In Remembrance of Me

Posted on May 3, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“When He had given thanks, He brake the bread and said, ‘Take, eat, this is My body broken for you, this do in remembrance of Me'”(I Corinthians 11:24).

In the common faith we celebrate a Sacrament called Holy Communion or the Eucharist. In this Sacrament we partake of the elements of the Sacrament, bread, representing Christ broken body, and wine or grape juice, representing Christ’s shed blood. Jesus instituted this Sacrament by what we call The Last Supper on the eve of His crucfixion and death.

Jesus instructs us to remember Him in His death by celebrating Holy Communion. In Remembrance of Me expresses a powerful, yet earnest desire for us to be joined with Him in His brokenness and sacrifice, the depth of which few really know or experience. It is a glorious invitation to partake with Him in His sufferings.

Remembrance (Def): (Gr): Mimesko from Mnaomai: Bear in mind, recollect by implication

In Remembrance of Me is not just “in memory of” but is intended to be an affectionate calling of Christ Himself to participate in His broken body and poured out blood, to be seriously mindful of Him in our union with Him.

Recollect by Implication (Def): Oxford Dictionary of the English Language: The action or state of being involved in something. Synonyms: Connected, Associated, Joined, Involved

In Remembrance of Me is Christ’s appeal, plea, invitation to be with Him in Oneness. Not that we simply remember His death, but that we be joined with Him in it, and that we constantly recollect and remind ourselves of our true life in Him.

The Apostle demonstrates this thought and understanding in his Epistles:

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (II Corinthians 4:10).

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet, not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in my mortal body, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

The Apostle declares the true connection, association and involvement we have in the Crucified, the Lamb of God, and Suffering Servant of God, our Father

In other passages the Apostle conveys this same thought to us, for example in his Epistle to the Romans he wrote:

“I beseech you, therefore, Brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Finally, let us consider his Epistle to the Colossians:

“If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things that are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth; for you are dead and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).

In all these verses we see the true meaning of in remembrance of Me. In all these verses there is a joining, a communion, an association, an involvement with Christ. Continue to recollect the implication of it all. Accept your glorious invitation from Him who Reigns on High, the Lamb of God, who sits on His Throne at the Father’s right hand forever and ever, Amen.

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The Great Restore

Posted on April 19, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you also are tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

Restore (Def): (Gr.): Katartizo from Kata Artios: To complete thoroughly, Repair, Adjust, Mend, Make perfect

When you think about one being “overtaken in a fault”, you can think on a micro level of one individual falling into sin and another coming to his aid and helping to restore him to wholeness again; but when you think on a macro level of the Federal Head of the whole human race being “overtaken” the One needed must come out from another cosmos, or realm because the restoration is so great, as to effect all of Creation.

The Apostle states the restorers of those overtaken must be those “who are spiritual”. These must be:

Spiritual (Def): (Gr.): Pneumatikos from Pneuma Psuchikos: Not Carnal, Divine, Supernatural, Regenerate

The Great Restore of which we are looking into requires One who is not carnal, but divine, supernatural with the power to regenerate. The power to regenerate is a requirement because the one in need has died spiritually from the sin and trespass that was comitted against God.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

This one who has sinned has been “overtaken” by temptation and has given in, succumbed, and fallen.

Overtaken (Def): (Gr.): Prolambano from Pro Lambano: To take in advance, to anticipate, surprise

When one is overtaken there is no premeditation, no planned action; one is surprised, taken over in a moment from an overwhelming desire or overpowering force. One is seized upon by a sudden impulse to have or receive something forbidden, sinful, or appealing, such as Eve experienced in the Garden of Eden:

“When the woman saw that the Tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a Tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6).

The Great Restore of such a momentous overtaking requires One with the power to effectuate the restoration and not just anyone has the capacity to do it, or is qualified on the merits. This One must be spiritual. This One must be Divine, supernatural, and not carnal, because the carnal man has no capacity for such a monumental task. This One must be without sin, perfect in nature, spotless and without blemish, as the Apostle Peter describes in his Epistle:

“Forasmuch as you know you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as a Lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Peter 1:18-19).

