Truthing It in Love*

Today is Valentine's Day. The Catholic Church identifies St. Valentine as one who was martyred for his faith. This day is associated with love. One of the greatest expressions of love is the truth of the Gospel. In Ephesians Ch. 4, the apostle Paul beseeches the Church to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called". Gifts have been given to the Church, he wrote: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, who have been given by God in order to bring the Church into perfection for the work of the ministry, for edifying the Body, until we come into the unity of the faith, into the knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, and "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ". (Eph. 4:11-13). We cannot grow up into the Head of all things, which is Christ, without speaking the truth in love (v. 15). We ourselves must hear and speak the truth to each other, and to all. All have sinned, and if we love, then we must tell them about the Salvation from sin and death that has been made available to all men, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Love is at the center of the Gospel of Christ. 1 John tells us that if we do not love, then we do not know God. God is not in us. He brings us this revelation: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him...My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed, and in truth." (1 Jn. 3:14-15,18). This is how we know that we are of the truth (v. 19). In the same way that those who are of God love with truth, those who are not of God do not love the truth. They deceive others and are deceived themselves by lies. The evil one coming, who is called the antichrist, is the lie become flesh. He will be revealed before the return of Christ, after there is a falling away from the faith first (2 Thess. 2:3). This wicked one "whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a (the) lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:9-12). In Proverbs, the LORD describes six things that He hates, and seven that He considers an abomination: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (Prov. 6:16-19). Lying in all its forms is something God hates. In Revelation, as the heavenly city of New Jerusalem descends to earth, it is a place of beauty and holiness. Those who enter it will enter into a presence of peace, life, and comfort (Rev. 21:1-5). As Jesus was describing this beautiful New Jerusalem, He promised John, "...these words are true and faithful." However, not all will enter into that city. Jesus said, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second deth." (v. 7-8). Liars, all liars, are listed among these evil doers. Truth is not just a characteristic, but a Person. The One who IS truth is Jesus Christ. Jesus promised His disciples that He would go to prepare a place for them, and then come again and receive them to Himself (Jn. 14:1-4). He told them that they knew the way to where He was going. One of the disciples told Jesus that he did not know the way, and jesus responded, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (v. 6). We can't come to the Father without the Truth, the Person who is truth. The prophets identified Him, and John the Baptist identified Him: the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. The way of truth has to be chosen: "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me." (Ps. 119:30). Have you chosen to truth it in love? *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/14/21 message to the Church. To contact: Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com, or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705. Look for us on Facebook, and Twitter, and endtimesschool.com

Pray for a Fifth Awakening*

We have put forth the call to the Ekklesia to begin fasting and praying in repentance, and for a spiritual revival to fill America. Revival is accompanied by onfirming signs and miracles, and by large numbers of people coming to the salvation of Christ. There have been four previous awakenings or revivals in American history. The First Great Awakening covered the years 1700-1755. These years were marked by the preaching of men like Jonathan Edwards and his famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", which is still a very powerful and timely message today. The Second Great Awakening took place in the years of the late 1700's to about 1850. It is remembered by the New York Revival, started by one businessman dedicating an hour at lunchtime for prayer, and soon spread to include many. The Third Great Awakening, between the years 1855-1930, included the Azusa Street Revival, again started by a handful in earnest prayer at Azusa St. in Los Angeles, California. It was led by a black preacher named William J. Seymour. Many new denominations, especially Pentacostal, came out of the Azusa Street Revival, but racism divided the new churches, who would not put themselves under the authority of a black man. Segregated churches continued to be the norm. During these same years, there was a growth in a "social Gospel", the purpose of which was to start works for social change. Finally, the Fourth Great Awakening took place between 1960-1980, some believing that this is an ongoing renewal. This Awakening was known for The Jesus Movement, and the Charismatic Renewal, which began in the Catholic Church. All of these great spiritual awakenings started out in a great spiritual outpouring. Then social and political reforms would came out of these awakenings. Finally, there would come spiritual challenges like racism, and then eventually a decline in the revival fervor. The Church needs to begin preparing a spiritul foundation for a new awakening to fill America. This is what I am bringing forth in today's message. Scripture gives us the first component of preparation. Ephesians 6 tells us to be strong in the Lord, and the power of His might, and to prepare ourselves spiritually with the whole armour of God (v. 10-17). That armour covers us from our heads to our feet. The spiritual armour's purpose is not to do battle against other people who are flesh and blood, but against the wiles of the devil that seek to entrap us, and "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (v. 12). We put on our armour, we take our stand, and we build the first part of the foundation of spiritual awakening and revival - we pray: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (v. 18). We pray for all the saints, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, or denomination. Almost all, if not all, of the previous historical Awakenings began with selfless prayer. Our second component of preparation requires us to recognize sin, and to determined to keep it from our lives. For the sin in our lives, we need to repent. Proverbs 1 carries the teaching of wisdom regarding the destructive nature of sin, and the estrangement from God and the consequences that it causes (Prov. 1:28-33). Proverbs 1 calls us to wisdom, understanding, and "To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity." In these things dwell the righteous precepts of God. It is the nature of sin to entice, however. It is by the knowledge, and understanding that comes with the worship and awe of the LORD, that we are warned to resist it (Prov. 1:7-8). Our third component in preparation for a spiritual awakening in this nation is faith. There are those in the Body of Christ who do not believe in miracles. They do not believe that God can sweep a nation in revival and renewal by His Holy Spirit. Whatever we do in Christ, we must do it with this understanding: "But without faith, it is impossible to please him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." The history of our faith is full of people who believed God's promises, who believed HIM. We have an example in scripture of a great awakening. In obedience to a risen Christ, His disciples gathered together in an upper room, situated above David's tomb, on the Feast of Pentecost. In fulfillment of Christ's promise to send them a Comforter, and in Christ's fulfillment of this feast of the LORD, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples that day: "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4). However, as is the nature of great awakenings, the effects did not remain with the group of disciples only, but impacted those Jews from all nations who had come to Jerusalem, to David's tomb below, for the Feast of Pentecost. Though they were from many different nations, they heard the disciples speaking their own various native languages (v. 5-6). At first, they didn't understand what this could be, and some thought that the disciples were drunk. This gave Peter not only the opportunity to present the full Gospel of Christ, but to point to the prophetic promise from God of this kind of awakening through the prophet Joel:"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants, and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy..." (Acts 2:16-18/Joel 2:28-29). Peter's preaching of repentance and salvation moved the hearts of the many listeners, and they asked what they needed to do (v. 37). Peter answered: "...Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call...Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (v. 38-40). Three thousand souls were saved in just that one day of awakening. We must understand, though, that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that Day of Pentecost, and the subsequent outpourings that have followed, come in a context. The prophet Joel revealed that this spiritual awakening comes before the great and terrible day of the LORD. These awakenings come with impending days of darkness, fire, blood and smoke, of terrible signs in the heavens and on earth. The spiritual outpouring of Joel, upon which all other outpourings have been modelled, came after an urgent warning of trumpets had gone forth, and the people were gathered together in a solemn assembly to fast, pray and repent; to cry out to God: "Spare thy people, O LORD..." (Joel 2:12-17). The Church is being called by God to set the foundation for revival, a fifth Great Awakening, in this nation. He is calling us to fasting, prayer,repentance, and faith. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/7/21 message to the Church. To contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimesschool.com

