Purpose in These Last Days*

As we see the signs of the end times and the return of Christ becoming more numerous, what is our purpose? King Solomon wrote: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Eccl. 3:1). The word "purpose" used here is the Hebrw word kayfets meaning "purpose", but also "delight, pleasure, longing". There is a connection between the fulfilling of God's purpose, and His delight. Jesus spoke, for instance, of how He longed to keep the Passover with His disciples, as it spoke of His purpose. Paul wrote of the beginning of our purpose in the will of God: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved..." (Eph. 1:4-6). God's purpose in us was established before the world was created that we should be made a part of Christ. We know from scripture that Jesus was the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. We know that "In the beginning", or B'reshiet in Hebrew, each of the letters of the word combined together to mean, "The Son of God crushed, His hand on a cross". We know that the Creator in Genesis was Elohim aleph-tav in Hebrew. The written but untranslated "aleph-tav" letters refer to Christ, "the Alpha and the Omega" as translated into the Greek language. Our purpose, with the eternal purpose of the Lamb of God, Jesus, was established before the physical creation. Paul continued to write in Ephesians that this was established through redemption (by His blood), forgiveness, and grace, which cannot be earned, but is given by God as a gift to all who will receive it. Jesus accomplished all of these for us to the glory of God, and for His praise. Paul wrote: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." (v. 9-10). This is the purpose of God in which He delights and longs - bringing all creation back into Himself through the redemption work of Christ. God walked with Adam and Eve daily in the Garden of Eden before man accepted the lie of the devil and became separated from God. Now, man and God are reconciled together again through Christ, His Son. Not only have we been reconciled, but included in our purpose is the gain of an inheritance "being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will...." (v. 11). We entered into this purpose when we trusted and believed the word of truth, the Gospel of our salvation, and were sealed, or guaranteed, in this salvation leading to eternal life by the Holy Spirit (v. 13). We were purposed before the foundtion of the world, but the hearing and believing of the Gospel, brought us into this purpose at the proper time. How did the Gospel accomplish this? Paul wrote regarding the power of the Gospel, which he risked his life to preach: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the Greek." (Rom. 1:15-16). The Gospel is the (dynamite-like) power of God that leads to salvation by which His righteousness is revealed to man from faith to faith, deeper and deeper. It is by this faith that a man is viewed as "just" before God (v. 17). What is more righteous than an Almighty God who so loves, that He has delighted in His will to give up His only Son so that we can live and not die? People are dying today to bring this Gospel of salvation to others in certain parts of the world. It is still a death sentence in some nations to preach or believe the Gospel. There are those, however, to whom God has revealed Himself, but they have denied Him because they love unrighteousness more. Because God has clearly shown Himself to them, they are without excuse (Rom. 1:1-20). We see more and more of this in the world. The physical world is proof of God's existence and the truth of His Word, yet some men would deny Him: "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things...Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Rom. 1:18-25). What happens to men who know God but refuse to glorify Him as God? God gives their minds and nature over to the unclean things that they prefer. Even their sexual natures, which God had given them, begins to twist towards the unnatural, even the perverse: "And even as they did not retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." (v. 26-28). The turning of a person continually to unrighteousness, though he has knowledge of God, is described in scripture as being like a dog returning to its vomit. One of the truths of God's Word is that "male and female God He created them", period. When we refuse and hate the truth, we are given over by God to the lie that we have chosen instead. The twisting and corruption manifest in other ways as well. Men become filled with: "...all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (v. 26-32). As we read last week in Ezek. 33:11, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but pleads with them to turn away from unrighteousness, and to turn back to Him. We see this in other parts of scripture as well (2 Chron. 7:14, 1 John 1:9). This is the power and the hope of the Gospel, and this is the purpose of God that gives Him pleasure and delight: rescuing someone from death and destruction, and bringing them into the freedom, light, and righteousness of His Son. The Lord desires that the invitation be issued far and wide: Become one with God and live in everlasting life. This is the purpose in which Jesus delights and longs: "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).' Amen." (Mt. 28:18-20). When the eleven disciples met with Jesus at the appointed place after His resurrection to receive His directions, some doubted, the Word says (v. 16-17). Believers are not free from struggles: "But (Jesus said) he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Mt. 24:13-14). Because of this purpose that the Lord has commissioned to His disciples, we have created a free ebook, totally without cost, and available to all. The details for obtaining this book are found at the end of this post. Scriptures speak of a time of great tribulation that is coming upon the world, of which, I believe, we are seeing the beginning even now. If those days of extreme tribulation were not shortened by God, no one would survive them (v. 21-22). Men will be running into the rocks and caves seeking safety, but there will be no safety to be found as the wrath of the Lamb of God, Jesus, falls upon the wicked (Rev. 6:15-17, Isa. 2:9-12). Those in Christ are not meant for the wrath of God, and, in His purpose and will, there is a different future for those inhabitants of the earth. It will be an earth filled with the knowledge of the LORD. No violence nor war will be seen among men, nor among the beasts of the earth. The nations will come to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of God, to be taught by Him: "...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." (Isa. 2:1-4, Isa. 11:4-9). AMEN. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/30/23 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.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

