This is the third issue of the
AOC Sunday Report. At the request
of Bishop Jerry Ogles, the Faithful Centurion’s Sunday Report has morphed into
the AOC Worldwide Sunday Report.
Bishop Jerry asks each of the parishes to contribute to the report, some
as they have in the past others for the first time. If you have any suggestions for change, please send them to
Bishop Jerry or me, rev_hap@faithfulcenturion.org.
Mothers
Day - 11 May 2014, Anno Domini
Mothers
Day 2014
Everyone’s mother is SPECIAL, and rightly so.
We owe our physical as well as social and spiritual (to an extent) being to our
mother. At a time when our minds are easily influenced and molded, our
mothers taught us earliest the meaning of right and wrong, courtesy and respect
for others – especially our elders – and a love and regard for the great Being
to whom we owe our Creation.
When just a toddler I can remember my mother going
about her daily chores singing many of the great old hymns of the Church.
They still ring in my mind’s ear today….What a Friend we have in Jesus…..Alas,
and did my Saviour Bleed…..At the Cross…..In the Garden…..Love lifted
me…..Abide with me…..The Church’s one Foundation…..Onward Christian
Soldiers…..Amazing Grace…..and on, and on. Their beautiful words and
melody have sustained me when times were difficult, and they have called me
back home when I was oft a prodigal.
When I could barely speak and understand, my
precious mother would sit me on her knee and tell me about Jesus. I did
not understand her explanation of why He died for me, but I knew that He did it
out of an unknowable love because mother had said it. When I asked her
where I came from, she answered from heaven…..and I believed it. We came
from His Holy Presence as He had fashioned our members in the womb, from the
Father, “trailing,” as Longfellow has said, “clouds of glory.”
I later went off to West Point and later to the
service. I wandered away from some of the lessons my mother taught
me. But ever in my memory were her words and her songs. Always and
hauntingly they came back to my mind as consoling angels. My mother
taught me that character mattered, that purity in all matters affecting life
was the rule, and that love was greater than all else.
In May of 1991, my mother was taken to the hospital
with chest pains. The physician did not consider them life-threatening,
but admitted her to a private room for observation. That night my mother
suffered a massive heart attack which destroyed much of her heart. The
Doctor told us that she only had about 23% of usage left in her heart and that
her outlook was grim. If she survived, she would never again be able to
work in her treasured flower gardens or do anything else of note. I knew
mother would not be happy in that sad state.
On the Saturday night before her death, she asked me,
“Son, will you pray that I go easy?” I tried to make light of her comment
and told her she would be fine, but she insisted. I did pray that the
Lord would allow my mother’s passing to be ‘easy’ and painless. Sunday
morning, the Doctor called us in for an impromptu meeting. We feared the
worst – and got it! The physician had gone in to see my mother around
10:00 A.M. on Sunday morning. She was in a light-hearted mood and
responded to the doctor’s joking comments with a smile. He said that as
he reached up to get the attendant’s chart, he looked back down at my mother
and realized she was gone. Just like that! His heroic attempts at
reviving her were futile. But mother had a great day beyond our
knowing. She had gone to be with her Lord, Redeemer and Saviour – on
Mother’s Day.
Jerry L. Ogles
Presiding Bishop
Anglican Orthodox Church
Worldwide
On Mothers
On this Mother’s Day, it is very easy for us to look
back at our mother’s life and think of all the things we like about our
mother. We like, it is all about our mother and what she did for
us. The pivotal thought seems to
be us. It is not about us, our /
us is merely an adjective to describe a particular mother. For motherhood is about
self-sacrifice. Putting the
child’s welfare above that of the mother.
The love of the mother for her children comes with a
price. The price paid is not
without return. The last
words of almost all soldiers who die in battle are either “Mom” or
“Jesus.” There is a lesson all in
of itself.
What did your mom chose? An extra child or an extra home or trailer? Your schooling, or her vacation without
you? Dental work for you or a new
car for her? Shoes for you or a
fancy dress for her?
Jesus commanded us to follow Him, He who put our
lives before His. Who on this
earth does this more consistently than mothers?
Saint James tells us in his Epistle, “Be ye doers of
the word and not hearers only.” Who on this earth does this more consistently
than mothers?
As Christians we need to uphold and recognize the
example of sacrifice in motherhood so that we might understand the sacrifice
made by God on our behalf in Jesus’ death for our sin.
Third Sunday after
Easter
Today was the Third Sunday after
Easter, the central event of the Christian year, the celebration of our Lord,
“Christ the Lord is Risen!”
On
Point
Someone asked, where do the quotes come
from? The answer is from the
people who uttered them. But, how
did you find them? Oh, that. Some from Bishop Jerry, many from Rev
Bryan Dabney, a few from other places, some from Rev Geordie Menzies-Grierson,
but overall mostly from Bryan. He
always has some great ones to share.
On to the On Point quotes –
If it were to be asked, What is the most
sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer
would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws -- the first
growing out of the last. ... A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the
vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.
Alexander
Hamilton
Essay in the American Daily Advertiser, 1794
TO
MARY VAN DEUSEN, who had
written him of her diagnosis of cancer: On his empathy for her and even more
for those in her situation who do not have faith; on the right to happiness;
and on how fear of cancer may be worse than the reality of cancer.
9 October 1955
I have just got your letter of the 3rd. The
news which it contained came like a thunderbolt—especially as the letter began
(and it was rather wonderful that it did begin) on such a trivial subject as my
book. And if that first sentence flattered my egoism, imagine how I was rebuked
when I came to the next, and was suddenly brought up against the real great
issues.
