Reviving the Great Commission*

We are living in the Laodicean Age of the Church. We will see exactly what that involves later. Because of the compromising condition of the Church today, we need a revival of the Great Commission that Christ gave to His disciples: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 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 (age)." (Mt. 28:18-20). He also added: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover...And they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." (Mk. 16:15-20). Not only does the Great Commission speak about teaching the Gospel to all, and baptizing believers, but the Great Commission also specifically refers to miracles, signs, and wonders that follow the believers, and confirm the Gospel which they preach. Many in the Church do not believe in miracles today. Many seminaries do not teach the complete truth of the Great Commission to the future pastors who will lead the churches, so why would the churches believe? Even as Jesus was appearing to His disciples and delivered this Commission, "some doubted". (Mt. 28:17). We need a revival of the Great Commission today. What kind of disciples are we making? Without practicing the complete truth of the Great Commission, are we making the same kind of disciples of unbelief as Jesus accused the Pharisees of making? (Mt. 23:15). Let's now look at the Church of Laodicea, the notoriously lukewarm church mentioned in the beginning of this message. I think you will see a similarity to the Church of today: "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Rev. 3:14-19). However, the Lord will graciously receive His repentant Church: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (v. 20-22). People in the Church believe that the solution is politics, even revolution, as we have seen. Even racism is being preached falsely in the name of Christ. This is not the zealous Church that the Lord is looking for. Jesus is not looking for a part-time, lukewarm, apathetic commitment to the Great Commission. The Lord doesn't want to date you - He wants to be married to you. When the Lord says above that He will "come in" to you, it is the same word used for when a devil enters a man. We foolishly welcome in devils in many different ways, but will we welcome Christ in? David wrote that the godly man has ceased. Instead, he wrote, men were using their lips in an ungodly manner, oppressing and dismissing those who are in need. Men, David said, claimed to own their own lips to use as they chose, saying, "Who is Lord over us?". They speak vanity. However, the Word of the LORD is different. It is a pure Word: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, while the vilest men are exalted." (Ps. 12). Isn't this what we are seeing today? The most vile are being exalted, even sometimes by the Church. Are we speaking the pure Words of the LORD, rather than our own words of vanity? The Church has taught "Name it and claim it", but this is false. The lips we speak with must speak out of a delight in the LORD, who then gives us the desires of our hearts - because our hearts desire Him, and His desires. This is an understanding that comes with maturity. Is the Church walking in this maturity? The revival of the Great Commission requires sound doctrine, rather than these doctrines of men, as Paul wrote to Titus: "...speak thou the things which become sound doctrine...For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. " (Titus 2:1, 11-15). Paul reminded Titus that the godly works we are called to do are not our own works but the work of grace and the Holy Spirit in us: "For we ourselves were sometimes foolish...hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:3-7). The revival of the Great Commission does not come out of our own works, but out of the root of grace, which also justified us, and gave us abundantly of the Holy Spirit. The fulfillment of the Great Commission will not come through riots in Washington DC, where police officers are assaulted with flags, or with anti-Semitic words of hate being poured out upon Jews, and those of others races, or of differing political beliefs. Paul wrote that the teaching of the Great Commission of grace in the Gospel must be committed to "faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. 2:1-2). Paul wrote that those who labor bringing the Great Commission of the Gospel will suffer and endure hardship so others "may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ with eternal glory." Men may try to put these workers in bonds to try to stop the Gospel, but the Word of God will not be bound (v. 9-10). "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us..." (v. 11-12). The revival of the Great Commission, even in the face of possible hardships, is more important now than ever before. We can see why as Paul wrote: "This know also, that in the ;ast 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, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). We can see these problems in our current time. A lukewarm Laodicean Church will not have any impact. Paul also wrote that these evil men will grow worse, and the godly will suffer persecution. However, he instructs Timothy: "...continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of...the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works...Preach the word..." (2 Tim. 3:12-17, 4:2). At the recent Commonwealth Games in Britain, there was a ceremony among the 56 member nations that included the open worship of the false god, Ba'al. We need a Church that understands the power and importance of reviving the Great Commission, and who will obey the command of Jesus Christ to preach it to every creature, with signs, wonders and miracles following. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/30/2022 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.

