A Time To Be Born

Posted on September 3, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born. . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a).

For all who may be reading these words, congratulations, you made it through your “time to be born.” You are a survivor. You made it through your season of springing forth from the womb and greeting the world with your unique personhood, and being.

For many the womb was not a glorious place of life, but an ignoble place of dying. Those who did not break forth to life, but suffered the pains of death. Those who did not survive the cruelties of man. To them there was no announcement, “unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (cf. Isaiah 9:6a). There was no welcoming greeting. There was no day or night of labor; no mother’s travail to bring forth life; only the pains of agonizing darkness.

There is an irony of ironies in the painful death of the unborn. The un-born, that is a term on which to contemplate. Is the unborn the one who is yet to be born in his time; or is the unborn more the never born whose “time to be born” never arrives–whose “time to die” comes instead. Oh, the irony of the womb.

The womb–that warm, protected, secure place of sustaining nourishment in the care of another, the mother, the giver of life. The womb, the safe space, the peaceful place, of solitude and rest. The womb, the blessed place (cf. Genesis 49:25). The womb, the cocoon of glorious development and change, the pre-natal care-giving place of hope. Please do not change the “w” to a “t”, for heaven’s sake.

There was one glorious womb, the womb of the Blessed Virgin, who brought forth in “a time to be born” and with the announcement of Angels: “Unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, Who is Christ, the LORD” (Luke 2:11). This One survived the womb, though Herod sought to have Him killed (cf. Matthew 2:16). This One grew and was manifested and declared to be the Son of God (cf. Romans 1:4). This One said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7).

“Born again.” Yes, born of the Spirit, the giver of Life. Out from the “Life giving Spirit” (cf. I Corinthians 15:45), are born from the “Last Adam” the “sons of God” (cf. Romans 8:21).

There is a “time to be born.” There is a time to be born again. It is your time to come to life, again. It is your time to break forth and break the curse and cruelty of death that held you bound. It is your time to break forth from the matrix of the Spirit and be born, again! Let there be no pre-natal death, no cutting off before the time; let there be life, life, life by the Spirit of our God!

The Apostle John in his Gospel wrote, “Who were born, not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). Born of God, born by Him of Whom no man can interfere or deny.

The Apostle Peter writes: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever” (I Peter 1:23).

The Apostle Paul declared: “When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace to reveal His Son in me that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.” (Galatians 1:15-16).

This is your season. This is your time. This is your moment. Receive the promise of God; believe in hope given by the promise. Live. You are being called. You are being chosen. It is your time to be found faithful. Trust, obey, there is no other way. Can you hear the Master calling? Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling; this is your time to come home.

“I am come that you might have Life, and that you might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b)

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Behold, All Things Are New

Posted on September 1, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“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).

New (Gr. Kainos): Denotes a different form, quality, nature or character as contrasted with the old.

We humans are a contradiction. We like the new. We like the old. We like new things; we like old ways. We like new songs; we like old songs; new cars, old cars. What do we want, anyway?

In God’s new, in God’s Kainos, there is freedom, righteousness, holiness and goodness. Who wouldn’t love God’s new? Well, for one, the devil. The devil wants bondage, wickedness, sin and hate. Quite the contrast, don’t you think?

God’s new is a new nature, a new character, a new life. The Apostle writes: We are buried with Christ by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Think of that, a new life!

In our world we are experiencing change. It seems every day there is some new challenge to our old ways of thinking, our old lifestyles, our way of living with our traditions, customs and mores. How to cope? How to keep our bearings? our sanity in all this that is new? The only way I know is to stay in God’s new, in the Kainos of the Spirit. We need to stay in the “newness of life” in Christ Jesus. It is the best counter to all the challenges we face every day.

Staying in the newness of life in Christ Jesus takes a change in nature. The Apostle Peter writes: we have been given exceeding great and precious promises; that by these we might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (II Peter 1:4). God’s new brings us into a new nature, the divine nature of Christ Jesus. In the divine nature there is peace, there is contentment even in our discontent. There is an authority even to the point of laying down our lives in sacrifice. Jesus said, “No man takes my life from Me; I lay it down of Myself. I have authority (exousia) to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father” (John 10:18). Living in the divine nature is living in the newness of life in the authority of Christ.