It is difficult to write because you must
know by now what I do not yet know. I can’t tell whether I am writing to one
who is giving thanks for an escape (oh how I hope you are in that position) or
to one who is right up against the Cross. Thank heaven it is His Cross and not
merely ours. I was most struck by your saying ‘It doesn’t seem too bad: for me,
that is.’ So I am sure you are being supported. (What must such a situation be
to those who are the majority, who have no faith, who have never thought of
death, and to whom all affliction is a mere meaningless, monstrous interruption
of a worldly happiness to which they feel they have a right?)
God bless and keep you: and your husband too.
You will indeed, indeed, be in my prayers. I once had a bad scare about cancer
myself, so that part I can, I think, imagine. But of course it is now, for you,
either better or worse than a scare. If the reality is worse. At any rate it
must be different. (The Litany [in the Book of Common Prayer] distinguishes
‘thine agony and blood sweat’ from ‘Thy cross and passion’, the fear from the
reality). You know how I shall await your next letter.
Jack
Lewis
The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III
Refusing or not refusing to execute a law to
stamp it with its final character ... makes the Judiciary department paramount
in fact to the Legislature, which was never intended and can never be proper.
James
Madison
letter to John Brown, 1788
On
perfection and failure
No amount of falls will really undo us if we
keep picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be very muddy and
tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready,
the towels put out, & the clean clothes are in the airing cupboard. The
only fatal thing is to lose one’s temper and give it up. It is when we notice
the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence.
Jack
Lewis
The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II
It is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
St.
Mark 10:25
He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye
therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
St.
John 8:47
You call me eternal, then do not seek me. You
call me fair, then do not love me.
You call me gracious, then do not trust me.
You call me just, then do not fear me.
You call me life, then do not choose me. You
call me light, then do not see me.
You call me Lord, then do not respect me. You
call me Master, then do not obey me. You call me merciful, then do not thank
me. You call me mighty, then do not honor me. You call me noble, then do not
serve me. You call me rich, then do not ask me.
You call me Savior, then do not praise me.
You call me Shepherd, then do not follow me.
You call me the Way, then do not walk with
me.
You call me wise, then do not heed me.
You call me Son of God, then do not worship
me.
When I abandon you, then do not blame me.
A
poem on the door of the Lubeck Cathedral in Lubeck, Germany.
Blindness and deafness in spiritual things
are worse in those that profess themselves to [be] God’s servants and
messengers than in others.
Matthew
Henry
17th and 18th century
English pastor and author
Let us never be surprised at the wickedness
there is in the world. Let us mourn over it and labour to make it less, but let
us never be surprised at its extent. There is nothing that the heart of man is
not capable of conceiving, or the hand of man of doing. As long as we live let
us mistrust our own hearts (Jer. 17:9).
JC
Ryle
19th century Anglican bishop and
author
We have been in many a trial, but we have
never yet been cast where we could not find in our God all that we needed. Let
us then be encouraged to trust in the Lord for ever, assured that his ever
lasting strength will be, as it has been, our succour and stay.
Charles
H. Spurgeon
19th century English pastor and
author
(Morning and Evening, p. 375).
They who voluntarily put themselves under the
power of a tyrant deserve whatever fate they receive.
Aesop
6th century BC Greek philosopher
and author
Today the path of total dictatorship in the
United States can be laid by strictly legal means, unseen and unheard by the
Congress, the President, or the people. Outwardly we have a Constitutional
government. We have operating within our government and political system,
another body representing another form of government— a bureaucratic elite.
William
Jenner
20th century American senator
Even years after his death, the Roman Senate
continued to cry ‘Hannibal is at the gates,’ using the peoples’ fear of
Hannibal exactly as the U.S. government and its lapdog politicians today use
the myth of terrorism. We are sacrificing liberty for ‘security’ because of the
created, imagined threat of terrorists. The government bureaucracy will never
accept responsibility for the collapsing economy, and the elite who run the
United States will never give up power...The people are now the enemy of the
state, and their remaining wealth is seen by the politicians as their solution
to maintaining perpetual power. .. All governments turn on their own people in
their final days in order to retain power... Something Americans don’t
understand: There can be no free society once government has granted itself the
power to confiscate property, imprison people under any pretext (or without a
pretext) and without charge. This is now true in America... But even in the
face of economic chaos, the United States is warmongering under one pretense or
another. War hides the crimes of government... There is plenty of historical
precedent for this, going back to the decline and fall of Rome... If you have
been reading beyond the controlled media, you know very well the seriousness of
the situation... Hannibal is not the enemy. The enemy comes from within.
Bob
Livingston
20th and 21st century
American conservative commentator
editor of the Personal Liberty Digest
The Global Warming hysteria is about absolute
power over every man, woman and child on earth... Environmentalism is wealth
redistribution on a global scale... The liberal billionaire who clamors about
sustainability likes progress. What he dislikes is the middle class with its
mass produced cars and homes... He thinks, in all sincerity, that they would be
happier and more spiritually fulfilled as peasants. It is not an original idea.
The Industrial Revolution had hardly begun revolving when the ‘Back to Nature’
crowd began insisting that it was time to learn a more harmonious life by going
back to the farm... The Soviet idea of progress was feudalism dressed up in
Socialist red. Environmentalism dresses up feudalism in Green. It seeks to
reverse all progress that we have made in the name of progress.
Environmentalism is as sophisticated as a Soviet collective farm, as modern as
the homeless people dragging bags of cans along on sticks... and as smart as a
slum made of trash. Beneath all the empty chatter about social riches and
sustainability is that need to impose progressive misery.
Daniel
Greenfield
21st century American commentator
(The Environmental Apocalypse,
4-23-14).
