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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Strangers in the House

Posted on January 28, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:5).

Stranger (Def): (Gr): Allotrios from Allos: Belonging to another, i.e., not one’s own; foreign, not akin

There is a problem with the people of God today having to do with voices. There are many voices speaking and being heard, but much of the speaking is being done by Strangers in the House of God, and not by the voice of the Shepherd.

Jesus speaks in the Gospel of John regarding the relationship between the Shepherd and the sheep. This relationship is one of belonging. The sheep belong to the Shepherd, they know His voice; and He calls each one by name. Jesus identifies with His sheep as their true Shepherd. He said:

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

The Stranger is one who belongs to another with a different interest, a different message, or word and a different heart. The Stranger has no bond with the sheep and only uses the sheep for his own selfish interest and gain. Today there are too many Strangers in the House of God.

There is a true voice, the voice of the true Shepherd. His voice, His message, His Word is the Word of Life. His Word conforms with the Scriptures, the Prophets, the Apostles Doctrine, and is attested to by the Holy Spirit. There is a witness, a confirmation, a testimony to the Truth.

I Belong to Jesus. During my college years we had a group of believers who were very zealous for God in the days of the Jesus Revolution. It seemed everyone belonged to something: Jackets with Letters were worn by athletes, fraternity brothers and sorority sisters. School letters and Greek letters abounded throughout the campus. We, small group that we were, wanted our identity too. So, we purchased bright yellow, fluorescent buttons with the words I Belong to Jesus on them. Yes, we were, indeed, Jesus Freaks in a world full of strangers who had every kind of message, lifestyle, and culture one could embrace.

Today, those Strangers are in the House. They belong to another, not to Jesus. They have come into the House by another way, not by the Door. Jesus said:

“Verily, verily I say unto you, he that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But He that enters in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. To Him the porter opens, and the sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when He puts forth His own sheep He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him for they know His voice” (John 10:1-4).

Whose voice are you following? The Good Shepherd’s? The hireling (cf. John 10:12)? The thief? The robber? The false prophets?

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (II Peter 2:1).

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone into the world” (I John 4:1).

To whom do you belong? To the Lord, or to another? The voice to which you follow will give you away.

Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). “Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11).

Beware the Strangers in the House.

“The thief comes not but to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I am come that you might have Life, and that you might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

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The Travail of the Son

Posted on January 24, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“He shall see the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied. By His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11).

Travail: (Def): (Heb): Amal: To toil, To work severely with irksomeness; Sorrow, Pain

There is a deep satisfaction when justice is served, and the punishment fits the crime. In the economy of God, the only propitiation for sin, the only sacrifice or offering for sin that satisfied justice was death.

Propitiation: (Def) (Gr): Hilasterion from Hilaskomai: To conciliate, i.e. To Atone for sin; An expiatory place or thing, such as a Mercyseat

The only satisfactory offering or sacrifice for the sin of Adam was the righteous blood of the perfect Man to make atonement and reconciliation with God. As the Apostle John sets forth in his Epistle:

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

The travail of the Son: His sorrow, His pain, His toil, His irksome work, His passion, His suffering is the bearing upon Himself the iniquity of the whole world. This bearing upon Himself of iniquity was not a bearing from sin, as though He had to bear His own sin; rather, His bearing upon Himself of iniquity was a bearing for sin, as an offering up of His own sinless life for the whole of mankind. It is as the Prophet, John the Baptist declared:

“Behold, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

This is the travail of the Son. The intense and weighty burden, this burden of sin which weighed upon Man from the beginning with Adam’s rebellion. This weighty burden was a millstone that dragged man down to the depth of depravity, into the darkness of the deep, into solitary separation from God and the Light. This, this was taken away; but not just thrown away but borne in the Body of Christ upon the Tree, the Cross of Calvary.

There is an intensity in travail. The Apostle expressed this in his Epistle to the Galatians:

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19).