What a wonderful thing it is to walk in authority; to have control over our own bodies, our minds, our emotions, our soul by the authority of the Spirit of Christ. The new life, the Kainos of God, the divine nature brings this to us to govern our hearts and keep us in the freedom of the Spirit.

The tyrants of this world desire to keep us under control. They want authority over every area of our being. The enemies of God seek to destroy the works of God and His creation. There is a great battle going on in the unseen world of the heavenlies, the spiritual world of angels and demons, darkness and light, God and Satan; all of which effect us in the seen, the visible, the natural realm on planet Earth. So here we are living out our lives in all the chaos.

Be encouraged, saints of God. We have an answer. We have an understanding of the battlefield. We have a counter for every move of the enemy. We have been given the Spirit of Christ, dwelling in our hearts by faith to walk in the newness of Life; His Life, His Kainos, His new.

In this new, in this Kainos there is a new Form of Being. Christ is formed in us (cf. Galatians 4:19). In His Life there is a new quality of living that is the Life of Another. This is the new creation, “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (cf. Ephesians 2:10). This is what God ordained for you before the foundation of the world. Behold, the new! Embrace it. Welcome it. Walk in it. When we do, then in all things Christ will be glorified!

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Infirmities, The Door to Glory

Posted on August 28, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you; My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9).

The Apostle knew by experience the grace and power of Christ. His weakness in himself was his door to the Glory of God. The LORD spoke such a marvelous truth to Paul when He said, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” In that hallowed state there is no boasting in the strength of man, no boasting in the wisdom of man, nor the excellence of man; the only boasting and glory is in the LORD.

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:7). These earthen vessels, our mortal bodies, are the doorways to the “grace that is sufficient”, to the glory that excels in all things, that excellent glory of the Father and the Son (cf. II Peter 1:17).

Infirmities: (Gr. Asthenes), Weakness of mind or body; without moral or physical strength; sickness, disease, impotent

There must be no competition between the strength of man and the power of God. There must be a complete surrender of our confidence, competence and self-sufficiency to the all surpassing power, glory and sufficiency of the LORD. Again we hear the words and wisdom of the Apostle: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but out sufficiency is of God” (II Corinthians 3:5). “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that, you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8).

What a wonderful knowing it is to have the understanding that we really can “do all things through Christ Who strengthens” us (Philippians 4:13). Strengthens us in our infirmities, in our weakness, in our earthen vessels.

In whatever we do the Holy Spirit is our Helper; even when we pray. “The Spirit helps us in our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

Our weakness, our infirmities is our door to Glory. When we call on God out of our infirmities, the door to the Glory of God opens before us.

To the Church at Philadelphia [Philadelphia! 01/11/21] the LORD spoke these words to the Apostle John in his vision “And to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia write: These things says He that is Holy, He that is True, He that has the Key of David, He that opens and no man shuts; and shuts and no man opens. I know your works; behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it; for you have a little strength, and has kept My Word, and has not denied My Name” (Revelation 3:7-8).

Through our infirmities we can still be true; we can still be faithful; we can keep the Word of God securely in our hearts by faith, and never deny His matchless Name. Oh, the Glory to be revealed to us and to follow through us by His marvelous Grace.

The Apostle Peter wrote concerning the Prophets of old, who went about “Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the Glory that should follow” (I Peter 1:11). Indeed, Christ came in the form of man, suffered for us and took upon Himself all our infirmities (cf. Isaiah 53); then gloriously rose from the dead and ascended into the Glory of the Father (cf. John 17).

The very One Who is the Door showed us by His example the Truth of that which the Spirit is speaking to us today. Infirmity is the Door to Glory. Out of weakness, we are made strong. Out of death, we rise. Out of the earthen we are made heavenly. We pass through the Door from mortal to immortality into the Glory of God.

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Wisdom, Righteousness and Goodness of Heart

Posted on August 24, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Walking with God is an exhilarating walk as it elates, animates and thrills the soul. To think we mere mortals can walk in the Light of the Lamb in His Wisdom, Righteousness and Goodness of Heart. Simply amazing.

When we walk in the Wisdom, Righteousness and Goodness of Heart, we walk with the keen insight into the Nature of the Divine. When we walk in the Righteousness of God, we walk in His right ways and His order. These keen insights, right ways and Divine order, all flow from the Goodness of our Father’s Heart.

