Approved of God

Posted on June 25, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“You men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by Him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22).

Approved (Def): (Gr.): Apodeiknumi from Apo and Deiknuo: To set forth, to show, or demonstrate as accredited

There is a testimony, or witness that must come from another, and not from ourselves, as to the worthiness, suitability, or fitness for ones service in a vocation, or for an institution for education, or other professional entity or establishment. Accreditation is an official recognition of ones particular status or qualifications to hold title or honor in a particular activity or endeavor.

Approved of God is an endorsement of Jesus, Son of God, Messiah, the Apostle used in his testimony before the people on the Day of Pentecost concerning Jesus of Nazareth. There is no higher accreditation to be had than the approved of God motif.

The Father approved of His Son by granting Him power to perform miracles and wonders. Jesus used this approval of the Father in His answer to John the Baptist when John sent two of his disciples to inquire of Him:

“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples.  They said unto Jesus, ‘Are you He that should come, or do we look for another’? Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see.  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.  Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me'” (Matthew 11:2-6).

Jesus was approved of God by miracles and wonders. Signs also were given to the people that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. At His baptism:

“And Jesus when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying ‘This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased'” (Matthew 3:16-17).

The Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans, writing concerning Christ, states:

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God (which He had promised before by His prophets in the Holy Scriptures) concerning His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:1-4).

Approved of God who raised Christ from the dead by His power through the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 8:11) was a sign given by the Father to the world to testify and certify that Jesus is His Beloved Son and the Savior of the world to all who will believe.

Miracles, wonders and signs all testified of Jesus, the Son, but there is also another standard by which to measure and that is the standard of obedience. Here again the Scriptures declare Christ to be approved of God:

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

Approved of God is the standard by which all must come as He is the Righteous Judge of all. There is only One whom the Father has approved and that is the Son. Fortunately for us there is hope for all, as the Apostle writes in his Epistle to the Corinthians:

“For the Father has made the Son to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21).

You, too, can be approved of God through the Cross, through the Blood of the Lamb, through the Resurrection, and you can have Eternal Life in the Son, our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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The Sound From Heaven

Posted on June 20, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2).

Sound (Def): (Gr): Echos: A loud reverberating and resonating noise, echo

As we read the account of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost we can miss something very significant. We tend to focus on the “tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3b). We also focus on how “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). But what of the sound from heaven?

The Sound from Heaven was an echoing, reverberating and resonating noise like “the sound of a rushing mighty wind”. This sound echoed, reverberated, resonated and filled the whole house where the disciples were sitting. The sound was very loud. Some say the sound of a tornado is like the sound of a freight train. A tornado is a rushing mighty wind, is it not? So, this sound from heaven must have made a similar sound. Of couse, there were no trains in those days, so it must have been confusing to those who heard it. Yet, this sound, along with the disciples speaking in other languages drew the people from throughout the entire City of Jerusalem to that house.

The Gospel writer describes Jesus as an Echos, a reverberation that “went out into every place of the country round about”. The translators translated the Greek word Echos as “fame” in the text of Luke 4:32, but we can easily see how fame can reverberate and resonate like a sound of Him who did the mighty deeds.

The Sound from Heaven was also evident at the giving of the Law of Moses on Mount Sinai as recorded in the Epistle to the Hebrews:

“For you are not come unto the Mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound (Echos) of the trumpet, and the voice of words which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more” (Hebrews 12:18-19).

So, we see at both the giving of the Law and the giving of the Holy Spirit there was a similar manifestation of the Presence of God that is as a sound from heaven like the sound of wind. The wind, along with other symbols, represents the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3:8). So, the Holy Spirit comes with manifestation as evidenced by the happenings at Pentecost. The miracles of Christ also testified to His Deity (cf. John 10:37-38). Wherever the Presence of Christ is, there is a reverberation and resonating of Him that goes out from Him to draw the people in.

What can we say to these things? Does the Presence of Christ reverberate to others around us? Do we resonate with the power of the Holy Spirit? Does the nature of the Lamb echo and redound to the Glory of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? The Sound from Heaven will be in full manifestation when the genuineness of the Spirit and Life of the Son of God is in our midst and will draw the people in. They are coming, are we ready? The Apostle Peter was ready at Pentecost and preached the Gospel of Christ to the people and three thousand were added in one day. Then the Book of Acts tells us the disciples were “praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).

