The Equality of God

Posted on March 28, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“For you know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9).

It is an amazing wonder when we contemplate the mind of God in Christ in sharing His glorious riches with us through Christ Jesus, the Son.

The richness of the glory of God is hidden in the story of the Rich Young Ruler who had his encounter with Jesus, when Jesus said to the young man, “sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven, and come follow Me” (Luke 18:22). There is no hypocrisy in Christ, no demand or request beyond what He did when he emptied Himself of His pre-incarnate glory with the Father to come and pour out everything of Himself even unto death, the death of the Cross; and then to raise us to be co-heirs with Him in the Resurrection (cf. Romans 8:17).

The Equality of God is an equality based in the Father’s Heart to raise up sons unto Himself and bring these sons into His Glory:

“For it became Him for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things in bringing many sons unto Glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10).

Follow Me. There are numerous passages in the Gospels when Jesus said those words to individuals, and to groups of His disciples. Indeed, it is as Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). We follow Him into His death and burial. We follow Him into His resurrection. We follow Him in sacrifice, in laying down our lives for His sake. We follow Him in obedience and in doing the will of the Father. Yes, we follow Him even to being seated with Him in the Heavens (cf. Ephesians 2:6).

“These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Revelation 14:4b).

The equality of God does that. He makes all things equal in Himself. This is the way it has been from the beginning, when God said,

“Let us make Man in Our Image, after Our Likeness; and let them have dominion. . .” (Genesis 1:26a).

This is the difference between the equality in the mind of men and equality in the mind of God. Man’s equality is to bring everyone down, the great leveling among men. God’s equality is to raise everyone up to share in the riches of His Glory in His Son. These are the true riches of which Christ has spoken repeatedly:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

That is the key, isn’t it? Where is my treasure? What am I after? What is in my heart?

Jesus told us the story of the Lord of the Vineyard who gave everyone what he had committed to give them, one penny for the day. And that is what everyone received, regardless of when they started to work, whether early in the day or later in the afternoon. Then Jesus said to them:

“So, the last shall be first, and the first last. . .” (Matthew 20:16).

That is the equality of God. God is good to all and gives Eternal Life to all who believe. That is what He promised us in His Son Who has redeemed us to God by His blood, and given us all the same Holy Spirit and made us One in Christ, as Brethren where:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all One in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s Seed, and Heirs according to the Promise” (Galatians 3:28-29).

The Equality of God is an equality of Glory, of Honor, of Immortality, Eternal Life in Jesus, the Son, for all those who follow Him whithersoever He may lead. That was His Promise and that is what He has been faithful to deliver.

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon Him” (Romans 10:12).

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Possess the Gates

Posted on March 24, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“In blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your Seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand upon the seashore and your Seed shall possess the Gate of His enemies” (Genesis 22:17).

Possess (Def): (Heb): Yarash: To occupy by replacement, to inherit, seize, expel

There is always a fulfillment of the promises of God and the promise of God to Abraham was fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the Son, as the Apostle states in his Epistle to Galatia:

“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He said not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of One, ‘and to your Seed’ which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).

It is Christ to Whom “all authority is given. . .in heaven and earth” (Matthew 28:18b). Therefore, it is Christ, the Seed of Abraham Who shall “possess the Gate of His enemies”. Jesus, Himself acknowledged this in His proclamation to the Apostle Peter:

“I say also unto you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Indeed, “Occupy till I come”. (Luke 19:13).

Christ, through His Body, the Church, to Whom all authority has been given will possess the Gates of His enemies and administer justice and righteousness throughout His Kingdom both in heaven and on earth.

The Gates. It was at the Gates of the City where the administration of almost all important matters were made: (1) the Administration of the Courts of Justice and the reading of the Law; (2) the administration of public business, and the announcement of legal transactions; (3) Conferences and meetings of the Elders; (4) the place of public concourse and discourse; (5) the Gates were guarded for peace and safety; (6) the Gates were closed at night against attacks.

Possessing the Gates: The promise that the Seed would “possess the Gates” was a promise that it was Christ and His Kingdom that would have authority and reign over all the affairs and administrations of the people. This is how it is in the Kingdom. There is one King, one Throne, one Authority, one Power and one Dominion over all.

