What's Wrong With This Picture?*

The title of this message is based on a children's game in which the child would have to identify what was wrong with a picture. We also have a picture presented of the Church today based upon some statistics. Although 90% of Americans say that they believe in God, their affiliation with any kind of church has dropped to an all-time low of 50%. We can also see that in the last generations, our society has changed in its viewpoint towards God and His Word. In 1961, prayer was removed from schools. In 1973, abortion was legalized. In 2015, same-sex marriage became the law of the land, although only 5.6% of the population identify themselves as LGBT. These are the facts and statistics of a troubling trend in America. Now the Church must find out "What is wrong with this picture?". The Word of the LORD to the prophet Isaiah gave us answers to this question. What is wrong with the picture is found in how far God's people have turned away from Him, and His Word. In His Word to Isaiah, the LORD describes His people as a vineyard (Isa. 5:1-7): "...My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes...What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?" The LORD promises that He will remove His protection from this vineyard that did not bring forth the acceptable fruit, and lay it to waste. He said the the vineyard represented Israel, and the vines, Judah: "...and he looked for judgment (justice, rectitude), but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry (from the oppressed)." The LORD specially established and provided everything for His vineyard, His people, but they did not produce a Godly fruit. They produced oppression and covetousness against others for profit. They drank and celebrated, "...but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands." Because of this, their houses and land will become desolate, and they will go into captivity, "...because they have no knowledge" (v. 8-13, see also Hosea 4:6). The captivity that will come upon what was once the most choice and cared for vineyard of God will include hell, which will enlarge itself in order to swallow up the proud and mighty..."...and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled." (v. 14-15). Instead of repentance and humility, the people of God began to scoff Him, taunting Him to draw near so they could see His work, and know His counsel (v. 19). Then the woes would begin - the consequences of their actions. The woes would fall unto those who would "...call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter...unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!...Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him." (v. 20-23). They would experience a fire from the LORD that would destroy their fruit: "...because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people..." (v. 24-25). It is the people of God who have turned away from Him and His Word, and caused this devastation to fall. We must admit that we see this same kind of godlessness in our own land, and among God's own people. Unless we examine what is wrong with this picture of the Church, we will, and are even now, experiencing the same judgment from God. Isaiah also revealed the voice of the LORD from heaven asking: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?". Isaiah answered, "Here am I; send me." (Isa. 6:8). Are there any today who are willing to go for the Lord? The message the LORD sent Isaiah to deliver was serious: "Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not....make their ears heavy and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." (v. 9-10). Isaiah asked the LORD how long this condition would be upon the people, and the LORD answered that it would be until the land became desolate, and the cities wasted and without inhabitant (v. 11). America, do you think you can keep sinning, and the LORD do nothing? Jesus commanded us to be salt and light in the earth (Mt. 5:13-18). If the light in us is hidden, or we, as salt, have lost our savor, then we are of no use in the kingdom. Jesus also assured us that He didn't come to do away with the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. If the Church is removing or disregarding anything from scripture because they consider it inconvenient, or offensive to themselves or others, they are breaking the commandment of God. It is also not enough to speak the Word of God and claim holiness, but we must live and walk in the Word. Jesus concluded by saying, "Be ye therefore perfect (complete, whole), even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Mt. 5:48). Both Paul and Peter warned that we would see in the last days the conditions that we are seeing today. Listen to how Paul described the men of the last days: lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers...despisers of those that are good...lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Paul said, "...from such, turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). He warned that evil men and seducers would get worse, using deception and being deceived themselves (v. 13), but Paul advised Timothy to continue in the things of God that he had learned. All scripture, Paul said, is given, not by men, but by inspiration of God, so that the man of God may be perfect, furnished unto all good works (v. 14-17). Peter also told the Church to stay steadfast to, and mindful of, the words of the prophets and the apostles, because in the last days, there would be scoffers who would mock the prophetic promise of the judgment of God (2 Peter 3:1-4). The timing concerning the epochs is set, and the judgment by fire is already stored up in the earth against ungodly men (v. 7-8). The witness of the scriptures, and also the witness of the Word and the resurrection provided by the Shroud of Turin (see Isa. 52:13-15, 53:1, 1 Cor. 13:12, 2 Cor. 3:18, Gal. 3:1, also "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling"), testify and give evidence to the Church and to the world of the only saving power and name, JESUS. If you don't know Christ as Lord of your life, you need to search the scriptures. If you DO know Him, you need to "check the picture" of your church, and your life. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/26/21 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com.T You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

The Birth of the Savior?*

What are we truly celebrating at this time of year? Is it really about Christ's birth to us? The world has co-opted the Christmas season, and is using it for buying and selling, to promote business. Christmas carols are used in commercials to sell underwear! What have we allowed Christmas to become to us? The promise of Christmas began long before Christ's birth. In Gen. 3, Adam and Eve found themselves in a fallen condition in which they are afraid to show themselves before God when He comes to walk in the garden with them in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8-10). Adam and Eve knew that their condition had changed after they had listened to the serpent and had eaten of the tree of which God had told them not to eat. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. God cursed the serpent saying, "...Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly thou shalt go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (v. 14-15). Although God said the woman's seed would bruise the head of the serpent, we know that women don't have seed; men have seed. So there is a miracle birth being prophesied by God here with the promise of a victorious confrontation between the woman's Seed and the serpent's seed. In Matthew 1, we see the recording of the generations that followed after Adam and Eve, and led to the coming birth of Christ in the earth. We are also given the account of the virgin girl named Mary who before being joined with her husband, Joseph, "was found to be with child of the Holy Ghost" (v. 18). Joseph, finding himself in this position, felt it was the kindest thing he could do to put Mary quietly aside to keep her from religious judgment and public exposure. However, Joseph dreamed and an angel appeared to him in the dream to reveal the nature of the child to be born: "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (20-21). The name, Jesus, is Greek. The Hebrew form of the name is Yeshua, meaning "salvation". This Gospel account in Matthew also points out that this birth fulfilled another prophecy in scripture of a virgin bringing to birth a son who shall be named Emmanuel, God with us. (v. 23, see also Isa. 7:14). After Joseph's dream, the scriptures describe Joseph as "being raised from sleep..." (v. 24). The Greek root words used in this phrase can include the meaning "arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life, to raise up". We can see from this that the revelation of the birth of the Savior, fulfilling the prophetic promises of God from the beginning of man (and before!), changed Joseph's condition. Adam's condition was changed by his willful disobedience to God, but now Joseph's life was changed by the revelation of the Christ child to be born. Joseph obediently and willingly followed the rest of the instructions that he was given (v. 24-25), and death was changed to resurrection life in him. Yet the world would use the birth of this holy and prophesied Child to sell underwear. We ignore the commandments of God concerning His ordained feasts, which each prophesy of Christ, but we have adopted the customs and traditions of men concerning Christmas. We accept the date given, December 25, which tends to coincide with the old winter solstice observances, for our celebration. The Eastern Church recognizes January 6 as the date of Christ's birth. The gift giving with which we celebrate Christmas was part of the pagan Saturnalia feast. Christmas trees were part of a European tradition that did not begin until the 19th century. We enjoy following these traditions, but have we Christians lost the true meaning of the day and the season? In these evil and dangerous times in which we live, can we afford to lose the true meaning of Christ's birth? Moses warned the people not to add or take away from any of the commandments he had given to them from God, and that the keeping of them was our wisdom. The people of God were to teach them to their son's and son's sons, to all of our children and future generations (Deut. 4:1-9). In Ezekiel 22, God spoke of judgment coming to His people for iniquity that is very similar to what we are seeing now. The LORD began to prophesy to Ezekiel regarding every level of Israelite society that had become totally corrupted: "Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation." (v. 24). Of the prophets in the land, the LORD said to Ezekiel that they were like a roaring lion ravening prey; they devoured souls. The prophets prophesied things that the LORD had not given them to say. They did so for riches. The LORD told Ezekiel that the priests had violated the law and profaned His holy things. They had not shown the difference between the holy and the profane, the clean and the unclean, and had failed to lead the people in the LORD's sabbaths (v. 26). The political powers, the princes of the land, only looked at the people to take whatever they could, to get dishonest gain. The LORD said they were ravening wolves (v. 27). The people of the land followed in the same corrupt way. They oppressed each other, and those weaker and poorer than they (v. 29). Sadder still, the population had become filled with iniquity and corruption, the LORD revealed: "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." (v. 30). The violence, corruption and oppression ran so deeply through the population that there wasn't even one person who was worthy or willing to come before the LORD on behalf of his nation. We see so much of this today in our land. The LORD told Ezekiel: "Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the LORD God." (v. 31). Today we are seeing great turmoil upon our land in the form of a pandemic, floods, fires, tornadoes, violence. We need to understand the importance of the true meaning of the birth of the Savior more than ever. We need Yeshua: Salvation, and Emmanuel: God With Us. Paul wrote to the Church at Rome about those who despise the goodness of God that leads to repentance, and of the hard and impenitent heart that treasures up the wrath and righteous judgment of God: "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew firsr, and also of the Gentile." ((Rom. 2:4-11). For those who seek the righteousness of God: "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life...glory, honour, and peace to every man who worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. For there is no respect of persons with God." (v. 7, 10-11). God is not partial in judgment, but looks upon the circumcision of the heart, and in the spirit (v. 28-29). What is in our hearts regarding the birth of the Savior? What message are we bringing to others? Ezekiel brought the word of warning to the watchmen of the city that if they see the danger coming to the land, and warn the people, but the people do not heed the warning, the watchman will not be held accountable for what befalls the people. However, if the watchman sees the danger, and fails to warn the people, the blood of those who perish will be on his hands. (Ezek. 33:1-6). The LORD makes a plea to His people through Ezekiel: "Say unto them, As I live, saith the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezek. 33:10-11). The question is, "Why will you die, O Church?" If you are going to celebrte Christmas, then understand what the Lord is calling us to do and be. What we are doing now is celebrating Mammon at Christmas, rather than Christ. Let us examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/19/21 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Lights as People, And People as Lights*