Let the Sound from Heaven go forth! Let us reverberate and resonate with the Presence of Christ Jesus. May the sound of His Life go forth throughout the land and testify to Him, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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Yes, I Know, Be Quiet

Posted on June 15, 2024 by AntiochCMI

The sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Lord will take you master from your head today?’ Elisha replied, ‘Yes, I know it, hold your peace;” (II Kings 2:3).

Hold your peace: (Def): (Heb): Chashah: To hush or keep quiet, be silent, be still

The prophetic gift gives insight into things to come. This gift which Jesus said would be given by the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:13) is evident in the Body of Christ today, as it was evident in the days of Elijah among the “sons of the prophets”, established in the days of the Prophet, Samuel and continued under Elijah. These prophets gathered in schools for common worship, united prayer, fellowship and instruction for the benefit of the people (cf. I Samuel 10:5, 10; II Kings 4:38,40). In the days of Elijah and Elisha these schools were located in Bethel, Jericho and Gilgal (cf. II Kings 2:3,5; 4:38).

Having the prophetic gift does not compel one to broadcast everything the Spirit reveals. Indeed, as the Apostle wrote to the Church at Corinth, “the spirit of the prophet is subject to the control of the prophet” (I Corinthians 14:32).

In our story the imminent departure of Elijah was revealed to the prophets at Bethel, and as we can see subsequently, was also revealed to the prophets at Jericho (II Kings 2:5). So, Elijah knew he was leaving, Elisha knew he was leaving, the “sons of the prophets” knew he was leaving, but Elisha’s reply to all of it was “Yes, I know, be quiet”.

With the prophetic gift the wisdom of God is desperately needed at all times. The wisdom of Solomon was on display when he wrote:

“A time to rend and a time to sew; a time to keep silent (Chashah), and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

Knowing when to keep silent with what you know requires discipline. Trusting people with secret things of the Spirit requires discretion. Keeping secret things secret requires integrity.

How many times after a miracle did Jesus command the recipient of the benefit, “see you tell no one” (cf. Matthew 8:4).

When returning from the Mount of Transfiguation, “Jesus charged His disciples, saying ‘Tell the vision to no man until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead'” (Matthew 17:9).

When Simon Peter answered the Lord when He asked them “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”; “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:13b, 16), Jesus gave His disciples strict instructions on the matter by charging them to “tell no man that He was Jesus, the Christ (Messiah)” (Matthew 16:20).

Did you have a vision? A Dream? An Angelic visitation? Wonderful. Be careful, however, with whom you share it. Not everyone will receive it. Jesus gave us wise advice when He said,

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6).

Do you have the prophetic gift? Use it wisely. Speak, share in the timing of the Lord. There may be a time when the Lord says, Chashah, be quiet, just as Elisha said to the other prophets regarding the departure of Elijah. The Apostle wrote to the Church at Colossae.

“For this cause we also do not cease to pray for you and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10)

The prophetic gift is a precious gift of the Spirit (cf. I Corinthians 12:7-11). We need the prophetic gift to be in operation in the church today. We also need the wisdom of the Lord to be evident in those who move in the gifts. There may be a time when the Spirit of the Lord says, Chashah hush, keep quiet, be silent, do not speak, be still. There just may be a time when you can say with Elisha, Yes, I know, be quiet. May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you always, even to the end of the age.

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The Turning

Posted on June 12, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“Unto you first God having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:26).

Turning Away (Def): (Gr.): Apostrepho from Apo and Strepho: To turn away from or back

The earth turns continually on its axis, is constantly in motion as it turns in its orbit around the sun. Turning is an essential component of life. Our very existence depends on turning. This is true of the natural order of things and it is certainly more true in the arena of spiritual things.

