Yeshua: The Law Fulfilled and Grace Revealed*

This is Christmas - the day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Although the exact date of Jesus' birth is not known, and was perhaps chosen for secular reasons, the fact remains that Jesus was born, and born according to prophecy. Through Jesus, as we will see, the Law and the prophets were fulfilled, and God's living grace was revealed. Both the Law and the prophets, and God's Spirit of grace were evident from Christ's conception: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 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." (Mt. 1:18-21). The penalty under the Law of Moses for a betrothed woman to become pregnant by another man would have been death by stoning. Joseph showed Mary grace by seeking to put her aside quietly and privately. God declared His grace in the situation by revealing to Joseph that the child is by the Holy Spirit, not another man. The birth of the child through Mary would also fulfill the prophecy given to Isaiah: "Therefore the LORD himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel ("God with us")." (Isa. 7:14, Mt. 1:22-23). Joseph rose up and took Mary for his wife, and did not know her untill after the baby was born. The child of a virgin was also prophesied from the beginning in Gen. 3:15, when God told the woman that she would bear a seed (only men were spoken of as producing "seed") that would crush the serpent's head. Jesus specifically stated that He did not come to destroy the Law: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Mt. 5:17-20). Jesus then went on to teach that the Spirit of the law defines the letter of the law. Commandments regarding killing and adultery, for example, also extend to the thoughts of the mind and intents of the heart, even if the physical breaking of the commandment is not committed. Jesus said that hatred or disparagement against a brother is considered the same by God as killing him, thereby breaking the commandment: "Thou shalt not kill.". In God's eyes, the Spirit of the law demands reconciliation with the brother (see v. 21-28). At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, He physically left one location, Nazareth ("the guarded one"), and moved to another - Capernaum ("covering of atonement, purging, forgiveness, cleansing, comfort, repentance"), which borders the Zebulon and Nephthalim territories (Mt. 4:12-13). Jesus began to preach: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Again, this fulfilled the prophet Isaiah: "The land of Zebulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up (Greek - "raises himself") (Mt. 4:14-16). This fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy (see Isa. 9:1-2). In John 2:13-22, Jesus zealously cleansed the temple at the time of Passover, of moneychangers, and those who made merchandise out of the house and people of God. They asked Him to show them a sign that entitled Him to do such a thing. If they knew their scripture, they would have known that this zealousness for the house of God was a fulfillment of Psalm 69:9, a Psalm of David. Jesus answered them instead, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." They rejected Christ's words as foolishness, but Christ was speaking of the temple of His body, raised from the dead. In an important lesson about grace and the Law, a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus in the temple. Where was the man who was involved in this sin?! The accusers told Jesus that the Law demanded that the woman be stoned to death, and, testing Jesus, they wanted to know what He would say about it (Jn. 8:1-5). However, Jesus stooped down, ignoring them, and began to write on the ground. Then He raised Himself up and said, "He that is without (that) sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." (v. 6-7). Then again Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground. With their consciences convicted, all of the woman's accusers left, and only she remained. When Jesus had lift up Himself, He saw that only the woman remained and asked, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" She answered "no man". And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (v.8-11). It is written that Jesus next said: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (v. 12). Grace does not excuse sin. We are not to view grace as a pass given to us so we may continue to sin. As we will see with the next example, grace flows through genuine repentance, and likewise, repentance flows from grace. As Jesus passed through Jericho, the chief tax collector named Zaccheus, who was rich, climbed a sycamore (fig) tree to get a look at Him. Zaccheus was short, and could not see over the crowd that had gathered (Lk. 19:1-4). Jesus looked up and said to him: "'Zaccheus, make haste and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house'. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully." Jesus addressed the tax collector by name. The people murmured because Jesus would be dining with a corrupt tax collector, a sinner. Jesus, of course, knew Zaccheus not by the flesh, but by the Spirit. The name Zaccheus means "pure, innocent, clean, bright, shining, fragrant, justified, translucent". Zaccheus' life was changed by his encounter with Jesus. He said: "...Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Jesus answered him: "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (v. 5-10). This is grace - to seek and save the lost, changing hearts and lives. Later, as Jesus was about to enter into Jerusalem, He instructed His disciples to go into the next town where they would find a colt tied. They were to bring the colt back to Jesus, and if anyone questioned them, they were to say, "...the Lord hath need of him." (Lk. 19:30-31). Jesus would then make His triumphant entry into Jerusalem sitting on the colt, as the whole city welcomed Him with waving palm branches. Even this fulfilled prophecy from Zech. 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King commeth unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Their King came to them, not to subdue them with a heavenly army, but in beauty, grace, and humility. That very week, He would be crucified. He would provide the one-time offering for sin by way of His blood in order to perfect forever those being sanctified (Heb. 10:14). Jesus did this in order to fulfill a prophetic promise of God, of which the Holy Ghost is a witness: "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (v. 15-17, see Jer. 31:33-34). There is no more offering for sin than this. Because of this one-time eternal offering, and the remission of sins, we have, therefore, "...boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh...Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (v. 18-23). The profession of our hope is the lining up of our words with the Words and promises of God (homologia meaning "to say the same as"), as Abraham did in faith, as he looked for the city whose maker and builder was God (See Heb. 11:10). Through this profession of hope by mouth and life, Abraham became the first Jew - not by letters written on a stone tablet, but the Word of the LORD's promises written in his heart, and witnessed within him by the work of grace of His Messiah to come, Jesus, and by the Spirit of Grace, the Holy Spirit. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/25/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

