Foundations, Traditions and Doctrine*

More and more we are seeing examples of ideas and doctrines within the church that are not based upon the Word of God. They are instead doctrines of men, rather than God. There are consequences that occur when God's people begin to turn from His Word, and prefer the words of men: "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, no 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." (Hosea 4:1-2). The LORD said through His prophet that as the knowledge of God was removed from the inhabitants of the land, sins and violence began to spread, as we see here in America. The LORD further warned: "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hebrew da-at - knowledge, wisdom, insight, understanding), because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (v. 6). Rejected knowledge of God leads to corruption, creating future generations that are separated from God. Psalm 11, a psalm of David, tells us to place our trust in the LORD. It also carries the warning: "If the foundations (Hebrew satah - basis of political or moral support; defenders of morality fall from moral righteousness) be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (v. 3). The foundations of the Word of God, the foundations of our faith, are being destroyed. As an example of this, this Psalm warns that fire and brimstone will be poured out upon the wicked, but fewer and fewer believe that there is such a penalty for wickedness, or that Hell exists. Often, the church doesn't want to hear knowledge. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth that he had to continue feeding them milk, like babies, because they couldn't bear the meat of the Word. He told them this was because they were still so carnal, rather than spiritual (1 Cor. 3:1-2). If we are to be mature believers, we need the meat of the Word of God to grow. Paul described himself as a "masterbuilder" who has laid the foundation, that foundation being Jesus Christ: "For other foundation (Greek themelios - first principles of institution of truth) can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Paul warned others to be careful how they built upon that sure foundation (see v. 10-11). The elemental principles of the foundation of our faith established in Jesus Christ, which basic principles the church should know and teach, are described in the Book of Hebrews: repentance from dead works and of faith towards God (we are not saved by works, as some churches believe, but through faith), doctrine of baptisms (There is more than one baptism, however, many churches reject the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for example), laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment (There is a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun). These are foundational beliefs for the Christian, but the Christian is also expected to continue growing from these: "...let us go on unto perfection." (Heb. 6:1-2). Here is also a serious warning in these verses: for those who have believed this foundation, experienced this gift and the Word of God, and partaken of the Holy Spirit, and have seen the powers of the world to come, yet fall away from the truth, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance because they crucify Christ again for themselves, and put Him to shame openly (v. 4-6). It is not a small thing for the church, or an individual, to fall away from the necessary foundation of truth in Christ. Again, Paul tells us in the Book of Ephesians that the foundation of our faith is established by the apostles and prophets, with the chief cornerstone of that foundation being Jesus Christ. There is a living holy temple of God being built upon this foundation, and this habitation of God is built together by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22). Yet many in the church teach that there are no longer apostles and prophets, and many deny the active working of the Holy Spirit in this continuing work of God. Ephesians also tells us that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers have been given to teach the church until all are brought into the unity of the faith, and the full measure of Jesus Christ (see Eph. 4:11-16). Since this outcome has obviously not yet been achieved, apostles, prophets, and the other gifts must still be needed and are present in the church. Paul tells Timothy to teach the church that they are to be "...laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which has been committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith..." (1 Tim. 6:19-21). It is that good foundation, not false science or men's doctrines, that will keep us against the time to come, that will keep us unto eternal life. As people accused Jesus and His disciples of not obeying the Jewish traditions that had been in practice for centuries, Jesus warned them that these traditions of men could not save them, cleanse them from sin, or offer them excuses to ignore the Word of God: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (see Mt. 15:1-20). They made their traditionals as important, or more so, than the scriptures. This took them away from the truth that they needed to know in order to be saved. Jesus told them that men were not defiled by what they touched or ate, but by what was in their hearts: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man..." (v. 19-20). We see stories of so-called believers speaking hatred, anger and even threats against those with whom they disagree. They believe they are righteous in their violent militancy, but this is not the foundation of Jesus Christ. These are the doctrines of men and devils. Paul wrote again in Timothy: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, 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...Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (1 Tim. 4:1-2). To the church, Paul wrote: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein in thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ...Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (Colossians 2:6-10, 20-22, excerpt). Often we have seen that religious legalism stems not from the Word of God, but from the teachings of men. However, these teachings are wrongly treated with equal importance to the Word of God. The church has been impacted by all of the things that we have seen warned of here in the scriptures. In many cases, they have rejected the truth and the knowledge of God, as Hosea warned, and embraced instead the doctrines of men, demons, false science, philosophies, all of this world. We are not to be conformed to this world, however, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, by the washing of the water of the Word of God. I pray that eyes and ears will be opened to the truth that the LORD has provided to us. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/17/21 message to the church. To contact, submit a prayer request or 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.

