looting them and killing people in the process.  I think it is evil.”

This acquaintance quickly countered with, “Well, they had no choice.”  His response was so quick that I felt he knew what he was going to say even before I could answer him.  In other words, he was just wanting to start an argument and espouse his point of view, his worldview, if you will.

I answered him.  But, before I tell what I said, I would like to know what you would have said. 

Before you answer, please remember,

1.  Although I was unaware, at first, it became apparent that this guy was wanting to argue, not discuss to subject which he introduced.

2.  This guy was wanting to promote his worldview.  He did not really want a discussion and he did not to hear my view.

So, what would you have said to him?

 

My answer to his remark that ‘the looters and rioters had no other choice’ was, “You don’t solve evil with more evil.”

Again, this man responded with a flat, “They had no choice”.

I repeated myself, “You cannot solve the evils of racism by responding with the evils of hate, revenge, murder, and destruction.  It is WRONG!”

This man dismissed me with a wave of his hand, saying, “Well, that’s your opinions”, as he prepared to ride away on his bicycle.

I finished my remarks to him with, “Yes, it is my opinion, but it is more.  It is the truth.  Your view is that evil, revenge and hate are okay –  and that is wrong!” 

The point is, we, as Christians, are to say what is true without arguing or trying to convince anyone.  The Truth will stand on its own.  But, we must speak it simply and directly and with conviction, remembering, “they have been taken captive in their imaginations” and we must “gently instruct them” yet let our “speech be seasoned with salt” .  (Colossians 4:5-6)

My wife, Betty Young, who usually doesn’t say much in these gatherings, highlighted our closing, “You can’t change people by external influences or fancy arguments.  It is a matter of the heart.  God has to change their heart before they will change their mind.  We just need to tell them the Truth.”

Wow!  Yes!  We must speak up!  And, with the Truth from God’s point of view, which is found exclusively in the Bible.  Then leave the results to God. 

Of course we stand ready with the answer for our Hope, but, ultimately, it is up to God.

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

Ephesians2:10

I recommend this study.  Contact me if you need assistance.  We need to “Be prepared with an answer”.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

• “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

• “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”  Romans 8:26

• “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed their of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”  Hebrews 1:1-3

WHAT IF?

Like I previously said, I am beginning to see these verses in a different light.  What if what these verses say, are exactly what they mean?

1.  Are God’s thoughts beyond our capacity to understand?  Is it that we, as finite humans, simply cannot grasp the Mind and Intentions of God?

2.  Is it true that when God, The Holy Spirit, prays for us, that His Words (Groanings) are too deep for us to understand in words?

3.  Did God send Jesus so we could comprehend God?  So, we could know Who God is, What God is and about God and His Purposes, His Plans and Intentions?  So we can see the exact representation of His nature understand our relationship to Him?

WHAT IF?

Did not Jesus say we are to know Him, follow Him, represent Him and to do His Works.  Is that even possible?  Or is it rhetoric and hyperbole?

Perhaps we have continued to see the things of God strictly through humans eyes, that is through our limited human understanding, and fallen woefully short of what He intends for us.

What if He what He has said is perfectly true and our failure as humans to perform as He described, is “on us “and our self-centered views?

WHAT IF?

Wasn’t Jesus clearly explaining to us that 

“…The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” ?  John5:19

Isn’t Jesus clearly explain to us,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.  15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” ?   John14:12

Doesn’t the Bible clearly tell us that

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

Isn’t Jesus is saying it is HE who PREPARES THE WORKS and it is HE who DOES THE WORKS, and that HE Works through us?  (Even though, to the human eye and understanding, it appears that we are doing His Works.)

If this is so, can we do what Jesus has not only told us but requires and has commanded of us?

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

^{24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me}.

Friends, over the next few days or weeks (or months?) I will be in discovery.  Will you join me?  There is Kingdom Work to be done until He Returns.  Could we be on the VERGE!

Your Friend and Brother,



Mike Young

My wife likes to quote a favorite preacher (Alistair Begg), who likes to say, “The main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.”

I try to remember and practice this when reading, talking about or studying the Bible.  The problem is that sometimes the MAIN THING isn’t so PLAIN to me.

1. For example, when the Bible says (i.e., GOD SAYS),

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

*Is He saying that I CANNOT fully understand Him?

2. Another Example is when the Bible says (GOD SAYS),

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”  Romans 8:26

*Is He saying that I CANNOT fully understand Him?

3. And, one last example is when the Bible says (GOD SAYS),

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed their of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”  Hebrews 1:1-3

*Is He saying that I CAN fully understand Him?

So which is it?  CAN I or CAN I NOT?

C.S. Lewis, from the early to mid 1900s, a well known and influential British writer and author of widely read books such as The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Space Trilogy, and for his non-fiction Christian apologetics, such as Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain, says, in part, that we should accept those things about God which we can understand and put aside those things that trouble us or which we cannot understand, for now, until God reveals them to us.

WHAT IF?

However, as I am beginning to see these verses in a different light, I have to ask,   “What if these verses are saying exactly what they mean?”  And, what are the implications to us and to our world?  (Really – THIS IS BIG!)

If you want to come with me, please come to “AND I ASK, AGAIN – P2” and let’s explore & talk…

“AND I ASK AGAIN – P2”