Last week we talked about a festival of dedicated lights, Hanukkaah, with us as the light of the world. In putting up Christmas lights, we can remember in the past that when one light on the string went out, the whole string would go out. Today, if the fuse or circuit breaker flips off, the whole string of lights fails to work. What is the effect that one life can have on others? If one of us is not shining, it affects all the other lights. Like the Christmas lights, if we are not connected to the Source that gives the light, than we cannot shine. In the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart, which is always shown at Christmas time, an angel gives the lead character a gift: the gift of seeing how others' lives would be affected if he was not here. Jesus told us that we were the lights of the world to be placed high on a candlestick, not hidden, so our light would give light to all in the house. The good works that we do as those lights is seen by other men, and God is glorified as a result (Mt. 5:14-16). We are to be lights, and that light is seen by others. Jesus told us what affected our light: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (meaning "good fulfilling its office, sound. Root meaning: s a particle of union), thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?" (Mt. 6:22-23). We see the spiritual darkness of the times in whih we are living. We have to be diligent in maintaining the purity of our "eye", our spiritual sight and understanding, if we are to be people as lights. In our analogy of the string of Christmas lights, we see that there is the importance of unity - one light with the others, and all lights unified with their source. The apostle Paul wrote of the spiritual unity of believers in the Body of Christ - unity with each other, and unity with our Head, Christ: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace...there is one body...one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all..." (Eph. 4:1-5). The Body of Christ has a problem in their lack of unity with each other. This affects how our lights shine. The Lord sent apostles, prophets, evangelists, prophets and teachers to perfect and equip the saints for the work of the ministry (as the light of the world, and the bringing of the Gospel to others): "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ...no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine...But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Eph. 4:11-16). As all parts of the Body are needed to function together, people as lights also function together in unity, and impact each other by doing so. Most central of all is the need to be connected to, and grow into, our Source of light, Jesus, the Light of the World. Jesus told His disciples: "Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches: He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me, ye can do nothing...Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear mush fruit; so shall ye be my disciples...If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's command, and abide in his love." (Jn. 15:1-10, excerpt). Jesus told them that this was so His joy might remain in us, and our joy, in turn, may be full. For those who do not abide in the vine, Jesus, those "branches" would bear no fruit, wither, and be cast forth and burned. The commandments of Jesus that we are called to abide in, the Word of God, keeps us connected to Him. Paul wrote that it is the Spirit of God who works in us to be like an epistle "known and read of all men". (2 Cor. 3:2-3). The Word of God is no longer on tablets of stone, but written on the tables of our hearts. Our sufficiency to be lights that impact others is not of ourselves, "but our sufficiency is of God". (v. 3-5). It is God "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (v. 6). Paul wrote of the greater glory (meaning includes "splendor, brightness") that is unlike the previous glory of Moses that came from the letter written and engraved in stones. That former glory passed away, but the ministration of the spirit is a glory that excels and remains (v. 7-11). It is also interesting that v. 18 from this chapter mentions an image, specifically a mirror image: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." A mirror image that we gaze upon changes us. Paul also mentions this mirror image in 1 Cor. 13:12. In Gal. 3:1, Paul referred to "evidence" (meaning in the Greek to depict or portray openly. root meaning: engrave) of the crucifixion of Christ that the Galatians had seen with their own eyes. I believe that these are references in scripture to the Shroud of Turin, which is a mirror or reversed image. Many who have gazed at it have had their lives changed. Our lives should also impact others. As we abide in Christ, and as we are joined together in the unity of the Body of Christ, the Spirit and faith, we also are the lights that are the light of the world. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/12/21 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

