I Will Never Leave You

Posted on December 22, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have; for He has said, ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you'” (Hebrews 13:5).

Leave (Gr.): Aniemi: To send away, Desert, Abandon

Forsake (Gr): Egkataleipo: To leave behind in some place

There are two great aspects to the love of God in Christ Jesus and our union with the Lord in the Spirit; and the words leave and forsake capture them perfectly. The Lord has given His word to us, and we can take great comfort in them knowing we have a God who cannot lie (cf. Numbers 23:19).

The Lord has promised, “I will never leave you.” The Lord has committed Himself to the Saints by His Word. The Lord has given us His promise, I will never send you away from Father’s House. I will never kick you out to the streets and leave you to fend for yourself. Secondly, the Lord has promised, “I will never forsake you.” I will never move out and abandon you. I will never not be there for you with loving care and provision.

The human psyche is sometimes insecure. Even Joshua, the great leader of Israel, needed to hear the promises of God again to go forward in his mission:

“There shall not any man be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail (Heb: raphah: let alone, forsake, leave) you, nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

It was not just the leadership to whom came the word of the Lord, but Moses spoke to all the people:

“Be strong and of a good courage. Fear not, nor be afraid, for the Lord your God, He it is who goes with you. He will not fail (Heb. raphah) you, nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

In The Great Commission Jesus said to His disciples:

“Teach [the people] to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus gave us His promise in the positive voice, “lo I am with you always”, instead of the negative voice, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” In the end they are the same promise. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will always be with us. That is His promise. That is His word. That is His commitment to us forever.

The Apostle wrote to the Corinthians and reiterated the promise of God when he said:

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken (Gr. egkataleipo); cast down, but not destroyed” (II Corinthians 4:8-9).

Hearing the promise of God encourages the soul. It strengthens the heart. It builds up our faith. It motivates the will to continue in the work and never look back. In our weakness, it gives us hope and in our struggles we need not despair. Oh, when the Helper comes with the word of the Lord to lift us up and help us stand. It brings a sweet smile of contentment, knowing the Lord is near.

“Be content with such things as you have”. We have God’s word. We have God’s promise. We have the Holy Spirit. We have the communion (Gr. Koinonia) of the saints. We have everlasting life. We have the Kingdom.

Are you going through difficulty? Are you troubled? Perplexed? Persecuted? Are you struggling in so many ways? Remember the promise of God: “Lo, I am with you always.” “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”. You always have a place in Father’s House, at His table, in your room prepared for you. Keep faith and trust in the One who cannot fail.

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Small Encounters

Posted on December 18, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night. . .” (John 3:1-2a).

There are moments when the masses gather, and momentous things transpire: The feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:21); the triumphal entry to Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9); and there are moments, seemingly insignificant moments, mundane moments of profundity, eternal treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God. Such was the meeting of Jesus with Nicodemus, a small encounter, under cover of night, in secret so as not to be seen of men; but a meeting, nonetheless, where the foundations of the Gospel are laid.

“Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again” (John 3:7).

Before you can see the Kingdom of God (v3); before you can enter the Kingdom of God (v5); “you must be born again”. Yes, “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides forever” (I Peter 1:23).

Never despise the significance of small encounters, those common times of conversations with friends, brothers/sisters in the Lord, with family, those private conversations with a Pastor, Elder, Counselor, Teacher, Advisor and Confidante. There are times of prayer, breaking of bread, asking advice and searching for truth, as Nicodemus was with Jesus:

“Rabbi, we know you are a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles that you do except God be with him” (John 3:2).

Jesus knew why Nicodemus came to Him by night. Before Nicodemus asked one question, having only stated that he knew Jesus was of God, Jesus gave him the nugget of truth for which his heart was searching: “you must be born again.” Nicodemus had no clue what that phrase meant, but he had his answer. “How can these things be?” (v9) was all he could say from his natural mind at the time; revelation would have to come later.

One small encounter with profound impact for Nicodemus and for the world; for that small encounter was recorded in the Gospel of John for all to read and to believe.

