Where Thieves Cannot Steal

Posted on November 10, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moths and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moths nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).

Thieves (Gr) Kleptes: Literally thieves

Our Lord speaks to us of an impregnable place of security where there is no possibility of corruption or moth-eaten destruction of the social fabric of life. He speaks of a stable place where there is no moral breakdown of societal norms, no interruption to the joy and bliss of every soul dwelling in the Paradise of God. Every treasure is safe, every dwelling secure, every being perfect in the Presence of the Eternal, loving Father of Light and Glory.

The thought of investing into and laying up to this wonderful company of saints and angels would on the surface seem like something everyone would embrace and pursue vigorously. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” would seem to be a slogan on everyone’s lips and embraced with fervor and passion. But, alas, such is not the case at all.

To our great dismay and in quite the opposite station we find ourselves in a world of hackers, scammers and malware planters; with viruses of all types; a world of impostors, con artists and “wolves in sheep clothing”. It is difficult to imagine trusting anyone without an endorsement from a faithful friend. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth” would appear to be the wisest of sayings in a chaotic world gone mad. The insanity of it all boggles the mind.

“Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15), the Commandment of Elohim is most relevant today, even as it was under Moses. You shall not be a thief. You shall not deceive, or take what is rightfully the possession of another, you shall not carry away for yourself what you have not received in honor, virtue, and righteousness by paying the just price, received by inheritance or by gift. To do otherwise is to be aligned with the world of darkness and the Evil One and all his minions everywhere.

Jesus addressed the issue of entrance into the heavenly kingdom, identifying Himself as “the Door of the sheep” (John 10:7b). Saying further, “All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them” (John 10:8). The false teachers and false prophets before the time of Christ were condemned as thieves and robbers who stole the truth of the Word of God from the people and practiced deceit. Jesus says, “I am the Door. By Me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:9-10).

There is a place where thieves cannot steal. Amidst all the chaos in the world, there is a safe place, a secure place, a heavenly place in the heart of the Beloved Son. In Him is no lie. He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” and no one comes to the Father except through Him (cf. John 14:6).

Are you a thief? There is hope for you still. One of your own kind was there at Calvary, Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, at the Crucifixion of our Lord. This thief repented of his evil deeds and spoke to Jesus concerning His Lordship. The thief simply said, “Lord, remember me when you come into Thy Kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Jesus received his faith and confession and replied, “Verily I say unto you, ‘Today shall you be with Me in Paradise'” (Luke 23:43). The wonder of salvation for the lost sinner turned saint. The ex-thief now to steal no more, now to be entrusted with the riches of Paradise. Only God could do such a marvelous work of grace.

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New Day Rising

Posted on November 5, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun” (Mark 16:2).

The Spirit of the Lord is moving and speaking and showing by demonstration of signs and wonders that a new day is upon us. It is interesting that the greatest miracle in the history of man took place at a place of burial, a sepulcher. They went there expecting to anoint a dead body but encountered instead a glorious Resurrection.

“His anger endures but a moment; in His favor is Life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalms 30:5).

There is a new day rising in the Kingdom. Make sure you are among the early risers to greet it. If you do you will encounter the Resurrection Power of God. Miracles, signs and wonders are upon us. We have passed through the valley of the shadow of death. We have wept throughout the long night. Rise now and greet the new day and encounter the power of God.

“That I may know Him and the Power of His Resurrection. . .” (Philippians 3:10a) was the cry of the Apostle. It must be our cry, as well. In the new day rising you have your opportunity. Pursue Him with fervent passion. Rise early and pray. Rise early and worship. Rise early and seek His face.

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6), so says the Prophet.

This new day rising is as a first day, a new moon, as first fruits in the time of harvest. It is a time for rejoicing, for celebration, and thanksgiving.

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s Name is to be praised” (Psalms 113:3).

The sun rises upon all mankind from the East to the West, from the North to the South. “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My Name, and a pure offering; for My Name shall be great among the heathen, says the Lord of Hosts” (Malachi 1:11).

This is the witness of the Spirit, worldwide revival in this new day rising. Look for it, enter into it and be part of what God is doing even in our day.

“Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen” (Luke 24:5b-6a). A new day is risen. Let us rise and go out to meet Him.