Jesus said to His disciples, “I will give unto you the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 16:19a). The keys were given to bind and loose, to open and shut, to regulate all the affairs of the people.

The Psalmist declared: “Open to me the Gates of Righteousness, I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord. The Gate of the Lord into which the Righteous shall enter” (Psalm 118:19-20).

The Prophet Isaiah declared concerning the Gates of the Kingdom:

“Thy Gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day or night that men may bring unto You the forces of the Gentiles, and that their Kings may be led in” (Isaiah 60:11).

Oh, what a possession we have been given. Indeed, as John the Apostle has written:

“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates into the City of God” (Revelation 22:14).

Enter in, possess the Gates, reign with Christ in the City of God. As the Psalmist has declared:

“The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule in the midst of your enemies” (Psalm 110:2).

This is the heritage of the saints, the children of our Father Abraham, to possess the Gates by his Seed forever.

“Lift up your heads, O Gates, be lifted up you everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in” (Psalm 24:7).

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The Way, The Word, The Witness

Posted on March 19, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to the Father, but by Me'” (John 14:6).

Way (Def): (Gr): Hodos: A path, journey, course of conduct or way of thinking,

We all have our ways about us. People know us by our ways, our character, our personality. There is, however, something of much more importance, or substance then our ways; there is The Way. That Way is Jesus.

The early disciples of Christ were known as followers of The Way (cf. Acts 9:2; 22:4: 24:14,22). Christ, the Way, was the focus, the center of searching and learning, the One to whom all sincere followers looked.

The Wisdom Scriptures teach us “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; cf. 21:2,8).

The Apostle was a persecutor of The Way, until his encounter with the One who is The Way occurred, and then everything changed, and Paul became a follower of The Way himself.

What is your way? What path are you following? Where is your journey taking you? What is your course of conduct? What is your way of thinking? These are serious questions that will take you some place, either to Eternal Life or to death.

The Word: We can be on the right way, the right path when we are in the Word. That Word is Jesus. The Apostle John has written in his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In his First Epistle he wrote: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life. (For the Life was manifested and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal Life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ. These things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:1-4).

The path of Life, the way of Peace is in the One who is the Way and the Prince of Peace, who is the Truth which is the Word of God.

Word (Def): (Gr.): Logos from Lego: To lay forth, Divine Expression, Discourse, Reasoning

The Way of Life springs forth as a Divine Expression and that expression flows from the Word of Life. Succinctly, the Way of Life springs forth from the Word of Life. Our journey, our pathway flows from our walk of faith based upon the Word of Life. “Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

The Witness: It is incumbent upon a witness that his witness is true. There is a True Witness of God and that Witness is Jesus.

In Christ’s Letter to the Laodiceans He tells John to write: “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God” (Revelation 3:14). Indeed, the Book of Revelation was given to the Apostle John from Christ through His Angel, as John writes:

“John to the seven Churches which are in Asia, Grace be unto you, and peace from Him who is and was and is to come; from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, Who is the Faithful Witness, and the first Begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood” (Revelation 1:4-5).

So then, as disciples of Christ, this is our assignment: To walk in the Way according to the Word as a True Witness of Jesus, giving a true testimony of Him in everything. It is even as Jesus said to the Apostles:

“You shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be Witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

This then is our calling in Christ Jesus: to proclaim Him, to testify to Him, to live Him, speak Him, and show forth as a Divine Expression the Life that is in us by the Holy Spirit. This true and faithful witness is accomplished as we walk in the Way and the Word by faith, as we hear Him, see Him, touch and handle Him in the Spirit of God to the end that you, too, may have fellowship with us in His Kingdom, power and glory.

Walk in the Way, walk in the Word and be the True Witness to Christ God called us to be from this day forth and forever. Amen.

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Whys, Wherefores and What-Nots

Posted on March 14, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing” (Psalm 2:1).

Why: The universal question from everyone’s lips is “Why”? From the questions of childhood to the questions of the elderly, everyone wants to know “Why”.