A Spiritual Rededication*

Today will begin the Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, commemorating the cleansing of the temple of God from the defilement of heathen occupiers, and the miraculous provision of oil for the Lamp of God in the temple. The candles of the menorah are lit to celebrate this miracle. Most Christians do not understand the meaning of this feast, and do not celebrate it. However, Jesus did observe this feast, as we will see: "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 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...If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." (Jn. 10:23-38, excerpt). Jesus brought this saving revelation to them on the Feast of Dedication, in the Temple of God, but for these words, they sought to stone Jesus for blasphemy. They missed the significance of the connection between what Jesus said, and the fulfillment of the Feast of Dedication that they were observing. The Law is not to be followed in the flesh, but in the Spirit. The prophets wrote about the work of spiritual rededication that God would bring to His people: "Therefore say, Thus saith the LORD God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. (This was fulfilled in 1947.) And they shall come thither, ad they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezek. 11:17-20). To walk in the statutes of God as He intended man to do, requires a new heart and spirit. The LORD also said to Ezekiel that for those who continued to walk in their detestable things and abominations instead, "...I will recompense their way upon their own heads..." (v. 21). The apostle Paul, who was thoroughly trained in the Law of Moses, also brought the same understanding between the carnal and spiritual: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor. 3:1, 16-17). We are the holy, Spirit-filled temple of God, not to be defiled. Our being the temple of the Holy Spirit does not preclude the building of an actual physical third temple in Jerusalem, of which the prophets wrote. Preparation for that planned third temple is being carried out now in Israel. Again, however, Paul wrote about the price paid by Christ for the presence of the Holy Spirit in the body of the believer: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Giving us an understanding of what Ezekiel wrote above, Paul taught that by the Holy Spirit, we are a living epistle, or letter, rather than the stone tablets of Law: "...ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves...but our sufficiency is of 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." (2 Cor. 3:3-6). The Flesh profits nothing, but the Spirit brings inner life and grace to the eternal, unchangeable statutes of God. This is only made possible through Christ: "...be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor. 5:20-21). Although through the sacrifice of Christ we have received the grace gift of the righteousness of God, that grace does not justify continued sin. Jesus taught that the two great principles of the Law still apply: Loving God, which is reflected in the first five of the Ten Commandments, and loving our neighbor, which is reflected in the second five Commandments. Paul wrote that, because of this, we are not to commune or join ourselves with unrighteousness, darkness, or idolatry. He wrote of rededication: "...ye are the temple of the living God...as God hath said, I will 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, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 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. 6:14-18, 7:1). The Book of Hebrews pointed out that the repeated sacrifices that had to be made yearly under the law, was but a shadow of the true and eternal sacrifice found in the blood of Christ offered for our sins. Of God's provision for sin, Paul wrote: "He taketh away the first (yearly offerings), that he may establish the second. By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us...'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days', saith the Lord, 'I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And that their sins and iniquities will I remember no more'. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." (Heb. 10:9-18). There is only one way now that has been made available by God to cleanse us of sin, as the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit of God: the one-time sacrifice fulfilled by His Son for us. Because of this cleansing sacrifice, Paul wrote: "By a new and living way, which he (Jesus) hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh...Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;). (v. 19-23). The prophet Haggai wrote to the people of God during a time that he described as the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, regarding the temple of the LORD. The time mentioned lines up with today's date on our calendar. The promise of the LORD to His people, represented by the governmental leader, the spiritual leader and the rest of the people, is: "...be strong all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts....my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts." (Hag. 2:4-7). During this Feast of Dedication, the LORD desires to fill His house, His living temple, which we are, with His glory. Let us rededicate ourselves this season, having our lamps lit, and our hearts sprinkled with the cleansing sacrifice of Jesus. If you would like to read more details regarding the original cleansing and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, you can read the account in the Apocrypha, in 1 Maccabees 4:36-46. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/18/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

A Covenant of Law or Grace?*

We are to be at a whole new level of understanding covenant. This includes the everlasting covenant, which is spoken of fifteen times in scripture. You can also find more information on this topic in my book "Law, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Godliness", available through Amazon. The following is the first mention of "covenant" in scripture, as God spoke to Noah after the flood: "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth...And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no longer become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth....This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. 9:13-17). Although the rainbow has been used in a profane manner in our times, it is really a sacred reminder of the mercy and grace that God sovereignly promises to all living on earth to assure them that He would not bring another destructive flood. In Gen. 6:8, we read that Noah found (attained) grace in the eyes of God. Grace is something attained between God and man. Jesus taught that the days of His return would be as the days of Noah (Lk. 17:26), so we need to understand now especially what it means to attain grace with God. The prophets wrote about the new covenant by which grace would be attained between God and man. Jeremiah wrote: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers...which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days...I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour..., saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:31-34). Ezekiel also wrote about a new work of grace by God: "Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezek. 36:25-27). We know that we are washed with the water of the Word of God. The LORD desires a relationship with all flesh, and has desired it since the beginning, or Bereshiet in Hebrew, whose individual pictographic letters mean "the son of God crushed, His hand on the cross". Revelation tells us that Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. This move of God in our hearts and spirits prophesied in Jeremiah and Ezekiel is repeated in the New Testament, in Hebrews 8:10-12, where the LORD God concludes His covenant promise: "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." This work of grace is created by God within us. Jesus taught what is called The Sermon on the Mount, or The Beatitudes, to His disciples, not to the crowd at large (Mt. 5:1). Jesus didn't just choose disciples. He taught and trained them in discipleship by Word and Spirit. The blessings of the Kingdom of God that were taught by Jesus that day to His disciples, reflect the perfect unity of the Word, or the Law, and grace produced in the new heart and spirit by God. Those who are blessed by God according to this sermon are the poor in spirit, or the humble. The Kingdom of God belongs to them. Those whose soft hearts mourn are the ones who receive the comfort of God. The meek, strong in faith but self-sacrificing, who put themselves last in the earth, will inherit it. Those with a hunger and thirst for righteousness, which is created by a new heart and spirit, will have that hunger satisfied. Those whose hearts and spirits show mercy to others through grace and the love of God's Word in them, will receive mercy themselves. Those whose hearts have been purified in the manner promised by the prophets above, will see God. Those whose new hearts and spirits cause them to be peacemakers in the middle of strife, will be called the children of God. Those who have been persecuted and reviled because their hearts love righteousness, and love the Righteous One, Jesus, can rejoice in this life because they belong to the kingdom of heaven, and will receive their great reward in heaven (Mt. 5:3-12). These who have sought after the new heart and spirit promised by God, live these blessings, and are living according to Kingdom principles. The covenant of grace does not operate separate from the Torah, the Law. Jesus assured His listeners that He didn't come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of God will not pass away until even the finest points of it are fulfilled (v. 17-18). In this context, Jesus told His disciples to be salt and light in the earth (v. 12-16). The Law of the Torah is not limited to the written letter, but it is joined with the Spirit of God, and the spirit and soul in man. This is grace. It is in this understanding that Jesus told us: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (v. 48). Paul wrote of a circumcision that was not outward, but inward, a circumcision of the heart, which makes one a Jew. It is Spirit, rather than letter, which receives praise from God, rather than men (Rom. 2:28-29). The letter of the written Word must become living Spirit within us. David, confronted by his terrible sin, sought this saving renewal that could only be attained by this work of God in him: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then I will teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee...The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalm 51, excerpt). This is the grace work within David of the LORD's Spirit through the Law, the Torah, that David had treasured in his heart. The Word, it is written, is quick and powerful, like a two-edged sword, cutting to our deepest parts and discerning the thoughts of our hearts. James the apostle wrote: "But whoso looketh into (stooping into) the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/11/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Perilous Times*