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Bruised For Our Iniquities

Posted on October 30, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Bruised (Heb): Daka: Beat to pieces, break, crumble, crush, oppress, smite

Iniquities (Heb): Avon: Perversity, moral evil, faults, mischief, sin

There is a thought that overwhelms the soul when we meditate upon it, when the depths of it hit the heart that Christ Jesus was broken to pieces, crushed and smitten for my perversity, my faults, the mischief of my evil nature, for my sin.

Words like, “oh wretched man that I am” (Romans 7:24a); “woe is me for I am undone” (Isaiah 6:5); “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8); all were confessions and acknowledgments of the evil nature into which we were born. As David expressed it well, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).

Herein, therefore, lies the key to repentance; not that we have made a mistake, not that we did an evil deed; but that we were born with an evil nature whose propensity is to do evil continually. In this light there is no distinction between the evil man who does evil deeds and the evil man who suppresses them. Jesus was not broken in pieces just for the evildoer; but for all who are evil beings. Until we acknowledge this truth, we will remain unrepentant deceiving ourselves that we are not that bad. Perhaps it is, we just have not encountered the Lord as did the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Prophet, Isaiah, or King David. Acknowledging our evil being comes by way of revelation as we spend time in the Presence of the Lord of glory, in the fiery Presence of His holiness.

The words of Christ to the Scribes and Pharisees were a strong rebuke and came from the perspective of the Righteous One who knew all too well the evil that lay within the heart of the righteousness of man:

“Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whited sepulchers which, indeed, appear beautiful outwardly, but are within full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).

“Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess (lack of self-restraint)” (Matthew 23:25).

Of course, it was not the evildoers who condemned Christ to be crucified, but the very Scribes and Pharisees who were exposed by the word of the Lord.

Even so, Christ did not come to just expose the sin and hypocrisy of the self-righteous. No, He came not just to expose, but to redeem, to cleanse and to remove the iniquity; and for that He was smitten, crushed and beaten to pieces by the whips, the thorns, and the Cross.

There is one who testified to the truth. One “of the stock of Israel, of the Tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews and as touching the Law, a Pharisee. Concerning zeal, persecuting the Church, touching the righteousness which is of the Law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless I count all things but loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:5-9).

Oh, the efficacy of His bruising. What Redemption, what cleansing, what transformation in the souls of men that was accomplished when Christ was beaten to pieces, crushed, smitten, bruised for our iniquities. Indeed, as the Prophet said, “and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5b).

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Reconciliation

Posted on October 24, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:19).

Reconciliation: (Gr.) Katallage from Katallasso: To mutually change, exchange, adjust, restore to Divine favor by atonement

How far does one have to go to restore a broken relationship of friendship, marriage, father to son, daughter to mother, priest/pastor to disciple? To mutually change, in heart, will, emotions with another? It is sometimes a tall mountain to climb, a wide divide to bridge, a rolling river to cross. Is it possible? God knows.

The Apostle wrote: “All things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (II Corinthians 5:18).

Sometimes there is a need for a mediator and that Mediator between God and Man is Christ Jesus (cf. I Timothy 2:5). Christ is the great Mediator, the faithful High Priest, and we who are in Christ now find ourselves with the gift, calling and “ministry of reconciliation.” It is a burden placed upon us as intercessors to prayerfully intercede for the restoration and reconciliation of our brethren, our families, our friends and associates, our countrymen.

“Wherefore, in all things it behooved Christ to be made like unto His Brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).

What exchange, change, adjustment must happen for the reconciliation of which we speak to occur? Is it forgiveness? Sacrifice of rights? Laying down of ego? Repentance from sins? Restoration of Trust? Healing of wounded and broken hearts? What miracle of grace, what Divine influence on the heart, what faith to be birthed must spring forth for reconciliation to have a chance? The ministry of reconciliation is a work only the Holy Spirit can do as we let Him flow though us by our words, our prayers, our way of peace.

Is there a work of reconciliation needed in your life? Be of good cheer there is a way for it to happen. There is hope. It is possible. There are a few things we can learn from God and His act of “reconciling the world unto Himself.” I doubt your issue is that big. Firstly, He did not “impute trespasses against us”. Meditate on that for a while. Secondly, He had a mediator, His Son. Maybe there is someone you can call to help you get where you want to be. Thirdly, reconciliation takes two, it is a mutual commitment. It is a mutual exchange, change, adjustment and restoration. Pray for the other party to make it through to where you want them to be.

