AS A CHRISTIAN

I AM SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT!?

I am watching a movie on TV.  The name of it isn’t important.  It is a satire or a parody of the war in Afghanistan and, then president Obama, and his deliberate mockery of America’s military, his misuse of our national resources, his disrespect and demoralization of our military and its leadership.  Again, it was a parody of real events and real people.

In one scene, the commander of the forces in Afghanistan, an army general, is giving a ‘pep talk’ to a company of marines on the front lines.  This general has been instructed by the White House representatives that the military is there to clean up the mess Obama has made, wind the war down, under the guise of “nation building” and to install a democratic style of government.

During his speech, the general says that “we cannot help these people if we are killing them.  It ain’t humanly possible.” And, he says, “they cannot trust us if we keep killing them.  So, we need to stop killing them so we can help them.”

He noticed this group of marines were not responding with the enthusiasm as he had hoped for, so he solicits remarks from them.  One marine responded with something like, “this is all bull, sir!”

The general look surprised and growled, “What do you mean by that, marine!?”

The marine said, “You are telling us we are here to help these people?”

The general says, “That is right, marine.”

“And we are not supposed to kill any of them?”

“You’re getting it, marine.”

“But, I am a marine, sir.  I am in a war.  I kill people, sir”, the marine continued.

The general responded with, “Not anymore, marine.”

“No disrespect sir, but, you are telling me that I am supposed to, somehow, convince these people that, deep down, I am really a nice guy?  How am I supposed to do that when one out of every three or ten people here are trying to kill me?  How am I supposed to not kill them when they are trying to kill me, sir?  I am a marine, and I am trained to fight a war and defend myself.  I just don’t understand how that is supposed to work, sir.  I am confused, sir!”, the marine pleaded.

“Then you are just going to have to get yourself unconfused, son”, the general replies.

THEN IT STRUCK ME

We are not to kill them either. Neither by weapons nor by our words or our actions. (That is the people who are enemies of God). We are supposed to help them and build the Kingdom, even when they are trying to kill us!

Listen to the Apostle Paul as he wages his earthly war for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

2 Corinthians 11:23:

(I am out of my mind to talk like this.)  I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

• Verse 24. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
• Verse 25. Three times I was beaten with rods,
• once I was pelted with stones,
• three times I was shipwrecked,
• I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
• Verse 26. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
• Verse 27. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
• Verse 28. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

Although I am a Christian, reflecting back on the movie I am compelled to say, “No disrespect Lord but, you are telling me that I am supposed to, somehow, convince these people that, deep down, I am really a nice guy – that I care about them?  That we are here to build their country and help them become prosperous?  How am I supposed to do that when one out of every three or ten people here are trying to kill me?  How am I supposed to not kill them when they are trying to kill me?  I am a Christian soldier, and I am trained to fight a war and defend myself.  I just don’t understand how that is supposed to work, sir.  I am confused Lord!”

To which the Christians is told, “Then you are just going to have to get yourself unconfused son.”

The Apostle Peter explains in 1 Peter 2:24:

• “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
• Verse 25,  with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
• Verse 26,  and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

And, again, the Apostle Paul says, in Colossians 4:5:

• Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 
• Verse 6.  Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

I have to ask, “How am I supposed to do that, sir, when they are defying our laws, burning our cities down, destroying our businesses, killing our people, attacking our way of life?  How am I supposed to do that when one out of three or five or ten of them want to kill me?  I am confused, sir!”

To which the Apostles Peter and Paul and our Lord Jesus seem to be saying, “Then you are just going to have to get yourself un-confused son!”

When we are being mocked, spit upon, beaten, robbed, and assaulted, how are we to do as the Apostle Paul says?

We do it by following the Words and example of Jesus as found in Matthew 4:1-11 when Jesus is tempted (tested) by the devil, but He resisted the devil, drew near to the Father through the Word and the devil left Him. (Notice that James 4 :7 also says that we are to draw near to God and Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We do it by “resisting the devil so he will flee from us”!

We are not to involve ourselves in any kind of dispute or argument that would distract us from what God is doing through and around us. Suppose a person says to you, “give me your cloak”, instead of being distracted and involving yourself in a time-consuming debate, just give them your cloak and stay focused on God’s business. Then, seeing a perceived weakness, they may say, give me your coat also. Just give it to them and wave them away, perhaps thinking to yourself, “Take it – be gone and stop distracting me. This cloak and coat mean so little to me in the scope of what God is saying to me right now. I have much more important matters to attend at the moment, and this coat is not worth my time.”

The same goes for being mistreated, slapped in the cheek, or having to walk a mile for someone. Honestly, this is not about being weak and timid. It is not about shocking people with your compliance in order to “look good”. You are not a doormat – you are a doorman. Holding the door open to the Kingdom of God. This is what that looks like!

Just get it done and over with – dispatch the distracting. Rid yourself of these temporary obstacles and get back to what is truly important, or else the devil in them will keep you endlessly chasing their arguments, and demands, involving you in their emotional chaos. Finish it and save your energy and yourself for God’s service.

This is how our spiritual armor is put to action.

I am thinking that if we stay busy doing what Jesus called us to be doing, we will have our attention diverted away from the temporal to the things that really matter.