Propers
Each Sunday there are Propers:
special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought
prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in
the 1540s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of
Canterbury after the re-founding.
The Collect for the Day is to be
read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The
Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in
the New Testament. The Gospel is a
reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as
a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in
our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the
service in our church is read by an ordained minister.
The propers are the same each
year, except if a Red Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook,
falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White
Season, where it is put off. Red
Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in
red, are special days. Most of the
Red Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saints instrumental in the development
of the church, others to special events.
Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be
used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent.
The Propers for today are found
on Page 173-174, with the Collect first:
The
Third Sunday after Easter.
The
Collect.
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A
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LMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light
of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness;
Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion,
that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and
follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
The Epistle for today came
from the Second Chapter of the First Epistle of Saint Peter beginning at the
Eleventh Verse. Peter tells us to
live a good life, to follow the directions Jesus left us, to make ourselves
positive examples of citizen to others, to be leaders of our community, drawing
people towards God. To live out
the life Jesus commanded, to do nothing to draw ill repute on the Word of God. To be truly free and follow freedom to
where God wants us to be, not to Donkey Island, where false freedom takes so
many.
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D
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EARLY beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may
by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of
visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake:
whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are
sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do
well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of
maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the
brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Today’s Gospel came
from the Sixteenth Chapter of the
Gospel according to Saint John beginning at the Sixteenth Verse.
Jesus warns
his disciples of the events about to unfold. He is to be taken from them shortly by the painful death on
the Cross for our redemption. He
will not be with them here on earth.
Yet, after three days time He will Rise from death, having overcome
death for us. When He is gone from
us we are sorrowful, just like the disciples. He came back from death for us. And yet He was to leave again, yet not be gone from us as
the Father would send the Holy Ghost to make His abode in our hearts and bring
Jesus to us.
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J
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ESUS said to his disciples, A little while, and ye shall not see
me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith
unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while,
and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What
is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus
knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire
among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and
again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you,
That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be
sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in
travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered
of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born
into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and
your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Bishop Ogles’
Sermon
We are oft fortunate to get
copies of Bishop Jerry’s sermon notes.
Today is one of those Sundays.
Today’s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will
give you a lot to consider in your heart.
Sermon Notes
Third Sunday
after Easter
St Andrew’s Anglican Orthodox Church
11 May 2014,
Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)
The
Third Sunday after Easter.
The
Collect.
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A
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LMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light
of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness;
Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion,
that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and
follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
1 Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas
saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the
way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and
from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto
him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not
known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest
thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest
thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak
unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth
the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the
Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he
do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:1-14)
The unsurpassed serenity of the heart of Christ is so
well demonstrated in His counsel to us, moments before His passion, to not let OUR hearts be troubled. What
magnanimity is demonstrated in a heart that cares for our peace at a time when
the scurrilous clouds of pain and death hang, as the Sword of Damocles, over
His virtuous head - but with a greater certainty of fulfillment. In fact, the Lord has
only sought to lift our hearts and spirits in these last days of His Passion
and Death. Should He not occupy His mind with the thoughts of a brutally unfair
trial that looms ahead….the humiliation and suffering….the horrible death of
the Cross? Yet, instead, His heart is possessed by an undying Love for His own
whose fragile existence will be so rocked by the coming events. This is the perfect Man and the Perfect
God.
General of the Army,
Douglas MacArthur, was a stellar cadet in his early years at the US Military
Academy at West Point. He later became the Superintendent of the Academy and
made many improvements to the program there that prevail until today. Months
before his death, MacArthur delivered his Farewell Address to the Corps of
Cadets at West Point on May 12, 1962. The General concluded his remarks with: “Today marks my final roll call with you. But
I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will
be of the Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps.” Those were memorable lines
with which to conclude a remarkable and fascinating military career. But look
at the concluding words of Christ, and His Love demonstrated in them, on the
eve of an ordeal of which great men of history could never have contemplated
without an overarching obsession. Truly, He loved us until the end.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe
also in me. In the concluding
verse of the last chapter, Jesus has told Peter that he will deny Him thrice
before the cock crows. Now, He continues with the loving counsel to us ward
that we not allow our hearts to be troubled on account of events about to
unfold. These words offer comfort to Peter, but not to him alone for the
pronoun ‘YE’ is plural and signifies its meaning to each of us. There are
considerations that transcend pain, suffering and death. The kind of love that
filled the heart of our Lord, and by adoption, our own hearts, is that which
transcends death. Truth, Light, Life, Love – all transcend death for their
quality is not of the temporary expanse of this earthly life, but comes from
the Eternity of Heaven. It is not possible to have a firm faith in God the
Father without a corresponding faith in God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. As a good Hebrew Son upon betrothal to His future
Bride, He will go and prepare a place of lodging for Himself and His Bride
under the supervision of His Father. Of course, the provision is made by the
Father as well in that He has many mansions that will afford residence for the
fullness of the Wedding Feast. When preparation are complete, whether morning,
noon, or late night, the Son will come for His Bride – the Church. He prepares
a place for us in two ways at least: by dying on the Cross at Calvary thus
purchasing our redemption so that we would be made worthy through that
sacrifice; and, secondly, by ascending to the right hand of the Father to make
timely intercession for His Elect.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Noah found the only
place of security was in the Ark of God when God said unto Noah, And
the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee
have I seen righteous before me in this generation. (Gen 7:1) You will
note that God did not tell Noah to GO into the Ark, but COME into the Ark,
because the place of security is always the place of God’s Presence. Our hope
would not be full without the sure knowledge that we would be called to be with
Christ at His Coming. We shall live by the Rovers of Waters and eat of the
fruit of the Tree of Life, and every provision made for our souls in an
Eternity with Christ. We shall not hang our harps in despondency upon the
willows of Babylon, but sing our songs to Zion in the New Jerusalem prepared by
our Lord. (Psalms
137:3-4)
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Do we KNOW the WAY? If not, we are about to be told. Oftentimes, we know more
than we realize. The possession of knowledge itself is not always a guarantee
of wisdom, but knowing the means of employing the knowledge that we have is the
key to Wisdom. All of the disciples KNEW Christ, but did they truly know His
full Person and nature? As we read the Gospels, does the beauty and nature of
Christ burst upon our hearts with the warm love of KNOWING Him? Or do we simply
read dead words. If the Words of Scripture are not accented with Love and Life,
they remain dead to the marginal believer.