The Apostle Peter in our Scripture text was speaking to the people after the miraculous healing of the lame man at the Temple Gate called Beautiful. Having the attention of all the people who gathered together to see the man who was healed, the Apostle glorifies Jesus and tells the people how blessed they are that God would first bear witness to them of His Glory by raising up Jesus, His Beloved Son, to bless them by drawing them to Himself and turning them away from their former lives in wickedness.

Many years ago I was with a group traveling on the Interstate. We had been going East on the Freeway when we suddenly realized we were going in the wrong direction. We should have been on the Westbound road. It would have been very foolish to continue going in the wrong direction; so, we turned around at the next exit and headed West. We lost several hours of time, but it was better to change course than to continue the wrong way.

Turning away from our sinful ways is a conviction, a sudden realization, an awakening to the fact we are on the wrong course, heading in the wrong direction and we desperately need to turn away from the direction we are going. When the realization hits us that we are going in the wrong direction, it is very humbling to acknowledge our mistake. Humbling ourselves in the face of our errors is actually a most blessed experience when we see it in the right light. The Apostle James said:

“He gives more grace, wherefore, He says, ‘God resists the proud, but gives gace to the humble'” (James 4:6).

When we humble ourselves and turn away from our sins, we are enabled to do so by receiving grace for just that purpose. We might say, “I cannot do it”, but the grace of God comes to our aid and enables us to do what we could not otherwise do in ourselves. That is why the Apostle Paul could say,

“By the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet, not I but the grace of God which was with me” (I Corinthians 15:10).

To the Church at Ephesis, the Apostle wrote:

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).

Brother, Sister, are you ready to turn away from your present course? Are you ready to yield to the Grace of God and move in the right direction, move in the way you have been shown to proceed. Are you ready to humbly move in the flow of God’s will for your life? Stop being stubborn, stiff necked and self-willed. You are doing yourself no good continuing on the course you are currently going. You are heading East and you should be going West. You are going North and you should be going South. Turn around for goodness sake!

Are you ready for The Turning? Your turning? Your new course that will take you in the right direction toward God? Toward God, the One who “raised up His Son Jesus, and sent Him to bless you, in turning you away from your iniquities” (Acts 3:26).

You know this message was written just for you. Do not ignore it. Act upon it and be blessed with the love of God in His Beloved Son, Jesus, our Lord.

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Living By the Brook

Posted on June 5, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“The Word of the Lord came to Elijah saying, ‘Get hence and turn eastward and hide by the Brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.'” (I Kings 17:3).

There are seasons to life in the Lord. Seasons of great work and mission, seasons of rest and refreshing, seasons of trouble and distress, and seasons of hiding out in God. Elijah was in that fourth season, hiding out in God.

Elijah had just confronted the King, Ahab, and announced, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain three years, but according to my word” (I Kings 17:1b).

Sometimes God euphomistically “paints us into a corner” whereby we suffer the same fate as everyone else by the prophetic word we spoke. We are not exempt from but are rather brought under the same conditions others are experiencing which conditions we created by the mouth of the Lord. We cannot escape it, or run from it, less we error or stray from the will of God ourselves. The Prophet, Elijah, found himself in such conditions as he experienced living by the brook.

Living By The Brook is a hiding place, a place of protection from our enemies, from those who seek to do us harm. But, alas, God has us covered. “It shall be that you shall drink of the Brook and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there” (I Kings 17:4).

Elijah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to the Brook and dwelt there. “And the ravens brought him bread, and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the Brook” (I Kings 17:6).

We can only imagine a day in the life of Elijah during this time. Alone, in the solitude of the Spirit, Elijah communed with the Lord daily. He drank from the Brook and was fed bread and meat from the King’s table. No public activity, no crowds of faithful followers, no meetings, conferences, revivals and missions. Just alone, living by the Brook in communion with the heart of the Father, under His provision, protection and favor.

Living by the Brook is not a permanent condiion. It is a season. It will come to an end, as it did for Elijah: “And it came to pass after a while the Brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land” (I Kings 17:7). It was now time to move on by the word of the Lord.

Brethren, in what season are you now living? If perchance you are Living by the Brook be encouraged. Take advantage of all that the Lord has for you in this time. Be enriched in communion with Him, be grateful for His provision, His protection and love. Enjoy His blessings and favor. At just the right time He will let you know when it is time to move on to your Zarephath in Zidon, to the one He has commanded to sustain you there.