Our war is not a war of flesh and blood, and our weapons are not weapons of this world.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, we are to take up the full armor of God, so that we will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

We are, therefore, to be on the alert, for we do not know which day The Lord is coming.

But we can be sure of this, that if we had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, we would be on the alert, and we will allow our households to be broken into.

This is the reason we must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when we do not think He will.

So then, who is the faithful and sensible follower of Jesus, whom Jesus has put in charge of His household to give them their “food” at the proper time?

Blessed is that disciple, that Christian, whom Jesus finds so doing when He comes.

Nothing else really matters.  So, we must just get un-confused and get on with His Business!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Please click on this invitation)

 

 

AN OLIVE BRANCH IN ONE HAND – A SWORD IN THE OTHER

 

Girding up for War – Confronting the spirit of antichrist!

In his most recent and provocative book, Letter to the American Church, Eric Metaxas asks, “Can it really be God’s will that His children be silent at a time like this? Decrying the cowardice that masquerades as godly meekness, Eric Metaxas summons the Church to battle.

“The author of a bestselling biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Metaxas reveals the haunting similarities between today’s American Church and the German Church of the 1930s. Echoing the German martyr’s prophetic call, he exhorts his fellow Christians to repent of their silence in the face of evil.

“An attenuated and unbiblical “faith” based on what Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace” has sapped the spiritual vitality of millions of Americans. Paying lip service to an insipid “evangelism,” they shrink from combating the evils of our time. Metaxas refutes the pernicious lie that fighting evil politicizes Christianity. As Bonhoeffer and other heroes of the faith insisted, the Church has an irreplaceable role in the culture of a nation. It is our duty to fight the powers of darkness, especially on behalf of the weak and vulnerable.

“Silence is not an option. God calls us to defend the unborn, to confront the lies of cultural Marxism, and to battle the globalist tyranny that crushes human freedom. Confident that this is His fight, the Church must overcome fear and enter the fray, armed with the spiritual weapons of prayer, self-sacrifice, and love.” (see Eric Metaxas.com – Letter to the American Church)

Here is a ‘must watch’ interview by pastor Gary Hamrick, Cornerstone Chapel, Leesburg, Virginia, as pastor Hamrick and Eric Metaxas discuss how the Church (Christians) must respond to the spreading evil of the spirit of the antichrist which is in the world now.

((Please Note: I, Michael Young, author of this article, am NOT in favor of advocating politics from the pulpit of any church. I believe that as Christians the Gospel and the Bible will define our politics – and politics should never define our view of the Gospel nor of the Bible.))

((Again, I repeat: I, Michael Young, author of this article, am NOT in favor of advocating politics from the pulpit of any church. I believe that as Christians the Gospel and the Bible will define our politics. Politics should never define our view of the Gospel nor of the Bible. Just preach and teach the ‘unvarnished’ plain truth of the Word of God. ))

Key Verse

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Jesus spoke on these matters more succinctly than anyone, past or present. Hear what Jesus tells us is the ways to confront evil in our day:

WHY DID JESUS COME INTO THE WORLD?

1. TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH

John 18:37 “Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”  

2. TO BRING A SWORD

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

3. TO FULFILL THE LAW

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

4. TO CALL SINNERS

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

5. TO SAVE THE WORLD

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

6. TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH

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

 “WHAT HE REALLY MEANT?”

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

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

Jesus said what He meant and meant exactly what He said.  He is our model for our counter cultural resistance to the growing global threat of Communist-Marxist-Globalism, And we need to get on with it.

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

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

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

We do not literally have an appointment with a crucifixion, but, the Bible is  clear in Galatians 5:24, that “Those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” and again in Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul reminds us that, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” which must be true for all who follow Jesus because we are on mission with Jesus. Our ‘old self’ must die so our new selves can follow and serve Him.

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

Ephesians 6:10-17, tells us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Stand, i. e. continue safe and sound, stand unharmed: Acts 26:22.

Stand ready or prepared: Ephesians 6:14. One who does not hesitate, does not waver, of one who vanquishes his adversaries and holds the ground, also of one who in the midst of the fight holds his position against the foe, to persist, continue, persevere: (so as not to fall from thy faith).

Jesus’ example of steadfast, unmovable courage; this is our example and our command to do the same:

CONFRONTING THE STORM

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

CONFRONTING DEMONS

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

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

CONFRONTING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

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

BEFORE THE RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT

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

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

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

Jesus did not draw back.  (He proceeded boldly to the Cross and secured our salvation!) We must not draw back. Jesus has all authority in heaven  and on the earth and is with us until the end!

Remember, Jesus came to earth for these stated reasons – and these same reasons are our method and our calling:

TO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH. We are to testify to the truth!

TO BRING A SWORD. We are to bring the sword of the Word of God!

 TO FULFILL THE LAW. We are to fulfill the same law!

TO CALL SINNERS. We are to call sinners!

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

TO CAST FIRE & BRING DIVISION UPON THE EARTH. This, too, is our calling! The Word of God is a stumbling block to those who do not believe, dividing A  MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; (Matthew 10:35-36)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, this is not hyperbole, a philosophy or metaphor. Now is the time to gird ourselves up with the full armor of God and follow our Lord, the King of Kings into battle.