A Festival of Dedicated Lights*

Although Hanukkah, which means "Dedication", is not one of the original feasts ordained by God, Jesus observed Hanukkah, which is also called the Feast of Dedication, or the Festival of Lights. It was at the Feast of Dedication, that Jesus told as clearly as possible when asked by His questioners: "If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." (Jn. 10:22-24). Earlier, Jesus had told His listeners, "I am the good shepherd." (Jn. 10:10-18). Though the devil meant nothing but evil and destruction towards men, as the Good Shepherd, Jesus came to give His life to protect the sheep. Jesus came "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (v. 10). Jesus also said: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (v. 16). At the Feast of Dedication, Jesus continued this revelation: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. I and my Father are one." (v. 27-30). He identified Himself to the questioners by the works of His Father, which He did in His Father's name. His questioners did not believe Him, Jesus told them, because they were not of His sheep. This was His message at the Feast of Dedication: those who hear and follow their Good Shepherd, and are saved from the destruction of the devil. Although the works are before their eyes as a testimony, there are those today also who do not believe the miracles of Christ, the works He did and continues to do in His Father's name. Why did Jesus bring this message at the Feast of Dedication? There are those who believe, but do they understand the importance of being "dedicated"? We are living tabernacles or temples of God by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A tabernacle is not just a physical building. It is a dedicated and consecrated place, both physically and in our case, spiritually, for the presence and worship of God. Numbers 7 describes the dedication of the Tabernacle of the congregation: "And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar, and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them." (v. 1). The twelve leaders of every tribe brought offerings of silver, gold, oxen, bullocks, rams, lambs, and goats to be given to the Levites. For twelve days, the offerings of each leader or prince were made on a certain day for the dedication of the altar of the tabernacle. (v. 10-11, 84-88). When this was done, the LORD gave Moses the pattern for the construction and lighting of the lamps of the gold candlestick (Num. 8:1-4). Aaron did this as the LORD had shown Moses. Then Moses was commanded by the LORD: "Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them...Sprinkle water of purifying upon them...and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean." (Num. 8:6-7). The Levites were the tribe of priests from among the children of Israel, to serve in the tabernacle. We also have been called to be priests, as we will read later. We are cleansed by the washing of the Word of God. The Book of 1 Maccabees of the Apocrypha tells the events surrounding the cleansing and re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, which had been defiled by the pagan enemy. When they saw the condition of the temple, they fell down on their faces and repented before God. Judas Maccabee had the defiled altar torn down and re-built with new stones, and the temple furnishings brought in: "They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense and the table. And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple." Judas and the whole congregation then ordained eight days of dedication to begin from the 25th of Casleu from year to year. Priests of "blameless conversation", who loved the Word, were chosen to restore the temple sacrifices and praises (see 1 Maccabees 4:36-59). In the dedication of Solomon's temple, the fire and glory of the LORD filled the temple so that the priests could not stand to pray. The whole congregation worshiped and praised: "For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." (2 Chron. 7:1-3). Solomon offered thousands of animals in sacrifice to dedicate the house of the God. They kept the dedication of the altar for seven days, and assembled together on the eighth day. (v. 4-9). The LORD then appeared to Solomon by night, assuring the king that He had heard Solomon's prayer, and He had "chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice." (v. 12). This dedicated place would be a place where the LORD would hear, and the curses would be broken (see also Rev. 22:3). With this in mind, the LORD promised: "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house...". (v. 13-15). We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. As we cleanse and dedicate this living temple to Him, our hearts and souls, He fills this living temple with His fire and glory. We are called to be priests and kings in the Kingdom of God, and must dedicate and sanctify ourselves accordingly. The call is to be a holy nation. God wants all of His people to be holy. Moses first saw this priesthood as God called His people to keep His covenant: "...then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.' These are the words which thou shalt speak to the children of Israel." (Ex. 19:5-6). Peter confirmed the same truth regarding the believers in Christ: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ...But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Pet. 2:1-10, excerpt). Jesus spoke of us being salt and light in the world as He preached about the blessing of those who are "pure in heart", the peacemakers and the persecuted: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid...(but put) on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:8-12, 14-16). Dedicated light in us is like the light that illuminates the holy city of heaven: "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the LORD God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev. 22:1-5, excerpt). Let this season cause us to be dedicated lights. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/5/21 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Running From Nineveh*

We all celebrated Thanksgiving this week. Giving thanks to the Lord is vital to our walk with Him. In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, he wrote about the sudden coming of the Lord: "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." (1 Thess. 5:1-2). Paul wrote about the sudden destruction that would come upon those in darkness, who wrongfully believe that peace and safety has been achieved. He points out our difference from them in that we are not of the darkness, but are children of light (v. 3-5), "Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." (v. 6). Paul reminded believers that "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 9). He continued to give instructions to the church in preparation for these end times. These instructions included: warn the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient, do not render evil but do good, rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (v. 14-18). We give thanks in all things and not for all things. Even in the turmoil of these times, we need to keep giving God thanks. David, whose life was threatened many times by his enemies, wrote and sang songs of thanksgiving to God. He knew that thanks and praise lifted up to the LORD, saved him from those enemies: "And he said, The LORD is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock, in him will I trust; he is...my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies....In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears...He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters...Therefore, I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore." (2 Sam. 22). David said that the mercy of the Lord was not only to David but to his seed eternally - not just his physical seed, but his spiritual seed. We are the seed of Abraham, and David, by the Spirit. As Paul wrote, being a Jew is not defined by an outward circumcision, but inwardly, a circumcision of the heart. In another Psalm it is written: "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." (Psalm 100). One of the sources of our thanksgiving according to the Psalm is that God made us. We have a Creator. We did not make ourselves, and we thankfully belong to Him. It is a lie of this age that we came into being by happenstance with no connection to a Creator. This is just one reason that the spirit of thanksgiving seems to be absent among man today. A lack of thanksgiving and praise can be a problem among God's people as well. The mission of Jonah to Nineveh shows how running from the presence of God causes a man to begin a journey of "going down" or descent, while prayer, thanks and praise causes God to lift a man up and out. The LORD instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh (a city founded in idolatry) to deliver the Word of the LORD: "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me." (Jon. 1:2). Jonah, instead, flees from the presence of the LORD and "went down" to Joppa to find a ship to take him to Tarshish. At Tarshish, Jonah "went down" into the ship to "go from the presence of the LORD". The LORD sent a great wind and a mighty tempest against the ship, and the crew grew afraid. The crew discovered that Jonah's disobedience had brought this storm upon them, and Jonah suggested that they cast him into the sea to save themselves. After trying every other remedy, the crew did finally cast Jonah over the side, and made sacrifices and vows before the LORD. The LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the fish for three days and nights (Jon. 1:17). This is also the sign that Jesus prophesied regarding His own death and resurrection, "the sign of Jonah". From this place within the fish's belly, Jonah prayed to the LORD: "I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice." (Jon. 2:2). Jonah described his circumstances within death and hell. "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God...But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." (Jon. 2:6-9). The LORD then spoke to the fish and it vomited Jonah out onto dry land. Jonah entered Nineveh and began to preach to them what the LORD had sent him to preach. The fact that he had been cast out of the mouth of the great fish, and looked it, probably caused Nineveh to listen to the Word that Jonah brought more attentively than if he had come to them in the normal way! Upon hearing the Word of the LORD from Jonah, all the citizens of Nineveh repented with fasting. The king ordered all to turn from their evil ways, and the violence that was in their hands. The king hoped that the LORD would turn from the judgment He had planned for Nineveh. (Jon. 3:8-9). The LORD did accept their repentance. Jonah became very angry that the LORD removed His judgment from Nineveh. He was so angry, that he wished to die. The church is full of anger also, getting involved in arguments and even sometimes violence. Jonah, who had received the mercy of the LORD, was angry when the LORD showed the same mercy to Nineveh. Jonah, who saw the deliverance even from death, in the power of prayer and praise to God, and the offering of the sacrifice of thanksgiving, soon forgot those very things. The LORD asked Jonah: "And should I not spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" (Jon. 4:11). With this question, the Book of Jonah ends, but the same question to us remains. The LORD has given the church the Word of the LORD to deliver to our Nineveh today. Will we flee from Nineveh as Jonah did? I pray that we, God's people, would repent, and seek His face continually, and that God would indeed hear from heaven, forgive, and heal our land. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/28/21 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

