Today we celebrated the feast
of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle superseding the Tenth Sunday after Trinity.
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 –
Past, Present, Future
[The demon Screwtape writes:] The humans live in time but our Enemy
destines them to eternity. He therefore, I believe, wants them to attend
chiefly to two things, to eternity itself, and to that point of time which they
call the Present. For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.
Of the present moment, and of it only, humans have an experience analogous to
the experience which our Enemy has of reality as a whole; in it alone freedom
and actuality are offered them. He would therefore have them continually
concerned either with eternity (which means being concerned with Him) or with
the Present—either meditating on their eternal union with, or separation from,
Himself, or else obeying the present voice of conscience, bearing the present
cross, receiving the present grace, giving thanks for the present pleasure.
Our business is to get them away from the eternal, and from the
Present. With this in view, we sometimes tempt a human (say a widow or a
scholar) to live in the Past. But this is of limited value, for they have some
real knowledge of the past and it has a determinate nature and, to that extent,
resembles eternity. It is far better to make them live in the Future.
Biological necessity makes all their passions point in that direction already,
so that thought about the Future inflames hope and fear. Also, it is unknown to
them, so that in making them think about it we make them think of unrealities.
In a word, the Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is
the most completely temporal part of time—for the Past is frozen and no longer
flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays.
Jack Lewis
The Screwtape Letters
Fairness
For about a hundred years we have so concentrated on one of the
virtues—‘kindness’ or mercy—that most of us do not feel anything except
kindness to be really good or anything but cruelty to be really bad. Such
lopsided ethical developments are not uncommon, and other ages too have had
their pet virtues and curious insensibilities. And if one virtue must be
cultivated at the expense of all the rest, none has a higher claim than
mercy—for every Christian must reject with detestation that covert propaganda for
cruelty which tries to drive mercy out of the world by calling it names such as
‘Humanitarianism’ and ‘Sentimentality’. The real trouble is that ‘kindness’ is
a quality fatally easy to attribute to ourselves on quite inadequate grounds.
Everyone feels benevolent if nothing happens to be annoying him at the moment.
Thus a man easily comes to console himself for all his other vices by a
conviction that ‘his heart’s in the right place’ and ‘he wouldn’t hurt a fly’,
though in fact he has never made the slightest sacrifice for a fellow creature.
We think we are kind when we are only happy: it is not so easy, on the same
grounds, to imagine oneself temperate, chaste, or humble.
Jack Lewis
The Problem of Pain
The word FAIRNESS is not in the Bible and the word FAIR is used only in
the sense of beautiful, ie, fair young maiden. Fairness is not the goal, right is. Think about that.
Rev LTC Hap Arnold
What about me?
From the place of His habitation He looks on all the inhabitants of the
earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
Psalm 33:14-15
...Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath
done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
St. Mark 5:19
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. 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.
St. John 14:2-3[1]
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the
things that ye would.
Galatians 5:17
As the principle of grace in us will not [allow] us to do all the evil
which our corrupt nature would prompt us to do, so neither can we do all the
good that we would.
Matthew Henry
17th and 18th century English pastor and author
Egalitarianism is simply equalism... Biblical justice requires the same
standard be applied equitably to very different men. Humanistic egalitarianism
insists that a multitude of standards be applied to men who are assumed by
faith to be the same... Egalitarianism demands equality of result, equality of
outcome. Because this is not the way God made the world, the world must be
rigged if these egalitarian results are to be realized... the tendency of
egalitarian dogma is always down. In a world of inequalities, if educational
standards are constant, then the students will achieve very different results.
And if the students must be the same, then the standards will have to be
constantly adjusted.
Douglas Wilson
20th and 21st century American theologian and
Christian Classical educator
When a man ceases to believe in God, he does not believe in nothing. He
believes in anything.
GK Chesterton
19th and 20th century English writer and commentator
Beware of antichrist; for unhappily a love of walls has seized you;
unhappily the church of God which you venerate exists in houses and buildings;
unhappily under these you find the name peace. Is it doubtful that in these
antichrist will have his seat? Safer to me are the mountains and the woods.
Hilary
Bishop of Poitiers, 4th century AD French theologian
Idolatry came to Israel when she refused to be patient with God, when
she removed her expectant gaze from the mountain of God and looked instead to
her own self made religion. When human invention replaces divine revelation in
our priorities, idolatry invariably results. Certainly, we are not immune in
today’s Church with so much emphasis placed on community centredness,
sociological and psychological usurpation of scriptural authority, and
politically correct secularization of the Christian moral vision.
Lewis How
20th and 21st century Anglican Orthodox minister
The man who has the clearest view of God's requirements will have the
highest sense of the value of Christ's atoning blood.
JC Ryle
19th century Anglican bishop and author
It is a contradiction to say that a man is like God, or is a partaker
of his nature, who does not love what God loves, and avoid what he hates.
Charles Hodge
19th century American theologian and author
Someone should tell [the president] that 1984 is not an instruction
manual.