5 Thomas
saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the
way? If Christ says we KNOW the Way, do we believe Him? Apparently,
Thomas had yet to learn that the Words of Christ were Truth only. It is, by the
way, perfectly normal that we should at times question our faith and seek
further assurance from Christ in study and in prayer. So we mustn’t judge Thomas
more harshly than we judge ourselves. Even when we began our Bible study with a
complete trust in the Word, our studies should lead us to question and seek
fuller Light.
6 Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me. There is no Life apart from that offered in
Christ. Have you believed that there is no life apart from that granted in
Christ – that He is the Creator of life itself? All things were made by him; and
without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the
life was the light of men. (John 1:3-4) Have you believed that He is the Way (DOOR to the
Sheepfold) and that there is no other entry but by Him? If so, you will know
that He is the WAY! Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door
of the sheep. (John 10:7) Have you believed His message? Have you known Him to be
the Truth personified? But ye have not so learned
Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as
the truth is in Jesus: (Eph 4:20-21) You may know all of the above
facts intellectually, but if they have not come to be the Crown Jewel of your
heart, they are dead facts to you.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father
also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
The faith of Abraham was a great faith. It looked forward in promise and hope
to the coming of Christ. In that faith, Abraham KNEW God the Father. Without
that nature of Christ, made visible to us in His Incarnation, we could not know
the mercy, truth, and grace of God the Father. Christ is, as we would have said
in the Tennessee vernacular, “the spitting image of His Father!” In a note I
earlier shared on the Trinity, Dr. Nathan Wood (The Secret of the Universe)
illustrates its nature in terms of directions (dimensions) in space. Without
three directions (dimensions) there is no space. All three dimensions are
required to establish space. He further disannuls the claim, by some, of the
impracticability of Three Persons in one Godhead when they offer the formula,
1+1+1=3. They claim that this would cause God to be three gods. But Dr. Wood
gives the formula another way, 1x1x1=1 in which the very nature of each
component part of the Trinity equals the whole and each member totally pervades
the nature of each OTHER member.
8 Philip
saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Light
itself resides in God – the Father, the son, & the Holy Ghost. Light itself
is not visible to the human eye. It can pass through a dark vacuum and never be
seen by us, yet it is there. In order for us to know light, it must impact a
material object. That material object of god the Father is Jesus Christ. He
came in a physical body so that we may, by knowing and seeing Him, know the Father
and see the Father. Philip desired some partial revelation of the Father by
Christ not knowing that all that Christ was pictured the Father in full detail.
9 Jesus
saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and
yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
and how sayest thou then, Shew
us the Father? Jesus
exercises a patience dictated by love when answering Philip. Philip was one of
the first disciples to be called (John 1:43) yet he had not learned fully in
his heart that Christ was a full revelation of the Father. After the
Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord, we hear no more of these doubtful
questions, for the Holy Ghost will bring all things to remembrance of those
things written of Christ in the Scriptures.
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the
Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the
Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. If we look
closely, we may read a stinging rebuke to our own living testimony. All that
Christ did and said was so much perfectly representative of the Father that it
would be nigh on to impossible to miss. When men look at our actions and words,
do they see the Father with whom we, too, are supposed to be One?
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for
the very works' sake. If
you do not believe the very Words of Christ, than, at least, believe Him by His
actions and life. Can humankind raise another from the sleep of death as Christ
raised Lazarus? Can humankind restore vision to eyes that have been dark from
birth, or restore a leper, or heal the lame? Can humankind walk on water? Did
Christ these things?
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on
me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. Please do not misunderstand these words to mean that
believers can entertain with their works, or perform wonders for profit. If our
minds are conformed to the Mind of God, we shall do the works of God without
fanfare and solely to His Glory. Our works, therefore, will never be showy or
prideful, but will reflect the perfect will of God. The Lord Jesus Christ was
confined to a body while in this life. The physical limitations prevented Him
from doing that which He could accomplish on our behalf when He was at the
right hand of the Father. The Holy Ghost, our Comforter, is an omnipresent
agency whereby all things may be accomplished at all places, and at all times,
according to the Father’s will.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that
the Father may be glorified in the Son.
This does not have the meaning that many modern professors force upon it. As commissioned
agents of the Lord Jesus Christ, we do have the authority to act in His name
just as a commissioned officer of the military has the authority to act in the
name of the President; but we do not have license to act outside the purpose,
will, and intent of the authority in whose name we act. Those things that we
ask in the Name of Christ will never be things that are contrary to His will to
grant. The Father is glorified when the Redeemed of Christ ask only those
things which it is the Father’s good pleasure to grant.