WWJD*

We have seen the letters "WWJD" before. They mean "What Would Jesus Do?" With our nation rushing towards judgment, and Christians entering into divisive arguments, even sometimes condoning violence so long as it gets the results desired, the question, "What would Jesus do?" becomes more important now than ever before. How does Jesus impact the world? How does He view those who believe in Him, and what does He expect their responses to the world to be? First, it is by Jesus that all things were created: "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 any thing 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). John told us here the same thing that is revealed in the Hebrew language of Genesis 1:1, translated into English as "In the beginning, God...". However, in Hebrew, it is written "Bareshiet Elohim (Aleph-Tav)". Aleph-Tav is also how Jesus identified Himself in Revelation 1:8 as "...Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End...". John wrote above that in Jesus was zoe life, supernatural life, abundant life, the God-kind of life. This life is light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overpower it. John the Baptist witnessed that Jesus was the true Light that came into the world, and He lights every man who comes into the world (Jn. 1:8-9). Jesus is the Word of God who became flesh for us to receive (Jn. 1:14). Many of His own did not receive Jesus, but to those who did, He gave them power to become sons of God (Jn. 1:11-12). Those who did, and do receive Jesus are then born not by the will of men, but by the will of God (v. 13). Jesus was not just a teacher, or a good man, but He is with God, He is God, and He cannot be separated from God. Those who receive Him as such become spiritually reborn, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to speak with Jesus only at night so he wouldn't be seen by others (Jn. 1:1-2). Nicodemus is one of those who identified Jesus as a teacher, a rabbi, whom, Nicodemus concedes, must be with God because of the miracles Jesus performed. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must understand more than that. Nicodemus must be born again, or he won't see the kingdom of God (v. 3). Jesus makes no doubt that there is a difference between those of the flesh, and those of the Spirit of God: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (Jn. 3:5-7). Those who have received Jesus are born again of the Spirit of God. There is to be a difference between those born of the flesh, and those born of the Spirit, between those who are sons of men, and those who are given the power by Jesus to become sons of God. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save it, and whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16-17). However, there are those who condemn themselves. They are the ones who love darkness instead of the Light sent into the world, because their deeds are evil. Jesus said: "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (v. 20). Today in this country, we see this as lawlessness abounds everywhere we look. Those who do truth, however, Jesus said, come to the light giving evidence that their deeds are done in God (v. 21). Jesus again differentiates between those in the world and those who are part of the kingdom of God in the Beatitudes. Here He teaches how those of the Spirit of God interact with the world in a life changing way. Jesus said that those who are pure in heart will see God. Those who are peacemakers, rather than dividers, are the children of God. However, we continually see those who fight one another, claiming to be believers, each claiming the righteousness of their own positions. Jesus continued in the Gospel of Matthew to call us salt and light in the earth, not hiding who we are, and what we believe, but letting our light shine, and our salt cleanse and purify (v. 13-16). Part of this is to love your enemies, to bless those who curse you, and pray for them that persecute you or abuse you (v. 43-47). Jesus concluded: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (v. 48). We are not supposed to be like the world, but like our Father. As we also see today, there are so many divisions by race and ethnicity in the world, and, unfortunately, also in the church. What would Jesus have us to do? Should we be fanning the flames of racial division? The early church faced the problem head on. The apostles and believers in Jerusalem, who were Jewish believers, were shocked to hear that Gentiles were being preached the Gospel, and they questioned Peter as to why he was doing this. Peter told them of his experiences - he received a vision from heaven that told him that the "unclean" were now "clean". He had preached in a Gentile's home, and before he could even finish preaching the Gospel, the Holy Spirit fell and filled all in the house. God was showing no partiality, and was allowing no exclusion, regarding who was to receive the Gospel, salvation, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The leaders of the church in Jerusalem had to admit: "...God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:1-18). All who have prepared their hearts to receive, may receive. Not only was the church to include Gentiles, but those of different races also (Acts 13:1). Simeon, called Niger, or Black, was one of the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch. He was one of those leaders who laid hands on Saul (Paul) and Barnabas and released them into ministry (v. 2-4). It was of this church at Antioch, full of believers of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, that believers were first called "Christians", or "Christ-like ones". The Book of Revelation identifies those who were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb are "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth." (Rev. 5:9-10). They were clothed in white robes, having come out of great tribulation. They made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9-14). It is not assured that believers will not experience tribulation. Jesus instructed us to pray in order to be accounted worthy to escape those things which are coming on the earth. It is time for the church to stand up for what is righteous. It is time to be what Jesus calls us to be. He has not called us to be like the world, but like our Father in heaven. The disturbing things we see occurring in the world, in our nation, can be laid directly at the church's feet. God's Word said, "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14). What would Jesus do? Jesus is not looking for the world to change, but for us to change, and be those who are born of the Spirit of God. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/21/21 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

The Heart of the Matter*

The Word of God is like a spiritual heart monitor. It reveals to us what is in our hearts, even the hidden things. Our hearts are at the center of our relationship with God, and dictate the words that we speak: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (Ps. 19:14), and "My heart is inditing (Hebrew meaning - keep moving, gush) a good matter (dabar - word, commandment, utterance): I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer." (Ps. 45:1). In the Book of Acts, a man named Simon of Samaria, a former sorcerer, believed the Gospel, and was baptized with water in the faith. He witnessed many miracles at the hands of the apostle Philip. Peter and John came to Samaria from Jerusalem when they heard about the new believers. Simon then saw those apostles laying hands upon the new believers, and those believers then received the Holy Spirit. "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part not lot in this matter: for thy heart (Greek - Kardia) is not right in the sight of God." (Acts 8:18-21). Peter told Simon to repent of this wickedness, and Simon asked them to pray for him, that none of the consequences of which Peter spoke would come upon him (v. 23-24). As God looks into the hearts of men, it also has an effect upon Him. In Genesis 6, when God examined the hearts of men before He brought the judgment of the flood, scripture says: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (leb - heart soul, mind, thinking, conscience, appetites, emotions, inner man) was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved (asab - hurt, pain, torture) him at his heart." (Gen. 6:5-6). The LORD was tortured by what He saw in the hearts of men. Christ was tortured also because of the evil of men's hearts. The prophet Jeremiah wrote that blessed are those who trust in the LORD. They would prosper and be kept, and remain fruitful even through trying circumstances (Jer. 17:7-8). He went on to say though: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins (kilya - kidneys, interior self), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (v. 9-10). Proverbs tells us to receive the words of the LORD, and apply our hearts to understanding them (Prov. 2:1-2). Proverbs 3 says that if our hearts will keep the Word and commandments, if we will write the Word upon the tablet of our heart, it will impact our lives with long life, peace, mercy, truth, favor, good understanding. If we will trust in the LORD with all our hearts, rather than leaning on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways, He shall direct our paths, and give health and marrow to the bones (v. 1-8). From this kind of heart, filled with His Word, we trust in Him, and we gain the wisdom and understanding to "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." (v. 9-10). Riches and honor, and paths of peace follow a heart filled with the wisdom and understanding of the LORD. Even more so, it is "a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her...". (v. 16-18). In contrast, Jesus told a parable and based a teaching upon those who give up the riches of the heart, which is the treasure found in the kingdom of God, for the riches of the world, and the cares that go with them. In Luke 12, the parable tells about a rich man who invests his time and attention into building newer and bigger barns to store his earthly wealth. Little does he know that he will not live through the night, and his soul will be required of him. The Lord called this rich man a fool. "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God." (Lk. 12:v.15-21). Jesus then taught that the example of God's love and provision for each of us can be found in obvious examples from nature around us. He famously asked, "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (v. 27-28). Instead of a heart full of worrying and grasping for fear of lack, Jesus said, "...seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you...Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourself bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (v. 31-34). This is the test of the heart: where is your treasure placed? Is it in the kingdom of God? If God tells you to give it, then give it. You cannot outgive God. There were those whom Jesus called hypocrites. They were the religious people of His day who used the traditions of men to ignore the commandments of God. They withheld financial support from their parents with the excuse that their money was already pledged to God. This was known as Corban. Their hearts were not right. Jesus said that this confirmed the prophet Isaiah who wrote, "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Mark 7:6-12). Jesus said that with this heart attitude, they made the word of God of none effect by following traditions instead. Jesus continued to teach that a man is not defiled by what is outside of him and enters into him, but he is defiled by what comes from inside him, from out of his heart (v. 18-20): "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile a man." (v. 21-23). It is "the heart of the matter" that determines a man's life. Jesus included in His Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the pure (katharos - clean, purified by fire, free from every admixture of what is false) in heart: for they shall see God." (Mt. 5:8). As Jesus was questioned by a religious lawyer trying to test Him, He was asked which was the greatest commandment of the law. Jesus answered that it was the commandment dealing with the consecration of the heart: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:34-40). The Word of God identifies the heart of the matter, and measures the content of our hearts. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/14/21 message to the church. To contact us with a prayer request, praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

