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).

PSYCHOLOGY IN THE BIBLE?

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.” (Matthew 22:34-38)

The word “soul” is mentioned *433 times in the King James version of the Bible. The occurrence of the word soul in the Bible, indicates the importance of the human soul. “Soul” as translated from the Greek word refers to the essence of a person that encompasses emotions, desires, and the will. It is the seat of feelings, desires, and affections, in other words, it is the part of the mind which feels emotions, perceives and imagines, remembers and allows a person to have a will or determination.

This verse also mentions the heart, sometimes considered as our subconscious mind or the center of our being. Then there is the mind which possesses our cognitive functions, the ability to think and reason.

INSIDE OUT – OUTSIDE IN

What we see with our eyes and hear with our ears are first processed by the cognitive part of our mind. They are then analyzed through our soul – our mind, will and emotions. It is the soul that gives allows us to form opinions by our emotional response – we decide if we like or dislike what  we see visually, what we smell, taste and touch. Is it pleasant or unpleasant? Is it helpful or harmful? Does it please us or repel us? The soul initiates the production of substances such as endorphins, dopamine, or adrenaline which enhance and deepen our life experiences.

This information is then communicated to our “heart” which is sometimes referred to as our subconscious mind for storage and retrieval. These processes help us develop our habits, routines, likes and dislike, behaviors and even form within us, among other things, our social, economic, political and religious worldviews. Over time, these become closely held opinions and even galvanize into our doctrines and dogmas for living.

Our heart, soul and mind are collaborative and symbiotic in their functions. But it is the soul that initiates and generates these outcomes.

This process works from the outside in and the inside out. What you see you do – you judge and determine how you feel you – you stop or you pursue and repeat – and the life then you adopt, the things you pursue. And almost strangely, the things that you are drawn to, are conversely drawn to you. They seem to materialize in your life.

This is the great “secret”, when understood and properly applied, of obtaining a “good life” and success: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.”

The Bible teaches us, as in Joshua 1:7-9, “Be strong and very courageous; be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. Have I not commanded you? [I am reminding you now], be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated by any task or challenge I give you), for [I], the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

And again in Deuteronomy 28:1-14, God says “Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God.

“You will be blessed in the city, and you will be blessed in the field.

“The offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your animals, the offspring of your herd and the young of your flock will be blessed.

“Your basket and your kneading bowl will be blessed.

“You will be blessed when you come in and you will be blessed when you go out.

“The Lord will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way, but flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your storehouses and in all that you undertake, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. The Lord will establish you as a people holy [and set apart] to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk [that is, live your life each and every day] in His ways. So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will be afraid of you.  The Lord will give you great prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open for you His good treasure house, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. The Lord will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (follower); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen and pay attention to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, to observe them carefully. Do not turn aside from any of the words which I am commanding you today, to the right or to the left, to follow and serve other gods.”

However, when the “heart, mind and soul” are not functioning correctly, when they are not syncretic, when they do not collaborate, things can go terribly wrong for that person. They will likely make poor to horrible life decisions that are at least troublesome-to-detrimental, or even destructive enough to lead to death. This comes about if and when “‘You do not love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  (Please see Deuteronomy 28:15-67.)

Therefore, (and this is of utmost importance), when the Bible says we are to be or do certain things, or that we must not do certain things, it may be enough for the simplest of minds or the most faithfully blind believer to say, “the bible says it so that settles it”. But there are reasons the Bible says we are to be and to do certain things, and not to be or do certain things. And these reasons are for our benefit, for our well-being, safety and good health. You need to know them so you can apply them to your life decisions and you can disciple others likewise.

These reasons are mental and psychological reasons. They profoundly affect your mental and physical health.

For example, the Bible says “Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not lie, steal, commit adultery, engage in sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatries, sorcery, horoscopes, hostilities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  And it is these things that create great trauma in our life.  (Please read: (1). The long term effects of trauma on your health. (2). Can Trauma Cause Brain Damage?.

Another example is that there are also psychological reasons to honor your father and your mother, beyond just the command. (Please read about Blue Zone research on (1).  what promotes health and longevity and (2). What and Why this works.

There is are psychological reasons the Bible discourages divorce. (1). How Divorce Affects Your Children.

This can be said about each and every Word in the Bible. As it tells us how to live an abundant life now and how to gain an eternal life with God. The Bible directs us to good health, safety and wholeness, if we will only understand and follow its instructions. But, just robotically following rules will not always get the job done, or at least not effectively. We must understand the reasons behind the Words and that must become your first love.

THE WORD

You see, the Word became Flesh, (which is a reference to Jesus), and He lived among us. Teaching us, caring for us and saving us from our destructive selves. He says we can follow Him, and we must follow Him, if we want a life worth living, now, and eternally. (see John 1:1-2).

How can we do this? First, if have never asked Him, then ask Him now. Humbly ask that He remove your sins from your (the obstacles that separate you from Him) and contract with Him, that is, make a covenant with Him, to obey and follow Him in all the teaches and has done. You can do this only by faith. Faith that He physically died to pay for the penalty of your sinful ways and faith that He will do what He says He will do and has done. I.e., verbally confess with your mouth Jesus as your Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. (see Romans 10:

If you are already a Christian, then deliberately set your mind on Him, His Ways and on the Kingdom of God. For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].

(Why should we do this? The reason is that) the mind set on the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin];

But the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever];

The mind set on the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.

However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. (see Romans 8:5-9).

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in Jesus, practice those things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9).

He will now guide you because ‘YOU love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Footnotes:

The number of times the word “soul” is used in the King James version differs from the number of times it is used in the New American Standard Bible is because the word can be translated as the Hebrew word “nephesh” is a multifaceted term that appears frequently in the Old Testament. It is often translated as “soul” or “life,” but its usage extends to denote the essence of a person, their inner being, or life force. It can refer to the physical life of a creature, the emotional and spiritual aspects of a person, or the entirety of a living being. In some contexts, “nephesh” is used to describe desires, appetites, and emotions, reflecting the holistic view of human nature in Hebrew thought.

For example, in the King James version, Genesis 2:7 reads, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

The same verse in the New American Standard version reads, “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person.”

The same is true for the English Standard version.

None-the-less, the occurrence of the word soul in the Bible, indicates the importance of the human soul.

“Foxes Have Holes and Birds Have Nests”   

Do you know where these sayings come from?

Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”

Matthew 8:19 – 22

That is an odd thing to say to someone who wants to follow you, isn’t it?  What does Jesus mean?

A scribe in the Bible, was a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion.

Scribes were trained and enrolled in the Sanhedrin political and judicial council headed by the high priest (in his role as civil ruler); in the Talmud it is described as primarily a religious legislative body headed by sages, though with certain political and judicial functions. (notes from the Online Bible edition)

So, Jesus tells this Scribe, this judge and sage, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Foxes retreat to the safety of their lair.  They live and remain in their holes, venturing out only to gather food and water, then they scurry back to the safety of the hole.  Their focus is on their safety and their hole in the ground.

Same for the birds. They have the nest they build to lay eggs and raise their young.  A safe place.  They, too, venture out for food, but their focus is on the safety of a nest.