Do you need to be reconciled to God? One thing you can do right now is stop looking at your sin and fix your eyes on Jesus, your Mediator, who died for all sin, who as the Lamb of God, took away all the sin in the world (see John 1:29). Remember, reconciliation is mutual. God loves you. He offered up the life of His Son for you. Receive the free gift of forgiveness, restoration and reconciliation to Him.

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God” (II Corinthians 5:20).

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The Delusion of Self Sufficiency

Posted on October 18, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“You say I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

There is a danger for the believer when we become so self-deluded and deceived as a result of self-reflection and comparing ourselves among ourselves and think we are better than what reality would reveal. This was the case with the Church at Laodicea. Under the bright light of Him who is “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the Creation of God” (Revelation 3:14b), the reality of the delusion was exposed.

The rebuke of the Lord was an act of His love for as He said to them, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

The Prophet, Isaiah, went through an awakening of his own in this regard. As a Prophet of God, Isaiah, spoke the word of the Lord to the people, gave wise counsel and was to all appearance a man of God above the common lot. However, his revelation came “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord” (Isaiah 6:1a). In the time of seeing the Lord all his self-sufficiency, all his self-confidence, all his self-righteousness came crashing down in utter ruin.

“I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the Temple. Above it stood the Seraphim. . .and one cried to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His Glory’. . .Then said, I, ‘Woe is me! I am undone! I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts'” (Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3, 5).

Until we have a true revelation of the Lord our self-delusion will continue. One will say to another, “Are you ok? Do you need anything?” And the reply will come back, “No. I’m good.” We think we are good. We think we are ok and in need of nothing and know not that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked in the eyes of the Lord. But if, by the grace of God, we come to experience a revelation of the glory of God, we will come to the end of ourselves and repent in dust and ashes.

It is interesting that even Jesus, Himself, had to resist this delusion of self-sufficiency when “one came and said to Him, ‘Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life’? And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? There is none good, but One, that is, God; but, if you will enter into Life, keep the Commandments'” (Matthew 19:16-17).

The Apostle wrote to the Church at Corinth, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (II Corinthians 3:5).

Jesus counseled the Church of Laodicea, “buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich, and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. and anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see” (Revelation 3:18). What He spoke then, He is speaking to us today. He is inviting us to receive the free gift of Grace through faith and receive the true riches of His righteousness. He is inviting us to being clothed with garments of His salvation (cf. Isaiah 61:10), which He freely gives to all who believe.

There is an encounter waiting for you. It is an encounter with the Divine. It is an encounter many have experienced and of whose stories we can freely read. But the encounter of which we now speak is not just to be read in a book, but a life-changing encounter in which you will meet the Lord in a unique, wonderful, vibrant and personal way suited just for you. Are you ready? Stop what you are doing and listen. Do you hear Him knocking?

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man will hear My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

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A Man of Sorrows

Posted on October 15, 2022 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 (Heb): Makob from Kaab: To feel pain, to grieve, to make sad, anguish, affliction

There are things that are universal among us, times of joy and times of great sorrow. The ebb and flow of life is as the tides: times to abound and times to be abased (cf. Philippians 4:12). This is a learned experience, as the Apostle states, “I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need”. There is a sorrow that is of the common thread, that we all know and endure as faithful followers of our Lord.

There are also things that are uncommon among us, and the sorrows of Christ are of these. What makes the sorrows of Christ uncommon is the vicarious nature of them. Christ not only suffered for His own common life experience, but He chose to suffer for ours.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4).

The Prophet poignantly points out the uncommon nature of Christ’s sufferings, “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” This is not the norm of human experience. It is sufficient to carry one’s own griefs and sorrows; but to carry the griefs and sorrows of others is extraordinary, and beyond the common thread of our lives. To suffer is human, to suffer in the stead of others is divine.

When in the time of Israel’s bondage in Egypt the Lord appeared to Moses in the desert at the mountain of God, at Horeb. The Lord 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).

There is something very mysterious in the words of the Lord to Moses that we may easily overlook. The Lord said, “I know their sorrows”. This “knowing” is not the normal, simple awareness of a matter; rather, it is the deep, personal understanding of one’s affliction by having known the sorrow in one’s own experience, whereby there comes a “knowing” of the sorrow empathetically, and a subsequent moving of one’s heart and soul toward another. Thus, there followed in the case of Israel, the sending of Moses by the Lord to Pharoah with the command, “Let My people go”! (cf. Exodus 5:1).

The Apostle had a great desire to “know” in this way and wrote thusly 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” (Philippians 3:10). Then to the Colossians writing: “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is lacking in the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake which is the Church” (Colossians 1:24).