There has been a great increase across all of the forms of media of those who deny the existence of God. Our response is to teach truth to them. The times are perilous now, and will become more so, because, according to all of the signs, we are living in the last days before Christ's return. As we read last week in Second Timothy: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). These are people who may know God in a certain way, but do not allow Him to have any power or authority over them, or anything else. Paul also warned Timothy that persecution would come for those who live godly lives through Jesus Christ. Evil men and deceptions shall grow worse (v. 12-13). Timothy is told to continue in the things he has learned from Paul, and from the scriptures, for they are sure: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect (complete), thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (v. 16-17). There is no other book on earth which is produced by men that is like the scriptures, which is written by men, but those men wrote the scriptures under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God does not need man to prove its truth, because it proves itself. The scriptures do not lead men into a legalistic or religious relationship with God, but rather, a personal relationship with the Savior, Jesus our Salvation, as Saul/Paul discovered on the road to Damascus. He had been a persecutor of the believers in Christ, but after his supernatural encounter with Christ speaking to him from heaven, Paul dedicated the rest of his life to living as a servant of Jesus Christ. Paul told Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:2-4). We see now that society demands that sin be tolerated, accepted, and even celebrated. Even the Church is afraid to teach against sin, and its sure wages of death. However, the scriptures say that all have sinned, and are only saved by grace, the gift of God through Jesus, and not by good works nor good intentions. Again, Paul wrote of the perilous last days, and the deceptions that come with them. There was a deception being taught at the time of Paul that Christ had already returned. There were also letters going to the churches claiming to be from Paul, teaching false doctrines, but they had not been written by him. Paul wrote to correct this: "Let no man deceive you by any means: For that day (of Christ's return) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2:1-4). Paul is speaking of the acts of the antichrist who will come before Christ's return. However, this spiritual evil is already at work, seeking to sit in God's spiritual temple of men's hearts. Paul wrote that there is a restraining force to hold back the actual event that reveals the wicked one until the time is right, but "the mystery of iniquity doth already work" (v. 6-8). This wicked one will come with deception, and the works of Satan, "with all power, and signs and lying wonders". God will send a strong delusion to believe the lie upon those who are doomed because they do not accept the truth, and take pleasure in unrighteousness. The wicked one to be revealed will be consumed by the Lord "with the spirit of his mouth", and shall be destroyed "with the brightness of his coming." (v. 8-12). The perilous times, as we see, include a pandemic of lies and strong delusions, and the supernatural, lying works of Satan. Part of the perilous times were told by Jesus concerning the Kingdom of God and the coming harvest of those who were righteous in Christ, and the unrighteous. Both parables involve the sowing of seed, and then the harvest. In one parable, the Kingdom is like a man who plants seed in the ground, and then sleeps. The earth does its job, and the seed germinates, gradually bringing forth a shoot, then a plant, then finally the mature ear of corn. Then the man knows it is time to "putteth in the sickle" to harvest the crop that the seed and the earth has produced (Mark 4:26-29). In the second parable, again a man has sown good seed in his field. However, this time, while men slept, an enemy came and sowed tares among the man's wheat crop. The man's servants noticed that as the wheat matured and brought forth fruit, the tares showed themselves because of their lack of fruit. He realized that an enemy had done this to his crop. He instructed his servants: "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." (Mt. 13:24-30). In perilous times, men teach false doctrines, sowing tares that do not bear the fruit of Christ. There are those who profess Christ, but in works, don't know Him. The prophet Joel prophesied about the harvest, and the judgment of the Day of the LORD, at a time when the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem has ended, and God's people have been brought back to the land (fulfilled in Israel, 1947): "Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come get you down; for the press is full, the fats (vats) overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." (Joel 3:12-14). Joel described the Day of the LORD as a day when the sun, moon, and the stars are darkened. It's a terrible day when the heavens and earth shake and quake. We need to know the signs of that Day, and when the harvest grows ripe. The New Testament speaks of the same signs. As it becomes evident that the Day is drawing near, it is a fool who says in his heart that there is no God. Joel wrote of the purpose of God's people as this Day of the LORD approaches, and it is what sets the difference between "the wheat and the tares" of the ripening harvest: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand...Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rent your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of gret kindness, and repenteth him of the evil...Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproah among the heathen." (Joel 2:1, 12-13, 18-19, see also 1:13-15). Joel called the people of God to repentance, as we have often said the same in referring to 2 Chron. 7:14. The Book of Revelation also prophesies about the harvest to come. One who looked like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand, heard the loud command that came out of the temple in heaven: "Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." (Rev. 14:14-15). Then additional angels came with their sickles also, but this time, the grapes of the vine were ripe and ready for harvesting (v. 17-18). "And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God." (v. 19). Much blood came out of that winepress of wrath (v. 20). As we saw in the parable of Jesus, there were two reapings here of the ripe harvest - one was reaped by Jesus for the Kingdom, and one was reaped by the angels for the wrath of God. We see the harvest ripening all over the world, and we see wickedness waxing worse and worse. Isaiah warned, "Woe" unto you who call evil good, and good evil...and justify the wicked for a reward. We must continue to sow seeds of righteousness, and keep our lamps lit, for darkness is here. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/4/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