The Great Restore was accomplished by the working together of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It was the Father who sent the Son into the world who was endowed and imbued by the Holy Spirit. This tri-unity worked together and accomplished the complete restoration of all things, both in the heavens and on the earth. Indeed, there was a complete restoration of all Creation unto Life and Liberty from all the consequences of the original overtaking in the fault of Man, the original sin.

The Great Restore is described in the Scriptures as Perfection. It is likened unto the complete conformity to the image of the Son of God. The Apostle Peter again in his Epistle writes:

“But the God of all grace who has called us to His Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while , make you Perfect (katartizo), establish, strengthen and settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11).

Brethren, our calling is to the Eternal Glory of Christ, The Great Restore fulfilled. This restoration was accomplished through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus. May we come to know Him in the fullness of His Glory by the working in us of His Grace, His Holy Spirit, and our complete surrender to Him in complete obedience that His eternal purpose may be made manifest in us now and throughout the ages to come.

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Don’t Kill the Prophets

Posted on April 11, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“Wherefore, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; some of them you shall kill, and crucify; some you shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city” (Matthew 23:34).

Prophets (Def): (Gr.): Prophetes from Pro Phemi: To show or make known one’s thoughts, speak, say before, foreteller, inspired speaker

There is in the common will of man a desire to be in control of one’s own life, to determine one’s own destiny. Prophets are disruptors, interferers in the process of finding one’s own way and determining one’s own future. Prophets are messengers of God and when we do not like the message, we shoot the messengers.

Don’t Kill the Prophets. Unfortunately, that is exactly what we tend to do. Jesus said concerning Jerusalem:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, and stone them who are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not” (Matthew 23:37).

Why did the people not want to be gathered? Why did they reject their Messiah? There are a number of reasons: (1) They were locked into their own system and tradition; (2) Their leaders were in control and did not want to give it up; (3) The message they were hearing did not conform to their traditions, conventions and general understanding of the Scriptures; (4) Jesus was an outsider. He did not come up from among them as a reformer. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but gives a strong sense of the problem that existed among them.

Prophets have a tendency to change the narrative. They tend to bring change, either to tear down, or to build up. They tend to disrupt the status quo. Don’t Kill the Prophets is a difficult word to hear for those most effected by the Prophetic word.

Receiving a word to repent; realizing one has to change course after years of carrying the traditions of one’s fathers; changing one’s mind and going in a new direction; being open to trying something new is a challenge some cannot overcome. The Prophet becomes the problem and has to be eliminated. Whether Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, or Jesus of Nazareth, all had to go away.

Behind the Prophets, however, stands the wisdom of God, the Word of the Lord, the witness of the Holy One, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t Kill the Prophets because if you do, you are withstanding the Sovereign God, the Lord, the King, His Majesty.

When one comes in the Name of the Lord, we must be like the woman of Sychar at the well Jacob dug, by being discerning, by perceiving, by intuitively knowing the one to whom we speak, and from whom we are hearing.

“The woman said to Jesus, ‘Sir, I perceive you are a prophet'” (John 4:19).

Therein lay her salvation. Her openness, her humility, her genuine seeking for Truth, led her to receiving her blessing wherein she became the witness to her neighbors proclaiming, “Come, see a Man who told me everything I ever did” (cf. John 4:29a).

Friend, Don’t Kill the Prophets God sends you. Acknowledge them, recognize them, honor them, listen to them.

As the great king, Jehoshaphat, declared to the people in his day:

“Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘Believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established, believe His Prophets, so shall you prosper'” (II Chronicles 20:20).

Oh, may it be we see, we hear, we perceive, we come to know, to understand, to obey His voice and live.

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Forsaken

Posted on April 5, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed to Thessalonica. . .” (II Timothy 4:10a).

Forsaken (Def): (Gr): Egkataleipo from En Kataleipo: To leave behind in some place, desert

It is particularly painful when a longtime companion, ministry partner, friend, cohort or associate decides to abandon you, or your situation when you or the situation do not serve their best interests. Such was the case with Demas, long-time partner to the Apostle in their ministry together throughout the known world.

It is common among us to have an agenda, the cause to which we commit ourselves and to which we maintain fidelity and loyalty. Agendas come in all aspects of living. The agenda Demas had was to the maintenance of a good life, to be secure and to find safety and independence in this present world. For Demas to continue to be associated with the Apostle in Rome, in prison and under sentence of death by Caesar, was not a good situation for Demas’s well being. So, he abandoned Paul for Thessolonica.