The Woman at the Well. A nameless woman, an ordinary chore, another day to draw water at the well. But this small encounter was with the Master, the Lord, the Messiah.

“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, ‘Give Me to drink, you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you Living Water'” (John 4:10).

Once again Jesus gives us a precious nugget, a treasure for the soul. The woman inquires of Him further concerning the well and the water. It is Jacob’s well and Jesus has nothing in hand for which to draw water. Undeterred Jesus continues the encounter:

“Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).

Oh, the marvel of His words. Eternal truth spoken so simply, so easily, so eloquently to the ear, heart, spirit and soul. Refreshing as the water itself. Is it any wonder we reference “the water of the word” (cf. Ephesians 5:26)?

Worship in Spirit and Truth. The woman inquires still further from this Prophet concerning the place of worship for she was a Samaritan and worshipped on Mount Gerizim and the Jews in Jerusalem.

“Woman, believe Me, the hour comes when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father. . .the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21,23-24).

Small encounters that bring us the profound wisdom of God, eternal truths that save our souls.

Small encounters, seemingly so insignificant, so ordinary, yet out from them come life changing messages of hope, comfort, peace, direction, and salvation.

Paying Taxes. “And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. . .And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the City of Nazareth into Judea, unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem. . .to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with Child. And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered; and she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1,4-5-7).

Paying taxes, a baby born into the world, in the small town of Bethlehem, Judea. Just another day, a small encounter, but oh the magnitude of it all. An encounter that changed the course of history, an encounter that brought the Advent of the Messiah and salvation to the world.

Oh, little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie,

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. . .

Just small encounters.

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When Hearts and Stars Align

Posted on December 14, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“Where is He that is born King of the Jews? We have seen His Star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).

“I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all Nations shall come, and I will fill this House with Glory, says the Lord of Hosts” (Haggai 2:7).

When the desire for and the sign of align there is a convergence that shakes to the core. The Desire of All Nations came, and the sign of His appearing was seen, and from thence forward the world has been on a collision course with destiny.

The Sign–The Star. The star of Christ was prophesied to arise and spoken thusly: “He has said which heard the words of God and knew the knowledge of the Most High, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance with his eyes open: I shall see Him, but not now. I shall behold Him, but not nigh; there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth” (words of Balaam, Numbers 24:16-17).

The Apostle Peter spoke concerning the Star in his Epistle: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto you do well to take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the Day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19).

The Apostle John in his Revelation has given us the words of Christ when He wrote, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).

When the Day Star arises in the heart from which all desires come, there is an alignment of desire with fulfillment and consummation, and the New Day begins.

The Conoidic Heart. In the science of geometry when among other things, all rulings on a ruled surface intersect a fixed line, the axis, a conoid is observed, as well Archimedes did attest in his writing, On Conoids and Spheroids. On a spiritual plane, when our desire and the object of our desire intersect at the axis of the Heart of the Father, there is a new creation, a conoidic heart that is forever fixed around our axis in concentric circles in the love of the Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

As the Prophet Haggai has intimated in his prophetic word, we may well infer that when the Conoidic Heart is birthed and formed in us our house will be filled with Glory. as promised by the Lord of Glory, the Lord of Hosts, the Almighty.

When Hearts and Stars Align there is a shaking in the earth. It is the sign of a new beginning, a new order, a new king to reign, a new authority, power, splendor and glory. The Herodian spirit will fight it and seek to destroy; but the humble will hear thereof and be glad (cf. Psalms 69:30-35; Matthew 2:3). When hearts and stars align there is great rejoicing and there is worship (cf. Matthew 2:10-11).

Joy to the World,

The Lord is come.

Let earth receive her King!

When hearts and stars align.

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Save Yourself from This Generation

Posted on December 9, 2022 by AntiochCMI

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

Save (Gr.): Sozo: Deliver, Protect, Preserve, Make Whole

Perverse (Gr.): Skolio from Skelos: Warped, Crooked, Winding, Perverse

The Apostle Peter rose and spoke on the Day of Pentecost to the masses assembled for the Feast in Jerusalem, fifty days after the Passover Lamb was crucified under the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire.

