ECCE

      Introduction : Dr. Stevenson's book, The Late Great United States , is ready for publishing. It contains messages and warnings directed to the nation, including letters that have been written to several presidents by Dr. Stevenson. The book's prolog contains a quote from Abraham Lincoln: "It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God... and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord". The opening chapter of the book includes a foundational message to this nation regarding the gift of the righteousness and justification of God through Jesus Christ.                                                                           ...

     Four Great Awakenings, or spiritual revivals, have happened in America throughout its history. These revivals began in the same Spirit as 2 Chron. 7:14, which is repentance : "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." Just such a humble prayer of repentance by a black one-eyed preacher named William Seymour began the Azusa Street Revival in the early 1900's that spread across this nation and the world.      However, the spiritual outpourings have never continued to their fulness. Divisions among believers based upon many several issues developed, including the racism that attacked the Azusa Street Revival, that prevented the continuance of revival to its fullest degree. The Church or Ekklesia (the called-out assembly of God's people) continues to be divided, but this is not the will...

      The prophet Isaiah wrote of the "Woes" that the LORD spoke over the people who practiced various forms of iniquity, including those who covet and hoard the land for themselves, those who draw sin after them like they are pulling a cart, those who call evil good and good evil, those who are wise in their own eyes, and those who indulge in strong drink and justify the wicked for a reward and take away righteousness from the righteous ones in God. The LORD's anger is kindled against these. (see Isa. 5).      Paul wrote to Timothy about the same spiritual condition many generations later: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...despisers of those that are good....lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5, ...

     This message is given as a challenge to the Body of Christ. The challenge to us comes in the words of Jesus: "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. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name , that will I do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name , that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name , I will do it." (Jn. 14:12-14). This is a powerful promise from Jesus to those who believe on Him. It is a promise to any and all who believe on Him.      The Book of Acts gives us many examples of those who believed on Jesus being used by the Lord to work miracles in His name . In Acts 3, Peter and John had gone to the temple in Jerusalem at the hour of prayer. There was a man who had been lame from birth seeking alms from those coming to the temple: "And P...

     In Luke 24, we are given this account of the resurrection of Jesus: "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they (the women which came with Jesus from Galilee, see  Lk. 23:55-56 ) came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid...they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee . saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words." (Lk. 24:1-8).         The women left the sepulchre and told the eleven remaining discipl...

      This is a very special week for those who believe in One God - both Jew and Gentile. The week starts with Palm Sunday, today, which memorializes Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem to the praise and the waving of palm branches as the people welcomed their King. Passover also occurs this week as Jews and Gentiles remember the blood of the Passover Lamb which was spread upon the doorways of the houses of the Israelites to protect them from the plague of death. Scripture tells us that Jesus is our Passover. Finally, this week, we remember the suffering, crucifixion, death, burial and triumphant resurrection of Jesus. All of these events were written of beforehand by the LORD's servants the prophets, as we will see. These prophets also wrote of the troubles that we are seeing currently in the Middle East.      The prophet Zechariah wrote of judgments that would accompany the Lord's entry into Jerusalem. He wrote the Word of the LORD against Damascus, ...