The Powerful Bond of Love

Posted on June 6, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“And above all these things put on Love which is the Bond of Perfection” (Colossians 3:14).

Bond (Def): (Gr.): Sundesmos: From Sun (With); Desmon: A band, ligament, uniting principle

In all of creation there are uniting forces, powers and other constraints by which everything is held together; whether in planetary orbits, structures of all types in nature whether visible or invisible, and even in the human body with ligaments and tendons to tie and hold the joints and bones together; bonds are there to unify, hold together and meld into the divine order intended by our Creator.

Of all the bonds there is one above all others which the Apostle describes as “the bond of perfection”–Love.

The Bond of Love is powerful. Being held in the bond of love will free the mind and heart to endure all things (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:7). Things that might otherwise crush the spirit and cause despair. The Bond of Love is the remedy for all that would tear apart and separate us in the hour of trial. Instead, we are held together in the perfect band that keeps us from being torn away from our moorings, our bearings, our foundation and grounding in our faith, our hope and our unity in the Spirit, in Christ.

The Bond of Perfection is a bond of completeness whether in growth, maturity, moral character, mental acuity, or full age. The Bond of Perfection brings soundness of thought, clarity of vision to see through a matter, stability to our emotions, and gives soundness to our speech. We think, feel, speak and see through the eyes of Love. Clothed in Love we walk in the Spirit of Christ, the embodiment of Love and Grace.

The Apostle gives us a wonderful word picture of the Bond of Perfection in his Epistle to the Ephesians:

“But speaking the Truth in Love let us grow up into Christ in all things Who is the Head of the Body, from Whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the Body to the edifying of itself in Love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

We truly are held together in the bonds of love in Him Who is Love and are continually being built up together in Him and ever increasing in knowledge, nature and Oneness with the Lord.

Let the world disintegrate, lose its way, go astray from all that is holy, just and good; but let us stand in the Bond of Love, the Bond of Perfection, which is far above all other ways; and is, indeed, the more excellent way.

“But covet earnestly the best gifts; and yet show I to you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).

Walk in the powerful bond of love.

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The Word Became Flesh

Posted on June 1, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father), full of Grace and Truth” (John 1:14).

There are verses in Scripture that we read and pass over and continue reading that should actually cause us to stop and with gaping hearts and minds slowly mouth the word, wow! Then we should meditate on it for the rest of our lives and continue to say, wow, forever. The Gospel of John 1:14 is one such verse.

When the Transcendent Word of God became the Immanent Word of God in the body of Jesus Christ, the Virgin born Son of God/Son of Man, the Hypostatic Union of the divine and human natures in One Being, Jesus, the Only Begotten of the Father was revealed. The Apostle John in his Epistle expressed it this way:

“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 to you that Eternal Life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us); that which we have seen and heard declare we to 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 write we to you that your joy may be full” (I John 1:1-4).

Is there a greater joy to be had? Fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. If there is a greater joy, I know it not. No greater love, no greater joy, no greater experience, friendship, fellowship, communion, union, bond or any other such thing can compare with knowing Christ as the Word made Flesh, dwelling among us by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus declared to His Apostles:

“I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. . .At that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me and I in you” (John 14:18, 20).

The Word Became Flesh. The union of Word and Flesh was a union manifested in Christ Jesus as Emmanuel (God with us) (cp. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). This union was the fulfillment of the word of the Prophet expressing the great desire of the Father for His people.

The mystery of the “word made flesh” is also the mystery of the Gospel as revealed to the Apostle. The “mystery that had been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints; to whom God would make known what is the riches of the Glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory; whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Colossians 1:26-29).

The Word Became Flesh is a reality that was fulfilled in the Body of Christ Jesus and is the great desire of the Father that it be yet fulfilled in His Body, the Bride of Christ when She is fully sanctified as described in the Epistle to the Ephesians:

“The He might present Her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that She should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).

