Mother's Day 2022*

We, at Everlasting Covenant have always had very special Mother's Days. God worked, and still works, many miracles through, and on behalf of, mothers. The first mention of "mother" is found in Genesis: "And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living." (Gen. 3:20). The three pictographic Hebrew letters that make up the name "Eve" mean fence, peg, covenant: or protection, secure, unbreakable promise. The root word meaning is "to breathe, bring forth (declare or show)". God breathed into Adam's nostrils to create a living soul. The mother is the bond of the family, who fences and secures it. The woman gives life, and Yeshua, Jesus, is called "a life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45). Later, we see that Jacob's first wife, Leah, although she was unloved, bore children, while Rachel, Jaacob's much-loved second wife, was barren (Gen. 29:31). However, as Rachel cried to the LORD, He heard and answered her: "And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb." (Gen. 30:22). God is the One who opens the womb. We believers in Christ have been called to bring forth spiritual life in the earth. It is the seed of the Word that we plant. God brought forth living things whose seed was in itself, according to Genesis. The man has seed, but the woman is necessary to bring it forth. Society and so-called science are trying to change this rule of creation in these last days. It is God's creative will, however, concerning His people: "Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle." (Deut. 7:14). Male and female created He them, although the world says differently. It was considered a reproach among men when a woman could not bear children, although the LORD said that barrenness could be present in either the male or female. Faced with this reproach for years, a priest's wife, Elizabeth, who was barren, conceived a child in her old age, who would be John the Baptist. Elizabeth had known that it was the Lord who had dealt with her (Lk. 1:24-25, 36). Six months later, the angel Gabriel would inform Mary, an unmarried virgin, that she also, like her cousin Elizabeth, would conceive a child. Even though her circumstances would speak otherwise, the angel assured her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her, and she would conceive as a result. The holy thing born, the angel said, would be called the Son of God (Lk. 1:35). The Holy Spirit gives us the power to conceive and bring forth life, both physical and spiritual life. After His resurrection, Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and began to open their understanding of the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, which He had fulfilled with His suffering and resurrection. He further instructed them, because they were witnesses to these things, to preach repentance and the remission of sins to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem (Lk. 24:44-47). Jesus added: "And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be indued with power from on high." (v. 49). The prophet Daniel also wrote about the people who know their God and do great exploits. Of this same truth, the Apostle Peter wrote of the divine power that has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness. This same divine power, according to the precious promises which God has given us, enables us to be partakers of the divine nature. About the importance of having the characteristics of this divine nature he wrote: "...if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:1-8, excerpt). Everything concerning our walk of faith incorporates the fruitfulness of motherhood: "...Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband." (Gal. 4:26-27, see also Isa. 54:1). The fruitfulness associated with motherhood is such a foundational truth that even evil powers steal it to spread wickedness in the earth, and in the spirit. One of the powers of wickedness in the end times is called the Whore of Babylon, who will be subjected to the judgment of God. She encompasses such a large territory that she is described as sitting upon many waters, or peoples. She has committed fornication with kings, and all of the inhabitants of the earth have gotten drunk on the wine she has given to them. The scarlet colored beast that she sits upon is full of blasphemies. She is arrayed like royalty in purple and scarlet, and adorned in wealth with gold and precious jewels. She holds a cup in her hand "full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." (Rev. 17:1-5). She is a mother of harlots like herself, so she will bear fruit, although it is wicked fruit, and abominations. The drunkenness associated with her and those who partake with her, is not the drunkenness of wine as we know it, but it is drunkenness with the blood of the saints, and their martyrdom. She is associated with a city that sits upon seven hills. Those who wonder (with admiration) at her and the beast from the pit that she rides upon, are those "whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." (v. 8). The kings who are given power to rule by the Beast will make war against the Lamb, the King of Kings, and those with Him, but He shall overcome them (v. 13-14). The people and nations who are under the power of the Beast spoken of, accomplish God's purpose, whether they know it or not: "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." (v. 17). It is time for the Chruch to bring forth godly fruit and life, by the power of the Holy Spirit, given to those who believe Christ and will receive the Spirit promised by God. Church traditions, and the traditions and doctrines of men, don't bring forth that kind of life, but only the Life-Giving Spirit, Jesus. This Mother's Day, call your mother, and do something nice for her in appreciation of her. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/8/2022 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, and theshroudofturin.org.