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.

The Good Fight*

For many years now, I have been bringing forth a 2 Chron. 7:14 message: "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." However, all we are seeing instead is division, fighting and strife. The people of God do not understand their warfare. The root of our warfare was shown to us from the beginning, in the Garden: "Now the serpent (meaning sprouts, spreads, separation, cut-off, destruction) was more subtil (meaning door or path that adds chaos) than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Gen. 3:1). The serpent, who was questioning the woman, was a created being. The woman answered the serpent incorrectly that although they could eat of all the other trees, God had commanded not to eat of nor touch the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, "lest ye die". "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die." (v. 2-4). As we see the meaning of the word "serpent" above, we can't help but to notice that Christians are divided and fight with one another. What should our good fight be instead? King Jehoshaphat faced a battle with all of the armies of both Moab, and Ammon, which had come against Judah: "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the LORD...". (2 Chron. 20:1-5). Jehoshaphat immediately went to the promise and remedy of 2 Chron. 7:14, as stated above. Jehoshaphat stood in the house of the LORD, and began to pray and remind himself of the power of God, as David once did when he faced Goliath. Jehoshaphat said: "...in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God...?" (v. 5-7). Jehoshaphat then directly brought the words of 2 Chron. 7 before the LORD: "If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help...And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children." (v. 9-13). Then the Spirit of the LORD then came upon one of the Leviites, Jahaziel ("beheld of God"), and he began to prophesy: "...Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's...Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you...fear not nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you." (v. 17). Jehoshaphat and all of Judah bowed before the LORD and worshipped Him, and the Levites began to praise the LORD with a loud voice. Jehoshaphat declared, "...Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (v. 18-20). As they went out before the enemy armies the next day, Jehoshaphat told the singers to lead the army out with the praise of the LORD's beauty and holiness, singing: "Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever." (v. 20-21). The enemy armies began turning against each other as the LORD set spiritual ambushments against them. Judah saw the destruction of the enemy, and the king, and his people came to take away the great spoil from the dead enemies that took three days to gather. On the fourth day, Judah assembled in the Valley of Berachah ("Blessing"), and blessed the LORD there. (v. 22-26). Our good fight, in the same manner, includes praise, cleansing of self, and seeking His face. Paul wrote of the things necessary to fight the good fight also. He wrote that our weapons and our enemies are spiritul rather than natural: "(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 readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor. 10:4-6). The good fight begins with our own thoughts and obedience. As we saw the beginning of our warfare in Genesis 3 with the destructive ways of the serpent, Paul wrote about the good fight that we wage against the devil: "...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (methodeia - methods, cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery, lying in wait) of the devil. For we wrestle 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." (Eph. 6:10-12). Because the whole armor of God is to be used against wicked spiritual powers rather than flesh and blood, the components of this armor are special in meaning and power. First is to have our loins girded with TRUTH. Let God be true and every man a liar (Rom. 3:4), and lies are all around us today and increasing in number. We put on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS - not our righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ by faith. Our feet must be shod with the preparation of the GOSPEL of peace, for we are not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation wherever we walk, for all who will receive it. The Gospel says that there is a sacrifice that has been provided for sin, and we have all sinned. The shield that protects us against every fiery dart of the enemy is made of FAITH. Like the Levites who went out before Jehoshaphat's army, we praise Him as we believe Him. We wear the helmet of SALVATION upon our heads to protect our minds, and to cast down reasonings and imaginations. We take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD. In this armor, we pray for all of the saints, regardless of denomination, and for our spiritual leaders, so they may have utterance to boldly make known the Gospel (v. 14-19). These things are our warfare tools to withstand the evil day (v. 13). One additional thing that we need to fight the good fight is contentment (1 Tim. 6:6). We see now how men's love of money and wealth is the root of all evil, and has led many to fall into a trap of destruction. The love of money has even led some into error in the faith (v. 7-10). We are to follow instead after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness, and fight the good fight of faith, laying hold onto eternal life, to which we have been called (v. 11-12). Faith requires a fight - not on the streets, or in the political arenas, but in the Spirit, and in the power of God. We need to contend in this good fight for the faith that has been delivered to us, because there are those who will creep in, in order to turn the grace of God into the denial of Him (Jude 3-4). Instead, "...let the peace of God rule in your hearts...and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col. 3:16-17). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/12/2022 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.com.

