Get Understanding*

Scriptures tell us to "get understanding": "He taught me also and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding." (Prov. 4:4-7). The New Testament also tells us to ask for wisdom if we lack it (James 1:5-6). We will find that the light upon the path towards both wisdom and understanding is the Word of God, including the Torah. Psalm 119:104-105 says: "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." In fact, the getting of wisdom and understanding is better than the getting of gold and silver (Prov. 16:16). As Paul expressed his great desire that all Israel be saved, he explained that while Israel had zeal for God, they lacked knowledge, seeking their own righteousness rather than God's (Rom. 10:1-3). Paul wrote: "For Christ is the end (telos - that by which a thing is finished, the purpose or aim, the end to which all things relate) of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." (v. 4). Christ does not oppose the Law of Moses, He completes its purpose. The apostle James wrote of the importance of doing the Word of God. In saying this, he would have been referring to the Torah and the Prophets, or the Old Testament, because the New Testament did not yet exist as we have it today: "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted (emphytos - inborn, implanted by nature or instruction, to germinate in, to shoot forth) word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves...But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:19-25).The Word, the perfect law of liberty, is not just heard or read, but becomes engrafted within us, and is expressed in works. Paul also wrote: "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified...Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness...In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." (Rom. 2:13-16)). James wrote that we would be doing well to "fulfill the royal law" expressed by the scripture: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself", having no partiality or favoritism (James 2:8-9). The engrafted law, written within us, applies to the believer in Christ, as James wrote: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all...So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." (v. 10-13). James also wrote that faith alone is incomplete, but must also include the works mentioned above that are produced by the Word within us, which is built upon "Love thy neighbor...": "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (v. 14-17). We cannot see our neighbor hungry and without clothes to wear, and offer only prayer and a blessing - we must give him food to eat, and clothes to wear, which is the work of the Word. Jesus also spoke of all of these same things. This is not a law of legalism, but of liberty and mercy in its working, and based in love, as we will see next. John wrote that there is no separation between Jesus and His commandments, and love: "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." (1 Jn. 2:3-5). As James wrote above, John also tells us that "knowing" is not enough, but must be reflected in our "walking" as well: "He that saith he abideth in him (Jesus) ought himself also to walk, even as he walked." (v. 6). John wrote that he gives the church a new commandment, but the commandment is not new at all, "but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning...He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling (from darkness) in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes...And this is his (God's) commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." (1 Jn. 2:7-11, 3:23-24). Not only does keeping His commandments cause us to abide in Him, and He in us, and His love in us and in our walk, but the Holy Spirit has been given to us to confirm this. This is not all, however: "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight." (1 Jn. 3:22). We see further the role of love. This love, spoken of in connection with God and His commandments, causes our love to be made perfect, "...because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear...And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." (1 Jn. 4:17-21). When we understand and walk in this love, fear is cast out, and we walk in light. Without this love of God and for our brother, fear takes rule, and darkness pervades. It is distressing to see more and more so-called Christian groups, like Chritian Nationalists, who advocate hatred against the Jewish people and others, while thinking they are doing God a favor. This does not reflect the love of God with which He loves us, nor the commandments of God, by which He keeps us. John wrote in summary: "Whoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 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 commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 Jn. 5:1-3). This is the understanding that has been given to us: This is the true God, and eternal life. (see. v. 20). The return of Christ draws near for all men. Those who believe in Him should "get understanding" of the indivisible connection between God, His Son-Christ, His love for us, our keeping and doing His commandments, our love for Him, and our love for our brother. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/29/23 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. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.The ShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