Whether Prophet or saint, we all live by faith and that faith is given by the Word of the Lord. Be listening, obey what you hear, go where He sends you, whether for a long time or short season, it is all as He wills, purposes and plans. Our lives are not our own, we belong to the Lord.

For now, living by the Brook is a season to enjoy being in His Presence and in communion with Him.

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Obedient to the Heavenly Vision

Posted on May 28, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“Whereupon, O king, Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19)

Heavenly Vision (Def): (Gr.): Ouranio Optasia: Celestial Gazing at Something Amazing

The Apostle was captured in a moment by the brilliant Light from Heaven, the Light of Christ exploding before him on that road that day at noon; that Light that shone brighter than the sun in the zenith of its glory; that Light that forever shown through the life of the Apostle in every aspect of his being.

This Heavenly Vision was not a one-time encounter that faded into memory; no, this Heavenly Vision, this Ouranio Optasia, was a lifetime experience that became the North Star of his mission.

There are moments in life that become defining. Paul’s Heavenly Vision of Christ became the definition of his life. “For to me to live is Christ!” (Philippians 1:21a). The all-consuming passion, “That I may know Him!” (Philippians 3:10a). The boundless purpose, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The desire of the heart, “If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). Obedient to the Heavenly Vision, indeed.

Despite all challenges, hardships, persecutions, trials; whether beatings, prison, shipwrecks, poisonous snake bites, cold, nakedness and peril, the Apostle could boldly say to the King at his hearing before him: “Whereupon, O king, Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19).

Obedient to the Heavenly Vision is a demonstration of true faithfulness to the call of God, and the revelation of Christ in the life of a servant of the Lord to his Master. Grace, gumption, committment, dedication, consecration and surrender are the ingredience of one who has been transformed into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.

Have you experienced your celestial gaze on something amazing? Have you had your Ouranio Optasia? Have you been captured, apprehended, arrested by the Holy Spirit and the Heavenly Vision of Christ?

The Beatific Vision awaits us where for all eternity we gaze upon His face and behold His Glory. The Vision for this lifetime comes from the Light from above. It may not be as dramatic as that of the Apostle, but seeing the Light of Christ through the eyes of faith will take you to where He is “on the right hand of God” where you are seated with Him in the heavens (cf. Ephesians 2:6).

Let this ever be set before you and may you never let it go. Obedient to the Heavenly Vision is an epitaph worthy of an Apostle and no less of you. Be true and faithful to it and great will be your reward.

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The Secret Soul

Posted on May 22, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“If you will not hear, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and my eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive” (Jeremiah 13:17).

Secret (Def): (Heb): Mictar from Cathar): A concealer, covert, hidden

The Prophet Jeremiah, commonly known as the weeping prophet, was a true intercessor for his people, Israel. He continually called for them to turn to God and secretly wept sore over them in deep intercessions and cries to the Lord.

His Book of Lamentations fully expresses his grieving and prayers for the nation gone into captivity in Babylon. The Secret Soul is like that. One who continually offers up prayers “with strong crying and tears unto Him who is able to save from death” (Hebrews 5:7).

The Secret Soul while active in public is also a solitary figure who in the quiet place of the Spirit is continually active in prayer and intercessions “with groanings that cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). True Shepherds know this place. Isolated and alone in the hills and valleys of the soul where the winds of the Spirit blow freely carrying the words of the Lord into the depths of the spirit of the Prophet, who in turn, turns them into expressions of deep sorrow and cries to God for the people.

It is not for himself he cries, but for the people he weeps, the depths of which are unknown to many, but the few go there often. “Deep calls unto deep” (Psalm 42:7). The Secret Soul goes deep into the Spirit and finds the richest treasures there.

There is a call going out to “hear and attend” (Jeremiah 13:15). There is an exhortation to “ascribe glory to the Lord your God before the darkness falls, before your feet stumble on the twilit hill-sides, before He turns the light you look for to deep gloom and thick darkness” (Jeremiah 13:16). For this The Secret Soul weeps in isolation in the solitary place of the Spirit. “If in those depths of gloom you will not listen, then for very anguish I can only weep and shed tears, my eyes must stream wtih tears; for the Lord’s flock is carried away into captivity” (Jeremiah 13:17).