When the Word becomes Flesh the Glory of the only Begotten will be seen in the Church in a glorious Revelation of Christ in the earth as Son of God, Lamb of God, Lord of All.

As it was in the Beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen. Amen.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:23-24).

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Settled

Posted on May 27, 2023 by AntiochCMI

Settle (Def): (Gr.): Themelioo from Themelios: The basis on which to build, erect, consolidate; a substructure, foundation

It takes resolve to stand in the midst of contention, strife, controversy; and that resolve is not founded upon whimsical feelings, thoughts, or ideas. Resolve has its basis on a foundation of bedrock truth, a substructure that will carry the weight and will withstand the turbulence of the winds of change.

Jesus said the wise build on solid rock and dig deep and lay a strong foundation on that rock; then whether the flood comes, or the strong winds blow, the house will not be shaken because it is settled upon the rock (cp. Luke 6:48).

The Apostle encouraged the church at Ephesus with the words:

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you being rooted and settled in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Being settled is a strong position in an ever-changing world where yesterday’s values, principles and beliefs are discarded for a new generation to be enticed with the latest philosophy, fad, innovation and change that leaves one drifting, aimless, purposeless, and only living for the moment.

The Apostle Peter expressed well the heart of the Father in his first Epistle with the words:

“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 being established, strengthened and settled.” (I Peter 5:10).

Being established, strengthened and settled are powerful aspects of living in the Kingdom of God as saints. This is our safeguard against “the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11); and the “winds of doctrine by the fraudulence of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14).

Academia, political philosophers, false prophets, false teachers, secularist of all stripes are continually producing a new agenda. Their modifications are produced from a hybrid plant of deception that is barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of God. It is as Peter expressed:

“All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower thereof falls away; but the Word of the Lord endures forever; and this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached to you” (I Peter 1:24-25).

It is that which is settled which endures. As the Psalmist has said:

“Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).

Christ, the Word, has been established forever. The Chronicler has written in accordance with the word of the prophet:

“I will settle Him in Mine House, and in My Kingdom forever, and His Throne shall be established forevermore” (I Chronicles 17:14).

Have you settled the matter? Have you resolved the course you will take, the race you will run? Have you determined in your heart the way you will go? Let wisdom direct your decisions. Let the Word of the Lord be your guide. Surely you will prosper in your way:

“If you continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you have heard, which Gospel was preached unto every creature under the heavens” (Colossians 1:23).

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The Love of God in Christ

Posted on May 21, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come; nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Love (Def.): (Gr): Agape from Agapao: Deep affection or benevolence, Charity

The love of God in Christ is a love so pure, so true, so lovely, honorable, virtuous and praiseworthy that is so far above the love of mankind as the heavens are above the earth. The love of God in Christ is selfless, sacrificial, full of affection, kindness, and benevolence.

The Apostle declares this love to be ours in Christ and there is nothing in heaven, or earth or under the earth that can separate us from it. This is the remarkable thing about this love, that although it is reserved to God in Christ, it is the will of God that we who are in Christ possess it, and by the grace of God, flow through us to others.

The Apostle wrote to the Church at Thessalonica:

“May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (II Thessalonians 3:5).

Being directed by the Spirit of God into the love of God in Christ is a measure of grace that is beyond comprehension, especially considering where we were before the grace of God came to us. This is a miracle beyond the ability of our finite minds to perceive.

The transforming power of the love of God in Christ is a power that breaks every chain and frees the soul from sin, the corruption that is in the world through lust, and releases a dynamic demonstration of the grace of God.

The attributes of the love of God in Christ are given to us by the Holy Spirit. These include as the Apostle described:

“Love suffers long and is kind. Love envies not. Love does not boast and is not proud. Love does not behave in an unbecoming way, is not self-seeking, is not easily provoked; thinks no evil thing. Love does not rejoice in sinful things but rejoices in the truth. Love bears up under all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (I Corinthians 13:4-8a).

