Living the Covenant*

The word "covenant" is used 272 times in scripture. The first mention of covenant comes in the story of Noah. As God told Noah His plan to flood the earth because the intent of men's hearts was only evil, He also said: "But with thee will I establish my covenant (berit - alliance, agreement, friendship; divine ordinances and laws with divine signs); and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy son's wives with thee." (Gen. 6:18, 9:8-10). Noah had found grace with the LORD, and he and some animals from every living thing of all flesh would be saved in the ark. The LORD also promised Noah as part of His covenant that He would not destroy flesh by waters of a flood again (Gen. 9:11). He gave Noah and man a sign of this promise: "...This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth...when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant...the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. 9:12-17). The everlasting covenant of God was not just with Noah, but with all living creatures of flesh, and with the earth. God also made a covenant with Abraham. Abraham fell on his face before the LORD, and received this promise from God: "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen. 17:7-8). The current crisis that we see oer the land which was called Canaan, is over the requirement of this covenant that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was and is to be their God. There are those in the area of conflict, who are the seed of Abraham after the flesh, for he eventually had many children. However, God's everlasting covenant requires that He, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is their God, and not another god. Jesus said that God could raise children of Abraham up from the stones. There was also another requirement of Abraham in this everlasting covenant with God. All members of his household must be circumcised by the time the child is eight days old: "...my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant." (v. 10-13). Science has since confirmed what God already knew: the clotting factor in blood is not fully developed until the eighth day of life. When Abraham's son Isaac was miraculously born in Sarah's old age, the LORD made clear that His covenant would continue with Isaac, although Abraham also loved Ishmael: "But my covenant shall I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year...I will establish my covenant with him, and with his seed after him." (v. 17-21). Later, after the children of Israel were delivered out of the slavery of Egypt, the priests would have a requirement to fulfill in God's covenant with them. They would be required to keep the lamp of the LORD, that was in the tabernacle, burning with pure olive oil as a statute forever. They were to make and place twelve new cakes on the pure table before the LORD in the tabernacle every sabbath: "Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant." (Lev. 24:1-8). Today, there are those in Israel making plans to construct a third temple so that they may keep this covenant with God, as He commanded. We have a role that is required to be fulfilled in the covenant also. When Moses and the people were in the wilderness, the men of Israel had joined themselves with the women of Moab and Midian in idol worship. A plague broke out among the people because of the anger of God. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, killed an unrepentant Israelite and his idolatrous foreign wife with his javelin, and the plague was stopped. Because of the zeal of God in Phinehas, the LORD made a covenant with him and with his seed after him: "Behold I give unto him my covenant of peace...the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." (Num. 25:11-13). David, who was raised up and anointed by God to be ruler over the people of Israel spoke of the everlasting covenant that God had made with him, and his role in that covenant. David said that he spoke by the Spirit of God, with the Word of God in his tongue. As a ruler, he was to rule justly, in the fear of God. He was to be as light, and he knew that his salvation was in the everlasting covenant that God had made with him (2 Sam. 23:1-5). Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD concerning the land being emptied and spoiled. The whole earth, in fact, would languish and fade away, and the haughty people of the earth also: "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." (Isa. 24:1-5). We have broken the covenant. Remember, judgment begins at the house of the LORD. However, God offers His cleansing and renewal to us, as a free gift, as well as His everlasting covenant: "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." (Isa. 55:1-3). David, when he had sinned, sought the renewal and cleansing of the LORD in repentance (Ps. 51). David is a witness to us of this covenant of mercy and forgiveness with God. As God prophesied about raising His people up to Ezekiel, He spoke about cleansing their sin and transgressions. The LORD promised to bring the Messiah, like David, to rule as King over His people forever. They shall dwell in the land that God has given them, "...even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore." (Ezek. 37:21-28). In the Book of Hebrews, we are reminded that the blood of the everlasting covenant, through Jesus Christ whom God raised from the dead, makes us perfect in every good work to do His will, working in us in a way that is well pleasing in His sight (Heb. 13:20-21). We have the covenant with God as we live and walk in that covenant before Him. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/17/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool, also on Facebook.