Steve Stockman
21st century American congressman
Television is altering the meaning of ‘being informed’ by creating a
species of information that might properly be called disinformation.
Disinformation does not mean false information. It means misleading
information— misplaced, irrelevant, fragmented or superficial information—
information that creates the illusion of knowing something, but which in fact
leads one away from knowing.
Neil Postman
20th and 21st century American author and critic

Propers
The Propers for today are found
on Page 249-250, with the Collect first:
Saint Bartholomew the Apostle.
[August 24.]
The Collect.
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ALMIGHTY
and everlasting God, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to
believe and to preach thy Word; Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church, to
love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
And, as this Red Letter Day falls
on a Sunday, we read the Collect for the Sunday also, which can be found on
Page 203:
The
Tenth Sunday after Trinity.
The
Collect.
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ET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants;
and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as
shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The scripture for Epistle comes
from the Fifth Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles beginning at the Twelfth
Verse:
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Y the hands of the apostles were many signs
and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in
Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the
people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord,
multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick
into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the
shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a
multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks,
and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Today’s
Holy Gospel comes from the Twenty-Second Chapter of the Gospel according to St.
Luke, beginning at the Twenty-Fourth Verse:
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ND there was also a strife among them, which of
them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon
them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest
among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth
serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is
not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they
which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a
kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
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.
Saint
Bartholomew the Apostle
Tenth Sunday after Trinity
Saint Andrew’s
Anglican Orthodox Church
24 August 2014, Anno Domini
Saint Bartholomew the Apostle.
[August 24.]
The Collect.
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ALMIGHTY
and everlasting God, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to
believe and to preach thy Word; Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church, to
love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
And, as this Red Letter Day falls
on a Sunday, we read the Collect for the Sunday also, which can be found on
Page 203:
The
Tenth Sunday after Trinity.
The
Collect.
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ET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants;
and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as
shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
24 And there was also
a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that
exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so:
but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is
chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For
whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that
sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. 28 Ye are they which have
continued with me in my temptations. 29 And
I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 That ye may eat and drink
at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of
Israel. (Luke
22:24-30)
It is often said, and I believe it to be true, there is greater strife in the
House of God than in the local cocktail lounge. There is constantly a struggle
of the spirit of man against his neighbor who seems to be getting above him in
the offices and functions of the Church. A far greater number of churches in
our day have split up over the interior décor of the Church than over more
serious matters of doctrine and practice. It is in the nature of man (and
unfortunately in the Christian as well) to assert SELF over his fellows. We
must constantly strive to put our selfish pride and interest beneath those of
the greater Church and people – especially so if we are ministers of God. Paul
strove constantly to subdue his own desires for the greater good: “But I
keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when
I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Cor 9:27) Paul
tells us that it is possible for the preacher to preach, and not abide by his
own words. 18 For I know
that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is
present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the
good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”
(Romans 7:18-19)
Now, unless we ministers and laity are far better than Paul, we must admit that
we often strive for those things that bring shame upon ourselves, the Church,
and the ministry itself. We take umbrage at trifles and let the weightier
matters go unaddressed. We argue and complain because we are not admired and
respected enough by inferiors, or even superiors. We desire the uppermost seats
in the fellowship of the Church and to be addressed with deference. I am a
bishop by the calling of God. I am by no means worthy to be called a bishop,
but God has called me; and that to which God calls us, He will make us worthy
to perform. It matters not to me if others call me bishop. It is enough for me
that I can be called a brother in Christ by those who know me. I deserve no
higher honor among the brethren than that which they recognize. We are all in that
category whether vestryman, committee member, treasurer, grounds keeper, or
whatever. We are all One in Christ Jesus and no lines of trivial authority can
divide us as being One in Him. Certainly, our positions as teachers and
preachers of the Word are vitally important, but that calling is important
because of the Word Itself and not because of any personal merit in our own
souls.
Let us observe how Jesus handled this strife that came among His disciples: “And
there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the
greatest.” If there was unbounded strife among the disciples of Christ,
surely there must be the same in our midst to a greater or lesser extent
(depending on our sanctification in Christ). It is important to remember that,
if we are One in Christ, we shall be One with each other. Strife’s and
differences disappear when we all share that same faith in Christ. But the
disciples are concerned with SELF! Jesus addresses the matter as a
serious one.
“The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship
over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.”
Yes, the world loves titles, power, and pelf, but not so with God. The princes
of old loved to be called ‘benefactors of the poor’ and so do many who perform
works of charity in our day. It is the invisible had that gives which is
rewarded in heaven and not the one which is clad in scarlet silk. In the time
of the Reformation, clergy were not addressed as “Father” or ‘Reverend” but as Mister
So-and-so. The point was to remind those of us in the ministry that we are not
above the flock of which we are only under-shepherds and not the Good Shepherd.
