A Matter of Days*

Each day of our lives has a purpose, and the choices we make today will impact the rest of our lives. Yesterday has passed, and tomorrow is not guaranteed to us, so what we accomplish is contained within today. A day can take us either further into the Kingdom of God, or can be used by the devil to take us further away from the Kingdom. God has put a great importance into the measure of a day: "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years." (Gen. 1:14). The Hebrew word for "day" used in this verse is yom, which means "day, time, year, division of time, life time, time period". The Hebrew people also use it to refer to sesons, times, and perpetual time. The Greek word for "day" used in the New Testament is Hemera, which means "day, time in general, day of life, period of time, age, years". David wrote in music form about the importance of a day in our lives: "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me...while I was musing, the fire (in my heart) burned: then spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as a handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah." (Ps. 39:1-5). David wrote that part of the vanity, or emptiness, in which men spend the short number of days given to them is in the heaping up of riches. However, David fills his days with the substance of the Lord instead: "And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee." (v. 7). The Apostle James also wrote about how easily vanity, or emptiness, enters into our days. He said that we assume that we will have many days ahead of us, and we waste them by planning ahead how we will fill each day with activities and travels in order to get gain. He said that we should instead surrender our own planned days to the Lord's will for those days of our lives (James 4:12-16). Our plans for the day will not stay the hand or timing of God. He is the lawgiver, and He has set the days. He is the One who is able to save or destroy. David understood that each of our beginnings was not our own to determine: "...thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth...and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." (Ps. 139:13-16). Abortion is the exact opposite of this truth revealed by David. Abortion did not begin as a tool of freedom, but out of the racist eugenics of Margaret Sanger. Her agenda was to rid society of "mongrel" races and "undesirables". It was even stressed that the efforts begin in black communities, preferably recruiting black pastors and community leaders, in order to gain cooperation among the people there. However, the days of a person's life, even before he is born, is determined by God. Every part of us was written in His book before we were even formed. The Prophet Amos wrote the Word of the LORD saying "...it is an evil time", and telling His people to "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live...Hate evil and love the good, and establish judgment (justice) in the gate: it may be that the LORD of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:13-15). He said that it would be a time of mourning and wailing: "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light...even very dark and no brightness in it." (v. 18-20). The LORD said He despised how His people made their offerings, and kept His feasts, which they turned into tabernacles of Moloch and Chiun, images and idols representing the most abominable practices, including the burning of their children (v. 22-26). The LORD commanded, "...let judgment (justice) run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." (v. 24). The day of the LORD is set, and our days should be conducted as those who love good, justice, and righteousness, having no part in the evil of the day. We are not to live taking for granted that we will automatically escape that day, as some in the Church believe. We are to pray, Jesus said, to be accounted worthy to escape, and to stand before the Son of man (Lk. 21:36). The LORD promised in His Word to Amos, "In that day, will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." (Amos 9:11). In another prophecy to Zechariah, the LORD spoke about the day He has assigned to deal with those who were going to besiege Judah and Jerusalem: "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered against it...In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem..." (Zech. 12:2-8). It won't matter that all the world has come against Jerusalem, On that day, the LORD will defeat them, and defend Jerusalem. Not only that, but the LORD will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and "...they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zech. 12:10). That day will be a day when eyes are opened to see their Messiah, Jesus. In addition, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." (Zech. 13:1). The day is set and established in the LORD. The Prophet Hosea wrote: "Come and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days, will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." (Hos. 6:1-2). Return to the LORD, because He has already set the days. All of the significant events of my life can be pinpointed to specific days. Those days also presented choices to me, and determined how my life would be turned as a result. It is the same for each of us. Each day of a life has a significant purpose assigned for us by the LORD. All else is vanity. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/20/2022 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.