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 and must be fought with Spiritual Armament!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Previous: LIES OF THE EVIL ONE – BEWARE

 

 

LIES OF THE EVIL ONE – BEWARE

Let’s please stop buying the lies of the devil. He is whispering softly into the ears of the Church and many of the pastors are buying it and have been selling it to you!

Lie #1. We are to love everyone in the world “unconditionally” and equally.

This lie has done more to weaken the church and to tear her from her Moorings of Christ than any overt sin. Such attention to the world and misplaced affections turn into pandering, the type of love that characterizes a sappy, sentimental feeling such as we often hear portrayed. This can cause us to miss the mark of God’s agape love, which is characterized by loving the unlovable and the unlovely, and not because they deserve to be loved or because of any excellence we or they possess, but because it is God’s nature to love this way.

Listen carefully to what Jesus says and think. “For God so love the world (the cosmos signifying the collective mass of people needing salvation), that He gave His only Son. God loves the world on purpose and with a purpose.

(IT’S CONDITIONAL)

that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. The one who believes in Him is not judged, but the one who does not believe is judged already because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God.”

The unbelieving world is already condemned. And every one person ever born, is born into sin as an unbeliever – and they are already condemned.  But God loves us so much that He has sent His Son as a means to forgiveness and reconciliation. Those who accept His gift of reconciliation and salvation are no longer condemned to an eternal death, but those who reject His gift are His enemy.

James 4:4, call the world adulteresses and enemies of God, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (Also see GotQuestions.Org).

(IT IS A CONDITIONAL PARADOX)

We, the Church, are in a spiritual war with this world, but we are to recognize the God ordained an “uneasy truce” we have with the world. We are burdened with the knowledge that in the end, this war will bring total destruction of those who oppose God, those who are enemies of God.

Herein lies our dilemma: The Paradox. Although we are in a war with the world, we, at the same time, are commanded to love this world as God loves this world. We are to bring them the Good News that they can escape their fate of destruction by coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus. We must somehow tell them and show them that they need not perish in the eternal lake of fire at the judgment.

 We must explain to the world that God loves them with an incomprehensible love. We must explain to them that He does not will that any should perish, but that all should come to know His Son and be saved. We must plead with the world to be reconciled to God and avoid their coming judgment and eternal destruction.

THE PARADOX DEEPENS

Since the world is enemies of God, they will be our enemies as well. They will insult us, and say all manner of evil about us. They will lie about us, they will hate us, persecute us, and try to kill us, because of Jesus. (see Matthew 5:11-13).

Finally, God loves the world, not because of who they are  but because they are of His creation and He loves what they can become as His children.

Still, we must know that there are 7 things God hates and that He hates about the world. According to Proverbs 6:16-19, there are six things the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to Him:

1. Haughty Eyes. A proud or arrogant look is considered hateful by God, symbolizing pride and arrogance.
2. A Lying Tongue. The intentional misuse of words to deceive or harm others is detestable to God.
3. Hands That Shed Innocent Blood. This refers to heartless cruelty, such as murder, and the protection of the innocent is a key aspect of God’s character.
4. A Heart That Devises Wicked Plans. The internal scheming and planning of evil deeds within one’s heart is seen as a deep-seated form of sin.
5. Feet That Are Quick to Rush Into Evil. This describes those who show no resistance to sin and quickly engage in evil actions.
6. A False Witness Who Pours Out Lies. A person who gives untrue testimony and spreads falsehoods is seen as a hateful act.
7. A Person Who Sows Discord Among Brethren. This refers to stirring up conflict, division, and disruption within the community.

Still, because God loves the world on purpose and with a purpose, “it is not His will that any should perish”, we love them also, and plead with them. Make no mistake, although all of us were made in His image, we, as Christians, are not of the same family as the world, which brings us to Lie #2.

Lie #2. Jesus’ words were spoken to and for the entire world.

On occassion Jesus would direct His Words at the watching world-at-large, but His teaching, His prophecies, His instructions and commands were spoken to and for His believers and His followers – not for the world-at-large.

His teachings and instructions were for the House of Israel and specifically for those who would believe in Him.

Read Matthew 13:10-11, “And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”

Also please Read Matthew 15:24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel”. (the words of Jesus).

In Jeremiah 50:6, God calls Israel “His people” and “lost sheep.” The Messiah, spoken of throughout the Old Testament, was seen as the one who would gather these “lost sheep” (Ezekiel 34:23-24; Micah 5:4-5). When Jesus presented Himself as a shepherd to Israel, He was claiming to be the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy (Mark 6:34, 14:27; John 10:11-16; see also Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4; and Revelation 7:17).

Jesus’ words to the Canaanite woman also show an awareness of Israel’s place in God’s plan of salvation. God revealed through Moses that the children of Israel were “a holy people to the Lord, a chosen race, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6, NKJV). It was through the Jews that God issued His Law, preserved His Word, and sent His Son. This is why, elsewhere, Jesus tells a Samaritan that “salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). In Matthew 15, when the Jewish Messiah says that He was sent to “the house of Israel,” He is simply connecting His presence with God’s purpose in Old Testament history. Christ was “born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law” (Galatians 4:4-5, NKJV).

