Believe HIS Prophets*

 

 

King Jehoshaphat declared to Judah, "Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (2 Chron. 20:20). It is especially important now, in the times in which we are living and during this pandemic, to listen to the prophets. The prophet Amos wrote:

"Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?  Amos 3:6-8

How far we have come away from God's Word, and our understanding of the vital importance of His prophets and His prophecies! Sometimes we miss the prophetic because we don't recognize the package it is coming in. For example, there is much prophetic significance in the Books of the Apocrypha concerning the Messiah, but because of where they are found, we are not familiar with them, or discount them. In another example, secular songs have been written that have prophetic significance:

"And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning
in the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, 'The words of the prophets
are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whispered in the sounds of silence."

Sound of Silence, by Paul Simon

 

or from Bob Marley:

"One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Hear the children crying (One love)
Hear the children crying (One heart)
Sayin', "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Sayin', "Let's get together and feel all right."

 

Jesus compared the coming of the Son of man to the conditions and warning given during the days of Noah, giving that scriptural account prophetic significance for our time (Mt. 24:35-42). The response to Noah in that day was an example of how people often respond to the prophetic today - they ignore it or do not see its significance. The people of Noah's time ignored the prophetic warning until the flood carried them away. There will be those upon the coming of the Lord who will be carried away by calamity, as in the flood. However, in the midst of great and universal wickedness, Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Gen. 6:5-8). Jesus concluded by saying, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

The grace that Noah found in the eyes of the Lord was also a prophetic picture of the foundation upon which the new covenant would be established forever, in the grace found through Yeshua, Jesus.

The apostle Peter exhorted his readers to be mindful, to take heed, of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and also now by the apostles. The same (prophetic) words which spoke of the unrighteous in the world having been flooded with water, continues and has created a store of fire this time in the earth for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men- fervent heat that melts the elements and the works of man. God is only holding off from this fiery destruction in His patience to allow as much time and opportunity as possible for men's repentance. Knowing this prophetic warning is still active, this knowledge should mold how we believers continue in our character, expectations and outlooks: "...what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?" (2 Pet. 3). As Peter mentioned in his epistle, the apostle Paul wrote similarly of the Lord revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who don't know God, and refuse to obey the gospel of Christ. His presence and glory will punish with an everlasting destruction. Christ will be glorified in those who do believe His Word and promise. We are to be worthy of this calling of faith in Him who saves us, and "fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power." (2 Thess. 1:7-12). The apostles of today are likewise bringing forth the same prophetic warnings to the Body of Christ for this same purpose, that we would be shaped and conformed in this fullness (Eph. 4:11-13).

As prophesied, there are many false prophets and teachers who come to bring a contrary word, driven by covetousness, twisting the scriptures in order to make profit off of those who clamor to hear lies and false assurances (2 Pet. 2:1-3, 3:17). But the genuine word of prophecy which we have received, and are now receiving from the true apostles, prophets and teachers, is a sure word of prophecy, because it does not come from the will and interpretation of men, "but holy men of God (who) spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:19-21).

By these precious prophetic words originated in the Holy Spirit, we are conformed, not to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, minds washed in the truth of the Word of God, becoming blameless and without spot, growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:14-18).

 





*The above is based upon the 5/24/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:

  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

To send testimonies for the Book of Remembrance to be published in the memory of Sean Stevenson:
 

You can send your testimonies to:

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX  76705.

 



                                                                   Sean Stevenson





Coming Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost*

                          

 

The Feast of Shavuot is specifically timed by God to come 50 days, or seven weeks, from Passover. The name additional name, Pentecost, for this feast comes from the spacing of 50 days. It is for the offering of the first fruits of the wheat harvest:

"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD."  Lev. 23:15-17

Shavuot is one of the three mandatory feasts of the LORD commanding the presence of Israel:

^"Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, [which is] in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD."   Ex. 23:14-17
This feast of Shavuot or Pentecost is assigned by the LORD to a specific place, both in the Old and New Testaments, as we will see. Describing this feast, the LORD promised to send an angel to protect and lead the Israelites to the place "which I have prepared".  v. 20
Jesus also told His disciples that He was going to "prepare a place" for them.
In the case of Shavuot, the Israelites would be brought to Mt. Sinai, in the wilderness, where the LORD would appear before them to give them the Torah.
According to the Midrash, which contains the teachings of the Rabbis based upon their studies of scripture, there is a description of that first Shavuot, when the LORD appeared before all of Israel on the mountain. The Midrash speaks of flames of fire which came to each individual at Sinai: "On the occasion of the giving of the Torah, the Children of Israel not only heard the LORD’s Voice, but actually saw the sound waves as they emerged from the LORD’s mouth. They visualized them as a fiery substance. Each commandment that left the LORD’s mouth traveled around the entire camp and then came back to every Jew individually.... God’s voice (sounding as thunderings, plural), as it was uttered, split up into seventy voices, in seventy languages, so that all the nations should understand."
These writings from the Midrash show us that, as with all of the other feasts, Shavuot/Pentecost, also had a prophetic significance that was revealed and fulfilled in the New Testament. Knowing from the Midrash the story of the giving of the Torah at Shavuot, the New Testament event in the Upper Room on the Feast of Pentecost, would have had a great effect on the Jewish witnesses present. As the angel had led the Israelites to Mt. Sinai, the place prepared by the LORD, in the New Testament fulfillment, they were all in one accord in one place (Acts 2:1). As with the Rabbinical account of the giving of the Torah at Shavuot, they experienced the waves of sound as a mighty rushing wind in the Upper Room (v. 2). They knew of the words of fire resting on each individual at Mt. Sinai, and experienced the same in the Upper Room on Pentecost (v. 3). The account of God’s voice speaking to all mankind in every language of the world at Sinai, would be repeated in the Upper Room at Pentecost (v. 4-12). As God gave the Torah on that first Shavuot at Sinai, God was also giving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, in the Upper Room (Acts 2:4).
Jesus taught that everything that He said was the fulfillment of those things "which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Palms concerning me." (Lk. 24:44). He "then opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" (v. 45). He needed them to know that everything concerning Him, including His death and resurrection, had been written in the scriptures beforehand. Understanding this concept of His prophetic fulfillment of scripture, Jesus then told them that He was sending upon them the promise from His Father. They were to wait in Jerusalem, again a specific place,  "until ye be endued with power from on high."  (v. 49). Upon the receiving of that promised power, which is the Holy Spirit, they would go and preach repentance and remission of sins among the nations in His name  (v. 47).
When John the Baptist was prophesying of the Messiah, he said:
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."  Mt. 3:11-12
Not only did John connect Messiah to the Pentecost baptism in fire of the Holy Ghost, but he connected the Messiah to the wheat harvest, which is also part of the Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost. That wheat harvest speaks to the gathering in by God of His people.
Jesus also spoke by parable of the ingathering of the wheat harvest (Mt. 13:24-30). In this parable, He revealed that the worthless counterfeit wheat that had been sowed amongst the good wheat by an enemy would be separated out at the time of harvest (Shavuot/Pentecost), and then thrown into the fire.
As mentioned at the beginning, this mandatory gathering together for the feast of Shavuot/Pentecost is for the offering of the first fruits of the wheat harvest. The principal of first fruits is prophetically significant. Jesus is directly connected to it as being the "first fruits":
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept...For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."  1 Cor. 15:20-23
Because Christ fulfilled the principal of first fruits of the resurrection, now all who are in Him can follow Him in the same manner. The Jews looked to Messiah to reign and rule for their immediate benefit at His first coming, but God wanted Him to become the First Fruits of the resurrection for the eternal benefit of many. Upon His soon return, however, He will indeed rule and reign.
Pentecost/Shavuot is next week. Pray that you are prepared. Pray that the Shavuot blessings of the giving of the Torah and the power of the Holy Spirit create a much needed revival in our land, especially during this pandemic.

 

*The above is based upon the 5/17/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

To send testimonies for the Book of Remembrance to be published in the memory of Sean Stevenson:
 

You can send your testimonies to:

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX  76705.

 



                                                                   Sean Stevenson




 

 

Mothers and Life*

 

Mother's Day has always been a special day to this ministry. We have seen the birth of miracle babies from the anointing present on Mother's Day.

Mothers play a huge role in our lives. Many can testify that they were saved through the faithful prayers of their mothers and grandmothers. We cannot underestimate the influence in our lives of mothers.

There is a special connection, both spiritually and naturally, between mothers and life. After the fall of man, even before children were born, the woman was identified as having this special purpose:

"And Adam called his wife's name Eve (chavvah: life, living, life-giver; root: to be restored to life; revive (from sickness, discouragement, death); because she was the mother of all living."  Gen 3:20

As we can see from the meaning of Eve's name, not only is it associated with life-giving, but with revival, even resurrection. Only women can bring forth life. There are many instances in scripture of God miraculously bringing forth life through a woman, even when it would seem impossible (Gen. 18:9-15).

Most societies throughout history have been patriarchal, but a few, including Native Americans, have had a matriarchal society. These matriarchal societies understood the life-giving purpose of women, which also indicated to them a woman's special relationship with God. The special life-giving and life-changing relationship a mother has with her child is reflective of the life-giving relationship that the Father has with His children, and that which His Son, Jesus has with all living:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."  Jn. 1:1-5

"Life" described above as originating in Christ is the Greek word "zoe". It means "life, the absolute fullness of life...which belongs to God; life, real and genuine, active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed...those who put their trust in Christ, including the more perfect everlasting body attained after resurrection". This kind of life cannot be overtaken by darkness. Again, as with the Hebrew meaning of the name "Eve", the concept of life is associated with present life, revived spiritual life, and resurrection life. And both, therefore, must be directly associated with God and Christ. It is the LORD who "maketh alive", even from the grave (1 Sam. 2:6), and it is the woman who is called "the life giver".