BUILDING HIS CHURCH

Jesus, however, is on mission.  He knows that He is the permanent sacrifice for the reconciliation of all people to God.  He is doing the work of His Father.  Time is short.

He is telling this scribe and His disciples that He has neither the time nor the intention of settling into a “hole in the ground” or building “a nest” into which they can settle down and feel safe.

He has no time for building programs, no time for social programs, no time for endless debate over the ‘cummin and dill’ of the Torah or the endless list of man’s constructs designed to explain and contain the Holy Scriptures.  No time for holes in the ground or nests.

Jesus is saying that He is the foundation of His Church, and He is on the move, building His Church.   He is the foundation for Temple of the Holy Spirit in the hearts, minds and souls of people.

His Church is Spiritually alive, organic and naturally fluid and on the move; It cannot be contained by a program or an institution. It is powerful, transformative, life changing, world altering and cannot be taught in a school on religion.

If you come to know Jesus, you will know His Church, and it is not to be found in a building, a hole in the ground or a nest.

A.D. 1 – THE CHURCH WAS A MOVEMENT

In AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.

Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey.

However, the penalty for becoming a Christian was often death.

Still, the Church grew exponentially.

A.D. 49 – THE CHURCH BECAME A PHILOSOPHY

The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.

A.D. 313 – THE CHURCH BECAME AN INSTITUTION

The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.

A.D. 380 – THE CHURCH BECAME A CULTURE

The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.

A.D. 1607 – THE CHURCH BECAME A BUSINESS

The Church reaches America.

A.D. 1681 – The Church became corporate.

It had become a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.

The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.

A.D. – 1777 The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.

A.D. – 1894 The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.

A.D. 1954 The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax-exempt status.

The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people, the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.

The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.

Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.

The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)

The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.

Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).

Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.

A.D. 1968 – THE CHURCH DEFIES GOD and Ordains Homosexuals As Clergy.

A.D. 1972  –The United church of Christ ordains homosexual clergy

A.D. 2010 – The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy

A.D. 2012 – The Presbyterian church, USA, ordains homosexual clergy

The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years.

Internationally, churches that have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy include the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, the Church of Denmark, the Church of Iceland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Methodist Church in Britain, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium, the Swiss Reformed Church, the United Protestant Church of France, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church in Canada, the Old Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the United Church of Christ in Japan.

A.D. 2020 – The Church Is Losing and Has Lost Influence and Credibility.

The church is losing members. So they change their message and their methods to one resembling the ways of the world so they can ‘stay in business’.

A.D. 2020 – A STRANGE NEW GOSPEL.

The church is teaching and living a different Gospel which is clothed in the staged entertainment of colorful flashing lights, banging cymbals, sensual drum beats, and pulsating music that stimulates the flesh, coupled with the promise of cheap grace, “Drive through salvation and spiritual fast food”. A very different Gospel, from the one of the Apostles.

THE AGE OF APOSTASY IS WELL UNDER WAY

We, The Church, The Body of Christ, You and I, must return to Jesus’ Way.  We must be doing those Works that Jesus does and the way He does them.

Jesus faced the same circumstances during His earthly ministry. But He and His disciples stood out from the crowd. They were counter-cultural. They were reviled, mocked, spit upon, and persecuted. And they changed the world and glorified God!

A.D. 2025 – The postmodern church is inventing new ways of ‘doing church’ in order to connect to the culture is an utter compromise of God’s Word. It is an utter failure! God has said that we are not of this world – we are not to think and act like it.

Please stop looking, acting and dressing like pagans. It is shameful and puts the message of Christ to shame.

Christ Alone is all you’ll ever need – The Bible Alone is enough – Faith in Jesus alone is all-sufficient.

Let’s think, act and be like Jesus. You be the standard-bearer. Honor Him. Others will follow.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Additional articles:

The False Church Emerges

The Jesus Model for Ministry

What Is This Strange New Gospel

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO

REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NOW AT HAND

If you have your Bible, we will be looking at TWO verses. John 3:16 as our introduction and Matthew 4:17 as our focus verse. (And yes that is rights. Just 2 verses today).

Before we start, I want to say something about The Bible and why it is important that we take the time and effort to know the Word it contains and why we must be careful to stay within its boundaries and confines. The Bible Itself says we must not stray. Joshua 1:7-8 says, we are “not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go. (And that) this Book shall not depart from our mouth, but we shall meditate on it day and night, and that we are careful to do according to all that is written in it; for it is only then you will make your way prosperous, (as the Bible describes prosperity), and then you will achieve success” in the matters concerning this Word and in its application to our lives.

Secondly, the Bible tells us that it is the without any error, inerrant, infallible, indestructible, and the inspired, Breathed Word of God.

It is CREATIVE, CAUSATIVE, INSTRUCTIONAL and PROPHETIC. It is Prophetic in the sense that it tells the Truth to you and when you are in Him and His Word is in you, it will tell the Truth THROUGH you!

And finally, it is “profitable for teaching, for our rebuke, for our correction, for our training in righteousness; so that we, the men and women of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”

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!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Previous: The Greatest Commandment and what it can mean to you )

A WORD FROM GOD?

I am not big on things like having prophetic visions, a Word from God and the like. The reason is that the Word of God is complete, so a Word from God must line up with the Word of God. And I am certain and I believe that the Bible teaches there are no ‘new revelations’;

The Bible warns, “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”

Also, the Bible says “I (Jesus) testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and ^from the holy city, which are written in this book.”

So it is with great caution I share this:

Today I had a thought, or a “Word” if you will, and it goes like this, “

The Lord God is ready and will soon permit a great shaking of the United States – a shaking to her core. (This will be the beginning of the fulfillment of Daniel 12, and specifically Daniel 12:10, which says, “Many will be purged, cleansed (or whitened), and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those, (the instructors) who have insight (the wise), will understand.”)

However, during this current time of what seems to be a relative peace – which is really no peace at all – we are to prepare ourselves, our families and our churches for what is coming.

We in the United States will soon suffer an economic collapse followed by a social upheaval and collapse, and governmental collapse, military defeats preceding a collapse of our military and a loss of our medical systems. There will be a spread of diseases, food shortages, famines, widespread poverty, death, and sudden earthquakes.

Many churches will likely fill up with people looking for protection, help, and spiritual advice but since most churches have become lukewarm or even apostate, they will not be able to offer any help, solace  or direction. This will cause many churches to become targets of ridicule, persecution censure by a new emerging government and the public at large. These church leaders will encourage surrender and capitulation rather than resist by remaining faithful to Christ in order to escape persecution. Although many of those who remain faithful to Christ may suffer, those who endure to the end, will be saved.

Why am I saying these things and how and I justify saying these things? I am saying these things because I believe them; and I believe them because of what I read about and what I see going on in the world; I believe these things because of what history has shown us; I believe these things because what the most widely read ancient script, the Bible, forecasts, (i.e., prophecies), about what is coming, and I trust that source because of its past accuracies. And I am saying these things because I like to consider myself as a critical cognitive and linear thinker, and I believe and pray that I am correct when I say that God has given me discernment.