God includes the Gentiles (non-Jews) in His redemptive plan. Romans 11:17 tells us that “you, being a wild olive (a Gentile who believes in Jesus), were grafted in among them (The Jews who believe in Jesus) and became partakers with them of the rich root of the olive tree.

The rich root represent the spiritual nourishment the patriarchs and the covenants God made with them, particularly the Abrahamic covenant. The nourishment signifies the spiritual blessings and promises that flow from these covenants, including salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. By being grafted in, Gentile believers partake in these blessings, becoming heirs to the promises of God (Galatians 3:29). This sharing in the nourishment underscores the continuity of God’s redemptive plan and the fulfillment of His promises through Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of the law and the prophets.

With this merciful act, God now says that “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not (just) of (Jewish) blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.” (see John 1:11-13).

This established the New Covenant House of God, the unified Body of Christ. Now it can truly be said that Jesus words were spoken for the world to hear but they were spoken specifically to and for The entire Household of God.

Please read these examples of God’s Words being spoken which may have been heard by the world-at-large, and on occassion specifically directed at the watching world, but His teaching, His prophecies, His instructions and commands were spoken to and for His believers and His followers – and not for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 5:13. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 5:14. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; Verse 15 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Verse 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 5:21. “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ Verse 22. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Verse 23. Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, verse 24, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Verse 25. Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Verse 26. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last quadrans. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 5:23 “Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 7:4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 18:15 “Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Luke 6:42 “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Luke 17:3 “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Romans 14:10 But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Romans 14:21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Revelation 1:9, I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Lie #3. We are to treat the entire world the same way we treat our Christian brothers and sisters, extending them the same privileges, honors and courtesies.

These few selected verses, of the many to be found, are representative that the Words of Jesus may have been heard by the listening world, but were spoken to and for the believers and followers of Jesus, alone, telling them how they are to treat one another. This is not spoken to nor is it meant for the world-at-large.

Spoken to and for the Christian: Matthew 18:15-20, “Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that ON THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER MAY BE CONFIRMED. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Truly I say to you, whatever you bind (or forbid) on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (or permit) on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Again, in Matthew 18:21-22, Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times”.

Jesus enlarges the concept of brotherhood to encompass all who submit to God’s will. “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). Here biological relations yield to covenant loyalty. After His resurrection He instructs the women, “Go, tell My brothers to go to Galilee” (Matthew 28:10), signifying that the risen Lord now counts disciples as brothers, sharing His Father and His family with them (John 20:17). (also see Bible Hub comments)

Please don’t misunderstand. I am not saying that we are to deny our re-birth as Christians nor to deny our Christlike character. We, as Christians, filled, embodied by and controlled by the Holy Spirit still demonstrate His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The world, then as now, was hostile to believers—not incidentally hostile, but purposefully hostile. Wolves are intentional about the harm they inflict upon sheep. In such an environment, the question becomes: “How can we advance the kingdom of God effectively without becoming predatory ourselves?” Jesus taught His followers that to be Christlike in a godless world, they must combine the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove. In using these similes, Jesus invokes the common proverbial view of serpents and doves. The serpent was “subtle” or “crafty” or “shrewd” in Genesis 3:1. The dove, on the other hand, was thought of as innocent and harmless—doves were listed among the “clean animals” and were used for sacrifices (Leviticus 14:22). To this very day, doves are used as symbols of peace, and snakes are thought of as “sneaky.” But Jesus is telling His disciples who hear (Him), not entangle to themselves with this world and its ways and thereby become distracted (pulled away) from your primary message and the path of safety.

You start by outwardly loving your enemies, and by do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat people the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)

So, if your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For in doing so you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (see Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 12:20).

NOTE: The two foregoing paragraphs and the verses referenced in Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 12:20 may seem philosophical, parabolic or like a metaphor, but they are not. They reveal the hidden power of how we “resist the devil so he will flee from us”!

We are not to involve ourselves in any kind of dispute or argument that would distract us from what God is doing through and around us. Suppose a persons says to you, “give me your cloak”, instead of being distracted and involving yourself in a time consuming debate, just give them your cloak and stay focused on God’s business. Then, seeing a perceived weakness they may say, give me your coat also. Just give it to them and wave them away, perhaps thinking to yourself, “Take it – be gone and stop distracting me. This cloak and coat mean so little to me in the scope of what God is saying to me right now. I have much more important matters to attend at the moment and this coat is not worth my time.”

The same goes for being mistreated, slapped in the cheek, or having to walk a mile for someone. Honestly, this is not about being weak and timid. It is not about shocking people with your compliance inn order to “look good”. You are not a doormat – you are a doorman. Holdig open the door to the Kingdom of God. This is what that looks like!

Just get it done and over with – dispatch the distracting. Rid yourself of these temporary obstacles and get back to what is truly important, or else the devil in them will keep you endlessly chasing their arguments, and demands, involving you in their emotional chaos. Finish it and save your energy and yourself for God’s service.

This is how our spiritual armor is put to action.