This is an amazing expression of the heart of a man of sorrows who suffers, who carries the griefs and sorrows of others, thus fulfilling the law of Christ. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

Do we know the pain of others? Have we felt it in our souls? Do we grieve? And does it make us sad? Are we in anguish for the afflictions of our sisters and our brothers?

The Man of Sorrows walks among us. His Spirit has been imparted to His Body, of which Body are we. His desire is for us to know Him. His great desire is for us to be sent, as was Moses in his time. He wants us to be a man of sorrows, and we can be if we so desire as the Apostle did to know Him, and so to live in Him by the power of His resurrection with His grace so working in us to bring it to pass.

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Songs of Deliverance

Posted on October 8, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall compass me about with songs of deliverance”. Selah (Psalm 32:7).

The experience of the song of the Lord is a wonderful comfort and a great strength and power in the time of trouble to the soul. The song of deliverance is a great grace to be received for it sustains us and carries us through the times of testing, temptation and the trials of life.

The Apostle knew directly this reality in his many trials and tribulations and not only wrote of it but lived it in personal experience. In his Epistle to the Ephesians, he wrote:

“And be not drunk with wine. . .but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18-19).

When in his time of trial with his ministry partner, Silas, in the Philippian jail recorded in the Book of Acts we read:

“And the multitude rose up together against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. When they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them secure, who having received such a charge thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in stocks. At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:22-25).

What a testimony to living out the word of faith you preach. The misery and pain of stripes, the cold and damp of the inner prison cell, the shackles and darkness of night could not quench the songs of deliverance in the Apostle and Prophet of the Lord. Their prayers and singing of praises unto the Lord were a powerful witness to their faith in the God of their salvation.

“And 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” (Acts 16:26).

The miraculous power of God is real. He is mighty to save. Mighty to deliver. “A very present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1b).

The Psalmist, David, knew very well the power of the song of deliverance and wrote many of them for our edification and comfort in all our distress and times of misery.

The songwriter, Carol Cymbala, gave us the words to the beautiful song, You Are My Hiding Place and recorded by the group, Selah:

“You are my hiding place. You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. I will trust in You. Let the weak say I am strong in the strength of my Lord. I will trust in You.

My friend, walk with the Lord today. Welcome the song of the Lord in your heart, welcome the songs of deliverance in your times of struggle. It is a wonderful channel of grace from our loving Shepherd, Lord and Savior, by His special favor in the Presence of the Holy Spirit who dwells within.

Grace and peace be with you through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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The Grand Divide

Posted on October 3, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“And Elohiym said, ‘Let there be Light; and there was Light’. And Elohiym saw the Light, that it was Good, and Elohiym divided the Light from the Darkness” (Genesis 1:3-4).

Divided (Heb): Badal: To separate, distinguish, differ, select, sever

There are in our world mutually exclusive concepts and realities. Light and Darkness are one of those realities. This has been so from the beginning of time, and it was established by Elohiym in His act of creation by His mighty power.

Light and Darkness are not just benign influences in our world. Light and Darkness are realms, authorities, and spheres of reign. The Apostle expresses it this way in his Epistle to the Colossians:

“Giving thanks unto the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in Light. Who has delivered us from the power (exousia) of Darkness and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son” (Colossians 1:12-13).

The Power of Darkness. The Apostle expresses in his Epistle the concept of the Power of Darkness. He uses the Greek word, exousia, which means force, mastery, control and authority. From this we can see that before our translation into the Kingdom of the Son, we were under and subject to the powerful force, mastery, control and authority of Darkness. Of course, this was all a product of the Fall of Man when sin entered into the world (cosmos) by the rebellion of Adam.

In our world today there are these two forces aligned against the other for the control of Man and the entire universe. Conspiracy theories aside, this is the reality in which we all exist in the land of the living. Awakening to this reality is of utmost importance for every soul of man alive today.

Awakening is the first step, but we must realize it took a mighty and sovereign act of the Father to accomplish the translation from the mastery, control and authority of Darkness that held us all in captivity. The translation (Gr. Methistemi) was accomplished through the Cross of Christ, where, by the shedding of His Blood, He redeemed us from the Power of Darkness and transferred, carried away, and forever removed us from the authority of Darkness into the Kingdom of the Son to whom we now belong.

