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.

What's Wrong With This Picture?*

Please note: Beginning in July, Google will stop sending automatic notifications of new postings for blogs such as this one that are published under "blogspot.com". If you have been receiving notifications, or would like to receive them, please enter your email address in the box in the upper right corner of this blog page before July. Your email addresses will be retrieved hopefully, and you will be sent a notification directly when there is a new post available. Your email addresses will not be used for any other purpose. You will receive the "new blog post" notifications from "the disciple". If you choose not to enter your email address, it is recommend that after June 2021, you should check the blog regularly for new posts. Thank you for your patience and faithful readership. There is a game where a child must look at a picture and decide "What's wrong with this picture?". This applies to spiritual things as well. No matter how often a spiritual matter is verified by facts, there remains great debate and repudiation of those facts. In the many years that I have spent documenting the evidence, including scientific, medical, historical and scriptural evidence regarding the Shroud, people continually bring up the same arguments against it that were proven false long ago. It is an example of true knowledge being rejected, which is also the topic of this message today. Even the Body of Christ, knowing the spiritual truth from scripture that "a house divided against itself cannot stand", finds new ways to create and maintain divisions within the Body. The insistent rejection of knowledge in the face of so many confirmations and verifications, leads us to ask, "What's wrong with this picture?". The prophet Hosea wrote the word of the LORD regarding this subject: "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore, shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish...Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest...Therefore shalt thou fall in the day...and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing how thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (Hos. 4:1-6). The LORD told His prophet that this condition had grown as His people had increased, and He would change their glory into shame. This nation, like the Israel of Hosea, has also grown away from God as it has increased and strengthened. Above, the LORD reveals that His people are destroyed because they lack knowledge, and reject knowledge. The pictographic meaning of the individual Hebrew letters used in the word translated here as "destroyed" form the statement: "Behold the door to chaos". The pictographic meaning of the individual letters of the Hebrew word used here to mean "knowledge" forms this statement: "Behold the door to see the sign". It is necessary for us to seek the knowledge of God in order to see the signs of our times around us, and the signs of His coming. Proverbs repeatedly tells us to fear (reverence) the LORD, and gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It is fools who despise wisdom and instruction (Prov. 9:10, 1:7). The prophet Daniel wrote that while the wicked would seek to destroy the covenant (marriage contract) of God, those who know their God shall do great exploits (Dan. 11:32). Jesus told the parable of the five wise (thoughtful, discreet, with practical skill or acumen) and the five foolish (dull, stupid, blockhead) virgins who knew the bridegroom was expected, but the foolish virgins did not have oil for their lamps, and therefore missed the bridegroom's sudden coming (Mt. 25:1-7). Oil always represents the Holy Spirit, and this parable of Christ's teaches that the Holy Spirit is essential for all believers to have in order to meet the Bridegrrom when He comes. All believers should understand the importance of having the Holy Spirit, especially on this feast day of the LORD, Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is also directly connected with having knowledge: "But ye have an unction (anointing: the special endowment of the Holy Spirit) from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 Jn. 2:20). Paul pointed out that it was necessary for believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. He came across new believers in Ephesus who had never heard of the Holy Spirit, nor the baptsm of the Holy Spirit. They had only been baptized in John's baptism, the baptism of repentance. Even John the Baptist referred to the coming Christ, and His baptism of fire that would come after John, and was greater than John. As Paul laid hands on the Ephesian believers, the twelve men received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They began to speak with tongues and prophesy (Acts 19:1-7). Yet, there are those who will argue and try to persuade agqinst the promise of God, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or the evidence for the Shroud of Turin, and the men and women of God who teach the truth of His Word. Their intention is to stir up (meaning "destroy") the people to prevent them from receiving the truth (Acts 17:13-15). However, all people, including believers in Christ, are urged by the Word of God to search the scriptures for themselves to see if persuasive arguments are true or not. This is considered a noble act by the Lord (Acts 17:10-12). When Jesus opens the scriptures to us as we search them, our eyes are opened in amazement, and we are convinced that we have received the knowledge of the Lord (Lk. 24:27-32). *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/23/21 message to the church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and at endtimeschool.com