What Now America...What Now Church?*

Recently, the Supreme Court overturned the Roe V. Wade decision regarding abortion fifty years after the original decision had changed the laws of the nation. As Rabbi Jonathan Cahn wrote in his newest book, Israel was often saved from the brink of God's judgment by removing the altars that had been built to false gods like Ba'al and Molech, both of which were connected to child sacrifice. The tearing down of these ungodly altars could have been a sign of revival in Israel at the time, or it could have been an anomaly in the nation's continuing fall from God. Will we rise up at this time and fulfill 2 Chron. 7:14, and its spiritual warfare of repentance? Our warfare is not natural, with guns and violence, or even politics, but it is spiritual, through repentance, faith, and the Word of God. God hates sin, which leads to death, but God loves the sinner. For this reason, God sent His Son to die in the place of all sinners who will accept Him. What will America choose? What will the Church choose? Paul wrote about the conditions in the last days, and we see those same things now: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). We certainly see this in man today. Paul wrote that even though "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived", we, the believers are to continue and hold fast in what we have been taught by the apostles of the faith, and the holy scriptures, even as persecution comes against those of faith (v. 10-14). We are seeing the beginning of persecution in this nation, as the preaching and speaking of God's Word is being silenced by law, even in pulpits. However, Paul commands Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim. 4:2). There will come a time, wrote Paul, that because men's lusts, their destructive desires of various kinds, will rule them, Godly doctrine will no longer be tolerated (v. 4). Jude, the brother of Jesus Christ, wrote of similar concerns. He exhorted the believers to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares...ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord, Jesus Christ." (v. 3-4). Jude added that God had dealt with this kind of ungodliness in scripture as examples for us. He dealt with unbelieving Israelites, after He delivered them from Egypt, who had seen the power of God, but did not believe Him. Angels, who rebelled against their place, were chained in the pit as a result. Sodom and Gomorrah, condemned to eternal fire, chose fornication and strange flesh rather than the knowledge of God. "Woe unto them!" (v. 5-11). People who knew God, such as Cain, Balaam, and Korah, chose their own gain instead of God. Jude wrote that the Lord will bring judgment against the ungodly for "all of their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him", the Lord. (v. 15). These ungodly people are fruitless, shameless, without fear of God, and condemned to the darkness forever (v. 12-13). In "the last time", they are the mockers who walk after their own ungodly lusts...having not the Spirit (v. 18-19), as Paul also said, above. Believers, on the other hand, should build themselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of Jesus unto eternal life. It is He who preserves us, and keeps us from likewise falling (v. 1, 20-24). Peter, another apostle, wrote about these issues also: "...there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you...their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Peter 2:1-3). Like Jude above, Peter also wrote of the examples in scripture where judgment followed intentional ungodliness: the angels that sinned and were cast down to hell in chains of darkness; the sparing of Noah, while the ungodly were destroyed in the flood; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, while delivering Lot, who was considered righteous and just by God (v. 4-8). The Lord knows how to deliver the godly from destructive temptation, while reserving the ungodly, who walk after the flesh in lust, for His judgment (v. 9-10). There is a danger from those who walk in unrighteousness towards those who know God: "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error...For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, and the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." (v. 18, 20-21). These who had formerly been saved through Christ, but turned back because of the influence of the ungodly, are compared to a dog returning to its vomit (v. 22, see Prov. 26:11). These ungodly men try to pull both you, and the nation, back from God. We are seeing the judgment of God in this nation through violence, pandemic, and destruction. As Paul and Jude above, Peter also warned: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts." (2 Pet. 3:3). They scoff at the idea of judgment, because all seems to continue the same, while they willingly ignore the previous judgment of the great flood by which the world perished (v. 4-6). The same Word of judgment has now reserved the heavens and earth for the judgment of fire, rather than water. This fire is so consuming, that all elements will melt from its fervent heat (v. 7, 10). The only reason that we have not seen this judgment yet is because the Lord is "longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (v. 9). Again the question is asked by Peter that, considering all of these dangers of the last days, "what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?" (v. 11). So what now, America...what now, Church? King David in Psalm 12, cried to the LORD, saying, "...the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fall from among the children of men." They flatter and speak empty, vain things. They say as they please, refusing the Lordship of God over themselves, their words. They oppress the poor until the poor cry out before the LORD. "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." We see this today in that the vile have been promoted to the highest positions until the wicked think that they can do their wickedness without suffering any ramifications. However, David assured us: "The words of the LORD are pure: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." When a silversmith purifies silver, he repeats it until the silver is pure enough that the smith can see his face reflected in it. The Lord Jesus had this pure Word for all seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Although they almost all had failings that could lead to their destruction, He urged them to be overcomers. The rewards that the Lord promised to each overcoming church are the same rewards that all believers are promised if they abide in Christ: to eat of the tree of life; to be spared from the second death; to eat of the hidden manna and to receive a white stone with your new name written upon it; to rule over nations and to receive the Morning Star, which is Jesus Christ Himself; to be clothed in white raiment, which is the clothing of righteousness, to have your name remain in the Book of Life, and to have your name declared before the Father and His angels by Jesus; to be made a pillar in God's temple, and to have the name of God, the city of New Jerusalem, and Christ's new name written, or more accurately engraved, upon you. Even to the lukewarm church of Laodicea, whom the Lord called "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked", if they would overcome, Jesus promised to them and to us: "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." The solution is not found in the wicked nor in this world, but in 2 Chron. 7:14 - If the people of God will repent. Jesus told us to judge ourselves, so we will not be judged. We know that judgment begins in the house and with the people of God. In the parable of the talents, the Master gave each one talents, and expected to see the increase from those talents. What are we doing with the "talents" that have been given to us? Our nation, like Israel of old, is standing near judgment. What now, America? What now, Church? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/27/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Weapons and Tactics in Warfare*

In this modern era, we have seen through media and technology what war is really like. Beginning with the Vietnam War, right up to the present war in the Ukraine, the images of warfare are brought to us. What we see happening in the natural realm, however, is only a microcosm of what is going on in the spiritual realm. In both realms, poor tactics can cost lives. We, as believers, are in a war. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn refers to a "dark trinity war" in his new book, "The Return of the Gods". We need to know our weapons, and the correct tactics to use in this spiritual warfare. We are given powerful information from the apostle Paul: "...some...think of us as if we walk according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?..." (2 Cor. 10:1-7). Our weapons are not carnal. Our enemy is opposition against the knowledge of God, and disobedience to Christ. Our tactics involve casting down ungodly thoughts, and revenging disobedience through the fulness of our own obedience. Spiritual warfare begins in the mind, within us, and not with bombs, or bullets. All natural soldiers have weapons and some sort of body armor, but our armor in spiritual warfare, "...not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places", is the whole armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-13). It is this armor which enables us to stand against the wiles of the devil, and "the evil day". As we know, the days are very evil, and wicked powers of darkness are very real. The whole armor of God includes having our loins girded with truth. We are to procreate the Gospel of truth, bringing it to others. We are to have on the breastplate of righteousness. Our hearts, which are the "kill zone" to the enemy, are deceitful, but we cover them with Christ's righteousness, not our own. Our feet are prepared with the gospel of peace. Wherever we go, we go with the Gospel. This is the Great Commission given to us by Christ. Above all, we take up the shield of faith. This spiritual shield quenches the fiery darts of the wicked against us. We take the helmet of salvation, protecting our minds from those thoughts, reasonings, and imaginations that Paul warned of above. In our hand is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (v. 14-17). This is a two-edged sword, reminding us that judgment begins, not with an enemy, but with the house of God. We use the Word, especially 2 Chron. 7:14, to bring repentance to our hearts, to fulfill our obedience first. Always, Paul wrote here, praying for all the saints of God, and for the boldness to make known the Gospel even in the face of obstacles and persecution (v. 18-20). Regarding this, here in this country and across the world, we are seeing a growing intolerance to the Word and knowledge of God, and instead a demand, under penalty of law, that the people of God accept in silence ungodly and abominable practices. We can see in scripture how these spiritual weapons and tactics were used by God to fight Israel's enemies, even when they were outnumbered, ill-equipped and starving in their natural circumstances. In Exodus 17, the Israelites are in battle with the Amalekites. Moses gave this instruction to Joshua: "Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand." (Ex. 17:8-9). When Moses would hold up his hand, Israel prevailed, however, when he lowered his hand, the Amalekites prevailed. As the battle raged on, and Moses grew weary, Aaron and Hur put a stone in place for Moses to sit, and stood on either side of Moses to hold up his hands until the sun went down. "And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." (v. 11-13). The LORD commanded Moses to write the battle against Amalek for a memorial in a book to remind Joshua of the vistory, and to insure the continual warfare of the LORD against the Amalekites. From this event, Moses worshipped the LORD by the name "Jehovah Nissi", meaning "The LORD our Banner" at an altar that he constructed (v. 14-16). The battle was won by the rod of God in the hand of His servant. This is the same rod that Moses used to part the Red Sea. In another example of the ways of God in warfare, Gideon had assembled an army of 32,000 to fight the Midianites. The LORD told Gideon that he had too many in his army: "...there are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, 'Mine own hand hath saved me." (Judges 7:1-2). The LORD told Gideon that the Israelite army was too big! So the LORD told Gideon to tell all who were afraid to go home. This reduced the army to 10,000. The LORD said that this was still too many, and the army was to number 300. Those 300 were to carry a trumpet in one hand, and a vessel containing a lamp in the other hand. To reassure Gideon of the coming victory, the LORD had Gideon sneak up to the enemy camp with his servant, Phurah (meaning "branch, bough, glory, glorify"), to spy. Gideon overheard one enemy soldier telling another of a dream that he had in which Gideon had crushed their tent. This telling of the dream in the enemy camp caused the Midianites to believe that it was inevitable that God was going to deliver them into Gideon's hands. When Gideon overheard this talk within the enemy camp, he sent his 300-man army in three divisions against the Midianites, who were as numerous as grasshoppers. As they blew their trumpets and threw down their lamps, crying 'The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon', the Midianites panicked and ran (v. 9-21). The fleeing Midianites turned their swords upon each other in their fear, and the Israelites pursued them. As we can see, this is not warfare as usual as practiced in the world by generals and armies. God has already told us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and neither are His ways like our ways. We see the contrast again between natural warfare and spiritual warfare in the account of David and Goliath. The armey of Israel was confronting the army of the Philistines. David had gone to the army camp to bring provisions of bread to his older brothers, who were soldiers. Then the Philistines' champion warrior, a man of giant proportions, Goliath, began to threaten and taunt them. When the Israelite army saw him, they all ran, including young David. However, when David heard the rewards that King Saul had promised to the man who would go forth and answer Goliath's challenge, David verified the reward offered three times, and then said of Goliath, "...for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Sam. 17:24-26). One of David's older brothers became angry at him, and belittled him, that David, a lad who watched sheep, would speak up and involve himself in army business. However, King Saul heard of David's talk, and asked him to come to his tent, telling David, "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." (v. 28-33). David told Saul that as a shepherd of his father's sheep, he had already killed both a lion and a bear, even taking one of the captured lambs out of the predator's mouth. David told the king that this uncircumcised Philistine, Goliath "shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God", adding, "...the LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion,...and the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." (v. 32-37). Saul agreed, and offered David the use of the king's own armor. However, the armor did not fit David, and David did not feel confident in it because he had not "proved it". So David went forth to meet the Philistine with his shepherd's staff, his slingshot, and five smooth stones that he had gathered from the stream and placed in his shepherd's bag. (v. 38-40). We know that David ended up killing Goliath with one of those stones in his slingshot, even though Goliath was armed with a huge sword, spear, and shield. In another example from scripture, God made four Israelite lepers with nothing left to lose sound like "...a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host" as they approached the enemy Syrian camp looking for food because the rest of Israel was starving. The Syrian army fled thinking that they were coming under attack from two great armies. (2 Kings 7:1-7). When the Syrians fled, they left all of their food and possessions behind them, and the four lepers began to gather all they could. Then the lepers reconsidered, and reported the bounty, and the empty Syrian camp to the king's household. (v. 9). The king's army then chased after the Syrians, picking up spoil as they went. God's spiritual warfare can make four shuffling lepers sound like two mighty armies to the enemy, causing them to flee! Another king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, believing the word of prophecy that had come from the LORD through His prophet, went into battle against the Ammonites and the Moabites by commanding the Levitical singers to go before his army praising "the beauty of holiness", and singing, "Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever." (2 Chron. 20:14-21). Jehoshaphat had told the people, "O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (v. 20). Not many generals of the world would send singers in front of their army to face a large enemy, but by this tactic the LORD made the enemy armies destroy each other (v. 22-23). It is very important for the church to be aware of the weapons and tactics available to us in spiritual warfare, because so many believers are becoming caught up in natural, or worldly, methods and ways. Neither politicians nor natural armies can defeat the spiritual enemies that hold nations in darkness. Paul wrote to his son in the Gospel, Timothy: "Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2 Tim. 2:1-4). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/20/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