Here is my case, stated:

(1). Jesus warned in Matthew 24:4-31, that “In the Last Days, we will see a rise of false Christs and false prophets. (Although, this was an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. See Matthew 24:4-5), do you not see these things increasing in our day with new religions, new belief systems, cults, greedy and narcissistic media preachers claiming to represent Jesus? These are events pointing to what Jesus referred to as the “Last Days”.

(2). Jesus also said, “In the Last Days, there will be famines and earthquakes”. (This has been a regular occurrence since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. See Matthew 24:7 and the Fourth Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:5-8). Do you not see these things happening in our day? If you aren’t ‘denominationally biased’ could this reasonably be a clue to the timing of the “Last Days”?

(3). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there are wars and rumors of wars. (Wars and rumors of war have been occurring since as early as A.D. 35 or earlier. But we have never had the capacity to wage the most destructive global war we now see. (See Matthew 24:6 and the Second Tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:3-4).

(4). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be a persecution and martyrdom of Christians. (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35. “See Matthew 24:9 and the onset of the fifth tribulation Seal, found in Revelation 6:9-11).

(5). Jesus said, “In the Last Days, there will be a falling away from the faith.” (This has been an ongoing problem since as early as A.D. 35, and has been increasing to this very day. See Matthew 24:10).

These things, false Christs, wars and rumors of war, famines, earthquakes and plagues, persecutions, martyrs, which Jesus calls the ‘Birth Pangs’ of the tribulation (see Matthew 24:8), are nothing new; and from these cited verses, we can plainly see that the first 5 tribulation Seals are being manifested, and the effects had begun between the time of the birth of Jesus and A.D 95, and have been overlapping and increasing in their intensity since those early days.

Jesus calls the first phase of the tribulation the ‘Birth Pangs’ (Matthew 24:8). Jesus then calls the second phase of the tribulation, the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), also known as the Sixth Tribulation Seal (Revelation 6:12-14), and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Joel 2:31), and the Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16).. (Please click these links for verification and understanding).

It is also important to note that at this point in history, all of these things are now happening concurrently!

Can you not see the clues to the timing and the occurrence of the first 5 tribulation seals?

Acts 2:14-17, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be…’ (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Do you see this clue to the timing of the Last Days?

1 Peter 1:20, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “He, (Jesus), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Do you see this clue to the timing of the Last Days here?

1 Peter 4:7, (the Apostle Peter), saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). A clue!

2 Peter 3:3. (the Apostle Peter), saying, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Is this true in our day, also?

If these verses say all these things began occurring in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60, and Peter called those days the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think, now?

1 Corinthians 10:11, (the Apostle Paul), says, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 1:2, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Hebrews 9:26, (the Apostle Paul), saying, “But as it is, Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60). Could it be any clearer? The Last days began at the appearance of Jesus!

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

What would you think?

2 Timothy 3:1, (Timothy), saying, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

If these verses say all these things began occurring in the LAST TIMES, THE LAST DAYS, and it is THE END OF ALL THINGS.

Would you now think the Last Days began? Want more?

1 John 2:18. (the Apostle John), saying, “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 30 to A.D. 60).

Revelation 1:9, (The Apostle John), saying, “I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation.” (Spoken and written in or around A.D. 95 to A.D. 100).

According to the words and the testimonies of Jesus , His disciples and Apostles, the “LAST DAYS – THE LAST TIMES – THE END OF THE AGES – THE END OF ALL THINGS – THE BIRTH PAINS OF THE TRIBULATION” began with the Birth of Christ Jesus.

(The following in these parentheses is very detailed, technical and written language and context specific. But this is very important for a correct and complete understanding of these eschatological matters. It is probably best suited for the devoted follower of Jesus and the serious Bible student.

And, yes, I have been told by several ‘self- proclaimed bible experts’ that these things were only the times of persecution and not the tribulations of the Judgment Seals. Let me be Biblically clear: the use of the word ‘tribulation’ appears just 19 times in the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Sixteen of those instances are in the New Testament, and each instance, tribulation is translated from the Greek word ‘thlipsis’, whether referring to a time before or after the Sixth Tribulation Seal and the rapture.

Then in Matthew 13:21 we see, “yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation (thlipsis) or persecution (diogmos) arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” Each word is distinct in its meaning and in its context – tribulation versus persecution.

Additionally, Jesus makes a distinction between the Birth Pains (odin) of the tribulation (thlipsis) leading up to the Great (megas) Tribulation (thlipsis) in Matthew 24:21, when He says,

“For then (tote) there will be (eimi = future tense) great (megas) tribulation (thlipsis), such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”

And again, in Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus makes a distinction between the Birth Pains phase of the tribulation (Seals 1 through 5), and the Great Tribulation (Seals 6 and 7, and the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments) when He says,

“Immediately (eutheōs) after (meta) the tribulation (thlipsis) of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Finally, these same experts will say that Matthew 24:29-31 is neither the rapture nor is it the second coming of Jesus. But the scripture says,

“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory…and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.“

We can also see in the corresponding scriptures in Revelation 6 and 7, “After these things (see Revelation 6:1 through Revelation 7:9)

Finally, before the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal and the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 instructs us, “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

Jesus sternly warns, in Matthew chapters 24 and 25 of these coming events and that we are to prepare.

(And, I am not alone in these matters and with this view: Well-known and respected men and women like Pastor and teacher John Piper , missionary Corrie Ten Boom have come to this realization.  And Zion’s Hope Ministries, offers sound Biblical evidence and excellent geo-political news, overlooked by the bias of religious denominationalism.)

I am available via https://www.whitestone2020.com/  for discussion or to answer honest and serious questions.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: I am aware of how this will make some people think of me. But the time is now and I am willing.

Exegesis or Eisegesis?

True of False?

Exegesis is “the process of careful analytical study of the Bible to produce useful interpretations of those passages.” (The word “exegesis” comes from the Greek term, exegeomai, which means “to explain” or “to narrate” or “to show the way”.

The process of exegesis involves asking questions of the text that might unearth new insights. However, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary is clear that the goal of exegesis is “to know neither less nor more than the information actually contained in the passage. Exegesis places no premium on speculation or inventiveness” and “novelty in interpretation is not prized.”

Simply put, exegesis is not about discovering what we think a text means (or what we want it to mean), but what the biblical author meant. It’s concerned with intentionality; what the author intended his original readers to understand.

The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants.

Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words.

Second Timothy 2:15 commands us to use exegetical methods: “Present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” An honest student of the Bible will be an exegete, allowing the text to speak for itself. Eisegesis easily lends itself to error, as the would-be interpreter attempts to align the text with his own preconceived notions. Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.

The process of exegesis involves, (1), observation: what does the passage say? (2), interpretation: what does the passage mean? (3), correlation: how does the passage relate to the rest of the Bible? and (4), application: how should this passage affect my life?

Eisegesis, on the other hand, involves, (1), imagination: what idea do I want to present? (2), exploration: what Scripture passage seems to fit with my idea? and, (3), application: what does my idea mean? Notice that, in eisegesis, there is no examination of the words of the text or their relationship to each other, no cross-referencing with related passages, and no real desire to understand the actual meaning. Scripture serves only as a prop to the interpreter’s idea.