The Perfect Summary*

"The Perfect Summary" is a new free book that I have recently written and released with Brian Donley Worrell in order to get the truth of the Gospel, which is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to as many as possible. I have researched the Shroud of Turin for forty years, having also handled it personally in Turin, Italy, and I believe that it is a valuable witness to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. So far, "The Perfect Summary" free book has been read in 37 countries, and we are believing for many more. This free book is currently being translated into Hebrew (see Rom. 1:16), and will eventually be translated into additional languages. Because of current troubling international and national events, prophesied as part of the last days before Christ's return, it is more important than ever to reach as many as possible. The account of the Gospel starts from the beginning: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;" (1 Jn. 1:1). John wrote that this is knowledge from the beginning, using the Greek word arche, meaning "origin, that by which anything begins to be, the active cause". The fact that Jesus Christ and His sacrifice is "from the beginning", or B'reshiet Elohim aleph-tav (Alpha and Omega) in Hebrew, is attested to in several places in scripture (see John 1, Rev. 13:8). John bears direct witness to the events of the Gospel in four different ways: he heard (akouo - to hear, to attend to, to consider, understand, perceive, and learn from hearing); he saw for himself (horao - to see with the eyes and with the mind, to perceive from experience, to pay heed to); he looked upon (theaomai - to behold, to view attentively, contemplate, meeting or visiting with a person, to learn by looking); he handled (pselaphao - to handle, touch, feel, to seek after a token of a person or thing, to verify by contact, to feel after). John wrote that he identified Jesus as "the Word (logos - uttered by a living voice, the sayings of God, doctrine (the Law), Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets) of life (zoe - life, every living soul, the absolute fulness of life which belongs to God, ...in Christ after the resurrection as a more perfect body to last forever)". These things not only pertain to John's personal contact with Jesus, but also may relate to the Shroud. The Gospel tells us that John was convinced of the resurrection by the burial cloth that he saw for himself in the empty tomb of Jesus (Jn. 20:5-6). 1 John 1 continues: "For the life was manifested (phaneroo - to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, expose to view [of a person], to become known, plainly recognised and thoroughly understood who and what one is), and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew (apangello - declare, bring tidings, make known openly) unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)." (v. 2). Then John wrote the purpose of his witness to them: "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." (v. 3). The purpose of relating his eyewitness testimony is to bring others into the same fellowship as himself with God and Christ. John wrote that as a result of this living fellowship with God and Christ, our lives and understanding are changed. As a part of God, we are no longer part of darkness but of light. If we are still walking in darkness and committing acts of darkness, we lie when we say that we know Him (v. 5-7). If we indeed have fellowship with Christ, and His blood that cleanses us of sin, then we must have an understanding of the effect of sin upon our lives. If we do not have this knowledge, and do not feel the need to admit and confess our sins to Him and be cleansed, then we don't know Him (v. 6-10). Jesus is our advocate with the Father regarding our sin, not only being the atonement or propitiation for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn. 2:1-2). Finally, the evidence of whether we know Christ, and have this fellowship with Him and with the Father, is that we keep His commandments (v. 3). This is the power of the Gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD concerning the life-changing purpose and power of this truth. Isaiah wrote: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation (Yeshua - the name of Jesus); that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen...they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion...for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) salvation (Yeshua - the name of Jesus) of our God." (Isa. 52:7-10). In these verses from Isaiah as noted, two words, "arm" and "salvation" have an "aleph-tav" connected to them in the written Hebrew. Jesus identified Himself with the aleph-tav, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, when He called Himself "the Alpha and the Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet), the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Rev. 22:13, 1:8, 11, 21:6). Isaiah said that all nations would see it. This is why we are releasing the free book, "The Perfect Summary". Isaiah wrote of the stunning effect the marred appearance, and the wounds of this special Servant of God would have upon kings of nations: "As many were astonied (samem - astonished, amazed, appalled, desolated, stunned, stupified, causing horror) at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: so shall he sprinkle (nazah - spurt, spatter, sprinkle - especially in expiation) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider." (Isa. 52:14-15). This is something that would be able to be seen without anyone telling them. We saw something similar to this when Paul stood before Festus and King Agrippa and told them that the king was already aware of the events pertaining to Christ's death and resurrection (Acts 26:25-26). Isaiah prophesied hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the purpose of this Servant's terrible suffering: "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?...He is despised and rejected of men...But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray...and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all...for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin...and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." (Isa. 53:1-10, excerpt). This Gospel, like the Word of God, will not return to Him void, but it will accomplish what the LORD has set it out to do. He will uphold His Son, His Servant, and the testimony of His suffering, death, and resurrection triumph - not for His own sake, but for our sins, and as John said, for the sins of the world. I urge you to get the free book, "The Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook, not only for yourself, but also to forward to all that you know. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/5/23 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.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

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.

