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.