America! It's Not Too Late!*

Whatever we have done personally, or as a nation, it's not too late. After he was removed from office for refusing to take down the Ten Commandments from his court, Judge Roy Moore wrote a poem titled, "America, the Beautiful". It is a poem about how far America had drifted from its noble beginnings. It is too long to write out here, but the ending of his poem is: "...How are we to face our God, from Whom we cannot hide? What then is left for us to do, but stem this evil tide? If we who are His children, will humbly turn and pray; Seek His holy face and mend our evil way: Then God will hear from Heaven and forgive us of our sins, He'll heal our sickly land and those who live within. But, America the Beautiful, if you don't - then you will see, A sad but Holy God withdraw His hand from Thee." The prophet Jeremiah also saw his nation rejecting the prophetic warning of the LORD, and rushing into the consequences that awaited them. He laments for his country and himself in the Book of Lamentations. He wrote as a man who found himself in a spiritual place seemingly without hope: "He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. He hath hedged me about that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer...He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate...And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD..." (Lam. 3:6-8, 11, 18). He was a prophet who was not hearing from the LORD, and believed that the LORD was no longer hearing him. Then from within his own soul, a reminder came: "My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD." (v. 20-26). We, the watchmen for our nation, need to recognize that God is our mercy. The prophet Jonah, whose name means "Dove", fled from the command of God that he go to the wicked nation of Nineveh, and bring them a warning that God's judgment was about to fall upon them. Because of Jonah's disobedience, the ship on which he fled was overtaken by a terrible tempest that threatened to destroy the ship (Jonah 1:4). Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish that had been prepared by the LORD. Jonah described his sinking and the swallowing by the great fish as death: "Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight..." (Jonah 2:1-5). Yet from within Jonah, the hope of deliverance was brought to his mind: "...yet I will look again toward thy holy temple...yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." (v.4-9). As Jonah humbled himself, and remembered Who the LORD was: "... the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon dry land." (v. 10). There is a heaven to gain, a hell to shun, and, like Jonah, we have a calling to fulfill. In the story of Ruth, Ruth ("friendship") and her mother-in-law, Naomi ("Pleasant"), who had been living in Moab, had lost everything. The nation of Moab had its beginning many years in the past from an incestuous relationship. Naomi's husband had died, and two sons, whose names meant "sick" and "wasting away", had died. One of her sons had been married to Ruth, the Moabite. Naomi's heart had turned bitter from the grief at these losses. When she decided to return to her homeland and her town of Bethlehem ("House of Bread"), her daughter-in-law Ruth, did not want to be separated from Naomi. Ruth vowed to stay with Naomi saying, "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go...thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God..." (Ruth 1:16). When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town came out to see them, and asked if this was Naomi. Naomi told them not to call her Naomi ("Pleasant") any longer, but "Bitter", "for the LORD Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me...the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me." (v. 20-21). However, the LORD of mercy had not turned His back on Naomi, but had brought her back to Bethlehem, "the House of Bread", to redeem and restore her. As Naomi saw how her kinsman Boaz had taken an interest in Ruth, hope began to grow in Naomi's heart. Boaz redeemed her husband's inheritance, and married her daughter-in-law, Ruth. A child was born to them named Obed, who would become the future King David's grandfather. Naomi got to hold and nurse the new child, as another son. Naomi, like Job, spoke wrong words in her desperation and grief, but God's mercy was still there for her. Despite our beginnings or circumstances, each person has a purpose, and an opportunity for the mercy of God. After he became king, David was moved to ask if there were any living family members of the house of Saul, the previous king who had died at the hand of the LORD for his disobedience (2 Sam. 9:1-4). King Saul had also spent many years chasing and trying to kill David. Yet, the mercy of the LORD was prompting David to seek out the descendants of Saul, not in order to kill them, as would have been the custom of the day, but to bless them, and show mercy upon them. Saul's son, Jonathan, David's very dear friend, did have a son who was lame from an injury suffered while fleeing as a child after his father and grandfather died. He was now living his life in poverty. Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth (meaning "exterminating the idol"), is brought to, and humbles himself before David, and David restores all of Saul's lands to him, as well as servants to work that land, and brings Mephibosheth to his own king's table, a place of honor and provision (v. 5-13). Neither physical issues nor family history can keep you from the promise and mercy of God. The prophet Ezekiel was given the Word of the LORD concerning the appointment of the watchman. He said that if the watchman warns, and if the people in iniquity heed the warning, and turn from evil as a result, they deliver their soul. If the watchman warns of the coming "sword" as he is supposed to do, and the people do not heed the warning, the watchman is innocent of blood on his hands, and the blood of the guilty will be upon their own heads. However, if the watchman sees the destruction approaching, and fails to sound the warning, the blood of those who were not given a chance to repent will be on his hands (see Ezekiel chapters 3, 22, 33). The LORD says to the watchman: "So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me." (Ezek. 33:7). The provision of mercy is available to those in iniquity, if they are warned, and if they heed the warning and repent. God's rebuke was especially upon prophets, and the priests who failed to teach the people the difference between the holy and the profane as revealed in God's Word, and for the princes, the powerful, who preyed upon the people for their own gain (Ezek. 22:23-29). We see this same circumstance in America every day. Regarding this situation, God made a sad pronouncement: "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore I have poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way I have recompensed upon their heads, saith the LORD God." (v. 30-31). As an apostle, I am telling you that YOU are the appointed watchmen of whom God's Word commands to bring warning to the people when we see the forces of destruction and judgment entering the land. Are we standing in the gap for America? It is not too late. Have we become indifferent to our purpose regarding this nation? In the Book of Revelation, Jesus sternly corrects the church in Laodicea. He said that their works reflected that they were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. He said, "So then because thou art lukewarm, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:14-16). However, it is not too late for the lukewarm church either. Jesus urged them to buy gold tried in the fire, rather than the worldly wealth of which they were so proud and felt so secure, and to acquire the white raiment of righteousness. They were to anoint their eyes with salve so they might "see". He reminded this lukewarm church that He rebukes and chastens those whom He loves. If this church would receive His correction, and change their ways, Jesus promised this great mercy, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (v. 17-22). Church, it is not too late! America, it is not too late! *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/7/21 message to the church. If you would like to contact us for prayer, a praise report, or to support this ministry write to P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and at endtimeschool.com.