“Why me”? “Why is this happening”? “Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble”? (Psalm 10:1). From David to Jesus the cry goes out “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring”? (Psalm 22:1; cf. Matthew 27:46).

In the throes of it, in the thick of it, in the battle, in the desperation, in the heartbreak, in the crushing, in the middle of it all we cry out, “Why”?!.

Wherefore: “Wherefore if you are dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances” (Colossians 2:20). Amid all the why’s, there is a “wherefore”. There is a continuation, a going forward, a way through, there is something to follow after, to pursue. There is a Life above, beyond in the heavenlies. The “wherefore” makes certain of it. “Wherefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. This will we do, if God permit” (Hebrews 6:1-3).

After the crucifixion, after the death, after the burial, after all the “whys”? there is a resurrection, there is a “wherefore”, there is the perfect. Was it not written concerning all the “whys”? Do not the Scriptures speak clearly concerning all these things? “Jesus said to them, Why are you troubled? Why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold, My hands and My feet, that it is I, Myself. Handle Me, and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see Me have’ (Luke 24:38-39). “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter His Glory”? (Luke 24:26).

We must keep our eyes fixed on the Glory. We must pursue the Glory of God. That is the only thing that makes sense of everything. We are the children of God “And if children, then are we heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also Glorified Together with Him” (Romans 8:17).

What-Not: There is much to pursue in the Kingdom of God. There is much to experience: beginnings and endings; suffering and glory, sorrow and joy, death and resurrection and what-not. Oh, there is so much more of the “what-nots” of Life. Do not limit yourself to what you have experienced, to what you have known. Go on to the “what-nots”. Experience more of the effervescence, the springing forth, the “newness of life” (cf. Romans 6:4). Experience more of Christ, “grow in the grace and knowledge of Him (cf. II Peter 3:18). Know Him “in the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His Sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10).

In one lifetime you can experience the whys, the wherefores and the what-nots. In one lifetime you can experience the Life of Christ and know Him in all the Glory of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Why do you tarry? Arise! Wherefore, let us go on to Perfection, to the Glory and What-not.

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Blinded By the Light

Posted on March 9, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“As Saul journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly there shone round about him a Light from Heaven. Saul arose from the earth and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man, but they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus and he was three days without sight and neither did eat nor drink” (Acts 9:3, 8-9).

The sudden appearance of the Lord of Glory is an impactful moment in our lives that changes everything. We were on our course and suddenly the Lord of Glory appeared, and we are never the same.

Stephen the man of God recounted to the Council how “the Lord of Glory appeared unto our father Abraham. . .and said ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the Land which I shall show thee'” (Acts 7:2). Thus was the call of Abram, the Father of Faith, the Father of a Nation, a man who changed the course of history.

The Apostle John tells us of John the Baptist, who was “sent from God to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. This is the True Light who gives light to every man that comes into the world” (John 1:6-7, 9).

The Light of the World has come and His True Light shines; when we encounter that Light it blinds us. But when our eyes are opened, we see only one thing, the Glory of God. “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I am come into this world that they who see not might see, and they which see might be made blind” (John 9:39). Oh, that all of us were blinded by the Light, so that we who think we see, but are actually blind, might truly see and be made whole.

The judgment of God is the judgment of sin. Because of sin the world lies in darkness. Jesus said, “I am come a Light into the world, that whosoever believes on Me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).

Just as in the beginning when “darkness was upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2), so when Christ came into the world God gave the command, “Let there be Light!” (Genesis 1:3). As the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians, “For God, who commanded the Light to shine out of the darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6).

“Then spoke Jesus again unto them saying, ‘I am the Light of the world, he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life'” (John 8:12).

Have you encountered the “Light of Life”? Have you had your moment that changed everything? A lightning strike takes a second, it is sudden, it is powerful, and it is electric. “For as the lightning comes out of the East and shines even unto the West, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27). “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (cf. I Corinthians 15:52) that is how long it takes to be changed by the Light. The Light of revelation, the Light of Life shines into the heart and we are changed.

Have you been changed by the Light? Open your heart to Christ. His Light is shining on you now. He is calling you by name.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see“.

