The
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.
The
Collect.
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L
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ORD, we pray thee that thy grace may
always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good
works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God
should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all
things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make
the Captain of their Salvationperfect through sufferings. 11 For
both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which
cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy
name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children
which God hath given me. (Hebrews
2:9-13)
It is impossible to fully describe, in human terms, all of the
qualities and attributes of the Lord, our Savior; however, God has spoken in
terms that lend human understanding to heavenly things which we could not
otherwise even begin to grasp. Our text today answers to our need of yet
another dimension in which Christ is made manifest to us in all of His glory
and character. He is the Captain of our Salvation, and made the
perfect Captain thereof by His final passion and suffering outside the gates of
the City of Jerusalem.
As lieutenants to this Captain, as priests before the High Priest of
God – Jesus Christ – and under-shepherds to the Great Shepherd of our souls,
His ministers and people have received a high commission in Christ to bear His
authority and to represent His love and compassion here on earth as we await
His soon coming. Christ is not the Captain of hundreds or of thousands, but of
all who have found their salvation in Christ as the very Elect of God. His
Commission comes from the highest authority and was accepted with joy and not
constraint as are all commissions. A man cannot be commissioned to military
rank unless he does so voluntarily and with the utmost authority to the highest
office of the government. The same is true of Christ. Christ,with full
knowledge of the cost, gladly accepted the commission of sacrifice and
compassion granted by the Father. We, too, must gleefully and voluntarily
accept the commission to be fishers and teachers of men and women.
A military captain is commissioned for the purpose of leadership in the
dire cause of the nation. Jesus Christ was commissioned Captain for the dire
cause of Heaven and for our Salvation. He is not only our leader, but our
Captain of such admirable qualities as to lay down His life for His soldiers.
The Authority of our Captain is the full Authority of the commissioning
power – God the Father. Christ acts with the full Authority of God the Father.
He grants His ministers, too, insofar as they are faithful to His Holy Word,
the authority to act on His behalf and in His Name. If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I
proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
(John 8:42)
The military captain has authority to appoint and promote lesser
officers of the command, and issues orders beyond which the subordinate
authority may not act. So are we commissioned as subordinates to Christ having
His full authority to act within the limits of His Orders – the Holy
Scriptures! And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles ……(1 Cor
12:28)
The Captain is the keeper of the Muster Roll of His unit. Christ is the
authority that maintains the Muster Roll of Heaven. He calls our name at the
morning formation, and we answer HERE, Sir! If we hear not His
Voice, we have no part with Him and our names are not on His Muster Roll - And
there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
whatsoeverworketh abomination, or maketha lie: but they which are written in
the Lamb's book of life. (Revelations 21:27) His Trumpet Call is
the signal to rally at the Ensign, and await His orders.
The Captain of our Salvation does not follow in the line of battle, but
leads His troops into the fray from the forward-most edge of the battle area.
Christ has preceded us in death that we may also rise with Him in life. He has
fought the dreadful Dragon called Satan, and has won the Eternal victory for
us.
The Captain of our Salvation, like a captain of the army, gives Words
of direction and encouragement constantly to His troops. The long passages of
these encouragements are our daily Bread in Christ.
Our Captain has authority to either grant privileges, or to withhold
privileges according to the workings of His Divine Will.
Our Captain is a Captain of War against all unrighteousness. Though He
loves peace, the animosity and violence of the world forces His Sword to be
unsheathed. Think not that I am come to send
peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matt
10:34) Even the modern church itself has wilted in failures of courage to
accept the mandate of Heaven that the church is not to be the church
vainglorious, but the Church Triumphant!
The Captain supplies the accoutrements of war to His soldiers. They are
well equipped to meet the enemy on the field of battle. Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on
the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of
the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
(Ephesians 6:11-17)
A wise captain of the nation puts his best soldiers in the line where
most needed. So does our Captain choose those most fit for the mission – the
most learned in the arts of spiritual warfare, the most practiced, and the most
valliant.
Our Captain puts the welfare of His soldiers first. He is willing to
die in their defense. Need I describe the cost of Christ for our Salvation?
Our Captain has perfect knowledge and intelligence of the wiles of the
enemy. He knows the disposition of his maneuver elements, and He knows the weak
points of His defenses. He surveils the battle area before He engages His
forces. He takes great care to never put at unnecessary risk His loyal soldiers.
I am so grateful and so encouraged to have such a Captain whose Mind
has provided for every contingency for me. I can count on His orders
(Scriptures) as being of proven veracity and worth. He has supplied all things
for my needs, and He desires that I not sit in the trenches, but advance behind
Him to the enemies forward lines.
Are you a soldier whose Captain is the Lord?