“But ye shall not be so: but he that is
greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that
doth serve.” No, we shall not hold rank or title above the
people to whom we are supposed to be servant unless it be “SERVANT.” The chief
among us should be willing to do his part in cleaning the floors, emptying the
trash, and doing all such chores for which he may have the time. Often, it is
an utter necessity. For fifteen years, I was forced to serve – not only as
bishop and priest at St. Andrews, but also as janitor, secretary, and
babysitter. I wish I had done so willingly, but there was no choice. I grew
into the position of janitor and came to like it. The young people also saw
when I was working to clean the church and they chipped in and wound up doing
most of the work – VOLUNTARILY. I love them! If we put ourselves down, and
others up, we will find that we, too, may GROW into the role.
A great Anglican priest and poet of the 17th century wrote a series
of tracts to clergy on how they should treat their flock. Mr. Herbert was noted
for his humility and love for the brethren. I quote the introduction to his
book below:
I, BEING desirous,
through the mercy of God, to please him, for whom I am and live, and who giveth
me my desires and per formances ; and considering with myself that the way to
please him is to feed my flock diligently and faithfully, since our Saviour
hath made that the argument of a pastor s love ; I have resolved to set down
the form and character of a true pastor, that I may have a mark to aim at ;
which also I will set as high as I can, since he shoots higher that threatens
the moon, than he that aims at a tree. Not that I think, if a man do not all
which is here expressed, he presently sins, and displeases God ; but that it is
a good strife to go as far as we can in pleasing of him, who hath done so much
for us. The Lord prosper the intention to myself and others, who may not
despise my poor labours, but add to those points, which I have observed, until
the book grow to a complete pastoral. GEORGE HERBERT.
“For whether is greater, he
that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but
I am among you as he that serveth.” Jesus came among His
disciples as a servant. They SAT, and He SERVED. Which do you think the greater
of the two? His entire ministry was one of sacrifice and humble teaching and
preaching. He only took umbrage with one class of people – the proud ministers
of His day (Scribes, Pharisees, and priests of the Temple). There are times
when I believe that I have accomplished some great objective in preaching, but
the Lord always brings my infantile understanding back to the truth of WHO He
is and who I am. The contrast is stark to say the least. I pray always that I
never attempt to exalt myself above those to whom God has given me to teach. If
we believe we are brother, sister, mother, or father to those in the family of
God, how dare we place our own interest above any of them, or feel better or
more holy? Jesus makes this very clear.
In all our works of piety
and humility, do we believe God is unseeing? He watches and knows all. He sees
our secret acts of mercy, but disregards our public show of the same. “Ye are they which have continued with me in my
temptations.” He knows that His disciples have followed close on
for the years of His ministry. But He does not desire them to take that as a
source of pride, but of unbounded love. When we suffer for Christ, the more we
keep it private, the more He notices. Jesus did give us a new Commandment that
entails adherence to the other Ten: “A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you,
that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35) Who
do you suppose Christ is addressing with this new commandment? Was this
addressed only to those who call themselves Christians? No, it is addressed to
the clergy and laity alike with equal emphasis. We cannot scream at, or curse,
someone who is at the center of our affection, can we? Love across the whole
spectrum of the Church eliminates discord and disunion. If we are not loved,
perhaps it is because we have not loved enough. Love is a magnet that draws
love to itself. Have you known this?
Do you recall the hymn, “What
a Friend We Have in Jesus?” The author of that hymn was a man named
Joseph Scriven of Port Hope, Canada. He lost those he loved the most to tragedy
and death and moved from Ireland to Canada to get away from the sad memories.
There at Port Hope, he became known as the Good Samaritan of Port Hope.
He chopped fire-wood, mended fences, and did general repair work for the widows
and orphans of the city. He could not be hired for he did all of his work at no
cost. The love he had shared with those he lost was transferred to those who
needed it most while alive.
The reward of the saint is not in this worldly
theater, but in the coming Kingdom – that Kingdom of which Christ is Lord and
Sovereign. “And I appoint unto you a kingdom,
as my Father hath appointed unto me; That
ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the
twelve tribes of Israel.” If we are to drink and eat at the
Table of the Lord, we must serve the tables of the socially downcast or lowest
member of the church – whether we are a pillar of the Church, a vestryman, or
especially a clergyman. For all are One in Christ Jesus.
Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and
Action
Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California
Today’s sermon tied the Collect, Epistle and Gospel
together and talked, as is oft the case, of the need for action, not simply
diction.
But, before we start, who was this Bartholomew?
Bartholomew (Greek: Βαρθολομαῖος)
was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and is also referred to as
Nathanael or Nathaniel. He was introduced to Jesus by the
Apostle Philip.
Bartholomew meaning son of Tolmay or son of the
furrows (perhaps a ploughman). Bartholomew is listed among the Twelve Apostles
of Jesus in: Matthew,[10:1–4] Mark,[3:13–19] and Luke,[6:12–16] and also
appears as one of the witnesses of the Ascension[Acts 1:4,12,13].
As Nathanael, Bartolomew is
introduced as a friend of Philip. He is described as initially being skeptical
about the Messiah coming from Nazareth, saying: " Can there any good thing
come out of Nazareth?" (John 1.46). Jesus immediately appraises him as, "Behold an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1.47) He reappears at the end of John's gospel [21:2] as one of the
disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection.