First, “the interpreter-teacher” decides on a topic. Let’s say, for purpose of this example, today, the sermon will be about “What is heaven like?” The interpreter reads Colossians 3:1, “Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”. And the point the interpreter-teacher wants to make is that “we are already in heaven”.

He then goes on to use a story known as “The Allegory of the Cave”, which was presented by the Greek philosopher Plato to compare “the effect of education and the lack of it on our nature”. It is written as a dialogue between Plato’s brother Glaucon and his mentor Socrates and is narrated by the latter. In the allegory, Plato describes people who have spent their entire lives chained by their necks and ankles in front of an inner wall with a view of the empty outer wall of the cave. They observe the shadows projected onto the outer wall by objects carried behind the inner wall by people who are invisible to the chained “prisoners” and who walk along the inner wall with a fire behind them, creating the shadows on the inner wall in front of the prisoners. The “sign bearers” pronounce the names of the objects, the sounds of which are reflected near the shadows and are understood by the prisoners as if they were coming from the shadows themselves.

Only the shadows and sounds are the prisoners’ reality, which are not accurate representations of the real world. The shadows represent distorted and blurred copies of reality we can perceive through our senses, while the objects under the Sun represent the true forms of objects that we can only perceive through reason.

Socrates explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall are not the direct source of the images seen. A philosopher aims to understand and perceive the higher levels of reality. However, the other inmates of the cave do not even desire to leave their prison, for they know no better life. (this color print is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)

He concludes by alleging that Christian’s current view of heaven is like that of the people trapped in the Allegory of The Cave. It is a sweeping assumption, overly broad in its accusation, and breathtakingly inaccurate, incomplete and totally inadequate. He goes on to hypothesize that only heaven is real and the earth or the natural world is just a shadow, like the shadows on the wall of a cave, reflected by the light of a fire. I suppose one could find some similarity in the Bible verse found in 2 Corinthians 4:18, which says “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”, but even this verse and the surrounding verses are Paul telling us about his own life and ministry and NOT about what heaven is like. In the world’s eyes, Paul’s life was an incredible failure. At the height of a career that would reach much higher, he left it all for a life of hardship, suffering and persecution, with eventual martyrdom. Paul recognized that the world only sees the outward, not the unseen eternal things. When we look at the things which are seen, all we see is our light affliction, and then it doesn’t seem very light! But when we look at the things which are not seen, then we see and appreciate the eternal weight of glory.

Paul isn’t saying that all afflictions automatically produce glory. It is possible to allow suffering to destroy us and to let affliction make us bitter, miserable, and self-focused. However, if we will look to the things which are not seen then our affliction will work in us an eternal weight of glory.(Comment in this color is taken from David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary). But, even 2 Corinthians 4:18 is not about what heaven is like.

Certainly, there is nothing wrong with preaching about what heaven is like. And a cursory reading of Colossians 3:1 seems to support that passage as an apt illustration. However, the above interpretation is totally wrong. First, using a secular philosophical teaching to illustrate and illuminate a Biblical truth is speculative at best and errant at its worst.

This interpreter-teacher (or others) may point to the many parables, allegories and idioms used in the Bible as justification for using Plato’s the Allegory of the Cave. However, when the Bible uses such methods to tell a story, the characters and-or events are symbols representing other events, ideas, or people, they are based on pre-existing and familiar people, places and things. They are NOT secular-philosophical assumptions, or presumptions.

Our interpreter-teacher is using an eisegesis to skillfully syncretize Biblical truth and scriptures verses with philosophical teachings which come from the imagination of man, in order to lend some religious credence to his remarks.

For example, our interpreter-teacher says, “the author of The Allegory of the Cave is telling us to step out of the cave and to see the brilliance of the sun. But the captive in the cave says, “And be blinded by the intensity of the sun? No thank you! We have lived in this cave for decades and centuries, and if it was good enough for my grandpa, it’s good enough for me!”.

Our interpreter-teacher then goes on to allege that the Apostle Paul, based on 1 Colossians 3:1, in many ways is calling us, as Christians, to step out of our cave and into the light of the sun; in other words we should come out of our darkened minds of ignorance and simplicity and become enlightened. (Thus the transition – the eisegesis – the syncretism). The Apostle Paul is calling us to set our minds on heavenly things, not on things of this earth. He goes on to state “that we go on to explore the message of this passage in Colossians, we are going to do it through three points:

The first point is that you are already in heaven, whether you know it or not.

Secondly, heaven is for real.

And, thirdly, heaven is a world of love.”

Our interpreter goes on to cite verse one, that “you have been raised with Christ”;

Verse three, “you have died with Christ”;

And then in a reference to Ephesians 2:6, “You have ascended with Christ”.

All of this to further his personal interpretation that heaven is real and our current existence is just a shadow.

Then in a slight-of-hand movement, our interpreter-teacher, goes to Ezekiel 10:9 and sarcastically uses several complex symbolisms from the Bible to explain what heaven looks like, saying “and remember, this is oh-so crystal clear”, know that it is NOT clear at all. (This is an effective deflection to confuse the listener-student about thier own view of heaven so they will lay their old “caveman, cave-like, neanderthal beliefs” aside, and enter into the light of this new revelation” about what heaven is really like.

A problem for our interpreter-teacher arises if the Christian-listener is a Bible student and will read and study Ezekiel chapter 10, only to discover that Ezekiel 10 is not meant to be a description of heaven. It is The Vision of God’s Glory Departing the Temple. Our interpreter-teacher is misleading the listener a false teaching.

Ezekiel 10 serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of straying from God’s righteous path. The departing Glory of the Lord from the Temple, however, doesn’t signify an eternal absence, but a call to repentance, encouraging us to invite God’s glory back into our lives by living in obedience and faith.

The Themes of Ezekiel 10 are:

God’s Majesty and Power,
Divine Judgement,
Divine Presence and Absence,
Prophet’s Visionary Experience,
Symbolism of Cherubim.

The Topics of Ezekiel chapter 10 are:

Ezekiel’s Vision of God,
The Glory of the Lord,
The Cherubim,
The Wheel within a Wheel,
The Departure of the Glory of the Lord from the Temple,

The People:

Ezekiel,
God,
Cherubim.

The Locations named in Ezekiel chapter 10 are:

The Temple in Jerusalem,
The threshold of the temple,
East gate of the Lord’s house.

Our interpreter-teacher further confuses the student-listener by using a “dietetical” approach by having omitted the real intention of Ezekiel chapter 10.

It is a skillful presentation with a the intention of ‘salting the oats’ of the listener to come out of their ancient and archaic cave which is a metaphor for our ‘old way of thinking about heaven and scriptures’ and to come into the light and thirst for this new way of thinking, this new revelatory view of God and heaven.

His presentation completed, our interpreter-teacher concludes with an invitation for his listeners to accept Jesus’ free gift of heaven, which is without cost. Of course this can be practically irresistible to the ‘heavy burdened and weary traveler of earth’.

Of course Jesus does call, and does encourage each and every person to put down his or her burdens of this earth and to look to Him for relief. And the Bible is abundantly clear that this greatest of Gifts cannot be earned nor can it be purchased for any price. However, Jesus also makes abundantly clear that we trade in or sacrifice our old life for a new life with Him. And indeed, the salvation of one’s soul begins immediately for the person who accepts these terms, and lasts eternally. It is upon these conditions that we will live with Him in heaven, forever.