A Covenant of Law or Grace?*

We are to be at a whole new level of understanding covenant. This includes the everlasting covenant, which is spoken of fifteen times in scripture. You can also find more information on this topic in my book "Law, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Godliness", available through Amazon. The following is the first mention of "covenant" in scripture, as God spoke to Noah after the flood: "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth...And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no longer become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth....This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. 9:13-17). Although the rainbow has been used in a profane manner in our times, it is really a sacred reminder of the mercy and grace that God sovereignly promises to all living on earth to assure them that He would not bring another destructive flood. In Gen. 6:8, we read that Noah found (attained) grace in the eyes of God. Grace is something attained between God and man. Jesus taught that the days of His return would be as the days of Noah (Lk. 17:26), so we need to understand now especially what it means to attain grace with God. The prophets wrote about the new covenant by which grace would be attained between God and man. Jeremiah wrote: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers...which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days...I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour..., saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:31-34). Ezekiel also wrote about a new work of grace by God: "Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezek. 36:25-27). We know that we are washed with the water of the Word of God. The LORD desires a relationship with all flesh, and has desired it since the beginning, or Bereshiet in Hebrew, whose individual pictographic letters mean "the son of God crushed, His hand on the cross". Revelation tells us that Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. This move of God in our hearts and spirits prophesied in Jeremiah and Ezekiel is repeated in the New Testament, in Hebrews 8:10-12, where the LORD God concludes His covenant promise: "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." This work of grace is created by God within us. Jesus taught what is called The Sermon on the Mount, or The Beatitudes, to His disciples, not to the crowd at large (Mt. 5:1). Jesus didn't just choose disciples. He taught and trained them in discipleship by Word and Spirit. The blessings of the Kingdom of God that were taught by Jesus that day to His disciples, reflect the perfect unity of the Word, or the Law, and grace produced in the new heart and spirit by God. Those who are blessed by God according to this sermon are the poor in spirit, or the humble. The Kingdom of God belongs to them. Those whose soft hearts mourn are the ones who receive the comfort of God. The meek, strong in faith but self-sacrificing, who put themselves last in the earth, will inherit it. Those with a hunger and thirst for righteousness, which is created by a new heart and spirit, will have that hunger satisfied. Those whose hearts and spirits show mercy to others through grace and the love of God's Word in them, will receive mercy themselves. Those whose hearts have been purified in the manner promised by the prophets above, will see God. Those whose new hearts and spirits cause them to be peacemakers in the middle of strife, will be called the children of God. Those who have been persecuted and reviled because their hearts love righteousness, and love the Righteous One, Jesus, can rejoice in this life because they belong to the kingdom of heaven, and will receive their great reward in heaven (Mt. 5:3-12). These who have sought after the new heart and spirit promised by God, live these blessings, and are living according to Kingdom principles. The covenant of grace does not operate separate from the Torah, the Law. Jesus assured His listeners that He didn't come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the Word of God will not pass away until even the finest points of it are fulfilled (v. 17-18). In this context, Jesus told His disciples to be salt and light in the earth (v. 12-16). The Law of the Torah is not limited to the written letter, but it is joined with the Spirit of God, and the spirit and soul in man. This is grace. It is in this understanding that Jesus told us: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (v. 48). Paul wrote of a circumcision that was not outward, but inward, a circumcision of the heart, which makes one a Jew. It is Spirit, rather than letter, which receives praise from God, rather than men (Rom. 2:28-29). The letter of the written Word must become living Spirit within us. David, confronted by his terrible sin, sought this saving renewal that could only be attained by this work of God in him: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then I will teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee...The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalm 51, excerpt). This is the grace work within David of the LORD's Spirit through the Law, the Torah, that David had treasured in his heart. The Word, it is written, is quick and powerful, like a two-edged sword, cutting to our deepest parts and discerning the thoughts of our hearts. James the apostle wrote: "But whoso looketh into (stooping into) the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/11/2022 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.

