Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Posted on February 26, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever shall be.

Chorus: Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest; sun, moon and stars in their courses above; join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercies and love.

Chorus:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth. Thine own dear Presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!

Chorus: Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

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Thomas Obediah Chisholm (1923) (1866-1960)

Of all the great attributes of our Father, oh, how wonderful to know Him in His Faithfulness. We are so blessed.

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How Beautiful Upon the Mountains

Posted on February 24, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says unto Zion, Thy God Reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)

From Moses on Mount Pisgah to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration it is on the mountain that we shall see the Glory of the LORD. It is in the high places in Christ that we shall obtain the knowledge of the Most High. In that place we shall know peace; in that place we shall proclaim good tidings of good. In that place we shall publish salvation and declare to the Saints, “Thy God Reigns!”

In the Mountain of the LORD “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the goat; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Oh, how beautiful, indeed! We walk and run and dance in the solitary place, the secret place, the sheltered place, under the wings of the Most High (cf. Psalm 91:1). David learned to dwell there in all his trials and tribulations: “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me upon my high places” he wrote so majestically (Psalm 18:33). In the cave of Adullam, hiding from King Saul, David was in his “high places” in his spirit (cf. 1 Samuel 22:1). Some of the most beautiful of his Psalms were written there. It is the place to publish peace and to proclaim good tidings of good. . .in the Mountain of the LORD, in Zion.

“You have come to Mount Zion, to the City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels; to the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect. You have come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

Write from your prison, speak from your place of confinement, speak from the darkness surrounding you, for you are living in the Christ Dimension on the Holy Mountain of the LORD, and it is beautiful here.

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The Holy Seed

Posted on February 21, 2021 by AntiochCMI

The Scriptures have much to tell us regarding the Seed of the LORD (see Ezra 9:2; Isaiah 6:13 for direct reference). The Apostle Peter writes: “But you are a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a Peculiar People, that you should show forth the praises of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light” (1 Peter 2:9). Moses wrote in Exodus 19:6 “And you shall be unto Me a Kingdom of Priests, and an Holy Nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the Children of Israel.”

The Prophet Isaiah tells us the Redeemed of the Lord shall walk on a “Highway. . .called the way of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it. . .but the Redeemed shall walk there” (Isaiah 35:8a,9b).

The Holy Seed walk on a Highway called Holiness prepared for us by the Holy One Who walks on that Highway before us. The Apostle John wrote: “These are they which follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb” (Revelation 14:4).

The Holy Seed are Born Again of the Holy, Incorruptible Seed of the Word of God. In his Epistle Peter says we have been “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). The Holy Seed lives not according to the flesh (the corruptible seed), but according to the Spirit (the incorruptible).

The Apostle John in his Epistle says the Holy Seed is without sin. He writes: “Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin for His Seed remains in him; and he cannot sin because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9). This is a mystery that is difficult to explain. What we can understand in the most simple terms is this. Christ is without sin. On that we all agree. Those who are “in Christ” are in the sinless One, the Holy One, the Lamb of God “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John also tells us, “as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:17 “But he that is joined unto the LORD is One Spirit.” So we, being the Holy Seed dwelling in the Holy Seed (the Son of God–Jesus) are joined to Him in the same Spirit and that union is a Holy Union, a Sinless Union, a Sanctified Union, a Perfect Union of spirit to Spirit in Oneness of Nature, the Divine Nature of Christ Jesus. Peter says further that we have been given exceeding great and precious promises and by these promises we have become “partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4b).

We walk by faith, not by sight. We do not live after the flesh, for if we live after the flesh we shall die. But we are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Romans 8 is a special word and revelation given to the Apostle Paul. He says the “Righteousness of the Law can be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit’ (Romans 8:4). Perfection is in the spirit joined with Jesus.

The Holy Seed are called Saints. We hear a lot in our world today about identification. It is time for the Holy Seed to identify as Saints. It is time to let the sinner tag go. He died and was buried in the waters of baptism and was raised in the newness of Life. Walk in Holiness in the Holy One, and walk on the Kings Highway with the Redeemed of the LORD on a way called Holiness, as we walk and live in Zion, the City of our God.