After the Ascension, Bartholomew went on a missionary
tour to India, where he left behind a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. He
continued serving as a missionary in Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Parthia, and
Lycaonia, then on to preach the Gospel in India, and Greater Armenia. Along with his fellow apostle Jude
Thaddeus, Bartholomew brought Christianity to Armenia in the 1st
century. He converted Polymius, the king of Armenia, to Christianity. Astyages,
Polymius' brother, consequently ordered Bartholomew's execution He is said to have been martyred in
Albanopolis in Armenia, perhaps beheaded, or flayed alive and crucified, head
downward.
He took his faith seriously, to the point of death.
Consider the words from the Collect, wherein we ask
God to give us … didst give to thine
Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word; Grant, we
beseech thee, unto thy Church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to
preach and receive the same …
Even though this is a special day, dedicated to the
Apostle Bartholomew, this is kind of a follow-on to last week’s Collect. In this case, we acknowledge that God
(through the Holy Ghost) gave Bartholomew the full belief in Him and thus the
inspiration to preach His Word. We
go on to ask for that same inspiration to be delivered to the Church today and
to each of us that we might effectually spread God’s Word, first to our own
hearts, then to others. We must take care of the beams in our own eyes and
hearts, before we go on to treat others with the same problems as us.
Without God’s entering into our hearts in the form of
the Holy Ghost, we will never be able to do what must be done. With His Help, there is nothing that
needs be done that cannot be done. With His Help great things can be
accomplished, so great that until we have Him within us, we cannot conceive of
these marvelous wonders.
When Luke writes his account of the Acts of the
Apostles, he tells of the apostles performing “many signs and miracles.” Unfortunately, the power to perform
earthly miracles was left to the apostles only and not passed on. They were apparently given this
special power that the Word of God as given by our Lord and Savior might spread
quickly, effectively and attain critical mass as soon as possible. This was done so that the fact that is
Christianity, the Word Incarnate, would be a self-sustaining chain
reaction. There are no longer
designated “miracle dispensers” regardless of what you might see or hear on
television. By the way, you note
that no one was ever charged for a miracle, so if someone asks for money to
pray for you, you know they are not of God.
But, on to the miracle issue. Does that mean there are no more
miracles? Yes and no. If you mean the kind where Jesus said,
“Arise and walk.” Or, perhaps
similar miracles done by the apostles? No, those are gone until He returns.
So, miracles are over, done with?
No, not at all.
We have the miracle of salvation, the miracle of the change in each of
our lives, the miracle of the Peace of our Lord. This is the biggest miracle of them all, and the most
important one. Salvation will change our hearts into something they were not
before, something pure. This pureness comes from God alone, and only with Him
abiding in us, can our hearts remain pure. This is all foolishness to those who
will not open their hearts to the Holy Ghost and so obvious to those who will
let Him in. Open your heart to
God, let Him in to your heart, let Him carry your worry and give you guidance and
inspiration. He will help you get
that miracle across to others.
But, it has to happen in you first.
Before we go on, look what earthly miracles can
breed, “…they brought forth the sick
into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the
shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” A shadow is a thing, it can do nothing
beyond provide shade from the sun.
Yet, people would worship it and give it power, if given half a chance. Perhaps that is why earthly miracles
were of one generation. So that people would not worship the act, but worship
the origin of the act, Our
Heavenly Father.
That brings us to the next point; again, that of
Saint Luke. Credit. First, debt is not your friend, nor for
that matter is credit. As William
Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet:
Neither a borrower nor a
lender be;
For loan oft loses both
itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the
edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine
own self be true,
And it must follow, as the
night the day,
Thou canst not then be
false to any man.
While that is really not the kind of credit Luke was
talking about, it is a very interesting point. What we are talking about is the sign that was on the
desk of both President Truman and Reagan:
It
is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
Jesus is cautioning against wanting to get credit for
what is being done, rather He suggests getting it done and let the credit fall
to the side. The most amazing
portion is the part where He says, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that
exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.” We often think of benefactors as someone who “gives” us
things. Jesus points out that
those who “give” you things often turn out to be tyrannical rulers when in the
end payment is due. Remember there
is no real free lunch.
Let us go forth today and ACT on the Word of
God. Make His Word REAL in our
lives, by our actions. TODAY!
How about tomorrow?
Tomorrow is not good enough.
Time stretches from the far forgotten past to the unknowable
future. The present is where the
Finger of God touches the Line of Time.
We live in the present, we can never re-live the past and for us the
future will never come. We live
and act only in the present. To do
something tomorrow is not possible.
If it will be done, it must be done now, that is today.
Action counts.
For by their actions ye shall know them.
Heaven is at the end of an
uphill trail. The easy downhill
trail does not lead to the summit.