Open Heart Surgery*

This message continues the series: "Search the Scriptures". I believe that the Body of Christ is in need of spiritual open heart surgery, as we have been dealing with issues of the heart (see last week's message). We will see how God works this spiritual surgery in us according to His Word. The Book of Hebrews identifies Jesus Christ not only as our Savior, but as our Apostle and High Priest: "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession (homologia/homologeo - to say the same thing as), Christ Jesus..." (Heb. 3:1). The first "heart problem" is identified here: our profession - are we speaking the same thing as the Word of God? Hebrews continues in warning believers: "...today if ye will hear his voice...", not to harden their hearts, as their fathers did in the wilderness, although they saw the mighty works of God. The LORD said of that previous generation: "Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest." (Heb. 3:10-11). Hebrews then says: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God...lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (v. 12-13). Unbelief and sin cause our hearts to be hardened, leading to a departure from the Lord. There is also a rest to be entered into if we hold fast to our belief. It is the "rest" that the unbelieving Israelites in the wilderness were not allowed to enter (Heb. 4:1-3). "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (v. 9-11). The importance of the Word of God in dealing with this problematic heart condition is explained: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (v. 12-13). The Word discerns, and God sees, what is in our hearts, and a godly man places his heart and his thoughts before God for examination: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Ps. 139:23-24). We read last week in Jeremiah that the heart is wicked and deceitful above all things. Only the Word of God can reveal the things that are hidden in our hearts that cause us to harden ourselves against God. Proverbs also confirms this: "The (re)fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue." (Prov. 17:3-4). The LORD has a refining process by which He purifies the hearts like a smith purifies a precious metal - by fire. Both of the prophets Zechariah and Malachi also wrote the Word of the LORD concerning this purification and refining process by which the God will cleanse the hearts of His priests and His people in preparation for the appearing of the LORD among them (see Zech. 13:7-9 and Mal. 3:1-3). The apostle Peter also wrote to the believers, those "...who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time", about the trying fire of God: "...though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ...receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Pet. 1:1-11, excerpt, see also James 1:1-4). This purifying fire perfects our way of salvation in preparation for the Lord's appearing. If we need wisdom to understand the necessary working of this refining process in us, the Lord will give that wisdom to whoever asks Him for it (James 1:5). Scripture gives us another reason for the hardening of a heart: Pharaoh of Egypt was experiencing the trying plagues of the LORD for his disobedience of the command of God. However, once the plagues were lifted, Pharaoh would again harden his heart against the Word of the LORD though Moses (Ex. 8:15). King Zedekiah of Judah, was appointed king by Nebachadnezzar of conquering Babylon. However, Zedekiah was an evil king. He broke his agreement with Nebachadnezzar, which he had sworn by God, and "he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel." (2 Chron. 36:11-13). Unfortunately, as the king followed after evil, and hardened his heart against God, his sin influenced others in his kingdom, the chief priests and the people, to do the same. They followed after the abominations of the heathen and polluted the house of God. They would not listen to the messengers that were sent from God, mocking and despising instead God's warning words and abusing His prophets, until there was no remedy left, and the wrath of God broke out against them (v. 14-16). We see the same hardened hearts today, disregarding the Word of God and His servants, and open heart surgery is needed within God's own people. The prophet Daniel dealt with the son of Nebachadnezzar, Belshazzar, who became king of Babylon when his father died. He disrespected the holy temple vessels that the Babylonians had looted from Jerusalem. This king, Daniel said, had known about the terrible event that had overtaken his father when he had tried to exalt himself before the people of God. God had taken his father's sanity from him, and Nebachadnezzar had become like a beast. It was not until Nebachdnezzar had looked up to heaven that God returned his right mind to him. Even knowing what had happened to his father, Belshazzar still lifted up his heart against God and His holy vessels: "...and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.". Ominous handwriting mysteriously appeared upon the wall during the king's feast prophesying of his death to come that night. (Dan. 5:18-23). Even when a man has witnessed for himself the judgment of God, and His subsequent healing restoration, he can still harden his heart against the LORD. God spoke about the spiritual open heart surgery, even a heart transplant, that He has provided for His people: "...I will even gather you from the people...and I will give you the land of Israel...and they shall take away all the detestable things...and all the abominations from thence. 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 may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezek. 11:17-20). However, as for those who continue to walk after their abominations instead, "I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the LORD God." (v. 21). Ezekiel wrote again the Word of the LORD: "Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you..." (Ezek. 37:25-28, excerpt). The cleansing water of the LORD is His Word received into our hearts (Eph. 5:26). This same cleansing Word of God, believed and confessed, saves a heart, and a life: "...The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." (Rom. 10:8-16, excerpt). Search the scriptures, and get life saving open heart surgery from the Lord. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 9/18/2022 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, also on Facebook.