Whose Report Will You Believe?*

Not all who claim to prophesy or minister in the name of the Lord are really doing so. In this time, we are hearing from many various people who say that they have a Word from the Lord. How do we know what to believe? Jesus described this situation: "Not every one who saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23). Jesus pointed out that the people were listening to the wrong voices, and ignoring the voice, Himself, that was sent to them from the Father, and in whose name He came. The Father attaches His honor to those who truly represent Him, and not themselves, Jesus said (see Jn. 5:43-44). Prophecy from the flesh or the will of men does not represent the will of God. The Apostle Peter warned the church: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as 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..." (2 Pet. 2:1-3). By these words of Peter's we learn that we must be careful of what we speak, that our words must represent the truth of God, and not of ourselves. There are those who teach doctrines regarding how one must be saved. Keep in mind, that Jesus died for all. He was crucified between two thieves. One mocked Him, but the other asked Jesus to "remember me". There doesn't have to be a set sinner's prayer according to a denomination or doctrine. The thief cried from his heart with just two words, and Christ assured him that his request would be given to him. The Lord knows how to reach hearts. Paul wrote to Timothy regarding the importance of truth versus falsehood: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim. 4:1-2). We are to be always ready to teach God's Word, not doctrines of men or denominational precepts that do not line up with the Word. We are to deliver correction according to the Word, even if it is not popular. Paul wrote that we would see the time come when the Word of God would not be welcome: "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." (v. 3-4). There is a limited amount of time when the true Word of God will be received when spoken. We are already seeing it. Ezekiel wrote the Word of the LORD concerning false prophets, and their lying reassurances given to the people of God: "Prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD...Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!...mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and divine lies...Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar...the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the LORD God." (Ezek. 13:1-16, excerpt). Prophets were assuring Jerusalem that the LORD sent a Word of "Peace" towards it, but that was not the case, and the people were misled. Prophets were not prophesying upon the direction of the LORD. What men think will bring peace, especially concerning Jerusalem and Israel, which is a division of Jerusalem or the nation, is not what the Lord says. Jeremiah also brought the Word of the LORD concerning the false prophets and a nation that was happy to be misled into believing that their enemy would not overcome them: "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" (Jer. 5:30-31). In the end times, we need the Word from God, not man. Jeremiah also wrote that the people wandered from God, preferring the lies of the false prophets. Because of this, the LORD would not hear their cries to Him, or accept their offerings. They would suffer instead: "...I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence." (Jer. 14:12). We are also experiencing this in our own nation now. Jeremiah sadly pointed out to the LORD that the people had followed the false prophecies saying that the LORD had assured them of peace. The LORD then said regarding the false prophets: "The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart." (v. 13-14). The Lord said to Jeremiah and Ezekiel the same Word of truth. To Jeremiah, the LORD promised that both the false prophets, and the people who listened to them would be consumed and disposessed by the same sword and famine that they refused to believe would happen: "I will pour their wickedness upon them." (v. 15-16). Preferring to believe false prophets because they seem to bring a more desirable word brings consequences. In another part of Jeremiah, the LORD gave His Word concerning the strengthening of evil and lack of healing repentance as a result of believing the false prophets: "I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah." (Jer. 23:14). Are we also rushing to Gomorrah? The LORD said that the false prophets say to those who walk after their own imaginations, "No evil shall come upon you." (v. 17). Haven't we seen evil growing stronger, and a complete lack of repentance in this age? The LORD said, "Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD has gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind...The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days, ye shall consider it perfectly." (v. 19-20). In the latter days in which we live now, we will see the culmination of the anger of the LORD, and we will understand its cause because He has warned us with this Word to His true prophets. However, the LORD also spoke to Jeremiah regarding what the people can do, what we can do. Even as these false prophets are not uncovering our iniquity as they should, which would turn away our captivity, Jeremiah remembers that there is a hope: "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him....both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD." (Lam. 2:14, 3:21-26). The Word of the LORD promises that if His people, who are called by His name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways; then He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14). False peophets discourage people from repenting of their sin, but the people who believe the true Word of the LORD, are still given the promise in hope that the LORD will receive a humble and contrite heart of repentance, and work healing because of it. Whose report will you believe? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/22/2022 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.