Paradox? Inconsistency? Enigma? Anomaly? Conundrum? None these things. This is the mystery of God pointing to an Oracle of God, a divinely delivered message, the truth, or a command from God, conveyed through the inspired Scriptures of the Bible. (The term “Oracle”, which stems from the Hebrew word “massa”, (“burden”), and the Greek word, logion, (“word”), refers to God’s authoritative guidance and revelation to humanity.)

So, how is this to conclude and what am I to take from this? What am I to do? Please, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Do not be confused. Do not be deceived.

1. Love the world as God loves the world – on purpose and with His singular purpose.
2. Love what God loves and hate what God hates.
3. Know that the world may have heard what Jesus spoke, but His words were spoken to and for those who would believe in Him and would follow Him. (Know the difference).
4. There is a difference between the world and the family of God, the chosen ones, the children of God. (Know the difference).
5. Be aware that we are already engaged in the End Times War. It originates in the Spiritual realm but is being fought in the natural realm.
   1. Know your enemy.
   2. Know your weapons.
   3. Know God’s strategy. (Know the differences).
6. We act toward and treat our Christian brothers and sisters differently than how we act toward the world. (Know the difference).

“The accuser of our brothers and sister, Satan, has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And the brothers and sisters in the faith overcame the devil because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT: AN OLIVE BRANCH IN ONE HAND – A SWORD IN THE OTHER.

 

 

Is your future and your fate predetermined, or do you have a say in the matter?

Predestination: Strong’s Concordance number 4309, proorizó, to establish boundaries or limits.

Predestination, (proorizó), speaks of God’s decisive appointment of events and people to their ordained end. The verb is consistently used of divine initiative that unfolds in time what was settled in eternity. Whether the subject is salvation, adoption, glorification, or the very death of Jesus Christ, the word frames history as the outworking of God’s purposeful counsel.

Through its six appearances, Strong’s number 4309 unveils a God who lovingly, wisely, and effectively determines the destiny of His Son, His people, and history itself. The church’s confidence, worship, mission, and hope all rest on this firm foundation: “The plan of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations”

 Romans 8:29 – For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters;

 Romans 8:30 – and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

 Ephesians 1:5 – He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

 Ephesians 1:11 – In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will,

 Matthew 22:14 – “For many are called, but few are chosen (elected).”

 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen (elected) you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

 2 Timothy 2:10 – For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen (elected), so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

 NOW, IN CONTEXT:

 Matthew 18:14 – “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.

Matthew 18:14 IN CONTEXT:

Matthew 18:12-13, What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost? “And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.

John 3:16, “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.

John 3:16 IN CONTEXT:

John 3:16-21, For God so loved the world, that He gave His ^(C3)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. The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. “And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.” For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. “But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.”

2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 IN CONTEXT:

2 Peter 3:9-14, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;

CONTEXT AND DEFINITIONS

John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.”

 “WILL DRAW”: Helkysō, Strong’s 1670: To drag, draw, pull, persuade, unsheathe.

The term “draw” indicates an irresistible attraction or pulling power, suggesting the universal scope of Jesus’ redemptive work. This aligns with the prophecy in Isaiah 49:6, where the Servant of the Lord is a light to the nations, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth. The use of “everyone” underscores the inclusivity of the Gospel, breaking cultural and ethnic barriers, as seen in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) and the vision of a diverse multitude in Revelation 7:9. Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are the means by which He draws all people, offering salvation to anyone who believes in Him.

“ALL” [men].
Strong’s 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

“MYSELF”.

Strong’s 1683: of myself.

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

 “For many are called”.

This phrase highlights the broad invitation of the Gospel. In the context of Matthew 22, Jesus is speaking about the parable of the wedding banquet, where many guests are invited. The “calling” refers to the general invitation to salvation extended to all humanity. This aligns with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) where Jesus instructs His disciples to make disciples of all nations. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of being God’s chosen people, yet Jesus expands this to include Gentiles, emphasizing the universal reach of God’s call.

“but few are chosen”.

This part of the verse underscores the distinction between being called and being chosen. While many hear the Gospel, only a few respond in faith and obedience, demonstrating the transformative work of God in their lives. This echoes the concept of the “remnant” found in the Old Testament, where only a faithful few remain true to God (Isaiah 10:22). Theologically, this can be connected to the doctrine of election, where God, in His sovereignty, chooses individuals for salvation (Ephesians 1:4-5). It also reflects the parable’s context, where many invited guests refuse to attend the wedding, symbolizing those who reject God’s invitation. This phrase challenges believers to examine their response to God’s call and to live in a manner worthy of being chosen.

CHOSEN (elected): Electos.

Strong’s 1588: From eklegomai; select; by implication, favorite. Picked out, chosen; chosen by God; to obtain salvation through Christ; Christians are called “chosen or elect” of God; the Messiah is called “elect”, as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable; choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians

What can make this a difficult concept to grasp is our preconceived notion or understanding of God’s Omniscience. God knows all things at all times. God calls all people to Himself and He knows which ones will respond in faith to His call – therefore, those who will one day respond to His calling and will submit themselves, by faith, to accept the call and become Christians, THEY ARE THE ELECT. THEY ARE THE PREDESTINED ONES.

