AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS “HEART”, SO IS HE?

IS SCIENCE FINALLY STARTING TO CATCH UP WITH WHAT GOD, THROUGH THE BIBLE, HAS BEEN SAYING FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS?

What Is EPIGENETICS?

Epigenetics is one way that scientists learn how the things around us and the choices we make change the way our genes work. We often think of genes as factors we have no control over. After all, we inherit them from our biological parents. And from the moment we enter the world, those genes determine so much about us — from our eye color to our risk for certain diseases. Genes feel set in stone and predetermined. But what if we could change how those genes work in ways that improve our health?

Scientists have known for a while that our environment and individual attitudes and behaviors shape our health.

For example, the latest research shows epigenetic changes are involved in:

• How your metabolism works.
• The aging process and diseases associated with aging.
• Disorders affecting your brain, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and syndromes that cause intellectual disability.
• The development of cancer.
• Substance use disorders.
• Inflammation and related conditions, including asthma and autoimmune diseases.

What can change the epigenome? Here are some examples:

• Foods and nutrition,
• trauma,
• learning experiences and interactions,
• exposure to toxins like diesel exhaust or cigarette smoke,
• exposure to certain chemicals like plastics or lead,
• certain prescription medications,
• use of substances like alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs,
• your level of physical activity,
• the level of stress in your daily life,
• your relationships and social interactions, the community you live in, including your church, and the ways it supports (or doesn’t support) you.

Scientists are still investigating how these exposures and encounters translate to changes in your cells. In general, these factors create epigenetic marks on your DNA that affect how your cells work.

Can you positively influence your epigenome? Mayo Clinic says yes!

“Every cell in your body is listening to what your mind is thinking”

Epigenetics: (video, 2 mins, 3 secs)

Karan Kakkad, (video, 57 seconds)

References (for credibility):

Harvard Health https://www.health.harvard.edu/depression/how-genes-and-life-events-affect-mood-and-depression and,

Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-genetic-destiny/201501/how-stress-changes-your-genes-0 and

Mayo Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/epigenetics

I ask again, “can you positively influence your epigenome?” Mayo Clinic says “yes”,  AND THE BIBLE TELLS YOU HOW!

To begin with, the Bible says that the wages (or payment) for sin is death. (see Romans 6:23).

Galatians 5:19-21 tells us, “Now the deeds of the flesh [the sinful nature] are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, 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”.

(The “flesh” refers to the sinful nature inherent in humanity, a concept rooted in the fall of man (Genesis 3)).

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

(The term “fruit” signifies the natural result or product of the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity in a believer’s life. Fruit of the Spirit is in the singular, indicating a unified whole rather than separate attributes. This suggests that these qualities are interconnected and grow together as a result of the Spirit’s work.)

“For the mind set on [or governed by] the things of the flesh [the sinful nature of man] is death”(Romans 8:6 (a)).

HENCE – THE TYRANNY OF SIN

John 8:34, Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.”

(Dr. Jordan Peterson on slaves and the promised land): https://www.facebook.com/reel/746953607730164

However, John 8:36, tells us that, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”.

How does this come about? The Bible says to MEDITATE, SET YOUR MIND ON, THINK ON THESE THINGS…

(FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT):

Example Verse: Joshua 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful [i.e., observe] to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success [i.e., shall have insight]. NASB.

Meditate: Strong’s Hebrew #1897, ‘hagah‘, occurs twenty-five times, embracing a spectrum of sounds and intentions that range from quiet meditation on God’s instruction to the throaty growl of unrest or complaint. The varied settings show that what the lips utter and what the heart ponders are inseparably linked in biblical spirituality.

Joshua 1:8 inaugurates the covenant life of Israel in the land: “This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night.” The verb, ‘meditate’, marks an audible, continual musing that shapes obedience and prosperity.

(Psalm 1:2 echoes the same rhythm of day-and-night devotion, portraying the blessed man whose inner dialogue is saturated with the Torah. The Psalter expands the theme: “When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night” (Psalm 63:6), and “I will meditate on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:12)).

Meditation is thus an act of covenant loyalty, anchoring memory, identity, and hope.

Ministry Implications

1. Discipleship: Biblical meditation is not silent daydreaming but voiced rehearsal of Scripture that renews the mind and readies obedience.
   2. Preaching and Teaching: Effective proclamation springs from patient, prayerful rumination; the pulpit should echo hours of scriptural pondering.
   3. Pastoral Care: The verb invites sufferers to articulate their pain before God, legitimizing sighs, groans, and honest lament within faith.
   4. Spiritual Warfare: Because ungodly schemes begin as whispered plots, guarding the heart’s meditations is crucial for personal and communal holiness.

(FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT):

Example Verse: Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on [i.e., think on] these things.

Meditate – think on: Strong’s Greek word #3049, ‘logizomai’, means To reckon, to consider, to account, to think, to impute. And its cognates describe the mental act of reckoning, calculating, counting something as true, or crediting something to an account. While the term can speak of simple arithmetic or deliberation, the New Testament frequently uses it for God’s gracious act of crediting righteousness and for the believer’s deliberate act of counting divine realities as present facts.

Summary: It is a good thing to memorized Philippians 4:8, but what it says  that we are to do is to THINK ON THE THINGS that are “pure, things are lovely, things that are of good report, virtuous things and anything that is praiseworthy”. (Try it).

Strong’s Greek word #3049, ‘logizomai’, THINK ON, portrays both God’s decisive action in salvation and the believer’s ongoing mental alignment with revealed truth. To “reckon” is to let God’s verdict in Christ define reality, shaping faith, ethics, and perseverance until glory.

Alternatives:

Example Verse: 1 Timothy 4:15, “Meditate on these things [ESV puts it ‘practice these things,’ and the NASB puts it ‘take pains with these things’]; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

 Meditate / Pre-meditate / Devise with great pains: Strong’s Greek #3191, ‘meletaó.’ means to meditate, to care for, to practice, to study.

Strong’s Greek #3191, ‘meletaó.’ moves along two closely-related tracks: sustained inward contemplation and deliberate outward practice. As Scripture employs the verb, it gathers both strands into a single movement of the heart—what the mind settles on, the life works out.

Scripture never divorces meditation from revelation. The mind does not drift inward to find truth; it anchors itself in what God has spoken. Christian meditation is therefore verbal (rooted in the Word), intentional (repeated), and worshipful (directed to God).

Summary: Strong’s Greek #3191, ‘meletaó.’, meditate, binds thought and action. From the conspiratorial councils of Psalm 2 to the disciplined ministry of Timothy, Scripture shows that whatever the heart continually turns over will soon guide the hands. Christian meditation therefore refuses vain plotting and commits itself to the Word, confident that such focused practice will display tangible progress and advance the gospel.

Example Verse: Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Set Your Mind On:  Strong’s Greek #5426, ‘phroneó’, appearing in varied forms twenty-six times, describes an interior posture that guides outward behavior. More than mere cognition, it involves the settled disposition of the will—what one “sets the heart on.” In Scripture, the verb often answers the question, “Where is your mind anchored?” and so serves as a diagnostic of spiritual health.

Summary

Strong’s #5426 ‘phroneó’, Set Your Mind On, spans intellect, emotion, and will. It calls believers to align every inner disposition with the character and purposes of God revealed in Jesus Christ, producing unified, humble, mission-focused communities whose outward life testifies to an inward mind set on things above.

“Our thoughts and emotions affect every cell in our biology. There is so much science and so much research in the last 20 years in mind-body connection, that is the science of epigenetics, that we know that the environment and emotions affect your genes. It is your emotions that can change your genes.”

“So what emotions are you living with? Anger, guilt, regret, fear, lack, unworthiness? That is just going to create more disease. But if you are living more in gratitude, love, joy, happiness, those emotions get conveyed by your nervous system into every cell of your body, and they turn on genes which created more health, they turn on genes with create more immunity in your system. The emotions we live with will ultimately decide our health and happiness.”