Scripture makes clear the concept of the new life found in Christ, a resurrection life, "zoe" life, even while we are still living in the world.

"...Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?...so many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death...like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life...in the likeness of his resurrection."  Rom. 6:1-5

The kind of life, both through the woman, Eve, and through the work of Christ in us, which is revived, resurrection life, carries with it the quality of separation from sin. The kind of "zoe" life spoken of here is not compatible, nor co-existent, with sin, which is death (Rom. 6:21-23). This kind of life causes us to be freed from sin, becoming servants of righteousness, bearing fruit unto holiness and everlasting life (v. 18, 22).

Considering this connection that exists between the life-giving, life-reviving, life-changing purpose in a mother's identity, and the original life-giving, life-reviving, and life-changing power in God and Christ, mothers have a special responsibility in prayer, especially in these times in which we are living. Pray for this nation to humble itself, repent, and turn back to God (2 Chron. 7:14). Pray for the men. Pray for the children. Let an army of life-givers, mothers, be raised up to fulfill this purpose.

 

*The above is based upon the 5/10/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

To send testimonies for the Book of Remembrance to be published in the memory of Sean Stevenson:
 

You can send your testimonies to:

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX  76705.

 





God and the Economy*

 

The pandemic and the resulting disruption of the economies of our nation and the other nations of the world is the situation in which we currently find ourselves.  However, the economy is more than what people consider it to be. The real economy is not a system of this world. God has much to say about His intentions for this worldly system and its attitude towards wealth, and what our thoughts should be towards it.

There is a strong warning in the Word towards those who boast, hoard and abuse with their wealth:

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire: ye have heaped treasure together for the last days."   James 5:1-3

The apostle James, who was the half-brother of Jesus, wrote above that the wealth of those who have hoarded riches for protection in these last days will be the testimony against them, and that wealth will prove to be no protection anyway. James went on to write that the same hoarders of wealth defraud and oppress those who labor for them. The Lord of the Sabbath, who is Christ, shall heal the cries of those who have been defrauded of their earned wages. In the recent past, we have seen lending institutions practice fraud in home mortgages, leading to the collapse of the housing market. We have seen in this pandemic, those who are lower on the economic scale have been placed in more danger than others. Large, wealthy corporations have defrauded the government of the funds that have been recently allocated to help small businesses and their employees through this difficult period. To the Godly, James urged patience until the day that the Lord comes, which day is near (v. 7-8).
The apostle Paul also warned the rich not to depend upon their riches, but with their trust being in God, rather to distribute those riches towards the good works that build a foundation for the difficult times ahead, and even into eternal life (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
The trusting in wealth, even the multitude of riches, cannot redeem oneself or any one else with God, because redemption is more precious than wealth, and is not corruptible or fleeting as material wealth is (Ps. 49:6-9). As we know, redemption was only bought by the blood of the Son of God. In fact, the man who is destroyed is the man who does not make God his strength, but trusts in those gathered riches (Ps. 52:5-7). The man-made economy, whether strong or weak, will not save anyone from the things that are happening now, or those that are to come. Even with money, it is difficult to buy things like toilet paper, as people have hoarded in fear. Food is disappearing from grocery shelves, even for those with money to pay, because it is destroyed by farmers who cannot get distributers to pick it up. God is asking us: Do we trust in the economy of man, manipulating it to get the greatest wealth from it, or do we trust in Him? It is God who is our salvation, our glory, the rock of our strength, and our refuge. Even when money abounds, we are still to trust in Him rather than riches (Ps. 62:7-10).
Comparing the economics of the righteous and the wicked the LORD said:
"A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied."  (Ps. 37:16-19)
Who are the righteous referred to above? Those who trust, delight and rest in the LORD (v. 1-7). From his own life experience, King David assured us:
"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (v. 25)
The trust we place in the LORD, rather than in wealth or in any worldly system, not only yields supernatural benefits to us, but continues to yield them to our children, and to their children. This is the investment worth seeking that cannot be found on Wall Street. The economy is not about men, corporations or stocks, but about Godly people, who will seek His face, repent, pray, and trust in Him rather than wealth.

*The above is based upon the 5/3/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

To send testimonies for the Book of Remembrance to be published in the memory of Sean Stevenson:
 

You can send your testimonies to:

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX  76705.

 



Sean Stevenson