The Great Trumpet and the Feast of Atonement*

Yom Kippur, or the Feast of Atonement, is approaching this week. There is a great trumpet that plays a role in this feast. The Atonement is also often referred to as the "At-One-Ment", where man is reconciled with God by the blood of Atonement, which in the fulfillment of this feast, is the blood of Jesus. Adam and Eve had this "oneness" in their relationship with God in the garden, walking and talking with Him, before they disobeyed God and fell. The prophet Isaiah connected the reconciliation in man's relationship with God with the sound of a great trumpet: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river into the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem." (Isa. 27:12-13). The coming of Christ is also described with the same great trumpet: "Immediately after the tribulation...the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Mt. 24:29-31). As Isaiah referred to a threshing and gathering of Israel at the sound of the great trumpet, Jesus also taught of a gathering done at the sound of a great blast of a trumpet. The Feast of Atonement is the call to examine ourselves, and to come back into the status of righteousness in God: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth...Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." (Ps. 11:3-7). We are seeing the nation's foundations being destroyed, more each day. This affects the righteousness of the nation. The LORD's temple is holy, and we read in scripture that His temple is a living temple, and that we are that living temple of God. The wicked will suffer great snares and punishments, while the countenance, or face, of the LORD is turned to the righteous. The Word of God tells us to "seek His face". This time leading up to the Day of Atonement is the time to seek the LORD's face. The verses from the Psalms above point out the important role played in the life of the righteous by "the foundations". The foundation not only establishes the steadiness and squareness of a building, but unifies the components that are being built together upon it. The apostle Paul wrote concerning the foundation of this living holy temple of God: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord: In whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-22, see also 1 Cor. 3:9-11). The building being constructed is the holy temple of God, and it is built upon the foundation of the Word of God established by the apostles and prophets, with Christ being the cornerstone. This holy temple cannot be constructed on any other type of foundation. The components being united in this building according to the verses above are Israel and the Gentiles. The Gentiles were strangers and aliens without the covenant of promise, and without the hope of God (v. 11-14). However, now through the blood of Jesus Christ, the barrier between the two peoples, and between the Gentiles and God, has been dissolved. From these separated parts, Jesus has made one new man, reconciled together into one body by the work of the cross (v. 15-16). This is the Atonement that reconciles and unites into One. Why then is the Church so divided? Instead of building upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with the cornerstone being Christ, many churches have been built on the interpretations and doctrines of men. Ephesians 4:11-16 states that the ministers that have been supplied to the Church by Jesus, which include apostles and prophets as well as many other gifts of ministry (see 1 Cor. 12:27-28 also), cause the Body of Christ to be edified to do the work of the ministry, and perfected until the Church comes into "the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ...". This necessary foundation of the apostles and prophets has not passed away, although some in the Church erroneously believe that it has. The Church still is not unified, or perfected, nor has it attained the full stature of Christ. This foundation, as gifted to us by Christ, is to prevent us from being like children, "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (v. 14). We see this today, as so many believers are deceived into following strange and divisive doctrines. The Lord wants us to be established in truth (v. 15), if we are to grow up into our Head, and the Head of all things, Jesus Christ. This is the purpose in the Atonement. The apostle Peter urged the Church to remember their foundation, "...the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour." (2 Peter 3:1-2). Keeping this foundation is especially important to the Church in these laat days, according to Peter, as pressure mounts to follow false doctrines, and having to face the challenges to truth from scoffers. The great trumpet of the Day of Atonement, like the great trumpet that is sounded at the return of Christ, is to cause the Church, the Bride, to unite with the Holy Spirit in saying to all who hear, to all who thirst, and to the Lord Himself, "Come" (Rev. 22:17, 20). The Book of Revelation also warns that the words of prophecy in this book cannot be added to, or removed, without severe consequences from plague to removal from the book of life for the one who does so (Rev. 22:18-19). These are the consequences for those who would destroy the true foundation, and the goal of Atonement - unity with God in Christ, unity with each other in the Body as the holy temple of God, and unity of the faith: "At-One-Ment". *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 9/12/21 message to the Church. To contact us, submit a prayer request or praise report, or to support the ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Father's Day 2021*

