The Mystery of Our Change

Posted on February 6, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed” (I Corinthians 15:51).

The Apostle was given a revelation of the mystery of our transformation, our change from the “corruptible to the incorruptible, and from the mortal to the immortal” (cf. 15:53).

What a wonderful hope we have in Christ Jesus at His appearing. Amazingly, we are living in the time pointed to in the Scriptures in which it is going to happen! Our generation is witness to the fulfillment of so many prophesies spoken of by the Prophets that we should all be living in a joyful expectation of the coming of the LORD.

The Apostle tells us this “change” will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed” (15:52).

In a millisecond, in the snap of a finger, as a lightning strike, in an instant, our corruptible, mortal bodies shall be changed to incorruptible, immortal and glorified bodies. What a glorious promise from the Lord!

To the Church at Thessalonica Paul wrote: “For the LORD Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then, we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air; and so shall we ever be with the LORD” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Job, that righteous man of God, saw this day from afar and declared, “If a man die shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come” (Job 14:14).

That is where we are today; and as for me; yes, I will live all the days of my appointed time and earnestly wait, fervently desire and continually look upon the face of My LORD “till my change come.”

Maranatha! Even so, come LORD Jesus!

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Wise As Serpents, Harmless as Doves

Posted on February 2, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Excerpt from Land of Promise, Chapter IV–Gibeon, Wisdom, Humility and the Fear of the Lord

Gibeon, City of the Hills, we look to you for you have given us a glimpse into the mysteries of the Fear of the LORD, and submission to the Almighty. You have shown us your humility with great wisdom in your interplay with the LORD of Hosts. Who was it amongst your elders who so adroitly proposed the ruse you used to save your lives? Your craftiness and cleverness was as “wise as serpents, yet harmless as doves” (cf. Matthew 10:16). But, your ruse did rouse the wrath of the Kings of Canaan, who have now become your enemy. Adonizedek, King of Jerusalem; Hoham, King of Hebron, Piram, King of Jarmuth; Japhia, King of Lachish; and Debir, King of Eglon have heard how you have entered into covenant with Joshua and the Tribes, and they have determined to join in League for War.

Yes, by subtelty and on pretense of coming as ambassadors from afar, with your dry and moldy bread, your cracked wineskins, old shoes and garments, you have come before Joshua and the Elders of Israel and have declared: “We are your servants. . .we are in your hand” (Joshua 9:11,25). This you did from your awe of the LORD and the things you heard of Him: His mighty deeds in Egypt and beyond Jordan with Sihon, King of Heshbon, and Og, King of Bashan; and now have witnessed what was done to Jericho and Ai. This you knew, as Rahab did in Jericho, to be in accordance with the command of the LORD given to Moses to take all the Land, and to destroy all the inhabitants thereof (cf. Joshua 9:24). Therefore, in your faith you went unto Joshua and have now by Oath of the Treaty joined with Israel, and so shall remain in the Land.

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The Benjamin of God, The Son of the Right Hand

Posted on January 31, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Excerpt from Land of Promise, VIII. Gibeah–Redemption, Forgiveness and the Love of God

Gibeah, you hold not only the workings of the “Mystery of Iniquity” (cp. II Thessalonians 2:7); you hold also the “Mystery of the Gospel” (cp. Ephesians 6:19, and the “Mystery of God’s will” (Ephesians 1:9). For out from iniquity, ruin and sin, from the shameful death of the concubine (Judges 19:1-30) has come forth the virgin daughters of Shiloh to be joined to the Benjamin of God, the Son of the Right Hand (cp. Genesis 35:18; Psalms 80:17; Ephesians 1:20). “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” says the Apostle (II Corinthians 11:2).

“Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem” (Zephaniah 3:14). “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King comes unto thee: He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

Yes, enter in you wise virgins. Your Bridegroom has arrived! The cry has gone out, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes, go out to meet Him!” The wedding feast has been prepared and the marriage of the Lamb has come (cp. Matthew 25:1-13).

“I will bless the LORD, Who has given me counsel; my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand (Heb. Yamiyn), I shall not be moved. . .Thou will show me the path of Life; in Thy Presence is fullness of joy; at Thy Yamiyn there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:7-8,11). Yes, the Yamiyn (the Right Hand) is the place of the King, and the Ben-Yamiyn, the Benjamin of God, the Son of the Right Hand. He has become our King who reigns forever, even the One Who became sin and Who as an offering for sin was cut off from the Land; but Who was also raised again to Life and given a Kingdom with all authority and power over all the kingdoms of the world, “For the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15; cp. 12:10).

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In the Beginning

Posted on January 30, 2021 by AntiochCMI

IN the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The earth was [became] without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, “Let there be Light! and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.

In Him was Life; and the Life was the light of men.