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
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:
Christ
in Psalm 25
Psalm 25
Feast of
Saint Bartholomew
August
24, 2014
The average reader looks at the Psalms and sees accounts of people
facing the various situations of human existence. To these readers, the Psalms
are lessons in living from which they draw strength and faith, for they face
the same human situations, and experience the same frustrations and fears and
faith expressed in the Psalms. This is a good and proper way to read the Psalms. Let’s look at Psalm 25:
Psalm 25
King James Version
(KJV)
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nto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in thee:
let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be
ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy
paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for
thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and
thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor
my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness'
sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore
will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will
he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and
truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine
iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the Lord?
him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his
seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the Lord is with them that
fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for
he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon
me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring
thou me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain;
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are
many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me
not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve
me; for I wait on thee.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Some readers attempt to read the Psalms in light of their original
settings. In Psalm 25, for
example, these readers attempt to discover what enemies David faced, and to see
his prayers and faith in the face of his troubles. This, too, is a good and legitimate way to read the Psalms. In fact, I heartily recommend it when
reading any kind of literature.
Who were its original readers?
What was its message to them?
What is the original intent of the author? These are important questions, and you cannot understand any
document until you know the answers to these questions.
Some readers look for Christ in the Psalms, and, indeed, throughout the
Old Testament. I remember the
words of a well-known minister who was asked about his method of preaching from
the Old Testament. He said, “I
choose a text, and make a bee-line for the cross.” This, too, is legitimate. Jesus said, “Moses wrote of me” (Jn. 5:46). When Jesus appeared to the disciples on
the Emmaus Road, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto
them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk. 24:27). The Apostles taught Christ from the Old
Testament. Thus, the Apostle Paul
wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:3, “Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures,” meaning in accordance with what is taught in the Old Testament. The New Testament book of Hebrews is about
how Christ fulfills the meaning and promises of the Old Testament. So this, too, is a legitimate way to
read the Psalms.
Psalm 25 is a good example of how we can see Christ in the
Psalms. Take the words of verse 1:
“neither let mine enemies triumph over me,” and verse 18: “Consider mine
enemies, how many there are; and they bear a tyrannous hate against me.” No one
has ever had more enemies than Christ. They were everywhere, always looking for
some way to twist His words in order to accuse Him of heresy. When Christ
healed the man with the withered hand, the Pharisees “took counsel with the
Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him” (Mk. 3:6). In John 8 the leaders of the Jews
accuse Jesus of being demon possessed.
In John 8: 59 we read, “Then took they up stones to cast at Him:” In His
phony “trial” the chief priests and elders, “spit in His face, and buffeted
Him; and others smote Him with the palm of their hands” (Mt. 26:67). In Matthew 27:22 we see Pilate ask the
Jews, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” Their answer was the angry chant of mob
violence, shouting over and over, becoming louder and angrier with each chant;
“Staurwson, staurwson.” “Crucify him, crucify him.”
It is hard to imagine a person more surrounded by enemies than
Christ on the cross. The hardened
Roman soldiers cast lots for His garment.
The Jews gathered to watch Him die, and to taunt Him as He suffered. Even one of the thieves being crucified
“railed on him” (Lk. 23:39). Since
that day, billions have hated, and continue to hate Christ. Whenever I read,
“Consider mine enemies, how many they are; and they bear a tyrannous hate
against me,” I think the words have never had more meaning than in the
opposition of the world to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 16 says, “The sorrows of my heart are enlarged.” Again I say no mere man has ever known
sorrow like Christ. We behold Him
in the Bible as the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief. John 11:35 says
pointedly, “Jesus wept.” John 13:21 tells us Jesus “was troubled in
spirit.” In the Garden Jesus says,
“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death” (Mt. 26:38). Christ was in agony, and His sweat was
as “great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Lk. 22:44). Certainly He writhed in pain under the
scourge and the nails and the cross. But more devastating than the physical
pain was the pain of bearing the wrath of God for our sins. It was that pain that burst His heart
and killed His body. We cannot
begin to imagine the inner agony that caused the One who is called, “God With
Us,” to cry out, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsake Me?” (Mk. 15:34).
Psalm 25:3 says “Show me thy ways, O Lord, and teach me thy paths.
Lead me forth in thy truth, and learn me.” I remember childhood schoolmates who used the word “learn”
as a synonym for “teach.” The teacher always corrected them, but that is
exactly the way “learn” is used in this Psalm, and it was the proper English of
the educated people when the Psalm was translated into English. Obviously the teacher had never read
Psalm 25 in the Prayer Book.
Jesus was/is God’s Great Teacher. When Nicodemus came to Christ at night he called Christ,
“Rabbi,” meaning, “teacher.” “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher sent from
God.” When the disciples heard
Christ in prayer they were moved in their souls, and begged Him, “Lord, teach
us to pray.” In the Bible we see
Christ teaching beside the sea (Mk. 4:1) and teaching in the synagogues (Mk.
6:2). Acts 1:1 refers to the
Gospel of Luke as what Jesus “began both to do and to teach.” Psalm 25:8 says God will “learn” the
gentle in His way. And, if you
look at John 14:6 you will read the words of Christ, “I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Jesus shows us God’s way, He is God’s
way, and He is the way to God.