Feast of Atonement*

Last week, we discussed the Feast of Trumpets, the first of the fall feasts of the LORD. This week, we will be talking about the next upcoming feast, the Feast of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. It is described in Leviticus: "And the LORD spake unto Moses saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." Lev. 23:27-32 During this time of the fall feasts, it is a time for self-examination and repentance. This is called "teshuva" in Hebrew. At the Feast of Atonement the blessing is said, "May you be inscribed for a good year." With Christ as our everlasting fulfillment of the Feast of Atonement, we can say instead, "May you be inscribed for life, or in the Book of Life." Revelation says that all will worship the beast, or Antichrist, whose names are not written in the Book of Life "of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world."(Rev. 13:7-8). This Feast of Atonement is the opportunity to become part of the atonement made for us by the Messiah, and to become inscribed in the Book of Life. Christ as our Passover is not the same as Christ as our Atonement. The Passover was to deliver Israel out of slavery. In the same way, Christ as our Passover delivered us from the bondage of sin, and its penalty, death. However, the Atonement is the provision through our priestly Intercessor, Jesus, for our recommitted sin after our deliverance, and within our covenant relationship. This coming Feast of Atonement is especially important for our nation right now. Our nation is at the same crossroads described by Ezekiel. The elders of God's people, who were engaged in idolatry of all kinds in their hearts, came to seek the Word of the LORD from the prophet. Their iniquity was a stumbling block that estranged them from God. The LORD commanded His prophet to speak of the condition of the land because of the hearts of His people being filled with idolatry and iniquity: "The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver [but] their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: [Though] these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. Or [if] I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. Or [if] I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness. For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, [both] sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, [even] concerning all that I have brought upon it." Ezek. 14:12-22 Because of the idolatrous, unrepentant condition of God's people, four judgments would be sent upon the land: famine, beasts, the sword, and pestilence. In the face of these judgments, even the presence of righteous deliverers like Noah, Daniel, and Job, will not be able to deliver the land out of judgment. They will only be able to save themselves. However, out of this judgment upon the land, a remnant will be brought forth that will cause all to be comforted as they see what God has produced out of this judgment. We have seen the sword come upon our land with the 9/11 attacks. Now we are seeing the pestilence. Will we heed the warning from God and avail ourselves of the atonement that He has provided for His covenant people? The condition of our nation is beyond the ability of politics or man to remedy. The only thing is a 2 Chron. 7:14 repentance by the people of God. Yet I see a form of self-righteousness like that of the Pharisees and Saducees that felt themselves justified while they looked down upon a sinner who was genuinely repentant. But Jesus said this repentant man went away justified rather than the slef-righteous religious people. It is not the work of our own righteousness that will justify us, but the application of Christ's blood of atonement on the mercy seat for those who are in covenant by the Lamb. This atonement blood allows us to seek our Intercessor at the Throne of Grace. One of the activities that the Jewish people engage in during this time of the fall feasts is to gather in small groups to examine each other and confess their sins and shortcomings. We also have the promise that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 Jn. 1:9). *Based upon Dr. Stevenson's 9/20/20 message to the Church. To contact this ministry: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705

America, Seek His Face*

 

We have been talking about the necessity of seeking God's face. We have spoken about how the scriptures reveal a miraculous image of the Lord that kings may look upon and understand without anyone telling them. We have found such an image of the Lord's face and body on the Shroud of Turin. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church of Galatia about an "engraving" they had seen with their own eyes (Gal. 3:1).

We will see how seeking the Lord's face, not only powerfully impacts individuals, but whole nations as well. Considering the conditions in this nation, it is urgent that America seeks His face.