Whose Fool Are You?*

The title of this message is based on the humorous expression: "Yes, I'm a fool for Jesus...whose fool are you?!" The Church shouldnt be about introducing someone to salvation through Jesus Christ, and then leaving the person on their own afterwards. The Church is about discipleship, and coming into the full stature of Christ. Discipleship is a process in our walk with Christ. While it has a beginning moment, it is also ongoing, and incorporates a way of life. Discipleship affects how we interact with the world, and our fellow believers, as well as our interaction with our Savior and our walk in the will of God. Paul in Romans 12 gives us a good look into our discipleship: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, tht ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ...I say... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (v. 1-3). So much of the Church is caught up in worldly things, thinking only of self, when there are many suffering around the world who need the ministry that we have to offer through Christ. Romans continues in Chapter 12 to describe the relationship of believers to each other. Although there is one body of Christ, there are many members within it, "...every one members one of another." (v. 5). We are members of the body, but also members of each other. The gifts given to each member through grace including prophecy, ministering, teaching, exhorting and more, are done faithfully and selflessly: "Let love be without dissimulation (meaning hypocrisy, insincerity). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." (v. 9-10). We have often seen lately Christians involved in political and even racial strife. Are we seeing faith or foolishness? We see Christian babes without understanding or maturing. This is not what the Word of God expects of discipleship in Christ. How should disciples treat those who persecute or accuse them? "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not...If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men...Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (v. 14, 18, 21). Peter said the same things concerning Christian conduct: "...be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing...Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts..." (1 Peter 3:8-15, excerpt). Peter wrote that in maintaining this good conscience and manner of living, those who do falsely accuse us are put to shame (v. 16). What is our life saying to those who are watching us? With who and what are we closely associating ourselves? Paul wrote: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?...And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Cor. 6:14-17). God has called us not just to be His servants, but His sons and daughters (v. 18). Because of this, Paul urged: "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1). The Book of Proverbs is filled with the call to be children of wisdom, rather than followers of fools and foolishness. T Proverbs says that the lifestyle of wisdom avoids evil and evil doers, and the fools who will not receive wisdom or correction (see Prov. 13:20), while receiving instead instruction, wisdom, understanding, justice, judgment and equity (Proverbs 1:1-15). This life of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding starts with the fear of the LORD, the attention to the Word of God, and instruction from our parents. Today we see children disrespecting their parents, and parents not instructing their children in godly wisdom. James also wrote regarding our unwise connection to things that are not godly: ",,,know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4). The church has definitely made friends with the world and the ways of the world. James concludes that the fighting and lusting, and inappropriate desires expressed even in our prayer requests made to God, are a direct result of being connected to the world and the things of the world (v. 1-3). As God deals with strongholds in the end times, those who have connected themselves with these strongholds will suffer in their fall, which is promised. Scripture gives the city/spiritual stronghold of Babylon as an example of this in Revelation Chapter 18. Bebylon has allowed itself to become the habitation of devils, demons and every foul spirit. All nations have participated with it, and have "drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (v. 3). We already see this same ind of corruption touching every one of our institutions today. To this Babylon, the Lord pronounces: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen..." (v. 2). A voice from heaven warns God's people, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." (v. 4-5). The prophet Isaiah also wrote the same warning from the LORD: "The LORD hath made bare 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). Seek the God-kind of life. Who you companion with is who you are going to be like. Lot and his family lived in the wicked city of Sodom. Although he and his family were removed almost forcibly from Sodom by the angels of the LORD just before that city's destruction, they had already been corrupted by the ways of Sodom. His wife was destroyed soon after by her disobedience, and his daughters sought an immoral and ungodly remedy to their childless circumstance. We cannot touch, associate, join with, compromise with, or make friends with ungodliness without affecting our lives, and our walk with God. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/31/21 message to the church. To contact, give a praise report, submit a prayer request, 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 at endtimeschool.com.