The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians, wrote:

“Do all things without murmuring and disputing that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked (Skolio) and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15).

The exhortation to “save yourselves” in the midst of a warped, crooked and perverse generation is no small task, but the wise will find a way. One such wise was a woman in the City of Jericho when she read the “writing on the wall” in her day. Indeed, the very wall itself would come tumbling down. Her name was Rahab.

Where did Rahab find her salvation? Her faith. Hear her own testimony when she declared to the spies:

“I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when you came out of Egypt, and what you did unto the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. As soon as we had heard these things our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man because of you; for the Lord, your God, He is God in heaven above and in earth beneath. Now, therefore, I pray you, swear to me by the Lord since I have shown you kindness, that you will also show kindness unto my father’s house and give me a true token, that you will save alive my father and my mother and my brethren, and my sisters and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death” (Joshua 2:9-13).

The spies honored the pledge, saw Rahab’s faith in Jehovah; and saved her family alive. Rahab dwelled in Israel (Joshua 6:25) and was given in marriage to Salmon by whom she bore a son and called his name, Boaz.  Boaz, the kinsman redeemer for Naomi, the Moabitess.  Boaz, husband to Ruth.  Yes, through the lineage of Rahab, came the son of Jesse, David (Beloved), by whose lineage came forth the Lord of Glory, the Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God. All this in the order of the all-wise God.

By the wisdom of God, the wise discern the signs of the times. They see the hand of God moving throughout the earth. They see also the tidal wave of wickedness rising to overflow the nations. “Kingdom against kingdom” (cf. Matthew 24:7) with “famines, pandemics, and earthquakes in many places”. The signs of the times beg us to “save yourselves” in your generation.

There was another witness to salvation in the City of Philippi, a jail keeper. Here is his story:

“And the multitude rose up together against Paul and Silas and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded that they be beaten. When they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely. The jailor having received such a charge thrust them in the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks. At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice saying, ‘Do yourself no harm for we are all here’. Then the jailor called for a light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas. After he brought them out, he said to them, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ Then Paul said to him, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your household'” (Acts 16:22-31).

Beloved, the message has not changed. Save yourselves from this crooked, twisted and perverse generation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ even as the Apostle Peter also declared, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

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The Watchers

Posted on December 4, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mark 13:37).

Watch (Gr.): Gregoreuo from Egeiro: Keep awake, be vigilant

There are those who by the command of Christ Jesus are always on the alert, always looking ahead, always observing, being vigilant and aware of all that is happening around them; they are the watchers. To these very little comes as a surprise for they saw what was coming. They were prepared, they were awake, aware and observant as they followed the leading of the Lord.

Sadly, there are many who do not watch and fall into temptation (cf. Matthew 26:41); they become ashamed (cf. Revelation 16;15); they sleep and miss the visitation of the Lord (cf. Matthew 26:40); they suffer calamity when it comes upon them (cf. Matthew 24:43).

Blessed are the Watchers. “Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He comes shall be found watching; verily, I say unto you that He shall gird Himself and make them to sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them” (Luke 12:37). The Lord is ever looking for those who are awake, vigilant, aware and ready for the appearing of the Lord. When He sees them, He brings His reward with Him.

The Watchers are the guards to the House of God, the people of God, the ministry, the Gospel. The Watchers guard against heresy, false prophets, false teachers, and those who come in to do harm to the Body of Christ. The watchers see the enemy, identify him and make him flee.

The Watchers watch for Souls. “So, you, O son of man, I have set you as a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore, you shall hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me” (Ezekiel 33:7). The watchers hear a word from the Lord and speak warnings that guard the souls of men from destruction and turn them from their wicked ways back to the Lord.

The Watchers watch for the moving of the Spirit. “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning; I say, more than they that watch for the morning” (Psalms 130:5-6). The watchers wait, watch and then move in the Holy Spirit. They move according to the will of God.