Follow After HIS Heart*

This weekend we will see the Super Bowl, and then Valentine's Day coming right afterward. Many love football and wait all year for the Super Bowl to be played. Many love the idea of Valentine's Day, and its romantic theme. The first mention of "love" in the Bible comes in Gen. 27:3-4. Isaac tells his son, Esau, to go hunt some venison, "And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die." As we can see, love can be for anything. Scripture says, for example, that the love of money is the root of all evil. Rather than what the world loves, however, we will read about how God views and lives love, and the wonderful work He did for us through that love: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1 Jn. 4:7-11). John also wrote that because God lives in us, His love is perfected in us. He dwells in us, and we in Him because He has given us His Spirit. It is because of this presence and perfecting of His love and Spirit in us, we can face His judgment, not in fear, but in boldness. In that love of God, and His dwelling in us, we are assured that "As He is, so are we in this world." (v. 13-17). We can confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God only because our God, who is love, dwells in us (v. 15-16). Because of this same love that dwells in us, we must love our brother. If we claim to love God, but we hate our brother, we are a liar (v. 20-21). In the world today, there is ethnic and racial hatred, even among those who claim to know Christ. This is not the love of God in us. This is how we know that the love of God is in 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 commandments: and his commandments are not grievous...whosoever keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." (1 Jn. 5:2-3, 2:5). What does the Word of God command us? Jesus, when asked by one of those questioning Him, 'What is the first commandment?', answered, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mk. 12:28-31). The two greatest commandments are built upon love. We don't see a lot of love for God or for our neighbor today. Again here we see the necessary connection between the Holy Spirit in us, and the operation of love: "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly...But God commanded his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:5-6). God loved the unlovable enough to die in our place. This was the beginning of salvation. Do we love the unlovable in the same manner? There are those who in near death experiences have seen and experienced hell, but they were brought back by God and given a second chance. We were already walking in the death of trespasses and sin, according to the ways of the world, which is ruled by the prince of the power of the air (Satan). We lived by the lusts of our flesh and of the mind, being children of wrath and disobedience. However "...God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened (meaning made alive) us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus..." (Eph. 2:1-6). It is already done! And it was done for us through the salvation work of His love. We were dead and condemned in our sins, submitted to Satan's rule, but now we are made alive, and seated in heaven in Christ. There is a spiritual Super Bowl between the power of darkness, and the Kingdom of Heaven, but God has already won that battle for our souls, and He did it with love - not just love, but great love. Valentine's Day is represented by red hearts, but the Prophet Jeremiah said that the heart is deceitful above all things. However, there is a heart that represents the love of God in us. God called David, "a man after My own heart". This is the kind of heart that stands before God forever. What kind of heart did David have that God recognized as His own heart? David had a heart that loved God above all else. When he sinned, David turned to God praying that God would cleanse him, restore him, and renew a right spirit within him. He prayed that God would not take His Holy Spirit away from David (see Psalm 51). David said that the sacrifices that God is looking for in him, and in us, are "a broken spirit, and a broken and a contrite heart". A heart that loves God, and has God's love in it, is a heart of repentance (see also 2 Chron. 7:14). Repentance and prayer, not violence as we see today even among believers, will cause God to hear us and heal our land. David also said that his lips, tongue and mouth show forth God's praise and righteousness (v. 14-15). Are these the things coming from our mouths? What is our conversation and behavior like? Is the love of God in them? James wrote that God begat us with His Word of truth, so that we would be a kind of firstfruits among His creation. Because of this: "...let every man be swift to hear, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore, lay apart all filthiness and... naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves...But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein...being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." (James Ch. 1). As the world waits for and follows after the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day, which are carnal, we follow after God's own heart of love. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/13/2022 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 endtimeschool.com.