The Apostle was in anguish and pain in intercession for the saints in Galatia because of his deep desire that the very life of Christ: His nature, His Spirit, His Being would be formed in them, so they could truly be the Body of Christ, not in title, but in reality.

This is the desire of the whole of Creation also as Paul wrote to the Romans:

“For the earnest expectation of the Creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. . .for we know that the whole Creation groans and travails in pain together until now” (Romans 8:19,22).

The travail of the Son permeates the whole of creation in bearing the burden of sin:

“For the Creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope because the Creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20-21).

This is what pleases the Father. This is what satisfies His heart. The travail of the Son is pleasing to the Father because in it there is the birthing process of bringing forth a New Creation. The former creation was ruined, but the travail of the Son will make all things new, as the Prophet said:

“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. He has put Him to grief and has made His soul an offering for sin. He shall see His Seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand” (Isaiah 53:10).

Beloved, this is where we are now, as the Apostle has written:

“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).

The Travail of the Son has brought forth a New Creation of the Re-born. His Seed is in them, and they have become the manifestations of the Sons of God.

“Therefore, will I divide Him a portion with the great and He shall divide the spoil with the strong because He has poured out His soul unto death; and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).

Praise God for the Travail of the Son for in it is our salvation, our new life, our eternal redemption, and ultimate victory. Glory to the Lamb!

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Steadfast Faith, Firm Foundation

Posted on January 19, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the Spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ” (Colossians 2:5).

Steadfastness (Def): (Gr.): Stereoma from Stereoo: Something established, Confirmation, Solidify, Make strong

There is an urgency in this generation to lay a firm foundation of truth and life in Christ among those newborn saints who are coming into the newness of life and separating themselves from the previous darkness of the world and who are now in the light of the Kingdom of God.

The Apostle in his ministry of the Gospel traveled to many cities throughout the Roman world and was in constant contact with the saints in the churches that were established during the time he was with them, preaching and teaching the things of the Kingdom. To the Colossians Paul expressed his joy as he beheld by the Spirit their “order and the steadfastness of [their]faith in Christ”.

There is a blessedness to seeing young lives changed and witnessing their growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ. This does not just happen by chance, but by laying the firm foundation of faith by doctrine, labors, sacrifice, fellowship and service to the disciples and followers of the Lord.

“The foundation of God stands firm (Gr. Stereos) having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those that are His’ and let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timothy 2:19).

When the Apostle had traveled to Derbe and Lystra, there he met Timothy whose mother was Jewish and his father a Greek. Timothy proved himself to be a faithful follower of Christ and was “well reported of by the Brethren” (Acts 16:2). Paul took young Timothy with him in his travels and went “through the cities and delivered to them the decrees to keep that were ordained by the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem; and by these were the churches established (Gr. Stereoo) in the faith and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:4-5).

There is a virtue in being steadfast in faith that was encouraged and praised by the Apostle as he wrote to the Corinthians: “Therefore, my beloved Brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).

There is a goal in our journey of faith and that goal is Christ, to be “conformed to His image” (Romans 8:29). The writer to the Hebrews declares we achieve our goal and “we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Hebrews 3:14).

The steadfastness of faith is built on the firm foundation of Christ, the solid Rock (cf. Matthew 7:24), and as the Apostle testified: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 3:11).

Being established, being confirmed in the truth, being strong and solid in our faith are qualities of faithfulness, experience, maturity that grew from being built upon the right foundation. It is the way of the Lord in making Disciples. It is the way of the saints. It is the way of the Kingdom. Steadfast faith, firm foundation, an axiom worthy of our pursuit.

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The Lord Is Not Dilatory

Posted on January 15, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“The Lord is not dilatory (slack) concerning His promise as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

Slack (Def): (Gr.) Braduno from Bradus: To delay, Tarry; To be slow in taking action; Dilatory

Slack (Def): (Heb.) Achar: To loiter; Procrastinate, Delay, Tarry

There is a deep assurance in the Scriptures that the Day of the Lord will come as spoken by the Apostles and Prophets though He tarry long with the evil doer in hope he will come to repentance and turn from his evil ways to the Lord and receive the salvation freely offered to all. For, indeed, as the Scripture says He does not wish that any should perish, but that all would come to Him and live.