The Prophet pleads for the self-willed to repent, for the conceited ones to humble themselves before the Lord.

“Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and you humbled yourself before Me, and did rend your clothes and wept before Me, I have even heard you also, says the Lord” (II Chronicles 34:27).

It is not too late to turn. It is not too late to listen and hear. It is not too late for the Lord to be merciful. The Secret Soul prays earnestly for it to be as the Lord wills to spare, to revive, to restore the people to Himself.

Are you listening? Are you hearing? Are you ready to turn? The Secret Soul is praying for you now.

“Today, if you hear His voice” say yes!

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The Space Where Angels Dwell

Posted on May 15, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“Elisha prayed and said, ‘Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes that he may see,’ and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (II Kings 6:17).

There is a space to which access is available by the Holy Spirit, but few there are who enter therein. The Prophet Elisha was one of those few who lived in a dimension of the Spirit that made every day a day of calm assurance of the Presence of the living God regardless of circumstance, dangers or attacks of his enemies.

At the moment of his prayer for the eyes of the young man to be opened Elisha was staying in Dothan. The army of the King of Syria surrounded the city by night. The young man upon rising in the morning went out and “behold an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. The servant said to Elisha, ‘Alas, my master! how shall we do?'” (II Kings 6:15). Whereupon Elisha made his prayer for the young man’s eyes to be opened.

This entering in the space where angels dwell is a special place for us to dwell while still inhabiting a temporal place in time and space in the earth realm. We live in mortal bodies, and inhabit material homes. Elisha was dwelling in Dothan in a house, but occupying a spiritual dimension where chariots of fire are seen.

Elisha was the only one among the prophets in his day who witnessed the departing of Elijah, though all were watching from a distance from the surrounding hills (cf. II Kings 2:7).

It was at that time that Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit. Elijah responded:

“‘You have asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so unto you; but if not, it shall not be so.’ And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and cried, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.’ And he saw Elijah no more; and Elisha took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan” (II Kings 2:10-13).

Elisha was the only one who saw the chariots of fire and the horseman thereof, though many of the prophets were observing them walk along the way. Elisha saw them because he occupied the space where angels dwell.

Others have lived in this space: Abraham, Jacob, Daniel, Ezekiel, are a few who come to mind. Whether “caught up into heaven” (cf. II Corinthians 12:2), or observing them from earth the space where angels dwell is open. In describing this special place in his book on Elijah, the great writer, F. B. Meyer writes concerning Elisha:

“To see the transactions of the spirit world requires a spirit of no ordinary purity, and of no ordinary faith. No mere mortal eye could have beheld that fiery cortege. To senses dulled with passion, or blinded by materialsim, the space occupied by the flaming seraphim would have seemed devoid of any special interest and bare as the rest of the surrounding scenery. Perhaps there was not another individual in all Israel with heart pure enough, or spiritual nature keen enough, to have been sensible of that glorious visitation. Had we been there, we should probably have been unconscious of anything, save the sudden disappearance of the prophet. But since Elisha saw it all, it is clear that his passions were under control; his temper refined; his spiritual life in healthy exercise; and his whole being of such an order as to admit him into the foremost rank of the spiritual world without risk. Such must we be, by the grace of God, before we can aspire to possess or wield similar powers. Our reception of the Spirit will be in exact proportion to the subjection of the flesh and the consequent vigor of our inner life.” (F. B. Meyer “Elijah”, p.173).

The space where angels dwell is open. Has your inner life been piqued? Has your heart been pricked to open to the realm of the spirit? This place was prepared for us by the Savior (cf. John 14:2). It has been there all the while you lived on earth. Let’s go!

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Bid Me Come to You

Posted on May 6, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“Peter answered Jesus and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28).