The LORD would appear at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation to meet with Moses. The LORD would speak from within a cloudy pillar: "And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend."  Ex. 33:11

As Moses spoke to the LORD, he began to petition the LORD for the people, the children of Israel:

"Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he (the LORD) said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." 
                                                                                             Ex. 33:13-14

However, the children of Israel became rebellious, forgetting the miracle deliverance power of God. As they experienced challenges in the wilderness, they blamed Moses and Aaron, and they wished they had died instead in Egypt, or in the wilderness (Num. 14:1-2). That generation, by the way, eventually got their faithless wish.
Most of the spies sent to scout out the new land of promise, had brought back a frightening report regarding the fierce inhabiting hostile tribes of that land. However, two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, encouraged the people in their trust of the LORD to enter into the land which the LORD had given them saying of those tribes, "...the LORD is with us, fear them not." The people desired to stone them, rather than to listen to their words of faith and truth. This s the same Joshua, by the way, who would remain behind in the tabernacle of meeting as Moses would go in and out. He is the same Joshua who would lead the people after Moses' death, and who would tell the people, "...choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

As a result of their unbelief and rebellion, the LORD became angry with the people. He said to Moses, "How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they." v. 11-12

Hasn't America shown the same rebellion and unbelief towards God? How long can we provoke God, and mock Him, and reject His ways?

Moses then began to intercede for the children of Israel, telling the LORD that Egypt was watching God's relationship with Israel, and would send word to the tribal inhabitants of the land in Canaan, "...that thou LORD art among this people, that thou  LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them...And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now."  v. 13-19

The LORD heard Moses and answered him, "I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD"  v. 20-21

Not only did the prayer of Moses, a man who had known God's grace, and had seen Him face to face, turn the deserved anger of the LORD away from the children of Israel, but also generated the promise of God to fill the whole earth with His glory. The grace found within a face to face relationship with the LORD impacted a man, a nation, and the whole earth. God creates miracles in our face to face relationship with Him. God does not seek a religion, but a face to face relationship with man, and always has, even from the beginning in the Garden.

Moses told Israel that as they had met with the LORD face-to-face, God created a covenant relationship with them, giving them His statutes and judgments: a relationship unlike any that had existed with their forefathers. At that time, Moses had to position himself between the people and God, and deliver His Word to them, because of their fear (Deut. 5:1-6). Moses had stood in the gap on behalf of the nation again, face to face with God.

We also have the assurance as we seek the face of God, that by His Grace, in the form of His Son, Jesus, we need not fear death, but have been passed from death unto life.
America, we were born and formed as a nation by the Word and Spirit of God. We were bold, brave, and abundantly blessed because of our trust in God, and our reverence for Him. Like Israel, we were a people to whom God spoke face to face. However, the world's once shining example and champion has become a weak and sick captive to its own sin, iniquity, wickedness, and rebellion against God. Our great riches have dried up, and blown away like dust in a matter of months. Pandemic sickness and death has taken more of our people than in any other nation on earth. Racial hatred has been exposed in us. Political strife and financial confusion rule our days, and chaos and violence have become the rulers of our nights. People are exiting our cities in droves seeking places of safety and security, but none can be found.
America, it is time to seek God's face. It is not yet too late. Grace, forgiveness and redemption are found in His face, as we saw when Moses interceded on behalf of a rebellious people. In 2 Chron. 7:14, the LORD promises, "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."
 

*The above is based upon the 8/16/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance, or Memorial Fund for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:

  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

 

 Remembering:



                                                                   Sean Stevenson

Monuments, Men, and Movements**

National Monument to the Forefathers

Plymouth, MA

 

The three words used in the title of this message, monuments, men, and movements, have been in the news lately. Monuments have caused great debate, and some have been torn down. The lives of men, particularly African-American men, have been cut down for little or no reason. Movements have begun from Black Lives Matter to White Nationalists, and Antifa.