The Late Great United States*

The title of this message comes from Dr. Stevenson's yet to-be-published book, "The Late Great United States". That book grew out of a message titled, "America's Last Hurrah", given to the Church upon the election of William Clinton as President. Dr. Stevenson then sent an open letter to newly elected Pres. Clinton, based upon what the Holy Spirit was saying in that moment. Since then, Dr. Stevenson has sent open letters to each successive president. When the results of this recent election are certified, Dr. Stevenson will send a letter again to the president. Much of what will be said in that new letter will be a reprise of the letter sent to Pres. Clinton, because America has not changed its course spiritually since that time. Because America has continued down the road that turns away from God, rather than towards Him, the same truths of the Word of God apply now as they did then. To this nation and its president, and to all of the people of God, the Word of the LORD came to the prophet Micah saying, "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Mic. 6:8). Pres. Clinton, like many of the presidential candidates, spoke in churches, quoted scriptures, and claimed faith in God, and in Jesus Christ. This word from Micah requires something from those who claim to know God in this manner. Yet recent politics especially have been an arena of hostility, rather than humility. Racial animus has grown in this country, rather than justice and mercy. Pestilence has come to this country. In the era of Pres. Clinton, there was an A.I.D.S. epidemic that took the lives of many. Yet neither then nor now, none of those who stand in leadership of this nation have called America to the repentance and humility that scripture tells us in 2 Chron. 7:14 will cause God to hear our prayers, and heal our land. The LORD clearly told His people when it was time to repent. He said, "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:13-14). When we go against the Word of God, it brings consequences. Moses said that if the people of God rebel aginst God, they will be judged. It is obvious now as it was when President Clinton was elected, that we were choosing to go down the road to approve and legitimize sin. Consider the condition of men in the last days as written by Paul to Timothy: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away...ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth...these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate cncerning the faith." (2 Tim. 3:1-8, excerpt). Do we not see these very conditions and attitudes now in our nation? Some may say that a president is not the one to call America to repentance, that political positions are to be separate from spiritual principles. However, two of our greatest presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln directed the nation to prayer and repentance. President George Bush, upon entering the Persian Gulf War, called the American people to prayer. In that war, American troops experienced what many would call a miraculous and overwhelming victory. As we sought God as a nation, we had a reprieve from our headlong rush into God's judgment. The Apostle James wrote, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up...to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:8-17, excerpt). According to the Word of God, healing won't come through any government program, or by taking hands and singing "God Bless America". Healing will only come when we get on our knees. We have forbidden our children to pray in schools. We have banned the mention of Jesus, or prayer in His name, in public. At the same time, we have allowed churches to be invaded and services to be disrupted by those groups who wish to express their contempt for God's commandments. America is on the verge of judgment. The prophet Jeremiah was given this word of the LORD to His people who enter into His gates to worship: "...Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place....if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings...if you thoroughly execute judgment...If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever." (Jer. 7:1-7). This was the condemnation that the LORD had for His own people as told to Jeremiah: "...ye trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Ba'al, and walk after other gods...; and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?...they hearkened not nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward...This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth....they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it. And they have built the high places of Tophet...to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart." (Jer. 7:8-31, excerpt). The LORD commanded Jeremiah, "...pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee." (v. 16). Having ignored the LORD's many corrections and warnings up to this point, the LORD would no longer receive any of the prophet's prayers and intercessions for the people of God. Jeremiah laments, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." (Jer. 8:20). Have God's people in our nation also failed to heed the many warnings of the LORD? Will the time soon come when the LORD directs spiritul leaders not to pray for this people any longer? We hope never to hear that command. At the time of the original letter, President Clinton had claimed that with his election, we as a nation were entering a "new covenant". There is only one new covenant. That is the new covenant established by the blood of Christ. No one has the liberty to change the Word of God. As is our habit, we will continue to pray not only for the president of this nation, but all of those who are in government leadership. We will continue to pray for pastors and spiritual leaders as well, that the Word of truth and righteousness be delivered to the people. Especially during this week of Thanksgiving, our prayer will be that God's people humble themselves, repent and return to Him. I pray in thanks that God hears our prayers, and that our land would be healed. I want to see an end to this pandemic. Don't you? I want to see a return to righteousness. Don't you? *The above is based on Dr. Stevenson's 11/22/20 message to the church. To contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705; or Everlastingcovennt@ymail.com

