Breathe On Me, Breath of God

Posted on March 29, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew. That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure; until with Thee I will one will to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly Thine; till all this earthly part of me glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with Thee the perfect life of Thine eternity.

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Edwin Hatch (1878) (1835-1889)

The Pentecostal Presence of Christ as wind is the Breath of God. In Acts 2:2 the “sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind” that “filled all the house where they (the disciples) were sitting” was a mighty breath from the Father that imparted the gift of the Holy Spirit of promise. The Greek word translated wind is pnoe (pno-ay) meaning respiration. God the Father breathed the wind of the Spirit into the upper room and brought the Pentecostal Presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit to the disciples gathered there. This word, pnoe, is also found in Acts 17:25 and is translated breath. In the Apostle Paul’s discourse on Mars Hill in Athens he said regarding God, “Neither is worshipped with men’s hands. . .seeing He gives to all life and breath, and all things.” (From A Paradigm of the New Testament Church, (A Revelation of Christ in the Apostolic, Prophetic, Charismatic, Pentecostal, Evangelical and Missionary Church) James E McCardell, (2004) An unpublished manuscript.

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The God Who Answers By Fire

Posted on March 27, 2021 by AntiochCMI

The Prophet, Elijah spoke to all the people of the Land and said “call upon the name of your gods, and I will call on the Name of the LORD: and the God that answers by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered and said, ‘It is well spoken'” (I Kings 18:24).

The God who answers by fire is alive today. He is speaking to us. Can you hear Him out of the fire? The God who answers by fire is Holy and the Fire of God is Holy Fire. The fire of God is a refiner’s fire (cf. Malachi 3:2). The fire of God melts silver. The fire of God melts gold. It is very hot. Are you feeling the heat?

The Prophet, Isaiah, asks “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings” (Isaiah 33:14b)? The fire of God is Righteous. The fire of God is pure, and a purifier of the heart.

We are in the Kingdom of God. It is an everlasting Kingdom that cannot be overcome. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews declares: “Wherefore, we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29).

Our God is a consuming fire, ponder that for a day. Meditate upon that for a season. What needs to be consumed by that fire in me, I ask? What needs to be melted in me so that the impurities may be removed; so the dross can be taken away leaving only the pure gold; leaving only the divine.

Elijah built an altar and laid a bullock upon it for sacrifice and called upon the Name of the LORD. He cried, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the LORD God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, the LORD, He is the God; the LORD, He is the God!” (I Kings 18:36b-39).

It is time to turn from Ahab and Jezebel, who serve foreign gods. It is time to turn from the prophets of Baal, the Ashtoreth, and other false gods and goddesses. It is time to turn from Molech, to whom Israel made their children pass through the fire and were consumed. These are the days of Elijah. It is time to put away our false gods and serve the Lord with “reverence and godly fear.” How long must we halt between two opinions? (cf. I Kings 18:21a).

The Apostle Peter tells us that in the end the God Who answers by fire will answer one last time. He writes: “The heavens and the earth which are now, by the Word of God are being kept, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. . .for the Day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (II Peter 3:7, 10-12).

“Our God is a consuming fire”! is the sum. He is the all consuming One. Who can live with Him? Who can live on the sun? Who can live in a fiery furnace? As Isaiah did well ask, “Who can dwell with the devouring fire”? To which he answered, “He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly;. . .” (Isaiah 33:15a). The one who walks by faith, the one who abides in the Son, the one who has surrendered his flesh to the flame, and lives in the Spirit. The one who has abandoned his pride, and “walks humbly with his God” (cf. Micah 6:8b).

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Entering the Rest

Posted on March 24, 2021 by AntiochCMI

From Land of Promise. V. Shiloh

Shiloh, place of tranquility, security and safety, you were the resting place for the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle in the days of Joshua in the Land of Promise (Joshua 18:1). It was in you, Shiloh, where the lots were cast for the division of the Land to the Tribes (Joshua 18:8, 10; 19:51). Eleasar, the Priest; Joshua, son of Nun; Caleb, son of Jephunneh, the Kenezite and all the other Elders and Heads of the Tribes were there at the door of the Tabernacle before the LORD as you, Shiloh, were given as an inheritance to the Tribe of Ephraim.

The Priests, the Levites as well, were given their Cities to dwell in, along with their pasturelands for their cattle according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses (Joshua 21:2). You were witness, Shiloh, to all these promises fulfilled to the children of Aaron, through Levi, the sons of Kohath, Gershon and Merari (Joshua 21:1-42).

Shiloh, you were so blessed when Hannah came to you to make her prayers and cries to the LORD before Eli, the Priest. When she came with her husband, Elkanah, the Kohathite, to offer the Shelem, the offerings of peace and fellowship before the LORD. Hannah, barren, and so desiring of a son came to the Tabernacle “in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:10). Shiloh, did you hear Hannah when she “vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of Host, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thine handmaid, but will give unto Thine handmaid a man child; then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head”? (1 Samuel 1:11).

