Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times*

It is troubling to see people, even professing believers, rising up and responding to issues with violence. The Word of God offers the ancient wisdom that applies to these times of increasing anger and violence: "In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For lo, the wicked bend their bow...that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold...the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." (Psalm 11). The foundations of righteousness, the Word of God, the Commandments, were removed from public view in this nation beginning in the 1960's. However, the LORD's throne is still established in heaven. The LORD still sees the acts of both righteous and unrighteous men, and there is still an expected outcome for both. Dominion Theology, stating that the believers will rise up and take control, is error. In Psalm 73, the writer admits that he had become envious of the wicked. He wrote that it seemed to him that the wicked do whatever they wish, and nothing happens to them. In fact, they seem to prosper and live well (v. 1-12). The writer even said that it seemed a vain thing to spend his life cleansing his heart and hands, if the wicked prosper so. However he concludes: "If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children." (v. 15). We know that living a righteous life is not in vain, and we would be teaching our children an untruth to say such a thing. Our children not only are taught by our words, but by following our example, our actions, whether those actions are righteous or wicked. The psalmist wrote, however, that he saw the truth when he went into the sanctuary of God. He then understood the end of the wicked: "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors." (v. 17-19). It is in God's sanctuary, within our intimate relationship with Him, that we see, not how the world rewards the wicked, but the unavoidable conclusion of their wickedness in the hands of God. The psalmist recognized his foolish thoughts, and makes a renewed commitment to God: "Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory...My flesh and heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." (v. 23-26). The psalmist understood that those who distance themselves from God will perish, while it is good for one to draw near to God, place their trust in Him, and declare all God's works. Are we declaring what our flesh feels, rather than the Word and works of God? Regarding the same thing, David wrote in Psalm 37: "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass...Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." (v. 1-3). "Delight thyself in the LORD...Commit thy way unto the LORD...Rest in the LORD...Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil... For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be...But the meek (humble) shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." The book of wisdom, Proverbs, described this wicked generation in Chapter 30 as one that curses their father, and does not bless their mother (v. 11). How we have seen this today! In the Old Testament, behavior that we see every day by children against parents, would result in a death sentence. People view themselves as being pure, Proverbs 30 says, but are still in their filthiness (v. 12). Things that were considered abominable to do in previous generations are now accepted today. This generation spoken of in Prov. 30 is proud and lofty in their own eyes, and their teeth are sharp like swords to devour the poor and needy from the earth (v. 13-14). There are so many crying out for help here at home, and across the world. Where are the givers in the church, where is the giving of churches towards these needs, and where are the intercessors? Part of the wickedness of these last days is the hoarding of wealth, the defrauding of those who earn wages, the persecution of others for increase in wealth. However, this wealth will witness against those who have coveted and hoarded it. (James 5:1-6). James also wrote, however: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the LORD. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the LORD draweth nigh." (v. 7-8). Both of the prophets Hosea and Malachi urged God's people to return to Him. As in James above, Hosea describes the LORD saying, "After two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight...and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hosea 6:1-3). Malachi asked God's people: "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...he shall purify the sons of Levi...And I will come near to you in 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 at his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Mal. 3:2-6). The LORD does not change His Word to us. What was wicked then is still wicked now to God. He gives all men an opportunity to repent and return to Him, if they will take it. He has the end of every man in His hands. Being assured in this, we must not be angry, but meek, being an example to others by how we live. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/10/21 message to the church. To contact us, to submit a praise report or a prayer request, 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.

Will the Church Fiddle While America Burns?*

 

 

This nation is in a crisis, and at a crossroads. Fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, riots, pandemic cross the country. Second Chronicles 7:14, calling for His own people to repent, tells us that God judges a land by the saints that inhabit it. God's call for repentance is to His people, called by His name.

It is said that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. While people suffered, he played music. He was ineffectual and uncaring in the crisis. The persecuted Christians were blamed for the catastrophe at the time, becoming the scapegoats. The word "fiddled" is appropriately used to describe Nero because it not only refers to the playing of an instrument, but it also has the meaning "to defraud, to cheat, to falsify".

Are God's people also "fiddling" like Nero as America is about to burn?

Through His prophet Hosea, God described not only a catastrophic judgment to come upon Israel, but the attitude of God's people just before it would fall:

"Hear the word of the LORD ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore, shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish....Therefore thou shalt fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, and thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity." 

                                                                                                        Hos. 4:1-8

America has begun to turn away from God. Even the Church has been sucked into seeking political solutions, and spiritual compromise and political correctness. God judges by His people, but the Church is too involved in the opinions of men. Our goal should be to get people saved. This is what Jesus came and died to do, and this is what He instructed us to do in His name.

Even His disciples did not understand the salvation purpose of Jesus. They thought only those in their group could be saved. That is often the feeling of various divisions and denominations within the Church as well. The disciples forbade someone they were not familiar with who was casting out devils in the name of Jesus. Jesus scolded His disciples saying, "...he that is not against us is on our part." (Mk. 9:38-41)

When the Samaritans rejected Jesus because He planned to continue His journey to Jerusalem (there was long standing racial hatred, and contention regarding worship between the Jews and the Samaritans), His disciples asked if they should call down the fire of heaven against the Samaritans as Elijah had done (2 Kings 1:12). This situation had nothing in common with the demonstration of Elijah. Jesus rebuked His disciples saying, "You know not what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."  (Lk. 9:51-56).