First Become Humble*

The Good Samaritan

 

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2 Chron. 7:14

As I have discussed in many previous messages, our nation needs the healing that is found in the above chapter and verse from 2 Chronicles. The responsibility and call is to God's people, who are called by His name. The first thing mentioned above, in order to turn a nation's sickness into healing, is for God's people to humble themselves. However, rather than being an age of humility, this era has instead become one associated with pride. Pride has become connected with everything, including things which are against the Word of God. Pride on both sides of the racial divide is threatening to tear our nation apart. It is even more important then, for God's people to understand the need to be humble, but, unfortunately, I have not seen this in practice across the Body of Christ. Scripture teaches the value that God places upon the humble heart:

"...ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time....Submit yourselves therefor to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" 

                                                                        1 Pet. 5:5-6. and James 4:6-7, 10

The Word also tells us that pride is associated with destruction, not healing:

"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." Pr. 29:23

The prophets also revealed the spiritual power and blessing of humility:

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  Isa. 57:15

God's promise is to dwell among His people, to tabernacle in their midst, restoring the relationship He had in the beginning with Adam in the Garden, through Jesus, His Son. This requires a humble and contrite heart in His people. He has shown us what is good, "...and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"  Mic. 6:8

We have seen very little justice and mercy. Those who are wounded, downtrodden, disregarded for racial or ethnic reasons, and even those just going about innocent activities, are being targeted and murdered. Sean Stevenson, my son, was a murder victim in Missoula, Montana, under mysterious circumstances. No answers are forthcoming from the authorities in regard to his murder. Each week, more victims are sadly added to the list, and there is no justice, no mercy, no humility, and certainly no repentance.

Jesus taught a parable, which we call the parable of the good Samaritan, in answer to a lawyer who was challenging Him about how to inherit eternal life (Lk. 10:25-37). Since the questioner was a lawyer, the Lord asked him to answer his own question based upon the Law of Moses. The lawyer answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus told the lawyer that this was the correct answer to his own question. Then the lawyer wanting to justify himself for not observing the Law he just quoted, asked, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus told the lawyer that there once was a man who, while traveling, had been viciously attacked by thieves and left on the road, half dead. Both a priest and a Levite saw him on the road, and passed by him, even crossing to the other side of the road to avoid him. Then a Samaritan came along the road. We know that Samaritans were considered ethnic "half-breeds", and religious heretics by the Jews. They were held in contempt, and were not to be associated with. Yet when the Samaritan man saw the wounded victim laying in the road, he ministered to his wounds with bandages, oil, and wine. The Samaritan picked the victim up, and took him on his beast to an inn, where he continued to take care of him. When the Samaritan had to leave, he paid the innkeeper to continue to care for the man, and promised to pay the innkeeper if there were more charges incurred in the care of this stranger. Jesus then asked the lawyer, which of the men was the neighbor to the wounded man, and the lawyer had to answer that it was the Samaritan, the one who had shown mercy to the wounded man. Jesus instructed the lawyer to "Go and do thou likewise."

Many people, even people who are "religious", and people of faith, find it easier to remove themselves, and not get involved in the face of injustice, or when confronted by uneasy situations, perhaps involving people not held in esteem for various reasons. However, Jesus made clear that the ones who do the Word and will of God embrace justice, mercy and humility concerning their relationship with all others. The inheritance of everlasting life is based upon these things. Where are the Samaritans today, who are willing to align themselves with the downtrodden?

It is not pride, but humility that fulfills the Word of God, and brings healing to our land.

 

*The above is based upon the 6/28/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance for Sean Stevenson:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

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.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:

  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

 

 



                                                                   Sean Stevenson