It must have been with a heavy heart the Apostle penned that infamous line, “Demas has forsaken me” when he wrote those words to his son in the faith, Timothy. In other Epistles, Demas was well spoken of, such as “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet thee” written in happier times to the Church at Colossae. Then too, to Philemon when he wrote his greetings, “There salute Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellowlaborers” (Philemon 1:23-24). From fellowlaborer to being forsaken, is a journey of which one does not pray to follow.

The forsaking by Demas was not the first time the Apostle experienced such. He wrote to Timothy in his second Epistle at the time of his trial, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me, I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge” (II Timothy 4:16). It seems that more than Demas had their agendas for self-preservation.

My friend, has this happened to you? Have you been forsaken? A spouse, a friend, a family member, a brother, a sister in the Lord, the family of God? Have you become toxic to them with your pursuit of things not in their best interest, or agenda?

Take heart, my beloved, for as Paul continued in his Epistle to Timothy: “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear, and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (II Timothy 4:17).

Indeed, it is even as our Lord has promised, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b).

The writer to the Hebrews goes further to exhort us with the words, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

Is this a season of trial, testing, persecution, abandonment? Take heart the Lord is near. As the Apostle expressed it well in his Epistle to the Corinthians:

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (II Corinthians 4:8-10).

Let Demas and others do what they deem best for themselves, for their interests, for their agendas. Just know we are not our own, we belong to another, even to Him who purchased us with His own blood and redeemed us and called us with a holy calling. His we are and of Him we shall ever be, never to be forsaken for as long as life endures, then on to eternity, the age to come, and all the glory to follow.

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The Matter of Faith

Posted on March 29, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“Shall not God avenge His own elect which cry day and night to Him though He bear long with them? I tell you He will avenge them speedily; nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8)

Faith (Def): (Gr.): Pistis from Peitho: Persuasion, i.e. Credence, Moral Conviction of Truth expressed continuously, Assurance, Belief, Fidelity

There is with special regard for things invisible, or unseen a requirement to believe in the existence thereof, or the hope, or joyful expectation of their future manifestation in the visible world. This is essential reality in the matter of faith.

It is especially poignant that Christ so sternly rebuked His own disciples upon His resurrection for their unbelief when it was told them He was alive and had risen from the dead (cf. Luke 24:10-11, 25-26). With so much unbelief among us, is it that surprising Christ raised the question regarding the matter of faith, “when the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?”

There was such a time before in history when of all the millions on earth only eight souls had faith in the Creator, the Lord of Heaven and Earth and Ruler of the Nations.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

In the Matter of Faith there are two things that must come together: (1) “things hoped for” and (2) “things not seen”. These two are, indeed, real things, i.e. things that exist. In the moment of faith and hope coming together the objects of the faith and hope are believed to exist, or possible, but are an invisible expectation yet to be manifested and seen with human eyes. To deny the reality of the object’s existence or possibility is to abide in unbelief.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Jesus Himself commanded us, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22b).

Do you have faith in God? Do you believe He exists? Do you believe He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek for Him? In the Matter of Faith this is where it begins. These are the fundamental things. You cannot move forward without them. The Apostles Creed begins:

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

If you cannot make that statement, you are in total unbelief, darkness and should you die there, you are eternally lost. Or, as written in the Gospel of John, you shall perish (cf. John 3:16).

In the Matter of Faith there has to be a beginning, there has to be a source. That beginning, that source is the Word of God (cf. John 1:1). Faith comes when we hear the Word of God (cf. Romans 10:17).

In the Matter of Faith there has to be a touching, an agreement, a coming together. The Word of God comes, I hear that word, I believe that Word, I receive that Word into my spirit, I confess that Word is True, or is Truth. I hold fast to that Word, I become one with that Word and that Word, as a Seed, produces itself in me and produces its Fruit in me and I become a living Witness that that Seed is Truth and Life. I live by faith (cf. Romans 1:17) because that Seed, though real and in existence, yet, is invisible, unseen in this realm, but is more real than the reality of this realm, because this earthly realm is temporal, corruptible and perishable; whereas the reality of the spiritual realm is eternal, incorruptible and imperishable. For us this earth realm is mortal, the heavenly realm is immortal (cf. I Corinthians 15:53-54). One day our change will come. We believe in that reality by faith and with that faith we are eternally saved. We will never perish, but have everlasting life.