14 If
ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. The charismatics have falsely insisted that we
can demand things of God and that He must grant them or break His promise. Do
you agree with this deceptive claim? Suppose we ask and God does not grant? Why
has our prayer failed? There are two primary reasons given in Scripture, all
relating to the Sovereign Will of God: 1) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it
upon your lusts. (James 4:3) or, 2) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me. (Psalms 66:18) Where may we find the perfect
solution to the dilemma we may face in the above? Why not resort to the very
counsel of Christ given in Matthew 6 - Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matt 6:9-13) What untoward request does this
prayer make? Not one! It opens with an honorific to God. It is a ‘communion’
prayer because it begins with “OUR”. It prays for our daily bread which it is
the Lord’s will to grant always. It evokes the will of God on our lives on
earth as well as it is done it heaven. It begs forgiveness for transgressions,
which are many, and perseverance against the temptations of the world. It ends
with a further acknowledgement of God, His Kingdom, His Power, and His Glory
(not ours). AMEN. There is not a single selfish request in this prayer, and it
only asks that the will of God be done – not MY will, but THINE!
Have your prayers been like unto this model of all
prayers?
Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and
Action
Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California
Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and
Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above.
We are in the Easter Season which consists of Easter
and the following four Sundays, until we get to Rogation Sunday. This is a time we should work on
centering our lives on the central figure in our religion, Jesus Christ.
Consider these words from the
Collect:
… who
showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that
they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are
admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may avoid those
things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are
agreeable to the same…
If we will listen to Him, God
will always provide the light to show us where “We have erred, and strayed from
His ways like lost sheep. Where we have followed too much the
devices and desires of our own hearts. Where
we have offended against His holy
laws. Where we have left undone those
things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we
ought not to have done[1]…” He does this so that we might return to
His Path. He does not show us
where we have erred for no reason, but rather that we might use His Light to
return to the path that brings us to His World. Then we can shine that Light
for others to see, that they might pick up their torches and bring His Light
into the darkness of the world, be it the Western Civilized Word or the Eastern
World. First we have to let His Light into our hearts before we can shine it to
others that they may see the works of His Light. Then we shall transform the
world from total darkness, to that of a total light. At least that is what we
are always striving to work towards, even when evil is often thwarting our
efforts to the maximum. If evil is thwarting our efforts than we all must put
in 110% to stop evil and combat it across the world wherever it is. We must
never, never, never, ever give up on this fight.
We must fight it wherever and
whenever we run across it. We must not let the little and big evils in this
life get us down or defeat us. We must rely on the guiding power of the Holy Ghost
and God’s unlimited grace to save the day. I know that this week, I am counting
my blessings that God gave me the grace to deal with an absolutely horrific
test situation and dealing with it. His Grace can help you out of any horrific
situation, but first you have to ask and accept His help, which is a universal
theme in our sermons here, because it is a truth and one that Jesus preached,
that is that we have to accept Him into our hearts, if we are to become truly
Christians.
I met a Navy SEAL in Guam, who
gave the most excellent sermon that we must be on the offense in the battle
against Satan, never defense. The SEAL noted that Paul did not describe any
sort of back plating whatsoever, hinting that Christianity was an offense
based, not defense based religion.
We must never our back towards the enemy, but rather face forward and
attack. The best defense is a good offense as in every case. We must never
cease our fight against Satan, for he is powerful here on earth, tricking many.
We are often outnumbered in the fight.
Numbers matter not. We must
always fight with all we have every time.
We must carry on; we must storm the beaches of Hell itself, and keep on
persevering in good times and in bad times.
Paul tells us that if we follow
Christ’s example, we will live lives like His to the extent we can. We will do good, be law abiding, work
hard, be generous to our fellow human beings, help where we can, pray for help
when we can find no physical way to help.
It may be hard to do any physical help, but if you are generous and
prayerful, you can often do good even when physical help is next to impossible.
Be good citizens, be good neighbors, take particular care of our Christian
family. In short, do what Christ
would do as far as it is in us.
Let us do our best to think in hard and trying times, what would Jesus
do in our situation, and then act in a manner most like Him. In order to make
the world a better place, we first have to start with our selves then work out
word, applying the principles of Christ to our lives. God does not ask us to be
perfect; He does ask us to do our best to try to be perfect, to follow Jesus’
lead to the extent we have it in us.
Each of us is different, some are in truth better than others. God holds us each to the same standard,
that is to do our best. Not to be
better than any other particular person, but to do our best to follow His
Instructions. Being better than
someone else is of no account, what is of account is following His Instructions
to the best of YOUR ability.
Don’t think of trying to be
better than your neighbor, think of being better than you are. Be better than
you were yesterday, if you do this, then you will improve day by day, year by
year.
In the Gospel according to
Saint John, Jesus tells of His impending bodily death and resurrection. He reminds us that if we
have eternal life, sorrow, even the sorrow of death is transient, for He has
conquered death. Any irritations or sorrows, large ones or small ones, are in
the large scheme of things (eternity that is) very small and insignificant
compared to our future with Him in heaven. We have to keep this in mind
throughout our travel along the straight and narrow upward path. His One
Sacrifice, made One Time, for All Mankind, for All Time is that joy that no man
can take from us. But, if we want
to share in that eternal life, we need to see the error of our ways in the
Light of His Light and take actions to follow Him.
Often it seems much easier to
take the path of least resistance, to quit our work at the first sign of
effort, to goof off when “no one” is looking. But in the end, the right thing to do is always the
easiest. The most profitable. The one that will result in
happiness. It might seem hard, but
it will not be as hard as doing the “easy” thing.
The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?
It is by our actions we are known.
Be of God - Live of God - Act of God
God • Honor • Country • Family
for all
eternity
As we go off on our
business, please recall this quote from GK Chesterton:
“Christianity has not been
tried and found wanting;
it has been found difficult and
not tried.”