The monument pictured above, thankfully, is not one of those being talked about for destruction. It is the one referred to in the documentary, "Monumental", which is highly recommended if you have not seen it. The idea behind its creation and dedication, was to serve as a reminder to the American people of the foundational truths upon which our nation was founded, including the Word of God. This monument, called the National Monument to the Forefathers, was created in anticipation of a time when, as a people, America found itself falling away from its foundation which was established upon these Godly principles. This Monument serves as a signpost for the way back to our original purpose, promise, and identity as a nation. We have definitely found ourselves at such a point in our history when we need this help.

The prophets in scripture spoke to Israel of its similar sorry condition, as they left the knowledge and Word of God behind. What the prophets spoke to Israel could very well apply to our nation as well in this present day. Ezekiel 22 describes this condition that applies to the United States, as it did to Israel, with a sober warning from God. Some of those sins and abominations include:

*Cities that shed blood in the midst of them

*the making of idols

*being the receiver of reproach and mocking from other nations because of our wickedness

*corrupt princes who have shed blood and oppressed the weaker people

*despising the holy things of God and profaning His Sabbaths; forgetting God Himself

*abomination and defiling, lewd behavior against family members and neighbors

*bribery, usury, greed, extortion, dishonest gain

*devouring, lying prophets, priests and princes, who lie for gain

*the common people of the land following the same abominable and oppressive behavior as their political and spiritual leaders

It is obvious how similarly our nation has fallen away as had the nation of Israel spoken of here by the word of the LORD to the prophet. The prophet warned that the LORD's wrath would be released upon the nation (v. 13-22). We should consider that the same warning must also then apply to us and to our time: 

"Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof."    Ezek. 22:21

Perhaps, though, the greatest tragedy of all concerning this corrupt, ungodly, and violent people can be found in the following verse:

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."  v. 30

Concerning America, God is looking for those who will stand up and make up the hedge; those who will, according to 2 Chron. 7:14, humble themselves, repent, pray, seek God's face, turn from their wicked ways, so God can heal our land. Where are those who will do that?

The prophet Isaiah also wrote of things that apply directly to America now. The LORD spoke, even sang, of the beautiful vineyard of His Beloved. He revealed this vineyard as being Judah and Israel, but again, the same could be said of America. The vineyard was well tended, and had the potential to be greatly fruitful. The LORD had the expectation that the best grapes would be produced, since those were the varieties planted, but instead, disappointingly sour, immature wild grapes were produced instead. There could not have been a more blessed and protected vineyard, but now that protection would be removed from it. It would cease to be a vineyard of grapes, and instead become overrun and trampled. Briars and thorns would grow in it, and no rain would fall upon it (Isa. 5:1-6).

The prophet continues to reveal woes that would come upon the people who are like this ruined vineyard. The LORD mentioned in particular that these people took land in a greedy grab for real estate (v. 8). We have done this throughout our history as well to indigenous people, those who could not stand up to an army, or have any remedy against a corrupt treaty. This land grab was excused in our nation under the banner of "Manifest Destiny".
The LORD also describes a people to the prophet Isaiah who no longer had consideration for the work of the hands of the LORD, casting it aside (v. 12). Although they are called to holy appointments with the LORD, they instead indulge in drunken and carnal entertainments. Because of these things the prophet wrote:

"Therefore hell hath enlarged itself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it."  v. 14

Woes are prophesied by Isaiah for those who "call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (v. 20). We have seen this in our nation like never before. Godly things are rejected, and sinful things are celebrated: "...they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." (v. 24).

Hell is not a legend nor a joke. Wickedness had grown so pervasive across the land, that Hell had to be enlarged to receive those who engage in it. Ron Reagan, Jr., the son of the former president, mocked the idea of Hell, and defiantly claimed that he was not afraid of it, but it is something to fear indeed. It is for eternity.

Again, the question is asked in Isaiah 6: "...Whom shall I send, and who shall go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me." (v. 8). The LORD continues on to tell the one who will go, to give the warning to this people. The LORD is looking for someone to speak up in warning, and to intercede.

Judgment is real, and, unless America heeds the warning, we will see the consequences. The responsibility lays in the hands of God's people, who are called by His name.

 



**The above is based upon the 7/5/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:

  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

 

 



                                                                   Sean Stevenson

First Become Humble*

The Good Samaritan

 

“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.”