If God Changes Not...Why Does The Church?*

We will see that the Word of God assures us that neither God, nor His Word, changes. It is true and constant. However, we see so much coming out of the Church today that is not part of scripture, and runs in contradiction to it. Hebrews 13:8-9 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." Church doctrines and the whittling away of scripture have both been done to reflect modern custom, rather than the eternal truth of God's Word. Paul wrote to those in the Church to examine themselves, as to whether they are in the faith - to prove ourselves in this. (2 Cor. 13:5-6). To leave the faith that is based upon the Word of God is to be a reprobate regarding the faith. "Now I pray to God that ye do not evil...For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." (v. 8). Jesus told us that scripture cannot be broken. It is evident that evil is around us as we see instances of senseless murders every week. The Devil is going to be in Hell, and he wants us in Hell with him. Remain in the faith and do not do evil. Paul wrote that just because we have received the gift of grace from God through His Son, it does not mean that we can continue to sin. "God forbid.", he wrote (Rom. 6:1-2). Continuing to sin undermines the salvation of Christ for us, which says that we died with Him, and we are raised with Him. But the dead do not sin! "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." (v. 2-7). John wrote that if we confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us of our sin. If we deny our sin, the truth is not in us (1 Jn. 1:9). Death has no more dominion over Christ. He died unto sin once, and He lives unto God, and this is our truth also, as we remain in Him (v. 9-11). "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." (v. 12). Again Paul repeated for us not to continue in sin because of the grace we have received (v. 15). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (v. 23). By joining Christ in His death and resurrection, we were made free from sin, and we became servants of righteousness (v. 18). So why is the Church saying that the meaning of sin has changed, and is no longer sin? It doesn't matter what anyone says, no matter who they are in importance, if the Word of God says it is sin then it is sin. Neither God, nor His Word, have changed. David sinned but the Lord said of him that he was "a man after God's own heart". God said this because David repented of his sin, and sought cleansing and renewal from God (see Ps. 51). The free gift from God is available, but men accept it or reject it by their free will choice. Paul assured the believers: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:8-11). In the time of the flood, men's hearts were evil continually, and God repented that He had created man. However, Noah found grace with God. Sodom and Gomorrah were completely burned because of their sin, but Lot and his family were delivered out of that judgment. Abraham interceded, and we can wonder if the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah would have been different if Abraham had interceded beyond the presence of tem righteous in the cities. Jude, the brother of Jesus, and the brother of James the Apostle, wrote about the gift of being sanctified, preserved and called in Jesus Christ. He urged the saints to earnestly contend for the faith which had been delivered to them (v. 1-2). It becomes necessary to contend for the faith, because the faith comes under attack. Jude warned that there were those present that have crept in while we are unaware: "..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." (v. 4). These are of the same rebelliousness as the angels who left their first estate and habitation, who are condemned in chains and darkness. It is the same rebellion as Sodom and Gomorrah, who gave themselves over to fornication and strange flesh, and who suffered the vengeance of eternal fire as an example for us. It is of the same rebelliousness that led to the destruction of Israelites in the wilderness for their unbelief after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt by God. (v. 5-7). It is the same error that led Cain, Balaam, and Korah to follow the way of greediness. It is the same kind of men who attack the faith in Christ then and now. However, as Enoch prophesied, these are the same that will experience judgment when Christ appears with His saints (v. 14-15). There are murmurers, complainers, mockers, as prophesied for the last times, which are led by their lusts, not having the Spirit of God: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (v. 20-21). God is able to keep us from falling, in order to present us faultless to Himself (v. 24-25). The Prophet Malachi wrote of how God was sending His Messenger to be a Purifier and Refiner of His people, even as gold and silver go through a refinement process. His people were guilty of robbing Him in tithes and offerings, and speaking against Him, saying that it was not worth keeping God's ordinances, when the wicked continue, and even profit, without punishment (Mal. 3:1-15). However, for those who fear the Lord, and gather together to speak of Him to one another, "...a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (v. 16-17). Malachi warned that the day was coming that will burn as an oven, burning up all that do wickedly. "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked..." (Mal. 4:1-6, excerpt). God is not willing that any should perish. What makes the Church think that they can do well by changing the Word and Everlasting Covenant of God? God changes not, so why does the Church? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/10/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool, also on Facebook.