Jude, the Brother of Jesus, in his Epistle exhorts us to:

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 1:21).

We keep ourselves in the love of God by faith, and

“Build up ourselves in our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 1:20).

The Apostle wrote to the Church at Ephesus:

“Peace be to the Brethren and love with faith from God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 6:23).

So, we see the Love of God in Christ actively works in us by faith as we pray and live in the Holy Spirit. This is where the Love of God in Christ abides and where we live as we abide in Him. It is a most precious place, a most blessed place where we are safe, secure and protected from all evil, and from which there is no power in heaven or earth to separate.

The Love of God in Christ. Oh, how blessed it is:

“To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).

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How Great the Darkness

Posted on May 18, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“The light of the body is the eye. If, therefore, your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light. If, however, your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matthew 6:22-23).

Single (Def): (Gr.): Haplous: One from braiding or plaiting together; union, to fold together

There is a blessedness in the eyes, especially the eyes that are fixed on Jesus, the Light of the World. Having the eyes fixed on Jesus brings His Light into the whole body whether of an individual or a Body of Believers. Having the union, the braiding together of our hearts with the singleness of the heart of the Father produces a singleness in the Spirit that brings to life the nature and fulness of Christ Jesus in our lives that shines in stark contrast to the darkness that is in this evil world and all around us today.

Solomon made the astute observation in his writings:

“Wisdom excels folly as far as light excels darkness” (Ecclesiastes 2:13).

It is to the wise who see the folly of darkness and who come to the light. Jesus said of condemnation:

“This is condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God” (John 3:19-21).

The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed:

“Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1-2).

How Great the Darkness. Isaiah says the darkness in our world will be a “gross darkness”. It will be a thick darkness that will drop down and cover the people, descending upon them as a tyrannical force, like locust covering the sky blocking the sunlight and overshadowing the earth and overwhelming them.

Why will this darkness come? It is because as Jesus told us, the “eye is evil” and “men loved darkness rather than light”. Only the wise will fix their eyes on Jesus and shine with His light. The foolish will dwell in their folly and be overtaken in their evil deeds.

Jesus said of His own ministry:

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day, the night comes when no man can work” (John 9:4).

How Great the Darkness. More and more we are seeing the tyranny of darkness and just how great the darkness can be. On every side we see the gross darkness covering the people, from government, the corporate world, the media, entertainment and the violence of individuals in society, we see just how great is that darkness.

What is the escape? What is the remedy? It is the same today as it was in the days of the Apostles, as Peter declared to the people at Pentecost:

“And with many other words did Peter testify and exhort, saying ‘Save yourselves from this untoward generation'” (Acts 2:40).

Yes, the darkness is great. Yes, gross darkness is covering the people. But light excels darkness, and the Apostle John has written:

“In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness comprehends it not” (John 1:4-5).

Darkness cannot overtake the light for the light excels. Darkness cannot possess, apprehend, or seize the light, for the light overcomes it as wisdom excels folly. Light is triumphant, victorious and glorious in splendor and overcoming power.

Let us keep our eye single and continually fixed on Jesus. Let us walk in His Light, the Light of Life, and remember always our message which we have come to believe and preach to the world:

“This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare to you, that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. . .and if we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5,7).

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A Man of Sorrows

Posted on May 13, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not” (Isaiah 53:3).

Sorrows (Def.): (Heb: Makobe from Kaab): Anguish, affliction, pain, grief, make sad

There is something very mystical about God’s identification with mankind in our fallen state. He comes to us in our addiction, bondage to sin, captivity to the corruption that is in the world. There is a knowing on the part of God, an acquaintance, an empathy with man in his weakness and failure.

Concerning Israel God said to Moses:

“I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows” (Exodus 3:7).