2 Chron. 7:14

As I have discussed in many previous messages, our nation needs the healing that is found in the above chapter and verse from 2 Chronicles. The responsibility and call is to God's people, who are called by His name. The first thing mentioned above, in order to turn a nation's sickness into healing, is for God's people to humble themselves. However, rather than being an age of humility, this era has instead become one associated with pride. Pride has become connected with everything, including things which are against the Word of God. Pride on both sides of the racial divide is threatening to tear our nation apart. It is even more important then, for God's people to understand the need to be humble, but, unfortunately, I have not seen this in practice across the Body of Christ. Scripture teaches the value that God places upon the humble heart:

"...ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time....Submit yourselves therefor to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" 

                                                                        1 Pet. 5:5-6. and James 4:6-7, 10

The Word also tells us that pride is associated with destruction, not healing:

"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." Pr. 29:23

The prophets also revealed the spiritual power and blessing of humility:

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  Isa. 57:15

God's promise is to dwell among His people, to tabernacle in their midst, restoring the relationship He had in the beginning with Adam in the Garden, through Jesus, His Son. This requires a humble and contrite heart in His people. He has shown us what is good, "...and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"  Mic. 6:8

We have seen very little justice and mercy. Those who are wounded, downtrodden, disregarded for racial or ethnic reasons, and even those just going about innocent activities, are being targeted and murdered. Sean Stevenson, my son, was a murder victim in Missoula, Montana, under mysterious circumstances. No answers are forthcoming from the authorities in regard to his murder. Each week, more victims are sadly added to the list, and there is no justice, no mercy, no humility, and certainly no repentance.

Jesus taught a parable, which we call the parable of the good Samaritan, in answer to a lawyer who was challenging Him about how to inherit eternal life (Lk. 10:25-37). Since the questioner was a lawyer, the Lord asked him to answer his own question based upon the Law of Moses. The lawyer answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus told the lawyer that this was the correct answer to his own question. Then the lawyer wanting to justify himself for not observing the Law he just quoted, asked, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus told the lawyer that there once was a man who, while traveling, had been viciously attacked by thieves and left on the road, half dead. Both a priest and a Levite saw him on the road, and passed by him, even crossing to the other side of the road to avoid him. Then a Samaritan came along the road. We know that Samaritans were considered ethnic "half-breeds", and religious heretics by the Jews. They were held in contempt, and were not to be associated with. Yet when the Samaritan man saw the wounded victim laying in the road, he ministered to his wounds with bandages, oil, and wine. The Samaritan picked the victim up, and took him on his beast to an inn, where he continued to take care of him. When the Samaritan had to leave, he paid the innkeeper to continue to care for the man, and promised to pay the innkeeper if there were more charges incurred in the care of this stranger. Jesus then asked the lawyer, which of the men was the neighbor to the wounded man, and the lawyer had to answer that it was the Samaritan, the one who had shown mercy to the wounded man. Jesus instructed the lawyer to "Go and do thou likewise."

Many people, even people who are "religious", and people of faith, find it easier to remove themselves, and not get involved in the face of injustice, or when confronted by uneasy situations, perhaps involving people not held in esteem for various reasons. However, Jesus made clear that the ones who do the Word and will of God embrace justice, mercy and humility concerning their relationship with all others. The inheritance of everlasting life is based upon these things. Where are the Samaritans today, who are willing to align themselves with the downtrodden?

It is not pride, but humility that fulfills the Word of God, and brings healing to our land.

 

*The above is based upon the 6/28/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:

  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

 

 



                                                                   Sean Stevenson

 

A Heart Checkup*

 

In many countries, especially ours, heart disease is a leading cause of death. Unless we get check ups for our hearts, we can find ourselves with serious, even deadly, health problems. The same is true in regards to our spiritual hearts. Regular checkups are necessary. Spiritual heart disease left unchecked, can lead to eternal separation from God. In these times, we need a revival amongst the people who are willing to look into their own hearts in this manner. No one is exempt. We all need these regular check ups. This is complicated by the fact that the heart is deceitful, unwilling to reveal itself truthfully to us. We need God's help for this spiritual heart checkup:

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is...The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doing."  Jer. 17:5-10 (excerpt)

The deceitfulness of the heart of man often causes us to look on the outward appearance, rather than looking deeper for our true condition. God, however, sees exactly what is in our hearts. Even Samuel, the prophet of God, tried to choose the new king of Israel from among Jesse's sons by the outward appearance. He almost made the wrong choice. God had to correct him:

"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."   1 Sam.16:7

As the LORD looks into every corner of your heart, what does He see? Does He see a deadly heart condition going unchecked?