The Third Day Wedding*

We can start with the Prophet Hosea: "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." (Hos. 6:2). "In the third day" pertains to the time in which we are living, according to Peter who wrote that a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day. We have completed the second day, or 2,ooo years since the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we are entering that third day, or 3,ooo year time to be revived and raised up to live in His sight. Jesus spoke about the difference between those of the world, and those who are part of Himself, and the Kingdom of God. He said that those of the world cannot receive His words, which are the words of the Father, the words of truth that make men free: "Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world...if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins...he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him...When ye lift up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free...Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin...If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed...Why do you not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word...He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (Jn. 8:23-47, excerpt). We who are in Christ, and hear His words, are not from this world, and we are not to be conformed to this world, but transformed. The Church needs to stop looking at the world for remedies. The third day is about transformation, and the transformation is in preparation for the wedding of the Lamb and His Bride, the believers. There is a connection in scripture between the third day and the wedding, and it also involved Jesus' first miracle: "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana (meaning: reed, shaft and branches of the lampstand, purchase, redeem, God originating, creating, and redeeming His people) of Galilee (meaning: circuit, ring, turning of a door, to roll away the reproach, roll away a stone); and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage." (Jn. 2:1-2). At this wedding feast, when they asked for wine, Jesus' mother told Him that there was no wine left to drink. Jesus ordered that the large stone pots used for cleansing or purifying be filled to the brim with water. Then He told them to draw some out and take it to the ruler of the feast. The ruler did not know that the wine that he tasted had originally been water, and he marvelled that the good wine, usually served to guests at the beginning of the fest before too much drinking had gone on, was saved for the end of the feast (v. 3-10). "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." (v. 11). Those pots containing the water of purification is our washing of the water of the Word of God. And this first miracle of Jesus that caused His disciples to believe in Him occurred at a wedding that took place on the third day. Jesus again used wine to represent the new covenant in His blood, that is shed for many for the remission of sins (Mt. 26:26-29). The cup of wine that He used was the Cup of Redemption of the Passover meal, or Seder. That cup is also known as the Cup of Betrothal. Jesus told His disciples: "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." This is the third day marriage. Revelation tells us that the Lamb's wife has made herself ready. Jesus told a parable warning us to be ready for His return as the Bridegroom. He said that there were ten virgins who were waiting for the Bridegroom to arrive. Five were wise and had prepared ahead of time, having their lamps trimmed and extra oil on hand to light their lamps when He came. Five of the virgins were foolish and had not prepared properly, having no oil on hand for their lamps. They all slept, because the Bridegroom did not arrive until midnight. Suddenly the cry went out that the Bridegroom had arrived, and only the wise virgins could join the wedding party, while the foolish virgins had to go out at the last minute to purchase a supply of oil. Meanwhile, the door to the marriage feast was shut, and the five foolish virgins were left outside the door. When the foolish ones cried out to be let in, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us", the Lord answered: "Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Jesus ended the parable saying: "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Mt. 25:1-13). The Church has also been asleep while we wait for Christ's return. Will there be those who are unprepared for the Bridegroom's arrival, having no oil of the Holy Spirit in their spiritual lamps? We may not know the exact day nor hour of His return, but we know the signs of His return, because He told us ahead of time (see Mt. 24, Lk. 21). Those signs are around us today. The world even has something called a "Doomsday Clock" set up with its hands approaching midnight. The world is paying more attention to the signs of the times than the Church! Jesus said that His return