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I Would Not Have You Ignorant

Posted on March 4, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, Brethren, I would not have you ignorant” (I Corinthians 12:1).

Ignorant: (Def): (Gr.): Agnoeo from Noeo: A negative of exercising the mind by observation, not comprehending, perceiving or understanding

Over ten times in his Epistles the Apostle uses the word Agnoeo, ignorant, to denote his deep desire that the reader not be ignorant of the things of God. It was the earnest passion of the “preacher, apostle and teacher of the Gentiles” (cf. II Timothy 1:11), that the people would come to the knowledge of the Truth.

This then, is the burden of the Teacher to the student, the Preacher to the people, the Apostle to the nations living in darkness, to remove the blindness, to remove the lack of comprehension, the perceiving and understanding of the truth of Christ and the Gospel.

The Apostle expressed this in his prayer to the Ephesians, Wherefore I cease not in my prayers for you, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Him; that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the Glory of His Inheritance in the Saints” (Ephesians 1:15a, 16a, 17).

The lack of comprehension, perception and understanding is what has held Israel back from the full righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, as the Apostle wrote: “For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:3-4).

The Apostle confesses his own ignorance concerning Christ as he was a “blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (I Timothy 1:13). Oh, the extent of the mercy and love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Jesus, who appeared to Paul is our faithful High Priest, who as the writer to the Hebrews says, “Can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for He, Himself, also is compassed with infirmity” (Hebrews 5:2).

I would not have you ignorant. Concerning Israel, the Apostle wrote further “For I would not, Brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25).

Whether concerning spiritual gifts, the place of Israel in the economy of God, the working of Satan, the second coming of Christ, or the things of God in general, the heart cry of the Apostle was this earnest expression of deep intercession, “I would not have you ignorant”.

There are many things of which we do not have knowledge, perception or understanding, that are unknown, but that is not our final state of being. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to show us the things of God and make them known to us. Jesus said “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore, said I that He (the Holy Spirit) shall take of Mine and shall show it unto you” (John 16:15).

It behooves us to seek the Lord, to seek the things of God, to seek to understand, perceive by observation and to understand the mysteries of God, the things that are hidden and need to be revealed. Complacency has no place in the Kingdom. This is the season of revelation. The Lord is at hand.

Satan is also at work in the earth, but as the Apostle noted in his Epistle, “we are not ignorant of his devices” (II Corinthians 2:11b).

It is the last days. The Day is at hand, The time is short. Therefore, I would not, Brethren, that you should be ignorant, but that you should come to a full understanding and knowledge of the Glory of God.

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They That Wait Upon the Lord

Posted on February 27, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“Lead me in Your Truth, and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You do I wait all the day” (Psalm 25:5).

Wait (Def): (Heb): Qavah: To bind together, to expect, Tarry

There is a blessedness in our relationship with the Lord. It is the Lord who leads, and it is the Lord who teaches. The Psalmist brings out these two wonderful aspects of the Lord with his plea:

“Lead me in Your Truth and teach me”. They that wait upon the Lord are waiting to be led and waiting to be taught of God. Within the meaning of Qavah (kaw-vaw) is a living hope, a joyful expectation of being one in heart with God, a binding together of spirits to be joined with the Truth and to be taught of God by the Holy Spirit all that pertains to Life and Godliness (cf. II Peter 1:3). It is a living, vibrant relationship of longing, seeking, searching, listening and uniting in love and grace.

The Psalmist declared: “And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in You” (Psalm 39:7). All our hope, all we joyfully expect and all we desire is in the Lord. “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word do I hope” (Psalm 130:5).

The Prophet Isaiah spoke it so eloquently: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). And, as the hymn writer added, “Teach me, Lord, to wait”. Yes, teach us Lord to wait, to hope, to fly away to Your bosom and find rest (cf. Psalm 55:6).

The Prophet Jeremiah wrote: “The Lord is good to them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25). That is the faithfulness of God. He sees, He hears, He knows those who are waiting upon Him and seeking His face, and opening their hearts to be taught of Him; and out of His Goodness He comes to them and refreshes them in His love.