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Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Posted on February 19, 2021 by AntiochCMI

What a fellowship, what a joy divine; leaning on the everlasting arms. What a blessedness, what a peace is mine; leaning on the everlasting arms.

Chorus: Leaning, leaning. Safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrims way. Leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day. Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Chorus:

What have I to dread, what have I to fear; leaning on the everlasting arms. I have blessed peace with my LORD so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Chorus: Leaning, leaning. Safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

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Elisha Albright Hoffman (1887) (1839-1929)

Leaning on Jesus!

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Beware of Delusion

Posted on February 14, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (II Thessalonians 2:11).

In an earlier post [Mystery of Iniquity, 1/13/21] we stated: It is a dangerous thing, indeed, to reject the Gospel, or to turn from the love for the Truth. Paul says to those who reject the Truth, you are in grave danger of becoming subject to “strong delusion, that you should believe a lie” (II Thessalonians 2:11). Believing the lie condemns us to damnation, even those who take “pleasure in unrighteousness” or iniquity (cf. II Thessalonians 2:12).

Delusion (Gr. plane (plan’-ay)) means from the Greek word planos, deceiver, seducing (spirit); fraudulence, straying from orthodoxy or piety; error.

The Apostle John wrote in his Epistle “We are of God; he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (plan’-ay) (1 John 4:6).

To some degree then, everything becomes spiritual. The question is of what spirit are we? (cp. Luke 9:55). There are those who speak truth from sincere hearts; and those who are deceivers, frauds, seducers, impostors, and who intentionally mislead.

The Apostle Paul exhorted the Church at Ephesus: “That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:14-15).

So then, there comes a line of demarcation, a dividing line between light and darkness, between truth and error, between good and evil, between righteousness and iniquity. If we willfully choose darkness, error and iniquity, we are in danger of then sincerely believing these things to be the right path; and we are in further danger of God Himself turning us over as the Apostle states “to a reprobate mind” (cp. Romans 1:28).

Saints of God, for the love of God, beware of delusion. Today we are challenged with propaganda, an agenda driven media, false prophets, psy-ops of intelligence agencies (foreign and domestic), and deception of the highest order from all quarters (political, religious, commercial, financial and social).

Jesus warned us: “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. . .For there shall arise false Christ’s and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:11,24).

Be lovers of God, lovers of the Truth, lovers of the Word of God, lovers of the saints of God and we shall be kept from the spirit of error, from all manner of deception, lies and the evil influence of seducing spirits.

As Paul says to the Thessalonians: “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, Brethren, beloved of the LORD, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Whereunto He called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ” (II Thessalonians 2:13-14).

Yes, saints of God keep yourselves in the Truth, walk by faith, and the very God of peace will guard you, preserve and protect you, and keep you in the love of God in Christ until His appearing at the end of this evil age. Maranatha! Even so, come LORD Jesus!

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An Oracle for the Ransomed Ones

Posted on February 13, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Words of hope from the Prophet Isaiah

Isaiah 41:11-16

NOW shall all who defy you be disappointed and put to shame; all who set themselves against you shall be as nothing; they shall vanish.

You will look for your assailants but not find them; all who take up arms against you shall be as nothing, nothing at all.

For I, the LORD your God, take you by the right hand; I say to you, ‘Do not fear; it is I who help you.’

Fear not, Jacob, you worm and Israel poor louse. It is I who help you says the LORD, your ransomer, the Holy One of Israel.

See, I will make you a sharp threshing-sledge, new and studded with teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them and reduce the hills to chaff.

You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away and a great gale shall scatter them. Then shall you rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

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New English Bible (NEB)

The Lord has ransomed us from all those who defy Him. A great gale, a mighty revival by a move of His Spirit, shall sweep over the Land. It is coming! It will be glorious and we shall all rejoice together.

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Lead Me To Calvary

Posted on February 12, 2021 by AntiochCMI

King of my life, I crown Thee now; Thine shall the glory be, Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow, Lead me to Calvary.