Today is Father's Day. Scripture has much to say about the important role of both natural fathers, and spiritual fathers: "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days maay be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." (Deut. 5:16). We recognize this as one of the Ten Commandments, and it is the first commandment with a promise and a blessing connected to it. The word "honour" is used here in the treatment of parents. The Hebrew word translated as "Honour", kabad, means the glory associated with God, Himself. We see in our own country very little honoring of parents anymore. We are losing the specific promise and blessing associated with obedience to this commandment. Jesus challenged the religious leadership of His time, the scribes and Pharisees, who conveniently relied upon religious tradition, rather than the this commandment of God in regard to the treatment of their parents. They withheld financial help to their parents with the excuse that the money was set aside to give to God instead. Jesus called them hypocrites for this self-serving faithlessness to the Word of God: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the ommandments of men." (See Mt. 15:1-9). Traditions cannot replace the Word of Truth. The Apostle Paul also wrote about the importance of this commandment: "Children, obey (give ear under, to hear, learn, understand) your parents in the LORD: for this is right (righteous, observing divine laws). Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." (Eph. 6:1-3). Paul also included the promise of a long life as being associated with this commandment. Then Paul wrote about the responsibility of fatherhood: "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture (instruction, chastening, discipline) and admonition (mild rebuke, calling attention to) of the Lord." (v. 4). Fathers have a role in training their children in Godly principles, not in a manner that causes children to become angry and rebellious, but in a manner of teaching and correction that brings forth the fruits of righteousness in the child, and willing obedience. Both fathers and children have a purpose - to obey the Word of God. Paul also wrote regarding both the Church's and the world's disregarding of the fatherly role of an apostle. He wrote of the sacrifice of honor that is found in the calling of the apostle: "For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised...being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day." (1 Cor. 4:9-13). In saying these things, Paul said, he is warning the Church, as beloved sons, about this prevailng attitude of disregard towards apostles, and adds: "For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me." (v. 14-16). It is the heart of a father, that sacrifices all, even his own reputation, for his children in Christ. There are many teachers, but they are not called to sacrifice in the same way. Even today, the Church fails to recognize apostles and prophets. If they DO recognize them, they fail to honour their position as fathers in the Gospel who have sacrificed all so that their "children" may spiritually prosper and excel. Even though not all are called to apostleship, Paul begged the saints to "follow" him, to follow him as a father who sacrifices all so that they can benefit in Christ. As the LORD said to the priests of Israel through His prophet Malachi: "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name..." (Mal. 1:6). The priests wondered at how they had dishonored God. Their dishonor of the Father was found in their insincere, inferior, and less than honorable offerings, where, as Jesus told the religious leaders above, the true honor, or lack of it, towards a father/Father is revealed. Many over the years have been birthed in the Gospel as "sons" through this apostolic ministry. You have not many fathers, but there is a spiritual father here. If you have been blessed and fed by this ministry, let your offerings to God reflect this, and help us to carry the Gospel to others. There is a great need for the Gospel of Christ, but how can we go unless we are sent? *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/20/21 message to the Church. To contact, or to purchase Dr. Stevenson's new book, "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling": P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com

The Voice of God

 

There are those today who mock faith in God. Those who believe are openly ridiculed for their belief. Many also scoff at the idea that the LORD speaks. He spoke in the past, and He still speaks today. To His prophet, Jeremiah, He said:

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD...I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them...but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me."    Jer. 35:12-15 (excerpt)

Perhaps man mocks the concept that God has a voice, and speaks, in order to relieve ourselves of the responsibility of hearing and obeying:

"Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us...because we have sinned against him."   Dan. 9:10-11

Because of their unbelief, man has looked upon prophets with great skepticism. However, the Word of God says, "Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"   Amos 3:7-8

We are often stunned at the enormous calamities that have come upon the earth in recent times, but as Amos told us above, all of these things have been spoken by the LORD beforehand to His prophets. We have just refused to heed it. Many also choose to believe that the voice of God as spoken to His prophets remains in, and applies only to the past. However, the prophetic word is applicable especially to our current time:

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time (delay) no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."   Rev. 10:5-6

The words spoken to the prophets, recorded long ago, are appointed for even this present time. As the Word says, God does nothing without having declared it to His prophets. It has been further prophesied:

"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."   Rev. 22:10-13

The above words of prophecy written around 70 A.D., are not sealed, or hidden, any longer, but revealed for all men to know and understand now, for this time.
The apostle Peter also identified the connection of the written words of the prophets to our present time:
"...I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."   2 Pet. 3:1-4
Peter reminds the Church that it was said by the prophets that scoffers would mock the promise of the return of Christ, just as we see today. Peter taught that these scoffers would be ignorant by choice of the knowledge of the previous judgment by flood that destroyed the earth after the creation, and its continuing prophetic significance for the future. By the same word that brought that judgment by flood of water, the heavens and earth are now storing up fire for judgment. In choosing to ignore the truth regarding the past world-wide judgment by flood, the scoffers do not have to face the prospect of the prophesied world-wide judgment by fire. According to Peter, they also choose to believe that because God has waited this long to carry out that prophesied judgment, despite the prevalence of wickedness, that it will not come. Peter, however, warns against this kind of unbelief of the scoffers referring to both the heart of God, and His timing (v. 8). He warns us not to mistake the kindness and patience of God for weakness, or a failing to keep His word:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night...and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?"   2 Pet. 3:9-11
Peter said that this prophetic word has been given to us so that we may be prepared for the coming events. The prophetic word, the voice of God, requires us to stir up our pure minds, not being conformed to the world's scoffing and unbelief, but transformed by that word, the voice of God, that we would walk in holy and Godly character. God, in His mercy, has provided more time also for those who have not yet been transformed by repentance in the face of His warning word given to the prophets.

There are prophets still prophesying the voice of the Lord today. They are not often accepted even by the Church, yet they, along with apostles and other ministers to the Church, have been provided by Christ, who is the Spirit of prophecy, to equip the Church, and to perfect the saints into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13). They are especially crucial to us in these last days. Will we hearken to the voice of God?

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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.