will be like it was in the days of Noah, when the world carried on their activities as they normally would. But the day came when Noah and the animals were told by God to enter the ark, and the LORD shut Noah in. None of those left outside the ark could enter. Then the flood came and destroyed them. Noah was spared because he received grace from God, a gift, and was therefore seen as righteous before Him (Lk. 17:25-26, Gen. 7:1-16). The day of the Lord is a day in which the door will be shut. Those who find grace in Christ will be inside, and those who haven't will remain outside. In another part of scripture, Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem, the city which plays an important role in the prophetic timetable of God, and has just in the past generation become re-established with the nation of Israel, Jesus warned those whom He was teaching: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate (the eastern gate where the King or Messiah will enter): for many...will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Lk. 13:22-30). In that day, even though they knew of Jesus, He did not know them as belonging to Him, and He will say to them: "I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." (v. 27). Others would enter the Kingdom of God, but these would be thrust out, Jesus said, "And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." (v. 30). Jesus requires more of a relationship with us in order to save us than just a casual acquaintanceship. Finally, Jesus told a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a king who was preparing a marriage feast for his son (Mt. 22:1-13). He invited many, but all had an excuse not to come. They treated with violence the messengers whom the king had sent with his invitation. The king sent his army to destroy those who had murdered his messengers. Then he sent his servants out again telling them to invite as many as they could find, both good and bad (our righteousness is of the Lord, not ourselves), to the marriage feast. Those who came knew to prepare and wear wedding garments. However, there was one there who wore no wedding garment. When asked why by the king, he remained silent, for he had no good reason. The king said to his servants: "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." In Jewish customs, the wedding garments are a very important part of the marriage feast. The bride begins weaving her wedding garment when she becomes betrothed. We also see in Jesus' parable that wedding garments are necessary, yet how many in the Church have given no thought to the preparation needed for the coming marriage to our Bridegroom? Church games and rituals will not save you. The world puts up signs of what will set you free, whether that is work, money, drugs, or other things that pass away, but it's a lie. Whoever sins becomes a servant to sin, and all have sinned. However, the Lord's truth has made us free, if we will hear and accept it. We are living in the time of the third day wedding. Have you prepared for it? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/3/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool.com.

Selah*

There are seventy-five occurrences of the word "Selah" in scripture. Almost all are found in the Psalms, which were written as songs, and one use is found in a prayer-song written by the prophet Habakkuk. The word selah means to lift up, exalt. It also refers to a technical music term to show a pause by a singer in a song while instruments continue to play. Therefore when selah appears, we are to pause and consider the exaltation of God at that point. We can see this in the placement of the word "selah" in Psalm 3, written by David when he fled from his son, Absalom, who tried to take his father's throne: "LORD, how they are increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah...Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah." Each placement of the word "Selah" in the Psalm is meant for us to stop and exalt the LORD, even in our most bitter circumstances, and when we feel most powerless. This is the purpose, the power, and the warfare of the selah, the pause used for the exaltation of the LORD. America, looking at the news headlines for this week, has become a ball of confusion. Division and turmoil, accusations and anger have taken hold over issues like abortion and gun rights. Pride parades in the streets, when God's Word tells us: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov. 16:18). It is necessary now more than ever before for God's people to understand the importance of "Selah". In Psalm 4, also written by David, the musical instruction "Neginoth" is written, which refers to a stringed instrument, but it also has the meaning of being a taunting song. In part, this Psalm sings: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing (meaning lying, deceitful, untruth)? Selah. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him." David saw the lies of men that turn glory into shame, but he placed the selah at this point in order to interrupt this observation, and to instruct us to pause in this prayer song, and exalt God instead. He then sings, "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD...LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us." (v. 4-6). David opens the Psalm with the LORD being the God of David's righteousness, and here he reminds us again that our righteousness is not our own, but is given to us by God. When seeing the shamefulness and lies of men, it is the time to selah - to exalt God, and sin not, because our trust is in Him. It is the LORD who shines the light of His face upon us. In the night, when the taunting lies of men weigh upon our minds, with the selah interruption found in the exaltation of God, we can say as David said: "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, O LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." (v. 8). These Psalms take great challenges, and and at just the right moment, pause to reflect on God. As mentioned earlier, the prophet Habakkuk used the selah in writing his prayer-song concerning a vision of judgment given to him from God. In Hab. 3, the prophet asked God that in wrath, remember mercy. Then he described the appearance of God. He said that God came from Teman (root meaning: from the right hand), and the Holy One from Mount Paran (root meaning: beautify, glorify, praised). Then he wrote, "Selah". He wanted us to pause here in the song and glorify God, and consider His identity, and where He is coming from. Then Habakkuk wrote: "His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns (meaning: power, strength, lightning, rays of light) coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding (meaning hiding place, covering; to love fervently, cherish) of his power." (v. 2-4). Then Habakkuk saw: "Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting." (v. 5-6). We are seeing now in our generation the pestilence and suffering also. The prophet then wrote: "Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes (tribe, staff, rod, ruling sceptre), even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers." (v. 9). Pause or selah to consider that the ruling sceptre, the Word of God, is driving this judgment, and exalt Him. Then Habakkuk saw the purpose of this judgment: "Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed (also meaning Messiah); thou woundest the head (see Gen. 3:15) out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah." This selah pause is for us to exalt God in the understanding that in His judgment, He separates the wicked and the righteous. For this, Habakkuk concluded that even as the judgment manifests in the earth in trying ways: "Yet, I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD is my strength...and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." (v. 16-19). Jesus also warned of the judgment destruction that would come in a moment. It will be like the day of Noah, He said, when the flood came, or like Sodom, when the fire fell. Life went on as usual up until the moment that catastrophe came upon them. The righteous, like Noah and Lot, were preserved, but all others were destroyed. This will also be the circumstance in the day that the Son of man will be revealed. (Lk. 17:20-30). As Habakkuk prophesied, Jesus promised: "For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven,; so shall also the Son of man be in his day." (v. 24). Jesus told us to take heed to ourselves, lest the vain activities and cares of life in this world come upon us while we are unaware. This is the snare coming to all on the earth (Lk. 21:34-35). Jesus instructed: "Watch therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (v. 36, see also Mt. 24:42-44). Paul also said for the believers to "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Eph. 5:14-16). As Paul tells us to awake, arise, and walk circumspectly as the wise, he also tells us how to accomplish this: "...be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 18-20). Here we see the selah pause of the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, as Paul wrote, giving God thanks always. This, the selah, is our fight in these end times. In another place, Paul wrote again: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence (meaning lust), and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience...Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col. 3:5-6, 16-17). As he stated these thoughts here again, he also indicated that grace, purity of obedience, charity, perfectness, and the peace of God within us is affected by this selah pause contained within our prayer songs. The selah pause of exaltation contained in our prayer songs is necessary for the church to understand in these times when wickedness is prevalent. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/26/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool.com.