Shiloh, the LORD, indeed, heard the prayer of Hannah and gave her a son whom she called Samuel. He is destined to be a prophet, priest and judge in Israel; and he is coming to live in the Tabernacle of the LORD. See his linen ephod, specially made for him by Hannah, his mother. And Samuel “did minister unto the LORD before Eli the Priest” (1 Samuel 2:11,18).

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The Word of God is Sharp

Posted on March 21, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“For the Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

The Word of God is Sharp (Greek: Tomoteros, from Temno, to cut, more keen). The implication is that the Word of God makes a clean cut because it is very keen to matters of the heart. To be keen is to be: sharp, penetrating, discerning, sensitive, perceptive, piercing, clear, observant, powerful.

How interesting and fascinating that the writer of the Epistle inserts these words in describing the Word of God: powerful, sharper, piercing, discerner of the heart. Yes, indeed, the Word of God is very sharp and is keen to make the exacting cut in the circumcision of our hearts.

The Apostle tells us regarding this cutting of the heart, in the spirit of it, that this is the true sign of being of the faith of Abraham, the Father of Faith. “He is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:29).

The Word of God is Sharp, keen to discern the heart: it’s very thoughts and intentions. The hidden, secret things of thoughts. The hidden, secret things of intentions. No room for duplicity here. All is exposed; all is laid bare. We have been found out by the Word of God. Yes, sharp, indeed. Very keen.

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

Repentance is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? Yes, and the Word of God brings us there. LORD, we repent. LORD have mercy, LORD forgive, LORD be gracious to us and let your face shine upon us. LORD, lift up the light of your countenance upon us and give us your peace. (cf. Numbers 6:25-26).

LORD, you are so faithful to fulfill all your Word spoken by the prophets and apostles in their day. Even Moses, great prophet of God foresaw the glory of grace, as he wrote: “And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul that thou mayest live” (Deuteronomy 30:6).

Thank you, LORD, for Your Word. Very sharp, very keen. Oh, how we love you for it, and by it we shall live.

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Where The Spirit of The Lord Is

Posted on March 16, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“Where the Spirit of the LORD is there is Freedom” (II Corinthians 3:17). So wrote the Apostle by the inspiration of the Spirit within.

Where the Spirit of the LORD is not there is tyranny, bondage, slavery, oppression and abuse of power. The Pharaoh’s, Kings, Dictators, Chairman and Czars will demand their quotas from their subjects and require it of their taskmasters over the people (cp. Exodus 1:11). Sin is the cruelest taskmaster of all.

Where the Spirit of the LORD is there is Truth. “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth” (John 14:16-17a). “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all Truth” (John 16:13a).

Where the Spirit of the LORD is not there is a Lie. “For this cause God shall send them strong delusion [Beware of Delusion 2/14/21] that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:11-12).

Where the Spirit of the LORD is there is Light. “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, and God said, ‘Let there be Light! And there was Light'” (Genesis 1:2b-3). Jesus said to them “I am the Light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life” (John 8:12).

Where the Spirit of the LORD is not there is Darkness. “And this is condemnation that Light has come into the world, and men loved Darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

“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” (1 John 1:7). “For God Who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6).

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.

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Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come

Posted on March 14, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Arise, Saints of God,* rise clothed in Light; your Light has come and the glory of the LORD shines over you.

For, though darkness covers the earth and dark night the nations, the LORD shall shine upon you and over you shall His Glory appear;

and the nations shall march towards your Light and their kings to your sunrise.

Lift up your eyes and look all around; they flock together, all of them, and come to you; your sons also shall come from afar, your daughters walking beside them leading the way.

Then shall you see, and shine with joy, then your heart shall thrill with pride: the riches of the sea shall be lavished upon you and you shall possess the wealth of nations.

Camels in droves shall cover the land, dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all coming from Sheba laden with golden spice and frankincense, heralds of the LORD’s praise.

All Kedar’s flocks shall be gathered for you, rams of Nebaioth shall serve your need, acceptable offerings on My altar, and glory shall be added to glory in My Temple.

Who are these that sail along like clouds, that fly like doves to their dovecotes?

They are vessels assembling from the coasts and islands, ships from Tarshish leading the convoy; they bring your sons from afar, their gold and their silver with them, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel; for He has made you glorious.

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An Oracle of Isaiah 60:1-9 New English Bible (NEB)

*Jerusalem

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Jericho

Posted on March 7, 2021 by AntiochCMI

From Land of Promise: II. Jericho: Walls of Resistance Fall Down

Jericho, guardian of Canaan, you stand tall over your plains with impenetrable walls and towers, bars and gates, a mighty fortress with imposing stature no mortal man can dispossess. But outside your walls is holy ground, where Joshua, with shoes removed, lies prostrate before the Captain of the LORD of Hosts, who has come to the aid and comfort of the armies of Israel (cf. Joshua 5:14-15). Within thee, Jericho, is a righteous one, Rahab, whose faith has saved, and by her acts of kindness and succor to the spies, she shall find refuge in the Camp of Israel, along with all that are with her in her father’s house (cf. Joshua 6:25).