Your Talk is Cheap: If You Don't Do HIS WILL*

 

 

So much has come against the Bible and Biblical Christianity (as opposed to "Churchianity"). There is a rise in anti-God sentiment, and a compromise of the truth in pulpits in the name of tolerance.

There is more to following Christ than attending church on Sunday, and singing hymns. The Word of God has greater expectations than that regarding those who name the name of Christ. 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. 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

Those referred to in the above verses did miraculous works in the name of Jesus, but the Lord disregarded those works and called them workers of iniquity. This is a remarkable statement, and Jesus said that it would apply to "many". Evidently, instead of doing the Father's will, these workers were doing their will in the Father's name. Although they tapped into the power of the Word of God, they lacked the relationship that Jesus has with His Father, and is looking for in us. Many of us in church desire to do these same miraculous works, but Jesus only knows those who press in to seek to do His Father's will in their lives.
Jesus described those who seek to do His Father's will as having the intimate relationship with Him as His true brother, sister, or mother, even more than those who could claim this familial relationship with Him in the natural (Mt. 12:49-50). What relates us intimately to Jesus is to have a desire likes His: to do the Father's will above all else.

As Jesus gave His instructions to His disciples, which we call the Great Commission, He made clear His expectations:

"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Grk. meaning is "age").  Mt. 28:18-20

First of all, the Gospel is to all nations. There is not a preferred ethnicity or race. The Church should not be one of the most segregated places in America, as it often is now. Secondly, the directive is to teach that we are to observe (do) all things which Christ has commanded. One of those things which Christ has commanded is that we do His father's will. Jesus assigns us this work to be done until the end of the age- the age which shall see the return of Christ to the earth. All signs indicate that His return is imminent.

In Mark 16, Jesus told His disciples that miraculous signs in His name will follow those who believe the Gospel of salvation, including casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, protection against those things that may come against them to harm them during this commission, and the recovery of the sick upon whom hands are laid (Mk. 16:16-18). These signs were to confirm the truth of the Gospel which they were commanded to preach to every creature in the whole world (v. 15, 20). The Gospel of salvation is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith...For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness..." (Rom. 1:16-20 excerpt).
As we believe the Word, we are expected to DO it, producing the works that follow it:
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves....whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."  James 1:21-25 (excerpt)
James wrote of being doers of the Word, rather than hearers only, actively incorporating it into our lives. The Word is to make a difference in our lives. The Gospel of salvation is to be followed by signs confirming it.
Jesus told the parable of the Sower of the Seed (Mt. 13:1-23). He explained the parable to His disciples because He told them that it was given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the sower of the seed of the Word of God, He explained. However, not all soil will receive the seed. The various soils of the parable represent those who hear the Word, and their processing of it, or failure to do so. Some soil is stony, and the seed of the Word cannot grow deep roots, nor endure for long in the face of hardship. Some hearers of the Word are compared to thorny soil. The seed of the Word of God ends up being choked out by the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches.  For this kind of hearer, the seed will never bear fruit among those thorns. However, those who hear the Word and understand it, are like good ground that receives the seed, which grows and produces abundant fruit, multiplied many times, even a hundred fold.
As Jesus related in His parable about the Sower of the Seed, Isaiah also wrote about those who do not hear or receive the Word effectively, and consequently fail to understand it and be saved by it (Isa. 6:9). Our understanding and incorporating of the Word of God, must also be combined with the will of God. Those who seek the Father's will are the good soil indeed.
This is God's will for all of us who have received and understood the seed of the word sown by Jesus into the soil of our lives. That seed of the Word, and understanding the the will of the Father, bears much fruit.

*The above is based upon the 7/19/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

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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.
 

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                                                                   Sean Stevenson