Let us begin here. Let us believe. Then In the Matter of Faith, when the Son of Man comes, He will find it in His Elect, His Brethren, His Bride, His own, of His kind, His Seed and we will abide together, in covenant, in agreement with Him forever.

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All Things Are Become New

Posted on March 25, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).

New (Def.): (Gr.): Kainos from Nehos: Fresh, especially in age, regenerated, youthful, young

There is an amazing change that occurs in those who are in Christ Jesus, all things are become new. Everything has become fresh, regenerated, renewed continually. Everything is now in Life. Everything is now in freedom, everything is independent. There is only One, the Son of God, “by whom all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). There is only One who controls all things in Himself, His Spirit. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (II Corinthians 3:17) This is so liberating to our entire being. Our thoughts, emotions, feelings, our will, intentions and purpose for living all consist in Him and His Life in God in us.

The Apostle understood this. He said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). To live is Christ, to die is to gain Christ. In this realm there is freedom from fear, anxiety, oppression, restraint, denial, rejection. There is only love, acceptance, release, reception, opportunity and blessing.

Jesus said He came to make us free and to give us abundant life (cf. John 8:36; John 10:10). This is what we have in Him, indeed, all things have become new.

The Apostle wrote to the Romans:

“Therefore, we are buried with Christ by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

In the “newness of life” our thoughts change, our attitudes change, our will changes and is conformed to the image of the Son (cf. Romans 8:29). We experience a great refreshing and renewal. We come alive in the Spirit and are separated from our former self which had its abiding in death. We have come out of death and into life, out of darkness, into the light, out of the shadows, into the brilliance of sunshine. Oh, glorious newness is here!

Do the actions of others affect your temperament? Do the reactions of others play with your emotions? Do the responses, or non-responses create undue tension in your soul? Freedom awaits you. Liberty is here. Your change has come. Come away from the old and into the new. Move away from the soul and into the spirit. Come into the New Creation, the Realm of the Spirit, the Government of God for our Being wherein dwells peace like a river flowing from the Throne of God

“He showed me a pure river of water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God, and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1).

This is the blessing from the Lamb. This is His free gift for you to have and in which to live. Receive it today. Open your heart and let it come in. You are your Beloveds and He is Thine. His Banner over us is Love” (cf. Song of Songs 2:4; 6:3).

All Things Are Become New can be yours as you experience the Life of God in Christ. You can come into the Life of the Son where you too can love all, honor all and serve all in total freedom in Christ as His Life, Nature and Spirit become fully expressed through you as you abide fully in Him.

The New Creation is here. Let Him reign.

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Hid With Christ

Posted on March 15, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Hid (Def): (Gr.): Krupto: To conceal by covering, keep secret

The Scriptures, from both Old and New constantly express the secret life of the saint. Such verses as:

“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

Concealed by covering with a shadow, a hand (Exodus 33:22), feathers, or truth like a shield (Psalm 91:4); all cover and conceal us in the secret place, just as we are Hid With Christ in God.

Hid With Christ is an invisible place in the Spirit, not observable by man, but known to God. The words of our Lord apply here, as He said:

“. . .The Kingdom of God comes not with observation. Neither shall they say, ‘Lo here, or lo there! For, behold the Kingdom of God is within you'” (Luke 17:20-21).

It is even as the Apostle wrote to the Church at Rome: “The Kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

Hid With Christ is an invisible place in the Holy Spirit in righteousness, in peace and in joy where “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (cf. Nehemiah 8:10).

Before we can get to a deeper life in God we have to accept a deeper death in ourselves. “Not as I will but as You will” (Matthew 26:39) was spoken by our Lord who was surrendered to the maximum to the will of the Father. Knowing we have died to self takes us into the deeper life of the Spirit, the Risen Life of Christ; it takes us into self-denial, bearing the Cross, and death to the old Adamic Nature. We “seek those things that are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God”. We “set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2); all springing forth out of death and into life, hid with Christ in the life of God.