We often hear the deception that so easily rules the heart in the statement, "God accepts me as I am." This is not what the Word of God says, and this is not something our God would ever say to His people whom He continually urges to turn away from the ways of death. Ignoring the sickness of our heart condition hurtles us to our separation from the One who is life. From the beginning, God has sought fellowship with man, not separation. God has continually urged His people to seek Him, and His ways, to find life. Those who desire God and life, must have a heart of repentance before Him, eager for God to deliver the heart from deadly wickedness. David was such a man, who prayed earnestly before the LORD as he confronted a heart of adultery and murder:

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me....Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

In the verses from Psalm 51, including those above, David understood that unless he acknowledged his own heart condition, and asked the LORD to cleanse his heart, he would face separation from what he considered the most important things in his life: the presence of God, the Spirit of God active in his life, and the joy of having the salvation of God. His heart condition left unchecked could cause David to be cast away from these things (v.11-12). From David's experience with this hidden heart wickedness that almost led to his destruction, he gained this revelation for all of us:

"For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken (broken to pieces) and a contrite (crushed) heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."  (v. 16-17)

David revealed that the effect of just a single man like himself, sincerely offering his heart for inspection, cleansing and re-creation by God, can be enormous. In his own life, the cleansing and re-creation of David's heart would lead to an outpouring coming from his lips as well, that would change others (v. 14). Jesus also taught about the good heart that brings forth that which is good, and the evil heart that brings forth evil: "for of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh" (Lk. 6:43-45). However, the check of heart does not just change David, the individual. Transgressors and sinners would learn from him as a result, and be converted (turned back, restored) to God (v. 13). The blessing of this fruit of repentance would go well beyond David, and encompass all Zion and Jerusalem - built and blessed with God's pleasure (v. 18). As in this Psalm, 2 Chron. 7:14 also tells us that the sincere heart check and repentance of God's people will cause God to hear from heaven, and heal the whole land.

God, not man, is the One who can effectively transform this crushed heart sincerely offered to Him. Of His people, Israel, as He promises to restore them to the land from the nations to which they were scattered, which He has done in our generation, God also promises to change the captivity of their hearts:

"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh: that they my walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I shall be their God. But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the LORD God...Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin...for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the LORD God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

                                                                                   Ezek. 11:19-21, Ezek. 18:30-32

The death of a man with an unchecked spiritual heart condition is different from the death of those who have had their hearts cleansed by God. Those who, after their heart re-creation, walk in the statutes of God, pass through only the shadow of the valley of death. Real death cannot touch them. This is why God says of these, His saints, that their "death" is "precious in His sight" (Ps. 116:15).

Psalm 119:9-16, in the stanza under the Hebrew letter, Beth (House), God revealed this same secret to attaining His spiritual "house". The young man spoken of here cleanses his way by taking heed of God's word. He seeks God with his whole heart. He hides (treasures or stores up) God's word , commandments, and precepts in his heart, meditating upon them, declaring them with his lips, delighting in them, and vowing not to forget them. This is the house of God in our hearts.

Proverbs 6 and Romans 1 describes and lists the destructive wickedness of the heart that goes unchecked, and the accumulative effect in the earth. We are seeing these things in abundance in these last days in which we live. The destruction of this deceitful wickedness is so great that except for the return of Christ, no flesh would be left. However, when God's people are willing to examine and test their own hearts, and surrender them to Him for His cleansing, far reaching effects result, even the building of His "house".

 

*The above is based upon the 5/5/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

https://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21320220
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/