The Word and Your Purpose*

Reminder: Beginning in July, Google will stop sending automatic notifications of new postings for blogs such as this one that are published under "blogspot.com". If you have been receiving notifications, or would like to receive them, please enter your email address in the box in the upper right corner of this blog page before July. Your email addresses will be retrieved, and you will be sent a notification directly when there is a new post available. Your email addresses will not be used for any other purpose. You will receive the "new blog post" notifications from "the disciple". If you choose not to enter your email address, it is recommended that after June 2021, you should check the blog regularly for new posts. Thank you for your patience and faithful readership. Isaiah 55:11 says the following: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." We will see how this promise of God brings change. A very disturbing story in the news this week concerned two children, ages twelve and fourteen, who ran away from their group home, broke into another home, assembled weapons, and shot at police who came to the site of the breakin. The older child said that the shooting was like a video game to her, "like Grand Theft Auto". One policeman was overheard on his bodycam praying or begging the children under his breath to please not make him hurt them. In another news story this week, a Texas high school graduate used her valedictorian speech to criticize her state's new restrictions to their abortion law. The teen viewed this restriction against abortion as an impediment of a woman's life plans, and a threat to her future destiny. She viewed her purpose in life as dependent upon the unlimited availability to abortion. Hillary Clinton commented with praise and congrtulations for her "brave" speech. However, God does not connect our purpose with the ability to have an abortion. Scripture makes plain that God's view of the sacrificing of our own children to the idol Molech, and the shedding of innocent blood, as an abomination in His sight. This young woman beginning her adult life, evidently has no knowledge of God's purpose in an individual's life. Do you understand God's Word and His gifts in His purpose for your life? God also prophesied in His Word that we would see this tragic corruption of our children that we are seeing now. He said that He would take away those whom He had been placed among His people to spiritually and civilly guide them, and instead: "...I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable...For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves...As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." (Isa. 3:1-15, excerpt). Isaiah also described the captivity that comes upon God's people because of their lack of knowledge, including the lack of knowledge of His purpose for them. Instead of standing for justice, they gather up even the poor's portion for themselves. They party and drink up and corrupt the noble vineyard that the LORD entrusted to them. Their ways have caused Hell to open and widen itself to receive them in their corruption. That corruption has caused God's people to pull sin around behind them wherever they go. Instead of keeping their purpose in God's light, His sweetness, and His goodness, they have substituted darkness, evil, and bitterness instead, and called them "good". Destruction comes upon the people of God who know their holy purpose in God, but embrace an evil purpose: "...they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." (see Isa. 5:1-24). Let's examine the Word regarding God's purpose in your life, and my life. The Word says of those who bring the good news: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isa. 52:7). Each one of us has been given spiritual gifts. The purpose of those gifts is to bring forth, individually and as part of the Body of Christ, the good news of salvation, and the news that God reigns. As Isaiah 53 describes the suffering and sacrificial purpose of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, from within that sacrifice is a satisfaction. Even as His body and soul were being made an offering for sin, it was with this knowledge: "He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servnt justify many: for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isa. 53:10-11). Within the purpose of the Messiah, we also find our purpose: the salvation and justification of many. The good news that we bring is that you don't have to be a slave of sin. You don't have to be burdened. You don't have to die without hope. As part of His purpose, Jesus promised that as the Bread of Life doing His Father's will, not even one whom the Father gives Him will be lost, but raised up on the last day in everlasting life (Jn. 6:35-51). As the prophet Isaiah described the fruit of God that will be produced as His people come back into their relationship with Him and walk in their purpose in Him: "...neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with saphires...And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Isa. 54:10-13). This is a far different prophetic picture than we saw in the beginning of this message. Even our children are miraculously delivered and blessed, as the people of God return to their purpose. Seeing what has been taking place, there is no time to waste. We have good news to bring. One way to do that is to support ministries that are publishing the salvation of the Messiah, Jesus, as this ministry has faithfully done for so many years. Join us, and by doing so, fulfill your purpose in God as you help us to bring forth the Gospel. We look forward to hearing from you. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/6/21 message to the Church. To contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com

Two Plus Two

This is a message for a "mess"-"age". It is a time to go back to some simplicity. The Church has been distracted and led away in different doctrines, even false doctrines that are meant to divert the Church from the simple, pure truth of the gospel. Paul wrote of this same problem to the Church of Corinth:
"...I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty (craftiness, cunning; a specious or false wisdom), so your minds should be corrupted (to shrivel or wither; to lead away a Christian church from the state of knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide) from the simplicity (singleness, simplicity, mental honesty; the virtue of one who is free from pretense and hypocrisy) that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." 2 Cor. 11:2-4
Paul felt that the spiritual condition of the church was such that although they had received the true gospel from him, it was just as likely that they would receive, and had received, a false gospel from someone else, straying from the simple truth in Christ, and following after beguiling but false wisdom presented by someone or something else.
Paul was not presenting a false gospel to the church, but the true (v. 31) gospel of Christ as first foreseen and prophesied by the prophets of God. God remained faithful to that prophetic word, and remains faithful to the simple truth in Christ. The prophet Amos wrote:
"Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"  Amos 3:6-8
If a lion by his roar can clearly communicate his intent to us, that we can easily interpret as danger, do we think that God has difficulty communicating His plans and purposes beforehand through prophetic? Who can but prophesy? As we speak His Word, we prophesy. His prophets lined up their words with God's word to them by the Holy Spirit. This is homologea- "speaking the same as". Paul urged all believers that they should covet one thing- they should covet to prophesy. In fact, the gift of prophecy will discern and affirm the truth of the simple gospel Paul preached (1 Cor. 14:37-40). We can't help but prophesy when we line up our words with the Word of God: homologea. Jesus, the Word of God become flesh, is the Spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10). It is as simple as 2 + 2. Are we "speaking the same as" the Word of God, or are we coming up with another Gospel?
Peter wrote insisting that the gospel of Christ was delivered by eye witnesses who saw and heard everything pertaining to Christ in their association with Him. The Christian faith, he wrote, was not based on fables of men, but on these eyewitness accounts (2 Pet. 1:16-18). Not only is the gospel based on these eye witness accounts, but as a fulfillment of the words of the prophets:
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."  2 Pet. 1:19-21
Many events in scripture and in the current events of today were and are defined and shaped by prophecy.
When Jesus miraculously raised Lazarus four days after that man's death, the religious leaders were afraid of what the Romans would do to their nation if the people accepted Jesus as their Messiah (Jn. 11:38-48). They counseled together to consider the problem. The High Priest prophesied, reminding the counsel that it had been prophesied that one man should die for the sake of the nation, as well as for those scattered abroad (Jn. 11:49-53, Isa. 49:5-7). This is when they began to seek Jesus' death.
The timing and completion of end time events also, as prophesied in the Book of Revelation, has been set according to when "the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets", and saying, "that there should be time no longer." (Rev. 10:5-7).
One false doctrine that has caused many corruptions in the Church is "Replacement Theology". This doctrine contends that the Church has replaced Israel, and that this replacing Church will transform the world for the return of Jesus. This is not part of the simple gospel in Christ, nor does it line up with the prophetic word, as we see next.
Miracle working spirits of devils will beguile the kings of nations into a great battle against Israel in the place called in Hebrew, "Armageddon", a place in northern Israel, whose name means "to invade, cut into, attack, gather in troops or crowds" (Rev. 16:14-16). These devils will prophesy through the false prophet (v. 13), resulting in a great voice out of the temple of the LORD in heaven saying, "It is done." (v. 17). Israel is still the time-clock of end time events, as the prophets spoke. Ezekiel clearly prophesied the role of physical Israel in this coming battle. Even as Ezekiel prophesied in detail, we now see the coming together of the nations against Israel as prophesied by him, Including Russia, Persia or Iran, Ethiopia, Libya, Turkey and parts of Europe, to take place in "the latter years" after Israel has once again been returned to the land, having been brought forth out of the nations (Ezek. 38:1-8).
Again, prophetic timing is tied directly to the physical nation of Israel. The Church does not replace Israel.
According to prophecy and the Word of God, the Church will not make the world perfect in preparation for the return of Jesus.On the contrary, Peter prophesies in homologea: by lining up with the prophetic Word of God, that false prophets and false teachers will come among the Church causing great harm (see 2 Pet. 2:1-15).
The simplicity of the gospel in Christ is not a fable created by men, but a fulfillment of the prophetic word established by God through His prophets. It is not to be obscured, compromised, or corrupted by the false wisdom of beguiling men or spirits. It is to stay as simple in truth as 2 + 2.

*The above is based upon the 1/5/20 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:

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

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.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

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



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/