When Men Have No Words*

This week, there was a tragic shooting of nineteen children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Not long before this event, there was a shooting in Buffalo, New York that killed ten. Both of these shootings were done by teenage boys armed with military style weapons. The parents of the children in Texas would gladly have died in their children's places. The police had actually put a mother in physical restraints before eventually releasing her. After she was relesed, she ignored police warnings and entered the school to successfully remove her two children. The Russian warfare in the Ukraine has also purposefully targeted women and children as well as the Ukrainian men who are engaged in the combat. Upon hearing of these ungodly crimes against the defenseless and the innocent, men have no words. They are shocked and speechless. How do we respond to such things? When men have no words, however, God does have Words, and in His Words, we find the true cause of this situation, and His provision regarding it. Before the flood of judgment covered the earth in Noah's generation, the LORD looked upon man: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man upon the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast...for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of theb LORD." (Gen. 6:5-8). Grace is the gift from God, and even the faith to believe it is a gift from God. Grace is not earned. That grace of God created a difference between Noah, and the evil hearts of every other person on earth. The Prophet Jeremiah wrote of the difference between those who trust God, and those who don't: "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters...neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jer. 17:7-10). Jesus pointed out the fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Mt. 15:8, Isa. 29:13). Again, as we have seen all the way back in Genesis, this is a "heart" matter. The evil comes from within the heart of man. Jesus corrected the religious people who believed that they were defiled from the outside, by what they touched or ate, as men had taught them in error (v. 9, 11). However, Jesus told them that their defilement came from within their own hearts: "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blaspemies...covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." (Mt. 15:18-19, Mk. 7:20-23). It's everybody. It's every heart. This is the importance of grace in the life of a man. When men have no words, go the the Word of God. Psalm 53 says that God looked down from heaven to see if there was any man who understood and sought God. The LORD found "...there is none that doeth good...Every one of them is gone back, they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Paul also wrote that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Sin is in our hearts. Solomon, said to have been the wisest man, wrote of the evil that is among all things under the sun: "...yea, also, the hearts of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead." (Eccl. 9:3). Solomon also wrote that because it seems that evil is not punished quickly, evil in the hearts of men is encouraged by this to continue. However, Solomon says, that no matter how long it seems that the evil doer gets away from punishment and seems to flourish, and their days are prolonged, it is well with those who fear God (Eccl. 8:11-12). Job also points out that although the wicked may enjoy wealth, in a moment, they go down to the grave. The wicked say to the LORD, "Depart from us", and they have decided that there is no benefit in prayer (Job 21). Peter pointed out to the church in order to stir up their pure minds, that God has given His Word to us through His prophets, and His apostles (2 Peter 3:1-2). When man has no words, God has Words. Does the church accept those Words? If these Words brought by the prophets and apostles are of God and therefore true, then obedience is required of us. When we speak His Words, He answers. This has been our experience. As Peter prophesied in this chapter, scoffers will come in the last days, not only scoffing at the Word of God, but at the promise of Christ's coming, and the judgment that will deal with the ungodly. Not only will the judgment by fire come, but the whole earth, and all physical elements will be consumed in fervent heat (v. 3-7). Some refuse to hear that we are in the last days because they like their lives just as they are. The last days bring us to the valley of decision. Peter wrote that knowing these things that are to happen, our manner of life should reflect that knowledge. We are to "be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless", and to "beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (v. 14-18, excerpt). Peter also answered the wicked whom Solomon and Job spoke about, who believe that since punishment has not yet come to them, it is not coming, and they are free to continue in their wickedness: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (of judgment and return), as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). The Hand of Grace is extended still to all. When man has no words, God has Words: "...yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged...For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;" (Rom. 3:4,23). How wicked and corrupt our system has become! What will it take for people to stand up and say "enough is enough"? The nation needs the help of men and women who will stand up and speak the truth - His Word is truth. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/29/2022 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, and theshroudofturin.org.

The Heart of the Matter*

The Word of God is like a spiritual heart monitor. It reveals to us what is in our hearts, even the hidden things. Our hearts are at the center of our relationship with God, and dictate the words that we speak: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (Ps. 19:14), and "My heart is inditing (Hebrew meaning - keep moving, gush) a good matter (dabar - word, commandment, utterance): I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer." (Ps. 45:1). In the Book of Acts, a man named Simon of Samaria, a former sorcerer, believed the Gospel, and was baptized with water in the faith. He witnessed many miracles at the hands of the apostle Philip. Peter and John came to Samaria from Jerusalem when they heard about the new believers. Simon then saw those apostles laying hands upon the new believers, and those believers then received the Holy Spirit. "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part not lot in this matter: for thy heart (Greek - Kardia) is not right in the sight of God." (Acts 8:18-21). Peter told Simon to repent of this wickedness, and Simon asked them to pray for him, that none of the consequences of which Peter spoke would come upon him (v. 23-24). As God looks into the hearts of men, it also has an effect upon Him. In Genesis 6, when God examined the hearts of men before He brought the judgment of the flood, scripture says: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart (leb - heart soul, mind, thinking, conscience, appetites, emotions, inner man) was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved (asab - hurt, pain, torture) him at his heart." (Gen. 6:5-6). The LORD was tortured by what He saw in the hearts of men. Christ was tortured also because of the evil of men's hearts. The prophet Jeremiah wrote that blessed are those who trust in the LORD. They would prosper and be kept, and remain fruitful even through trying circumstances (Jer. 17:7-8). He went on to say though: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins (kilya - kidneys, interior self), even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (v. 9-10). Proverbs tells us to receive the words of the LORD, and apply our hearts to understanding them (Prov. 2:1-2). Proverbs 3 says that if our hearts will keep the Word and commandments, if we will write the Word upon the tablet of our heart, it will impact our lives with long life, peace, mercy, truth, favor, good understanding. If we will trust in the LORD with all our hearts, rather than leaning on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways, He shall direct our paths, and give health and marrow to the bones (v. 1-8). From this kind of heart, filled with His Word, we trust in Him, and we gain the wisdom and understanding to "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." (v. 9-10). Riches and honor, and paths of peace follow a heart filled with the wisdom and understanding of the LORD. Even more so, it is "a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her...". (v. 16-18). In contrast, Jesus told a parable and based a teaching upon those who give up the riches of the heart, which is the treasure found in the kingdom of God, for the riches of the world, and the cares that go with them. In Luke 12, the parable tells about a rich man who invests his time and attention into building newer and bigger barns to store his earthly wealth. Little does he know that he will not live through the night, and his soul will be required of him. The Lord called this rich man a fool. "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God." (Lk. 12:v.15-21). Jesus then taught that the example of God's love and provision for each of us can be found in obvious examples from nature around us. He famously asked, "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?" (v. 27-28). Instead of a heart full of worrying and grasping for fear of lack, Jesus said, "...seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you...Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourself bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (v. 31-34). This is the test of the heart: where is your treasure placed? Is it in the kingdom of God? If God tells you to give it, then give it. You cannot outgive God. There were those whom Jesus called hypocrites. They were the religious people of His day who used the traditions of men to ignore the commandments of God. They withheld financial support from their parents with the excuse that their money was already pledged to God. This was known as Corban. Their hearts were not right. Jesus said that this confirmed the prophet Isaiah who wrote, "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Mark 7:6-12). Jesus said that with this heart attitude, they made the word of God of none effect by following traditions instead. Jesus continued to teach that a man is not defiled by what is outside of him and enters into him, but he is defiled by what comes from inside him, from out of his heart (v. 18-20): "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile a man." (v. 21-23). It is "the heart of the matter" that determines a man's life. Jesus included in His Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the pure (katharos - clean, purified by fire, free from every admixture of what is false) in heart: for they shall see God." (Mt. 5:8). As Jesus was questioned by a religious lawyer trying to test Him, He was asked which was the greatest commandment of the law. Jesus answered that it was the commandment dealing with the consecration of the heart: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:34-40). The Word of God identifies the heart of the matter, and measures the content of our hearts. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/14/21 message to the church. To contact us with a prayer request, 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.