WWJD*

We have seen the letters "WWJD" before. They mean "What Would Jesus Do?" With our nation rushing towards judgment, and Christians entering into divisive arguments, even sometimes condoning violence so long as it gets the results desired, the question, "What would Jesus do?" becomes more important now than ever before. How does Jesus impact the world? How does He view those who believe in Him, and what does He expect their responses to the world to be? First, it is by Jesus that all things were created: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (Jn. 1:1-5). John told us here the same thing that is revealed in the Hebrew language of Genesis 1:1, translated into English as "In the beginning, God...". However, in Hebrew, it is written "Bareshiet Elohim (Aleph-Tav)". Aleph-Tav is also how Jesus identified Himself in Revelation 1:8 as "...Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End...". John wrote above that in Jesus was zoe life, supernatural life, abundant life, the God-kind of life. This life is light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overpower it. John the Baptist witnessed that Jesus was the true Light that came into the world, and He lights every man who comes into the world (Jn. 1:8-9). Jesus is the Word of God who became flesh for us to receive (Jn. 1:14). Many of His own did not receive Jesus, but to those who did, He gave them power to become sons of God (Jn. 1:11-12). Those who did, and do receive Jesus are then born not by the will of men, but by the will of God (v. 13). Jesus was not just a teacher, or a good man, but He is with God, He is God, and He cannot be separated from God. Those who receive Him as such become spiritually reborn, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to speak with Jesus only at night so he wouldn't be seen by others (Jn. 1:1-2). Nicodemus is one of those who identified Jesus as a teacher, a rabbi, whom, Nicodemus concedes, must be with God because of the miracles Jesus performed. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must understand more than that. Nicodemus must be born again, or he won't see the kingdom of God (v. 3). Jesus makes no doubt that there is a difference between those of the flesh, and those of the Spirit of God: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (Jn. 3:5-7). Those who have received Jesus are born again of the Spirit of God. There is to be a difference between those born of the flesh, and those born of the Spirit, between those who are sons of men, and those who are given the power by Jesus to become sons of God. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save it, and whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16-17). However, there are those who condemn themselves. They are the ones who love darkness instead of the Light sent into the world, because their deeds are evil. Jesus said: "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (v. 20). Today in this country, we see this as lawlessness abounds everywhere we look. Those who do truth, however, Jesus said, come to the light giving evidence that their deeds are done in God (v. 21). Jesus again differentiates between those in the world and those who are part of the kingdom of God in the Beatitudes. Here He teaches how those of the Spirit of God interact with the world in a life changing way. Jesus said that those who are pure in heart will see God. Those who are peacemakers, rather than dividers, are the children of God. However, we continually see those who fight one another, claiming to be believers, each claiming the righteousness of their own positions. Jesus continued in the Gospel of Matthew to call us salt and light in the earth, not hiding who we are, and what we believe, but letting our light shine, and our salt cleanse and purify (v. 13-16). Part of this is to love your enemies, to bless those who curse you, and pray for them that persecute you or abuse you (v. 43-47). Jesus concluded: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (v. 48). We are not supposed to be like the world, but like our Father. As we also see today, there are so many divisions by race and ethnicity in the world, and, unfortunately, also in the church. What would Jesus have us to do? Should we be fanning the flames of racial division? The early church faced the problem head on. The apostles and believers in Jerusalem, who were Jewish believers, were shocked to hear that Gentiles were being preached the Gospel, and they questioned Peter as to why he was doing this. Peter told them of his experiences - he received a vision from heaven that told him that the "unclean" were now "clean". He had preached in a Gentile's home, and before he could even finish preaching the Gospel, the Holy Spirit fell and filled all in the house. God was showing no partiality, and was allowing no exclusion, regarding who was to receive the Gospel, salvation, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The leaders of the church in Jerusalem had to admit: "...God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:1-18). All who have prepared their hearts to receive, may receive. Not only was the church to include Gentiles, but those of different races also (Acts 13:1). Simeon, called Niger, or Black, was one of the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch. He was one of those leaders who laid hands on Saul (Paul) and Barnabas and released them into ministry (v. 2-4). It was of this church at Antioch, full of believers of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, that believers were first called "Christians", or "Christ-like ones". The Book of Revelation identifies those who were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb are "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth." (Rev. 5:9-10). They were clothed in white robes, having come out of great tribulation. They made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9-14). It is not assured that believers will not experience tribulation. Jesus instructed us to pray in order to be accounted worthy to escape those things which are coming on the earth. It is time for the church to stand up for what is righteous. It is time to be what Jesus calls us to be. He has not called us to be like the world, but like our Father in heaven. The disturbing things we see occurring in the world, in our nation, can be laid directly at the church's feet. God's Word said, "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). What would Jesus do? Jesus is not looking for the world to change, but for us to change, and be those who are born of the Spirit of God. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/21/21 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 endtimeschool.com.