Peter, in his second Epistle gives us an in-depth look into the promise of God in which we “look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness” (II Peter 3:13b). He exhorts us to “account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (v. 15a) for all who will come to Him to be saved from the wrath to come.

Even so, we can be assured there is no negligence, or being remis on the part of the Lord in His timing and intervention in the affairs of this world. Peter assures us further that “the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Peter 3:10).

Knowing the awesome and fearful destruction that will occur, Peter gives us wise counsel as we “see that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (II Peter 3:11). Adding also, this word, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (II Peter 3:14).

Indeed, the Lord knows all things; He knows the end of all things from the very beginning of all things. He is all-wise, all-knowing, showing a steadfast love, patience, and is full of mercy. Let us wait patiently upon Him in every situation, circumstance, trial, temptation, and in our times of trouble. We can believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (cf. Psalm 27:13).

Scoffers Shall Come. The Apostle Peter tells us in his Epistle “that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts; saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? Since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation'” (II Peter 3:3-4).

The willful ignorance of men through unbelief of the truth, the rebellion in the hearts of evil doers, the blindness from the working of Satan in the lives of the ungodly, all work together to keep souls in darkness and far from the knowledge of the promises of God. It is the light of the Gospel, the Truth of God revealed in the Scriptures, the working of God by the Holy Spirit that will rescue souls and prepare them for the Day of the Lord.

As the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians: “Who shall also confirm you unto the end that you may be blameless in the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 1:8).

Beloved, let us continue in well doing, let us continue in faith and obedience to the will of the Lord. Let us be faithful to our calling and persevere in faith unto the coming of the Lord. Let us look up continually for our Redemption draws near. Maranatha. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

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The Overthrow of Faith

Posted on January 9, 2023 by AntiochCMI

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the overthrowing of the faith of the hearers” (II Timothy 2:14).

Overthrow (Gr.): Katastrophe from Katastrepho: Turn upside down, Apostasy, Demolish, Overturn

It is a sad day, indeed, to witness in the life of a believer their turning away from the faith as it is overthrown and subverted by error, false doctrine, apostasy. It has happened to many and is to be guarded against by the true disciples and followers of our Lord.

The Apostle in his Second Epistle to Timothy addressed the matter directly and warned against the strife of arguments and being disputatious on trivial matters that profit no one, but cause much harm to the hearers and overthrow, ruin and destroy the simplicity of their faith.

In his First Epistle to Timothy the Apostle also addressed the matter writing:

“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith, so do. Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of sincere faith, from which some have swerved and have turned aside unto vain jangling (meaningless chatter)” (I Timothy 1:4-6).

The Great Catastrophe: In his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians the Apostle speaks concerning the Man of Sin and the great falling away to come, writing:

“Now we beseech you, Brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him that you be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us that the Day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you, by any means, for that Day shall not come, except there will come a falling away (Gr. apostasia) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” (II Thessalonians 2:1-3).

The Antichrist is coming and the great catastrophe, the apostasia will come, as well; but there is a way forward in the truth to avoid the pitfalls of apostasy and the overthrow of our faith. The Apostle outlines these to Tinothy writing:

“You have fully known my doctrine, my manner of life, my purpose, faith, longsuffering, love and patience. What persecutions, afflictions that came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue in the things which you have learned and of which you have been assured, knowing of whom you have learned them; and that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:10-15).

Challenges to our faith will always come to the believer, but the great catastrophe, the overthrow, the ruin, the demolition of faith can be overcome by the sage advice of the Apostle:

“Study (Gr. Spoudazo: make haste, promptly) show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (II Timothy 2:15-16).