Make Ready His House*

As we begin the message, it is our prayer that the Lord's house be established in this day: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established (kun - be fixed aright, to prepare, be ready) above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people...nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isa. 2:1-2, excerpt). The Lord's mountain, where His house shall be established, is higher than all others. It is a house for all nations. The Book of Revelation says that the Kingdom of God is made up of those from every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue. The Law of God is not something that is to remain written on tablets of stone, but it is to be written in our hearts, and to go out from there to others. How is the house of God established according to Isaiah? He told Jacob (the nation of Israel) to walk in the light of the LORD, and not to walk in the ways of foreigners, practicing eastern ways, or soothsaying, like the ungodly, trusting in riches and armory instead of God, and having a land full of idols to which they bow (v. 5-8). "...therefore forgive them not. Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day." (v. 9-10). It is written again in scripture where men hide themselves in the rocks for fear of the LORD (see Lk. 23:28-31 and Rev. 6:15-17). In order to build His house on the mountain which is above all the hills, the LORD will bring low everything else that has exalted itself instead. We are not purposed to be like the ones who will have to hide themselves under rocks from His wrath, because we are not meant for the wrath of God. However, He calls us not to be conformed to this world, but transformed by the washing of the Word of God. The LORD spoke to Ezekiel the prophet out of His house. About His house, the LORD said: "...Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds...they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. Now let them put away their whoredom...and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever." (Ezek. 43:6-9). The wicked doings of the house of Israel had defiled the house of God, and His holy name, which was in their midst. The LORD wanted the prophet to show them HIS house: "Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house." (v. 10-12). The house of the LORD was defiled by His own people, not others. However, God said, if the people of God would change their defiling ways, the house of the LORD would be established among them for ever. In another part of scripture, the LORD again told His prophet to show His people their transgressions: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isa. 58:1). God's house, as we have already read, has ordinances and rules, however, to many it is an offense when their sins are brought before them. The LORD told Isaiah that His people took delight in seeking Him as if they were a nation that did righteousness, not forsaking the ordinances of God V. 2), but He wanted them to know that their empty religious practices and fasts did not accomplish the purposes of God. The true and humble worship of God, He said, loosens the bands of wickedness, undoes the heavy burdens, frees those who are oppressed, and breaks every yoke, gives bread to the hungry, houses the poor and unwanted, and clothes the naked (v. 3-7). However, the LORD said that if His people would truly and sincerely seek Him in their fasting and worship, and not hide themselves from their own flesh, and its sins: "Then shall thy light break through as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward. Then thou shalt call, and the LORD shall answer...If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity...if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul...and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." (v. 7-11). Fountains of living water are to fill us, and flow out of our bellies, according to the Word of God. Isaiah also wrote: "...they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places...raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." (v. 12). God also spoke through Isaiah about the disregard His people have for the Sabbath of the LORD, doing as they please, and speaking their own words instead. If His people will change their ways regarding the Sabbath of the LORD, and delight themselves in Him instead, He will cause them to ride upon the high places of the earth (v. 14). This is the pattern of the house that God is building. Today, the Church, instead, is embracing anything to bring people in. That is not the house of the LORD's ordinances. Are we making His house ready? Why aren't the lost being drawn to the house? Even a foreign king said that God had charged him to build His house in Jerusalem after it had been destroyed years before in an enemy attack by Nebuchadnezzar. King Cyrus of Persia, by royal decree, returned the holy vessels taken from the temple at that time, and ordered support to be given towards the rebuilding of God's house by those arround them, as well as by those whom God moved to do so. He did all this while officially proclaiming, "Who is there among you of all his (God's) people? his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:1-8). The Apostle Peter also wrote of the building of the house of the LORD. He wrote to the believers in Christ: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus is the chief cornerstone of this spiritual house, a precious stone to us who believe, and a stumbling stone of offence to those who are disobedient, who also stumble on the Word of God. However, in the spiritual house of God in which we serve, we do so as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar (purchased possession, acquisition, a preservation, a remnant reserved for one's self) people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (v. 6-10). Being this called out people serving in the spiritual house of God, Peter wrote that we should lay aside all guile, hypocrisies, envies and evil speakings (v. 1), abstaining from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, and be of good works instead, which glorify God in the day of His visitation (v. 11-12). This is the same message brought to the people of God by the prophets, regarding the building of God's house, as we saw above. Each one of us has something that is needed to make ready God's house for all nations in these latter days, and God can use you. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/31/2022 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.