I Know Their Sorrows. From the very beginning, in the Garden, God witnessed the Fall and was grieved. From the beginning God became “acquainted with grief” for man whom He created in His own image and likeness, in whom He breathed the breath of life. From the beginning He saw “the affliction of My people” and it was a cause of much pain and sadness in the heart of the Father.

The Apostle who was so one in the Spirit with the heart of the Father wrote to the Church at Rome:

“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart; for I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my Brethren, my Kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:1-2).

Such passionate empathy for the Brethren is a perfect expression of the nature of Christ, as the Apostle wrote of Him:

“For the Father has made Christ to be sin (accursed) for us; even He who knew no sin, that we might be made the very righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21).

Oh, what a loving Father, what a merciful God, for although He foreknew us and witnessed our Fall, He also foresaw the end, as it is written:

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

Concerning Israel God sent a deliverer, Moses, to rescue them from their bondage in Egypt; and to bring them into the Land of Promise. Concerning the Gentiles God prepared His Savior, His Son to be the Man of Sorrows, the Deliverer. In His grief, anguish, affliction and pain He took upon Himself the sin of the whole world and nailed it to His cruel Cross.

The Man of Sorrows has spoken, and His words proclaim a blessed hope with the promise that all our sorrows will be turned to joy:

“Verily, verily I say unto you, that you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. . .Yes, you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man can take from you” (John 16:20, 22).

As we pray in these days of prayer, intercessions, fasting with supplication and petition; may our prayers be always in faith, confidence and trust in the One who is the Faithful High Priest, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End; the One who entered into the pains and sorrows of death and rose again in glorious resurrection unto Eternal Life. May we continually see Him who is and was and is to come (cf. Revelation 1:18; 4:8).

The Man of Sorrows walks among us. May we know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings, anguish and pain, that we may know Him also in the power of His resurrection (cf. Philippians 3:10); for if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign (cf. I Timothy 2:12), and our sorrow He will turn to joy.

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Love Your Enemies

Posted on May 6, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“But I say unto you, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you'” (Matthew 5:44).

There are “hard sayings” (cf. John 6:60) from the Lord that challenge us and are totally contrary to the mind of the natural man. We are tempted to say, He didn’t really mean it that way, did He? Well, the answer is, yes, he meant it that way. It is the way of God, the way of His Grace and the way of the Cross.

The Apostle wrote to the Church at Colossae:

“And you that were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works; yet, now has He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight” (Colossians 1:21-22).

We say it almost in a trite way, “God is Good”. Well, it is a fundamental truth, God is Good. Out of His goodness God shows His lovingkindness to everyone. Jesus said in His continued discourse of Matthew 5:44:

“That you may be the Children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

God is all about Redemption, Reconciliation and Salvation. The way God accomplished this three-fold purpose was through His Love, Sacrifice, and Unmerited Favor, His Grace.

The Apostle followed His Master in the command to love your enemies and instructed the Church at Rome with the words:

“Therefore, if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink; for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head” (Romans 12:20).

“Heaping coals of fire on his head” is a metaphor for overcoming evil with good. The Apostle makes this plain in the next verse:

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Love Your Enemies is a way of victory in the evil age. It is the way of faith, trust, and dependance on Almighty God. It is not the easy way, but the narrow way, the strait way, the way of the Lord.

The Apostle Peter wrote in his first Epistle concerning this virtue of Christ:

“Who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (I Peter 2:23).

The Apostle wrote concerning the wicked:

“The way of peace have they not known” (Romans 3:17).

Love Your Enemies is the way of peace in our turbulent world. Our Fathers were men of peace and good will and took the Gospel of Peace to the four corners of the earth.

Well did Zacharias, the Priest, and father of John the Baptist prophesy on the day of John’s Dedication:

“And you child shall be called the Prophet of the Highest, for you shall go before the Face of the Lord, to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on High has visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the Way of Peace” (Luke 1:76-79).

Love Your Enemies: The way of victory, the way of peace, the way of Life, the way of Great Reward.