Every cell in your body is listening to what your mind is thinking.

Our thoughts and emotions affect every cell in our biology. There is so much science and so much research in the last 20 years in mind-body connection, that is the science of epigenetics, that we know that the environment and emotions affect your genes. It is your emotions that can change your genes.

So what emotions are you living with? Anger, guilt, regret, fear, lack, unworthiness? That is just going to create more disease. But if you are living more in gratitude, love, joy, happiness, those emotions get conveyed by your nervous system into every cell of your body, and they turn on genes which created more health, they turn on genes with create more immunity in your system. The emotions we live with will ultimately decide our health and happiness.

(Reference Karan Kakkad, Harvard Health https://www.health.harvard.edu/depression/how-genes-and-life-events-affect-mood-and-depression and Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-genetic-destiny/201501/how-stress-changes-your-genes-0 ).

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:19-24).

For the mind set on the things of the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

A group of pastors were asked what was their primary ministry objective. One pastor answered, “The Kingdom of God”. When asked did they mean “The Church”, they simply repeated, “The Kingdom of God”. When asked, “but, what about the people of God – The Church?”. Whereupon, they repeated “The Kingdom of God” was their primary calling for ministry. (I.e., these pastors believe their view of the corporate structure and function of God’s Kingdom was their primary calling, ministry and mission –  not the Church! (This is a widespread phenomenon. Many pastors and staff view the Church (membership) as a distraction and a burden to be dealt by way of programmed activities (as a means to keep the ‘church people’ busy while the staff does their Kingdom Work). Scriptures see these pastor and staff as negligent, improper, manipulative and abusive in their treatment of the church, and subsequently the way Christians treat one another as they respond to this type of ‘leadership’).

What does the Bible say about each and every Christian’s primary calling, mission and objective, however?

• “You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30).
• You are to love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:31).
• “Go and make disciples, of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to follow all that I commanded you”. (Matthew 28:19-20).
• “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this the world will know that you are My disciples”. (John 13:34-35).
• Why? Because, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved…

Love – Agapao – to love (in a social or moral sens).
{chiefly of the heart (wholehearted, unconditional, devoted) while G5368 is chiefly of the head (feelings, conditional, sentimental)}

Aorist Tense – has loved, does love, will always love (past, present, future – a continuous action, without beginning or end).

For God so loved the world,

World – Kosmos – an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, ‘the heavenly hosts’, as the ornament of the heavens; the world, the universe, the circle of the earth, the earth,  the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family, the ungodly multitude;

that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

Perish – apóllymi, ap-ol’-loo-mee; from G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively:—destroy, die, lose, mar, perish. To Kill, put an end to.

God created the world (kosmos) and loved, loves and will always love His creation so much that He had and has and will continue to have no intention of causing it to perish – However, He has not and will not force His creation to love Him, appreciate Him, believe in Him nor to obey Him. But all the men and women who refuse to believe in Him, will perish (be destroyed) by their own choice, by their own volition. Those that remain – those who believe in Him – have the right to be called the children of God and are joint heirs with Jesus, and will live eternally with God.

V. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. V. 18 The one who believes in Him is not judged;

Judge – Krino (krínō, kree’-no); properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:—avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

Believe(s) – Pisteuo – pisteúō, pist-yoo’-o; from G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ):—believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

Please, please, please, dear Christian brothers and sisters, let’s stop going down the errant path of ‘self’ and “repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand”. Jesus has told us that although He is God, He did not consider even that as something to hold over people. He tells us that He came to serve and not to be served. This is the way – He is the Way. This is our only hope in these last days! Let’s love one another just as God loves us! Please.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

During a men’s breakfast, one man asked “what should we be doing in anticipation of the return of Jesus and the rapture?” There were several answers. Then I shared an experience I had at a revival meeting a couple of years earlier. An evangelist and guest speaker came to the pulpit and asked the question, “Jesus is coming back soon. Are you excited?”, to which the congregation exploded in cheers and applause.

Then this evangelist became quiet and in a low and serious voice he said, “Too many Christians are doing little more than staring skyward waiting for the Lord to return, but He has told us we are to be busy with His works. So, it is time we stopped looking at the sky and get busy with the Father’s business!” He then went on to preach about the relationship between Abraham and his nephew Lot. God instructed Abraham to leave his land and go where God would instruct Him, in Canaan. The two travelled together, but soon they land they came to would not support both families and lot began to grumble and complain. In brief, Abraham was generous to Lot and gave him choice of the land they had come to, and Lot was self-serving and chose the choice lands. Abraham took what was left and dug his wells and pastured his flocks. God rewarded Abraham’s obedience to Him, his kindness and generosity toward Lot.

The takeaways and examples for us, especially in these last days and in preparation for His Return, are:

Trust in Divine Direction: Abraham showcases the blessings that flow from obedience.

Flee from Sin: God’s urgent command to leave Sodom encourages believers to depart from compromising environments.

Intercession: Abraham’s plea for Sodom demonstrates the power of prayer for those in peril or unbelief.

Grace Under Pressure: Even when we make shortsighted decisions, as Lot did, God offers rescue to those who heed His call.

Conclusion

Abraham and Lot’s accounts converge to depict both the rewards of faithfulness and the repercussions of unwise choices. Supported by biblical manuscripts and corroborated by historical and archaeological discoveries in the regions around the Dead Sea, the story stands as a testament to divine sovereignty, mercy, and the outworking of God’s plan through His chosen people.

As the narrative unfolds, these two figures continue to inspire readers to trust divine promises, heed God’s warnings, and anchor their hope in the One who fulfills all covenant faithfulness. Their lives illustrate that true prosperity emerges not from the world’s allure but from walking in step with God’s word.

Scriptures tell us that just before Jesus returns there will be an onset of cosmic and terrestrial cataclysms (Matthew 24:29), such as the world has never seen before and never will see again (Matthew 24:21). So what does this have to do with what we be doing in anticipation of the return of Jesus and the rapture? It has everything to do with being obedient to God’s commands in these Last Days; to be inspired by Abraham’s obedience and to inspire others to trust divine promises; to heed God’s warnings, and anchor our hope in the One who fulfills all covenant faithfulness. Our lives, like the life of Abraham, should illustrate that true prosperity emerges not from the world’s allure but from walking in step with God’s word.

And it is sadly true that, in my observations, far too many Christians are doing little more than waiting around, ‘staring skyward’ waiting for Jesus’ return, in anticipation of certain events to occur – many of which have already begun. The Lord Jesus said we are to be about His Works as this day draws near. He also warned against idleness, in no uncertain terms: “Why do you call me Lord, when you have not done the things I commanded you?”

Whereupon, another man pointed out how his pastor was going to receive many crowns for his hard work, but he probably would receive very little. Yet another man cautioned that we should be careful and witness as often as we get the opportunity, and yet another man said, “we should make the opportunities and take them or we might here ‘depart from me, I don’t know you because you did not do what I said’.

WOW!

But let’s get this straight. What am I to do and how am I, are we, as Christians, to be prepared for Jesus’ return? Rather than complicate and already complicated matter, let’s look at what Jesus says we are to do, to be and to be doing in preparation for His Return and the End of The Age.

Signs of Christ’s Return

Matthew 24:1, Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

Verse 3. And as He 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?”

Verse 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.

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

Matthew 24:21, For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

The Glorious Return

Matthew 24:29 “And 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. 30 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. 31 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.

Parable of the Fig Tree

32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation (this epoch – “to become, and signifies a change of condition, state or place“; i.e., these conditions…) will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36 “But about that (exact) day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

Be Ready for His Coming

42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

45 “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household slaves, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with those habitually drunk; 50 then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, 51 and he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Parable of Ten Virgins

Matthew25:1, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; 4 but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. 5 Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 However, the prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

Parable of the Talents

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents. 17 In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

24 “Now the one who had received the one talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’

26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Judgment

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not [i]take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew28:18, And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 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 follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, what are you to be?