Rather than having our faith be overthrown, let us by our faith be overcomers instead:

“For whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4).

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Open My Eyes That I May See

Posted on January 4, 2023 by AntiochCMI

Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;

Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready, my God, Thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Clara H. Scott (1895) (1841-1897)

There are hymns and songs one sang upon a time in one’s youth that have been long silenced in the depth of the spirit, until a spark arises in the heart by the Spirit of God, in a moment of quiet contemplation in the Presence of the Lord, and you begin to sing it anew and your spirit revives as though visiting with an old friend.

Such is the hymn written by Clara H Scott in 1895, two years before her passing. The Psalmist first wrote the thought, no doubt planting the seed for the later song to be birthed and sung by a thousand tongues in congregations everywhere:

“Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law” (Psalms 119:18).

It is a cry of the solitary heart to God to see more, to know more, to taste more of His wondrous love and grace. There is in this heart a readiness of spirit and desire to see His will anew, for in that renewal there is freedom, there is liberty and an effervescent joy.

This was, indeed, the deep desire of the Apostle, and not just for himself, but as it was laid upon him by the Lord at his conversion:

“But rise, and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness, both of these things in the which I will appear unto you; delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send you: to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in Me” (Acts26:16-18–Paul before King Agrippa at Caesarea).

As we see from our text, this too is the great desire of the Lord. Indeed, that our eyes are opened to the truth, and spiritual blindness be taken away and we see clearly into His Word and see Him in His glory.

“Then Jesus answering said unto them, ‘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, and to the poor the Gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22).

When the desire of the saint and the desire of the Lord intersect, hearts are joined in union and the blessings of revelation, and wisdom and knowledge flow; eyes are opened, and the glorious mysteries of Christ are revealed. This was the great desire of the Apostle for the saints as he wrote in his Epistle to the Church at Ephesus:

“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: 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 1:17-18).

In this season, in this time of new beginnings, “seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Wait upon Him in quiet contemplation in the solitude of your heart:

Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God, Thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit, Divine!

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The Joy of the Lord

Posted on December 28, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Joy (Gr): Chara from Chairo: Cheer, Wellbeing, Calm Delight

There are mysteries in the things of God that need to be revealed to us as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus. The joy of the Lord is one of those themes that we can explore with delight as though we were searching for hidden treasure.

The Holy Spirit has many things to reveal to us as our hearts are open to receive. Jesus said to His disciples:

“These things have I spoken unto you that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:11).

The cheerful, calmly delightful wellbeing of the nature of Jesus is the joy of the Lord that Jesus said He wants to remain in us. As it does, Jesus says our joy will expand to the maximum fullness of it.

There is a reason Jesus wants us to know His joy and that reason has to do with suffering. Suffering will come to all of us, as it did with Him. But the Scripture says that with the joy set before Him, He was able to endure the cruel cross with all the shame. With the joy set before Him He was able to push through the horrific abuse and persevere to the very end.

The Apostle knew of this joy, so, when the prophets spoke of all the troubles that he would have to endure, Paul declared:

“None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

The Joy of the Lord is your strength. In the writing of Nehemiah we read:

“He said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet; send portions to them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord, neither be sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength'” (Nehemiah 8:10).

The cheerful, calmly delightful wellbeing of the nature of Jesus is our strength. Strength to endure, strength to persevere, strength to carry on with our purpose, our assignment, our role in the Body of Christ. Jesus came for a purpose, to be the Savior of the world. Jesus saw beforehand the fruit of His mission, the salvation of souls from every tribe, kindred and tongue. He saw the Redeemed of the earth gathered at the throne of God worshipping the Father. Seeing the fruit of His purpose produced great joy to our Lord and for that joy He endured, He triumphed to reign as He is set down at the right hand of the Father on the Majesty from on High.

Oh, what joy, indeed, for all those who have received and have the joy of the Lord remaining in them; and truly our joy will be full. Let us continually keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” and let us march on to victory.

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