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Death Could Not Hold Him

Posted on April 28, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“Whom God has raised, having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24).

Held (Def): (Gr.): Krateo from Kratos: Seize or retain; to use strength to keep, lay hold, take

When in the full strength of His mighty power it is impossible for anyone or anything to restrain, retain, or hold in confinement the Son of God. Jesus said it plainly:

“Therefore, does My Father love Me because I lay down My Life, that I might take it again. No man takes My Life from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:17-18).

David knew this truth of the Messiah and Peter spoke of it to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost:

“David spoke concerning the Christ, ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore, did my heart rejoice and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope because You will not leave my soul in hell, neither will You suffer Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of Life, You shall make me full of joy with Your countenance'” (Acts 2:25-28).

This quote from Psalm 16:8-11 is a prophetic utterance of King David, as Peter acknowledged saying:

“Men and Brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His Throne. He, seeing before spoke of the resurrection of Christ that His soul was not left in Hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. This Jesus has God raised, whereof we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:29-32).

This knowledge of Christ is so wonderful for the believer, just as it was to King David. Indeed, we can rejoice in the knowledge of Christ that His Life is more powerful than death. Though He willingly surrendered to it, death could not hold Him in its grip a second longer that He would permit.

Christ willingly surrendered His life to the pain and agony of death for an eternal purpose, the Redemption of Man and to obtain for Himself His Bride. He willingly surrendered His Life out from His great love wherewith He loved us as the Scripture says:

“But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Death Could Not Hold Him and it cannot hold us who are in Christ for as Christ Himself exclaimed.

“I am the Resurrection and the Life, he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

There is a reality that death is in the world. We see it working every day. It is at work in us, that is in our mortal bodies. There is also the “dying of the Lord Jesus” as the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians:

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

This “dying of the Lord Jesus” is a voluntary laying down of our life (our soul life), that the Resurrection Life of Jesus (the Spirit life) may be made known (manifest) in our body. This “dying of the Lord Jesus” working in us is for a purpose, to bring forth the Resurrection Life of the Son through us to the glory of God. The Apostle knew this well and said:

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain: (Philippians 1:21). The gain for Christ in His death was Redemption for Mankind, and to gain His Bride; the gain for us in death is Eternal Life in the Son. Death cannot hold us from our New Life in Christ.

This “dying of the Lord Jesus” is part of our fellowship with Christ and our knowing Him in His Divine Nature as the Lamb of God. The Apostle wrote it this way in his Epistle to the Philippians:

“That I may know Him and the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11).

The good news is death has no dominion over the Resurrection Life of the Spirit. The Resurrection Life of the Spirit has set us free from the bondage, chains, agony and pains of death. Therefore, let us be as David was and see the Lord always before us and never be moved away from our rejoicing in the hope of Eternal Life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

“You will show me the path of Life, in Your Presence is fulness of joy and at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

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Be Strong in the Lord

Posted on April 23, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“Finally, my Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

Strong (Def): (Gr): Endunamoo: Empower, enable, increase in strength

The words of the Apostle are sincerely important for us to receive for the challenges to our faith in our day seem to be ever increasing in intensity and pressure. There is a reason Paul wrote these words in his Epistle to the Ephesians, for as he penned:

“We wrestle not against flesh and blood (mortal men), but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Given the list of the powerful enemies of God and the Gospel, we need to be empowered, and enabled with ever increasing strength from the Spirit of Christ to stand strong in our faith every day.

Paul describes that day as “the evil day”, in the which we must be able to stand and “having done all, to stand” (cf. Ephesians 6:13).

How can we be strong in the Lord? How can we continue to stand in the evil day? The Apostle gives us a list of powerful weapons to help us in our struggles: (1) The Belt of Truth; (2) The Breastplate of Righteousness; (3) Feet shod with the Gospel of Peace; (4) The Shield of Faith; (5) The Helmet of Salvation; (6) The Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God); (7) Prayer in the Holy Spirit; (8) Watching intently with perseverance.