A Desolate House*

Has America become a desolate house? Regarding more on this question, I hope to soon be publishing my book, "The Late Great United States", because I believe that both the nation and the church are missing the Word of God. I also challenge you to see the documentary "Monumental", from Kirk Cameron, as well as reading Jonathan Cahn's books, "The Harbinger", and "The Return of the Gods". In seeking the answer to the question asked at the beginning of this message, Proverbs says: "As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." (Prov. 26:1-2). "A fool" is defined in scripture as someone who says in their heart "there is no God" (Ps. 14:1). While we hear the atheists proclaim this more and more, even believers act like a fool when they go against the Word of God! We hve seen the resulting signs of a curse come to this land, as Proverbs warned: the pandemic, economic, political, and weather crises, and so on. The prophet Ezekiel was told to prophesy the Word of the LORD to the mountains of Israel, that because of her sins, Israel's enemies have caused the nation to become desolate: "...the enemy hath said against you, 'Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession'...because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people..." (Ezek. 36:1-3). The LORD then prophesied that this enemy that took joy in the shame of Israel will experience His jealous wrath. These enemies are natural but also spiritual, and seek the high places of the land. Demons are real, and we have given place and permission to these enemies to inhabit our land. What caused this desolation by the hands of an enemy to fall upon Israel in the first place? The LORD revealed to Ezekiel: "...when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it. And I scattered them among the heathen...according to their way and according to their doings I judged them." (v. 17-19). The LORD added that wherever He scattered His people, they continued to profane His name in those nations. He would restore Israel, not for the people's sake, but for the sake of His holy name, for which He had pity. He would sanctify His great name, which His own people had profaned among the heathen, by restoring His people to their own land (v. 20-24). Not only would the LORD restore His people to their land, but "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments; and do them." (v. 25-27). The LORD, in sanctifying His own great name, also promised to make David (referring to the Messiah), "my servant", the one King over them, their one Shepherd, to be their Prince forever: "Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions...so shall they be my people, and I will be their God." (see Ezek. 37:21-28, see also Hos. 3:4-5). Israel, among other things, had been worshipping idols. We still worship idols today when we make anything more important than God. Israel sinned before the LORD and profaned His name. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, scripture says - and the wages of sin is death. The prophet Hosea also wrote what the LORD said about His people, which we see today also: "...there is no truth, nor 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. Therefore shall the land mourn...My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children...I will change their (His people's) glory into shame...they set their heart on their iniquity." (Hos. 4:1-3, 6-8). We see this desolation of our land taking the form of an unrelenting attack against our children, as Hosea wrote above, with lies and twisted perversions. America, church, have we become a desolate house? Jesus spoke about certain disasters that had befallen groups of people in Israel in His time. He said that those victims were no greater sinners than others, "... but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Lk. 13:1-5). Jesus also told the parable of a man who had a fig tree that failed to yield expected fruit for three years. He ordered his vinedresser to cut it down so it wouldn't encumber the ground while producing nothing. The vinedresser asked the man to allow him to dig around and fertilize the tree for that year, and if it still did not produce, then it could be cut down. (v. 6-9). The LORD is not quick to judge or destroy, and will give the time and opportunity for His people to show Him the fruits justly expected by Him from their lives. Most of those who refused to hear Jesus' words were the religious leaders of His time. Jesus severely scolded the most religious of the people telling them that they cared for the outward appearance of righteousness only, while inside they were full of corruption, like tombs. These same religious leaders criticised Jesus for healing on the sabbath, when even a common animal, Jesus told them to their shame, deserved comfort and care even on the sabbath. Certainly, He said, a descendant of Abraham was entitled to be loosed from the bond of infirmity on the sabbath (v. 10-16). He warned them when asked if many would be saved, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (v. 23-24). He said that the door would be shut, and many would come knocking and asking to be let in, but shall receive this answer from the Master, "I know you not, whence you are." (v. 25). These who are shut out would include those who had seen Him, and eaten with Him, but nevertheless, He would not know them, and instead say, "...depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity". While others would enter into the kingdom, these would be thrust out, "And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first, which shall be last." (v. 26-30). These people felt assured in their place in the Kingdom of God based upon a meaningless and hypocritical outward appearance of righteousness, but they would find that they were mistaken. (see also Mt. 23:1-28). As Jesus continued on His journey toward Jerusalem, He reminded them that Jerusalem killed the prophets of God, while refusing to be gathered "under Jesus' wings": "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, You shall not see me, until the time come when you shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Lk. 13:31-35, see also Mt. 23:29-39). The LORD leaves us a time and an opportunity to turn back to Him. In 2 Chron. 7, the LORD answers Solomon's prayer as the work of the new temple is completed. The LORD makes this promise: "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...mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place...and mine heart shall be there perpetually." (v. 11-16). That "place" was the temple, but we are the living temple of God. However, to Solomon, the LORD said, "...if thou wilt walk before me , as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father...But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; then I will pluck them up out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations..." (2 Chron. 7:17-22, excerpt). We know that Solomon did not walk after the LORD as his father, David, walked, and after Solomon's reign ended, the nation became divided, and many of the kings that followed established idols in the land. We are doing the same things as Israel did. We have just had an election in this country, and we voted for our choices. Will it change anything? The only thing that will change the desolation of our house is "If My people..." from 2 Chron. 7, which we read above. We recently honored our veterans, including those who gave their lives in service to this county, as we should. When will we honor Jesus, who died for us? God's people, for now, are being given the time and opportunity to repent, that God might heal our land. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/13/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Are You Ready?*

