Mother's Day 2022*

We, at Everlasting Covenant have always had very special Mother's Days. God worked, and still works, many miracles through, and on behalf of, mothers. The first mention of "mother" is found in Genesis: "And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living." (Gen. 3:20). The three pictographic Hebrew letters that make up the name "Eve" mean fence, peg, covenant: or protection, secure, unbreakable promise. The root word meaning is "to breathe, bring forth (declare or show)". God breathed into Adam's nostrils to create a living soul. The mother is the bond of the family, who fences and secures it. The woman gives life, and Yeshua, Jesus, is called "a life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45). Later, we see that Jacob's first wife, Leah, although she was unloved, bore children, while Rachel, Jaacob's much-loved second wife, was barren (Gen. 29:31). However, as Rachel cried to the LORD, He heard and answered her: "And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb." (Gen. 30:22). God is the One who opens the womb. We believers in Christ have been called to bring forth spiritual life in the earth. It is the seed of the Word that we plant. God brought forth living things whose seed was in itself, according to Genesis. The man has seed, but the woman is necessary to bring it forth. Society and so-called science are trying to change this rule of creation in these last days. It is God's creative will, however, concerning His people: "Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle." (Deut. 7:14). Male and female created He them, although the world says differently. It was considered a reproach among men when a woman could not bear children, although the LORD said that barrenness could be present in either the male or female. Faced with this reproach for years, a priest's wife, Elizabeth, who was barren, conceived a child in her old age, who would be John the Baptist. Elizabeth had known that it was the Lord who had dealt with her (Lk. 1:24-25, 36). Six months later, the angel Gabriel would inform Mary, an unmarried virgin, that she also, like her cousin Elizabeth, would conceive a child. Even though her circumstances would speak otherwise, the angel assured her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her, and she would conceive as a result. The holy thing born, the angel said, would be called the Son of God (Lk. 1:35). The Holy Spirit gives us the power to conceive and bring forth life, both physical and spiritual life. After His resurrection, Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and began to open their understanding of the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, which He had fulfilled with His suffering and resurrection. He further instructed them, because they were witnesses to these things, to preach repentance and the remission of sins to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem (Lk. 24:44-47). Jesus added: "And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be indued with power from on high." (v. 49). The prophet Daniel also wrote about the people who know their God and do great exploits. Of this same truth, the Apostle Peter wrote of the divine power that has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness. This same divine power, according to the precious promises which God has given us, enables us to be partakers of the divine nature. About the importance of having the characteristics of this divine nature he wrote: "...if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:1-8, excerpt). Everything concerning our walk of faith incorporates the fruitfulness of motherhood: "...Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband." (Gal. 4:26-27, see also Isa. 54:1). The fruitfulness associated with motherhood is such a foundational truth that even evil powers steal it to spread wickedness in the earth, and in the spirit. One of the powers of wickedness in the end times is called the Whore of Babylon, who will be subjected to the judgment of God. She encompasses such a large territory that she is described as sitting upon many waters, or peoples. She has committed fornication with kings, and all of the inhabitants of the earth have gotten drunk on the wine she has given to them. The scarlet colored beast that she sits upon is full of blasphemies. She is arrayed like royalty in purple and scarlet, and adorned in wealth with gold and precious jewels. She holds a cup in her hand "full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." (Rev. 17:1-5). She is a mother of harlots like herself, so she will bear fruit, although it is wicked fruit, and abominations. The drunkenness associated with her and those who partake with her, is not the drunkenness of wine as we know it, but it is drunkenness with the blood of the saints, and their martyrdom. She is associated with a city that sits upon seven hills. Those who wonder (with admiration) at her and the beast from the pit that she rides upon, are those "whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." (v. 8). The kings who are given power to rule by the Beast will make war against the Lamb, the King of Kings, and those with Him, but He shall overcome them (v. 13-14). The people and nations who are under the power of the Beast spoken of, accomplish God's purpose, whether they know it or not: "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled." (v. 17). It is time for the Chruch to bring forth godly fruit and life, by the power of the Holy Spirit, given to those who believe Christ and will receive the Spirit promised by God. Church traditions, and the traditions and doctrines of men, don't bring forth that kind of life, but only the Life-Giving Spirit, Jesus. This Mother's Day, call your mother, and do something nice for her in appreciation of her. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/8/2022 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.