Who's Your Daddy? The Rest of the Story*

Paul wrote that even if God's people have unbelief regarding the truth of God's Word, that unbelief does not make the faith of God without effect: "God forbid: yea, let God be true and every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Rom. 3:1-4). God has made Himself to be an unassailable Truth for our benefit. Man lies, but God does not. Jesus taught that His sheep hear His voice, and follow Him. They won't follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the stranger's voice (Jn. 10:1-5). This is proven in life as we can find videos of sheep only answering their shepherd's call, and not others. Today though, there are wolves in sheep's clothing who are not the true Shepherd, but are trying to deceive and call the sheep. The truth spoken in love that is found only in God, and in His Son, Jesus, is necessary for the church to "...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 in the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Eph. 4:15-16). The church only grows and becomes effective through the truth that it receives. Paul therefore cautioned that we put off the conversation of the old man which is corrupted by deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of our mind. Put on the new man created by God after His own righteousness and true holiness: "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another." (v. 20-25). As Jesus taught about the truth that He brings, a truth that if we know it, will make us free. It is a truth that is testified by the fact that God has sent Him, Jesus. The testimony of Himself, and that of His Father, bear witness, according to the law, to Jesus, and that He speaks the truth. This makes Jesus the Light of the world, the Light of life. If we do not know Jesus in this manner, then we do not know the Father in heaven who sent Him (Jn. 8:12-19, 31-32). As He showed us through Jesus, the Father confirms His Word of truth with signs and wonders following. Jesus added to those who refused His Words: "...Whosoever committeth sin is a slave to sin...If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed...but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father...ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God...You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." (v. 34-47). Who's your father -the Father of Truth, or the father of lies? Whose word do you believe? If something does not line up with The Book, it's a lie. Paul prophesied that the Wicked one who is coming shall come with "the working of Satan with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:7-12). In the end, the love of the truth, and the Father of it, or the preference for the lie, and the father of it, will determine who is saved, and who is destroyed. On this Father's Day, we must decide who our Father is. Isaiah prophesied the Word of the LORD concerning His rebellious, lying children who don't take counsel from Him, but from others, that seek a covering, but not the covering of the Spirit of God. They do this so "that they may add sin to sin" (Isa. 30:1). God's Word of truth tells His children what sin is, and the suffering and death that it brings, but we live in a time when people do not want to hear it. Isaiah wrote: "...this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things (helqa - flattering, smooth, slippery places), prophesy deceits." (v. 9-10). The LORD warns His people that the path they are on is not one that He travels. Their iniquity will be like a wall that is ready to fall (v. 11-13). God warns His people of the danger of their sin, but when will His people listen? The prophet Ezekiel heard the Word of the LORD concerning false and lying prophets, and the damage they cause. Instead of fulfilling the calling that they have been ordained by God to perform, they are not prophesying the word that they hear from God, but a word that comes out of their own hearts. They are not standing in the spiritual gaps and making up the hedge for the house of Israel to do battle in that day of the LORD. They see vanity and speak a lying divination. They seduce the people, and give false assurances to them of peace, when there is no peace, and the LORD is against them as a result. (Ezek. 13:1-8). The LORD will destroy in His fury the weak and ineffective wall that they have built out of vanity and lies (v. 11-15). The LORD asks the lying prophets: "...Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? Will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?" (v. 18-19). We can easily see the destruction and death caused by lies, and the LORD will act against it. God says that He hates a lying tongue (Prov. 6:16-19). Recently, history has revealed lies that have been told, and truths that have been withheld from the American people concerning racial and economic injustices and violence committed against black citizens including "Black Wall Street" in Tulsa. Oklahoma, the Rosewood Massacre in Florida, and Red Summer. during which white mobs rioted against and sometimes murdered black people in more than three dozen cities across the United States. It is not a black and white thing, it is a sin thing. The Book of Revelation gives yet another warning: "...the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8). Of the city of God, the New Jerusalem, the Lord said: "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Rev. 21:27). The Lord does not wish that any should perish. He died for our sins, so that we could live. Do you know His voice? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/19/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool.com.