Again, Isaiah cries: “O Lord, be gracious unto us for we have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble” (Isaiah 33:2). We depend continually upon the goodness, the graciousness, the faithfulness of our God; in the morning, in the noontime, and when the sun goes down. We wait continually upon the Lord in good times, in times of sorrow and in times of trouble. We wait patiently for Him to lead us, to teach us, to instruct us in the way in which we are to go.

“Yes, in the way of Your Judgments, O Lord, have we waited for You. The very desire of our soul is to Your Name, and to the remembrance of You” (Isaiah 26:8).

“It shall be said in that Day, Lo, this is our God. We have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord, we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).

Wait, I say on the Lord.

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The Bane of the Self-willed Man

Posted on February 20, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“A Bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre” (Titus 1:7).

Self-willed: (Def): (Gr. ) Authades from Auto (self), Hedone (to please): Self pleasing, Arrogant

There is a poison in man that must be expunged from the man of God if he is to be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. That poison is the will of man that is turned inward and only seeks after those things that please, bring pleasure to and satisfy the ego. This is anathema to the nature of Christ and a great grief to the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Peter noted this man in his second Epistle, writing:

“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment, to be punished. Chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government. Presumptuous are they and self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities” (II Peter 2:10-11).

The self-willed man seeks after his own things and not the things of others. The Apostle Paul was particularly sensitive to this and wrote to the Philippians: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). He particularly praised his son in the faith, Timothy, for his selflessness and care for others. The Apostle wrote thusly:

“I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you so that I may be of good comfort when I know how you are doing. For I have no other man so likeminded, who will naturally care for your welfare. For all seek their own, not the things which belong to Christ” (Philippians 2:19-21).

It is of particular note that the Apostle singled out Timothy as one who displayed the exceptional self-sacrificing nature of Christ. This self-effacing and not self-willed nature of Timothy was such a rare and exceptional quality of character among the ministry, and it astounds us when we read his words, “I have no other so likeminded.”

The Apostle himself displayed this self-sacrificing nature writing to the Corinthians:

“I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (II Corinthians 12:15).

“Spending and being spent” for the sake of others is the very essence of the nature of Christ, who Himself gave His life for us and sought only to do the will of the Father, as He said:

“I can of mine own self do nothing. As I hear I judge, and my judgment is just because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father who has sent Me” (John 5:30).

Seeking only the will of the Father and to please Him is the antidote to the poison of the self-willed. This is the nature of the Lamb. This is the nature of the Son. This is the Divine Nature of the Spirit that seeks only one glory and that is the Glory of the Father that in all things He might be glorified.

This attitude was also in the Apostle who wrote to the Church at Corinth:

“For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth, but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of me” (II Corinthians 12:6).

There is a humility of heart that is praiseworthy, that is comely, that is full of the aroma and fragrance of Christ. It is pleasant and splendid in its essence and is a wonder among men, and the bane of the self-willed man is far, far away. Indeed, it has been expunged and exists no more.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

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Bestowing Honor

Posted on February 14, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“You husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, bestowing honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers are not hindered” (I Peter 3:7).

Honor (Def): (Gr.): Time (tee-may) from Tino: To bestow value, esteem of the highest degree, or dignity

As the Apostle Peter sets forth in his Epistle there is a great benefit in holding others in the highest esteem, it keeps our path clear when we approach the Throne of Grace, when we come before the Father with clean hands and pure hearts, with a clear conscience and nothing accusing us and hindering us in our prayers.

Bestowing honor is a glorious way to live in the community of saints, as the Apostle gave us in his exhortation to give “honor to whom honor” is due (cf. Romans 13:7).

Honor is a virtue of great value and there is a reward for those, as the Apostle wrote: “who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life” (Romans 2:7). God, the Father, bestows the honor of Eternal Life to all who come to Him through the Son.

Honor is a virtue highly esteemed by the Father who gave us the Fifth Commandment to: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives to you” (Exodus 20:12).

Honor (Def): (Heb): Kabad: Weighty, heavy,

Honor All: Peter also wrote in his Epistle as to honor, saying: “Honor all men. Love the Brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King” (I Peter 2:17). The virtue of honor has been greatly disparaged in our time. We speak rudely, disrespectfully, disparagingly to our brothers and sisters, to our co-workers, in the public square, in the media and in our homes. We have lost something of great value, this loss of bestowing honor to all.

