I'm asking the youth of today to be rebellious, boldly opposed to the works of the devil, who is the real enemy, and not rebellious toward parents and those in authority.

This is an empowerment message -- fighting back against evil things. We fight by harnessing our natural rebellious attitudes and rebel against those things that are trying to steal, kill and destroy our lives. Rebelling against evil is the wise thing to do, so that we can have a life free from bondage! Jesus said, "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life" (John 10:10, NLT). 

Suicide Prevention Line: Text or phone 988.

Warning Signs For Violence

It's impossible to predict which young people will turn violent, but certain behaviors have been identified as risk factors. Parents should consider it a warning sign if a child:

• Displays cruelty to animals.
• Prefers reading materials and entertainment that express violent themes. Reflects anger, frustration, and the dark side of life in school essays or in artwork.
• Has a history of uncontrollable, angry outbursts.
• Has threatened suicide.
• Has a sudden change in appearance or in behavior, such as sleeping excessively or becoming cut off from longtime friends.
• These signs define many of our youth today, but don't get paranoid; most young people who dress differently and go through a loner phase will never resort to violence. The key is to communicate with children and get help.
• Don't ignore the signs. If children are allowed to get away with cursing parents or teachers without a response, they will move to more violent acts. Parents and teachers should adopt a "zero-tolerance" approach, humble themselves, pray, and ask for help from clergymen and professionals.

Have you heard the saying, "You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free?" Freedom simply means to be set free from the bonds that hold us captive. We mostly think of physical captivity, but our views concerning life can be very binding. What views hold you captive today?

For instance, is it habits like illegal drugs and illicit sex that hold us captive, or is it lying thoughts that say these practices bring pleasure? In reality, these vices lead to much pain. In our shallowness, we try to change things externally, not realizing it is an internal imagination of the heart that holds us in bondage. We believe an untruth to deceive and mislead.

Let's face it! Many of us are living defeated lives for various reasons. Often we look outwardly to blame our defeat on people, places, things or circumstances, but instead, let's look inwardly, asking ourselves a few questions that might spark some insight.

Who Is the Enemy?

It is pretty common knowledge that we have three enemies who try to defeat us: the world, the flesh and the devil. This world system has been in our face since we came forth from our mother's womb. This evil world looms before us and tells us that God is far away, in the distance. We grab the closest treats to satisfy our persistent cravings. And we blame everyone else, instead of taking responsibility ourselves. Could it be that we are our own worst enemy?

The first time I took illegal drugs was in the summer of '67 in Texas. My fraternity brothers, many of whom drank, spoke negatively against marijuana, but I had met an airline stewardess at work, who turned me on to marijuana. She helped me get some from a member of the rock group, "The Five Americans." I knew of this group, who played at a club named "LouAnn's" in Dallas, where I took my dates. Back then, matches made from wood came in small boxes. These boxes would be filled with marijuana and sold for $15 each. I learned fast that marijuana was also called "pot, weed or grass". We bought a box, but it turned out to be stems and seeds. She told me I got burned, but I didn't know the difference. I was disappointed, because it didn't get me high like the other stuff.

One of my favorite songs in the '60s was "Love Is All You Need" by the Beatles. Children were singing this song around the world. I don't know if the Beatles understood the enormous truth behind their message, since they were singing about a "feeling".

At the same time, our generation was singing with the Righteous Brothers, "You've lost that loving feeling, now she's gone, gone, gone", which reflects a sensual, romantic love between male and female from the Greek word Eros. This erotic kind of love was freely flowing among the flower children.

Our purpose is to share the answer to the drug problem. The answer was shared with 300,000 people as Bob Dylan performed for Pope Paul. The pontiff told the crowd that, "...the answer to life is blowing in the wind...the wind that is the breath and life of the Holy Spirit, the voice that calls and says 'Come!'" He that has an ear, let him hear!

At last you can know the truth. The truth about the BIG FOUR KILLERS of this day and age. The truth concerning the way to escape the ultimate death that comes to all who don't wake up to the BIG RIP-­OFF!

Are you being RIPPED-­OFF? Ask yourself this most important question! Today you can know the TRUTH and be SET FREE from the BIG RIP-­OFF that wants to steal, kill, and destroy your soul. Find out how to escape being ripped­off by reading on, and by taking heed.

Jesus Christ has not always been the preeminent One in my life. My childhood was full of toys, dogs, cowboy shows, snap pistols, Scouts, building go-carts and vacation Bible school – even faithful appearances at the local Methodist church with my family.

To me, church was full of do’s and don’ts. I felt those do’s and don’ts hindered me from the fun and games of life. Besides, as far as I was concerned, I was on my way to heaven because I went to church every Sunday. I didn’t connect Christ’s death and resurrection with my salvation.

At the age of twelve, I allowed Jesus to become “a part” of my life. I thought that giving God some of my life (and being sprinkled in baptism) would be sufficient to join the ranks of Christianity. Boy was I wrong! A definite relationship with the Spirit of the Living God was missing. As a result, the power of God never filled the void in my heart.

And now I show you the most excellent way
1 Corinthians 12:31b

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another" (Rom. 13:8). Prepare your heart for praying for your family. Let God search your heart toward them with this love check-up. Love deficit hinders effective prayer, because you are not free to have the mind of Christ who loved all people enough to die for them. Faith without love is not effectual, because faith works through love (1 Cor. 13;2; Gal. 5:6).

We purpose giving a series of studies on the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, which, in the writer’s judgment, is, from the standpoint of prophecy, the most important chapter of all the New Testament. There is much in God’s prophetic program which must necessarily remain dark until the parables of this chapter are thoroughly mastered. At present they are much misunderstood and misinterpreted. It will be found that in Matthew 13:10,11 the Lord Jesus has designated these seven parables “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”

Click here for e-book (PDF).

It is astonishing how many true believers, who are clear on most of the Bible, remain adamantly opposed to what the Bible declares so plainly about Israel being restored fully to her land in the last days. It could rightly be said that one's attitude toward Israel (which is by far the major subject of the Bible, taking up at least 70% of its pages) defines whether or not one is truly a Biblical Christian. Almost every event in the Bible happened either to or in Israel.

The most important aspect of the Feasts of Israel is that Jesus Christ fulfills them all during the early and latter rain.

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:7,8, NKJV).