Good English, or bad English, let us pray with David, “Show me thy ways
Lord, and teach me thy paths. Lead
me forth in thy truth, and learn me.”
Psalm 25 is a song of forgiveness. “Be merciful unto my sin; for it is great” says verse
10. “Forgive me all my sin,”
repeats verse 17. The entire Psalm
echoes with the consequences of sin.
It is because of sin that David’s sorrows are enlarged. It is because of sin that he is in
adversity and misery. Do not
misunderstand me. I am not saying
every mishap and sorrow of life is God’s punishment for your sins. I am saying that all the miseries of
life are due to living in a world that has essentially rejected God. Sickness, war, crime, death,
loneliness, and pain, became part of human existence when sin became part of
human existence. They are part of
the misery of sin. But the real
misery of sin is far deeper than the sorrows of life in this world. The real sorrows of sin are the
alienation from God that naturally happens when we intentionally choose sin
over God. The real miseries of sin
are living under the wrath and curse of God, now and forever. That misery never ends.
Thanks be to God, there is forgiveness in Christ. The forgiveness spoken of in the Psalm
is accomplished by God on the cross.
On the cross, He who was without sin became sin for you. We often talk about criminals paying
their debt to society. By your sin
you became a debtor to God. Christ
paid that debt by dying on the cross.
In Him your sins have been paid for.
Psalm 25 is alive with the ministry of Christ. He faced His enemies, and ours, and
they will never triumph over us.
He faced sorrows greater than those of any mere human, and, facing them,
He delivered us from the sorrows of our hearts. He is the Great Teacher who leads us forth in His truth and
learns us. Because of Christ, we
can say with Psalm 25:4, “thou art the God of my salvation; in thee hath been
my hope all the day long.”
--
+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.
St. Bartholomew the Apostle
24 August 2014
Ps 91 • Gen.
28:10-12,16-17 • John 1:43-51
43
The day following Jesus would go
forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the
city of Andrew and Peter.
45
Philip
findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the
law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46
And Nathanael said unto him, Can
there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him,
and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence
knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called
thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49
Nathanael answered and saith unto
him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50
Jesus answered and said unto him,
Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou
shalt see greater things than these.
51
And he saith unto him, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of
God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Bartholomew, aka Nathanael*
Son of Tolmai, one of the twelve
apostles (Matt. 10:3;
Acts 1:13); generally supposed to have been the same as Nathanael. In
the synoptic gospels Philip and Bartholomew are always mentioned together,
while Nathanael is never mentioned; in the fourth gospel, on the other hand,
Philip and Nathanael are similarly mentioned together, but nothing is said of
Bartholomew. He was one of the disciples to whom our Lord appeared at the Sea
of Tiberias after his resurrection (John 21:2). He was also a witness of the Ascension (Acts 1:4, 12, 13).
He was an "Israelite indeed" (John 1:47).
I have discussed
with fellow clergy over the years, the importance of biographies and even
auto-biographies as an integral part of learning, especially when it comes to
our spiritual journey. After
all, isn’t the Bible filled with many biographies ? We can read about Adam, David, Jonah, Jesus, Paul and many
others in our daily reading of the Bible, the Word of God. What can we make of this ? Well in the short term, we can learn by
example. In the long term we
can learn by example. Wait,
didn’t you just repeat yourself ?
Yes. A godly example
can teach us many things about living in a godless world. And for that matter, a godless
example can teach us what NOT to do in a godless world. There are a few godless examples
shown in the Word of God.
What not to follow, so in both senses a good example, all coming from
the Word of God.
Examples; a blueprint or template
for daily living.
So let us look
at this fellow named Bartholomew or Nathanael.* At first we get an idea that he may be somewhat
sarcastic. “...can there any good come out of Nazareth?” This is Bartholomew’s response to
Philip telling him about this Jesus.
This region of occupied Palestine, Nazareth, wasn’t known for much good
or for that matter bad, maybe just blase’. Philip, his friend then entreats Bartholomew to come see
about these fellow Jesus of Nazareth. Something to
remember, Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew Joshua. So when Philip says come see this
Jesus that would not have been an uncommon name. What gives significance to Philip’s statement, he says
“...in whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write...”. Now Philip is giving Bartholomew
a reason to come see this Jesus guy.
It is Jesus turn
to show Bartholomew who he, Jesus is.
Bartholomew asks Jesus how he knows him, Jesus answers ‘...I saw you
under the fig tree before Philip called you...’ Notice Bartholomew’s response. He acknowledges Jesus
as a teacher {rabbi}, and more especially, the Son of God and King of
Israel. Jesus
now foretells much more than just seeing Bartholomew under the fig tree, he
tell the future apostle that he will see many greater things including the
heavens opening up with angels ascending and descending on earth. Here Jesus makes a direct
reference to Jacob’s dream, the so called ‘Jacob’s ladder’.