Whose Fool Are You?*

The title of this message is based on the humorous expression: "Yes, I'm a fool for Jesus...whose fool are you?!" The Church shouldnt be about introducing someone to salvation through Jesus Christ, and then leaving the person on their own afterwards. The Church is about discipleship, and coming into the full stature of Christ. Discipleship is a process in our walk with Christ. While it has a beginning moment, it is also ongoing, and incorporates a way of life. Discipleship affects how we interact with the world, and our fellow believers, as well as our interaction with our Savior and our walk in the will of God. Paul in Romans 12 gives us a good look into our discipleship: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, tht ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ...I say... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (v. 1-3). So much of the Church is caught up in worldly things, thinking only of self, when there are many suffering around the world who need the ministry that we have to offer through Christ. Romans continues in Chapter 12 to describe the relationship of believers to each other. Although there is one body of Christ, there are many members within it, "...every one members one of another." (v. 5). We are members of the body, but also members of each other. The gifts given to each member through grace including prophecy, ministering, teaching, exhorting and more, are done faithfully and selflessly: "Let love be without dissimulation (meaning hypocrisy, insincerity). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." (v. 9-10). We have often seen lately Christians involved in political and even racial strife. Are we seeing faith or foolishness? We see Christian babes without understanding or maturing. This is not what the Word of God expects of discipleship in Christ. How should disciples treat those who persecute or accuse them? "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not...If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men...Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (v. 14, 18, 21). Peter said the same things concerning Christian conduct: "...be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing...Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts..." (1 Peter 3:8-15, excerpt). Peter wrote that in maintaining this good conscience and manner of living, those who do falsely accuse us are put to shame (v. 16). What is our life saying to those who are watching us? With who and what are we closely associating ourselves? Paul wrote: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?...And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Cor. 6:14-17). God has called us not just to be His servants, but His sons and daughters (v. 18). Because of this, Paul urged: "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1). The Book of Proverbs is filled with the call to be children of wisdom, rather than followers of fools and foolishness. T Proverbs says that the lifestyle of wisdom avoids evil and evil doers, and the fools who will not receive wisdom or correction (see Prov. 13:20), while receiving instead instruction, wisdom, understanding, justice, judgment and equity (Proverbs 1:1-15). This life of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding starts with the fear of the LORD, the attention to the Word of God, and instruction from our parents. Today we see children disrespecting their parents, and parents not instructing their children in godly wisdom. James also wrote regarding our unwise connection to things that are not godly: ",,,know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4). The church has definitely made friends with the world and the ways of the world. James concludes that the fighting and lusting, and inappropriate desires expressed even in our prayer requests made to God, are a direct result of being connected to the world and the things of the world (v. 1-3). As God deals with strongholds in the end times, those who have connected themselves with these strongholds will suffer in their fall, which is promised. Scripture gives the city/spiritual stronghold of Babylon as an example of this in Revelation Chapter 18. Bebylon has allowed itself to become the habitation of devils, demons and every foul spirit. All nations have participated with it, and have "drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (v. 3). We already see this same ind of corruption touching every one of our institutions today. To this Babylon, the Lord pronounces: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen..." (v. 2). A voice from heaven warns God's people, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." (v. 4-5). The prophet Isaiah also wrote the same warning from the LORD: "The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD." (Isa. 52:10-11). Seek the God-kind of life. Who you companion with is who you are going to be like. Lot and his family lived in the wicked city of Sodom. Although he and his family were removed almost forcibly from Sodom by the angels of the LORD just before that city's destruction, they had already been corrupted by the ways of Sodom. His wife was destroyed soon after by her disobedience, and his daughters sought an immoral and ungodly remedy to their childless circumstance. We cannot touch, associate, join with, compromise with, or make friends with ungodliness without affecting our lives, and our walk with God. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/31/21 message to the church. To contact, give a praise report, submit a prayer request, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and at endtimeschool.com.

Watchman, What of the Night that Cometh?*

In these times, the end times before the return of Jesus Christ, the spiritual watchman plays an important role. Isaiah was prophesying about the judgments against the nations when the Word of the LORD regarding watchmen came forth: "The burden of Duma. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? While Duma in this case refers to the nation of Esau, called Idumea, there is a spiritual application of this prophecy as well that goes beyond this specific nation. From the Apocrypha, 2 Esdras 6:7-9, Ezra wrote that during birth, when Jacob grabbed the heel of his twin Esau, a parting of the times occurred. Esau represented the end of the first world and time, while Jacob represented the coming of the second new world and time. Esau represented those things that were to pass away, the things of the flesh. The question here that was put to the watchman in these verses from Isaiah above was about the night that is coming. Jesus said: "I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn. 9:4-5). Jesus is no longer in the world, but He called us, who are still in the world, to be the light of the world. However, there is a night coming when no man can work. The prophet Ezekiel warned in another place that the watchman has a grave responsibility when he sees the sword coming. The watchman must blow the trumpet, sounding the alarm. If a man does not heed the alarm, then the watchman is not responsible for the blood of the man who ignored the warning. If the watchman fails to sound the alarm when he sees the sword coming upon the land, the blood of those whom he should have warned will be upon his hands (Ezek. 33:3-6). Jesus has called us to be watchmen. As He was telling His disciples of the events that would take place at the end of the age before His return, Jesus said: "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Mt. 24:33-36). Jesus also said that as happened in the days of Noah, the people thought that life would seemingly go on without change right up until the shocking moment when Noah was shut into the ark, and the earth was flooded, and those lives were lost. Jesus warned that as happened then, men will not expect that moment of terror to occur, even when they see signs of its approach. When He returns, Jesus said, at a moment men do not expect, some will be taken and some will be left. So Jesus told His disciples: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." (v. 37-42). The word "watch" used by Jesus is written as the Greek word gregoreo meaning "arouse, refrain from sleep, be vigilant, watch, keep awake". Do not fall into the deception that everything will continue as it is now. This will not get you into the kingdom. Before His arrest and death, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane (meaning "oil press") to pray. "And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mt. 26:36-41). Jesus had prophesied to His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem where He would be put to death. He told His disciples this night in the garden there in Jerusalem that He felt a very heavy burden in His heart, even to death. Yet they could not keep awake to pray for even an hour. The flesh is in charge when we are not watching. Is your spirit born again? Is it watching? As Jesus told His disciples about the end time signs in Luke 21, He said: "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lk. 21:34-36). Stay awake, be ready, be vigilant, not caught up in the cares of life, or even in some churches' agendas of success and prosperity. God does want His people to be well and prosper, but it is as our souls prosper, according to scripture. It is not about how many are in your church. This is how the world measures, not God. The apostle Paul called the elders of the church at Ephesus to gather to him. He knew that in his upcoming travels, he would be arrested and put in chains. This prophetic word had been given to him previously, and he also knew it directly from the Lord. He wanted to pass instructions to these elders, because he knew it was the last time he would meet with them in person. Paul said regarding what lay ahead of him: "But none of these things move me, neither I count my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify of the gospel of the grace of God...Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." (Acts 20:17-31). Paul spoke to these elders as a spiritual watchman, having faithfully warned them, and continuing to give a last warning here about spiritual wolves, and even those among the elders themselves who would try to draw disciples away to themselves speaking perverse things. He told them that because he has been a faithful watchman "I am pure from the blood of all men". These elders were to become the watchmen now. As watchmen, Paul commends them to God, "and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (v. 32). The apostle Peter also instructed the church: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:6-8). The devil is depicted here as a roaring lion. Only old, toothless lions roar while hunting. The young lions silently stalk their prey. Nevertheless, the instruction to us here is to "be vigilant", or continually watchful. We are to resist the devil in the faith (v. 9). God's desire is that we be made perfect, established, strengthened and settled through Him by Jesus Christ (v. 10). Spiritually, our citizenship is of the Kingdom of God, not of this world, so be transformed by the Word of God. Do not be conformed to this world, as we are seeing so many so-called Christians doing, instead of being the warning watchmen that God's Word requires us to be: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity." (1 Cor. 16:13-14). Do not conform to the divisive violence and hatred of the world, but do all with charity - warning others as faithful watchmen that the night is coming. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/24/21 message to the church. To contact, offer a praise report, submit a prayer request, or support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Foundations, Traditions and Doctrine*