Jericho, though your walls are great and high; yet, those within you are full of fear, and terror, and their hearts do melt from hearing of the mighty deeds of the LORD, the God of heaven and earth (cf. Joshua 2:9-11; Exodus 15:16). Though you are shut up with none going out and none coming in; yet, the word of the LORD has been uttered to Joshua, son of Nun, “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor” (Joshua 6:2).

Jericho, seven days are determined for you and then your end shall come. Six days the armies of Israel shall compass your gates with the Ark of the Covenant of the Almighty. On the seventh day there shall come a mighty shout from all the people, and with the sounding of the trumpets (showphars) of rams’ horns from the seven Priests, your mighty walls shall fall flat and the armies of God shall ascend (cf. Joshua 6:5).

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An Oracle of Praise

Posted on March 6, 2021 by AntiochCMI

From the Prophet Isaiah

O LORD, Thou art my God! I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy Name, for Thou hast done wonderful things. Thy counsels of old are Faithfulness and Truth.

Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud, the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

In this Mountain [ZION] shall the LORD of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

He will destroy in this Mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death in Victory; and the LORD God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth, for the LORD hath spoken.

It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD, we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His Salvation.

For in this Mountain shall the Hand of the LORD Rest. . .

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Isaiah 25:1, 3-10a

Rejoice Saints of God. Death has been swallowed up in Victory. The LORD is our Salvation. Wait on the LORD. He is Faithfulness and He is Truth. We are living in Mount Zion and feasting on good things. Our reproach has been removed. Enter His Sabbath Rest.

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The Depth and Height of the Love of Christ

Posted on March 2, 2021 by AntiochCMI

The Epistle of the Apostle and our own experience tell us we are “rooted and grounded in love” in Christ Jesus. Oh, indeed, what a love it is! It is broad, it is long, it is deep and it is high; and it is well beyond our human understanding; but comprehended only in the wonder of revelation by the Spirit of our God (see Ephesians 3:17-19).

Love is comprehended as Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. Dwelling in us, yes; but more–rooted and grounded deep within. It is a deep planting in the heart that continuously bears fruit in word and deed. It is actively working in us and producing the Life of God, Who is Love, as an expression of a gracious flow of His Nature, Essence and Being. We become godly [Mystery of Godliness, 1/24/21] and manifest the “fulness of God.”

Lest we think this is too high a thought, it is exactly the thought of the Apostle who wrote: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). According to the dunamis (Gr. miraculous power, force, ability, might, strength, wonderful work) of God in us by the Holy Spirit actively producing the deep love of Christ in the Saint.

This is the love that suffers long, is kind, bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things (see I Corinthians 13). Yes, it is too high, too deep, too broad, too wide for merely mortal man; but not for the Spirit-filled Saint, who by the grace of God can “do all things through Christ who empowers”(Gr. endunamoo) him (Philippians 4:13).

As deep, wide, high and long as the love of Christ is; it is also true there is no “height, nor depth. . .(that) shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our LORD” (Romans 8:39). What a marvelous contrast to ponder. Nothing outside can separate us from what we have inside, in our hearts by faith.

As we read the Scriptures, let us come to understand that what the Apostles were given, we are given. What the Apostles left us as an inheritance of the “Apostles Doctrine” (Acts 2:42), we have an apostolicity that flows to us and to our children today. The same Spirit that was poured out on them at Pentecost is the same Spirit that flows in us now. May we continue in that same fellowship and communion and prayer; for the fruit of that same Spirit is Love.

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Of a Contrite and Humble Spirit

Posted on February 27, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose Name is Holy; I dwell in the High and Holy Place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

The Hebrew word for contrite is dakka and means crushed to powder; it is derived from another Hebrew word, daka which means to crumble, to bruise, to beat to pieces, break in pieces, to crush. This is the one to whom the High and Lofty One looks to make His abode, His dwelling place.

David (the Beloved) wrote: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite (crushed and broken) heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise (look down upon, disdain)” (Psalm 51:17). This is the nature of the Lamb, the Sacrifice acceptable to God and received of God as the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. Jesus was crushed [Black and Blue, 1/6/21] for you, for me and for all.

The High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity is One Who revives, One Who resurrects, One Who restores and reconciles; and we are the beneficiaries of His Goodness, His Grace, His mercy, His faithfulness, His Love. If you have been crushed, broken, beaten to pieces by sin, by evil, by cruelty, look! your Redeemer lives!.

Jesus said, “Come unto Me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

David wrote in another Psalm: “The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18). See how near His Presence is when you cry to Him for help. He comes to make you His dwelling place; to revive you, to restore you, to lift you up, to raise you up and bring you to Himself. Jesus said, “that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3b).

The Prophet Isaiah wrote concerning the magnificent greatness of the LORD, who created all things, whose throne is in Heaven and the earth is His footstool; yet He says “to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My Word” (Isaiah 66:2b).

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

A contrite and humble spirit: Oh, so precious in the sight of God. Oh, so wonderful in His eyes. To these will He look; to these will He make His dwelling place, His habitation. These He will receive, but the rich, the arrogant, the proud He will send away empty.

“Humble thyself in the sight of the LORD, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). Yes, even to where He is in the Heavenlies.

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