God calls all people to Himself. God draws all people to Himself. Only the ELECT and the PREDESTINED (those who choose to receive and accept God’s call) will be saved.

Universal Call.
The phrase “all men” indicates the inclusive nature of the Gospel. Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient for all, and His call extends to every person, regardless of background.

Response to the Call.
While Jesus draws all men, individuals must respond to His call. This involves faith and repentance, turning towards Jesus as Savior and Lord.

IN CONCLUSION:

 If God has preordained or predestined all things for all people, then why pray? Why witness? Why evangelize?

 Early church fathers linked the term to God’s foreordained plan but retained room for human responsibility. Augustine insisted that predestination is rooted solely in God’s grace, a view strengthened by the Reformers, who saw in predestination (proorizó) the biblical foundation for unconditional election.

Post-Reformation debates, especially between Reformed and Arminian theologians, turned on whether predestination is conditioned on foreseen faith or unconditioned by any human factor. Yet both streams treated the verb as affirming God’s right to order salvation.

(Unconditional Election is a theological concept in Calvinism that teaches God chooses certain individuals for salvation based solely on His sovereign will, without any conditions or merits on the part of those chosen. This doctrine emphasizes that God’s decision to save is not influenced by any actions or faith of the individuals but is entirely an act of His grace. The Arminian view of predestination holds that God has decreed to save those who believe in Christ, with this election being based on God’s foreknowledge of their faith. Unlike Calvinism, which teaches unconditional election, Arminianism emphasizes that individuals have the free will to accept or reject God’s grace. ((American Baptist Churches, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Free Will Baptists, United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Free Methodist Church, Assemblies of God, Church of God (Cleveland, TN), Foursquare Church, Mennonite Church, Brethren in Christ, Evangelical Friends International, Church of the Nazarene, Wesleyan Church, Salvation Army)).

(From GotQuerstions.Org): There are several common misconceptions about unconditional election. First, it is important to understand that the doctrine does not teach that God’s choice is capricious or arbitrary. It is not random or made without reason. What it does teach is that God elects someone to salvation not because of something worthy God finds in that individual but because of His inscrutable, mysterious will. He makes the choice as to who will be saved for His own reasons, according to His own perfect will and for His own good pleasure (Ephesians 1:5). And while some object to the doctrine of election as being unfair, it is nevertheless based upon God’s will and it pleases God; therefore, it must be good and perfectly just.

Another misconception is that unconditional election precludes and stifles evangelism, but the reality is just the opposite—it empowers and confirms it. When one correctly understands that God has not only elected certain individuals to salvation but also has ordained the means of salvation—the preaching of the gospel (Romans 1:16; Romans 10:14-17)—it empowers the spreading of the gospel message and the call to evangelism. We see this very thing in Paul’s writing to Timothy in the midst of deep persecution. “I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ…” (2 Timothy 2:10). A proper understanding of the doctrine of election encourages evangelism and guarantees its success. It overcomes the fear of failure when sharing the gospel and empowers people to remain faithful to the message in times of great persecution. They know that the power lies in the gospel message and in God’s sovereign election and not in their own feeble presentation. A biblical understanding of election helps one share the gospel freely with all people, knowing that any one of them could be Christ’s sheep whom He is calling into His fold (John 10:16). It is not up to us to determine if someone is elect or non-elect, and there is always the promise of salvation for anyone who will repent and believe in Christ. The gospel message should be preached to all people in the knowledge that God will use it to draw His sheep to Himself.

Unconditional election also does not mean that there will be people in heaven who do not want to be there, nor will there be people in hell who wanted to be saved but could not be because they were not elect. Unconditional election properly recognizes that, apart from God’s supernatural work in the life of a sinner, men will always choose to reject God and rebel against Him (see the article on Total Depravity for more information on this subject). What unconditional election does correctly recognize is that God intervenes in the lives of the elect and works in their lives through the Holy Spirit so that they willingly respond in faith to Him. Because they are “his sheep…they hear his voice and follow him” (John 10:1-30). As for the non-elect, God is still gracious to them, but because of their sin they are not thankful for that grace, nor do they acknowledge Him as God (Romans 1:18-20). Consequently, they receive the just punishment due them. Those whom God elects are beneficiaries of His sovereign grace and mercy, and those whom He does not elect receive the justice they have earned. While the elect receive God’s perfect grace, the non-elect receive God’s perfect justice.

EITHER WAY

 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen verse 2, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Vesrse3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, verse 4, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, verse 5, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Verse 6. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, verse 7, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; verse 8, and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, verse 9, obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

Pastor Gary Hamrick, Cornerstone (Calvary) Chapel, Leesburg, Virginia, on Predestination.

 

 

The Parable of the Weeds

Matthew 13:24, “Jesus put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, Verse 25, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. Verse 26. So, when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. Verse 27. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ Verse 28. He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So, the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ Verse 29. But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Verse 30. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

This is a prophetic and instructional warning given by Jesus to His disciples (and all future disciples, i.e., Christians).  Jesus spoke these words in or around A.D. 29. Matthew recorded this event in or around A.D. 60. These dates are especially important when considering the timing of the tribulation periods as this is a reference to the coming Fifth Seal of the Tribulation. (Read to the end to see how Jesus explains this parable of the weeds.)