When we walk in the Wisdom, Righteousness and Goodness of Heart, we walk in Love, Mercy, Peace, and Kindness, as the ripe fruit of the Holy Spirit springs forth from our inner being. We walk in the way of holiness and live by the regimen and discipline of the Master’s Lordship. This abounding Goodness of the Father flows from the Throne of the Lamb.

Wisdom (Gr. Sofia), insight into the nature of things

Righteousness (Gr. Dikaiosune), equitable, innocent, holy, just, meet and right

Goodness (Gr. Agathosune), virtue, beneficence, wellness

We would all do well to listen to the Words of Wisdom written by Solomon, son of David:

HEAR, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight;

For I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.

When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,

He taught me, and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words, keep my commandments, and live;

Do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth, Get wisdom; get insight.

Do not forsake Sofia, and she will keep you; love Sofia, and she will guard you.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom and with all your getting get understanding.

Exalt her, and she shall promote you; she shall bring you honor, when you embrace her.

She shall give to your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.

I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in paths of righteousness.

When you go, your steps will not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life.” (Proverbs 4:1-13) RSV

King David, the Psalmist, the Beloved, wrote the beautiful 23rd Psalm, from which we get that well loved line: He leads me in the paths of Righteousness for His Name’s sake (Psalm 23:3b).

Our loving Father, our Shepherd, leads us out from the fold and into the fields by the Goodness of His Heart. He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and out from the Goodness of His loving Heart He makes His true Nature known. When our eyes are opened, we see Him, we know Him, and we embrace Him by the keen insight of Wisdom; we know Him as we walk with Him in the path of His Righteousness, His Holiness, and His Redeeming Love.

Wisdom, Righteousness and Goodness of Heart. O, the wonder of it all.

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The Perfect Law of Liberty

Posted on August 21, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“But whoso looks into the Perfect Law of Liberty and continues therein. . .shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25).

The laws of God are immutable. They are fixed by the wonderful design and ingenuity of our Creator. Whether Natural Law or Spiritual Law we are governed by the laws of God.

We live in this natural world and are governed by the laws of gravity, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and other laws of physics and aeronautics. Violate these laws and you will bear with the consequences.

We live in the spiritual world under the laws governing spiritual things, such as life and death. There is the Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8:2). “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4b,20a). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). “The body is dead because of sin” (Romans 8:10). The Law of Sin and Death has been in effect since the days of Adam.

There is another spiritual law, the Law of Liberty. James calls it a perfect law for it is an eternal law established by God in Christ.

Liberty: (Gr. eleutheria); freedom, free from constraint, moral independence.

For the freeborn believer in Christ Jesus, we have been birthed into the “liberty of the sons of God” (cf. Romans 8:21). This liberty governs us by the Law of Liberty. James says this law is perfect. It is perfect (Gr. Teleios), i.e. complete. We have the complete, or perfected freedom to serve, worship, submit to, and obey, the will of God without constraint. Jesus lived His earthly life governed by this perfect Law of Liberty and lived in complete obedience to the will of His Father, never sinning once. Meditate on that for awhile. Truly amazing.

The Apostle Paul uses a different term for the Law of Liberty and calls it “the Law of the Spirit of Life” in Christ (Romans 8:2). This Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the Law of Sin and Death. This is the difference between those who are born again of the Spirit of Life and those who are still “dead in sin” (Ephesians 2:5).

There is a problem in the Ekklesia, the Church of the Firstborn, the Body of Christ. That problem is we really do not believe the Gospel we have been given. We profess to faith in Christ as our Savior, but we live, or let ourselves be governed by the Law of Sin and Death. Rather, the spiritual reality is we are governed by the Perfect Law of Liberty, or the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. The writer to the Hebrews addressed this issue in Chapter 6:1a: “Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection. . .” The writer is exhorting us to go on to completion. He is encouraging us to live under the Law of the Spirit of Life, the Law of Liberty and leave behind the Law of Sin and Death.

How do we progress to our true Life in the Spirit. It is a process of growth. It is a process of growing in our faith, of growing in the grace and knowledge of God. Indeed, the Apostle Paul prayed earnestly for us and expressed his deep desire in his Epistle to the Ephesians:

“I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 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; and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:16-19).