Called To Be Christians*

There is great turmoil troubling our nation at this time. A question was brought to mind recently for the Body of Christ: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? The term "Christian" was first used in the New Testament. Barnabas sought out Paul to minister to the new believers in Antioch: "And when he found him (Paul), he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to psss, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26). The term used here is "called" Christians. Being called generates from a divine direction by God Himself. Many view the Law of Moses to be legalistic, harsh, and not part of a Christian's walk. However, the Law had a purpose, which we will see. It's purpose was to bring us closer to God, as our source of righteousness, and as our measure of justice. Jesus was asked about the Law by a religious lawyer in order to tempt Him and test Him. Jesus brought forth this revelation instead when asked which is the great commandment: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:34-40). Not only is the Law summed up in these two commandments, but all of the writings of the prophets as well! The Law is designed to bring us to love God above all else, and to love our neighbor. As told in the parable of the good Samaritan, our neighbor also includes those of a different race, ethnicity, or religious practice. Scripture says that all men are of one blood, and descended from Noah and his family, the survivors of the flood. One of those prophets, Micah, delivered this Word from the LORD: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." (Micah 6:8) The commandments of God were fulfilled by Christ, and meant to identify us: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commndments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 Jn. 5:2-3). Jesus broke the Law done even further when He said: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Mt. 7:12). We recently saw a violent mob crash into the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.. Some of those in the mob were carrying political banners, but some were carrying Christian flags. People were killed, crushed, and had to run for their lives. Is this what those who are called to be Christians are supposed to be doing and representing? Jesus said, "Not every one that 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." (Mt. 7:21). Jesus told us that we would know those who are genuine in the faith and those who are not, by their fruit, and we were to beware of those who bring forth evil fruit. He said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (v. 18-19). Do not be caught up with those who have corrupt minds. In the same Spirit that Jesus taught about the good tree that brings forth good fruit, Paul wrote in Galatians 5 about the fruit of the Spirit of God. The fruit of the Spirit is listed as: "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, tempernce: against such there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23). There is no law against this precious fruit of the Spirit because, as Paul wrote earlier in this chapter: "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (v. 14). In the next chapter of Galatians, Paul urges us to restore a fallen brother in the spirit of meekness, and to bear one another's burdens, "and so fulfill the law of Christ...And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due seaon we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:1-2, 9-10). As for "doing good" especilly to those of the household of faith, we are not to forget the teacher who teaches us, with whom we are to share all good things (v. 6). Another prophet, Isaiah, brought forth our responsibility to undo the burdens of others, to let the oppressed go free, to bring into our homes the poor who have been cast out of theirs, to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked (Isa. 58:6-7). Jesus spoke the same thing about a King who said: "I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." The hearers of these statements will ask the King (Jesus) when they did these things for Him. Jesus, the King, will answer them: "Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Mt. 25:34-44). This is from the pararable of the separation of the sheep and the goats when the Son comes in His glory. The sheep who did all of these things for their needy brethren will be the inheritors of the Kingdom. To those who did not, the goats, the Son will say, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." (v. 41). The goats would have done all of these loving things for Christ, Himself, but they refused to see that doing these things for the least of the brethren, is the same as doing them for Christ. This is the fulfillment of all the Law and the prophets. This is the fulfillment of the law of Christ. Considering all of these things, I ask again, if you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/31/21 message to the Church. To contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, or email to Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Also, you cn find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimesschool.com