We did not die to save men; Jesus died to save men. He spoke about the different people for whom He had also been sent, people of which His disciples knew nothing. Those other seemingly "unsaveable" souls included all of us as well: "I am the good shepherd...and I lay my life down for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."   Jn. 10:14-18

The Church must keep in mind that this is our directive from Christ- to preach the gospel to all nations and people. He rejects no one out of hand because of their outward appearances or circumstances. God looks upon the inward man, upon the heart. The flock of Jesus comes out of every nation, tribe, and tongue, and they are all to be given the opportunity to hear the gospel.

In His parable of the wheat and the tares (Mt. 13:24-30), Jesus teaches of a man who sowed good seed in his field, wheat seed, but then found that an enemy had furtively sown worthless tares in his field also. In order not to harm or uproot the valuable wheat, the owner of the field told his workers to let the tares continue to grow together with the wheat until harvest time. Then the tares would be separated out to be thrown into the fire, and the wheat would be gathered into the barn unharmed. There are tares that have been sown into the field of the Lord, but they will be dealt with at harvest time, which is soon coming. The tares are those who are within His Church, but do not teach truth, which is fruitful, but teach and tolerate untruth, which never will bear Godly fruit.

In Matthew 23, Jesus prophesied to the religious leaders who have not taught the people correctly. He called them hypocrites and serpents, fools and blind: "you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in...ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."  v. 13-38

These same religious leaders, while approving themselves and others based upon outward appearances only (v. 27), end up leading not only themselves, but all whom they teach into hell. Ultimately those who have rejected His sheltering salvation will be left desolate (v. 37-38).

Meanwhile, the Church fiddles while America is on its way to hell. What will it take for the people of God to wake up, pray, repent, and to teach the uncompromised Word of God, in order to save a soul, a nation?

James wrote for us to confess our sins one to another, so that we may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. As we cause even one soul to be turned, converted back to the truth, a great miracle occurs:

"...he which coverteth  the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."  James 5:16-20

 

*The above is based upon the 8/23/20 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, or Memorial Fund 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/ 

 

 Remembering:



  Sean Stevenson



God and the Economy*

 

The pandemic and the resulting disruption of the economies of our nation and the other nations of the world is the situation in which we currently find ourselves.  However, the economy is more than what people consider it to be. The real economy is not a system of this world. God has much to say about His intentions for this worldly system and its attitude towards wealth, and what our thoughts should be towards it.

There is a strong warning in the Word towards those who boast, hoard and abuse with their wealth:

"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire: ye have heaped treasure together for the last days."   James 5:1-3

The apostle James, who was the half-brother of Jesus, wrote above that the wealth of those who have hoarded riches for protection in these last days will be the testimony against them, and that wealth will prove to be no protection anyway. James went on to write that the same hoarders of wealth defraud and oppress those who labor for them. The Lord of the Sabbath, who is Christ, shall heal the cries of those who have been defrauded of their earned wages. In the recent past, we have seen lending institutions practice fraud in home mortgages, leading to the collapse of the housing market. We have seen in this pandemic, those who are lower on the economic scale have been placed in more danger than others. Large, wealthy corporations have defrauded the government of the funds that have been recently allocated to help small businesses and their employees through this difficult period. To the Godly, James urged patience until the day that the Lord comes, which day is near (v. 7-8).
The apostle Paul also warned the rich not to depend upon their riches, but with their trust being in God, rather to distribute those riches towards the good works that build a foundation for the difficult times ahead, and even into eternal life (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
The trusting in wealth, even the multitude of riches, cannot redeem oneself or any one else with God, because redemption is more precious than wealth, and is not corruptible or fleeting as material wealth is (Ps. 49:6-9). As we know, redemption was only bought by the blood of the Son of God. In fact, the man who is destroyed is the man who does not make God his strength, but trusts in those gathered riches (Ps. 52:5-7). The man-made economy, whether strong or weak, will not save anyone from the things that are happening now, or those that are to come. Even with money, it is difficult to buy things like toilet paper, as people have hoarded in fear. Food is disappearing from grocery shelves, even for those with money to pay, because it is destroyed by farmers who cannot get distributers to pick it up. God is asking us: Do we trust in the economy of man, manipulating it to get the greatest wealth from it, or do we trust in Him? It is God who is our salvation, our glory, the rock of our strength, and our refuge. Even when money abounds, we are still to trust in Him rather than riches (Ps. 62:7-10).
Comparing the economics of the righteous and the wicked the LORD said:
"A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied."  (Ps. 37:16-19)
Who are the righteous referred to above? Those who trust, delight and rest in the LORD (v. 1-7). From his own life experience, King David assured us:
"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (v. 25)
The trust we place in the LORD, rather than in wealth or in any worldly system, not only yields supernatural benefits to us, but continues to yield them to our children, and to their children. This is the investment worth seeking that cannot be found on Wall Street. The economy is not about men, corporations or stocks, but about Godly people, who will seek His face, repent, pray, and trust in Him rather than wealth.

*The above is based upon the 5/3/20 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/ 

To send testimonies for the Book of Remembrance to be published in the memory of Sean Stevenson:
 

You can send your testimonies to:

everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX  76705.

 



Sean Stevenson