Bishop Dennis Campbell’s Sermon
Bishop Dennis is a brilliant
speaker. He is able to take
biblical precepts and make them perfectly understandable, even to me. Oft he provides the text of his sermons
and I take the utmost pleasure in passing them on:
John 16:16-22
Third Sunday after Easter
May 11, 2014
According to Thomas Jefferson and the people who signed the
Declaration of Independence, “All men are created equal, and are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among them are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
People have differing views about what makes us happy, but one thing is
sure, we do pursue it. Most of us
spend most of our lives pursuing happiness. Many of the best selling books are about finding happiness.
Even many “Christian” books have happiness as their theme. Tim LaHaye’s How
to be Happy Though Married, and Phil Robertson’s, Happy, Happy, Happy
are examples of this.
Why do people have this preoccupation with happiness? The answer is found in the Bible, in
Genesis 3:6: “she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her
husband with her; and he did eat.”
The “fruit” is the forbidden fruit, which Adam and Eve were commanded
not to eat by God Himself. And the
result of their disobedience is the loss of paradise and the fall into misery
described in Genesis 3:7-24. That misery
includes the pain of childbirth, discord between people, even in the family,
natural disasters, sickness, death, and worst of all, the wrath of God for
ruining His world and destroying ourselves. In other words, unhappiness, a deep, deep discontent,
depression, and sickness of the soul, became the normal condition of human
existence. This unhappiness is naturally accompanied by a frantic search for
something to heal that condition, and that search has become the great quest of
human life. It is this condition
of misery that I am calling, “unhappiness,” and I am calling the healing of
this condition, “happiness.”
But is the healing of this condition possible? Didn’t God Himself say “cursed is the
ground for thy sake: in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy
life”? In one sense, God was
talking there about eating the fruits of the earth in sorrow due to the sweat
and strain and grief involved in earning a living and growing the crops. In another sense, He was saying we will
eat the curse every day of our lives.
We will partake of this great sorrow of Fallenness and Sin, and we will
partake of its devastating effects in this world, and in our lives, and in the
lives of our families and friends and communities, and even our churches, every
day for as long as we live. Even
Christ said, “ye shall weep and lament,”
“ye shall be sorrowful.”
Does God care about our condition? Should He? He
is so vast and great, and He doesn’t need us. He has everything He needs within Himself. There is a school of thought that says
God created people because He was lonely and wanted someone to love Him. It interprets the Bible as a story of
God begging people to love Him.
But that view is not accurate.
God created us to enjoy Him.
He created us to have the joy of seeing and knowing Him, of basking in
His love. He didn’t create us to fulfill a need in Him. He created us to share Himself with us.
But we have rejected Him.
We have tried to find our happiness in other things, things that do not
and cannot cure the sickness in our souls. So we naturally ask if God cares. And, those who really ponder this question ask, why should
He? What is man that He should be
mindful of us? Why should He
bother with us? We left Him. We spurned His love, hated His commandments,
and set ourselves up as gods of our own lives. Why should He care about our happiness?
I think God does care about our happiness, real happiness, which the
Bible describes as joy, peace, contentment, and as eternal and abundant
life. The disciples, in John 16,
were in great sorrow. They had
left everything to follow Christ, and He was talking about leaving them. As far as they were concerned He was deserting
them. And with Him would go all
their happiness because they defined happiness as worldly abundance and
indulgence, and that is what they thought Jesus had come to give them. But Jesus said their sorrow shall be
turned into joy (Jn. 16:20). They
shall have exceeding gladness. Is
He promising them health and wealth?
No. Is He promising them
the euphoric feelings some people confuse with happiness? No. He is talking about His resurrection, about His coming back
to them from the grave and ending their sorrow over His death. But He is also talking about more. He is talking about giving them true
happiness, real joy, abundant and eternal life. He is talking about breaking the power of sin and death and
hell that has imprisoned humanity since the Fall. He is talking about giving them life as God intended it, and
as we had it in the paradise of Eden.
Most of that will come to us in the future, when we lay down this
tabernacle of flesh and dwell with Christ in Heaven. Ultimately it will come
when Christ returns in His Second Advent to “judge the quick and the dead” and
to restore the creation to its original goodness. In that new earth He will dry every tear and all the sorrows
of earth will be will be turned to joy.
It is important to know that our Lord says this joy will come from
seeing Him. It will not come from
dwelling in the renewed earth, though that will be beautiful and
wonderful. It will not come from
the renewed bodies, pulsing with health and strength we can only imagine now,
though that will be beautiful and wonderful. Our joy, our happiness will be found in Christ. When we see
Him, everything else will seem insignificant.
Part of the message of our reading from John’s Gospel is that we can
see Jesus now, in this life, too.
True, we see through a glass darkly. True, we see with the eyes of faith
rather than our physical eyes.
And, true, our view of Christ is often clouded by fears and doubts and
the sorrows of life. But we do
see. And it is as we are true to
what we see in Him, as we know His grace, and trust His promises that we find
true happiness even in the midst of this world of woe. Beloved, see Christ
--
+Dennis
Campbell
Bishop,
Anglican Orthodox Church Diocese of Virginia
Rector,
Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church
Powhatan,
Virginia
Roy Morales-Kuhn,
Bishop and Pastor - St. Paul's Anglican Church - Anglican Orthodox Church
Bishop Roy is pastor of the biggest AOC
parish West of the Mississippi and is in charge of the Diocese of the
Epiphany.
Third Sunday after Easter
11 May 2014
Mother’s Day
Ps 36:5 1 Sam 2:1b-10 Acts 2:22-36
Mothers in the Bible
Hannah-Samuel;
Naomi-Ruth;
Elizabeth-John
B.;
Mary-Jesus;
Lois,
Eunice-Timothy
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Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted
in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy
salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is
there any rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your
mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded
with strength.