The Good Fight*

For many years now, I have been bringing forth a 2 Chron. 7:14 message: "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." However, all we are seeing instead is division, fighting and strife. The people of God do not understand their warfare. The root of our warfare was shown to us from the beginning, in the Garden: "Now the serpent (meaning sprouts, spreads, separation, cut-off, destruction) was more subtil (meaning door or path that adds chaos) than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Gen. 3:1). The serpent, who was questioning the woman, was a created being. The woman answered the serpent incorrectly that although they could eat of all the other trees, God had commanded not to eat of nor touch the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, "lest ye die". "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die." (v. 2-4). As we see the meaning of the word "serpent" above, we can't help but to notice that Christians are divided and fight with one another. What should our good fight be instead? King Jehoshaphat faced a battle with all of the armies of both Moab, and Ammon, which had come against Judah: "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the LORD...". (2 Chron. 20:1-5). Jehoshaphat immediately went to the promise and remedy of 2 Chron. 7:14, as stated above. Jehoshaphat stood in the house of the LORD, and began to pray and remind himself of the power of God, as David once did when he faced Goliath. Jehoshaphat said: "...in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God...?" (v. 5-7). Jehoshaphat then directly brought the words of 2 Chron. 7 before the LORD: "If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help...And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children." (v. 9-13). Then the Spirit of the LORD then came upon one of the Leviites, Jahaziel ("beheld of God"), and he began to prophesy: "...Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's...Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you...fear not nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you." (v. 17). Jehoshaphat and all of Judah bowed before the LORD and worshipped Him, and the Levites began to praise the LORD with a loud voice. Jehoshaphat declared, "...Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (v. 18-20). As they went out before the enemy armies the next day, Jehoshaphat told the singers to lead the army out with the praise of the LORD's beauty and holiness, singing: "Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever." (v. 20-21). The enemy armies began turning against each other as the LORD set spiritual ambushments against them. Judah saw the destruction of the enemy, and the king, and his people came to take away the great spoil from the dead enemies that took three days to gather. On the fourth day, Judah assembled in the Valley of Berachah ("Blessing"), and blessed the LORD there. (v. 22-26). Our good fight, in the same manner, includes praise, cleansing of self, and seeking His face. Paul wrote of the things necessary to fight the good fight also. He wrote that our weapons and our enemies are spiritul rather than natural: "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.; And having in readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor. 10:4-6). The good fight begins with our own thoughts and obedience. As we saw the beginning of our warfare in Genesis 3 with the destructive ways of the serpent, Paul wrote about the good fight that we wage against the devil: "...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (methodeia - methods, cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery, lying in wait) of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph. 6:10-12). Because the whole armor of God is to be used against wicked spiritual powers rather than flesh and blood, the components of this armor are special in meaning and power. First is to have our loins girded with TRUTH. Let God be true and every man a liar (Rom. 3:4), and lies are all around us today and increasing in number. We put on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS - not our righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ by faith. Our feet must be shod with the preparation of the GOSPEL of peace, for we are not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation wherever we walk, for all who will receive it. The Gospel says that there is a sacrifice that has been provided for sin, and we have all sinned. The shield that protects us against every fiery dart of the enemy is made of FAITH. Like the Levites who went out before Jehoshaphat's army, we praise Him as we believe Him. We wear the helmet of SALVATION upon our heads to protect our minds, and to cast down reasonings and imaginations. We take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD. In this armor, we pray for all of the saints, regardless of denomination, and for our spiritual leaders, so they may have utterance to boldly make known the Gospel (v. 14-19). These things are our warfare tools to withstand the evil day (v. 13). One additional thing that we need to fight the good fight is contentment (1 Tim. 6:6). We see now how men's love of money and wealth is the root of all evil, and has led many to fall into a trap of destruction. The love of money has even led some into error in the faith (v. 7-10). We are to follow instead after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness, and fight the good fight of faith, laying hold onto eternal life, to which we have been called (v. 11-12). Faith requires a fight - not on the streets, or in the political arenas, but in the Spirit, and in the power of God. We need to contend in this good fight for the faith that has been delivered to us, because there are those who will creep in, in order to turn the grace of God into the denial of Him (Jude 3-4). Instead, "...let the peace of God rule in your hearts...and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col. 3:16-17). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/12/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool.com.

