tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68786301488056116022024-03-28T23:29:04.434-04:00Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide CommunionPO Box 128
Statesville, NC 28687Anglican Orthox Church Int'lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02887490697301534945noreply@blogger.comBlogger4054125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-19425790403150063202024-03-27T22:21:00.000-04:002024-03-27T22:21:32.409-04:00Called out - 27 March 2024, Anno Domini<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: red;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_WUKPLK7im4pa8je3Gj2g4nfvWoyodnbn0BiqcrtxPlUUKC_ZZKcC_jYMfL3wSG9ugQwSOmQ76Tnq1OLs7K71Kns5M7ULpAugFULJXOPUYJ5N1Oc5kw6fZQnHJNMFXoUwuaqcmrMy9i4XuOWwrTFOMZdzEj3Rf-7hzMlj9TfZWMIaiVKaFPuZBMsOCycY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="640" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_WUKPLK7im4pa8je3Gj2g4nfvWoyodnbn0BiqcrtxPlUUKC_ZZKcC_jYMfL3wSG9ugQwSOmQ76Tnq1OLs7K71Kns5M7ULpAugFULJXOPUYJ5N1Oc5kw6fZQnHJNMFXoUwuaqcmrMy9i4XuOWwrTFOMZdzEj3Rf-7hzMlj9TfZWMIaiVKaFPuZBMsOCycY=w400-h397" width="400" /></a></i></div><i> </i><p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 31.5pt;">I<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;"> AM</span></b><i><span style="color: red;"> the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing</span></i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 15:5)</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> A great Indian missionary from the Punjab (1889-1929), Sadhu Sundar Singh, once wrote, <i>The little chicken in its shell lives in a very circumscribed and narrow world of its own. It is receiving its mother's warmth and care all the time, but it is unconscious of them because it cannot see or know her. It has wings, but they are closely folded and it cannot use them. So, it is with us until God calls us out into His abundant life</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The same describes the lost sinner before he comes to know the risen Savior. He can do nothing to save himself. He is helpless without the calling Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ drawing him out of his shell of sin and depravity into newness of life – life changed as surely as the cocoon who undergoes the metamorphosis of the butterfly is gifted with new wings of freedom.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Without Christ, we are nothing. We are dead in trespasses and sins, and no more alive than the entombed Lazarus whose dead body had already begun to decay. But outside the tomb stood the Lord of Life and Love. It was the sound of His Voice calling His name to come forth, and he did so still bound tightly by the grave clothes. His face was also covered so that Lazarus was blind to the One to whom he had responded. Jesus then commanded the disciples about him, <i><span style="color: red;">Loose him, and let him go</span></i>! <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 11:44)</span> Lazarus was thus set free. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could perform such a miracle, but what effect did it have on the Jewish observers when they witnessed such an event? And what about the rebellious Jewish rulers? <i>But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to death</i> (again). <i>Because that by reason of him many of the jews believed and went away, and believed on Jesus</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 12:10-11)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Jewish rulers knew full well only God could resurrect a dead Lazarus from the grave; but they preferred their own power, prestige and glory to obedience to the Lord God and His only Begotten Son. They were precisely what Jesus labelled them – children of their father the devil for it was his will that they would do and not the will of the living God – hypocrites!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Just five days later, our Lord Jesus Christ would die His atoning death on the cross for us. Now, it was He who would lie in a tomb much like Lazarus. Who remained that could raise Him from the dead as He had raised Lazarus? At least Lazarus owned a tomb – the tomb of our Lord was a borrowed tomb, and rightly so, for He would need it only for three days and three nights. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> At the apprehension of Jesus in Gethsemane, the disciples all deserted Him and fled for cover. He died alone on the cross with only the women and the Apostle John with the courage, motivated by love, to remain till the end. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus (he who came by night) were the two to risk the wrath of Rome and the Jewish rulers to remove the body of Jesus ere the Sabbath began at Sundown.