Lights as People, And People as Lights*

Last week we talked about a festival of dedicated lights, Hanukkaah, with us as the light of the world. In putting up Christmas lights, we can remember in the past that when one light on the string went out, the whole string would go out. Today, if the fuse or circuit breaker flips off, the whole string of lights fails to work. What is the effect that one life can have on others? If one of us is not shining, it affects all the other lights. Like the Christmas lights, if we are not connected to the Source that gives the light, than we cannot shine. In the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart, which is always shown at Christmas time, an angel gives the lead character a gift: the gift of seeing how others' lives would be affected if he was not here. Jesus told us that we were the lights of the world to be placed high on a candlestick, not hidden, so our light would give light to all in the house. The good works that we do as those lights is seen by other men, and God is glorified as a result (Mt. 5:14-16). We are to be lights, and that light is seen by others. Jesus told us what affected our light: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (meaning "good fulfilling its office, sound. Root meaning: s a particle of union), thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?" (Mt. 6:22-23). We see the spiritual darkness of the times in whih we are living. We have to be diligent in maintaining the purity of our "eye", our spiritual sight and understanding, if we are to be people as lights. In our analogy of the string of Christmas lights, we see that there is the importance of unity - one light with the others, and all lights unified with their source. The apostle Paul wrote of the spiritual unity of believers in the Body of Christ - unity with each other, and unity with our Head, Christ: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace...there is one body...one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all..." (Eph. 4:1-5). The Body of Christ has a problem in their lack of unity with each other. This affects how our lights shine. The Lord sent apostles, prophets, evangelists, prophets and teachers to perfect and equip the saints for the work of the ministry (as the light of the world, and the bringing of the Gospel to others): "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ...no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine...But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Eph. 4:11-16). As all parts of the Body are needed to function together, people as lights also function together in unity, and impact each other by doing so. Most central of all is the need to be connected to, and grow into, our Source of light, Jesus, the Light of the World. Jesus told His disciples: "Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches: He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me, ye can do nothing...Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear mush fruit; so shall ye be my disciples...If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's command, and abide in his love." (Jn. 15:1-10, excerpt). Jesus told them that this was so His joy might remain in us, and our joy, in turn, may be full. For those who do not abide in the vine, Jesus, those "branches" would bear no fruit, wither, and be cast forth and burned. The commandments of Jesus that we are called to abide in, the Word of God, keeps us connected to Him. Paul wrote that it is the Spirit of God who works in us to be like an epistle "known and read of all men". (2 Cor. 3:2-3). The Word of God is no longer on tablets of stone, but written on the tables of our hearts. Our sufficiency to be lights that impact others is not of ourselves, "but our sufficiency is of God". (v. 3-5). It is 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." (v. 6). Paul wrote of the greater glory (meaning includes "splendor, brightness") that is unlike the previous glory of Moses that came from the letter written and engraved in stones. That former glory passed away, but the ministration of the spirit is a glory that excels and remains (v. 7-11). It is also interesting that v. 18 from this chapter mentions an image, specifically a mirror image: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." A mirror image that we gaze upon changes us. Paul also mentions this mirror image in 1 Cor. 13:12. In Gal. 3:1, Paul referred to "evidence" (meaning in the Greek to depict or portray openly. root meaning: engrave) of the crucifixion of Christ that the Galatians had seen with their own eyes. I believe that these are references in scripture to the Shroud of Turin, which is a mirror or reversed image. Many who have gazed at it have had their lives changed. Our lives should also impact others. As we abide in Christ, and as we are joined together in the unity of the Body of Christ, the Spirit and faith, we also are the lights that are the light of the world. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/12/21 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.