The Watchers are the Gatekeepers. The watchers hear wisdom speak: “Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso finds me finds life and shall obtain the favor of the Lord” (Proverbs 8:34-35). Though we are not of this world, we live in the world and know what is going on in the Gates: the marketplace, commerce, the economy, media, government, politics, in the churches, schools, society, in the homes, neighborhoods, cities, States, Provinces, the Nation and the world. What do the watchers bring to the table? They bring wisdom as the salt and light in the earth.

Watchers Look for the Coming of the Lord. “Watch, therefore, for you know not what hour your Lord comes. Know this, if the goodman of the house had known in what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore, be ready, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:42-44). “But the end of all things is at hand; be sober and watch unto prayer” (I Peter 4:7). Watchers are in constant expectation of the Lord’s return. Their lamps are always trimmed and burning, they carry extra oil with their lamps when there is a delay (cf. Matthew 25:1ff). When the Lord tarries, the watchers tarry in prayer and intercession. They continually speak encouragement and hope to the faithful, warning, preparing, and helping the weak and vulnerable.

We live in perilous times (cf. II Timothy 3:1). It is incumbent now, more than ever for the watchers to arise. “What I say to you, I say to all, Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

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Called, Chosen, Faithful

Posted on November 30, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and they that are with Him are called, chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

Called: (Gr.): Kletos from Klesis: Invited, an invitation

Chosen: (Gr.): Eklektos from Eklegomai: Select, Elect

Faithful: (Gr.): Pistos from Peitho: Trustworthy, True, Sure, Reliable

In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John saw in a vision a Beast system which takes power in the earth and makes war with the Lamb. Those called out of the Beast system to align with the Lamb, the Ekklesia (called out), the Church, the Saints, the Elect, overcome the Beast by being called, chosen and faithful to the Lamb who as the Scripture says is “Lord of lords and King of kings”, our Savior.

The Called. There is a calling being made in the earth today. Invitations are being sent into all the earth by the Spirit of God for hearts that are open to hear, see, and say yes in response to the voice of the Lamb. As observed by Paul, the Apostle, “you see your calling, Brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called” (I Corinthians 1:26). It is the humble one who hears the calling of the Lord. It is the contrite one who knows his need for a Savior. It is the “poor in spirit” who are blessed, “for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

The great counterweight to the Beast is the Lamb, and all those called to “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (cf. Revelation 14:4).

The Chosen. Out of all those who are called, there are those that are Chosen, the eklektos, those selected for service, the Elect. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14), said Jesus. Furthermore, He said to His disciples, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you” (John 15:16).

The Chosen are the ones upon whom the grace of God was bestowed and overtook, those apprehended by the Spirit of God, those constrained by the Spirit who speak as the Apostle spoke: “that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12b). “For the love of Christ constrains us, because we thus judge that if one died for all, then were all dead” (II Corinthians 5:14). “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain” (I Corinthians 15:10a).

The Faithful. “Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful” (I Corinthians 4:2). The crowning grace of the called and chosen is that they be found faithful, that they remain a true, reliable and trustworthy testimony to the grace of God that works in them, and to Him to whom they belong.

The Book of Revelation was given to John, the Apostle “from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5a). In the Letter to Laodicea John writes: “These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14). It is clearly evident from the Scriptures that the True and Faithful One is Christ Jesus, our Lord. We, who are in Christ; we who are with Him, are the called, the chosen, and the faithful as we abide in Him and bear true witness to the Lamb in nature, spirit and Life.

Worthy is the Lamb.

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Signs, Portents and Omens

Posted on November 25, 2022 by AntiochCMI

Signs: (Heb): ‘Owth: In the sense of appearing, a signal, as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

Signs: (Gr): Semeion from Semaino: a mark, ceremonial or supernatural; a miracle, token, wonder

Living in this natural world with seasons, orderly orbits, laws of nature, births and deaths, we are caught off-guard by the unusual, the extraordinary, the sensational, the bazaar. There is an expectation with the natural mind, and any deviation therefrom is to be sought out and explained by scientific discovery.