Bid (Def.): (Gr.): Keleuo from Kello: To urge on, to incite. order, command

There are moments of extraordinary faith that arise in our hearts that need encouragement, incitement by a word of authority, an assurance from a higher authority, that what is in our hearts to do is not reckless, not an emotion driven zeal, not a foolish notion, or act of daring, but a supernatural impulse to do something in the realm of the impossible. Such was the case with the Apostle in the boat, in the sea, with turbulent wind and crashing waves all around; yet, there in the midst of it all stands the Lord, walking on the water.

Walking On the Sea

“Now the ship was in the midst of the sea, tossed with the waves; for the wind was contrary. In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:24-25).

In the middle of the storm, in the middle of the night, the fourth watch, between three and 6:00 a.m., Peter sees the Lord and an exceedingly great faith arises in him and he speaks to Jesus with eyes fixed on Him in His majesty on the Sea, and cries out, “Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water”.

What prompted such faith? What incited such a response in the circumstances? Was it not the word of the Lord that came to Him from the glory of Jesus on the water?

“Straightway Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid'” (Matthew 14:27).

Peter, upon hearing these words, says, “Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You“. Lord, if it is you, urge me, incite me, order me, command me to come to You walking on the water.

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of the Lord” (Romans 10:17).

Peter heard the voice of Jesus. He heard the word of the Lord. “It is I”. He cries, “If it is You, bid me come to You.” Whereupon Jesus replied, “Come”! (Matthew 14:29).

Beloved, are you in the middle of something? Is there a turbulence, a shaking, a struggle, something contrary to a peaceful pathway? Are you in danger, are you being threatened, being challenged beyond your ability to cope? Be of good cheer, do not be afraid, Jesus is here with us in the middle of everything, walking among us in the impossible. Cry out to Him as Peter did, “Bid me come to You!”. Ask Jesus to incite you to faith. Ask Jesus to urge you on in the fight. Ask Jesus to order you and command you to come to Him. He is waiting right there in the middle of it all, on the sea with tossing waves and blustering wind, right there where you are. Reach out and He will hold you up and you will experience faith, exceedingly great faith, supernatural faith beyond what you could have ever imagined.

“Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Let the word of the Lord work in you. Receive it, act upon it, respond to it. Faith awaits you too, just cry as Peter did, “bid me come to You!”. If you will respond in faith, you will be amazed at what God can do through just one who believes.

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The Inspiration of God

Posted on April 21, 2024 by AntiochCMI

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17).

Inspiration of God (Def): (Gr): Theopneustos from Theos (Divinity) and Pneo (Breath, Wind): Divinely breathed in

There is a divinely breathed in life that we are all called to live, but few there are who come into it in fullness. The competition of other things pulling us away is a constant interference with actually living out the inspired life.

Inspiration of God is the breath of the Divine that inspired the Apostles and Prophets to write the Scriptures (Gr. Graphe–recorded word) for our profit in “doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness”. The inspiration of God leads the man of God into the maturity and supply of the Spirit for every good work to which he may be called.

Jesus described the Theopneustos as the wind of the Spirit in His conversation with Nicodemus recorded in John 3:

“The wind (pneuma) blows (pneo) wherever it is inclined, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell from where it came, and where it is going; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

There are three converging elements to living by the Inspiration of God: the Wind of the Spirit which carries the Word of the Lord to the hearer which creates the faith to walk out that which was heard.

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Wind, Word, Faith, these three, lead us into the Life of God in Christ. There is a discipline required of the disciple to be sensitive to the Wind, having our hearts open to hear the Word from the Wind and the obedience to walk out by faith the message heard. This is truly living the breathed in life by the Inspiration of God.

The songwriter captured the essence of the divinely breathed in Life of the Spirit with the words:

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.

Edwin Hatch (1878), (1835-1889)

Living the breathed in life is living the eternal life promised to us who believe. Entering into eternal life is for the believer now. By being born from above or being born again we enter the breathed in life of the Wind, Word and Faith. “The just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11) is the essential truth of living by the Inspiration of God.

Are you ready to be inspired of God? Are you ready to enter into eternal life? Are you ready to live the breathed in life of the Wind, Word and Faith? Come to Jesus. Let Him draw you into His Life. Learn of Him and begin to live by the Inspiration of God for so is everyone called who is born of Him.

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