It is, indeed, a blessed place to be, for our life is joined in the Life of Christ, and when that Life appears we appear also with Him in His Glory (cf. Colossians 3:4). We have been risen with Him and are now seated with Him in His Throne in the Heavens (cf. Ephesians 2:6).

Being Hid With Christ, having become one with Him in His Eternal Being as the Son of God, we now do all things in Him, in His Name, in His Nature of Love and Peace, giving all glory and honor to the Father who eternally planned and purposed all that we now are and have in Christ Jesus.

Our prayers, our worship, our witness all spring from our Life Hid with Christ, where He is revealed to the world as Lord, Son of God, with all authority and power in heaven and earth (cf. Matthew 28:18).

Recognition in the eyes of Man of Christ is a work of the Holy Spirit who alone can enlighten the eyes to see Him; who alone can open the ears to hear the voice of the Father and draw us to the Truth as it is in Christ, the Son.

Beloved, abide in Christ, remain Hid With Christ, and let His Life be revealed to the world through you, to all who will come unto God by Him.

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The Father’s Draw

Posted on March 1, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“No man can come to Me except the Father who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).

Draw (Def.): (Gr.): Helkuo: To drag, to take for oneself, prefer, choose

The Father’s Draw, His taking for Himself, His choosing, that which He prefers, that which He captures in His Net of the Spirit and drags to Jesus, the Son. Such was the case with Saul of Tarsus, who was apprehended (cf. Philippians 3:12), or caught up in the Father’s Net and brought to Christ on the road to Damascus.

We don’t often think of God, our Father as a Fisherman. Our image is as a Father, a Husbandman, a Husband, a King, a Shepherd, along with numerous other images, but a Fisherman? Jesus gave us a clue to this identity when He said to His Disciples:

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

This calling as fishermen requires us to be continually about out nets, keeping them clean, repaired and ready for use. Being ready to be sent out into the great waters to catch men.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find’. They cast, therefore, and now they were not able to draw (helkuo) it for the multitude of fish” (John 21:6).

This catching of “the multitude of fish” was as a great revival breaking out in the land, a great awakening of the people to be drawn to Jesus. The movement of the Spirit allows the Father’s draw to catch many souls for the Kingdom of God.

“And the other Disciples came in a little ship. . .dragging the net with fish” (John 21:8).

“Jesus said to them, ‘Bring of the fish you have caught'”. “Come and dine” (John 21:10,12).

With all the toiling all night the Disciples caught nothing; but, at the command of the Lord they caught more fish than the net could hold (cf. John 21:3,6). Our works produce nothing, but The Father’s Draw brings forth in abundance and all is brought to the Son.

Job declared in his distress, ‘Know now that God has overthrown me, and has compassed me with His net'”. (Job 19:6).

Being taken up in the Father’s draw is an overthrowing of our old life and environment, to experiencing an overwhelming encompassing of God by the Holy Spirit. We experience a drawing in unto and a drawing into the Life of Christ, the Son. Being caught up in the net is the critical moment when we either surrender to Him, or fight to escape Him and to go back to our former way of life (cf. II Peter 2:22).

The Father’s Draw is expressed in the Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind, which when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world; the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into the furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:47-50).

Have you experienced God’s net? Have you been apprehended, caught up and overwhelmed? Taken from your former lifestyle and transplanted in a new environment of the Spirit? Your Heavenly Father is calling you. This is your critical moment. It is time to surrender. Let the Father’s draw, drag you to Jesus. Fall at His feet, worship the Son, the Lord, your Savior, your King.

This is true Love. This is Goodness. This is mercy. This is Grace.

Follow on to know Jesus for you, too, are now called to be a fisher of men.

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The Children’s Bread

Posted on February 22, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“Jesus answered and said, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs'” (Matthew 15:26).

Bread (Def): (Gr.): Artos from Airo: Raised Loaf, from the root (Airo): To lift up, take up or away, sail away, to expiate sin

Saint Matthew records the story of the woman of Canaan who

“came out of the coasts, and cried unto Jesus, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David, for my daughter is grievously tormented with a devil’. Jesus answered her not a word. His disciples came and sought Jesus to send her away for she was crying after them. Jesus answered and said, ‘I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel’. The woman came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me’. Jesus answered, ‘It is not right to take The Children’s Bread and cast it to dogs’. The woman said, ‘Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master’s table’. Jesus answered her, ‘O woman great is your faith, be it unto you even as you will’. Her daughter was made whole from that very hour” (Matthew 15:22-28).