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> So who would command the stone to be rolled away on resurrection morning and raise our Lord to life? <i>But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Romans 8:11)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> You and I were just like that chicklet in its temporary home in its shell – unable to love, without freedom, without knowledge of our Creator, etc. We were spiritually dead in trespasses and sin unable to help ourselves until the Spirit calls our name and we go forth from the grave relieved on the binding grave clothes of sin. <i>And you hath He quickened </i>(made alive)<i>, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Ephesians 2:1-5)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> You are even loved while in your shell, but you are unable to return that love until you are born into newness of life by way of the quickening Spirit of God when He calls your name to <i><span style="color: red;">Come forth</span></i>. That call is granted by the risen Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-45691385641113449572024-03-26T16:47:00.001-04:002024-03-26T16:59:57.851-04:00Thine be the Glory –26 March 2024, Anno Domini<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP-3XRjuKFF5jATNGc75V-6oMvuMIIADDOm78154TYKsAkKf0lBuAc0xam2DMvd5Iy3AbSP9piS6oKVpM8jm2e5T189Yigdq8W45csSrnEUOqxrf0PbzyR4NLkB3josXWbGa92m0bsC2MoagLYefla9MS_6L0ymUTzNuQCYDFSYq_eAmr5kHh0mDdxG0Iu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP-3XRjuKFF5jATNGc75V-6oMvuMIIADDOm78154TYKsAkKf0lBuAc0xam2DMvd5Iy3AbSP9piS6oKVpM8jm2e5T189Yigdq8W45csSrnEUOqxrf0PbzyR4NLkB3josXWbGa92m0bsC2MoagLYefla9MS_6L0ymUTzNuQCYDFSYq_eAmr5kHh0mDdxG0Iu=w400-h200" width="400" /></a></div> </span></div><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 24.5pt;">J<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ESUS</b><i> <span class="gmail-text">said unto her,</span><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><span class="gmail-text"><span style="color: red;">I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live</span>: </span></i><span class="gmail-text"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">26</span></i></span><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></span><span class="gmail-text"><i><span style="color: red;">And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this</span></i>? </span><span class="gmail-text"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 11:25-26)</span></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="gmail-text"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span class="gmail-text"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">I was surprised to learn I had not yet written about this majestic Easter hymn. I was likewise surprised to find it missing from a number of hymnals, including the 1940 Church Hymnal. I can only attribute that omission to oversight or ignorance of the depth of meaning of this hymn. Perhaps it is a bit too biblical for the modern hymnist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="gmail-text"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span class="gmail-text"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Composed by the Rev. Edmond Budry in 1884 (while in Africa) to the tune of</span></span><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span class="gmail-text"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Judas Maccabeus</span></i></span><span class="gmail-text"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">, this hymn reverently depicts the resurrected Kingship of our Lord and His powerful victory over death and Hell.</span></span><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span class="gmail-text"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Judas Maccabeus</span></i></span><span class="gmail-text"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">is the work of Georg Friedrich Handel. This hymn is to be sung slowly, reverently, and with passion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Thine be the Glory<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">endless is the vict'ry Thou o’er death hast won.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Refrain:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">endless is the vict'ry Thou o’er death hast won.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Refrain:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Life is nought without Thee; aid us in our strife;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">make us more than conqu'rors, through Thy deathless love;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Refrain:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></i></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">1 Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son; endless is the vict'ry Thou o’er death hast won. Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">.