But let’s be clear: The gift is NOT heaven. Heaven is only the result of the Gift. The Gift is Jesus. The gift is His mercy and forgiveness. He gift is the eradication of power and the penalty of sin and death. The result of The Greatest of all Gifts is an eternity with Him in heaven.

Our interpreter-teacher’s first point is that you are already in heaven, whether you know it or not, is true, however, it is positional.

Secondly, our interpreter-teacher says heaven is for real. True.

And, thirdly, heaven is a world of love. Oddly put, but true.

Our interpreter-teacher goes on to cite Colossian 3:1, that “you have been raised with Christ”; and, in verse three, “you have died with Christ”; and finally, in a reference to Ephesians 2:6, “You have ascended with Christ”. This is to point out that these verses sound as if they were written in the present tense, suggesting that they have already come to pass. However, all three verses cited are in the aorist tense, which means they are positionally true in the past, as well as in the present and will be true in the future. This is what is known as “positionally” true, and “progressively true” in its application. One day it will be “practical” and true.. God has said it, we are in the process of getting these, so it is as good as done, but not just yet.

Our interpreter-teacher has some very creative thoughts and ideas and is very entertaining in his Osteen-esque way of preaching. But, in the meantime, I say let’s leave the inerrant Word of God as it is presented in the Bible. It is written to all people in a way to be understood by all people. Now, as Paul instructed Timothy, God instructs you, “therefore, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work”.

Until He returns!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 28

Jesus is Risen, The Great Commission.

There is so much that has been made about Jesus’ death, burial and His resurrection. Some of it from first-hand witnesses, some from speculation, and some from doubters. But, in the end, it is up to you to decide. Pray, ask God for insight and wisdom. Search, study and glean the scriptures. All of this was foretold. It occurred with uncanny and frightening accuracy. Even the enemies of Jesus knew it was coming and tried to prevent it. Despite all the evidence and the world altering results, it is still accepted only by faith, and this faith is not blind. It is the hallmark of a true believer who has eyes to see.

Jesus Is Risen!

Matthew 28:1, Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. Verse 2. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. Verse 3. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. Verse 4. The guards shook from fear of him and became like dead men. Verse 5. And the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. Verse 6. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Verse 7. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

(Commentary Break): There are scores of commentaries for you to read which will go into dizzying detail about the day, the time, the earthquake, the witnesses, the angel, the guards and these events. Go read them. But the final point is that Matthew spoke to first and witnesses and recorded what occurred. And if this is not enough, then look at the prophecies, the events leading up to Jesus’ mock trial, His execution, burial and resurrection; consider the sighting of Jesus and His interactions with people after His resurrection. All first-hand witnesses. And still, it’s up to you to believe, and that, only by faith. And, as Jesus has said, ‘if you don’t believe the words, then believe by the Works that preceded His death and those that followed Jesus’ resurrection’. Believe by the millions upon millions of lives that have been changed for the better. (also see GotQuestions.org). (End Commentary Break).

Verse 8. And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to report to His disciples. Verse 9. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Rejoice!” And they came up and took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Verse 10. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go, bring word to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

(Commentary Break): The Bible contains over 63 commands to “fear not” or “do not be afraid” in the context that God is over all and working in all things. In fact, He promises that He will work all things to work together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28). Now listen to what faith and obedience to His Word brings when God says, “fear not, bring word…and they will see Me”. In this specific case, the disciples, Jesus Christian brothers, were to leave for Galilee and there they will see Him. Now you, brothers and sisters, take action: You need not fear. Bring Word, go to Him, and you will see Him! This is both a promise and a prophetic command. Do it! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. Now, while they were on their way, some of the men from the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. Verse 12. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, verse 13, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were asleep.’ Verse 14. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and keep you out of trouble.” Verse 15. And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews and is to this day.

The Great Commission

Verse 16. But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them. Verse 17. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. Verse 18. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Verse 19. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, verse 20, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(Commentary Break): Notice that the 11 disciples proceeded to Galilee, and they worshiped Him when they saw Him. And even standing there, worshiping the visible living Jesus, SOME WERE DOUBTFUL. As unbelievable as that seems, Jesus still sent ALL ELEVEN of them, even the doubters, to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that He has commanded. (End Commentary Break).

Please, dear friends, the time of His return is drawing near. Let’s stop standing around looking skyward, as the angel said. It is not ours to know the day or the hour, but He will return at the right time, in the same manner He left. Ours is to be ready and found doing all that He has commanded us.

In the meantime, we have been called and sent. It is past time to stop playing religion and stop just attending church and take these Spiritual Gifts He has put within us and use them profitably according to His purpose, mission and calling to us!

Living your life for Christ is your testimony and witness to what God has done. You, being full of the Spirit, full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in all you do, and when the time comes tell them about the reason for your Hope. JESUS!

Amen and Amen.

Your Brother and friend,

Mike Young

Previous:  THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 27, Judas’ Remorse, Jesus Before Pilate, Jesus Mocked, The Crucifixion, Jesus Burial.

Next: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 1, Dedicated Service, The Ascension, The Upper Room.

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

Come, Let us Reason

“TIP OF THE SPEAR”

What does that phrase mean to you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

The word “Hupotasso” literally means:

1) to arrange under, to subordinate;

2) to subject, put in subjection

3) to subject one’s self, obey

4) to submit to one’s control

5) to yield to one’s admonition or advice

6) to obey, be subject.

HUPO – arrange under; TASSO – mutually agree upon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, how does this apply to women in the church, and specifically women as pastors in a church? In this instance, it is much simpler to explain from Scriptures and even easier to understand than the first half of this article. Allow me to lay the groundwork:

First, all Scripture is the Breathed-out Word of God, according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Bible tells us that the Word of God is without any error, is dependable, revealing, powerful, piercing, and eternal. It is the lamp unto our feet and the light upon our path. John 14:14-18 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and that Jesus is the Word! Additionally, Jesus tells us that He came to tell the truth (John 18:37), and that He in fact is The Truth (John 14:6). So, it is safe and wise to believe and to do whatever the Bible says – especially the plain things!

Therefore, when the Bible says, “As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”

I have read the numerous opinions and commentaries on this matter of women being ordained as a pastor. Reading the pros and cons doesn’t take one long to determine what the varying authors believed before they wrote their opinion. One such opinion, found on Bible.Org, written by a Sandra Glahn, who holds a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and a PhD in The Humanities, Aesthetic Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, tries to frame the Apostle Paul’s words in the context of spiritual gifts, specifically prophecy and speaking in tongues. I find her attempt clumsy and severely biased at best, and the use of eisegesis, a deliberate distortion of scriptures, at worst, connecting dots that don’t align, so to speak.

The context of Paul’s remarks are about orderly worship but come under the heading of submission to authority as a protective covering as described throughout the Bible

1 Corinithians 11:2-3, “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”

The rebellious and feeble attempts to change the meaning and the context of this matter and these verses, should cause the rebel to remember these words: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say…?

His Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God sent His Son to seek and to save – to make safe, to make whole, to make healthy and sound, with a great purpose and direction in life! And to as many as received Him by faith, He has given them the right to be the children of God.

For your own sake and safety, don’t change even one letter or iota of His Word! Believe and Live!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

Here is an addendum to claify this position: Addendum.

THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 27

 Judas’ Remorse, Jesus Before Pilate, Jesus Mocked, The Crucifixion, Jesus Burial

The central theme of the Bible, of course, is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit, but it is also a comprehensive and extensive spiritual document about the creation of humanity, the cosmos and their ultimate end.

The Bible is also the longest ‘breathed out’ love letter ever written and it is written to you by God, which is about you and for you. His Words are spoken to you and if you will consume His Words, (that is to ‘eat His Body and drink His Blood’), He will speak His Words through you! You will have become His instrument to effect His plan, purpose and mission on the earth.

Therefore, it is beyond important to know what he Bible is saying to you so you can come to know God in an intimate and personal way. Then you can gain an understanding of what He is saying to you, about you, for you and through you. Please don’t get lost in the narrative; focus on Him and what He is saying to you.

Judas’ Remorse

Matthew 27:1, Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; verse 2, and they bound Him and led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.

(Commentary Break): Please re-read Matthew 27:1-2, and cast them in the light of Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”. There are two realms. The Spiritual realm and the realm of ‘flesh and blood’, or the natural realm. These verses are comparing and contrasting these realities. Our battle is not against people, but against the rulers, and the powers, and against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places which possess and influence people of flesh and blood to do their evil and wickedness. Which realm is at work in the hearts and minds of the chief priests and the elders? And why would these spiritual forces of darkness and wickedness influence these priests and Elders to confer against Jesus, and to put Him to death?  And, why would they eventually hand Jesus over to Pilate?

By understanding these things, you can see and get a better understanding of the battle that rages for your and every man, woman, boy and girl’s heart, soul and mind. These verses, when correctly understood and personally applied, can tell you the deeper meaning and motives of the spiritual forces of darkness and of wickedness. They have come only to kill, steal and destroy! The Bible and these verses in particular, can instruct you and empower you to resist and overcome evil. This is personal. Very personal! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 3. Then when Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, verse 4, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You shall see to it yourself!” Verse 5. And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself.

(Commentary Break): Here is the continuing example of a person, (flesh and blood), having been influenced and possessed by the rulers, the powers, the world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, to do their evil works.

Read again the cold, heartless and wicked response to Judas repentant cry when he bemoans “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And look at the result; Judas hanged himself. These are the forces which are crouching outside your door, waiting to influence you, to whisper lies to you, to kill and destroy you.

This is not just a story about Judas or a drama about betrayal and murder. This is the cosmic and spiritual battle we all face. This is about life and death and eternity. This is about you and me. This is very personal!  (End Commentary Break).

Verse 6. The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them in the temple treasury, since it is money paid for blood.” Verse 7. And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. Verse 8. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Verse 9. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; Verse 10. AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, JUST AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME.”

(Commentary Break): True to form, the chief priests follow their manmade laws above all else, even above their Torah. They “tithe mint and dill and cumin, while neglecting the weightier provisions of the Law, such as justice and mercy and faithfulness”. They are, as Jesus has called them, “blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel, and hypocrites! They clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence!”

Dear ones, please listen. Just like these religious scribe, Pharisees and chief priests, many churches today have these same the rulers, and powers, and world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness influencing pastors, elders and teachers, who ardently and stubbornly follow the laws of their own denomination or of their own making while neglecting the weightier provisions of the Law, such as justice and mercy and faithfulness. They too, are blind guides and hypocrites full of robbery and self-indulgence.  Do not their bidding, point them out and flee from them. Jesus has warned that these days would come. It began in His time on earth and has intensified in these Last Days. (End Commentary Break).

Jesus before Pilate

Verse 11. Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” Verse 12. And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not offer any answer. Verse 13. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?” Verse 14. And still He did not answer him in regard to even a single charge, so the governor was greatly amazed.

Verse 15. Now at the Passover Feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. Verse 16. And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Verse 17. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” Verse 18. For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over.

Verse 19. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” Verse 20. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death. Verse 21. And the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Verse 22. Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” Verse 23. But he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” Yet they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

Verse 24. Now when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; you yourselves shall see.” Verse 25. And all the people replied, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Verse 26, Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

(Commentary Break): These things had to be accomplished to fulfill the scriptures. I hope you have read these things with this one thing in mind: Jesus is innocent. You and I are the guilty parties. But He was silent when the accusations and the charges were being made. He knew what He was doing, and it was out of love for you and me that He endure this shame and punishment.

Psychologist might say that crowd hysteria had taken over, but they would have been blind to what was truly at work. Satan had released rulers, and powers, and world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness and they were now influencing and speaking through the crowds. Undoubtedly, a frightening sight.

Pilate, however, saw through the subterfuge and declared Jesus as innocent. He tried to distance himself, making the feeble statement, “I am innocent of this man’s blood”, but he still condemned Jesus to death.

Then, prophetically, all the Jews in the crowd replied, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” And so it has been, throughout the ages, on the Nation of Israel.

However, the Apostle Paul explains and warns, in Romans 11:20-24, “That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by your faith [as believers understanding the truth of Christ’s deity]. Do not be conceited, but [rather stand in great awe of God and] fear [Him]; for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], He will not spare you either. Then appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: to those who fell [into spiritual ruin], severity, but to you, God’s gracious kindness, if you continue in His kindness [by faith and obedience to Him]; otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they [the unbelieving Jews], if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these who are the natural branches back into [the original parent stock of] their own olive tree? (End Commentary Break).

Jesus Is Mocked

Verse 27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort to Him. Verse 28. And they stripped Him and put a red cloak on Him. Verse 29. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Verse 30. And they spit on Him, and took the reed and beat Him on the head. Verse 31. And after they had mocked Him, they took the cloak off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

Verse 32. As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they compelled to carry His cross.

The Crucifixion

Verse 33. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, verse 34, they gave Him wine mixed with bile to drink; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink it.

Verse 35. And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments among themselves by casting lots. Verse 36. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. Verse 37. And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Verse 38. At that time two rebels were being crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. Verse 39. And those passing by were speaking abusively to Him, shaking their heads, 40, and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Verse 41. In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, verse 42, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. Verse 43. HE HAS TRUSTED IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE TAKES PLEASURE IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Verse 44. And the rebels who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him in the same way.

Verse 45. Now from the sixth hour, (which was noontime), darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour (which was 3 p.m.). Verse 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LEMA SABAKTANEI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” Verse 47. And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” Verse 48. And immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. Verse 49. But the rest of them said, “Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” Verse 50. And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. Verse 51. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Verse 52. Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; verse 53, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Verse 54, Now as for the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the other things that were happening, they became extremely frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Verse 55. And many women were there watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while caring for Him. Verse 56. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Jesus Is Buried

Verse 57. Now when it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea came, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. Verse 58. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. Verse 59. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, verse 60. and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. Verse 61. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

Verse 62. Now on the next day, that is, the day which is after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, Verse 63. and they said, “Sir, we remember that when that deceiver was still alive, He said, ‘After three days I am rising.’ Verse 64. Therefore, give orders for the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Verse 65. Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” Verse 66. And they went and made the tomb secure with the guard, sealing the stone. (End Chapter 27).

