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.

This Week in America*

Watching the leadership of this nation this past week has been very disturbing. Congress, whose members' salaries range from $174,000.00/yr. - $193,000.00/yr plus "perks", left for a seven week break, without renewing the moratorium on eviction, which had been enacted during the COVID crisis. This was a very harsh thing for them to do. While the members of Congress have the comfort of their uninterrupted incomes from the taxpayers, many in this nation cannot pay their rent because of the adverse effects of COVID on the economy. There is a quote that is attributed to Ben Franklin that offers the thought that a nation will only last until its representatives could vote themselves the people's money to do with as they wish. Alexis de Tocqueville, on his vistit to America from France, said that America was great because America was good, but if America ceased to be good, it would also cease to be great. How does the recent inaction of Congress in this financial crisis on behalf of those who have been impoverished by COVID, contrast with the Word of God? The book of wisdom says, "That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the souls of those that spoiled them." (Prov. 22:21-23). First, the verses above proclaim that God's Word is the Word of truth, and we should know this with a certainty, especially as we answer others. The afflicted spoken about above coming to the gates of the city to plead their cases, were looking for justice, not further oppression. If the poor and afflicted are oppressed further, God would spoil the souls of the oppressors. God especially watches out for these poor people, who are not able to help themselves. The prophet Amos wrote the Word of the LORD concerning those who mistreat God's vulnerable people "...which oppress the poor, which crush the needy..." (Amos 4:1). The LORD swore by His holiness to take the oppressors away with hooks, and their prosperity with fishhooks (v. 2). Also because their offerings were being brought to God "with leaven", meaning with sin, the LORD said He would remove their food from them, and dry up their rain, leaving no water to drink. They would search for water and find none. Even after those hardships, the people still did not seek the LORD: "...yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD." (v. 6-8). Increasing hardships, including pestilence, were brought upon the land and its inhabitants, even as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, but they still did not return to God (v.9-11). Finally the LORD said to Israel: "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: And because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." (v. 12). Our nation needs to know the seriousness of His Word regarding the poor who need help, yet receive more hardship instead. As Amos said above, how we treat those who are poor and afflicted impacts many other parts of our lives. The prophet Zechariah wrote: "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother. And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." (Zech. 7:9-10). The oppression of the poor, afflicted, and easily victimized in a nation negatively affects the justice found in that nation. The LORD said further that the people did not listen to the words of His prophets, so He would not listen to them. He scattered His people into many other nations, because they had made their hearts like stone in order to refuse His Word (v. 11-14). Jesus taught that the most important commandment of God, equal to the commandment to love God with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, is the commandment "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The apostle James wrote that the Church of Jesus should not mix partiality with their faith. As Proverbs told us above, the Lord pleads the case of the poor. James wrote: "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor...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." (James 2:1-6, 12-13). The injustice and partiality towards others, with which we mix our faith in Christ, will be judged. The prophet Malachi warned that the LORD would suddenly come to His temple. However, His people would be unprepared for His coming. Malachi asked the question: "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope." (Mal. 3:1-2). The Lord is coming to purify His people from their doings. Malachi wrote the prophetic warning: "And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not..." (v. 5-6). The hardened attitude toward their fellow man, became a hardened attitude towards the LORD also, with the people saying that there was no point in serving the LORD because they were seeing the prospering of the wicked (v. 14). Their offerings to the LORD became unacceptable as well to the point where they were robbing God, and became cursed with a curse (v. 8-9). We cannot become hardened to our neighbors who are suffering, or in our attitudes or giveing to the LORD. Peter wrote that the Church, looking for the destruction of the heavens and earth in fire as prophesied, and the creation of new heavens and a new earth to come, should beware, "lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." (2 Pet. 3:10-18). Peter wrote that we were to be diligent, and found to be without spot and blameless before Him (v. 14). The ways and traditions of men, and the prevailing political attitudes regarding these issues will be no excuse before the LORD: "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Mt. 15:1-10). However, this is the promise of the LORD for those who hear and do the commandments that are from the LORD: "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Mal. 3:16-17). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenon's 8/1/21 message to the Church. Contact us at P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705, and at Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.