Living in the spiritual world of faith in the unseen, the invisible, there is a ready acceptance of the unexplained, the mysterious, the phenomenal. The question becomes one of legitimacy and not that of the deceptive powers of evil.

Such is the question of signs, portents and omens. Legitimate signs have been with us from the beginning of creation:

“And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs (‘owth), and for seasons, and for days and years” (Genesis 1:14).

To Moses:

“And you shall take this rod in your hand, wherewith you shall do signs” (Exodus 4:17).

To Daniel:

‘He delivers and rescues, and works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:26).

To Jesus:

“And in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and gloomy’. ‘O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky, but can you not discern the signs of the times?'” (Matthew 16:3).

To the Apostle Paul:

“Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19). “Truly the signs of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds” (II Corinthians 12:12).

To the Disciples:

“God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will” (Hebrews 2:4).

Signs and Lying Wonders. There have also been the deceptive works of darkness “whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders” (II Thessalonians 2:9).

Sorcerers, wizards, witches and demons have also been working in the earth by conjuring up wickedness through necromancy, familiar spirits, seances, and the arts of black magic deceiving the gullible by signs, wonders and telling fortunes to those with ready hearts to believe the lies.

Beloved, it is the end of days. It is the time for the coming of the Lord. We are entering a new era of signs, portents and omens. The words of the Prophets are coming to past. We see them being fulfilled in our time. We must be on our guard, however, for the “Prince of this world comes” as well (cf. John 14:30). He comes with “all power and signs and lying wonders” (II Thessalonians 2:9b).

The words of the Apostle are true, reassuring and comforting to our hearts in this hour. Let us take heed to them and abide in the Truth.

“We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, Brethren, Beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth. Whereunto He called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, Brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or our Epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, and God, even our Father who has loved us and has given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work” (II Thessalonians 2:13-17).

May the true signs, portents and omens from the Spirit speak to you in Truth and lead you in the Light. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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Possess Ye Your Souls

Posted on November 20, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19).

“Possess (Gr. Ktaomai): To get, acquire, own

As one reads the passage from Luke 21 in context the events and circumstances surrounding the words of Jesus portray the most trying trials, tribulations and tests of one’s core being, and the counsel of the Lord is patience for the sake of preserving the soul.

Possess Ye Your Souls: To possess the soul is to keep it under your ownership. We can keep the soul secure by our faith and our trust in the Lord and by being yoked in spirit to Him. One can lose his soul by selling it, allowing it to be taken over by others, or possessed by the Evil One which is the ultimate loss that has eternal consequences. “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26). From this we can clearly see that possessing our souls is in the end the ultimate triumph.

In Your Patience: “Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). We do not have to look far to see the example we need when enduring the trials, tribulations and test of life. “Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy” (James 5:11). Maintaining our focus on the Lord, keeping our confession, controlling our emotions, submitting the keeping of our souls to the Holy Spirit, our Helper, surrendering our will to the grace of God are all valuable attributes to employ in the midst of all life’s storms.

In the time of His greatest trial in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said to His disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry here and watch with Me” (Matthew 26:37). Then Jesus went forward and prayed, “O, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39b). In the patience of waiting on the Father’s will, Jesus stayed in possession of His soul; then willfully He offered up His life as the Lamb of God, the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the whole world.

The writer to the Hebrews spoke directly to the issue at hand:

“Cast not away therefore your confidence which has great recompence of reward. For you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. For yet a little while and He that shall come will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:35-39).

Beloved, let us take heed to the words of wisdom from the Lord. In our patience, we can possess our souls, even unto the saving of them in our times of testing and in the Great Day of the Lord to come.

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All Oppression Shall Cease

Posted on November 17, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).

Oppressed: (Gr. Katadunasteuo): To exercise dominion against by a ruler, authority, or might

Oppression comes from those in power, who exercise their might by coercive restrictions upon the people. It is an evil that is employed by tyrants, oppressive forms of governments, and most authoritarian regimes. In the spiritual sphere it is the power of dark forces, demonic powers under Lucifer, Satan, the devil, who oppress and exercise dominion against those to whom they have gained control.

