The Prayer For These Times*

Considering the times in which we are living, a quote from one of our nation's founders, Thomas Paine, is very appropriate: "These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." from The American Crisis, 1775. These words apply not only to physical hardships, but to spiritual struggles as well. There is an ongoing struggle for spiritual fullness and maturity in the Body of Christ. The prayer that speaks to our goal of the fullness of Christ was prayed by Jesus, Himself, for His disciples, but also for those who would later believe as a result of His disciples' Word, which includes us (Jn. 17:20). Jesus had a vision for His believers, and He prayed accordingly to His Father in heaven, and that prayer is especially timely for all of us today who believe in Him. Jesus had been preparing His disciples for the coming tribulation, and then said: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (Jn. 16:33). Jesus then prayed to His Father that His hour had come (to die), and asked Him to glorify His Son, so His Son might glorify Him. The Father had given Jesus authority over all flesh so that Jesus should give eternal life to all who were given to Him (Jn. 17:1-3). Jesus prayed to His Father about the glory that He had with the Father from the beginning, and that He had finished the work which the Father had sent Him to do (v. 4-5). The presence of Jesus was in the very beginning of the Book of Genesis, and is found within the Hebrew language used in chapter 1 and verse 1 for the word "God", in the phrase "In the beginning God...". This word "God" is written as Elohim-aleph tav. The "aleph tav" is the same as the Greek "Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, ...the beginning and the end", by which Jesus is identified in the Book of Revelation. John Ch. 1 also identifies Jesus as the Word of, in, and with God at the beginning of creation. As Jesus continued to pray to His Father, He said: "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world...they have kept thy word." (v. 6). In His prayer to the Father, Jesus spoke repeatedly of the Word, the glory, the Father's Name, the truth, and the love which had been received by His disciples from Him, as they had believed Him (v. 8-19). This was the finished work Jesus spoke of to the Father which was accomplished through Him: "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me...the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (v. 21-23). Our oneness with Jesus and the Father brings the believers into the fullness and perfection needed, not only for our own spiritual life, but as an illustration of the truth of Jesus and the Father to the world. This is the purpose of the new birth, to become one with Jesus in our hearts, yet, we see divisions within the Church and the individual believers over political and social issues, race, and doctrines. The apostle Paul in Ephesians 4 also wrote about the connection that the unity in Christ has with the fullness of Christ: "And he gave some, apostles;and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge (epiginosko (Grk) - to know thoroughly and accurately, to recognize, to perceive who a person is) of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ..." (Eph. 4:11-13). The Body of Christ has difficulty accepting the ministry of apostles and prophets, but they are appointed by God until the Body becomes unified, perfect and full in the stature of Christ. We have not attained these goals in Christ yet. We are not to be separated and pulled away by deceiving doctrines of cunning men (v. 14). We are to speak the truth in love, and we also increase and edify the Body of Christ in love, Paul wrote (v. 15-16). The new birth produces a new man, who walks in righteousness and holiness, putting away the ways and thoughts of the old, corrupt man. We can walk in it by the renewing of the spirit of our minds (v. 17-24, also Phil. 3:13). We press, like Paul, toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This is the path we walk to perfection. It is in Christ. (Phil. 3:12-16). Jesus prayed to the Father about His disciples becoming one in Him as He was one with the Father. Paul wrote of this as being his ministry, which fulfills the Word of God: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory...that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (Col. 1:24-29). This is not accomplished by religion, but through the mystery that was not known before Christ prayed it: Oneness in Christ and His glory, Who is one with the Father and His glory. This newly manifested knowledge of God and of the Father, and of Christ, causes us to be knitted together in love. (Col. 2:1-2). Paul wrote: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." (v. 6-7). Again Paul wrote, "...put on the new man", and that new man, who is renewed in knowledge and in the image of Him that created him, is not divided by racial, ethnic, cultural or social considerations because "Christ is all, and in all." (Col. 3:10-11). This renewing knowledge must change our attitudes and behavior, as our walk is a walk in Christ, where the Word of Christ dwells in us richly (see v. 12-17). Peter wrote that we were to humble ourselves before God, and resist the devil with our brethren, as God has called us into His eternal glory by Christ Jesus (1 Peter 5:6-11). In this we join a great multitude in heaven from among all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues who came out, and will come out, of great tribulation and now stand before the Lamb of God clothed in white robes. They have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9-13). This is the prayer of Jesus to His Father for all of us, and for this time. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 8/21/2022 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 endtimeschool, also on Facebook.