Walk in the Light. The Apostle John in his First Epistle wrote to us: “If we walk in the Light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

Jesus said to His Disciples: “Yet a little while is the Light with you. Walk while you have the Light lest the Darkness come upon you; for he that walks in Darkness knows not where he is going” (John 12:35).

Our translation from the Power of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light is not only a great deliverance, but is a great establishment in a new standing, a new abiding, in a new Kingdom where we can be under a new government of righteousness, truth, goodness and love. This is the purpose of the grand divide from the beginning in the mind of Elohiym. He saw the end from the beginning and separated the Light from the Darkness for the eternal purpose of our inheritance and benefit as saints in the Kingdom of His Dear Son, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

All glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

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The Name

Posted on September 28, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Name (Heb): Shem: Appellation as a mark or memorial of individuality; Implies Honor, Authority, Character

At our birth we are all given a name. In the history of mankind there have been names we honor and there are names of infamy. There is one Name, however, that was given that rises above all other names as the Apostle declares:

“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name which is above every name; that at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:8-11).

That Name, the Name of Jesus, the Son of God, is Wonderful (Heb: Pele): A miracle, a marvelous thing. Everything about that Name is miraculous and marvelous from beginning to end, from the Advent, Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Return. it is all Wonderful.

That Name, the Name of Jesus, is Mighty (Heb. Gibbowr): Powerful, Valiant. The Apostle wrote to the Ephesians:

“I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that. . .the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know. . .what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His Mighty Power which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:16-21).

The Apostle John in his vision recorded in the Book of Revelation writes:

“I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire and on His head were many crowns, and He had a name written that no man knew, but He Himself. He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and His Name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in linen, white and clean. Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword that with it He should smite the nations, and He shall rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. On His vesture and on His thigh a Name is written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:11-16).

That Name, the Name of Jesus is Wonderful. That Name is Mighty. It is a Name above every name. That Name is The Word of God, and He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus, there’s just something about that Name.

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Be Faithful to Your Office

Posted on September 25, 2022 by AntiochCMI

“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so, we being many are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5).

Office: (Gr.): Praxis from Prasso: Practice, An Act or Function, Work

Office: (Gr.) Diakonia from Diakonos: Teacher, Pastor, Deacon/Deaconess

Going through the Scriptures there are many things that are not clearly evident to us that they may by extension apply to us directly; but upon further review become evident and require our attention. Such is the case in the matter of our office.

Under the Old Covenant there are many offices identified, such as the Office of the Priest, Prophet and King. Others that are mentioned are Midwife (Exodus 1:16); Levites who were Porters (I Chronicles 9:22); Bakers (I Chronicles 9:31); Scribes and Officers (II Chronicles24:11); Treasurers (Nehemiah 13:13), Singers and musicians (I Chronicles 15:16) along with numerous others.

Under the New Covenant there are also many offices, and we would do well to seek the Lord as to where we may fit in the Body of Christ. Such offices include Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers (Ephesian 4:11);

The Apostle Paul wrote in his Epistle to the Romans; “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office (diakonia)” (Romans 12:4).

In his letter to the Corinthians Paul identifies these offices to which we may be called stating: “And God has set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that (workers of) miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (I Corinthians 12:29).

All these identified gifts create an office for the recipient. To those selected gifts, the Epistles also include intercessors, care givers, attendants, all of which come under the broad category of helps. The Apostle mentions other offices with the gifts of hospitality (cf. Romans 12:13), exhorters, givers, administrators, mercy ministries (cf. Romans 12:8).

Search the Scriptures, seek the Lord for there is an office waiting for you in the Body of Christ. What is in your heart? There is an open door of ministry and an office to fill for you. The needs are great, but the laborers are few. The Lord is speaking to you right now to stand up, sign up, get committed, and schedule your time and then be faithful to your office.

In his first Epistle to Timothy, the Apostle specifically addresses the Office of the Bishop, stating: “This is a true saying, if a man desires the Office of a Bishop (Gr. Episkope), he desires a good work” (I Timothy 3:1). A Bishop is an overseer of other Pastors, Teachers and ministries. It is an office of honor and great responsibility. It is an office we need filled in the Body of Christ. Be open to your calling for this office and obey the Spirit of the Lord.

As the Apostle points out we all have not the same office, but with the variety of offices open in the Body of Christ, surely there is an office open and available for your calling and gifts. Seek the Lord today, be obedient to His call, and be faithful to the office to which you have been assigned. The grace of the Lord Jesus is sufficient in all things.

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