James challenges us: Look into these things. Look into the Perfect Law of Liberty. Continue in it. Do not forget it. We have been given the very Life of Christ: His Nature, His power, His will, His mind. Continue in Him and you truly shall be blessed in all your deeds.

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The Splendor of His Majesty

Posted on August 17, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“Get you into the rocks and hide yourselves in the ground from the dread of the LORD and the Splendor of His Majesty” (Isaiah 2:10) NEB

There is a Majestic Splendor of God that brings mere mortals to their knees with chins dropped, mouths open in awe and wonder. This Splendor breaks the pride of man, and brings contrition and a sense of complete unworthiness. The Prophet, Isaiah, had this experience in his day:

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the LORD seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the skirt of His robe filled the Temple. About Him were attendant Seraphim, and each had six wings; one pair covered his face and one pair his feet, and one pair was spread in flight. They were calling ceaselessly to one another,

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His Glory.

As each one called, the threshold shook to its foundations, while the house was filled with smoke. Then I cried,

Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell among a people of unclean lips; yet with these eyes I have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:1-5) NEB.

Yes, this is what it is like to experience the Splendor of His Majesty. When we share in this glory, Isaiah writes: “Then man’s pride shall be brought low, and the loftiness of man shall be humbled, and the LORD alone shall be exalted on that day, while the idols shall pass away utterly. Get you into caves in the rocks and crevices in the ground from the dread of the LORD and the Splendor of His Majesty, when He rises to inspire the earth with fear” (Isaiah 2:17-19) NEB.

Not once, not twice, but three times the Prophet declares his mighty words of exaltation to the LORD:

“On that day a man shall fling away his idols of silver and his idols of gold which he has made for himself to worship; he shall fling them to the dung-beetles and the bats, and creep into clefts in the rocks and crannies in the cliffs from the dread of the LORD and the Splendor of His Majesty, when He rises to inspire the earth with fear” (Isaiah 2:20-21) NEB.

And finally, “Have no more to do with man, for what is he worth? He is no more than the breath of his nostrils” (Isaiah 2:22) NEB. (cf. James 4:14).

The Apostle John was shown this same Splendor in his Revelation of Christ Jesus. He was shown the Lamb seated on His Throne and upon the opening of the Sixth Seal “the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us! and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of His wrath is come and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17) KJV.

The Apostle Paul was shown by revelation the coming of the LORD and wrote to the Thessalonians: “For the mystery of iniquity [Mystery of Iniquity 01/13/21] is already at work; only he who now lets will let until he be taken out of the way. Then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the Brightness (Splendor) of His coming (Majestic Appearance)” (II Thessalonians 2:7-8).

Oh, the Splendor of His Majesty! The Brightness of His Coming. The Glory of His awesome Presence! Glory, Honor, Majesty, Dominion and Power be unto our God and to the Lamb.

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Sow To Yourselves in Righteousness

Posted on August 14, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12).

The Prophet is speaking the Word of the LORD to us. He is commanding us to be sown in righteousness, the right ways and right order of the LORD. This being sown in righteousness is a work of God in us by the Holy Spirit. This work of God is a work of our being sown into Christ in “the likeness of His death” and “the likeness of His Resurrection” (cf. Romans 6:5).

The Prophet, Isaiah, wrote: “Prepare ye the way of the LORD” (Isaiah 40:3). There is a true way of the LORD, and there are the ways of men. There is a true order to the righteousness of God; so, we must guard against being out of God’s true order. God’s ways and order are contrary to our natural thinking. We think we should be masters of our own destiny. The truth is we should be joined in death and resurrection in the true Master of our destiny and let Him direct us into His destiny for us. This reversal of the natural way of thinking to the spiritual way of thinking takes a breaking up of our self-will and selfish nature; what the Prophet calls “fallow ground.” Ground that is not ready for planting, but full of rocks, weeds, is compacted and hard.

The natural man thinks he can unite his own self-will with the Spirit of God, and put his self-will in service to God. This is a deception. This will produce a false sense of justification and a false righteousness. This false idol or false altar will not satisfy as a propitiation for sin. Only the Cross and the Blood of the Lamb will be a true sacrifice on a true altar and be a satisfactory offering to the Father (cf. Hebrews 8:2). The natural man is in danger of becoming an “altar of sin,” as in the days of Hosea with Israel in the high places of Bethel (cf. Hosea 10:8). This is the condition that challenged God and brought forth the word of the LORD from Hosea at verse 12 of our text. This is what the Prophets continually contended with throughout the history of Israel. It is what we must contend with in our day.