I look at this
reference to Jacob as Jesus showing the disciples that in the same way Jacob
was the start of the twelve tribes i.e. physical Israel, these fellows now
being called would be the physical/spiritual founders of the church on
earth. The twelve would be
the extension in taking the mission started by Jesus to the utmost parts of the
earth. How you say ? Well other than with the possibility
of Mark or Thomas going to Egypt
or India, most of the other apostles will remain in the area where Jesus
taught. It would be the second and
third generations of Christians, the followers of Christ who would spread the
gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. And as with Israel they started out with twelve, but
through the process of leading others to Christ, both by example and by the
Word, the church would continue to grow to this day .
As modern day
Christians essentially living in a ‘post-modern’ world, we need to live our
lives as a ‘living’ biography.
Just recently I read of a nineteenth century evangelist who made a
comment about Christians during his day.
“...many people know the four gospels but have never read them, instead
they read the fifth gospel. The
fifth gospel is the daily life of a Christian that is ‘read’ by
non-believers. These
non-believers may never have read the four Gospels, but they certainly read the
fifth one...” What are
non-believers reading in that fifth gospel ? Are we showing by example, by biographic nature a
gospel that is not parallel to the Gospel of Jesus ?
As followers of
Jesus Christ the Son of God, we need to display by our lives, our actions, our
very being the true Gospel of Jesus. We need to show by example, we need to show by
our biographies, that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes
to the Father but by Him.
Folks, let us
live our lives for Jesus. He gave his life for us.
Let us pray:
|
O
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ALMIGHTY and
everlasting God, who didst give to thine Apostle Bartholomew grace truly to
believe and to preach thy Word; Grant, we beseech thee, unto thy Church to love
that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
|
O
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Almighty and everlasting God, we give most high
praise and hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all his
saints, who have been the choice vessels of his grace and the lights of the
world in their several generations; and pray unto God, that we may have grace
to direct our lives after their good examples; that, this life ended, we may be
made partakers with them of the glorious resurrection, and the life
everlasting. Amen
|
A
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LMIGHTY God, the supreme Governor of all things, whose power no creature
is able to resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be
merciful to those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech
thee, from the hands of our enemies; that we, being armed with thy defence, may
be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver
of all victory; through the merits of thy Son, 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.
Tenth Sunday after Trinity
Saint Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthian church (12:4-11) reminds
us: ... there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit... dividing to
every man severally as he will. And St. Peter noted in his first epistle (4:10)
that: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to
another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. The Rev. Matthew Henry
once noted, “...that whatever
gift, ordinary or extraordinary, whatever power, ability, or capacity of doing
good is given to us, we should minister or do service with the same one to
another. The talents we are entrusted with are our Lord’s goods... It is
required in a steward that he be found faithful.” In our epistle lesson for
today ( I
Corinthians 12:11; and see also Romans 12:6) the apostle Paul informs us that our spiritual gifts are to be used
for edifying those within the body of Christ, while serving as a beacon to
those without that they too might be motivated to enter into the fold of
Christ.
Consider also the variety of spiritual gifts which the Holy Ghost
imparts to believers as noted in I Corinthians 12. We have, the word of wisdom,
and the word of knowledge, (v.8); faith, and the gifts of healing,; (v.9); the
working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues,
and the interpretation of tongues (v.10). It is not uncommon for some
Christians to have more than one of these gifts. Likewise, it is not uncommon
for some to receive only one. However, whether a Christian has been given one
or all nine, the purpose of these gifts is furtherance of the gospel of truth
in this sin-darkened world. The Rev. Matthew Henry carefully examined each one,
so let us look at them in the light of his study.
The word of wisdom refers to “a knowledge of the mysteries of the
gospel and [the] ability to explain them, an exact understanding of the design,
nature, and doctrines of the Christian faith.” Pastor Dave Guzik said of this
gift that it, “ ...is the unique ability to speak forth the wisdom of God,
especially in an important situation, as shown in Stephen (Acts 7)...” St. Stephen was given to proclaim the
truth of Christ Jesus to the temple authorities who were cut to the heart (Acts 7:54) on account of the words which the Holy Ghost
gave to him. It does not take a seminary-trained leader to receive such from
God. The Holy Spirit puts a zeal for the study of God’s word into select
believers for the express purpose of teaching others.
The word of knowledge has to do with the “knowledge of mysteries
wrapped up in the prophecies, types, and histories of the Old Testament. Others
say [it is] a readiness to give advice and counsel in perplexed cases.” Pastor
Dave Guzik has supplied us with a good example of this gift. “When Charles
Spurgeon was saved, it was at the preaching of a man who directed a portion of
his sermon right to young Spurgeon, and who supernaturally spoke right to where
Spurgeon's heart was.” While this gift is similar to the previous one, there is
a difference in application. This one seems to focus on the implementation
rather than instruction. In order to be wise in the faith, one must possess a
knowledge of it.