The Apostle Paul says this (of the coming Fifth Tribulation Seal):

2 Thessalonians 2:1 “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

(First, please note that this is a direct reference to the time just after the Fifth Tribulation seal and the instant of the Fifth Tribulation seal:

Matthew 24:29, “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 heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Verse 30. 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.

 Verse 31. 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.”)

Continuing with 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 2, “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. (“The Day of the Lord” is the Great Tribulation which is a 7 year period which begins with the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation seal).

 Verse 3. “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, verse 4, 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.”

Paul makes a direct mention that BEFRORE the Day of the Lord, the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation seal and during the Fifth tribulation seal, the Apostasy is completed.)

Outlined, verse by verse, makes this easier to understand; just read slowly and take it at face value.

1. With regard to the coming of our Lord and the gathering together to Him

2, Do not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

3. Let no one in any way deceive you

*4. For the day of our Lord and the gathering together to Him will not come unless the apostasy comes first

*5. For the day of our Lord and the gathering together to Him will not come unless the man of lawlessness is revealed

6. The man of lawlessness is the son of destruction, (verse 4) who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,

7. He takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

WHAT IS THE APOSTASY: In Christianity, Apostasy is the rejection of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christian.

The title of this article might suggest that misbehavior and apostasy is a recent malaise of the church.  Apostasy, from the Greek word, “apostasia”, means “a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith.”

The term apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia, meaning defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. It has been described as “a willful falling away from, or rebellion against, Christianity.

In the first-century world, apostasy was a technical term for political revolt or defection.   Actually, just like in the first century, spiritual apostasy threatens the Body of Christ today.

Revelation 6:9, tells us, that, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; Verse 10, and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Verse 11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”

Matthew 24:9, also tells us that one sign of the Fifth Tribulation Seal is being broken and reason for a ‘falling away from the faith’ is, “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Verse 10. And at that time many will fall away from the faith, and they will betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11, And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. Verse 12. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.”

Even now, before the great persecution of Christians has reached the Western world, Pew Research and Barna Research, both, are revealing what the corporate Church is unwilling to admit, that many are leaving the church and are not returning. But, the other half of this ‘equation’ is that many are LEAVING THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS – that is, they are falling away from the faith – but they are staying in the church .

This “falling away from the faith”, as told by Pew and Barna research, alone, may not signal what prophetic scriptures has foretold regarding the “Great Falling Away” (The Great Apostasy) but, considering everything that has already come to pass (the breaking of the first four Tribulation Seals) you can be confident this is what is prophesied.

Just prior to this falling away from the faith, Jesus warns, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people”, (Matthew 24:4-5). False teachers may not say the exact words, “I am Jesus”, but they will claim to represent Jesus and His Gospel, and will mislead many people. Institutional deception is our greatest threat.

I have personally experienced pulpit bullies, false teachers, apostates and heretics in our postmodern church.  Many of these men seem to have started right, but, over time, their ‘true selves’ emerged, and they are the ravenous wolves which scriptures warn about:

Matthew 7:15-23  says, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?  “So, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  “So then, you will know them by their fruits.”

      “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

This is being seen in the Church of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Please review this timeline progression of the Church falling into apostasy:

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

Although the penalty for becoming a Christian was often death. The Church grew exponentially.

AD 49. The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.

AD 313.  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.

AD 380.  The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.

AD 1607.  The Church reaches America.

AD 1681.  The Church became corporate. It had became 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.

AD 1777.  The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.

AD 1894.  The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.

AD 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.

AD 1968.  The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.

AD 1972.  The United church of christ ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2010.  The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2012.  The Presbyterian church 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.

AD 2021.  The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2021 is losing members and adherents. (George Barna research; Pew Research)

AD 2025.  Much of the current-day church is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of the Apostles.

JESUS EXPLAINS THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS OF THE FIELD

Matthew 13:36, “Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” Verse 37. He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. Verse 38. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, Verse 39, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Verse 40. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. Verse 41. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, Verse 42, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Verse 43. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

FAITHFUL AND WISE

Matthew 24:45, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant*, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

The Reward of the Faithful Servant

They were all called ‘servants’ but only the ones who did what the Master said are rewarded. The wicked disobedient will be cut to pieces and put with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 THEY ARE ALL CALLED VIRGINS

Matthew 25:1, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. ’And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’

But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The Punishment of the Wicked

But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

THEY ARE ALL CALLED SERVANTS

Matthew 25:14, “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So, take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Rewards of the Faithful and the Punishment Fearful Servants

They were all called ‘servants’ of the Master. But only the faithful are rewarded and the fearful are counted as worthless and are cast into the outer darkness.

THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS

Matthew 25:31, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Final Judgment

The faithful sheep on His right and the goats on His left. The sheep who showed compassion, mercy and servanthood are welcomed into the kingdom prepared for them since the foundation of the world.

The unfaithful goats on His left are told to depart from Him, and are called cursed, and sent into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels

WHO SHOULD HEAR THIS AND HEED HIS WORDS?