In Israel in the days of Hosea there was a mixing of the cultish practices of the Canaanites with the Priesthood established by the Law of Moses. This mixing brought forth the judgment of God upon them. Mixing the culture of the day and the mores of the people, with the true ways and order of the LORD in righteousness will always bring judgment upon those who engage in the works of man and are working outside of the true Gospel of Christ.

God desires to come “and rain righteousness upon” His people. He can only rain righteousness upon that which conforms to His righteous way and order. As we are sown in righteousness, we will reap God’s mercy; we will reap His eternal love; His loyalty to us; for the mercy, love and loyalty will be upon that which is of His Righteous Seed.

It is time to seek the LORD. It is time to pray, to gather as His people, to be His field and His building (cf. I Corinthians 3:9). It is time for the True, Righteous Seed, without mixture to be revealed. It is time for Christ to be glorified in His Saints and for the manifestation of the Sons of God (cf. Romans 8:19). It is the earnest expectation of all Creation and this hope will be fulfilled. It is time.

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Spies, Lies and Magpies

Posted on August 11, 2021 by AntiochCMI

We live in a crazy world of espionage, black ops, classifications, security clearances, hackers, cyber warfare, an alphabet of intel agencies, and bureaucrats at all levels of government.

It is comforting to know that with all the craziness, we have a God in the heavens who knows all, sees all and is a revealer of secrets (cf. Daniel 2:28, 47).

In the days of Elisha when the King of Syria went to war with the King of Israel, the Prophet would tell the King the battle plans of the King of Syria. When the King of Syria inquired of his servants who was the spy for Israel, “one of his servants said, None, my Lord, O King, but Elisha, the Prophet, that is in Israel, tells the King of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber” (II Kings 6:12).

God has always had his servants with whom to share His secrets from Abraham (Genesis 18:17); Joseph (Genesis 41:15-25); Daniel (Daniel 2:26-47); Apostle Paul (II Timothy 3:1); Apostle John (Revelation 1:1), along with many other notable examples of God’s knowing, seeing and sharing everything.

“For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known” (Luke 12:2). That must send shivers up the spines of the spooks.

Jesus told us how things would be in these days. In the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 He spoke of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. “There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2). After giving all the prophecies concerning the time of the end He said, “Behold, I have told you before” (Matthew 24:25).

As the saints of God, we live in the Kingdom of God. Many things are open to us in the Kingdom. We have weapons for warfare, not carnal weapons, but spiritual weapons that are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (cf. II Corinthians 10:4). We have angels on our side; we have dreams, visions, prophetic utterance, tongues and interpretation, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, discerning of spirits; indeed, all manner of weapons (cf. I Corinthians 12:4-11). We have prayer, the Word of God, revelations of the Word of God, worship, Yes, God has left us with an arsenal of weapons for the battles with our enemies (cf. Ephesians 6:10-18).

In the days of the Apostles, the Prophet Agabus “stood up and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world; which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar” (AD 41-54) (Acts 11:28). The churches took collections for the poor and distributed them to the saints at Jerusalem. We do not have to be in the dark in these days either. God is well able to speak to us so we can be prepared for the calamities that are coming upon the world.

However, there is an imperative, that we live by faith. We also must be filled with the Spirit of God. We have to believe. We have to be strong. We have to be courageous, bold and not be afraid. We have to stand up. We have to be obedient to the commands of the LORD. We have to be prepared to die, to take up our cross, and consider all else loss for Christ. We have to live holy lives before the LORD. We have to go where we are sent. We have to love our enemies, and not hate. We must always do good and not evil. It is a lot to ask, but there is grace for all things.

The Church began during the Roman Empire. We can finish with the Antichrist. Neither one is too big for the LORD. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is LORD of Lords and King of Kings. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We are living in His Kingdom. We reign with Him, we rule with Him. We are triumphant. Victory is ours and is assured. The Kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ (cf. Revelation 11:15). Glory be to God!

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Magpies is a reference to an ongoing conflict between China and Australia. Pray for that for the tensions will get very serious around the Chinese New Year, February 1, 2022.

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Who Do You Love?

Posted on August 8, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is One LORD. Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

“This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. Men shall be lovers of their own selves. . .” (II Timothy 3:1-2a).

The dichotomy between these two verses is a chasm so deep and wide, it cannot be crossed. Who do you love? That is a question that is as profound as it is conscience rending.

Who do you love? Do you love your wife, your husband, your children (not everyone does, you know). Do you love your neighbors, your community, your State, your Country? Do you love God?

Who do you love most? The commandment through Moses is to love the LORD our God with all of our heart, all of our soul and all of our strength. That is loving with everything in our being. Loving that way is self-sacrificing, self effacing, self denying. It is being willing to lose one’s life for the sake of Christ, the LORD (cf. Luke 9:24).

The Apostle’s Epistle to Timothy speaks to a different love, the love of self. Loving one’s self most will lead to being “covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (II Timothy 3:2b). Loving one’s self will not lead to self sacrifice, self denial; rather will lead to one seeking by any means to save his life. Loving one’s self is ego centric, self promoting, self centered, and self preserving.

In his Epistle to the Philippians the Apostle says it causes him to weep for those who walk in self love, saying “they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Philippians 3:18b-19).

Self love is carnal, immature, undisciplined, and promotes only personal gain. This is the antithesis to the Gospel of Christ. The Apostles set forth through their lives and Epistles the true message of love:

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live; yet, not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

“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).

“If any man love God, the same is known of Him” (1 Corinthians 8:3).

Who do you Love?

This is a question we would all do well to give some serious contemplation. The answer to this fundamental question may well re-orient our lives and set us on a new course. It is a probing question that only the Holy Spirit can fully resolve in our hearts. Be exhorted to spend some time in prayer on this all important matter; meditate upon it, and find your answer. Your destiny awaits.

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Are You Vexed?

Posted on August 5, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“For that righteous man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds” (II Peter 2:8).

Vexed: to torture, pained, tormented, tossed, toil

We live in a crazy world where up is down, in is out, round is square, bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter (cf. Isaiah 5:20). Sometimes it is maddening. One is hard-pressed not to be very vexed.

Solomon said, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

We can look around at others, but are we vexed at our own peccadilloes? Those small, annoying sins like white lies, bad thoughts, envies, jealousies, lusts, anger and just plain disgust with the way things are.

The Apostle said of himself, “O, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). Who hasn’t quoted that verse a time or two?

Being vexed could be cause for depression, even despair. But being vexed can also be a good thing. It can be motivating, inspiring even. What if you are so vexed, you just can’t stand it anymore and it just drove you to your knees, to prayer, to crying out to God for change, for healing, for deliverance?

In answer to Paul’s own desperate “wretched man” cry, he said, “I thank God, through Jesus Christ our LORD!” (Romans 7:25a). Yes, Jesus is still the answer.

Lot was a righteous man living in Sodom, (yes, that wretched place). where his soul was vexed daily with the unlawful deeds of the wicked. God sent angels to rescue him and his family, “For the LORD knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished” (II Peter 2:9).

The Psalmist cried to the LORD, “Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak; O, LORD, heal me for my bones are vexed” (Psalms 6:2). Vexed to the bone. That is deep vexation of soul, bones and marrow. Aren’t you glad we have a merciful Savior, Who hears and answers prayer and the cries of our heart?

The Gospels and Acts are filled with stories of those who were vexed. Jesus and the Apostles met every need (Matthew 15:22; 17:15; Luke 6:18; Acts 5:16). Jesus is the answer to every vexing thing.

When Israel was vexed by their enemies, God raised up a deliverer: Prophets like Moses and Joshua; Judges like Samson and Gideon. Are you vexed? This time is your time. God is calling you. There is a mantel for you (I Kings 19:19); an anointing for you (I Kings 19:15-16), an impartation for you for such a time as this.

“Arise, shine; for Thy Light is come and the Glory of the LORD is risen upon Thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people; but the LORD shall arise upon Thee, and His Glory shall be seen upon Thee. And the Gentiles shall come to Thy Light, and kings to the brightness of Thy rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3).

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