(Commentary Break): This series of events actually began with the birth of Jesus, but take a precipitous turn at the noon hour on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. The Spiritual Real of the Kingdom of Heaven breaks through to the natural realm for all to see. On the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, darkness fell upon all the land, during the middle of the day, from noontime until three p.m., when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LEMA SABAKTANEI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now as for the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the other things that were happening, they became extremely frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (End Commentary Break).

The beginning of the Last Days began with the birth of Jesus. The first five seals of the tribulation have been broken from around A.D. 1 through A.D. 95, (see Revelation 6:1-11), and have been overlapping and the effects have been intensifying. These are the harbingers of the coming sixth tribulation seal (see Revelation 6:12-17), which will bring a Great Tribulation such as not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, and never will be again. (see Matthew 24:21).

The next, and final chapter of the Book of Matthew, will put an exclamation point on what had been foretold and has come to pass! Jesus has risen from the dead, conquering death and negating the penalty of sin for all who believe.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 26, The Plot to Kill Jesus, Precious Ointment, Judas, Last Passover, The Lord’s Supper, The Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ Betrayal, Caiaphas, Peter’s Denials.

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 28, Jesus in Risen, The Great Commission.

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

DEEP WATERS

I would like to wade into some very deep theological waters with you, regarding the Nature and Being or Existence of God. Please.

Reading from GotQuestions.Org we can find that God is,

(1).  HOLY. The most important element of God’s nature is His holiness. Holy means “set apart,” and God is clearly separate from His creation based on His nature and attributes. Holiness is the foundation of all other aspects of God’s character. Revelation 15:4 says of God, “You alone are holy.” Revelation 4:8 describes the four living creatures who sing to God day and night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” It is God’s holiness that makes Him the “consuming fire” that will judge all sin (Hebrews 12:29). Beautiful doxologies exalting God’s holiness are found throughout Scripture, including Psalm 99:9; Psalm 33:21; Psalm 77:13; Psalm 89:18; Psalm 105:3; and others.

(2).  ETERNAL. It is also important to understand that God is an eternal spirit (John 4:24). He is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) who has always existed as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He does not have a physical body (although the Son became incarnate). A doctrine is false if it denies the Trinity, views God the Father as a man, or denies the humanity and deity of Christ (see 2 John 1:7).

(3).  SOVEREIGN. God is also, by nature, sovereign. He is judged by no one and has absolute authority over the entire universe and everything in it. His sovereignty is expressed in many ways, including His omnipotence. All of His ways are right (Psalm 145:17), and whether mankind believes God’s ways to be “fair” is irrelevant. The Lord God is not constrained by time or place. He has a plan, He has had it from eternity past, and His purpose will be accomplished (Daniel 4:37; Psalm 115:3).

(4).  IMMUTABLE. Another key aspect of God’s nature is His immutability. He does not change, being the same “yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He states outright in Malachi 3:6, “I the LORD do not change.” Because of His unchanging nature, we can depend on His blessings: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

(5).  OMNIPOTENT. The Almighty’s sovereignty speaks to His right to do whatever He wishes, and His omnipotence speaks to His ability to do so. He also knows everything, from eternity past to eternity future, everything we think, do, and say. He has personal knowledge of every person who has ever lived or will live, knowing them intimately in every way. It is encouraging to hear God’s words in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

(6).  RIGHTEOUS. We must not overlook God’s wrath, which flows from His holiness. He has a righteous anger against sin (Psalm 7:11), and, because of God’s impending judgment, mankind needs the gospel message of grace and salvation.

(7).  LOVE. It is also God’s nature to love (1 John 4:16), and in His love for the world, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us (John 3:16). Nothing less than a perfect sacrifice would do. Love is more than an attribute of God; He is literally the essence of love. This is stated clearly in 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God’s love is eternal. Because He is immutable, His love never changes. His love is perfect and holy.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).

Biblestudytools.com tells us that God is

(1). INFINITE. Self-existing, without origin. Jehovah or Yahweh is the most intensely sacred name to Jewish scribes and many will not even pronounce the name. When possible, they use another name.”

(2). IMMUTABLE. He never changes.

(3). SELF-SUFFICIENT. He has no needs.

(4). OMNIPOTENT. He is all powerful.

(5). OMNISCIENT. God is all knowing.

(6). OMNIPRESENT. He is everywhere, all the time.

(7). WISE. He is full of perfect, unchanging wisdom.

(8). FAITHFUL. God is infinitely unchanging and true.

(9). GOOD. God is good all the time.

(10). JUST. Infinitely right, fair and perfect.

(11). MERCIFUL. Infinitely compassionate and kind.

(12). GRACIOUS. Inclined to spare the guilty.

(13). LOVING. Always and forever, He loves us.

(14). HOLY. God is perfect.

(15). GLORIOUS.

Here are some Biblical descriptions that Biblestudytools.com and GotQuestions.org left out:

God is invisible. Romans 1:20.

God is with you in all that you do. Genesis 21:22.

God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19.

The LORD your God is the One fighting for you. Deuteronomy 3:22.

God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24.

God is within you. Luke 17:21.

God is near. Luke 21:31.

God is True. John 3:33.

God is Spirit. John 4:24.

God is revealed. Romans 1:17

God is evident. Romans 1:19.

God is for us. Romans 8:31.

God is holy. 1 Corinthians 3:17.

But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:3.

God is faithful. 2 Corinthians 1:18.

God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.

God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29.

God is one. James 2:19.

God is light. 1 John 1:5.

DEEPER WATERS

God, Himself, put it most simply and succinctly  when He said, “I AM THAT I AM.” (see Exodus 3:14).

But, What and Who is God, exactly? It is hard to answer that question because, as John 1:18 explains to us, “No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.” (New American Standard Version).

It is clear that God is undefinable, and we can know Who He is, and that He is describable, but even this is from our weak and finite perspective.

So, I ask again, beyond knowing the attributes and nature of God, is it possible to know What God is? Can we know His Essence? (This is such a revered matter, a holy matter that to the Hebrew Jew, it is impermissible to even utter His Name, as it would be blasphemous to them).

I would like to put forward an idea. And it is just an idea. But it can be considered to be based on what we can and do know about God – but this may be a little ‘out there’, if you will:

Holy Scriptures, the Word and Breath of God tell us “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.”

So, in seeking God, it begins with faith. Furthermore, Scriptures tell us that it is faith that produces belief, and it is through our belief that we can know God exists. A good start, yes?

Furthermore, He tells us that He rewards those who seek Him. So, let’s seek Him.

GOD SAID

 The idea that God has spoken or that God has a voice is mentioned scores of times throughout Scriptures.

Genesis 1:3 says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

The Hebrew word for ‘said’ when associated with God, is ‘amar’, which translates “to utter, say”. This word is found 45 times in the King James Version of the Bible.

Deuteronomy 4:33 says, “Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?”

DEEPER WATERS YET

The Hebrew word for voice when associated with God is ‘qol’, wich translates as “sound, or voice”. This is found two times in the Bible.