Pastors: Prepare those in your charge. Teach this to them. Remind them. Warn them. Encourage them. You are to watch over and to care for the flock of Jesus. It is not yours to judge or to remove them. Please remember that you are being held to a higher accountability.

Christians: Those whom Jesus calls the ‘good seed’ or the ‘wheat’. Jesus has said He speaks in parables because “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”

If we are to consider ourselves as followers of Jesus, that is as Christians, then let’s check ourselves to insure that our faith is not without works, otherwise that faith is dead. Let’s be found doing what Jesus teaches in the way and in the spirit He commands. Otherwise, we may be deluding ourselves and will be found out at the time of the judgment as being among the ‘tares and weeds’, counted amount the ‘foolish’ and of the ‘goats’ to be separated and ‘sent into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Previous: THE GREAT REBUKE – Why Are You Standing Looking Into The Sky?)

More on these matters:

DECEPTION WITHIN THE CHURCH

SHIPWRECKED – Enemies Within The Church

THE FALSE CHURCH EMERGES

PULPIT BULLIES

WHAT IS THIS STRANGE NEW GOSPEL?

 

THE GREAT REBUKE

“Why Are You Standing Looking Into The Sky?”

These words from Acts 1:1-10, and particularly verse 10, are usually overlooked or at least marginalized. But this is one of the most important instructions and warnings for the Christian, over the ages and up to this day.

Background:

Acts 1:1, Theophilus, in the first book and account that I (Luke) composed, was about all that Jesus began to do and teach, verse 2, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. Verse 3. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God.

Jesus’ Instructions:

Verse 4. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; verse 5, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Apostle’s Self-Centered Inattention:

Verse 6. So, when they, (the apostles), had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

Jesus’ Rebuke and Instructions:

Verse 7. But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; verse 8, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

The Apostle’s Focus:

Verse 9. And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight.

The Angel’s Rebuke:

Verse 10. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, verse 11, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

And so it is today. Ask just about any Christian what they think about Jesus’ return, and most will say something like, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!” (Apparently a rendition of Revelation 22:20, and usually uttered as a frustration with the condition of our world or the condition of the life of the person speaking and the desire to escape to a paradise or a heavenly utopia). Either way, their attention is focused on the skies and a ‘future hope’. (see Matthew 24:30, “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky”.) But our Hope has already come to seek and to save the lost. All of Jesus teachings and commandments to His followers, that is to His Church, have been about what we are to be and to be doing now! He never once said (or suggested) that we should stand idly by gazing into the heavens, just hoping for and waiting for His return.

Two Things We Are To Be Doing NOW:

(#1). Jesus final and greatest commission is found in Matthew 28:16-20, “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

And just in case you might think, “well, I am no Apostle. I can’t do such things”, then think again. You contribute to the cause; you assist in this Great Commission by utilizing the Spiritual Gift(s) that God has given you for this very purpose. “Some as Apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, pastor and teachers”. Whether through your gift of healing, giving, administration, faith, mercy, exhortation, helps, or discernment and the likes, you are called to go and do!

(#2). And when that day of His return does come, the very thing you do not want to be found doing is standing idly, staring skyward, for He will ask, “Why do you call me Lord when you do not do what I say? I do not know you”. (see Luke 6:46-49 and Matthew 7:21-23).

You see, the day is coming, and is very near, when “every eye will see Him” (see Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 24:30), and as Paul said, it will happen “in a twinkling of an eye” (see 1 Corinthians 15 :52).

“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 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”. (Matthew 24:29-31).

There will be no time to catch up on the things you have left undone, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But, be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will come… then, when the master of that slave comes on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, He will cut him in half and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth…He will answer saying, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you’…He will throw those worthless slaves into the outer darkness, and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”…Be on the alert because “then comes the judgment”. (see Matthew 24:32-51 through Matthew 25:1-46),

The time to prepare is now. The time to act is now.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

(Next:  Please continue here, for more detail on what it means to get ready for His return and what we are to be doing: A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH – In This Year, 2025).

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

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

What Is EPIGENETICS?

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

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

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

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

What can change the epigenome? Here are some examples:

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

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

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

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

Epigenetics: (video, 2 mins, 3 secs)

Karan Kakkad, (video, 57 seconds)

References (for credibility):

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

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

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

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

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

Galatians 5:19-21 tells us, “Now the deeds of the flesh [the sinful nature] are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.

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

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

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

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

HENCE – THE TYRANNY OF SIN

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

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

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

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

(FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT):

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

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

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

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

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

Ministry Implications

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

(FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT):

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

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

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

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

Alternatives:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Summary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:19-24).

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young.

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

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

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

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

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

For God so loved the world,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

WOW!

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

Signs of Christ’s Return

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

Verse 3. And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

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

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

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

The Glorious Return

Matthew 24:29 “And immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Parable of the Fig Tree

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

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

Be Ready for His Coming

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

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

Parable of Ten Virgins

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

Parable of the Talents

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Judgment

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

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

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

Matthew28:18, And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, what are you to be?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SO, DO YOU KNOW YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

​We are God’s church.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spiritual gifts test link to an external site​

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

​Your Friend and Brother

​Mike Young