<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">When we meet the enemy on the battlefield, we seek to destroy him. If he dies at our blows, the victory is ours; but with Christ, the rule did not apply. He laid down His life at the hands of His enemies but this was not the end of the story. After lying in the tomb over the Sabbath Day, our Lord arose from the dead conquering both death and Hell – for US! The Roman cohort leisurely stood without the tomb on what they considered to be a routine night of duty; but that night turned out to be one of the most spectacular post of duty they would ever experience. A blast of Thunder from Heave heralded the coming of the Angels to roll the heavy stone away from the borrowed tomb of our Lord. It was such a startling event that the Roman guards fell unconscious with fright. To the guards, the event was one of overwhelming gravity, but to the angels, it was a simple honor to keep watch over the tomb to insure that the grave close were left undisturbed where the risen Lord had folded them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">2 Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb. Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom; let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">.</span></i><span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">The darkness of a night of fearful contemplation prevailed in the hearts of the disciples as well as those who had been complicit with His crucifixion. Perhaps the greatest hurt was felt by Simon Peter who had denied the Lord thrice and then beheld the Lord look him straight in the eye while standing before His accusers. Though Christ rose from the dead, it will profit us nothing unless we are made aware of that resurrection and believe. Christ arose long before sunrise on the first day of the week, very likely just after the close of the Sabbath the evening before. But His resurrection remained unknown until Mary Magdalen came to the tomb while it was yet dark. Mary wandered through the dark streets of Jerusalem to the Garden Tomb only expecting to find the dead body of her Lord. There was evening greater sorrow created by her finding the tomb empty. Weeping, Mary looked into the empty tomb and was disappointed at not finding the DEAD body of her Lord. Owing to her lack of understanding, Mary wept bitterly. The query of the angels she saw there must have seemed completely meaningless to Mary, “<i>Woman, Why weepest thou</i>?” “<i>Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him</i>.” Mary is mourning over the dead body of her Lord just as we often mourn the loss of a loving family member who dies in faith of Christ – but without reason.<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Allow me at this point to take certain editorial license in describing this scene of the weeping Mary and the two Angels. I=t is apparent that the Angels were looking out the opening of the tomb toward Mary. They could see the cedars lining the Garden, the pink cast of pre-dawn on the hills, and they could see something else of which Mary was not aware. They could see the living Lord whom Mary sought approaching behind Mary. It likely gave them a thrill in asking her, “<i>Woman, why weepest though</i>?” Of course they knew the reason, but thay also knew the futility of tears in the presence of a risen Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Mary’s eyes are blinded by her profuse tears. She turns aback and sees some personage approaching. Who else could it be at this early hour but the Keeper of the Garden – and so it was! It was the living Lord whose dead body she sought. But her tears blinded her just as the tears blinded Hagar in the wilderness of Beersheba. The presumed Gardener uttered the same exact question of the Angels, “</span><i><span style="color: red; font-family: Palatino;">Woman, why weepest thou</span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">?” When Mary insists that the Gardener reveal where He has laid the body of her Lord, Jesus calls Mary’s name in such a way as only her Lord could call her, and her eyes were opened. Her tears became tears of joy rather than of sorrow. When Christ calls our names, He does so in a manner which is unmistakable to the hearer. We will know Him intimately if we seek His resurrected glory. Knowing the voice of our Lord will insure that we, too, have that same victory over death that He has promised and made possible by His resurrection. We, too, can enjoy a ‘borrowed tomb’ instead of that grave of the Rich Man who cared not for the beggar Lazarus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">3 No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life!! Life is nought without Thee; aid us in our strife; make us more than conqu'rors, through Thy deathless love; bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.<span class="gmail-apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: Palatino;">The Light of Faith sheds great light on our understanding. Knowing that Christ died a sinless sacrifice for us as the Lamb of God without spot or blemish, that He was buried and His tomb vouchsafe by the imperial seal of Rome, that He arose from that tomb on the third dayand ascended to the Father to continue as our only Advocate and Intercessor is our soul’s comfort. <i>We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us</i>. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Romans 8:37</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> Not that we loved Him, but that He loved us first. That love imparted to our hearts will enable us to rise as well from our borrowed tombs at that Last Day.</span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-21085043426479442392024-03-24T21:44:00.000-04:002024-03-24T21:44:15.837-04:00AOC Sunday Report – Palm Sunday<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9mKLPPqbDEH-9_pNz8st7_nJ-pbW6dEjFg_ca2n0ItxwdBV2QltoP7RFmj4fDSXtLUiH9WNLag3qLHKhn6eazZlHOwQdRBupmrzp4hE9i2yuTxENOtWOo5sl_wRhVT2fV-KyIytCC5huasXPiVZ3azdCGGhKXWmX_sMg-DT4ka1Kne4Z5lVSayMR_Cen/s3450/Palm%20Sunday%20entry%20%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3283" data-original-width="3450" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9mKLPPqbDEH-9_pNz8st7_nJ-pbW6dEjFg_ca2n0ItxwdBV2QltoP7RFmj4fDSXtLUiH9WNLag3qLHKhn6eazZlHOwQdRBupmrzp4hE9i2yuTxENOtWOo5sl_wRhVT2fV-KyIytCC5huasXPiVZ3azdCGGhKXWmX_sMg-DT4ka1Kne4Z5lVSayMR_Cen/w400-h381/Palm%20Sunday%20entry%20%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Happy Palm Sunday! </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded <span style="color: #954f72;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pTLa03GxxtP_NoREJ4YqWi_a1pCaN0Cm/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a></span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">There is Bishop Jerry’s write up on the Madrid trip. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Yves and Jack, as well as Rev Bryan. <span style="background: white; color: #0d0d0d;">Jack’</span><span style="color: #333333;">s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <span style="color: #954f72;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine the </span></span>unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week by a cheering crowd, many of whom would condemn Him on Good Friday. In the Collect, we acknowledge God sent His Son to be our Savior. Think about that, the Creator, Lord and Master of the Universe sent His only Son to live amongst us and not just provide us with instruction and leadership, but to give His earthly life as a one time sacrifice for our sin that we might be accounted as perfect in our final accounting, the resurrection. The Epistle calls us to follow the example Jesus set in His actions of His Death and Resurrection, and also calls us to embody His great humility and His great patience. Recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on this day so many years ago. Only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion; everyone else, including Jews, Romans and His followers, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who has been released to him after two months on a ventilator in ICU with Covid then work your way through Candy, Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">On this Palm Sunday, think about this: many of those in the crowd who welcomed Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday were the same people who condemned Him the morning of Good Friday. In many respects, we are that crowd.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As we welcome the Lord into Jerusalem amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">May you see the epic and Holy Week ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIvShLegDXgkcT9giX8ZsZmQ2hUJOCHLX-9vrYtyx5ZrrNBrp_x1CIhGepvrikXB4zsiK1OuKSNnfT8rO5RvvffcuQQzhjNhEm19Fi1gDWf6T6jrlutp92o1oOHBoI9vTlnYg43YNHg7XqWIha4mQ9AoQFXjMs-tvG7bSmNarg1Uz6Vt5qSmWo2phtMsM/s158/Hap%20Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="158" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIvShLegDXgkcT9giX8ZsZmQ2hUJOCHLX-9vrYtyx5ZrrNBrp_x1CIhGepvrikXB4zsiK1OuKSNnfT8rO5RvvffcuQQzhjNhEm19Fi1gDWf6T6jrlutp92o1oOHBoI9vTlnYg43YNHg7XqWIha4mQ9AoQFXjMs-tvG7bSmNarg1Uz6Vt5qSmWo2phtMsM/w83-h81/Hap%20Signature.png" width="83" /></a> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Hap Arnold<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Bishop Coadjutor<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-91180384178382869592024-03-24T21:19:00.000-04:002024-03-24T21:19:42.637-04:00Palm Sunday - Our Substitute - Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide - 24 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXsa8MyWSTnaMuE3eCeYD0oGzgzlKezUbjdBspQwK9miDpkDtjxc_EBZ5Voqncj-sTSiA74urUwk_rUuXioD1SzpO_2aPEUXTP7x8h7su3_QLCIkSjvcsON0WQv3nqm0iiik2wrT23jsBIpMQoWhunsIvv-7sOM8h-VaiquoYn1dpkrKfUjqEaCFhqr0p/s300/v1.bjsyNDk0Nzk7ajsxNzY0MjsxMjAwOzM2MDA7MjcwMA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXsa8MyWSTnaMuE3eCeYD0oGzgzlKezUbjdBspQwK9miDpkDtjxc_EBZ5Voqncj-sTSiA74urUwk_rUuXioD1SzpO_2aPEUXTP7x8h7su3_QLCIkSjvcsON0WQv3nqm0iiik2wrT23jsBIpMQoWhunsIvv-7sOM8h-VaiquoYn1dpkrKfUjqEaCFhqr0p/w400-h400/v1.bjsyNDk0Nzk7ajsxNzY0MjsxMjAwOzM2MDA7MjcwMA.