In the Abrahamic religions, the voice of God is a communication from God to human beings through sound with no known physical source. In rabbinic Judaism, such a voice was known as a “bat kol”, and was a “heavenly or divine voice which proclaims God’s will or judgment”. It differed from prophecy in that God had a close relationship with the prophet, while the “bat kol” could be heard by any individual or group regardless of their level of connection to God.

According to Pastor Chuck Swindoll, you can’t always tell from Scripture whether God’s voice is audible or “heard” by some other means. When Saul (later Paul) was on the road to Damascus, he heard the voice of the resurrected Jesus talking to him in a vision, and the sound could be heard by his entourage. It was audible. In Genesis 6, God spoke to Noah and gave him specific instructions. We might assume that the voice was audible, that is, he heard spoken words with his ears, but the Lord may have “spoken” to him mind to mind. We don’t know for sure. God’s voice to Daniel sounded like thunder, but centuries earlier to Elijah, He spoke with “a noiseless sound.” In Samuel’s case, God spoke in such a way that Samuel literally heard His voice. He spoke with the voice of a normal Hebrew man so that the boy thought it was Eli calling to him from the other room.

Regardless, when God spoke we do know people heard His voice. At times, God’s voice created an audible sound. And, explained is the very simplest form, it is known through physics, that a voice produces sound, and sound is carried along and measured as sound waves. Sound waves have frequencies of vibration; these frequencies are known as harmonics.

DEEPEST WATERS

When God spoke, audibly or not, He created the cosmos, the worlds, the earth and life! The very elements of the cosmos were created by the creative force of His Voice.

I posit that science is in the process of discovering God and all that God has created. (The great majority of them just do not want to recognize Him or His existence. They want the glory.

However, science recognizes, through disciplines of physics, that a voice produces sound, and that sound is carried along and measured as sound waves. Sound waves have frequencies of vibration; these frequencies are known as harmonics.

In fact, in the 6th century BC, Pythagoras developed the science of harmonics. Legend has it that he was inspired by the sounds emanating from a blacksmith’s shop; producing experimental music with hammers and anvils, Pythagoras realized that the relationship between different musical notes can be expressed in the form of simple mathematical ratios. Pythagoras saw in this a fundamental theory of the universe, and redefined the world, from the motion of celestial bodies to the emotional fluctuations in a human body, as iterations of a kind of cosmic music. More than a millennium later, Johannes Kepler interpreted this musica universalis as proof of Divine splendor, and devoted his career to a description of the geometric and harmonic order of our solar system.

Efforts to chart this celestial harmony can produce strikingly aesthetic images. Kepler’s sketches proved as much in his publications – as does this work by software developer Howard Arrington. Arrington used his own Ensign software to visualize the relationship between pairs of planets, producing a series of intriguing geometric mosaics. Better yet, he shares the program with which he created his images, so that you, too, can capture the music of the cosmos.

Let me be clear that harmonics do not explain or define God. God created all things and harmonics came into being.

God is always speaking. God speaks by the Holy Spirit, through the Bible, through prayer, circumstances and through the Church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His way. This is the nature of God’s voice.

God and His Voice are inseparable. He and His Voice are eternal, omniscient, immutable, and omnipresent. The heavens, (the universe, the cosmos), are speaking and are declaring His Glory.

The heavens were filled with, are filled and shall continue to be filled with the Voice of God. This is the harmonics and the music of the cosmos. This has been the will of God from the beginning.

All things have come into existence by the Will and the Breath and the Word of God.  And, the Bible tells us repeatedly that as Christians we are to know this and do the will of God. This is the key to everything from hearing God’s voice, to following Him, resting in Him finding His protection over our lives, receiving His promises, living in His presence, living and walking in the Spirit of God, to answered prayer.

We must hear and obey His Voice (the harmonics of God) and find live in His Will, which is walking in agreement, as in a symphony, with God!

As James says in Acts 15:14-15, Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. The words of the Prophets agree, (‘sumphóneó’ from the Greek, meaning to agree, to be in harmony, to be of one mind, i.e., I agree with, harmonize with, agree together),  with this, just as it is written.”

Please click this link symphony, and review and study this commentary on this word ‘agree’, as in symphony, from Biblehub.com.

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM

 We are living in the presence of an invisible God. We cannot see Him, and in fact, no has ever seen God. But God sent His Son, as His exact representation so we could know Him.

His presence reaches from before time into infinity. His power is indescribable and undefinable. The sun, moon, the stars in all the cosmos are diminished by His glorious radiance. Yet we are His. He cares for us. He keeps us. God is both within us, and He encompasses us. We are continuously bathed in and by His radiance.

Nonetheless, we can resist Him. We can rebel against Him. We can deny that He is and that He exists, even as we rest and glory in His presence, because He has permitted us the freedom and power of choice. We can choose to acknowledge and submit to Him and be made safe, or we can deny Him and lay claim to our complete annihilation. This is true because He is eternal, and without Him there is nothing. If you are without God, you will have nothing after this life except an eternity alone in a vast darkness, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.

With all of this in mind, the only real and true benefit from knowing these things about God is to apply what you now know. Choose. Choose to know Him. Choose to become His son or daughter. Choose to stand in His radiance and bathe yourself in His glory. Let His voice, the sound of His voice, the vibrations of His voice and the harmonics of His voice penetrate your mind, soul, spirit and body. Do this purposely. Do this often. Do this continually. Practice the presence of God in your daily life.

KNOW AND DO THE WILL OF GOD – PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE

The Breath and Words of God shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to observe and to do according to all that is spoken; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have insight and achieve success. Has He not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (See Joshua 1:8-9).

He has spoken and says you are to consume His Words, absorb His voice as if they are the flesh of the Son of Man and drink in His presence, His nature, His being and His existence as if it is His blood, and you have life in yourselves.

The one who consumes His Words and Breath as if they are eating His flesh and drinks in His presence as if it is His blood, has eternal life; and He will raise you up on the last day.

For His flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. The one who eats His ‘flesh’ and drinks His ‘blood’ dwells in and remains in Him, and He in you.

Just as God the Father sent Jesus, and He lives because of the Father, if you consume Jesus and all that HE IS, you also will live because of Him.

Jesus is the bread that came down out of heaven, but not the same bread as the Jewish fathers ate and died; if you eat This Bread, you will live forever. (See John 6:53-58).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  Psalm 1:2 – But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 4:4 – Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah

Psalm 27:4 – One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.

Psalm 63:6 – When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,

Psalm 77:6 – I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders:

Psalm 77:12 – I will meditate on all Your work, And on Your deeds with thanksgiving.

Psalm 119:15 – I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways.

Psalm 119:23 – Even though rulers sit and speak against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

Psalm 119:27 – Make me understand the way of Your precepts, And I will meditate on Your wonders.

Psalm 119:48 – And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Psalm 119:78 – May the arrogant be put to shame, because they lead me astray with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts.

Psalm 119:148 – My eyes anticipate the night watches, So that I may meditate on Your word.

Psalm 143:5 – I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your accomplishments; I reflect on the work of Your hands.

Psalm 145:5 – On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.

PSS: