Show the House to the House*

Considering the signs of the times, and what I am seeing in the church, I want to revisit a message I did some time ago titled "Show the House to the House". However, I wanted to revisit the subject again to update it by hearing what the Lord was saying at this time to His House. The LORD spoke to His prophet, Ezekiel, saying: "Thou son of man, shew the (aleph-tav) house to the (aleph-tav) house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the (aleph-tav) 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, nd the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws 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." (Ezek. 43:10-12). Scripture says that we are the living stones that are being built up into the spiritual house of God. There is a form we are to follow to be that House of God. The presence of the written aleph-tav, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, noted before some of the words above, causes us to think of the Alpha and Omega, the corresponding first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, by which Jesus identified Himself in Revelation. As with Ezekiel, Isaiah also prophesied of the LORD's mountain and His house: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills.; and all the nations shall flow unto 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 of 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...neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isa. 2:1-5). Jesus said that we are to be salt and light, walking in His light, to draw the lost. Peter wrote that we are a holy, royal priesthood offering righteous sacrifices before the LORD. Jesus spoke of the faithful servant: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching...Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh when ye think not." (Lk. 12:35-40). Being dressed properly, with lights burning, is part of "watching" in expectation and preparation for the Master's return. The master of the parable would not be pleased to find his home dark, and his servants asleep, and unable to open the door for him upon his return from "the wedding". Many, as Peter wrote, mock the idea of the Lord's return with His judgment, but the servants of the house of the Lord are to be expectantly waiting and prepared. Jesus gave us a parable regarding those who were not prepared, who did not have their lamps lit. The parable was about the kingdom of God being like ten virgins who took their lamps, and went to meet the bridegroom (Mt. 25:1-13). In Greek, the word for "lamps" is lampas/lampo, meaning "a lamp whose flame is fed with oil/to shine, give light". Oil is a representation of the Holy Spirit in scripture. Of the ten virgins, five were foolish. They took their lamps, but took no oil with them. Five were wise, having their lamps with the oil needed to light them. The bridegroom was later than expected, so all ten of the virgins fell asleep. Suddenly, at midnight, the cry they had been waiting for is heard: "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." (v. 6). All rose and trimmed (kosmeo - to put in order) their lamps (Are you in order?), but the lamps of the five foolish virgins went out for lack of oil. Frantically, they asked the five wise virgins to give them some of their oil, which the wise refused to do. The foolish virgins were told to go buy their own oil from where it could be obtained. While the foolish were doing that, the bridegroom came, and those wise virgins who were ready went into the marriage, and the door was shut (v. 10). Afterwards the foolish virgins arrived and asked the Lord to open the door for them, but the Lord said, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Jesus concluded this parable about the kingdom of God saying, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (v. 13). Again we are told to be prepared, to have our lamps lit. Jesus told His disciples that they were the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13). But, He said, salt that has lost its savor is good for nothing, except to be thrown into the street. At the same time, Jesus told His disciples: "Ye are the light of the world." He spoke of a lighted city that is set on a hill and cannot be hidden from sight. A candle lit is not put under a bushel, but is lifted high and placed upon a lampstand to light the house. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (v. 16). God's house is bursting with the light of the believers within it. It is a light fueled by the oil of the Holy Spirit, and the shining works inspired by the Holy Spirit. Those works reflect the foundation of the whole law: Thou shalt love the LORD, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. As the evil of this world grows darker, God's living house is to grow brighter: "...be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life..." (Phil. 2:15-16). Things done in the flesh just cause men to respond in the flesh, but things done by the oil of the Spirit, and the light of the Word of God, brings forth light and life in return. We saw, in the beginning of this message, how the LORD wanted Ezekiel to show the house to the house of Israel, that they might be ashamed of their iniquities. Isaiah received a similar Word from the LORD: "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). The LORD spoke to the prophet about a people who are covered in sin, yet seek the LORD for His justice as if they were righteous, and not as a nation that had cast off God's ordinances. They would come before Him wanting to know why He hasn't answered them, even though they fasted for an answer (v. 2-3). They had, in reality, moved so far from God that they could not see just how far from God they had gone. The fast in which they had such great religious pride and confidence, by which they thought to make God answer, had nothing to do with the true Spirit of God. They used the fast to feel more righteous than others, the LORD said, to create strife and debate, to point the finger at others, to put on a religious display before men, as well as God (v. 4-5, 9). They even observed the Sabbath in a vain way - outwardly complying, but doing as they pleased on a day set aside in the holiness of God (v. 13). The LORD described the Spirit of His fast, which accomplishes powerful results: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him (see also Mt. 25:35-40); and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth 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 rereward...then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday..." (v. 6-8, 10). The results of this kind of fast did not end there. The LORD said that He would answer when they called. He would guide them and satisfy their soul: "Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt 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. 11-12). Also, keeping the Sabbath in its true meaning, rather than in the vanity of their own pleasure, would result in the genuine pleasure found in the LORD: "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it." (v. 14). Along the same lines, in speaking about those who trusted in their own self-righteousness, Jesus told the parable of two men who came to the house of God to pray. The first man was a Pharisee, someone who would be considered a devout and learned man by others. The second man was a publican, or tax collector, one of those condemned by the people: "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are...even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all I possess. And the publican, standing a far off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Lk. 18:9-14). Before telling this parable, Jesus spoke of how God would speedily avenge His elect that cry to Him day and night. However, Jesus added this question: "Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (v. 7-8). Many view themselves as the elect of God, but true faith in God, that shines like a light in the darkness, is found in the humble and contrite heart as Jesus said (see also 2 Chron. 7:14). The light of faith, which watches and prepares for the Master's return, looks like this: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints...Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb...These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19:7-9). The Shroud of Turin, which carries the image of the death, burial, and even the resurrection of Jesus, was also of clean, white linen. There is a free book, "The Shroud of Turin: The Perfect Summary", that is available to all who ask. See how to receive your free book in the details below. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/21/23 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.

A Remnant By Grace*

A lot of things have been going on this week that should be causing the Body of Christ to think and consider. Jesus scolded the people saying that they could interpret the signs and anticipate the day's weather by the appearance of the sky, but they could not interpret the signs of the times (Mt. 16:3). Men may debate interpretations concerning the day of the return of Christ, or the timing of the rapture, but truth is found by comparing scripture with scripture, not by man's interpretation. Regarding these events, there will be a remnant by grace, so believers need to know how that remnant is spared throughout these prophesied events. Jude wrote of the dangers ahead by looking at past events from the history between God and the ungodly in scripture: "...it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith (pistis - in the New Testament: of a conviction of the truth or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things) which was once delivered to the saints...certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude v. 3-4). The work of the ungodly turns the grace of God into lasciviousness. The Church of England, and other Christian denominations have approved same-sex marriage, rather than believing and teaching the Word of God. The apostle Jude wrote examples from scripture of those who chose ungodliness, and contended against the Lord, and the inevitable consequences of it: Although the LORD saved the people out of Egypt, Jude wrote, He destroyed those among them who did not believe. WWhen the angels left their first estate and habitation, and sinned against God, He placed them in everlasting chains under darkness until the day of judgment. When Sodom and Gomorrha, chose strange flesh and fornication against the law of God, they suffered eternal fire as an example to others (v. 5-7). These examples given by Jude are for the purpose of a warning to all. In Numbers 26:9-10, a sign is provided to us as a warning regarding those who rebelled and strove (struggled, laid waste, made desolate) against both Moses and God, in this case, respected men in authority among God's people: "The earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together...the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men...". The men who strove with Moses and God were in positions of respect and authority among God's people. Men in authority, especially in the Church, should not go against God's law, which is to love God, and to love their neighbor. Our nation is also continuing to be plagued by injustice with cruelty. There is a denial of its existence as books are banned that deal with racism, like biographies of Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson. Jesus warned: "And shall God not avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith (the conviction and belief regarding the relationship between men and God, and divine things) in the earth?" (Lk. 18:7-9). There are those who turn away from the idea of God, because they believe that the truth of His judgment is cruel. However, even as He commands His people to carry out justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly before Him (Micah 6:8), He also does so, and He will not let the cries of the abused and oppressed of His elect go unheard, as Jesus said. Jesus also described terrible signs that would appear before His return, such as ethnic groups and kingdoms rising up against each other, great earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful sights and great signs from heaven (Lk. 21:10-11). We have seen those signs occurring this week! His warning to those who look to be part of the remnant by grace: "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lk. 21:34-36). There is a remnant by grace. There is a snare that is coming upon all who dwell on the earth, including the cares of life that draw us away from our watch and prayers. We are not meant to be caught unprepared and without faith, and not walking in the grace that fulfills the law and the prophets: to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Paul wrote regarding the watchfulness of the remnant: "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober...But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 5:1-10). There is a remnant by grace, not meant for wrath, who are of light, and not darkness, of faith and love, sober and watching with hope in our salvation through Christ. The prophets brought the warning Word of the LORD to His people who mistakenly believed that they were righteously walking with Him, and in His law. However, all that became left of His people was a small remnant: "#xcept the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD....I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats....Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths...it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isa. 1:9-19). Empty religious observances, even of the law of Moses, means nothing when our hearts and souls are full of sin, being unrepentant before God. Where is justice among God's people, especially towards those who are powerless? The two commandments that incorporate all the law and the prophets are to love God, and to love our neighbor (Mt. 22:36-40). The LORD said that because of these things, God's people would be reduced to a "very small remnant". The prophet Amos similarly said: "Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it (see also 1 Thess. 5 above)? I hate, I despise your feast days...Though you offer me burnt offerings...I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take...away from me the noise of thy songs...But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." (Amos 5:20-24). Amos also added: "But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. Therefore I will cause you to go into captivity..." (v. 26-27). His people, while practicing ritualistic and vain observances of God's law, really dwelled within a different spiritual "tabernacle". They were worshipping false gods like Moloch, who was worshipped with child sacrifice, as we also practice today in child murder, and Chiun, involving astrology and the worship of the heavens. However, God was in the beginning, before the demon Moloch, and before the stars in the heavens, having created them: "B'reshiet (meaning 'the Son crushed, His hand on the cross') Elohim aleph-tav (Alpha and Omega)", and His name is The LORD, YHWH: "Behold the hand, Behold the nail". The prophet Ezekiel also wrote that even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in the land, when God sends His judgment against the sinful land that has trespassed against Him, they would only be able to deliver themselves by their righteousness. All others would be cut off, both man and beast. When God sends the the sword, the beasts, the famine, and the pestilence in His judgment, even these three righteous servants would be able to deliver none but themselves - "Yet behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters...and ye shall see their ways and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought forth upon it." (Ezek. 14:12-22). Jeremiah wrote saying that even Moses and Samuel, if present in the land, would not be able to save anyone from the judgment of God (Jer. 15:1). Our nation, like Israel, is consumed in sin. Men have crept in, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness. We have made public prayer illegal, removed the Bible from our schools, while our leaders strive against God. Instead of the grace found in the law and the prophets: loving God with our whole hearts, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, and doing as the LORD requires of us: to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God, this nation is concerned with the cares of this life, and the corrupting gods that we have made for ourselves. There is a remnant by grace, however. The LORD is calling for a remnant that has washed and made themselves clean. This remnant is called to be watching, praying, being the children of light, and not the children of darkness, being the children of the day, and not the children of the night. This also is the law and the prophets. This is the gift of grace. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/12/23 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.

Light Be!*

The first thing that God created in Genesis was light, and He created it by command of His Word: "And God said, Let there be (meaning "to become, become like, come into being") light: and there was light.And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." (Geb. 1:3-5). On the sixth day of creation, God created man. He created man in His own image: "So God created man in His own image...male and female created he them. So God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over...every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (see Gen. 1:26-28). We can note that when God instructed the man created in His image to "replenish" the earth, it must mean that the earth had been filled previously. Jesus also discussed His identity as Light:"...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12). Jesus was saying that if we have Him, we hve light. There are those who call themselves Christians, but their acts are acts of darkness. Many involved in the Capitol riot of Jan. 6th carried Christian flags, and called on the name of Jesus. At the same time, policemen were assaulted with those flags, and death threats were shouted against the politicians inside the Capitol building, including the Vice-President. As we saw in Genesis 1, a division was set between Night (darkness) and Day (light). Jesus remarked upon that division: "I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn. 9:4-5). The night is coming when no man can work. Jesus also said, "And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." Once we believe on Jesus, the Light, we should not be remaining in darkness. This is a turning of the Church out of their doctrines and traditions to what the Word of God says instead. We should no longer abide in darkness. Where are you abiding? After His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to His disciples about being salt and light. As He told them "Ye are the salt of the earth...", Jesus also warned that if the salt has lost its savor, and no longer contributes as a preservative, it then becomes good for nothing, and thrown away. It is the same with us being light. Jesus said: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:13-16). As the light of the world, we are expected to be light, not just for ourselves, but to the whole house, to all the earth. Jesus inc;udes in His teaching our mistreatment and unjust anger and judgment towards one another. Those who do so are in danger of judgment themselves and possibly hellfire (v. 22). As we will see, love towards others is connected to being light: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." (Eph. 5:1-2). Paul also wrote to avoid partaking in the works of darkness, or with the people who practice them: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, idolatry. These things are subject to the wrath of God (v. 4-5). "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (v. 6-8). We are called to be as one who worships the Lamb, who is the Light of heaven, not needing any natural source of light, where there is no darkness nor night (Rev. 21:22, 22:1-5). The Apostle Peter also wrote to call us to lay aside the habits of those in darkness, malice, hypocrisy and evil speaking. We are a spiritual house in which we offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, and as babes who have been nourished and raised on the Word of God. (1 Pet. 2:1-5). Rather than being like those who are disobedient, and disregarding of the sacrifice and authority of Christ, "...ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar 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. 9-10). These things are not a suggestion, but a command of God. From the beginning, God has wanted His people to live, not by laws written on stone, but with His Word and His ways written in our hearts. John wrote that we are to try or test the spirits whether they are of God. Many false prophets are in the world (1 Jn. 4:1). The true Spirit of God confesses the Lordship of Jesus Christ, sent by God and having come in the flesh. Because we are of God, John wrote, we have overcome the world, and the spirit of antichrist already in the world, which denies Christ: "...because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." (v. 2-6). As we saw above the connection of our being light and loving others, John also wrote of the importance of love: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love...Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another...God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.(v. 7-17, excerpt). Again, John wrote as Paul did above, that if we hate our brother, yet say that we love God, we are liars: "And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (v. 21). We are called to be salt and light. It is the command of God. What are we doing with the glory that we have been given? (Jn. 17). Let us stop walking and talking in darkness. Night is coming where no man can work - let us be light. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 2/6/2022 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 endtimeschool.com.

WWJD*

We have seen the letters "WWJD" before. They mean "What Would Jesus Do?" With our nation rushing towards judgment, and Christians entering into divisive arguments, even sometimes condoning violence so long as it gets the results desired, the question, "What would Jesus do?" becomes more important now than ever before. How does Jesus impact the world? How does He view those who believe in Him, and what does He expect their responses to the world to be? First, it is by Jesus that all things were created: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (Jn. 1:1-5). John told us here the same thing that is revealed in the Hebrew language of Genesis 1:1, translated into English as "In the beginning, God...". However, in Hebrew, it is written "Bareshiet Elohim (Aleph-Tav)". Aleph-Tav is also how Jesus identified Himself in Revelation 1:8 as "...Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End...". John wrote above that in Jesus was zoe life, supernatural life, abundant life, the God-kind of life. This life is light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overpower it. John the Baptist witnessed that Jesus was the true Light that came into the world, and He lights every man who comes into the world (Jn. 1:8-9). Jesus is the Word of God who became flesh for us to receive (Jn. 1:14). Many of His own did not receive Jesus, but to those who did, He gave them power to become sons of God (Jn. 1:11-12). Those who did, and do receive Jesus are then born not by the will of men, but by the will of God (v. 13). Jesus was not just a teacher, or a good man, but He is with God, He is God, and He cannot be separated from God. Those who receive Him as such become spiritually reborn, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to speak with Jesus only at night so he wouldn't be seen by others (Jn. 1:1-2). Nicodemus is one of those who identified Jesus as a teacher, a rabbi, whom, Nicodemus concedes, must be with God because of the miracles Jesus performed. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must understand more than that. Nicodemus must be born again, or he won't see the kingdom of God (v. 3). Jesus makes no doubt that there is a difference between those of the flesh, and those of the Spirit of God: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (Jn. 3:5-7). Those who have received Jesus are born again of the Spirit of God. There is to be a difference between those born of the flesh, and those born of the Spirit, between those who are sons of men, and those who are given the power by Jesus to become sons of God. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save it, and whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16-17). However, there are those who condemn themselves. They are the ones who love darkness instead of the Light sent into the world, because their deeds are evil. Jesus said: "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (v. 20). Today in this country, we see this as lawlessness abounds everywhere we look. Those who do truth, however, Jesus said, come to the light giving evidence that their deeds are done in God (v. 21). Jesus again differentiates between those in the world and those who are part of the kingdom of God in the Beatitudes. Here He teaches how those of the Spirit of God interact with the world in a life changing way. Jesus said that those who are pure in heart will see God. Those who are peacemakers, rather than dividers, are the children of God. However, we continually see those who fight one another, claiming to be believers, each claiming the righteousness of their own positions. Jesus continued in the Gospel of Matthew to call us salt and light in the earth, not hiding who we are, and what we believe, but letting our light shine, and our salt cleanse and purify (v. 13-16). Part of this is to love your enemies, to bless those who curse you, and pray for them that persecute you or abuse you (v. 43-47). Jesus concluded: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (v. 48). We are not supposed to be like the world, but like our Father. As we also see today, there are so many divisions by race and ethnicity in the world, and, unfortunately, also in the church. What would Jesus have us to do? Should we be fanning the flames of racial division? The early church faced the problem head on. The apostles and believers in Jerusalem, who were Jewish believers, were shocked to hear that Gentiles were being preached the Gospel, and they questioned Peter as to why he was doing this. Peter told them of his experiences - he received a vision from heaven that told him that the "unclean" were now "clean". He had preached in a Gentile's home, and before he could even finish preaching the Gospel, the Holy Spirit fell and filled all in the house. God was showing no partiality, and was allowing no exclusion, regarding who was to receive the Gospel, salvation, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The leaders of the church in Jerusalem had to admit: "...God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:1-18). All who have prepared their hearts to receive, may receive. Not only was the church to include Gentiles, but those of different races also (Acts 13:1). Simeon, called Niger, or Black, was one of the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch. He was one of those leaders who laid hands on Saul (Paul) and Barnabas and released them into ministry (v. 2-4). It was of this church at Antioch, full of believers of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, that believers were first called "Christians", or "Christ-like ones". The Book of Revelation identifies those who were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb are "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth." (Rev. 5:9-10). They were clothed in white robes, having come out of great tribulation. They made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9-14). It is not assured that believers will not experience tribulation. Jesus instructed us to pray in order to be accounted worthy to escape those things which are coming on the earth. It is time for the church to stand up for what is righteous. It is time to be what Jesus calls us to be. He has not called us to be like the world, but like our Father in heaven. The disturbing things we see occurring in the world, in our nation, can be laid directly at the church's feet. God's Word said, "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14). What would Jesus do? Jesus is not looking for the world to change, but for us to change, and be those who are born of the Spirit of God. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/21/21 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.

Understanding the Root and Not the Symptoms*

Passover is twenty days away, and eight days later, is Resurrection Sunday. Seldom are these two important days so close together. The divine congruence of these two holy days this year, should cause the Church to prepare themselves in a special way. These days should bring to mind the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and His resurrection from the dead. Much of what we see in the world today is very concerning. However, we need to understand that those things we are seeing are the symptoms of a much deeper root problem. That root problem is sin, and it applies to us all: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back, they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."(Ps. 53:1-3). Sin is not someone else's problem, but everyone's problem. The sin nature of man passed from Adam like a gene. If we deny it, we are not dealing with reality, we are only dealing with the symptoms. How deeply is sin imbedded in our nature? The prophet Jeremiah wrote: "Thus saith the LORD; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD...Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters...her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who shall know it." (Jer. 17:5-9). Many in the Church have been trusting in politicians to cure the ills of society rather than the LORD. Many trust in pharmaceuticals to heal us of the latest deadly outbreak. We should keep in mind that the Greek word for sorcerer is pharmakeus. Our hearts convince us that our hope is in man rather than God. Our hearts deceivingly convince us that there is hope in self-help, rather than God. Scripture explains the division between heart and Spirit, and the respective results from each. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh...these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, forniction, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like...they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit..." (Gal. 5:15-25). Jesus came under criticism because He did not keep the traditions of men that had become more important to the people than the Word of God. However, the traditions of men would not keep them clean and undefiled. Jesus quoted Isaiah: "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Mk. 7:5-9). Jesus continued, "Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man..." (v. 14-15). Even His own disciples did not understand this principle, and asked for an explanation. Jesus was surprised that they couldn't understand. He then explained, "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 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 the man." (Mk. 7:20-23). As we read above in Jeremiah, Jesus said that it is from the evils of our own hearts that we are defiled. We often look at the outward appearance in judging whether we and others are righteous. However, Paul wrote that the outward appearance has no importance in the Spirit. The Jews valued physical circumcision as signifying their covenant with God. Paul said, however, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Rom. 2:28-29). Paul went on to say that whether Jew or Gentile, all are under sin (Rom. 3:9). "As it is written", Paul said quoting the Psalm we read above, "There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God...There is none that doeth good, no, not one...There is no fear of God before their eyes." (v. 10-18). People who don't fear God will do anything. They will latch onto a lie, like Darwinism, as an excuse not to believe. However, this condition is not without remedy! Paul wrote, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God...that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (v. 23-26). 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." He then writes that if we walk in the light, as God IS light, with no darkness in Him, the blood of His Son, Jesus, will cleanse us of all sin (v. 7). If we confess our sins to Him, "he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (v.9). For Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 Jn. 2:2). That word used by both Paul and John regarding Jesus as the "propitiation", refers to the sprinkling of the atoning blood of the sacrifice by the high priest on the mercy seat of God. Passover is coming soon. Resurrection Sunday follows immediately after. As the Bride, we need to make ourselves ready. We need to deal with the root of the problem, and not just the outward symptoms. And the root of the problem is found within each of our own hearts. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/7/21 message to the Church. To contact: Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or P.O. Box 154221 You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimesschool.com

Except Those Days*

Jesus' disciples presented Him with some questions after He prophesied the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (meaning "age")?(Mt. 24:1-3). The first thing that Jesus gave as an answer was the warning, "Take heed that no man deceive you." The times and conditions surrounding the events addressed by Jesus with His disciples would be be surrounded by deception. This deception will include those who claim to be Christ, and the rise of false prophets. We have seen examples of this in recent history. However, those who follow Christ are expected to know the truth, and be aware of the signs. Jesus continued to describe the events that lead up to the great tribulation, and His return. They include: wars, ethnic violence, famines, pestilences, earthquakes (we have seen the increase in the number and severity of earthquakes, and we are in the middle of a worldwide pestilence, the pandemic). Hatred and persecution to death and betrayal involving all nations would be directed towards those who believe in Christ, because of His name's sake. Iniquity will abound, and many will turn away from faith because of it. Atheism and agnosticism, even among those who used to believe, have increased in our time. In the face of all of these signs and events, Jesus told His disciples, and us, to endure unto the end, and be saved. Even during these calamitous events, the Gospel of the kingdom of God will be preached in all the world as a witness, Jesus said, and then the end comes. One of the defining signs of the imminent approach of the end will be the abomination that causes desolation, which will stand in the holy place, spoken about by Daniel the prophet (v.15). It is then mentioned: "Whoso readeth, let him understand." When they see this happen, those in Jerusalem should flee: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (v. 21-22). Can repentance change prophecy? The Book of Jonah tells us that repentance can play a piivotal role in the judgment of God. Jonah delivered the prophetic Word of the LORD to Nineveh that they were about to be destroyed in God's judgment. The whole city, from the king, down, repented sincerely, and God turned the judgment away from them. This made Jonah angry but God taught him that it is better that the people who are to die in judgment repent and many lives be saved. Peter wrote the same. God is patient and longsuffering regarding His judgment, because He would rather provide people every opportunity to repent. In the case above, the days of the Great Tribulation are shortened, saving many. The prophetic model tells us that repentance could play a major role in this mercy in the midst of judgment. Jesus referred to the event in Daniel that He called the abomination that makes desolate (Daniel 12:11). Up to the fulfillment of this desolating event, according to Daniel's prophecy, the people of God will have been busy in wisdom, spreading and teaching the delivering truth of God to many: "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (Dan. 12:3). Daniel also described this time in the same manner as Jesus: "...and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." (v. 1). In the last verse in Daniel, the LORD told the prophet, "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." (v. 13). As Jesus told His disciples, these events are associated with "the end of days", or at the end of an age, not the end of the world. Daniel was to "...shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end." (v. 4). We know that the time of the end refers to our time, because the words of Daniel are no longer sealed and shut up, but are understandable to us. They are now revealed to us, and we are those who can understand the words of Daniel, as Jesus said. The New Testament continues to give clarity to Daniel's and Jesus' words. Paul writes that "...of the times and the seasons, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thess. 5:1-3). We are to know, understand, and be aware. Paul went on to write that God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvtion through Christ (v.9). Therefore, we should act like those who live in that light of understanding and salvtion, not like those who are still in darkness (v. 5-8). We are not to sleep, but to be awake, keep watch and be sober (v.6). We are to warn, comfort, uphold, and be patient (v. 14). We are to rejoice, pray without ceasing, give thanks in every thing, proving all things and keeping those things that are good, not quenching the Holy Spirit, but abstaining from even the appearance of evil. We should not despise the prophetic word (v.16-22). Paul prayed that God "...sanctify you wholly;...and... your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 23). In Romans, Paul also wrote, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed...let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day...put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." (Rom. 13:11-14). In Mt. 25, Jesus told the parable of those who were prepared for His return, and those who were not. Though all slept, the wise woke up ready when the alarm went out. The foolish had not prepared, and were not ready. The event happened so quickly, that the foolish unprepared ones could not get ready in time, and the door was shut to them. They were not allowed to enter. Why had the foolish been unprepared? The Lord said to them "Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (v. 12). "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (v. 13, see also Lk. 21:34-36). We do not know the day nor the hour, but those who are wise and understand, those whom the Lord knows, see the signs as they have been prophesied in scripture, and are determined to be awake and watchful. *Based upon Dr. Stevenson's 11/25/20 message to the Church. To contact this ministry, or to obtain the new book "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling": PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com If you would like to know Jesus Christ, and receive His salvation, believe and confess that He died for your sins, and was raised from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10). Pray "Lord Jesus, I believe you died for me. I believe that You rose from the dead. I believe that You are coming again to rule and to reign. Forgive my sins. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Fill me with the Holy Spirit to lead me, teach me, and enpower me to live righteously in You. I believe that You have cleansed me, saved me, and given me eternal life. I pray these things in Your great name, Jesus. Amen.

Feast of Dedication: Festival of Lights

 

The Feast of Dedication, or Festival of Lights, is a traditional Jewish Feast. It is not one of the ordained Feasts of the LORD according to the Law of Moses, but it is observed throughout the generations.

This feast memorializes the occasion when an out-numbered, small group of Jews re-took control of the Temple in Jerusalem from a far stronger enemy invader. Having regained the Temple, the small force had to cleanse and re-dedicate it from the idol worship and abominations that the enemy had practiced in it. Though there was only one day's worth of oil to keep the Lamp of the Holy Place, the Menorah, lighted, God miraculously kept the Lamp lighted for eight days, until additional oil cold be produced for the Lamp.

Light and miracles-Jesus spoke about both of these things as He observed the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem.

Just before this Festival of Lights was to begin, Jesus passed by a man who had been blind from birth. He told His disciples, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn. 9:5). He then brought light to the darkened eyes of the man born blind by anointing his blind eyes with clay that had been mixed with Jesus' own saliva. Jesus then instructed the blind man to go to the pool of Siloam (sent), and cleanse his eyes there. When the blind man rinsed his eyes at the pool, he found that he had regained his sight (v.7). How appropriate for the Feast of Dedication. The blind man cleansed himself in the pool, and was miraculously filled with the light of sight. Not only did he received natural sight, but he gained spiritual sight as Jesus came back to him and revealed Himself as the Son of God to him (v. 35-39). The formerly blind man worshipped Him. 
The light of the Golden Lampstand, or Menorah, in the Temple, represents the "owr" light of the Messiah. It is a light that not only illuminates naturally, but it illuminates the spiritual understanding, the light that was in the beginning. By meaning, it is a light that enlightens eyes that had been encased in darkness (Ps. 13:4). When Jesus told His disciples that He is the Light of the world, He was revealing who He is as Messiah.
The religious people who witnessed this miracle of new sight, rejected it, and also cast out the formerly blind man who received the miracle, because they rejected the Light who created the miracle. Jesus said to them:
"For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and they which see might be made blind."  Jn. 9:39
As the religious took offense at being referred to as blind, Jesus answered them:
...If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say "We see"; therefore, your sin remaineth."  Jn. 9:41
After all of this, on the day of the Feast of Dedication, Jesus entered the Temple. The religiously blind immediately surrounded Him and demanded that He tell them plainly if He was the Christ (Jn. 10:22-24). Jesus answered:
"I told you, and ye believe not; the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me...I and My Father are one."   Jn. 10:25, 30
They immediately sought to stone Jesus at this declaration that they considered blasphemy.
Jesus pointed out to them that their own scriptures declare "Ye are gods", yet they accuse the One whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world. Again, Jesus confirms in v. 37-38 His identity by the miracles that they have witnessed Him doing:
"If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe, that the Father is in Me and I in Him."
The religiously blind came to the Temple that winter day to observe the Feast of Dedication, but the very fulfillment of the Feast was in their midst, and they didn't "see" Him, and they rejected miraculous works that the Father had sent Him to do in confirmation of this feast.
What does this Feast, and Jesus' words and works at this Feast of Dedication, mean for our lives?
First, we are a living temple, built of living stones, a spiritual house, which we are because we have cleansed ourselves from defilement, and sanctified, or dedicated ourselves in the Word of God (1 Pet. 2:1-3). It is then said of us:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Which in time past, we were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."   1 Pet. 2:9-10
Secondly, we have not only been called into His light, and we have been commanded to be the same light:
"Ye are the light of the world...set on a hill...on a candlestick...it giveth light unto all that are in the house."   Mt. 5:14-15
Thirdly, along with being part of the miraculous Light of the world, we have been called to do the miraculous works, as well:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Mt. 5:16
Jesus also said of us:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."  Jn. 14:12
The prophet Daniel described those who know their God as shining "as the brightness of the firmament" (Dan. 12:3), and the miraculous works connected to them as "great exploits" (Dan. 11:28).
The prophet Isaiah describes a people who are "as a watered garden", who shall "build the old waste places", and be the "repairer of the breach", the "restorer of paths to dwell in" (Isa. 58:11-12). They become this after they have sanctified themselves, and dedicated themselves to the ways and word of God (v. 13).
Our purpose in being both light and miraculous works in the world, is the same purpose as Jesus had: to bring glory and praise to God the Father, and the knowledge of Him to all who will receive it.
If you desire to dedicate yourself as a living temple, to receive the Light, the Son of God, who was sent into the world to bring witness of His Father, then believe in your heart, and confess your desire to Jesus in simple prayer with your mouth. He will come into your heart, and bring His marvelous light to your soul, and spirit.
"Come Lord Jesus, be my Light of salvation, my Light of life, my Light of sight, my Light of the knowledge of our Father in heaven. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I dedicate my heart, mind and strength, my living temple, to You."

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Redeeming the Time, Redeeming the Land

 

We are living in a time of great darkness, with the darkness seeming to grow deeper every day. That darkness manifests in many different ways, but it is all of the same darkness. It is the spiritual darkness that rejects truth and life. It rejects the Word of God, and rebels against His LORDship. In recent days, as in the past, the darkness has taken the form of racial hatred and violence, terrorism, perversions, child murder, murder in general, and other forms that we are seeing on the news every day. Sometimes, we are tempted to forget the plan of God in the midst of this darkness. Even as we see this darkness seeming to spread further and further over our nation and the whole earth, scripture tells us that God foresaw it happening and prophesied about it:

"Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the LORD will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you."

Isa. 60:1-2

The same (kabode) glory that the LORD, Himself, possesses, He has given to us, as well as the same (ore) light as is Jesus, who said, "I am the light of the world." (Jn. 8:12, 9:5). This is the same light that Jesus spoke of when He told us that we also were the light of the world (Mt. 5:14).

It is the way of the LORD, that when darkness tries to reign, He pours out His glory light upon us and tells us to shine with it. As we know in the natural, the darker the surroundings, the greater effect light has upon it. So it is also in the spiritual realm.

The prophet Daniel told us that when the darkness of wickedness would flourish, "...the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits." (Dan. 11:32).

The call and purpose for God's people in these troubling dark times is clear. This is when the light of the Gospel in us should appear at its greatest. This is the time when the light of the uncompromised truth of God's Word is needed to save lives and souls, to deliver them out of that darkness and into His marvelous light, even as we were delivered.

The Apostle Paul instructs us, when dealing with those outside the faith, to let our speech "always be with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:5-6). We are always to speak the grace of God, but also with the salt of truth that preserves and cleanses. He says by doing this, we "redeem the time". What a deep concept. It means to recover from the power of another the epoch waited for, the fixed time when things are brought to crisis. We can possibly say then that the darkness is trying to have power over the timing, or delay the timing, of the return of Christ, the awaited epoch. However, one reason that God has poured out His own glory, and His Son's light upon us, is for the purpose of taking back that time. It requires us to be the fullness of that light.

Why is it so important that we not compromise the truth we know with the darkness around us? The light that the darkness cannot destroy from the outside (Jn. 1:5), it will try to destroy from the inside. Jesus warned:

"The light of the body is the eye; therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness....If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light."

Lk. 11:34-36

Even a small compromise with darkness, destroys the whole light within, according to Jesus.
Similarly, the Apostle Paul tells us in Eph. 5:1-27 to be imitators of God, avoiding the works of darkness, and to walk as children of light. He says that these dark works and behaviors are even shameful to talk about. These behaviors come from fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, and idolatry. Do not be partakers with them. While we once shared in these dark works, we are now light in the Lord, proving (giving evidence) of what is acceptable to the Lord, rather than the abominations of darkness. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, he tells us, but rather expose them, making them manifest out of hiding by the light of Christ.

He concludes these thoughts by saying in v. 16:

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Again, he talks about the concept of "redeeming the time".  While we are redeeming the time from the power of the darkness, we are also redeeming our land from that darkness. If we care about the spiritual condition of our land, God has given us His own glory to bring to it, if we will walk in that glory and light.

Let us understand, above all, that "Christ is head of the church; and Savior of the body." (v.23).  A church that compromises with darkness, though it pleases the world, has removed Christ from its headship. For by His headship, He is presenting to Himself a "glorious (kabode) church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (v.27).

 

 

Recommended reading: "Redeeming the Land", by Gwen Shaw, 1987 (see links below)

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