And the Light shines in the darkness; and the darkness cannot overcome it.

THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life;

(For the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal Life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

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.

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Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5; 1 John 1:1-4; II Corinthians 4:6

As it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen.

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Weep and Howl You Rich

Posted on January 29, 2021 by AntiochCMI

From the General Epistle of James

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.

Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is for the Last Days that you have stored up your treasure!

Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.

Be patient, therefore, Brethren, until the coming of the LORD. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and latter rains.

You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand.

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The General Epistle of James Chapter 5:1-8

This is a timely prophetic word for our day. Be patient saints of God, Our cries have “reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” He is coming soon. Maranatha!

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A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Posted on January 27, 2021 by AntiochCMI

A mighty Fortress is our God. A Bulwark never failing. Our Helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great; and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing. Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is He, Lord Sabaoth His Name; from Age to Age the same, and He must win the battle.

And though this world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us. We will not fear for God has willed His Truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him. Amen.

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Martin Luther (1529) (1483-1546)

I love the last line of this glorious hymn: “One little word shall fell him,” JESUS!!!

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The Mystery of Godliness

Posted on January 24, 2021 by AntiochCMI

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh; justified in the Spirit; seen of angels; preached unto the Gentiles; believed on in the world; received up into glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).

Godliness, translated from the combining of several Greek words means to be of the nature of one well revered. Having the nature of means to be as that one is, who is well revered, godly. This is a great mystery. How can the ordinary man be as God? On the flip side what if God became the ordinary man? Without controversy, or to be confessedly true that is exactly what the Gospel declares God did do of a truth.

God was manifest in the flesh. Immanuel: God with us. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth” declared the Apostle John in his Gospel (John 1:14).

There, in the hypo-static union of God and man, there was Jesus, the Son of God/Son of Man, in one body after the similitude of Adam from a virgin birth of one called Mary, of the lineage of David, just as the prophets said it would be (cf. Isaiah 7:14).

Justified in the Spirit. Justification: to render innocent, righteous. The Spirit of God declared Jesus to be entirely righteous, holy, pure, blameless, undefiled and worthy of Eternal Life. The demonstration of Christ’s worthiness and proof of His entire holiness, His sinless perfection was the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Seen of Angels. Angels ministered to Jesus from the announcement of His birth to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:30-31) and the Shepherds in the field (Luke 2:8-15); to Christ’s temptation in the wilderness by the Devil (Matthew 4:11). Angels ministered to Jesus continually and were at His grave to announce His Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-6). Angels were there at the Ascension to declare to the Apostles that “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11).

Preached unto the Gentiles. The Gospel has been preached in all the world as a testimony to every nation, language and tribe from the time Christ commanded His disciples to “Go, therefore, and teach all nations. . .to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Believed on in the World. Today there are believers in every nation, regardless of the regimes in power, suffering under repression and persecution, imprisonment and torture, for whom the world is not worthy (cf. Hebrews 11:38).

Received up into Glory. After His resurrection Jesus was with His disciples for forty days speaking to them concerning the Kingdom of God. Then, “when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9).

Yes, the Mystery of Godliness is a great mystery, indeed, But as a mystery is only a mystery while it is hidden, the full disclosure is being revealed to us by the Spirit of God. Yes, even to our ears, and our hearts. May “the eyes of our understanding be enlightened and may we know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the Saints” (cf. Ephesians 1:18).

Godliness, the nature of one well revered. May the nature of Jesus, the One most revered, be seen in us today.

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The Wise Man

Posted on January 21, 2021 by AntiochCMI

Jesus said, “whoever hears My sayings and does them, I will liken to a wise man who built his house upon a Rock.

The rain descended, and the floods came; the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not for it was founded upon a Rock.

Everyone who hears My sayings and does them not shall be likened to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand.

The rain descended, and the floods came; the winds blew and beat upon that house; and great was the fall of it.”

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Jesus is the Rock: the Chief Cornerstone, the Rock of Ages, the Solid Rock upon which we stand. He is my Rock, my Fortress, my Strong Tower, my Bulwark, my Strength.

Lord, may we be counted among the wise with our house securely founded in You alone.

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On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

Posted on January 20, 2021 by AntiochCMI

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.

Chorus: On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

Chorus:

His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

Chorus:

When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in Him be found; dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the Throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

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Edward Mote (c. 1834) (1797-1874)

My Rock, my Lord, my Hope, my All.

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This Is My Father’s World

Posted on January 18, 2021 by AntiochCMI

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world; I rest me in the thought, of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise; the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world. He shines in all that’s fair; in rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget; that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world; the battle is not done; Jesus Who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heaven one.

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Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1901) (1858-1901)

What a wonderful old hymn that we can still sing with joy.

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