We see the signs of the times around us, and the Word of God is still going forth. However, we don't see the Church growing, and this is troubling. We see in the Book of Revelation: "And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God...for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand...Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb...These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19:1-9, excerpt). John was so overwhelmed by this vision and prophecy that he fell down and worshipped this voice in heaven. However, the voice who showed John these things was of the brethren and a fellow servant of God "that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (v. 10). Is the Church carrying this prophetic testimony of Jesus that causes those hearing it to fall down in worship? Has the Church made herself ready for the marriage supper? Wake up Church! Jesus told His listeners that they had better be ready, as those who await the return of their lord from a wedding: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning...that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching." (Lk. 12:35-37). Jesus said that when this lord comes home and finds his servants alert with a welcome, the lord will "gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them...blessed are those servants...Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not...Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."(v. 38, 40). If good servants in the world are expected to be always watchful and prepared for the return of their earthly master, how much more should a Church of believers be watchful and ready to receive the return of their Lord, Jesus Christ? Will He find us doing, as these good servants were? Jesus also spoke of the servants who were not found doing as the master had expected for his return, and were even abusing the other servants: "The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not (a)ware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew the lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." (v. 46-48). Those servants not found prepared and doing on behalf of the Master will be treated in the same manner as unbelievers at the Master's sudden return. Jesus said that He is come to send fire on the earth (v. 49). Today nations are hostile and at open warfare, and several involved have nuclear capability. The earth could be engulfed in fire at any time. Are we seeing the signs and making ourselves ready? Isaiah wrote of the "doing" that we should undertake as we watch for our Master's return: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bring good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice...they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion....he hath redeemed Jerusalem...all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." (Isa. 52:7-11, excerpt). As watchmen, we should be alertly watching, and shouting out regarding the good news of salvation. The LORD has, in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, already brought Zion and Jerusalem back in 1948. The world has been able to see the Salvation of God as never before in history with the revealing of the image on the Shroud of Turin to all. Jesus told parables of a man, and, in a similar parable, a king, who had prepared a wedding banquet for his son, and invited his guests. However, the guests had found excuses not to attend, citing the obligations and cares of this world, such as having bought a piece of land, or new oxen, or having just acquired a new wife. In one parable, the servants who were sent with the invitations were beaten and killed for doing so. The king then sent his soldiers to kill those who had done this, and destroy their cities. Strangers from the streets, like the poor, crippled, maimed, and blind, both bad and good, were then invited instead, even compelled, to the wedding supper. Of those who had refused the previous invitation, it was decided, "...none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper." The other people who were invited off the street to fill the banquet hall, however, were still expected to be dressed in the appropriate wedding garments. One of those guests failed to do so in Jesus' parable, and was asked why, but had no answer. The king then ordered: "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." (Lk. 14:16-24, Mt. 22:1-14). The wedding supper was not to be treated lightly in Jesus' two parables, and those who did treat it lightly or with disdain were harshly dealt with and excluded. One must be prepared in advance for a wedding. In the Jewish tradition, the betrothed bride weaves her wedding garment to prepare herself for her wedding. It is not something that can be done at the last moment. In another parable, Jesus told of five foolish virgins who, while waiting for the bridegroom to come, had not prepared themselves with the oil (symbolizing the Holy Spirit) needed to light their lamps as the five wise virgins had done. When the cry went out at midnight that the bridegroom was on the way, the foolish, unprepared virgins tried to scramble at the last minute to attain the necessary oil to light their lamps. By the time they got back, the bridegroom had already come and left, but "...they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came the other (foolish) virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Mt. 25:1-10). The cares and interests of this world can cause us to be unprepared for the day and the hour of the Lord's return. These worldly cares act as a snare to trap us, as Jesus said: "And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and 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). Again, Jesus said: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15). Immediately after this verse, the scriptures say that the kings of the earth, and the whole world, are then gathered together, drawn by the spirits of devils, to the place called Armageddon in Hebrew (v. 16). Watch, and have your wedding garment prepared. Demons are now actively in our faces. The false gods Molech and Ba'al are openly served and protected by law. Even the news media speaks of the conflicts of the day in reference to Armageddon. Are we beginning to understand what the Church has been called to "be doing" in these last days? There are those watchmen of the LORD who are supposed to be sending out the alarm as the beasts are about to devour, but the prophet Isaiah says of them: "His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, living to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter." (Isa. 56:10-11). What an indictment of a Church not found doing their job, and concerned only with themselves and their greed for more! Prosperity for itself is wrong. We are to seek first the kingdom of God, and all of the other things will be added unto us. God gives His people the power to get wealth in order to establish His covenant in the earth, not just for consumption on ourselves. The habitation of devils and every foul spirit, the cage of every unclean and hateful "bird", Babylon, is fallen, according to the prophetic judgment in Revelation. Its sure and complete destruction will come. The whole earth has taken part in this foul habitation, and has even become rich on its fine things. However, God is calling us to "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev. 18:1-4). This is not a political game. We have removed God from every public place, and replaced Him with devils and abominations. However, the deception of political correctness won't prevent the destruction that is to come upon this evil. Will God's people receive the warning to "Come out", or will they be caught in the downfall? We have seen already that life can end, and destruction can come, in a moment. We must repent, and the Lord promises to forgive us (see also 2 Chron. 7:14). We need to make ourselves ready, to act as if He is coming back today, and be found doing the Master's will when He returns. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/6/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Reviving the Great Commission*