Galatians 5:22 Be filled with the Spirit and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.

Philippians 2:2, Be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. 9 For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without complaining or arguments; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding firmly the word of life.

So, how are you to do what are you to do?

 Acts1:7, But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses (martyrs – whether by dying for or giving up your own life for Him) both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

Not everyone is an evangelist, are they? Nor is everyone a preacher or a pastor. God has given each of us our own unique spiritual gift that is for witnessing and the building up of the Body of Christ.

SO, DO YOU KNOW YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT?

​Have you ever wondered about that or been asked that question before?

So, do you?  Do you know your Spiritual Gift?  And, if you do know your Spiritual Gift?

​Spiritual gifts, (charismata) are an endowment or extraordinary powers given by the Holy Spirit.

These supernatural graces, are given to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit with the purpose of building up the Body of Christ which is The Church and are needed to fulfill the mission of the Church.  Spiritual Gifts enable Christians to serve the Lord and His Church.

Two important Truths have been lost over time and this loss is rendering God’s Church as less effective in Her mission and is, in fact, soiling His Bride.

Truth #1.  The Church has become grossly self-serving.

It is through Spiritual Gifts that God empowers and enables us to serve Him and to serve His Church, which is His Body.  We are, as Christians, to serve the Lord and His Church.

Jesus, Himself, said, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” and that is our calling also.

​We are not here to “be served”, we are here to serve.

​Truth #2.  You and I are The Body of Christ, that is we are “The Church”. 

​We have become accustomed, over the last two millennium (beginning with Constantine) with the idea that we ‘go to church’, but that is impossible in God’s Kingdom and in His economy because we are The Church.
Jesus created His Church – His Body – and made it so the whole Body fits together – perfectly.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

The Holy Spirit lives IN us to guide us – His Body – to convict us, defend us and to empower us.

Jesus transformed the practice and attitude of ‘going to church’ and having externals things to convict or to defend us.  Those requirements are now written on our hearts and in our consciences.

We must BE the Body, The Church, and behave as such, or we simply are not following Jesus.

​No matter what you believe or say or do, otherwise, you are not a follower of Jesus and you should not call yourself by the Holy and set apart name (Christian) if you do otherwise.

​We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus and called to be His Witness and to serve.

​We are God’s church.

Here is a list of the Gifts which God gives His Body.  See if you can find which gift(s) is/are yours?  Can you imagine how different things would be in The Church and the world around us if we engaged and used these Gifts, daily?

1. ​Romans 12             1 Corinthians 12       Corinthians 12       Ephesians 4Prophecy               Word of wisdom            Apostle                   Apostle
   Serving                  Word of knowledge       Prophet                  Prophet
   Teaching                Faith                                Teacher                  Evangelist
   Exhortation           Gifts of healing              Miracles                 Pastor
   Giving                     Miracles                          Kinds of healing   Teacher
   Overseer                Prophecy                         Helps
   Mercy                     Distinguishing spirits   Administration
   Tongues                 Tongues
   Interpretation of tongues​

Sometimes, Spiritual Gifts are mistakenly considered to be a natural talent or a person’s proclivity, a natural inclination.  Natural talents can mimic Gifts of the Holy Spirit, but, they will never accomplish God’s purposes effectively.

Please remember, these are not natural talents.  These are supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

​​Here is a more detailed description and function of the Gifts.

Apostle:   The title apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos which means “a messenger, one sent forth with orders”.  It refers to one who has been delegated authority by another in a foreign land.  Apostles were the first leaders of the Church; they were commissioned by Jesus to initiate and direct the preaching of the gospel. (There is no passage in the Bible saying this gift was temporary nor that is has ceased)

Prophet: In the New Testament, the office of prophet is to equip the saints for the work of service through exhortation, edification, and consolation (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:3 Ephesians 4:11).  The prophet’s corresponding gift is prophecy. Prophecy is “reporting something that God spontaneously brings to your mind”.

Prophecy is addressed to the human understanding “he who prophesies speaks to men,” Corinthians 14:1-25. The prophet “edifies the church” (14:4).

​Evangelist:   An evangelist is one who devotes himself to preaching the gospel. In the New Testament, evangelists preached from city to city, church to church.

Pastor:   This term derives from a Greek word for “shepherd”.  Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion.

(The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.

During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact.)

Teacher:  Someone who devotes his or her life to preaching and teaching the Christian faith. When teaching is provided for the Church by God, two gifts are actually given—to the Church is given a teacher and along with the teacher comes a divine capacity to teach.

Service: The word translated as “ministry” is diakonia, which can also be translated “service”.  Since there are many types of ministries and service to the Church, this then describes a broad array of gifts rather than a single gift.

Exhortation: The ability to motivate Christians “to patient endurance, brotherly love, and good works”.

Giving: Those with this gift share their own possessions with others with extraordinary generosity. While all Christians should be givers, those possessing this gift will go beyond this normal giving.

Overseeing:  This gift speaks to the various roles found in the Church. While many think of roles such as administration, management of funds, strategy planning, etc. as functions outside of the supernatural realm, in reality individuals in these positions are just as in need of supernatural empowerment as are ministers of the gospel.  This is sometimes inappropriately called ‘leadership’.

Mercy:  Possibly identical to the gift of helps, the mercy-shower possesses a ministry of visitation, prayer, and compassion to the poor and sick.

​Word of wisdom:   An utterance or message of wisdom supernaturally granted to an individual. For Paul, wisdom refers to “the knowledge of the great Christian mysteries: the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Christ, and the indwelling in the believer of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2; Ephesians 1:17)”.

​Word of knowledge: The knowledge referred to is often said to relate to understanding Christian doctrine or scriptural truth.  It is sometimes said to be connected with the ministry of teachers.

Faith:  This refers to that strong or special faith “which removes mountains, casts out devils (Matthew 17:19–20), and faces the most cruel martyrdom without flinching”.  It is distinguished from the “saving” and “normal” Christian faith.

Gifts of healing:  The ability to supernaturally minister healing to others. The plural indicates the variety of sickness healed and the many forms the gift takes, such as healing by anointing with oil, by the laying on of hands, by saying the name of Jesus or by the sign of the cross.

​Working of miracles: The performance of deeds beyond ordinary human ability by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Visions. An outpouring of this gift is prophesied in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 and is expected to increase and be of great value in the “last days”.

Discerning of spirits:  The capacity to discern, distinguish, or to discriminate the source of a spiritual manifestation—whether it emanates from a good or evil spirit. It seemed to have been particularly associated with prophecy as it would be necessary to know whether a prophetic utterance was truly inspired by God.

​Tongues:  The supernatural ability of speaking an unlearned language.  Paul seems to have distinguished between the public use of the gift (which must always be interpreted) and the private use which was for the spiritual strengthening of oneself.

​(Among Christians there is a discussion as to whether tongues were/are always xenoglossy, which is speaking an unlearned human language, or whether it also included/includes glossolalia, which is speaking an unlearned and allegedly non-human language of heavenly or angelic origin).

Interpretation of tongues:  This gift always follows the public exercise of the gift of tongues.

(In 1 Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul required that all speech in Christian worship should be intelligible. This required that speech given in an unknown tongue be interpreted in the common language of the gathered Christians.)

​Helps:  This gift has to do with service to the sick and the poor. Possessor of this gift has a “spiritual burden and a God-given love for the needy and afflicted”.

Administration:   Also called the gift of governing, the Greek word translated “governments” is kubernesis, the verb form of which means “to steer” or “to be a helmsman”. This gift then refers to the God-given capacity to oversee or guide the Church through storms and difficult seas.