More and more we are seeing examples of ideas and doctrines within the church that are not based upon the Word of God. They are instead doctrines of men, rather than God. There are consequences that occur when God's people begin to turn from His Word, and prefer the words of men: "Hear the word of the LORD ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, no mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out and blood toucheth blood." (Hosea 4:1-2). The LORD said through His prophet that as the knowledge of God was removed from the inhabitants of the land, sins and violence began to spread, as we see here in America. The LORD further warned: "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hebrew da-at - knowledge, wisdom, insight, understanding), because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (v. 6). Rejected knowledge of God leads to corruption, creating future generations that are separated from God. Psalm 11, a psalm of David, tells us to place our trust in the LORD. It also carries the warning: "If the foundations (Hebrew satah - basis of political or moral support; defenders of morality fall from moral righteousness) be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (v. 3). The foundations of the Word of God, the foundations of our faith, are being destroyed. As an example of this, this Psalm warns that fire and brimstone will be poured out upon the wicked, but fewer and fewer believe that there is such a penalty for wickedness, or that Hell exists. Often, the church doesn't want to hear knowledge. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth that he had to continue feeding them milk, like babies, because they couldn't bear the meat of the Word. He told them this was because they were still so carnal, rather than spiritual (1 Cor. 3:1-2). If we are to be mature believers, we need the meat of the Word of God to grow. Paul described himself as a "masterbuilder" who has laid the foundation, that foundation being Jesus Christ: "For other foundation (Greek themelios - first principles of institution of truth) can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Paul warned others to be careful how they built upon that sure foundation (see v. 10-11). The elemental principles of the foundation of our faith established in Jesus Christ, which basic principles the church should know and teach, are described in the Book of Hebrews: repentance from dead works and of faith towards God (we are not saved by works, as some churches believe, but through faith), doctrine of baptisms (There is more than one baptism, however, many churches reject the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for example), laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment (There is a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun). These are foundational beliefs for the Christian, but the Christian is also expected to continue growing from these: "...let us go on unto perfection." (Heb. 6:1-2). Here is also a serious warning in these verses: for those who have believed this foundation, experienced this gift and the Word of God, and partaken of the Holy Spirit, and have seen the powers of the world to come, yet fall away from the truth, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance because they crucify Christ again for themselves, and put Him to shame openly (v. 4-6). It is not a small thing for the church, or an individual, to fall away from the necessary foundation of truth in Christ. Again, Paul tells us in the Book of Ephesians that the foundation of our faith is established by the apostles and prophets, with the chief cornerstone of that foundation being Jesus Christ. There is a living holy temple of God being built upon this foundation, and this habitation of God is built together by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22). Yet many in the church teach that there are no longer apostles and prophets, and many deny the active working of the Holy Spirit in this continuing work of God. Ephesians also tells us that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers have been given to teach the church until all are brought into the unity of the faith, and the full measure of Jesus Christ (see Eph. 4:11-16). Since this outcome has obviously not yet been achieved, apostles, prophets, and the other gifts must still be needed and are present in the church. Paul tells Timothy to teach the church that they are to be "...laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which has been committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith..." (1 Tim. 6:19-21). It is that good foundation, not false science or men's doctrines, that will keep us against the time to come, that will keep us unto eternal life. As people accused Jesus and His disciples of not obeying the Jewish traditions that had been in practice for centuries, Jesus warned them that these traditions of men could not save them, cleanse them from sin, or offer them excuses to ignore the Word of God: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (see Mt. 15:1-20). They made their traditionals as important, or more so, than the scriptures. This took them away from the truth that they needed to know in order to be saved. Jesus told them that men were not defiled by what they touched or ate, but by what was in their hearts: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man..." (v. 19-20). We see stories of so-called believers speaking hatred, anger and even threats against those with whom they disagree. They believe they are righteous in their violent militancy, but this is not the foundation of Jesus Christ. These are the doctrines of men and devils. Paul wrote again in Timothy: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron...Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (1 Tim. 4:1-2). To the church, Paul wrote: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein in thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ...Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (Colossians 2:6-10, 20-22, excerpt). Often we have seen that religious legalism stems not from the Word of God, but from the teachings of men. However, these teachings are wrongly treated with equal importance to the Word of God. The church has been impacted by all of the things that we have seen warned of here in the scriptures. In many cases, they have rejected the truth and the knowledge of God, as Hosea warned, and embraced instead the doctrines of men, demons, false science, philosophies, all of this world. We are not to be conformed to this world, however, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, by the washing of the water of the Word of God. I pray that eyes and ears will be opened to the truth that the LORD has provided to us. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/17/21 message to the church. To contact, submit a prayer request or a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times*