5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that
were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many
children is waxed feeble.
6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and
bringeth up.
7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from
the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of
glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world
upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in
darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven
shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he
shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
The passage from is Hannah’s prayer
of thanksgiving to the Lord for her first born son, Samuel. Hannah had been unable to have
children. She prayed that God would give her a son and she promised to give
that son to the Lord’s work. Hannah would bear a son within that year. She
dedicates him to the Lord and gives him to Eli the high priest to raise in holy
orders. Hannah would have several other children, sons and daughters.
This story of Hannah is not the
first, nor the last account of a loving mother and her children.
The mothers I have listed are just
a few of the stories we can read in the Bible that will give us the great
example of a loving mother.
In the story of Naomi and her
daughter-in-law Ruth we find a mother who will love her son’s wife as her own
child. The story is that Naomi and her husband and two sons will go live in
Moab. After a while Naomi’s husband dies. Her two sons marry local girls and
then they die. Naomi feels that it is time to return home to Judah. She tells
her two daughter in laws that they should return to their own people. One does
the other stays with Naomi. Ruth tells Naomi that her people are Ruth’s people,
her God is Ruth’s God. This declaration speaks volumes about how Naomi must
have treated her daughter in laws. There was great respect here.
So as the story continues Naomi and
Ruth return to the town of Bethlehem. Naomi has a relative there who is quite
wealthy, a major landowner and farmer. Ruth offers to glean the fields of this
kinsman of Naomi to the two of them will be able to eat. The kinsman, Boaz by
name notices Ruth. He wants to help Ruth because of her kindness to Naomi.
The rest of the story is the
wonderful concept of redemption. Ruth is married to Boaz, she bares him a son
named Obed. Obed has a son named Jesse who is the father of David. How is this
redemption ? Ruth was a stranger to the people of Bethlehem. She was ‘adopted’
by her mother in law. From this great act of love Ruth will be part of the
lineage of David who is in the lineage of Jesus. What a loving mother Naomi was
to her daughter in law.
Elizabeth, a faithful wife of a
priest in the tribe of Levi who was named Zacharias, will suffer the shame of
being childless. In the narrative we find the angel Gabriel bringing great news
to two families. When Mary, a virgin, was told by Gabriel that she would conceive
of the Holy Ghost a son, who would be named Jesus. The angel would certify the
miracle of the virgin birth with the miracle of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth’s
pregnancy in her old age. Wonderful verse of scripture, Luke 1:37. “...For with
God nothing shall be impossible.”
With these two mothers, Elizabeth
and Mary, they would give up their sons to the greatest ministry mankind has
ever known. John would announce the coming of the long anticipated Messiah.
Jesus would be that long anticipated One. He who would bring salvation unto all
mankind. These mothers would give up their respective sons, to untimely deaths.
And yet they would be the best mothers they could be, possibly only knowing
part of what was to come in each life and yet still being the best they could
in raising these boys to manhood.
In the last example of mothers
today, let us look at the two women who would influence a young
missionary/pastor and eventually bishop of the early church. Lois and her
daughter Eunice would both be instrumental in raising a young boy, Timothy, in
the way of the Lord.
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which
dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded
that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God,
which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to
the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began,
Here we read St. Paul’s charge to
Timothy to remember what he has learned from the faith of his grandmother and
mother. Paul is giving these two ladies great praise for what they did in
raising Timothy to be a faithful young believer. Wow what a strong message to
us today. When we look at the examples of the mothers down through the ages as
depicted in the Scripture, let us bear in mind and meditate on the great work
that they did in guiding their children in the faith.
As we remember our mothers this day
let us understand that being a mother comes with a great responsibility.
Mothers of all times and places in history, have been the bulwark of
civilization. Because of faithful, strong, kind and loving mothers we have reason
to rejoice.
Every mother is special to her
children, every mother should be honored this day. (Ex.20:12 …honor thy father and thy mother: that
thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.)
Today is the day we honor mothers. Let us honor and love our mothers,
grandmothers and those who are like mothers to us not only today but throughout
the year.
Let us pray:
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LMIGHTY God, who alone gavest us the breath of life, and
alone canst keep alive in us the holy desires thou dost impart; We beseech
thee, for thy compassion's sake, to sanctify all our thoughts and endeavours;
that we may neither begin an action without a pure intention nor continue it
without thy blessing. And grant that, having the eyes of the mind opened to
behold things invisible and unseen, we may in heart be inspired by thy wisdom,
and in work be upheld by thy strength, and in the end be accepted of thee as
thy faithful servants; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
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LMIGHTY God, we entrust all who are dear to us; most
especially this day, our mothers; who to thy never-failing care and love, for
this life and the life to come; knowing that thou art doing for them better
things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
✟
Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s Sunday
Sermon
We are fortunate to
have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon. If you
want people to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, expouse the
truth and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I
commend it to your careful reading.
Third Sunday after Easter
In his first general epistle (I St. Peter 2:11), the apostle Peter referred to Christians as, strangers and pilgrims.
How true, for it is, after all, quite understandable for the Bible-believing
Christian to find himself or herself “on the outs” as it were, in today’s
world. We are “on the outs” because we have chosen to follow a different path—
one which leads to life everlasting in God’s kingdom— as opposed to that wide
path that leads to destruction (St. Matthew 7:13-14).