There is a beauty in the stories in the Scriptures that speak to us of deep workings of the grace of God to all who come to Him by faith. The woman of Canaan was such a woman. Notice how she honors Christ by calling Him, “Lord, Son of David”. This title is very significant, especially from a Gentile woman. “Son of David” is a Messianic title. From where did this woman learn of the Messiah? There was an abundant measure of grace upon her from God for the sake of her demon-possessed daughter. Oh, the mercies of our God.

The Children’s Bread. In His answer to the woman Jesus said, “It is not right to take The Children’s Bread and cast it to dogs”. Within the phrase, The Children’s Bread is an abundance of miraculous benefits springing out of the One who is the very “Bread of Life” (cf. John 6:33, 35, 48, 51), Christ Jesus, our Lord. Out from Christ springs forth miraculous cures, such as deliverance from the demonic. Out from Christ springs forth healings and other miracles, such as Jesus testified to the disciples of John the Baptist when they came to inquire of Him for John:

“Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard, how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22).

Out of the Bread of Life springs forth The Children’s Bread: the forgiveness and expiation of sins, the lifting up and carrying away of burdens of guilt, shame, condemnation, self-loathing, depression, anxiety, fears and torments.

The Psalmist, David, declared:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1-5).

There is a dynamic action that takes place in The Children’s Bread. In the casting forth of the Bread there is a casting out of sin, uncleanness, demonic oppressions, disease, sickness and death. There is forgiveness, healing, redemption which brings us out from corruption and into Eternal Life, the “Living Bread from Heaven” (John 6:51). The Children’s Bread is alive because it springs forth from the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).

Brethren, let us receive this Bread by faith, as the woman of Canaan did and received praise from the Master, when He said, “O woman great is your faith, be it unto you even as you will“. The Children’s Bread was given to the demon possessed Gentile daughter, and it is given to us who need healing, deliverance, redemption and the free gift of salvation that comes through Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, the Bread of Life.

“I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live forever, and the Bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

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Those Other Things

Posted on February 14, 2025 by AntiochCMI

“The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).

In many areas of life there are essential things, fundamental things, foundational things, the things that are required for the operation, the crop, the program to succeed, be fruitful, to produce the desired result. There is also the non-essential, the peripheral, those other things, that may actually hinder the success of the operation, ruin the crop and cause the program to fail.

In His parable Jesus speaks of a sower who went out to sow:

“It came to pass as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth; but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.” (Mark 4:4-7).

In His explanation of the parable, Jesus revealed the sower was sowing the Word. The Word that fell “among thorns, are such as hear the word, but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).

Those Other Things, those cares, those deceitful things, those lusts that come in destroy the operation, the crop, the program and nothing is produced, all is unprofitable and for nought. Those non-essentials, those peripheral things, those “other” are distractions, tangents, rabbit trails that lead nowhere and produce nothing.

The Prodigal experienced those other things “wasting his substance with riotous living” (Luke 15:13). Look what those other things did to the son’s inheritance, bringing him down, destroying his wealth, and bringing his life to ruin.

Our essential life is in the Son who is the Word. Our essential life is in the Spirit who leads us into all Truth. Our essential life is in the Father in whom “we live and move and have our being” (cf. Acts 17:28). There are, however, those other things, those non-essential things that take our hearts, our minds, our bodies away from the essential and lead us astray, and cause us to drift further and further away until we are totally lost in darkness and become in desparate need of finding our way home.

Religion sometime does that to us, as well. It is not aways the “riotous living” but the religious life. Jesus describes it thusly:

“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me’. Howebeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups, and many other such things you do” (Mark 7:6-8).

Brethren, beware those other things. Stay with the essential, the fundamental, the foundational things. The Apostle said to his young disciple, Timothy: “Hold fast the form of sound words which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 1:13).

If we desire to do well, we will “fulfill the Royal Law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as youself” (cf. James 2:8). “Learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).

“He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

After that, my friend, leave those other things alone.

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