If I Had One Wish*

Today is the Feast of Shavuot, or Pentecost, when God delivered His covenant to the children of Israel from Mt. Sinai. After Jesus' resurrection and ascension, it was also on Pentecost that the disciples of Jesus in the Upper Room received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as He had promised them. The Word of God is not just to be read, but to be absorbed into the inner man, and to be a manner of life for us: "Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her and she shall keep thee...Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not unless they have done mischief...unless they cause some to fall." (Prov. 4:5-8, 14-16). It is about what is in the heart: "Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." (Prov. 14:32-34). The Prophet Jeremiah prophesied the Word of the LORD promising a new covenant to His people that would not be like the previous covenant which Israel broke. In this new covenant: "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people...they shall all know me...for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:31-34). We claim to be believers in the New Covenant, but it is to be in our hearts - not just our mouths. If I had one wish, it is that we would walk in the New Covenant. Ezekiel wrote about the LORD's promise to sprinkle clean water on us, and cleanse us from all filthiness and idolatry. In the New Covenant we know that we are washed with the water of the Word of God. The LORD also then promised us a new heart and spirit: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." The LORD also promised to give us His Spirit for a specific purpose: "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezek. 36:25-27). In Psalm 51, David repented for murder, and asked God to renew a right heart in him, and not to take His Spirit from him. David understood that there needed to be an inward work in him by God. Jesus told those who believed in Him that to be His disciples, they must abide in His word. He said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Jn. 8:31:32). The wages of sin is death, scripture says, but the power of the work of the truth within us makes us free. The religiously strict Pharisees rejected Jesus' implication that they were "blind", but Jesus told them that the fact that they claimed to be able to see, or understand, meant that their sin remained with them. They claimed to see, but they still walked as if they were spiritually blind. (Jn. 9:40-41). In the Book of Hebrews, we read that although the old covenant and tabernacle were a shadow or pattern of heavenly things, the new covenant is more excellent in every way, established on better promises. This true tabernacle of the new covenant was not pitched by man, but by the Lord Himself, and is the fulfillment of the prophecy we read in Jeremiah above. (Heb. 8:5-6-12). Jesus died to fulfill this promise of God. I have studied the Shroud of Turin for years and all of the evidence gathered, both scientific and scriptural, confirms the Gospel accounts of His suffering and His resurrection. How can we neglect so great a salvation? If I had one wish, it would be that this kind of message would go "viral" and bring in the harvest of God. What was a form of righteousness under the law of Moses, has become righteousness in fact for those who believe by faith. Faith is an inward work of the heart that becomes joined with the Word of God that is heard: "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:5-10). This salvation comes to both the Jew and the Greek, or Gentile, by the same manner, by faith. The Gospel is not just to be heard, but to be obeyed, making Paul ask the question that Isaiah prophetically posed: "Who hath believed our report?". Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, by the Word of God (v. 13-17). If I had one wish, it would be to "blow the minds" of people here and around the world with the message, and with the book "NAZAH", because of the time. We were dead in our sins, but Christ made us alive. We once walked according to the course of the world, but now we are quickened in Christ through grace, raised up, and made us sit together in the heavenly places with Christ. What an awesome thing to be made to sit in heavenly places with Christ! We were once completely distanced and separated from Israel, without God, and without hope. But Christ has destroyed that separation, and joined us together and made both one through Him by the cross. "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." ( see Eph. 2:1-18). On this Feast of Shavuot, two loaves of leavened bread would be waved before the LORD, a symbol of two peoples being joined through Christ, and filled with His Spirit. We have become fellow citizens with the saints, of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus as the chief cornerstone (v. 19-20). We are being fitted together to grow into a holy temple of God. All of this begins with faith in each heart, "For by grace are ye saved by faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Eph. 2:8). If I had one wish, it would be that we have this understanding, for Jesus is coming soon for a church without spot or wrinkle. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/5/2022 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, endtimeschool.com.