The third is faith which refers to “the faith of miracles, or... in
divine power and promise by which they were enabled to trust God in any emergency,
go on in the way of their duty, and acknowledge and profess the truths of
Christ [regardless of] the difficulty or danger.” This is the one gift which
all born-again Christians must have because without faith we cannot come to
that saving understanding of Christ. We must believe that God can work
miracles, that he can exercise his divine sovereignty in matters related to
this world because he is the Creator and Maker of all things both visible and
invisible. St. Paul noted in Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. To quote Matthew Henry another time
with regard to this passage: “Faith demonstrates to the eye of the mind the
reality of those things that cannot be discerned by the eye of the body.” To be
a Christian— a true and faithful Christian— you must have the gift of faith.
The fourth, the gifts of healing has to do with “the healing of the
sick, either by laying on of hands, anointing with oil, or with a word.” St.
James noted in his epistle that Is there any sick among you? let him call for
the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in
the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
How often this gift has been misused and in turn been made a mock of by
“worldlings” who see the hocus- pocus show of charlatans, who pass themselves
off as servants of the Most High. They promise healing to broad gatherings and
then because no one is healed the unbelieving critics heap ridicule on all
believers. Yes, healing is possible. We know that because we have faith in
God’s word written wherein it says healings can be had. But all has to conform
to God’s plan and purpose. There were many righteous people in the Bible who
never were healed of their ailments. But this does not disqualify the gift of
healing, rendering it fraudulent. We ought to follow the directions as found in
St. James’ epistle, then leave the rest to God in the firm belief that God can
heal if he so wills to do.
The fifth, the working of miracles refers to “the efficacies of powers,
such as raising the dead, restoring the blind to sight, giving speech to the
dumb, hearing to the deaf, and use of limbs to the lame.” We know that at any
time, God can do these sorts of things for it is part and parcel of his
sovereign authority in all areas of life and death. If he should so empower one
or more members of the church to carry out such works, then those thus
empowered ought to exercise that gift with much reverence and humility: not for
gain or for fulfilling the desires of flesh, but for the glory of God.
The sixth is prophecy and is described as “the ability to foretell
future events... or to explain scripture...” Prophesying remains a
controversial subject. Still, nothing in any prophecy offered by one supposedly
under the influence of the Holy Ghost will be at variance with Scripture. This
will require discernment on the part of the one uttering the prophecy, as well
as on the part of the listener. God calls his own in different ways and we must
not discount any prophetic communication without first being Bereans in our
studies of the word. But study we must, for if we will not, we may end up being
taken in by one the Devil’s minions whom he has sent our way.
The seventh is the discerning of spirits which refers to “the power to
distinguish between true and false prophets, or to discern the real and
internal qualifications of any person for an office, or to discover the inward
workings of the mind by the Holy Ghost...” St. Peter was given this in his
dealing with Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) and with Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:5-25). Consider what Pastor
Dave Guzik once wrote concerning this gift. “... Sometimes people who seem to
say the right things are really from the devil (Acts 13:6-12; 16:16-18) [so it] is important to test the word of
anyone who claims to speak from God (1 John 4:1-3) [as] Satan can work deceiving miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, Revelation 13:11-14).”
The eighth and ninth, which are divers kinds of tongues, and the
interpretation of tongues must be exercised together. In the exercise of the
former, the latter is absolutely essential. While the gospel does contain
elements that are enigmatic; nevertheless, its presentation is to be plainly
spoken and in a language that all can understand. If the use of tongues is
carried out otherwise, the words of God will be rendered of no effect. Ergo,
those who do not speak the language being uttered must have an interpreter
present to translate. While certain charismatics will use Acts 2:1-11 as the proof
text for their practice of speaking in tongues, such is clearly not in line
with what took place at Pentecost as there were people from different countries
present in Jerusalem to worship, and they each heard the wonderful words of God
in their native languages.
Therefore, speaking in an unknown tongue has been and remains largely
for the benefit of the unregenerate whom God is calling to himself. That is why
in St. Paul in I Corinthians 14:1-40 set the specific requirements for speaking
in tongues. Matthew Henry once noted that, “The Christian religion is a sober
and reasonable thing in itself... and should not be made to look wild or
senseless. Those [who do so] disgrace their religion and vilify their own
character who do anything that has this aspect... Religious exercises in
Christian assemblies should be such as are fit to edify the faithful, and
convince, affect, and covert unbelievers. The ministry was not instituted to
make ostentation of gifts and parts, but to save souls.” If we are not about
that last point, then all else is show and spectacle.
We must remember that these spiritual gifts were designed to render
glory unto God. Therefore a proper exercise of these gifts will be to our
eternal good. Likewise, we should be cautious in our assumptions of these
gifts, especially if we are doing so without godly permission. God will not
bless our presumed efforts, and we will find that our exercise of them will be
for naught on that day when we will have to give an account to our Lord Jesus
Christ regarding those gifts (St. Matthew 25:14-30).
St. Paul’s admonition to the Galatians (6:7) still stands: Be not deceived; God
is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap... Let us
therefore live in obedience to his word written in all things.
Let us pray,
|
F
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ather, impart to us a proper knowledge of those
spiritual gifts which thou hast given unto us, and then assist us as we utilize
them in thy service; for this we ask in the name of him who is giver of every
good and perfect gift, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have a blessed week, Bryan+