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="font-family: Palatino; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Palatino; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;"><br /></span></i></b></div>Jerry Ogles, </span></i></b><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Presiding Bishop</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide</span></i><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 203pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 309.3pt; margin-top: 20.85pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 167pt; z-index: 252405760;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:////Users/haparnold/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image001.jpg"><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 203pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 309.3pt; margin-top: 20.85pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 167pt; z-index: 252405760;" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:////Users/haparnold/Library/Group%20Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/TemporaryItems/msohtmlclip/clip_image001.jpg"><w:wrap type="square"></w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>The Collect.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY</b> and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. <b><span style="color: #3366ff;">Amen.</span></b></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">N<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>OW</b><i> at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">16</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">17</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">18</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">19</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">20</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">21</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Matt 27:15-21)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The account of Barabbas is a stark illustration of each of us ere we came to know our Lord Jesus Christ as redeemer and Lord. Barabbas had been arrested, caught in the act of murder and sedition. He was locked away in prison awaiting his certain fate of torture on the cross. This is an exact example of each of us. We were all lost sinners, sentenced to death and awaiting our final execution on the day of Judgment. It is likely that Barabbas never came to know why he was spared, but maybe he did -God only knows. It is even possible that he later came to know the Savior so well that he could be spared the second death. We are not told the final fate of Barabbas in Scripture.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The events of that Good Friday, two thousand years ago, were fully orchestrated by the fore-ordained workings of the Holy Spirit. He works in the same knowledge and purpose in every believer’s heart. It is interesting to note that He who was guiltless of any crime or sin was pronounced innocent by the Roman Proconsul, while the condemned murderer who was guilty as charged was set free.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Beyond any merit or goodness in Barabbas, his life was spared by One who was totally innocent of his sins. So were you and I set free from the bondage of sin and death by a substitute.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> We often read of Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Joseph, or David as antitypes of Christ. Very seldom do we look solemnly enough in the Mirror of God’s Word and find there antitypes of ourselves even though they are found in proliferation in God’s Word. For example, the Woman at the Well is a picture type of those who earnestly seek truth and the Water of Life. The Woman taken in Adultery is a perfect type of all of us ere we came to the Throne of Grace in Christ. Peter, in his loss of courage outside the court of the High Priest typifies us all at some point in our walk when we deny Christ either by word or deed. And we have before us, in the account of Barabbas, the perfect antitype of each and everyone of us! How so?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> WE have all hated others with a hate that emerges from envy and covetousness. That is the birth of murder in our hearts whether carried to fruition or simply dormant. We have all lied, stolen something that does not belong to us either overtly, or covertly through our failure to work a solid eight hour shift for which our employer paid us in currency of the realm. We have looked longingly at some person of the opposite sex. We have many times dishonored our mothers and fathers. We have taken the Name of the Lord in vain either in profane language, or in praying in the Lord’s Name for purposes of impressing others only. So we are just as despicable in our sins as was Barabbas. In fact, prior to our being drawn powerfully by the bonds of the Holy Spirit to Christ, we were dead in trespasses and sins. <span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">(Ephesians 2)</span> Unless you are some special kind of mortal angel (and there are none), you were a condemned sinner in the old man. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(see Romans 3:23)</span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Dead men can do nothing good to EARN their salvation. Their spirit and heart is as silent and still as the heart of Lazarus as he lay in the tomb at Bethany. The wages of sin is death, and we were dead in our old and unwashed souls. (see Romans 6:23) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> We all stood condemned on Good Friday though we had not yet breathed the Breath of Life. We were just as much in bondage and condemned to death as was poor Barabbas. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Lying in a Roman prison in the company of his fellow conspirators, Barabbas had doubtless given up all hope of pardon or reprieve. He was guilty as charged, and he faced the horrible death of crucifixion. There was absolutely no escape in the terms of the law – no provision for forgiveness under the law for the law cannot forgive by virtue of its own nature. If there had been some weakness of the law as to provision of justice, pardon might have been possible; but there was not. God’s Law, too, demands absolute justice for sin (death). Since we have all sinned, that justice will be satisfied. Since God’s Law is perfect, there are no terms for pardon. The debt must be paid! Our sins were not pardoned on Good Friday – they were satisfied under the terms of the Law by our Redeemer. He atoned for our sins and made it possible for us to be accounted righteous by the imputed righteousness of our Lord who died that day in our stead. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The story of Barabbas is parallel in its physical outcome to our own.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Barabbas lay on the cold floor of that Roman dungeon awaiting the time of crucifixion. He would have been totally startled in hearing his name called by the Captain of the Guard. Barabbas, come forth! This sounds very much like that Voice that Lazarus heard while lying on a stone-cold slab in the tomb at Bethany. Barabbas likely considered this the call to come forth for the beatings and tortuous death that typified the hours of crucifixion. He must have recoiled at that call just as many Christian fearfully recoil when the Holy Spirit plants a hook in their jaws as He draws them where they may not have wanted to go. Resist as we may, the Hound of Heaven will not lose our trail. He pesters us until we answer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Perhaps Barabbas had to be forcefully moved from the cell for the very purpose of setting him free. His tortured mind could not comprehend the enormity of what was happening. He was confounded and confused, if I judge the man aright, when he was released by the Roman governor. He may have staggered out wondering what the meaning of this wonderful liberty was all about. He saw our Lord pronounced innocent and then sentenced to death at the consensus of the crowd incited by the conspiratorial demands of the Jewish rulers. He may have wondered, “Why am I being set free while this just man is condemned?” Or he may have had his conscience so seared with the hot iron of lust and cruelty that he merely did not care why. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Some have speculated that Barabbas was so affected by this event that he became a follower of Christ. I do admit that this conclusion is possible, but not revealed in the Word of God. For all we know, he reverted to his old, reprobate self. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Now, when I pronounce the name, Barabbas, I mean everyone reading this message. We have all sinned and would have suffered the fires of Hell were it not that we had a substitute under the law who paid our penalty. We were set at liberty, as was Barabbas, without any effort or good deeds of our own. We had nothing to do with our preciously purchased freedom. The debt was too great for any of us to pay. But it was PAID by the only one who could have been eligible to purchase our freedom and die in our stead – our Lord Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> If we have been drawn by that great Magnet of the Cross under the power of the Holy Spirit to the Throne of Grace, our lives will be changed and we will become new creatures. Though we may stumble and stagger, the Holy Spirit is with us to lift us up as we seek forgiveness. There may always exist tares among the wheat. The evidence will be in the fruit. The Christian character is like a sterling silver spoon. Regardless of its age and use, it will always bear the character and properties of pure silver. But those who are silver-plated are the playroom Christians – they are not truly Christians at all. With time and use, the silver plate will wear off and the baser metal will be revealed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Which kind are you, the old Barabbas, or the Paul of the Damascus Road?