Whose Report Will You Believe? The REAL Christmas Story

 

There are many images connected to the Christmas season - so many, in fact, that we are easily drawn away from the truly miraculous event that changed the world. The only reason that we can celebrate the birth of Christ at all is because God sovereignly orchestrated events that no man could have planned, and carried out. All of the events surrounding the birth of Christ, His life, death, and resurrection were fulfilments of prophetic word given beforehand by God.

Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah was given a Word from the LORD of a Servant sent from God to suffer and die, not from any sin of His own, but on our behalf:

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."   Isa. 53:5-6

So astounding and important was this prophetic word to man regarding this Servant who would receive upon Himself the punishment of us all, that Isaiah opens his prophetic word by asking, "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"

It is still an important question today: Who will believe the prophet's report? The LORD has revealed His arm, His sovereign power: Will those to whom it has been revealed recognize it, and respond appropriately to it?

Witnessing the events surrounding the birth of Christ, were many who received the reports, and to whom the arm of the LORD was revealed:

The prophetic report brought by the angel Gabriel to Zachariah the priest who would become the father of John the Baptist, was met with disbelief by that man (Lk. 1:11-18). Because of this unbelief, Zachariah was struck dumb until after the birth of his son (v. 19-20). The child in his wife Elizabeth's womb, however, would recognize the Arm of the LORD in the womb of Mary, and would leap with joy while still in his mother's womb, causing Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit. She prophesied regarding Mary and her Child:

"And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."  Lk. 1:45

The same angel Gabriel had appeared months before to the unmarried woman, Mary, and informed her that she would have a son by the power of the Holy Spirit:

"...The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God...For with God nothing shall be impossible.."   Lk. 1:35 37

Mary, believing and accepting this report answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."  v. 38

Months later, shepherds watching their sheep in the countryside outside of Bethlehem were in great fear as an angel appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord lit up the night around them. The angel reported to them the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. Then a multitude of angels appeared and began to praise God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men."   Lk. 1:8-14

Not only did the shepherds believe and hurry to go see this child, but after seeing Him, "...they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds." 

                                                                                                              v. 17-18

When Jesus was brought to the temple eight days after His birth, two people there believed what was being revealed to them in the person of this child. One was Simeon, an old man to whom the Holy Ghost had revealed that the One for whom he had been waiting, the Savior of Israel, would come before Simeon's death. The Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple on the day when the baby was brought, and Simeon recognized Him instantly: "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."    Lk. 2:25-32

Simeon prophesied to Mary that the child would cause the fall and rising of many in Israel, and would be a sign that many would speak against. Simeon had believed the report that the Holy Spirit had brought, and he recognized the Arm of the Lord that had been revealed to him that day. Simeon also understood that many would not believe the report, and would reject what the Lord was sovereignly revealing.

Another devout old woman, Anna, a prophetess, was in the temple that same moment, and also instantly recognized and gave thanks for what the Lord had done in the birth of this child. She also told all that had looked for the Lord's redemption (Lk. 2:36-38).

Even kings and sages from a great distance would hear of the birth of Christ, and react to the report in different ways. The birth of the savior was not an obscure event, although it took place in a humble stable. Isaiah again proclaimed:

"The LORD hath made bear his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD."   Isa. 52:10-11

From the beginning, the LORD has announced His promise of a Savior: "In the beginning God (Baresheit, The Son of God crushed, His hand upon a cross, Elohim aleph tav, or alpha omega in the Greek) created the heaven and the earth." (Gen. 1:1), confirmed in Jn. 1:1-5:

"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."

The whole world has heard the report of the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. The LORD has revealed His arm to each of us. There is a response required.

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"

 

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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.