The word ‘stranger’ is translated from the Greek word pariokos which
Thayer’s Lexicon describes as being, “one who lives as a stranger and sojourner
upon the earth”. The word ‘pilgrim’ in Greek is parepidemos and is translated
as “one who comes from a foreign place to reside in a new land.” Taken
together, they speak of our status as believing Christians with regard to this
world system, and how we are to live within the same. Their meaning is clear
and may be expressed in this way: If we be in Christ Jesus, then we are not of
this world. In point of fact, we are estranged from it.
Consider our Lord’s words following the Last Supper when prayed for the
disciples as well as for all who would accept him as their Saviour: ...They are
not of the world, even as I am not of the world (St. John 17:16). And the apostle John warned us to, Love not
the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him (I St. John 2:15). And St. Paul noted that, Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are
freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which
man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual (I Corinthians 2:12-13).
Think on that for a moment. As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we
have received the Holy Ghost who guides us into all truth. We are no longer
alive to this world system but have died to it being reborn into a new life and
a new way of living. The apostle Peter noted that, Forasmuch then as Christ
hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:
for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer
should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the
will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the
will of the Gentiles... wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them
to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you... (I St. Peter 4:1-4). Ergo, we are strangers to sin. We are not
entertained by it. We desire to be distant from it. In our parlance, to be a
stranger means being unfamiliar with someone or some thing. Strangers stand
out. They appear detached. And because they are these things, they are often
shunned as being “odd” or “different”, even “alien”. And we are pilgrims, as we
are seeking a new place to live— a better country, that is an heavenly: wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city
(Hebrews 11:16). Just like the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock, we
are in search of a new home, a place where we will be accepted into the
beloved. That new land we are looking for is God’s coming kingdom.
But those who merely call themselves by the name of Christ, yet do not
live in Christ, are not “on the outs” with this world. Their continued
participation in those behaviors and practices which the regenerate person
might find repugnant mark them as acceptable, or at least tolerable, to the
unregenerate masses. In short, these so-called Christians are enamored of the
things of this world, and are thus captivated by them. As they are more natural
than spiritual, so it follows that they will fall prey to the snares and
devices which the devil sets for them. As the apostle Paul noted, But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned (I Corinthians 2:14). He also warned the Philippian church to, mark
them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I
have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies
of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and
whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things) (3:17-19).
We have been warned by our Lord and the apostles to avoid hypocrisy in
our living the Christian life. You cannot run here and there amongst the
heathen of this world and not be tainted by their godlessness. That said, we
cannot leave the world until we are called home. So for us, being in society
does not mean being involved in its several evils even though we are surrounded
by them. We are to note such and abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22).
While many Christians have established boundaries for themselves
concerning their participation within secular society, still one can join in
with those things that will not hurt their consciences. But a caveat is in
order. We should be mindful that while there are things that are not unbiblical
that we may enjoy; we should not be surprised to find a wicked angle that might
lead us into situations where our faith might be compromised and our witness
diminished by our participation in them. Therefore be discerning. Stay in
control. Keep the commandments of God before you and the words of our Saviour.
Avoid those things that would taint or vex your spirit.
Being regenerated in Christ Jesus may often mean separation from
certain aspects of secular life. Just ask yourself: “Will my participation in
whatever I want to do harm my Christian witness?” or, better yet, “Would God
approve of what I am doing?” St. Paul once said that, All things are lawful for
me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all
things edify not (I Corinthians 10:23). Doing what is expedient and edifying
may often be challenging for us when we are being coaxed to act by those
friends and family members who are as yet outside the fold of Christ. So
whatever you do, make sure that you are right with God and that you stay in
control so that the devil cannot turn your good into something evil, and that
your good will not be evil spoken of (Romans 14:16).
The path of the stranger and the pilgrim is often a lonely course as
the true and faithful Christian will not be part of the vast herd of mankind
that is merrily on its way to perdition. The stranger and pilgrim in Christ is
not a hermit— shunning participation in society— but is a witness— one who is
standing in the open— revealing to those around them the true light of God’s
word written. We are beacons in a sin-darkened world. We are the bearers of
God’s light— candles on lampstands, blazing with the fire of the Holy Ghost.
The stranger and pilgrim in Christ has been commanded by our Lord to do exactly
that (St.
Matthew 5:16).
So then let us be about our business. Let each of you purpose today to
be that separated person— that stranger— that pilgrim— in Christ. Seek to
separate yourselves from the world, the flesh and the devil. The apostle Paul
once penned this passage for us regarding separation from evil in this life
when he wrote, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath
light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part
hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of
God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a
Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty
(II Corinthians
6:14-18). This do and live.
Let us pray,
|
O
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most gracious and loving God, who art a Father to all who truly call upon
thy name; bless us with wisdom and understanding so that we might better serve
thee in this life by being effective witnesses on your behalf to those who sit
in darkness and in the shadow of death; for this we ask in the name of thine only
begotten Son, even Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Have a blessed week, Bryan+
Congregations
in the News!
Rev Rick Reid, of the GHQ
Saint Peters and Saint Andrews in the Newton, NC, had the very nice Good
Shepherd sermon from last week published in its entirety! It was a very nice sermon, it is great
when the world outside gets to see it.
Yes, we know you cannot read this one, we just wanted to show you the
sermon made it! Please look at
last week’s Sunday Report if you missed it:
http://www.faithfulcenturion.org/sunday_report/140504sundayreport.pdf
The
near future, as well as Next Sunday
18 May
2013 – Fourth Sunday After Easter – Holy Communion - Service start time 1000
(10:00 am); welcome or gathering songs before the service at 0945 (9:45 am); Time 1000 (10:00 am); Location – 10603
Burrell Way, Descanso, CA
[1]
General Confession –
BCP Page 6
[2]
Bishop Dennis is
discussing happiness, this is a different word than fun. Please consider the difference
between the two as you read this.
