Renewal Not Resolution*

When I saw the thousands of people celebrating the new year, especially in New York City, I had great concern for the nation, including New York City, and for the Body of Christ. It is customary that when the new year begins, people make resolutions to change certain things in their lives and circumstances. However, scripture teaches something different: "...be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Rom. 12:2). Our minds are washed and renewed by one thing- the Word of God. One thing that can prevent the renewing of our minds is a religious mindset that refuses to hear the truth that is revealed in the scriptures, both in the Torah and the Prophets, and in the New Testament.Jesus healed a man on the sabbath of a Feast of the LORD, who suffered from infirmity for thirty-eight years, and was confined to a bed at the pool of Bethesda, by the sheep market. When healing the man, Jesus said to him: "Rise, take up thy bed and walk." (Jn. 8:1-8). The religious Jews who saw the cured man carrying his bed, scolded him saying: "It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed." (v. 9-10). Instead of rejoicing in the healing blessing received by this man on the sabbath, they condemned him for carrying his bed away. They needed a renewing of their minds, because what they condemned as a sinful behavior was really the manifestation of the power and mercy of God. Later, when Jesus saw the healed man again in the temple, He said to him: "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more , lest a worse thing come onto thee." (v. 14). Once we have received the grace of God, we are not to continue in sin. When the religious Jews found out that it was Jesus who had healed the man, instead of seeking Him out as the Son of God, they persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him for doing these things on the sabbath (v. 16). Unrenewed minds are dangerous. However, Jesus confronted them with not just the healing of God, but with the resurrection power of His Father placed into Jesus' hands: "Verily, verily...the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do...For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father...hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honour the Father...He that heareth my word, and believeth on him who sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life...The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live...Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (v. 19-29, excerpt). Instead of believing Jesus, who could bring them everlasting life by the authority given to Him by His Father, those who had not renewed their minds in the Word of God (who was speaking to them) condemned Jesus again, this time for blasphemy for claiming that God was His Father. Jesus finally said to them: "...these things I say that ye might be saved...And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye may have life...But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you...Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (v. 34, 37-47). What Jesus was telling them in no way contradicted the Law of Moses, but confirmed and fulfilled it. All of scripture bears witness of Jesus, as He said. We keep the law because of Christ in us, not legalistically, but by understanding the intent of God. Man's resolutions often fail, but the Word of God, as we are conformed to it, and renewed by it, does not fail. The Bible is unlike any book written by man, because it is living and active, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote that just because the Word of God is not believed, does not mean that it is of no effect: "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true and every man a liar.; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Rom. 3:1-5). God is true, and will judge the world by this truth, and not in injustice (v. 5). Life is not a New Year's Eve party in Times Square NYC, where everyone sings the John Lennon song, "Imagine". Unlike the lyrics of that song, there is a heaven, and there is a hell. As Paul wrote: "There is no fear of God before their eyes." (v. 18). Paul asked if faith makes the law of God void: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (v. 31). The Law is not being destroyed by faith in Christ - it is being established. The sin that destroys us, and destroys the world, is not done away with by New Year's resolutions. Also, grace is not in place to continue covering a life of repeated sin. Paul wrote about the renewing of our mind regarding sin with this knowledge: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid, How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.. Knowing this, our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin...Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:1-7, 11). We have died to sin in this body, and are alive in Christ in His resurrected body. We are not to continue in sin because we are under grace and not under law: "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin , but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you. Being made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness...For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (v. 15-18, 23). In this renewal of our minds, we are not to think like the world. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor. 3:16-17, 19, see also 1 Cor. 6:5-8, 19). What we were in the world, we are to be no longer by the renewal of Christ: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God...For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:9-11, 20). This nation has turned its back on God, being full of abominations, and it cannot be fixed with New Year celebrations and resolutions. The Renewal we need is not in "religion", but in Christ. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/1/23 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 Spiritual Rededication*

Today will begin the Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, commemorating the cleansing of the temple of God from the defilement of heathen occupiers, and the miraculous provision of oil for the Lamp of God in the temple. The candles of the menorah are lit to celebrate this miracle. Most Christians do not understand the meaning of this feast, and do not celebrate it. However, Jesus did observe this feast, as we will see: "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand...If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." (Jn. 10:23-38, excerpt). Jesus brought this saving revelation to them on the Feast of Dedication, in the Temple of God, but for these words, they sought to stone Jesus for blasphemy. They missed the significance of the connection between what Jesus said, and the fulfillment of the Feast of Dedication that they were observing. The Law is not to be followed in the flesh, but in the Spirit. The prophets wrote about the work of spiritual rededication that God would bring to His people: "Therefore say, Thus saith the LORD God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. (This was fulfilled in 1947.) And they shall come thither, ad they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away 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). To walk in the statutes of God as He intended man to do, requires a new heart and spirit. The LORD also said to Ezekiel that for those who continued to walk in their detestable things and abominations instead, "...I will recompense their way upon their own heads..." (v. 21). The apostle Paul, who was thoroughly trained in the Law of Moses, also brought the same understanding between the carnal and spiritual: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor. 3:1, 16-17). We are the holy, Spirit-filled temple of God, not to be defiled. Our being the temple of the Holy Spirit does not preclude the building of an actual physical third temple in Jerusalem, of which the prophets wrote. Preparation for that planned third temple is being carried out now in Israel. Again, however, Paul wrote about the price paid by Christ for the presence of the Holy Spirit in the body of the believer: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Giving us an understanding of what Ezekiel wrote above, Paul taught that by the Holy Spirit, we are a living epistle, or letter, rather than the stone tablets of Law: "...ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves...but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Cor. 3:3-6). The Flesh profits nothing, but the Spirit brings inner life and grace to the eternal, unchangeable statutes of God. This is only made possible through Christ: "...be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor. 5:20-21). Although through the sacrifice of Christ we have received the grace gift of the righteousness of God, that grace does not justify continued sin. Jesus taught that the two great principles of the Law still apply: Loving God, which is reflected in the first five of the Ten Commandments, and loving our neighbor, which is reflected in the second five Commandments. Paul wrote that, because of this, we are not to commune or join ourselves with unrighteousness, darkness, or idolatry. He wrote of rededication: "...ye are the temple of the living God...as God hath said, I will 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, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 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. 6:14-18, 7:1). The Book of Hebrews pointed out that the repeated sacrifices that had to be made yearly under the law, was but a shadow of the true and eternal sacrifice found in the blood of Christ offered for our sins. Of God's provision for sin, Paul wrote: "He taketh away the first (yearly offerings), that he may establish the second. By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all...For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us...'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days', saith the Lord, 'I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And that their sins and iniquities will I remember no more'. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." (Heb. 10:9-18). There is only one way now that has been made available by God to cleanse us of sin, as the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit of God: the one-time sacrifice fulfilled by His Son for us. Because of this cleansing sacrifice, Paul wrote: "By a new and living way, which he (Jesus) hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh...Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;). (v. 19-23). The prophet Haggai wrote to the people of God during a time that he described as the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, regarding the temple of the LORD. The time mentioned lines up with today's date on our calendar. The promise of the LORD to His people, represented by the governmental leader, the spiritual leader and the rest of the people, is: "...be strong all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts....my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts." (Hag. 2:4-7). During this Feast of Dedication, the LORD desires to fill His house, His living temple, which we are, with His glory. Let us rededicate ourselves this season, having our lamps lit, and our hearts sprinkled with the cleansing sacrifice of Jesus. If you would like to read more details regarding the original cleansing and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, you can read the account in the Apocrypha, in 1 Maccabees 4:36-46. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/18/2022 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 END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.