It is also of the Lord to bestow honor as He says through the Psalmist:

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My Name. He shall call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation” (Psalm 91:14-16).

There is also a dignity that is deserving to the elderly. The Levitical Law commanded: “You shall rise up before the aged, and honor the face of the old man, and give holy reverence to thy God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32).

Oh, what beauty the Lord has set before us. Bestowing honor is a beautiful thing. It is a great blessing. It is a thing of splendor and is glorious. Let us ponder and meditate upon these things. Let us live a life of bestowing honor. That is a precious thing, indeed.

The wisdom of Solomon speaks to this thought:

“Bestow Honor to the Lord with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase” (Proverbs 3:9). “Exalt Wisdom and She shall promote you; She shall bring you to honor when you shall embrace Her” (Proverbs 4:8).

Whether to the lowly or the lofty; whether to paupers or to kings; whether to men or to God; whether to wives or to sisters; whether to husbands or to brothers; whether to friends or to the stranger; let us learn of the Lord to honor our neighbor, the widow and the orphan; indeed, let us learn to give, to bestow honor to all.

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I Stand Amazed

Posted on February 8, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“And He went up unto them into the ship, and the wind ceased, and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondered” (Mark 6:51).

Amazed (Def): (Gr): Existemi from Ek and Histemi: To stand out of wits, i.e. astound; wonder

Have you ever experienced absolute amazement in the presence of the Lord? Have you ever been astounded when you saw the miraculous? It is glorious, wonderful, and absolutely marvelous to behold the glory of God before your very eyes.

The disciples were eyewitnesses of such wonder. They saw Jesus, walking on the water in the midst of the boisterous sea. The wind and the waves were buffeting their ship. They were struggling to control the vessel as they rowed against the wind. At 3:00 a.m. in the darkness of night Jesus came to them walking on the water. The disciples were astounded and full of wonder. Jesus walked up to them and spoke:

“Be of good cheer, it is I. Do not be afraid” (Mark 6:30).

At that moment, in the presence of the Lord, in the middle of the sea with the ship being tossed around, “the wind ceased, and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondered”.

I Stand Amazed. The disciples were astounded and stood amazed in the Presence of Jesus of Galilee. Amazed in the Presence of the Lord. Amazed at Him. Standing amazed in the Presence of Divine Glory. Amazed seeing the impossible. Amazed witnessing firsthand the miraculous power of Christ, the Messiah, the Lord of nature, the Son of God.

Jesus walked up to them and entered the ship. Jesus joined them in the vessel. He did not pass them by but joined them in the middle of the sea. He came to them and stayed with them in fellowship, in the moment, in the hour of trial, in the middle of their fear, anguish and torment, Jesus made everything calm.

The Apostle experienced the amazement of the people when he preached Christ, the Messiah:

“All that heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this he that destroyed them which called on the name of the Lord in Jerusalem, and has come here for the purpose to bring the followers of the Way bound unto the Chief Priest'”? (Acts 9:21).

The conversion of the Apostle Paul is one of the most amazing conversions of all time. To be changed by just one encounter with the Lord from being a persecutor of Christ to an Apostle of Christ is astounding. From arresting followers of the Way to being a follower of the Way is simply amazing. No wonder the people were amazed when they heard the Apostle preach Christ Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

Be prepared, amazing things are coming in your life. The things you are about to experience, and encounter are going to astound you and fill you with wonder. In the middle of your storm, Christ will come and speak a word of comfort and peace and the winds that were contrary to you will cease and Jesus will join you in your vessel in the middle of your circumstance. You will stand amazed. It is going to happen, of that there is no doubt.

In his own words, the Apostle has written:

“For whether we are beside ourselves (Gr. Existemi), it is for God; or whether we are sober, it is for you. For the love of Christ constrains us. . .” (II Corinthians 5:13-14a).

Let the love of Christ constrain you in all you do, and if something you do, or experience, or encounter is miraculous, just stand amazed in the Presence of the Glory of God.

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