We are living in the Laodicean Age of the Church. We will see exactly what that involves later. Because of the compromising condition of the Church today, we need a revival of the Great Commission that Christ gave to His disciples: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age)." (Mt. 28:18-20). He also added: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover...And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." (Mk. 16:15-20). Not only does the Great Commission speak about teaching the Gospel to all, and baptizing believers, but the Great Commission also specifically refers to miracles, signs, and wonders that follow the believers, and confirm the Gospel which they preach. Many in the Church do not believe in miracles today. Many seminaries do not teach the complete truth of the Great Commission to the future pastors who will lead the churches, so why would the churches believe? Even as Jesus was appearing to His disciples and delivered this Commission, "some doubted". (Mt. 28:17). We need a revival of the Great Commission today. What kind of disciples are we making? Without practicing the complete truth of the Great Commission, are we making the same kind of disciples of unbelief as Jesus accused the Pharisees of making? (Mt. 23:15). Let's now look at the Church of Laodicea, the notoriously lukewarm church mentioned in the beginning of this message. I think you will see a similarity to the Church of today: "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Rev. 3:14-19). However, the Lord will graciously receive His repentant Church: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to 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. 20-22). People in the Church believe that the solution is politics, even revolution, as we have seen. Even racism is being preached falsely in the name of Christ. This is not the zealous Church that the Lord is looking for. Jesus is not looking for a part-time, lukewarm, apathetic commitment to the Great Commission. The Lord doesn't want to date you - He wants to be married to you. When the Lord says above that He will "come in" to you, it is the same word used for when a devil enters a man. We foolishly welcome in devils in many different ways, but will we welcome Christ in? David wrote that the godly man has ceased. Instead, he wrote, men were using their lips in an ungodly manner, oppressing and dismissing those who are in need. Men, David said, claimed to own their own lips to use as they chose, saying, "Who is Lord over us?". They speak vanity. However, the Word of the LORD is different. It is a pure Word: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, while the vilest men are exalted." (Ps. 12). Isn't this what we are seeing today? The most vile are being exalted, even sometimes by the Church. Are we speaking the pure Words of the LORD, rather than our own words of vanity? The Church has taught "Name it and claim it", but this is false. The lips we speak with must speak out of a delight in the LORD, who then gives us the desires of our hearts - because our hearts desire Him, and His desires. This is an understanding that comes with maturity. Is the Church walking in this maturity? The revival of the Great Commission requires sound doctrine, rather than these doctrines of men, as Paul wrote to Titus: "...speak thou the things which become sound doctrine...For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. " (Titus 2:1, 11-15). Paul reminded Titus that the godly works we are called to do are not our own works but the work of grace and the Holy Spirit in us: "For we ourselves were sometimes foolish...hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:3-7). The revival of the Great Commission does not come out of our own works, but out of the root of grace, which also justified us, and gave us abundantly of the Holy Spirit. The fulfillment of the Great Commission will not come through riots in Washington DC, where police officers are assaulted with flags, or with anti-Semitic words of hate being poured out upon Jews, and those of others races, or of differing political beliefs. Paul wrote that the teaching of the Great Commission of grace in the Gospel must be committed to "faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. 2:1-2). Paul wrote that those who labor bringing the Great Commission of the Gospel will suffer and endure hardship so others "may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ with eternal glory." Men may try to put these workers in bonds to try to stop the Gospel, but the Word of God will not be bound (v. 9-10). "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us..." (v. 11-12). The revival of the Great Commission, even in the face of possible hardships, is more important now than ever before. We can see why as Paul wrote: "This know also, that in the ;ast days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). We can see these problems in our current time. A lukewarm Laodicean Church will not have any impact. Paul also wrote that these evil men will grow worse, and the godly will suffer persecution. However, he instructs Timothy: "...continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of...the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works...Preach the word..." (2 Tim. 3:12-17, 4:2). At the recent Commonwealth Games in Britain, there was a ceremony among the 56 member nations that included the open worship of the false god, Ba'al. We need a Church that understands the power and importance of reviving the Great Commission, and who will obey the command of Jesus Christ to preach it to every creature, with signs, wonders and miracles following. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/30/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Press Toward the Mark*

What does the Gospel mean to you, and to your life? Paul wrote urgently to the Church about the power, and the value of the Gospel to all who will receive it. He wrote of his own discovery of the difference between worship in the flesh, and worship in the Spirit, and what real circumcision means. It is an inward circumcision that changes us, and we become the circumcision (Phil. 3:1-3). Concerning who was "qualified" in the worship of God according to man's religious thinking, Paul filled all of those outward requirements. However, Paul found out that what he had once valued so highly, and in which he had put his confidence, which was his identity and background as a Jew, a learned Pharisee, and having attained the righteousness of the law, was really "dung" compared to what he had gained in Christ (v. 4-8): "...and I count all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...I have suffered the loss of all things...that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (v. 8-11). Paul wrote further that the Gospel was not done with him. He had not yet fully attained, or been perfected, "...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (v. 11-14). Paul said that this is the same mind that we should all have, joining together in this pursuit of the high calling (v. 15-17). Paul wrote that he weeps over many who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ- "whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." (v. 18-19). There are those who think they have attained Christ, yet they walk after things that are of the world, which destroy, and not of heaven. Pul called them "enemies of the cross". How many fall into this sad category? Our continuing walk in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in that upward calling, are those who "look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (v. 20-21). The Gospel of Christ surpasses the world, and all religion in its excellence and ongoing transformative power, and yet it is extremely simple:. The Gospel that Paul received, and gave up all in order to preach, is the following: "...Christ died for our sins acording to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Cor. 15:1-4). In fact, Paul wrote, if, as some say, Christ is not resurrected from the dead then our faith is in vain, and we are yet in our sins (v. 12-17). However He is indeed raised from the dead, and has become first fruits of them that have died (v. 20). Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and we must be changed. Paul described this change: "In a moment...at the last trump...the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (v. 50-52).In this moment of change through Christ, death is swallowed up in victory, as it is written, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?' The sting of death is sin ; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 54-58). Sin, death, and the grave have been overcome. Even our own corruptible bodies of flesh have been overcome in a moment through Christ. Paul concludes saying, "...be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord...you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." What are you working for - the things of this world? Whatever you are called to do by the Lord, do it with diligence. As we press toward the mark of the high calling established by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we see the power the Gospel has regarding resurrection and physical change over death. However, the change does not end there. Paul wrote of a mental and spiritual transformation as well: "I beseech you...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (spiritual worship). And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Rom. 12:1-2). Paul said that there is a choice we make - either to be conformed to the world, or transformed into a person who proves the will of God in himself. This transformation must begin in the renewal and washing of the mind in God's Word. We are not to think as the world thinks. We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we should, keeping in mind that we are each members of a greater whole, which is the Body of Christ. Each member has been equipped to edify that Body (v. 3-8). No one of us is the complete Body by ourselves, but each contributes a part according to the gifts given by grace to each member. Part of pressing toward the mark is not just about how we treat our friends, but even more importantly about how we treat those whom others do not value, or those who mean us harm: "Bless them which persecute you: bless and curse not...condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible...live peaceably with all men...avenge not yourselves...be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (v. 14-21). As we can see, these things above are not the way of the world, but they are the way of the high calling in Christ, and the will of God for us. Paul pointed out that, according to scripture, if we take vengeance for ourselves against an enemy, we remove vengeance out of the hands of the Lord, with Whom it belongs. As Jesus prayed to His Father regarding His disciples (and us, the future believers) just before He went to the cross, He prayed for the ones whom His Father had given to Him from out of the world, that they have kept the Father's Word (Jn. 17:5-6). Jesus had brought the Father's Word to them, and they had believed it, and had also believed on Him, as the One Whom the the Father had sent to them (v. 8). Jesus said, which may surprise some, that He wasn't praying for the world, but for those that had been given to Him from out of the world, and that He is glorified in them (v. 9-10). Jesus asked His Father to keep these disciples from evil through His name, because the world hated them, (v. 9-15). He prayed: "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth...Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one...that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me...I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one..." (v. 16-23). Jesus is praying for a unity here. The unity between His current disciples, and the believers who would believe at a later date. A unity with Him, and, as a result, a unity with the Father: One Body, One hope, One faith, One Spirit. This also is pressing toward the mark of the high calling in Christ. As Paul pointed out in Hebrews 11, each one, including Noah, with the building of the ark, and Abraham, who was looking for the city whose builder and maker was God, pressed toward the mark of the high calling by faith, and the resulting obedience to God's Word. God is preparing an ark in these last days also. Will we enter in, or be left outside knocking? Jesus said of these in His parable in Mt. 25 about the wise and foolish virgins, "Depart from Me. I never knew you." However, God is able to send revival to both the Jew and the Gentile. Keep pressing toward the mark and maturity in Him. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/23/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Foundations Forgotten, Abandoned, and Attacked*