The Shema and the Ekklesia*

The Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6, is defined as the basic principle of Jewish belief, proclaiming the absolute unity of God. The Hebrew word shema means "listen, hear and do". The words of the Shema are: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Deut. 6:4-5). The principle declared in the Shema is so important, that the Jewish people place these words in a mezuzah and attach it to the doorposts of their homes (v.9). They enclose these words in phylactory boxes and wear them on their foreheads, between their eyes, and on their forearms (v. 8). They are to teach the Shema principle to their children at every opportunity (v. 7). The "oneness" of the LORD declared in the Shema is the Hebrew word echad, meaning a plurality of oneness, like a bunch of grapes. To Christians, we understand this plurality in the concept of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us a revelation that takes us further into this plurality of oneness. When a scribe asked Jesus which commandment is first of all, Jesus answered that it was the Shema, as stated above. Jesus also added the commandment that He said was like the Shema: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." He said that there were no greater commandments than these (Mk. 12:28-31). The first focus, according to Jesus, is the kingdom of God, but the second focus connected to it is the love of your neighbor. Jesus gave His disciples a profound meaning of the echsd onenoss or unity of the LORD, as He prayed to His Father on their behalf. He included them, and us, in the echad oneness of God: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the wolrd may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (Jn. 17:20-23). This same oneness that includes those who believe and follow Christ, also allows us to be with Him where He is (v. 24). The oneness or unity that exists between us, Jesus and the Father also makes us perfect in that echad unity. This unity with Christ and the Father also requires a unity with each other as believers. Paul wrote: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." (Eph. 4:1-7, see also 1 Cor. 1:10-13). We also see this perfecting work found in the echad unity mentioned above by Jesus, and written of by Paul: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ...speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (v.11-16). The unity of each of the individual members of the Body of Christ, and their unity with the head of that Body, Christ Himself, does a perfecting and increasing work in the Body. Right now, the Body of Christ is one of the most divided, disunified, entities on earth. There is contempt and judgment against one another, against denominations, division over doctrines. Paul makes it clear that there is no part of the Body that does not need the other parts of the body. Each part is important and supplies what is needed within the Body (1 Cor. 12:2-27). Peter wrote that the echad unity among the brethren causes us to inherit the blessing (1 Pet. 3:8-9). Psalm 133 describes the pleasantness and priestly anointing found when the brethren dwell together in unity. In this Psalm, David also sings about the blessing that Peter mentioned above that comes from this unity: "...there the LORD commandeth the blessing, even life for evermore." This brings us right back to Jesus' words, above, that they may "be with Me where I am", which is the place of life forevermore. However, as echad unity brings perfection and blessing, division or disunity brings destruction. As Jesus was falsely accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan, He answered His accusers: "How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end." (Mk. 3:23-26). Recorded in Luke 11, Jesus expressed it this way, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against itself falleth..." (v.17). He also put it simply when His disciples pointed out that some were casting our devils in Jesus' name who "were not part of their group" by saying, "...there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part." (Mk. 9:38-40). We need to begin praying for the echad unity of the brethren with each other, in Christ, the Head, and in the Father, like never before. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/18/21 message to the church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Look for us on Facebook and Twitter.

Restoring the Foundational Purpose*

This message, while being directed specifically to Everlasting Covenant, also pertains to all of the Church. The Church in general, has been pulled away from the foundation and purpose to which we have been called. We need to look back to the beginning, and restore those things that we were purposed to do. Vince Lombardi, coach of the Green Bay Packers, decided to begin the 1961 spring training for his team by teaching them "the hidden power of mastering the fundamentals". That year, his team won the championship, and several more after that. The Church needs to rediscover the hidden power of mastering the fundamentals as well.
For Everlasting Covenant, our foundational scripture from the beginning has been:
"For I am not ashamed in the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation for every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."   Rom. 1:16
The verse that follows says, "For therein (the gospel) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Scripture asks the question, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Ps. 11:3). We need to restore the foundations of the Church built upon Christ and His commands. Christ gave this "great commission" to His disciples:
"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 always, even unto the end of the world ("aion"-period of time, age)." Amen."   Mt. 28:18-20
From the beginning, the purpose of the devil has been to destroy the Godly foundations, and man's relationship with God by substituting the truth of God's word for the lie, "Hath God said...?" Jesus spoke of those workers who were faithful to His commands:
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season ? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath."    Mt. 24:45-46, Lk. 12:41-44
In order to carry out these commands that Jesus gave to us, His servants, including giving meat in due season which is His Word, His Body must be functioning properly. That means every part of the Body must be in its proper place, and supplying what is needed to edify the whole Body:
"...by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...for the body is not one member, but many....But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."   1 Cor. 12 (excerpt)
In the above chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul was teaching that like a physical body has various contributing parts, so has the spiritual Body of Christ. The different parts, like the foot, the eye, the ear, are distinct and individual in their purpose, yet they are necessary to make the whole body function properly. Paul mentions just a few of the functioning parts of Christ's Body: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues (v. 28). Not only do these functioning parts working together carry out the commission of Christ, but they edify the Body itself. This includes keeping the Body from being derailed into false doctrines and by deceiving men, while bringing forth the unity of faith, the perfect man, and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13-14). Of this fully functioning Body, where all parts are in place and contributing, Paul says:
"...speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."  Eph. 4:15-16
According to the verses above, "love" is not manifested by speaking lies and false assurances according to the whims and fads of men, but it is manifested in the speaking of truth, and truth is determined and embodied in the Word of God.
The Body of Christ is not fitted together as we, man, deem to be good, with every member deciding his or her own place, or whether each part will determine for himself whether to be part of the Body or not, but the parts of the Body are assigned and determined by the Holy Spirit and under the headship of Christ.
Paul identifies his own part in the Body as an apostle "separated unto the gospel of God". This same gospel was promised by the prophets, and was made into flesh through Jesus Christ, the promised seed of David. This same Jesus was declared to be the Son of God through the demonstration of power by the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:1-4). This is the gospel, this is the power of God unto righteousness. This is the commission with which are to go into all nations and make disciples.
We will be able to accomplish the commands of Christ only as the Church restores the foundations upon which we have been built, fitly joined together, edifying and supplying, even as we maintain the truth against the winds of doctrine that have been released by Satan, who is challenging the Church in these last days asking, "Hath God said...?"
For Everlasting Covenant in this time, our commission includes bringing the book, "NAZAH", which testifies to the truth of Christ and His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection illustrated prophetically in Isaiah 52-53 and other prophetic scriptures, to the Jew first, and also the Greek.

 *The above is based upon the 3/3/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.
 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

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

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

https://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21320220
 

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.

 

  

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