We are the Body of Christ and we are in the fight together, so the Apostle is keen to point out the importance of Prayer for all the Saints:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”.

Be Strong in the Lord in prayer for all, the whole Body of Christ: for Pastors, leaders, workers, families, children, seniors, caregivers, teachers, worship teams, and everyone serving in one capacity or another. Everyone is in need of prayer and you being strong in the Lord are positioned to offer up those prayers that God will hear and answer speedily.

The Apostle encouraged his spiritual son in the Lord, Timothy with these words of exhortation:

“You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 2:1).

Be enabled by the Grace of Christ, be empowered with ever increasing strength in Christ Jesus. Indeed, “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might”.

Being strong in the Lord is not just for me, being strong in the Lord is for us. The Apostle wrote to the Church at Rome:

“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). If the strong will bear the infirmities of the weak, then the whole Body will be kept together and move forward as one, with no one left behind. This is the love of Christ in action, who being strong bore with our infirmities and raised us up together with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places (cf. Ephesians 2:5-6).

Brethren, love one another from a pure heart, be strong in the Lord, be fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Be strong, I say, in the Lord.

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The Desire of the Lord

Posted on April 20, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“And when the hour was come Jesus sat down with the twelve apostles with Him. Jesus said to them, ‘with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer'” (Luke 22:14-15).

Desire (Def:) (Gr.): Epithumia: A deep longing, to set the heart upon, i.e. long for

There was a deep longing in the heart of Jesus because the work for which He had come into the world was about to be completed. He expressed that deep desire and longing of His heart to His apostles at the Last Supper, the Passover meal. This Passover meal which was His symbolic Feast; He, being the very substance of it, was there partaking in this sacred and most holy day and most holy occasion where the Pascal Lamb was slain and consumed by all Israel.

The Desire of the Lord is the desire of the Father, as the Apostle John has written, quoting the words of Jesus to Nicodemus:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Being sent into the world by the Father, Jesus embraced the will of the Father and greatly desired to see it fulfilled. He said to His disciples:

“I have a baptism with which to be baptized and how am I straitened until it be accomplished” (Luke 12:50). Jesus was most constrained, most compressed in soul, most compelled and preoccupied; indeed, He was pressed beyond measure, and as He said, “straitened until it be accomplished”.

So, He sat at meat with them and having the Passover meal before them, He said to His disciples:

“‘I say to you I will not any more eat this meal with you until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.’ Then He took the Cup and gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves. I say to you I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God shall come.’ Then He took bread and gave thanks and broke it. He gave it to them saying, ‘This is My Body, given for you; this do in remembrance of Me’. Likewise, also the Cup, after supper, saying, ‘This Cup is the New Testament in My blood which is shed for you'” (Luke 22:16-20).

The Desire of the Lord has been fulfilled and His great desire is even now being fulfilled with us as we partake of His body and blood “new in the Kingdom of the Father” (cf. Matthew 26:29). For:

“The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

From the beginning Jesus taught the disciples to pray:

“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

The Desire of the Lord is fellowship with His Bride, His Body, for whom He came into the world; for whom He gave His life and shed His blood to redeem, to wash, to sanctify, to cleanse and to present to Himself without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish (cf. Ephesians 5:22).

The desire of the Son is the great desire of the Father, that the Son be revealed in the world in Truth and Life and He be joined to His Bride, the Ecclesia, His Body, the called out one from the world, who have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb and have been joined to Him in One Spirit to be to the praise, honor and glory of God, the Father, forever and ever, to reign eternally in the glorious Kingdom of God.

The Desire of the Lord is even now being fulfilled in the earth and in the heavens. Let all who would be part of it rejoice for the time has come and the hour is here for all to be accomplished as we are:

“Looking for that Blessed Hope and Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Even so, for the Joy of Man’s Desiring has come.

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