It is troubling to see people, even professing believers, rising up and responding to issues with violence. The Word of God offers the ancient wisdom that applies to these times of increasing anger and violence: "In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For lo, the wicked bend their bow...that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold...the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." (Psalm 11). The foundations of righteousness, the Word of God, the Commandments, were removed from public view in this nation beginning in the 1960's. However, the LORD's throne is still established in heaven. The LORD still sees the acts of both righteous and unrighteous men, and there is still an expected outcome for both. Dominion Theology, stating that the believers will rise up and take control, is error. In Psalm 73, the writer admits that he had become envious of the wicked. He wrote that it seemed to him that the wicked do whatever they wish, and nothing happens to them. In fact, they seem to prosper and live well (v. 1-12). The writer even said that it seemed a vain thing to spend his life cleansing his heart and hands, if the wicked prosper so. However he concludes: "If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children." (v. 15). We know that living a righteous life is not in vain, and we would be teaching our children an untruth to say such a thing. Our children not only are taught by our words, but by following our example, our actions, whether those actions are righteous or wicked. The psalmist wrote, however, that he saw the truth when he went into the sanctuary of God. He then understood the end of the wicked: "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors." (v. 17-19). It is in God's sanctuary, within our intimate relationship with Him, that we see, not how the world rewards the wicked, but the unavoidable conclusion of their wickedness in the hands of God. The psalmist recognized his foolish thoughts, and makes a renewed commitment to God: "Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory...My flesh and heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." (v. 23-26). The psalmist understood that those who distance themselves from God will perish, while it is good for one to draw near to God, place their trust in Him, and declare all God's works. Are we declaring what our flesh feels, rather than the Word and works of God? Regarding the same thing, David wrote in Psalm 37: "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass...Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." (v. 1-3). "Delight thyself in the LORD...Commit thy way unto the LORD...Rest in the LORD...Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil... For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be...But the meek (humble) shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." The book of wisdom, Proverbs, described this wicked generation in Chapter 30 as one that curses their father, and does not bless their mother (v. 11). How we have seen this today! In the Old Testament, behavior that we see every day by children against parents, would result in a death sentence. People view themselves as being pure, Proverbs 30 says, but are still in their filthiness (v. 12). Things that were considered abominable to do in previous generations are now accepted today. This generation spoken of in Prov. 30 is proud and lofty in their own eyes, and their teeth are sharp like swords to devour the poor and needy from the earth (v. 13-14). There are so many crying out for help here at home, and across the world. Where are the givers in the church, where is the giving of churches towards these needs, and where are the intercessors? Part of the wickedness of these last days is the hoarding of wealth, the defrauding of those who earn wages, the persecution of others for increase in wealth. However, this wealth will witness against those who have coveted and hoarded it. (James 5:1-6). James also wrote, however: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the LORD. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the LORD draweth nigh." (v. 7-8). Both of the prophets Hosea and Malachi urged God's people to return to Him. As in James above, Hosea describes the LORD saying, "After two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight...and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3). Malachi asked God's people: "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope...he shall purify the sons of Levi...And I will come near to you in judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger at his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Mal. 3:2-6). The LORD does not change His Word to us. What was wicked then is still wicked now to God. He gives all men an opportunity to repent and return to Him, if they will take it. He has the end of every man in His hands. Being assured in this, we must not be angry, but meek, being an example to others by how we live. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/10/21 message to the church. To contact us, to submit a praise report or a prayer request, to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

A House Divided*

I grow concerned that because of the machinations of the enemy, we, the church, are becoming a house divided. Unbelievers are taking the Word of God in their mouths, and misusing it for their own plans, saying things like, "If you are a Christian, then you should be supporting the law recognizing abortion as 'a woman's right to choose'", as well as persecuting believers for not observing other laws enacted that contradict God's Word. The Word of God is not to be used to further men's agendas, but it is to be regarded as truth directed by the Holy Spirit to shine light upon men: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:19-21). Today we see men misusing the Word as a bludgeon against the church. The misuse of the Word of God, whether by believers or unbelievers, causes division. Unbelief concerning the Word also causes division. Jesus sent His disciples out with specific commands: "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils..." (Mk. 3:13-19, excerpt). Why isn't the church walking in this? It is because of doubt and unbelief, which also cause divisions within the church, as the church debates whether miracles are still for today. Even His own friends tried to lay hold of Jesus, saying "He is beside himself" (v. 21). Our own friends and family can be opposed to our born-again, Spirit-filled faith, and our obedience to the Word of God. As Jesus worked miracles, religious experts called scribes, who transcribed and taught the Word of God, accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils! (v. 22). Jesus asked those critics how Satan could cast out Satan? He said: "And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end." (v. 24-26). Jesus warned that although many blasphemies may be forgiven, this kind of blasphemy, the attribution of the power and work of the Holy Spirit to that of Satan, is a blasphmemy that cannot be forgiven: "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation." (v. 29). We have a perfect example in scripture of Satan using the Word of God incorrectly and inaccurately to deceive, just as he did to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, in order to divide man from God, and each other. Satan did so again in trying to tempt even Jesus to abandon His purpose by quoting scripture inappropriately. The Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness in order to be tempted. Jesus had been fasting for 40 days and nights (Mt. 4:1-2). The Tempter came to Jesus in His hunger and said, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Having been led by the Holy Spirit to fast for this time, Jesus gave this answer to that temptation: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (v. 3-4). Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city and set Him upon the pinnacle of the temple, and instructed Him to cast Himself down from it. The devil assured Jesus that by the promise he quoted in the Word of God (Ps. 91:11-12), no harm could come to Jesus. Jesus spoke of a commandment of God that truly and more perfectly applied to this temptation: "It is written again, thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy God." (v. 6-7). Finally, the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth, and their glory, promising that he would give them to Jesus "...if thou wilt fall down and worship me." (v. 8-9). Jesus answered, "Get thee hence, Satan,: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (v. 10). At that point, the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Jesus. Does the church recognize when the devil, or men, twist the scriptures for their own purposes (2 Peter 3:16)? This is a source of division in the church. Not only is this a question of rightly discerning and applying the scriptures, but it is also an issue that is affected by character. Jesus taught of a spiritual character that would keep us in the righteous mind and Spirit of God, which is necessary to stand against these kinds of temptations. These spiritual qualities are called The Beatitudes (Mt. 5:1-12), and they include a blessing for those "which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Jesus also spoke about the merciful, and the peacemakers, the humble and the pure in heart. Especially in these times, when the attack of division has come so strongly against the church, we should seek these spiritual qualities that Jesus considered important for His disciples. Following the teaching of The Beatitudes, Jesus then described believers in Him as being the salt of the earth, and the light of the world (Mt. 5:13-16). He pointed out, however, that if we as salt have lost our savor, or if we as light, have failed to shine that light of good works before men, then the salt becomes "good for nothing", and the Father is not glorified. We do these works of salt and light understanding that men will scorn and even persecute us because of it, but Jesus also said, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Mt. 5:10-12). Having prepared His disciples in all of these things, Jesus called the twelve to him and "he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." (Mt. 10:1). Jesus sent them to the lost sheep of Israel, as it was not yet the time to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles or the Samaritans (v. 5-6). "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of God is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (v. 7-8). The disciples were to leave their peace with those cities and households that would hear and receive them. They were to let their peace return to them from those places that would not receive them, even shaking the dust from their feet as they leave those places (v. 11-14). Jesus spoke concerning any city that did not receive the Gospel that the disciples would bring: "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (v. 15-16). Jesus warned them, "...but beware of men". Men, and the systems of men, would hurt them, accuse them, and judge them, He said (v. 17-18). On those occasions, they were to speak as the Holy Spirit would give them the words to speak, not relying on their own pre-planned words: "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." (v. 19-20). We can see how the anointed leading of the Holy Spirit putting the words in our mouths is what is needed today more than ever. The division in the church comes not only from the world's twisting of the Word of God for their own purposes against the church, but also words spoken within the church of believers that are not directed by the Holy Spirit. Some speak against other believers who are not like themselves, and conclude that they are not saved. These are also not the words spoken out of the humble, righteous and pure hearts of The Beatitudes, nor are they edifying words that are salt and light. All of these things lead us into the danger of becoming a house divided. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/3/21 message to the church. 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