There is a scripture in the Psalms that says, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Ps. 11:3). This destruction of the foundations is what is happening today, and there are consequences to the people of God as a result. Moses set the commandments of God as the foundation for living upon the land, and prospering: "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years...that he make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live...Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him...Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God...Lest when thou hast eaten and art full...Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God...and thou say in thine heart, My power, and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day...if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish... ". (Deut. 8:1-20, excerpt). This is a warning to us. We took prayer out of schools, and the Ten Commandments out of courthouses based on the lie that these things were unconstitutional, and based on lawsuits filed by offended atheists. The Gospel of Jesus is an offense to those who prefer to perish themselves, and to see others perishalso . Our national condition declined as we capitulated to those who advocated racial eugenics, including Margaret Sanger, who sought to establish abortion targeting minority communities. The people of God remained quiet and didn't do enough, and now we have not only forgotten the Godly foundations, but there is an active attack against those foundations. There are even groups like the 'The Christian Nationalists' that claim to be Christians, that speak against the Jewish people. They and other so-called Christians are adopting the doctrines of ungodly racial hatred. After Moses died, the LORD passed on the same commands to the new leader of the children of Israel, Joshua: "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law...turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Josh. 1:7-9). Courage, strength and obedience are required to remain standing on the foundation of God. There are consequences to forgetting the Godly foundations: "Because my people hath forgotten me,...and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths...to make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing...I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity." (Jer. 18:15-17). They even began devising ways to shut up the prophet Jeremiah from speaking the true Word of the LORD, preferring the ineffectual and compromising priesthood to continue to minister and advise them instead (v. 18). The religious leaders plotted against Jesus in the same manner when He taught truth. Later, Jeremiah revealed the Word of the LORD, describing the people as "lost sheep", coming and crying to the LORD, seeking the way to Zion, determining once again to join themselves to His perpetual covenant. They had become lost because their shepherds had caused them to go astray: "...they have forgotten their resting place." (Jer. 50:4-6). The foundations of God are the resting place of His people. Because they had forgotten God: "All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers." (v. 7). Those who came against these "lost sheep" felt justified in doing so, because, in their eyes, these lost sheep deserved the consequences for forgetting and sinning against God! There is an alarm to be sounded, and not silence to be kept, as we see the foundations being forgotten, abandoned and attacked. The prophet Hosea wrote: "Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law...Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him...I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing...now will he (the LORD) remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker...but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof." (Hos. 8:1-4, 12-14). As the people of God forgot their foundation in God, the enemy pursued them. Hosea also spoke of how the people of God used their gold and silver to make idols. They created gods out of their wealth. Jesus also warned "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Lk. 12:15). Then Jesus told the parable of the rich man whose ground had brought forth plentifully. He abounded so much, that he planned to tear down his old barn as being too small, and build greater to store all of his bounty, saying, "...there I will bestow all my fruits and goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." (v. 16-19). However, he would not be enjoying all of his accumulations for years, as he had thought, because the God said to him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" Jesus said, "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God." (v. 20-21). The accumulation of wealth in covetousness will draw God's people away from His foundation. Churches have become businesses, and accumulators of wealth. However, it is the foundations of God that give life and prosperity, and save the soul, as Moses and Joshua were told, and not hoarded wealth. Before Stphen was martyred for his faith in Christ, he reminded the assembled crowd about to kill him of their rebellious history with God, and His foundations. He told them that even though Moses prophesied of One that would be sent by God, they ignored the prophecy and rejected Jesus, their Messiah. In the same way, even though Moses miraculously received "the lively oracles" from God on Mt. Sinai to give to their fathers, "...our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt..." (Act 7:37-39). Stephen reminded those around him how their fathers had demanded that Aaron make them a calf, and then offered sacrifices to it (v. 40-41). God then gave them up to worship all sorts of false and even demonic gods. They rejected the worship and the tabernacle patterned after heaven, and instead chose to worship the profane things of the world (v. 42-44). Because they were continuing in this same rebellious spirit against the foundations of God, Stephen told them, "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye...who have received the law by the dispensation of angels, and have not kept it." (v. 51, 53). They showed this same spirit that persecuted the prophets when the Just One came "of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers." (v. 52). Before his death, Stephen, by the Holy Spirit, gave this indictment of the abandonment and attack against the foundation of God by their fathers, and now by themselves, the ones who rejected Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter wrote to the Church in order to stir up their remembrance of their pure minds of the words which had been spoken previously by the prophets, and now, by the commandments of the apostles of our Savior. (2 Pet. 3:1-2, see also 2 Peter 1). There will be those in the last days, Peter said, who will willingly forget that promise of God of His Son's return, and the judgment that awaits those who have rejected the knowledge of God. They do so because they prefer to walk in their own lusts. They scoff at the foundations of God, which is truth (v. 3-5). Peter then wrote that although God is patient with men, giving them time and every opportunity to repent so they may be saved rather than condemned, the judgment by melting fire, which is the day of the Lord, will surely come as promised. He asked then, "...what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (v. 8-11). How can we say that the foundations have not been forgotten when each day brings a news report of another act of mindless violence and ungodliness? As His people, we are not tp forget the foundations that have been given to us by God through His Word and His Son so that we may live and prosper. God does not desire to see anyone got to Hell, but to be saved from destruction. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/16/2022 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, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.