Called To Be Christians*

There is great turmoil troubling our nation at this time. A question was brought to mind recently for the Body of Christ: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? The term "Christian" was first used in the New Testament. Barnabas sought out Paul to minister to the new believers in Antioch: "And when he found him (Paul), he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to psss, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26). The term used here is "called" Christians. Being called generates from a divine direction by God Himself. Many view the Law of Moses to be legalistic, harsh, and not part of a Christian's walk. However, the Law had a purpose, which we will see. It's purpose was to bring us closer to God, as our source of righteousness, and as our measure of justice. Jesus was asked about the Law by a religious lawyer in order to tempt Him and test Him. Jesus brought forth this revelation instead when asked which is the great commandment: "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 neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:34-40). Not only is the Law summed up in these two commandments, but all of the writings of the prophets as well! The Law is designed to bring us to love God above all else, and to love our neighbor. As told in the parable of the good Samaritan, our neighbor also includes those of a different race, ethnicity, or religious practice. Scripture says that all men are of one blood, and descended from Noah and his family, the survivors of the flood. One of those prophets, Micah, delivered this Word from the LORD: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." (Micah 6:8) The commandments of God were fulfilled by Christ, and meant to identify us: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commndments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 Jn. 5:2-3). Jesus broke the Law done even further when He said: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Mt. 7:12). We recently saw a violent mob crash into the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.. Some of those in the mob were carrying political banners, but some were carrying Christian flags. People were killed, crushed, and had to run for their lives. Is this what those who are called to be Christians are supposed to be doing and representing? Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 7:21). Jesus told us that we would know those who are genuine in the faith and those who are not, by their fruit, and we were to beware of those who bring forth evil fruit. He said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (v. 18-19). Do not be caught up with those who have corrupt minds. In the same Spirit that Jesus taught about the good tree that brings forth good fruit, Paul wrote in Galatians 5 about the fruit of the Spirit of God. The fruit of the Spirit is listed as: "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, tempernce: against such there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23). There is no law against this precious fruit of the Spirit because, as Paul wrote earlier in this chapter: "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (v. 14). In the next chapter of Galatians, Paul urges us to restore a fallen brother in the spirit of meekness, and to bear one another's burdens, "and so fulfill the law of Christ...And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due seaon we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:1-2, 9-10). As for "doing good" especilly to those of the household of faith, we are not to forget the teacher who teaches us, with whom we are to share all good things (v. 6). Another prophet, Isaiah, brought forth our responsibility to undo the burdens of others, to let the oppressed go free, to bring into our homes the poor who have been cast out of theirs, to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked (Isa. 58:6-7). Jesus spoke the same thing about a King who said: "I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." The hearers of these statements will ask the King (Jesus) when they did these things for Him. Jesus, the King, will answer them: "Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Mt. 25:34-44). This is from the pararable of the separation of the sheep and the goats when the Son comes in His glory. The sheep who did all of these things for their needy brethren will be the inheritors of the Kingdom. To those who did not, the goats, the Son will say, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." (v. 41). The goats would have done all of these loving things for Christ, Himself, but they refused to see that doing these things for the least of the brethren, is the same as doing them for Christ. This is the fulfillment of all the Law and the prophets. This is the fulfillment of the law of Christ. Considering all of these things, I ask again, if you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/31/21 message to the Church. To contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, or email to Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Also, you cn find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimesschool.com