(NOTE:  Many versions of the Bible and many theologians and bible teachers say the word “leader” or “leadership” is a Spiritual gift.  That is a misunderstanding of the correct word and intention of the word is presbyter or “overseer”. )

I pray that you will consider the Gifts God has given you and how you can serve His Church and affect the world around you as we make ready for His return.

​There are many places you can find and take a Spiritual Gifts test for the purpose of applying what God has so graciously and generously given you. This is His Gift to you for witnessing, serving, and being prepared for His Return.

Spiritual gifts test link to an external site​

Or, you can click on this image to take a the test and grade it yourself by clicking on the image below

​Your Friend and Brother

​Mike Young

Huddles

• • • • noun A densely packed group or crowd.
      • noun A brief gathering of a team’s players behind the line of scrimmage to receive instructions for the next play.
      • noun A small private conference or meeting.
      • intransitive verb To crowd together, as from cold or fear.
      • intransitive verb To draw or curl one’s limbs close to one’s body; crouch.
      • intransitive verb Informal To gather together for conference or consultation.
      • intransitive verb To cause to crowd together.
      • intransitive verb To draw (oneself) together in a crouch.

Holy Huddles

• • • • noun A densely packed religious group or crowd.
      • noun A brief gathering of a church or a religious group behind the line of scrimmage to receive instructions for the next play.
      • noun A small private religious conference or meeting.
      • intransitive verb To crowd together, as from cold or fear.
      • intransitive verb To draw or curl one’s limbs close to one’s body; crouch.
      • intransitive verb Informal To gather together for a religious conference or consultation.
      • intransitive verb To cause a religious group to crowd together.
      • intransitive verb To draw (oneself) together in a crouch.

Breaking the Huddle

Can you imagine if a football team, after huddling up, never came out of the huddle? The referees would certainly call a delay-of-game-foul, and assess a penalty. Right? And if the team refused to break the huddle a second time, a third time, etc., what would happen to the offending team? What would happen to the game?

A Holy Huddle is the place where believers join together to prepare to participate in the game called life. It is the gathering of followers of Christ to receive direction from the Lord through engagement with the Word of God. The huddle is the refuge from the world where the believer is surrounded by other Christians where encouragement and support occur. The holy huddle is the place in which believers gather for the purpose of preparing to play for the Kingdom of God.

The existence of the holy huddle is pushed along by a desire to be with other believers. It is driven by the passion to grow in one’s personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ; compelling believers to find their position in the Kingdom Work and their purpose on God’s team. The holy huddle lives because of the One who lives in believers.

Cautiously, Christians must understand the desire to huddle so they can guard against the hazards of huddling. If believers are not careful, the huddle will be overemphasized and as a result, the huddle never breaks. The huddle consists of great talks about the game and great conversations about the current situation going on in the game, but the huddle never disbands to engage in active participation in the game of life.

And what if the ‘quarterback’ (the pastor) calls plays that have little to do with the Coach’s (God’s) game plan (the Great Commission, etc.)? This would indicate that The Holy Huddle is stuck in a mindset of selfishness, where the existence of the Huddle becomes its own end to a means. In this case, the concern of the Huddle is not to receive the calling into the game, but would have become just a way to preserve itself. It is overly concerned with the form of the huddle than the situation in the game. COME GROW WITH US is the slogan!

In this metaphor, Christians are the so-called ‘team’, which is the local Body of Christ, the Church. The quarterback is the lead pastor. The referee is God The Father, Jesus The Son, and the Holy Spirit.) The ‘game’ is our lives. So, what would happen if a Church ‘team’ never came out of their huddle? Wouldn’t God just as certainly call a ‘delay of game foul’ so to speak, from His Word? Wouldn’t He and assess a spiritual penalty? And if the team refused to break the huddle a second time, a third time, etc., what would happen to this team? What would happen to the game?

Sound ridiculous?

• • • Only 20% of Americans attend church every week (Gallup)
    • Just 41% of Americans are in monthly church attendance or more (Gallup)
    • 57% of Americans are seldom or never in religious service attendance (Gallup)
    • Regular church attendance has steadily declined since the turn of the century

Not only are we not coming out of our Holy Huddles, people are leaving them. A study and survey by Pew research shows why people join the Huddles (the Church) in the first place:

1. To become closer to God. (81%)
2. So their children will have a moral foundation. (69%)
3. To become a better person. (68%)
4. For comfort in times of trouble or sorrow. (66%)
5. They find the sermons valuable. (59%)
6. To be part of a faith community. (57%)
7. To continue their family’s religious traditions. (37%)
8. They feel a necessary obligation to go. (31%)
9. To meet new people or socialize. (19%)

And, people leave the Huddle when these expectations are not met, and because

10. They do not feel included.
11. They do not feel appreciated, loved, liked or even recognized.
12. They do not feel useful to the Huddles.
13. No one, or at least very few people in the Huddle, even knows their name.

Thus, it is imperative that Christians defend themselves against the traps of simply huddling together, but keep in mind the greater task that calls them to break from the huddle and engage in the game.

The church must never become a stuck, stagnant holy huddle, but must break and engage in the work of the Kingdom. Believers must be compelled by obedience and faithfulness to the Lord’s commands to be His witnesses, to overcome the temptation to stay in holy huddles.

I could go on, but you get it, right? People, and especially Christians, are not cattle to be herded. They are God’s people, and they need to be heard. And here is what they are saying:

1. I want to get closer to God.
2. I want my children to have a moral foundation through my church and through bible study.
3. I want to become a better person, a better Christian.
4. I want comfort from my Christian friends and my church in times of trouble or sorrow.
5. I want to find valuable Bible Lessons to live by.
6. I want to be part of a loving, interactive Christian faith community.
7. I want to meet other Christians to socialize with.
8. I want to feel included, loved, cared for and useful.
9. I want to feel appreciated, or even just recognized.
10. I want to know and to be known.

I am fortunate enough to be part of a faith community that provides these things, I wish that for you. I pray for that for you.

Let’s break the Huddle, engage the game, and execute God’s Play Book.

1. Let’s all draw closer to God.
2. Let’s give our children to have a moral foundation through my church and through bible study.
3. Let’s become better people, better Christians, by doing as Jesus has taught and done.
4. Let’s make sure to comfort our Christian friends in our church in times of trouble or sorrow.
5. Let’s study and practice the valuable Bible Lessons to live by.
6. Let’s be a loving, interactive Christian faith community, on purpose!
7. Let’s come out of our Huddles and deliberately meet and spend time, socialize with other Christians in our Church.
8. Let’s include, love, and care for everyone around us, and make others feel useful in our lives.
9. Let’s recognize, show and express appreciation for those around us.
10. Let’s make a point to know all those around us and to let them know us.

Let’s Break the Holy Huddle and build His Kingdom!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

HOW CAN I REALLY BECOME A CHRISTIAN – AND WHY SHOULD I?

The evangelical Christian establishment will generally tell you that to become a Christian all you need to do:

According to Sue Schlesman, on Crosswalk.com, an author, teacher, podcaster, and church leader, with a Masters in Theology and Culture, who is active in teaching and writing about transformative faith, says this:

You’re not the only person to ask this. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas that question (Acts 16:30-31), Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Paul explained to the Romans, “That if you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Becoming a Christian is a change of heart and belief. It’s a step of faith, accepting what the Bible says about God and Jesus as true and real. Faith is a transference of dependence on myself to dependence on God. Therefore, the goal of the “gospel” (the good news about Jesus Christ in Mark 16:15) is entering into faith and dependence on God alone for this life and the next. “Being saved” is simply believing in Jesus and accepting Him.

So, Mrs. Schlesman quotes what Paul the Apostle says, and then translates it for us into ‘easy speak’ – or so I say. Simply believing and no submssion required!