In the 1843 Christmas Carol, O, Holy Night, written by the poet, Placide Cappeau, we find the faith-filled words, “And in His Name, all oppression shall cease”. No truer words have ever been penned.

From the days of the Pharoah’s of Egypt to the Philistines of Canaan, from the Amorites to the legions of Rome, oppressors have tried to exercise dominion against the people of God. Down through the history of the Church, oppressors of one stripe or another have sought to stamp out the embers of faith, to quench the fire and light of the Gospel and have violently opposed Christ and the saints who follow Him wherever He leads.

However, as we look closer into the arena of dominion, authority and power, we discover there are not only earthly powers there are also heavenly powers. There are dominions, realms and principalities and there is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God has come, it is being established on earth, and will be fully confirmed in power at the return of the King.

All Oppression Shall Cease. The Scriptures give us great hope against our oppressors. The Psalmist wrote: “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” (Psalms 9:9). “Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble, you will prepare their heart, you will cause your ear to hear; to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress” (Psalms 10:17). The time of oppression shall cease for the Lord shall be a refuge for His people and they shall take shelter in the shadow of His wings (cf. Psalms 57:1).

“The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed” (Psalms 103:6). The Spirit of the Lord is with us now. The same Spirit that was in Christ “who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil” is in us by faith. To us has been given the chosen fast “to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke” (cf. Isaiah 58:6).

We are the intercessors, the warriors of prayer, called to walk in the chosen fast of the Lord, to preach the Word, to live in the Kingdom and see it established in the earth, to tear down strongholds (II Corinthians 10:4), to live by faith, and believe the promises of God, to see the salvation of the Lord.

To those who are in Christ, all oppression shall cease. In Him we find our rest, we find our refuge, we find our peace. In Him we find our strength, our joy, our hope, our shelter in times of trouble. In Christ we overcome, we walk in victory, in triumph, in the Cross, in the Resurrection and in the Life. We are the Redeemed, the Chosen, the Elect of God.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. . .Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:1-2).

Lord, let your eternal Kingdom be established now on earth, even as it has been established in the heavens. Let all oppression cease and let your Spirit reign forever in our hearts as your people in the freedom of your love and the comfort of your peace.

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Treasures

Posted on November 13, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Treasure: (Gr. Thesauros): A deposit, i.e., wealth (literally or figuratively)

It is the heart, the seat of our affections, that determines much in our lives and is probably the single most determiner of our destinies. When by the grace of God, the heart is set aright, there will be a joining of good treasure and the heart, and the producing of that which is good will follow (cf. Matthew 12:35). A deposit of good treasure will be set upon by a good heart and the twain shall be together always.

Treasure, as a noun is both a place for storing things of value and the valuable things themselves. Therefore, you will often find a thing of value securely stored in a place called a Treasury, and one assigned to safeguard the treasure is called a Treasurer.

God has so placed His treasure, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6b) in His people and has caused this light of His glory to “shine in our hearts” and we now “have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:7). He has furthermore given His Holy Spirit to safeguard this treasure in us until the glorious day of Redemption (cf. Ephesians 4:30).

To the Prophet, Isaiah, the Lord spoke: “I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who called you by your name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:3). Such rich treasures given to the Prophet are beyond all the wealth of men in the whole world.

To the Apostle, Paul, it was given to “speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory” (I Corinthians 2:7). And concerning Christ, he wrote: “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

So let men seek for riches, and wealth for the last days, but as James has written to us concerning them: Your gold and silver is cankered (corroded); and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh, like as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days” (James 5:3).

Jesus spoke the truth when He said, “If, therefore, you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:11).

Alas, it truly is a matter of the heart, isn’t it? “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” So, we must examine the heart and see what we find there. As we have said, it is the heart that determines our destiny. A surrendered heart to God will find its way to the “true riches”. A self-seeking heart will ultimately find its way to the vanity of the “unrighteous mammon”.

What is your treasure? Where is your heart? These are the issues of life. As King Solomon has written in his Book of Proverbs:

“My son attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. They are life to those that find them and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:20-23).

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