Watchman, What of the Night that Cometh?*

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

Where Are The Ducks?*

When a hunter wants to draw ducks to a body of water, he will set out decoys. The decoys are used to draw ducks so they can be slaughtered for food. We have a saying that "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck!". However, there are those who look like ducks, but they are, in fact, decoys. Jesus told the parable of the unjust judge who, because of the troubling pleas from a widow to receive justice against her adversary, gives in and agrees to avenge the widow against her adversary (Lk. 18:1-6). Using this parable, Jesus said, "And shall not God avenge his own elect who cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (v. 7-8). Jesus pointed out that there will be a challenge to faith in the earth, even within the elect of God. Most believers understand the importance of faith in our walk, but do we really understand how completely we will have to be walking in faith? Our faith will be constantly challenged. Paul wrote that the Holy Spirit spoke distinctly that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith "giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (1 Tim. 4:1-2). Paul wrote that some of the false doctrines will include the forbidding of marriage, and the abstaining from certain meats. However, all of our food is from God, and to be received with thanks, having been sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. This is known to those who believe and know the truth (v.4-5). Paul told Timothy to be nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine, which he has already attained, and minister the same to others. Decoys bring the doctrines of devils before the Body of Christ to compromise their faith, and lead them into slaughter as a result. Jesus also said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits...Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast forth into the fire...Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Abd then I will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity." (Mt. 7:15-23). The wolves look like the sheep from the outside. They act like the sheep, doing works in the name of Jesus, but their motivation is to get close to the sheep to devour them. They are like the duck decoys mentioned above. Peter wrote to the church that we should humble ourselves "under the mighty hand of God. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pet. 5:6-8). Faith begins by humbly placing ourselves under the care of God. The adversary is described as a roaring lion. Only old, toothless lions roar as they hunt. The devil has become toothless because of the oercoming work of Jesus on the cross, and His resurrection from death. Yet those who do not walk in faith in God, can easily fall victim to this adversary. John wrote that we should not believe every spirit, but must "test" the spirits. He said that many false prophets have gone out in the world. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Those spirits that do not make this confession are of the antichrist, whose spirit is already in the world. We have been given the Holy Spirit in us, who is greater than the spirit of the world (1 John 4:1-4). If you have accepted Christ, you must rely on the Holy Spirit in you. The thief comes to kill, rob, and destroy, but Jesus came to give abundant life. There are also decoys that come dressed in religious titles and robes. There were seven sons of the Jewish chief of priests, named Sceva (meaning "mind reader"). The sons of Sceva would travel around performing exorcisms. They would cast out demons "by Jesus whom Paul preaches". On this occasion, the evil spirit that possessed a man answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" The seven sons were battered and stripped by the man possessed of the evil spirit. Many hearing this account of what happened to the seven sons of Sceva then believed in Jesus after seeing what happened to these counterfeit believers, these decoys (Acts 19:13-19). In contrast, the apostle Paul, an authentic servant of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, could send out handkerchiefs from his body, and people would be healed of sicknesses, and delivered from evil spirits (Acts 19:12). As a ministry, and believers by faith in Christ, we have sent out many prayer cloths over the years to those who have been sick, and we have heard many resulting testimonies of miracles. Another example from scripture resulted in the formation of a decoy state religion. Israel was a divided kingdom, north and south. The king of the northern kingdom, Jeroboam, was afraid that his people would go to Jerusalem to worship, and would then be reconciled to the king of the southern kingdom, Judah, who was Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, of the house of David. So Jeroboam created a religion to be practiced by his people. He made two golden calves and placed them in Bethel (meaning "House of God"), and Dan (meaning "judge, govern"), with altars for sacrifices to these two idols. We can see that counterfeits were established even in a place meaning "the house of God". This became a sin for the people. Jeroboam even established a counterfeit priesthood, chosen not from the Levites, as the Word of God required, but from the lowest people. Jeroboam instituted his own feasts that would occur at the same time as the Feasts of the LORD in Jerusalem, so his people would not go to Jerusalem, as commanded by God. A prophet of God from Judah came to the decoy altar at Bethel while Jeroboam was there to burn incense. This prophet cried out against that altar the prophetic word of the LORD regarding a king who would be born from the house of David, named Josiah. This future king, Josiah, would burn the false priests upon this same altar of Jeroboam. As a sign, that altar was rent, and its ashes were scattered, and Jeroboam's hand, with which he had threatened the prophet, was dried up (1 Kings 12-13). Politicians who try to establish a religious-like attachment of the people to themselves is seen to this day, and many believers have put their faith in these spiritual decoys that rise from both sides of political doctrine. What can we do to wake up the Church? Fires, tornadoes, pestilences have too many people looking to politicians and legislative bills for answers and relief. We don't have time to play this dangerous game. Jesus said that except these days be shortened, no flesh will be saved (Mt. 24:22). When I see Him, I want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." With my words, and my walk, I want to share the saving truth of the Gospel. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 8/8/21 message to the church. To contact us: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.