According to GotQuestions.Org,, Jesus Christ declared that He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The question then arises – why did we need to be ransomed? The idea of a ransom is a payment that must be made in exchange for the release of a person. The idea of a ransom is most frequently used in instances of kidnapping, when someone is kidnapped and held prisoner until a ransom is paid for the person’s release.

Jesus paid our ransom to free us from bondage! Bondage from what? Bondage to sin and its consequences, physical death followed by eternal separation from God. Why did Jesus need to pay this ransom? Because we are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23), and are therefore worthy of judgment from God (Romans 6:23). How did Jesus pay our ransom? By dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). How could Jesus’ death sufficiently pay for all of our sins? Jesus was God in human form, God come to earth to become one of us so He could identify with us and die for our sins (John 1:1,14). As God, Jesus’ death was infinite in value, sufficient to pay for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2). Jesus’ resurrection after His death demonstrated that His death was the sufficient sacrifice, that He had truly conquered sin and death.
So, How can I become a Christian? This is the best part. Because of His love for us, God has made it exceedingly simple to become a Christian. All you have to do is receive Jesus as your Savior, fully accepting His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins (John 3:16), fully trusting Him alone as your Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Becoming a Christian is not all about rituals, going to church, or doing certain things while refraining from other things. Becoming a Christian is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through faith, is what makes a person a Christian.

And excellent description and definition, wouldn’t you say? Thank you GotQuestions.Org., for making this so ‘simple’. I love ‘easy speak’. Don’t you? No dying to self, no obedient following,

    THEN THERE IS BIBLEHUB.COM and according to BIBLEHUB.COM, the steps needed to become a Christian addresses both an internal spiritual transformation and an outward confession of faith. Becoming a Christian is not merely a one-time decision but an ongoing relationship with God, marked by trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. Each step is rooted in Scripture, which serves as the foundation and authority for understanding salvation.

Acknowledging the Reality of Sin

One essential aspect is recognizing personal need. Scripture affirms, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This universal statement highlights that humanity is in moral debt to God, unable to achieve the holiness required for fellowship with Him on our own merit. Archaeological discoveries, such as evidence of ancient cultures mentioned in the biblical narratives, and the preservation of texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls have supported the consistent message that every person needs divine help and deliverance from sin.

Believing in Christ’s Sacrifice

To address this need, the Bible teaches that Jesus-fully God and fully man-lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin, and was raised from the dead. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Numerous historical sources, including the writings of Josephus and Tacitus, attest to the existence of Jesus, while scholarly research supports the fact that early Christians unanimously proclaimed Jesus’ bodily resurrection-an indispensable truth for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Repenting and Confessing

Acknowledgment of sin should lead to heartfelt repentance. “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, 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). Repentance involves turning away from sin toward a life aligned with God’s holiness.

Confession of faith is similarly vital: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Genuine belief is not intellectual acceptance alone, but trust in Jesus as the only way to be reconciled to God.

Receiving Salvation by Faith

Becoming a Christian is ultimately a work of divine grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works (personal efforts), so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith in this context is an active, enduring reliance on Christ’s finished work rather than personal moral efforts. Ancient manuscript evidence, such as early New Testament papyri, demonstrates that these themes of grace and faith have remained central and consistent from the earliest testimony of the Christian community.

Counting the Cost

Responding to Christ’s call entails a willingness to submit one’s life fully. “If anyone would come after Me,” Jesus said, “he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). This means a believer’s priorities, behaviors, and goals increasingly align with God’s Word, fostered by prayer, worship, and the support of a faith community.

Baptism and Public Declaration

While salvation is by grace through faith, the biblical pattern also includes baptism as an outward symbol of the inward change. The practice of baptism, demonstrated in the book of Acts, signifies identification with Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). Though not a means of earning salvation, it is a meaningful act that publicly declares one’s new allegiance.

Initial Steps of Growth

After professing faith, believers are encouraged to grow in discipleship through:

1. Prayer: Regular conversation with God, bringing requests, confessions, and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).
2. Scripture Study: Reading the Bible consistently and allowing it to shape beliefs and actions (2 Timothy 3:16).
3. Church Involvement: Engaging in fellowship, worship, and service within a local congregation. Hebrews 10:25 urges believers not to neglect meeting together.
4. Sharing Faith: Sharing the message of salvation with others underscores its transforming power and follows the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Transformation Through the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit works within believers to regenerate, guide, and empower them for Christian living. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This transformation manifests itself in loving God wholeheartedly and serving others sacrificially.

BibleHub gives us, in my studied and prayerful opinion, the best description and definition. It is the most accurate. (No ‘easy speak here’).

In my opinion, the first two examples are examples of what I call ‘drive through salvation and spiritual fast food’ served up with sugary soul-drinks to wash it down.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible speaks one way about Church and the family of faith and the actual experience VERY RARELY reaches that standard? Maybe the bar is set too low or perhaps there really is no bar in most instances. I say, please re-read BibleHub.com and pray, think – and then act on what God might say to you.

THE GOOD NEWS!

 John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him”.

 So that the word might be SAVED through Him. SAVED. Just what does that word bring to your mind?

“To be saved – SOZO – in the Bible, means to be rescued from destruction and brought into divine safety“. To deliver or protect— (From Strong’s Bible Concordance).

SAVED:  To be made safe, to be made healthy, to be made whole (complete with purpose), NOW and for all of eternity,

Made safe, to be made healthy, to be made whole In your body. In your mind. In your soul and spirit.

Made safe, to be made healthy, to be made whole In your home. With your family, your children, your spouse and relatives. In your work. With your friends. In every aspect of your life.

(This is not a magic formula or a spell. It is the Word of God through your faithful, submissive obedience in following Jesus.

This is the Good News that God gave John to proclaim.

This is the Good News and the reason God sent us His Son. Jesus.

This is the Good News that Jesus proclaims to the world, then and now.

And this is the reason Jesus sends His followers, His disciples, into the world – to tell the world about this Good News.

And how would that to happen?

Now, come with me as we step back in time to around A.D. 30, when Jesus appeared on the scene in Galilee.

Matthew 4, verses 12 through 17.

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:

 “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,

BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES —

THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,  (SAW A GREAT LIGH”)

AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,

UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”   A LIGHT DAWNED.

Gensis 1:1 tells us that God said “let there be light”; and the Words of God in Matthew 4:16 are no less significant, no less creative and now less prophetic that those from Genesis 1.

Then In verse 17,  read, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This is Jesus’ first known and His shortest sermon.

In Matthew 4:17, the Bible tells us, FIRST that “From that time” what time is this? This can be considered as one of the most important historical time markers in the Bible – it is a line of demarcation.

 This is the point Jesus began His earthly ministry as commissioned by God the Father, and

 This is beginning of the invasion of earth by the kingdom of heaven! The greatest of all spiritual wars has begun!

 GOD is announcing that He has come back to reclaim what is His and those who are His! He is here to take His land and to take His kids back from the devil’s captivity – you and me and millions more like us.

 This event is a NEW dawn, a NEW beginning – no less fantastic that when in the beginning God said, “LET THERE BE LIGHT”, GOD is now saying “A GREAT LIGHT HAS DAWNED”.

And like we recited earlier in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, Jesus is saying that time is at hand!

 Next we are told that, “Jesus began to preach and say”,  the word used here from the Greek language is ‘kerusso’. This is NOT a casual statement nor is it just a narration. It is a word of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed; something which has been done, first in the Spiritual realm and to be manifest in the natural.  It is not a general statement nor is it a request.  It is PROPHETIC command. Kerusso!

Next, let’s notice that Jesus says “Repent”. What is often overlooked but should be  glaringly obvious is that Jesus does not tell us WHAT to repent from. We typically assume we are to repent of our sins. But that is not what He actually says. He simply says, “Repent”.