Chorus: Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid, tenderly mourn’d and wept; Angels in robes of light arrayed, Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Chorus:

Let me, like Mary thro’ the gloom, come with a gift to Thee; show to me now the empty tomb, Lead me to Calvary.

Chorus:

May I be willing, Lord, to bear daily my cross for Thee; even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me.

Chorus: Lest I forget Gethsemane; Lest I forget Thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.

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Jennie Evelyn Hussey, (1921) (1874-1958)

We sang this wonderful hymn over and over in my young, tender years growing up in Pennsylvania. These hymns reside in the spirit eternally. Thank you, Lord, for birthing this in my spirit today.

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Crossing the Bar

Posted on February 10, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep, too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell, and after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place the flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have crost the bar.

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Alfred Lord Tennyson (1889) (1809-1892)

Crossing the bar to see My Lord face to face. I think I will rest well contemplating the wonder.

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Deliver Us From Evil

Posted on February 9, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13).

Deliver (Gr. rhoumai, rescue) is a powerful verb that signifies salvation from the evil one, who comes not but to “steal, kill and destroy” (cp. John 10:10a).

Salvation, rescue, deliverance come to us because we are in the Kingdom of God; we are in the Power and the Glory of the Holy One Who reigns in Righteousness.

This great salvation, rescue and deliverance are evident throughout the Scriptures: e.g.:

Zacharias, father of John the Baptist prophesied at the naming of John, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel: for He has visited and redeemed His people. . .” may He “grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear” (Luke 1:68,74).

The Apostle Paul requested special prayer from the Church at Rome “that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints” (Romans 15:31).

In His second epistle to Corinth Paul wrote: “Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver; in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us” (II Corinthians 1:10).

To the Colossians: “Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).

To Thessalonica: “And to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, Who delivered us from the wrath to come” (I Thessalonians 1:10). “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for all men have not faith” (II Thessalonians 3:2). “Persecutions, afflictions which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured; but out of them all the LORD delivered me” (II Thessalonians 3:11).

To Timothy: “Notwithstanding the LORD stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the LORD shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly Kingdom; to Whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen” (II Timothy 4:17-18).

The Apostle Peter declared: “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).

Lord, show us Thy great Salvation in this dark hour. Rescue us from the mouth of the lion. Deliver us from evil. Amen.

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He Has Nothing In Me

Posted on February 7, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Jesus said to His disciples, “hereafter I will not talk much with you for the prince of this world is coming and has nothing in Me” (John 14:30).

He “has nothing in Me” is a powerful rebuke to the evil one who was coming through his minions to do his biding and to work his will in the earth. Jesus was fully prepared for the battle; and the judgment He would execute on evil and the sin of man would be devastating.

“Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12:31). The Pure One, the Holy One, the Righteous One was standing in His place to defend the Truth. The evil one, the prince of darkness, the “prince and power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) was about to be defeated and cast out.

He “has nothing in Me” means that Jesus had nothing in Him to which Satan could lay claim. There was no connection, no synergy, no concord; for “what concord has Christ with Belial?” (II Corinthians 6:15a). There was no yoking together, no fellowship, no agreement, no “communion of light with darkness” (cf. 6:14).

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LORD Almighty” (6:17-18).

The prince of this world has come. Does he have anything in you? If so, cast it out, purge it out. The Apostle exhorts us, “Purge out therefore the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (I Corinthians 5:7). Christ, the pure and spotless Lamb, the One in Whom darkness had no claim, the unleavened One has been offered for us that we might become as He is. Indeed, we have become, as the Apostle said, “unleavened” and the prince of this world has nothing in us. We are a new lump, a new loaf, a holy people, the saints of God Almighty. Hallelujah!

The prince of this world comes, but he has nothing in me. What a statement of triumph over sin; what a statement of victory over the darkness, what a glorious testimony over evil. What a powerful witness to the glory of Christ Jesus, our LORD and King. Amen.

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