But REPENT from what?

“Repent, (‘metanoeo’), from the Greek, means to change one’s mind – to change one’s mind for the better.

And if it is that we are to REPENT of our sins, it is just as important to know that the word Sin, from the Greek word ‘hamartia’ – literally means to be without a share in; to miss the mark. To miss the mark both of  all that God has intended for your life and all that He has for you now, and for all of eternity.

It is commonly accepted that Jesus meant that we are to heartily amend, with abhorrence of our past sins. And it can mean that and it DOES mean that. BUT IT MEANS SO MUCH MORE.

So, when Jesus says to REPENT, the overall meaning, the connotation of this word it to CHANGE AND CONDITION YOUR MIND TO THINK LIKE JESUS, TO SEE THINGS FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE AND TO RESPOND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCE AND SITUATIONS OF LIFE AND DEATH AS JESUS DOES.

This requires a radical redefining or our understand. It demands that we turn our minds to what Jesus sas and what He means – even if it makes us uncomfortable.

Jesus is saying that REPENTANCE is a radical reformation and shift in our paradigms. It is a change in our attitudes, and of our mindset, our will and emotions from how we naturally see things to HOW JESUS SEES THINGS. It is a change in the all the choices we make in life so WE CAN SEE THEM AS JESUS SEES THEM.

 Jesus is saying we must change how see or view and deal with our relationships with others, our families, marriage, and even our disputes. How we react to being wronged, how we give of ourselves, of our time of our resources. How we view work, money, wealth, and anxiety. How we view our community, our country and the world and how we view the lost – from how we see them to HOW HE SEES THEM. We must see the world around us and what Jesus is commanding of us AS HE SEES IT.  THAT IS TRUE AND COMPLETE REPENTANCE.

 We begin to see that the Words of Jesus are life giving words. They protect us, they guide and direct us. They strengthen us and provide us with purpose and hope.

And finally, in this verse, Jesus says, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand (The words ” the Kingdom of Heaven” are so descriptive that you must take the definition of each word and consider the impact and importance. 

The Kingdom of God is now at hand, describes the long awaited arrival of the Messiah who is now to establish His Kingdom on earth. As the “Lord’s Prayer” even says, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.  A Kingdom of forgiveness, of grace, mercy, justice and eternal salvation.  A Kingdom conquering death, disease, sin and darkness.

 His Kingdom is a royal power, a kingship, dominion, rule and the right or authority to rule over a kingdom; the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah and the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah’s kingdom.” This is our calling and our role as Christians, Disciples of Jesus,

And finally, the phrase, the kingdom is now “At hand.”  (“At hand” comes from a Greek word of with a meaning like the ‘crook of your arm’ and with the action like a mounting wave which has the power to knock you off your feet and roll you over and over; indicating a distance which is as close as your hand is to your wrist, AND as Luke 17:21 puts it, “the kingdom of God is now within you”. Romans 10:8 ALSO tells us, that “THE WORD (OF GOD) IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”.

Jesus is saying, we are to “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is now at hand”.

Now, FINALLY – Here is a Mystery: 

Believe it or not, and as strange as it may seem, the One who spoke these prophetic words, possesses the power which is able to transform your life, so radically, so completely, so thoroughly, that those who knew you beforehand, would hardly recognize you afterwards.  In fact, if and when you embrace and absorbed His Words into your heart, mind and soul as His devoted follower you would hardly be able to recognize yourself when the process is complete.

You might even have to ask yourself, “Can I really be that man or that woman who went about under my name before?”

You are, in one sense the same person, but in another sense, you will have become someone utterly different. Made new. Reborn. A new creation.

This can be most easily accepted by a new believer, as the rest of us may think, “yes, I have already done this”. But when Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus, said, “you must be born again”, He spoke those words in the Aorist tense which means this is a continuing action. The Aorist tense has no regard for the past, present or the future. In this tense they are one-in-the-same. In others words, “In Christ Jesus, you are born anew, each and every day”. He is not saying you must be saved over and over. He is saying our repentance and rebirth in Him is made new and refreshed each and every day. This sanctifying process of perfecting us into the image and likeness of Jesus continues until we are, one day, home with Him, at last!

Please understand that what I am about to say, does not negate the trials, tribulations and troubles we will face in this life. They are part of our being sanctified. Nonetheless, this intensely real power to which I am referring, can pick you up today – right now – from the midst of loneliness, failure, ruin, misery, despair or any difficulty, and in the twinkling of an eye, as Paul said, IN THE MIDST OF THE PROBLEMS YOU FACE IN LIFE, He can begin to solve those problems, smooth out the difficulties, cut you free from entanglements and place you clear, safe and happy upon the highroad of freedom and opportunity – IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HIS PLAN AND PRUPOSES, AND ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO ENDURE THIS PROCESS.

Does this mean your will always be physically well or mentally strong or rich by the worlds standards or famous? No. No. A thousand times no.
But it does mean that you can find purpose and meaning and usefulness in even the worst of life’s circumstances.

He can free you to go and shape your life as God would have it – a life full with purpose and of promises met.

He can throw open the MANY prison doors that hold you captive, and liberate you.

He is the healing balm for the bruised and broken heart.

He can inspire you with new thoughts and ideas, so that your life’s work may be truly original, meaningful and lasting.

He can impart new and wonderful kinds of knowledge, as soon as you really want such knowledge – glorious knowledge – strange things not taught in schools or written in ordinary books.

He can find your true place in life, and put you into it, too.

He can find the right friends for you, kindred spirits who are interested in the same ideas and want the same things that you do.

He can provide you the type of  prosperity that means freedom.  Not as the world knows prosperity.  But the type of prosperity that means true Freedom.  Free to be and to do and to go as God has called you to be and to do.

This Power of God can teach you all things you need to know, if only you are receptive and teachable.

But Jesus said, “You must first repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.

So, if your life is lacking the continuous flow of the fruit of the Spirit, the love, the joy, the peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, Now, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.

If your life is missing out on the works that Jesus did, and even greater works of teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom which can heal all kinds of sickness and diseases, Jesus says today is the day of your salvation – repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.

If you are living in loneliness, fear, doubt lack and want, Jesus says today is the day of your salvation – repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.

If you are and your behaviors are “friendly” with the world but at odds with the Words and Teachings of Jesus, Jesus says today is the day of your salvation – repent for the kingdom of heaven is now at hand.

You know, from the day we are born until the day we die, the 23^rd Psalm tells us that we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death in this lifetime. And that God has set at table  before us in the presence of your enemies, and that He has anointed our heads with His Oil and that our cup overflows. And His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. And our dwelling place will be in the house of the Lord, forever.

The day of our salvation is now at hand. You can experience the richness of being saved. You can feast at the table He has set before you, even in the presence of your enemies of lack, want, sickness, poverty disease, loneliness and the like. You no longer need to miss the mark or to be left out of the things He has prepared for your life to Bless you and to prosper your soul.

You are made safe, and rescued from eternal harm. You will have found a rich and fulfilling purpose in and for your life, now. You can be made secure in all your relationships and in all the matters of your life. You can be assured of an eternal life with Him. THIS IS THE TABLE HE HAS SET BEFORE YOU.

For the kingdom of heaven is now at hand!

In the words of the great old hymn: Dear Lord, we want to say to you,

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on your Everlasting Arms.

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on your Everlasting Arms.

Leaning, learning, Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, Leaning on your Everlasting Arms.

Father, we ask that you bless our heart and minds by having read and having heard Your Word and ask You, Holy Spirit, and to plant the seeds of Your Word deep into the soil of our hearts and minds that they will take root and produce your fruit in our lives, some thirty, some sixty and some one hundred fold, and that we will continue to be transformed evermore into the image and likeness of your Son, and our Lord, Jesus. Amen.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

I am a Christian. A devoted Christ follower.

As far as which ‘denominational camp’ I identify with, (and I don’t like labels), the best I can tell you is that I am a conservative, reformed, evangelical, protestant, and that still doesn’t tell it all.

Some will ask, ‘are you a Calvinist or an Armenian’ in your views?’, to which, if forced to answer, I would say from ’50 – 50′ to zero. (And, I am not a fence sitter.)

What I do believe: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy universal Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, and the Life everlasting.

With all of this said, If asked, ‘do you believe in miracles’, my answer is ‘I believe in Jesus, the worker of miracles. And if He performs a miracle, I believe it! Both then and now’. (Although I do not identify with the Pentecostal Movement, the Charismatic movement and certainly not the Word of Faith movement, I do believe that each have offered something of value, each have offered something of value to Christianity, in their own way. But I also believe each have veered away from the final teachings of Jesus, in significant ways – the most egregious is the over-emphasis of spiritual gifts as used by a believer.)

NOTWITHSTANDING, I believe that pastor David Wilkerson was one of the few true late-day prophets in this world. He was a brave and bold, yet humble, pastor, preacher, and Bible teacher. He was a good father, a good husband and a good man.

The following videos by pastor Wilkerson are important to our day and possibly to your calling by God. Some will be called to fill the role as THE REMNANT.

“I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? “

“May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

“God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel: “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”

“But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”

“In the same way, then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”  Romans 11:1-6

3 Videos by Pastor David Wilkerson

1 Peter 2: 5, “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

WHEN 2 WORLDS COLLIDE

There is a Light that shines and darkness cannot overcome it.

Despite what scientist are speculating and theorizing about the possibility of “multiple alternate universes” there are only two known worlds, “existences” or “realities”.

I will call them “The Natural World” and the “Spiritual World” for convenience and relatability. These two words may be called by various other names, depending on who is speaking, whether a scientist, a medical physician, a psychiatrist or a theologian. But the longest standing document with the most extensive teaching and examples on these matters is the Bible. So I will be speaking and writing from the Biblical view.

The Natural World, is of that which is “seen” or knowable. This includes all observable and known matter of space, time, all that is present within the cosmos. (And even what is “not yet seen”, either because of its distance from the natural observer or perhaps because of its infinitesimally small structure or nature or from the fact that we are not familiar with how to observe it, yet we know it exists).

The natural world, all that already exists, is the product of, or put another way, a manifestation from the “Spiritual World” – the world which is unseen. (“Unseen” because it is “unseeable” by the natural eye or mind).

Everything that exists in the Natural World comes into existence, has its time of existence, then it fades away and ceases to exist in its current form or ceases to exist altogether – it dissipates into nothingness. (Although scientists speculate that matter cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change forms. Therefore, while matter may transform into different states or components, it does not cease to exist entirely. (See NationalGeograpic.org).

On a practical level, this can be important for the person who struggles with the state of their natural life, the sufferings, the hardships, trials and tribulations of this natural world. This person may try to navigate their “troubles” of life by natural means, and this method may work for a short time, but will never offer a permanent solution of relief. Even for those who say they have “the easy life” of success, good health, an abundance of abilities and provisions, there always comes the time they will struggle, suffer and eventually die. So, is there ever a solution for the matters of troubles in life? Are there any permanent solutions?

If you can put your biases aside for a moment, I would like to propose a solution that has existed, according to the Bible, since creation. Although this solution is recorded in the Bible, unfortunately it has been mystified by contemporary interpretations of the Bible, and it has been modified from its original context and now codified by religious people, theologians and so-called Bible students and teachers. (They may have made honest and diligent efforts to understand, translate and explain certain principles, applications and effects in the Bible, but they have done it through a humanistic perspective. Their grand interpretations of the oracles of the Bible, especially when it comes to the matters of life and death, can be beneficial, but if they are  “from and for the natural mind”, their effectiveness is marginal temporal at best.

Ephesians 6 underscores the weakness of temporal nature of the Natural when it says, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood (natural and earthly means), 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, (we are to) take up the full armor of God (which are Spiritual in nature), so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

We must, as Jesus has taught and demonstrated, live and direct our lives as we are IN THIS WORLD but as we are NOT OF THIS WORLD.

Teach as He did and try as He might, He was still frustrated with His disciple’s inability to grasp and apply what He has showing them. He remarked on occasion, “Oh, you of little faith” and “Oh, you unbelieving generation, how much longer must I put up with you?”  (There were some, albeit infrequent times, the Apostles would see these Kingdom principles work in their lives).

Conversely, however, the Spiritual World, offers permanency. It is eternal, or as the Bible states it, “as it was, it is and so it shall forever be”. This is one reason Jesus says in the prayer He taught, “Thy Kingdom come, it shall be done on ‘earth’ as it is ‘in heaven’.” Jesus is teaching us that “The Kingdom of Heaven”, the Spiritual realm, possesses the answers to all of our questions and challenges.

We will begin to see the manifestation of His Kingdom on earth (as it is in heaven), when we begin to pray and meditate on God’s Word, and take it at its “Spiritual face value”. (Allowing for metaphors and similes, but keeping a heavenly perspective). It is then, as Jesus has said, “For truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

For the natural person, it is as if he or she is standing at an impenetrable wall, unable to pass through to the Kingdom of God; unable to cross over to His Realm.

But just as God told Joshua, in the Supremely prophetic words “arise, now, and cross over”, He is telling us, His spiritual children, those of us who have been born by The Spirit of God, to “arise, now, and cross over” to the land which I promised Moses and I have given to you and to all the (future) children of God. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. Everyplace that the sole of your foot treads, I have (already) given to you – just as I told Moses! Only be strong and courageous. Do all I have commanded. Do not turn to the right or to the left (do not turn to other ideas or remedies), so that you will be successful. (See Joshua 1).

MEDITATE ON THIS DAY AND NIGHT and be careful and diligent, allow these words to dwell in you, so you will be able to do all that is written. “Then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success (in these matters). Once again, have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

We are separated from God and His Kingdom because of our lack of faith, our lack of understanding and our sin. (SIN – from the Greek word ‘hamartia’ – literally means to be without a share in; to miss the mark. To miss the mark both of all that God has intended for your life and all that He has for you now, and for all eternity).

WHAT IN THIS WORLD IS GOING ON?

There is a convergence of events and prophecies as never before.  Alarming events have, from time to time, caused people to wonder if the End of Days as spoken of in the Bible had arrived.  But, never, have events coincided with prophetic fulfillment as we now see.

When people read the Bible about eschatology, the matters about the End Times and the Tribulation period (specifically, the book of Matthew chapter 24 and the book of The Revelation), most tend to read it as one would read a ‘story’ or a novel.  Most assume it is written in chronological order, a sequence of events, one event beginning as the previous event is ending.  THIS IS NOT CORRECT. The reader must discover and place events in their correct order if he or she is to get an understanding.

Furthermore, when a Tribulation Seal is broken, an event or a series of events occur and will last for certain periods of time.  Most events will continue until the “Consummation of the Age”.

Secondly, it is important to know that the book of Revelation is not written in chronological order.  Description of events and timelines are repeated in various chapters and are not in a linear order.  For example, Revelation chapters six and seven tell us about the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal, cosmic disturbances, great earthquakes, the Rapture and the Sealing of the 144,000 from the Tribes of Israel.  THEN, in Revelation chapters 12, 13 and 14 we read the details and outcomes of these events.

Another example is the Second Coming of Jesus. There are those who say He comes back at least twice, once at the rapture and again at the Battle of Armageddon. This is a misunderstanding of Jesus’ return. Jesus’ return is one continuous event and He will accomplish both the rapture of the saints and defeat His enemies as “the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords” during His second and only return.

Revelation 1:7 tells us, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Matthew 24:19-31 tells us, “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.”

Then, Revelation 19:11-16 tells us, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Once a Tribulation event begins, it may continue for days, weeks, months,  years or decades.  Then, as a second or third event occurs, events will overlap and occur simultaneously.

Revelation 1:8, informs us that Jesus transcends time as we know it when He says, “I Am The Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come”.  This means that ACCORDING TO BIBLICAL ESCHATOLOGY, WHAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED; AND IS NOW HAPPENING; AND IS YET TO (will continue to) HAPPEN. (Just as a powerful storm such as a hurricane, will appear to be many different storms by those who must endure it from a ground based perspective, as it progresses across the earth to its conclusion; from a heavenly perspective it is seen as one continuous storm, unfolding, changing and concluding.)

Rather than a ‘news report’ or an ‘op-ed’ on the condition of the world, consider the larger picture, and the “larger picture” is that the condition of the world is nothing more than the condition of collective humankind. More precisely, it is the condition of the mind or the psyche of collective humankind, also referred to as “collective intelligence” or “group intelligence” which are ideas or the “idealism” that emerges from the collaboration, collective efforts, and competition of many individuals and appears in “consensus decision making“.

Broadly speaking, “collective intelligence idealism” holds that ideas constitute the only or the most perfect reality, depending on the type of idealism adhered to. At the same time, it is only the mind (and in some cases the spirit) that has access to this unique and true reality.

From an epistemological standpoint, it presupposes the existence of a mentally-constructed world, independent of the ideal one. The difference lies in the fact that we can only know it through the intellect.

Another common trait to all forms of idealism is the view that ideas, consciousness, spirit or the intellect are higher forms of perfection than the physical world. In some cases, it is considered a mere projection or mental construct (the idea or concept that helps individuals understand and interpret their experiences and observations. These constructs are shaped by personal experiences and can influence how people perceive the world and interact with others).

In order to simplify this matter, (and to get to the point) there has always been, at its most basic level, two major streams of thought or idealism. Humanism and Christianity.

Christianity emphasizes the transcendence of One God and the salvation of all willing human beings from estrangement from God through the bodily death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is both fully human and fully divine. In contrast, many gnostic groups developed mythologies that differentiate between an inferior creator of the world, called a demiurge, and a higher god.

The natural progression away from or the downward spiral from Christianity is through Gnosticism which invariably leads to Humanism, secularism, agnosticism and atheism. (Again, this is an extreme simplification).

The Bible, in various ways describes the difference between the presence of God (Christianity) and the absence of God (Humanism) using the contrasting metaphor of Light and Darkness. (For example, John 1:1-5 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Again, Matthew 6:22-23 says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

The word “Light” as used in these verses comes from the Greek word “phós” which primarily denotes light in both a literal and metaphorical sense. Literally, it refers to natural light, such as daylight or the light of a lamp. Metaphorically, it is used to describe spiritual illumination, truth, and the divine presence of God. It often symbolizes purity, holiness, and the revelation of God’s truth to humanity. In the ancient world, light was a powerful symbol of life, knowledge, and divine presence. In Jewish tradition, light was associated with God’s creation and His guidance, as seen in the pillar of fire that led the Israelites. In Greco-Roman culture, light was also a symbol of knowledge and enlightenment. The New Testament writers, particularly John, use “phós” to convey the transformative power of Christ as the “Light of the World,” bringing spiritual enlightenment and salvation. (see Biblehub.com).

The word “Darkness” as used in these verses comes from the Greek word “skotia” which is used metaphorically to describe spiritual or moral darkness, ignorance, and the absence of Divine Light. It often contrasts with “phos” (light), symbolizing the presence of God, truth, and righteousness. “Skotia” can refer to the state of those who are separated from God and living in sin. In the Greco-Roman world, darkness was commonly associated with chaos, evil, and the unknown. The biblical authors used this cultural understanding to convey spiritual truths. In Jewish thought, darkness often symbolized judgment and separation from God’s presence. The New Testament writers, drawing from these traditions, used “skotia” to illustrate the spiritual condition of humanity without Christ. (see Biblehub.com).

Finally, in the scriptures and literature in general, the idea of Light and Darkness are also often metaphors for life and death. Which brings us to our point.

There have been surges and retreats of both Light and Darkness in the world since the beginning of recorded Biblical and secular historical time. The Light seems to be fading from our world and it is growing darker. And the two competing forces behind the Light and the spreading Darkness are Christianity versus Humanism. Christianity is largely visible through the existence of the Church, which springs from the teaching and works of Jesus Christ, versus humanism which is promulgated through the various forms of Marxism, Leninism, Socialism and Communism.

THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY

Jesus (and several of His Apostles and disciples) warned about this coming darkness as early as A.D. 30 through A.D. 98.

Jesus specifically warned that, “many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. 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. 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 (phase of the tribulation period). (Matthew 24:5-9)

“Then, (after the beginning of the birth pains phase of the tribulation period), they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away (which is known as the great apostasy), and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures (continues to faithfully follow and obey Jesus) to the end (of this age) is the one who 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 (of this age) will come. (Matthew 24:10-14).

(Jesus, in these verses, is describing the breaking of the first five tribulation seals, which He calls “the beginning of the birth pains”, which I am dubbing “the beginning of the birth pains phase of the tribulation”.  And, THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY.)

And for our information, what comes next in Matthew’s narrative – chapter 24, verses 15 through 20 – are both past and future events. Jesus is announcing to the inhabitants of Israel that the day of the prophesied “Abomination of Desolation” is coming. A day is coming when they must prepare to flee from the coming destruction of Jerusalem and their Temple, just as they did in the second century and again in 70 A.D.

This is both a reference to the Book of Daniel describing the pagan sacrifices with which the second century B.C., the Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes replaced the twice-daily offering in the Jewish temple, or alternatively the altar on which such offerings were made, and to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in the year A.D. 70. (from Widipedia).

The former was a harbinger, a foreshadowing of something greater that was to come and the latter is a reference to a future event. Both, however, point to an End of Days or an End Time event, which will occur with the breaking of the prophesied Sixth Tribulation Seal, which marks the beginning of the final SEVEN YEARS of GREAT TRIBULATION, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb.

(There is further corroboration of this timeline of these events, the Great and Terrible day of the Lord and the coming Wrath of the Lamb which is marked by the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal. through the testimonies, teachings and instructions of Jesus, the Apostles Peter, Paul, John and Timothy the disciple of Jesus. (see “Did Jesus Really Say?”).

This Darkness is also described as the apostasy. There have been wars and rumors of war, famines and earthquakes since the birth of  Jesus, and they have been increasing in their frequency and intensity since that day.  2 Timothy 3:1-8 also warned that “In these last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these. For among them are those who slip into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, worthless in regard to the faith.”

Finally, in Galatians 5:19-21, the Apostle Paul describes the manifestation of this spreading Darkness as the outward signs of humanity’s inward condition, saying “The deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, 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.”

As I have already said, there have been surges and retreats of both Light and Darkness in the world since the beginning of recorded Biblical and secular historical time.

These are the driving forces behind the Global tensions we have seen at play over the last two thousand plus years. These are the two worldviews, the two idealisms creating the dichotomy and the divisions in our world today.

But now, Jesus has drawn a line. A line of demarcation. There is now appearing a convergence and a concurrence of prophesied events leading to the End of The Age such as the world has never seen before. They began at or around the time of the Birth of Christ and have continued, are overlapping and intensifying to this day. The world is on the brink of the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal and the BEGINNING OF the final SEVEN YEARS of the Great Tribualion which is marked by the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal  –  Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun

• The Trumpet,
• The Rapture,
• Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God,,
• Sealing of the 144,000,
• God’s final judgements on all of humankind, the earth and the entire cosmos.

And, THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

NEXT: (coming soon) “WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE HEADED?”

(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for coming episodes).