<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-22642236760101339242024-03-24T14:45:00.000-04:002024-03-24T14:45:26.766-04:00Holy Week 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUfZtWlXYdmGJPpw7-HvDmt5NJ-zFLrqUO0rSZFJwiXqMqBWasAjhUVN7_RU2sfSHKo-vnFogVTiAIR8-dkGpk5bFNVsdzz-vqC-ddzjcf-HJwQIC8PRpg9v1INQ2pcwBq1xIM_a9RJ4kqECAS1f5K5b8oH0uZ7JEHPbWiZVy484odDvhh77u1EyFABveC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3283" data-original-width="3450" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUfZtWlXYdmGJPpw7-HvDmt5NJ-zFLrqUO0rSZFJwiXqMqBWasAjhUVN7_RU2sfSHKo-vnFogVTiAIR8-dkGpk5bFNVsdzz-vqC-ddzjcf-HJwQIC8PRpg9v1INQ2pcwBq1xIM_a9RJ4kqECAS1f5K5b8oH0uZ7JEHPbWiZVy484odDvhh77u1EyFABveC=w400-h381" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: purple;">Holy Week<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Sunday next before Easter is commonly referred to as Palm Sunday. The period between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is often referred to as Holy Week. Most churchgoing people go to church on Palm Sunday, then to church on Easter Sunday. It’s a fairly uplifting time with not a lot of thinking. On Palm Sunday Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On Easter Sunday there’s the joyous resurrection. What’s not to like about that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The thing is, there is a tremendous amount that goes on between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, not all of it joyous, in fact most of it is pretty scary or sad. The beginning of the week was wonderful; in the end the week was even more wonderful. In between was a series of ups and downs the ups a little high and the downs very very deep. It is important to remember as you go through Holy Week that Jesus was in control of all the events of the week. The week starts with the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and ends with the death of the Savior on the Cross and the burial of his body in the tomb. It is a week of ups and downs without parallel, the ups a little high and the downs very very deep, deep as Hell you might say, and precedes the most joyous day of the year, the Day of the Resurrection or Easter Sunday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Jesus has a triumphant entry into the city on the First Day of the Week (Sunday); on Thursday night he celebrates the Passover with his disciples in the Upper Room, he prays and agonizes over what he knows is coming in the garden of Gethsemane; Judas betrays him early Friday morning, his most trusted disciple denies him, not once but three times before the cock crew; the Jews condemn him to Pilate who in turn orders him to be beaten and humiliated; that does not satisfy the Jews and at their request, Pilate condemns a man he knows to be innocent to a horrible death to pacify the crowd of Jews assembled by the priests; Jesus is crucified, asks John to take care of his mother and gives up the ghost; his body is taken down and buried; the disciples are dispersed and discouraged; they have listened to their Lord, but not understood.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Think of this week from the disciples’ perspective, on the first day they enter with their leader into Jerusalem in triumph; mid-week they celebrate the joyous feast of the Passover, then their leader is betrayed, defends himself not and is killed. At the time they surely could not think of this as a Holy Week and certainly not a Good Friday. Yet on the first day of the week that follows, our Lord is Risen, Risen indeed and delivers the promise of salvation in person.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Remember many of those in the crowd who condemned Him the morning of Good Friday were in the crowd that welcomed Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. What a difference five days can make!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is important to remember as you go through Holy Week that Jesus was in control of all the events of the week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">What a week!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">I remain yours, in Christ, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Hap Arnold</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Bishop Coadjutor</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-22083975426155447232024-03-24T14:27:00.001-04:002024-03-24T14:27:37.740-04:00Palm Sunday - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIuO4JCsvhlq_4kSjXorSZ_LgycURyvLNWbzgHCB6UIVfk-bbm3QKJHoHGaW8tZp8da3vNibdCtQr5nsT6bPEWfdfx-3yBLErjHOob_R7QicLgRqU48ILrou84ObwefpIjZjoMwHiojOM9C8QPYp-1xbcDPaJIrTL9tOjMIaME7Vi2IPUa-1xzvGnPYMR5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3283" data-original-width="3450" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIuO4JCsvhlq_4kSjXorSZ_LgycURyvLNWbzgHCB6UIVfk-bbm3QKJHoHGaW8tZp8da3vNibdCtQr5nsT6bPEWfdfx-3yBLErjHOob_R7QicLgRqU48ILrou84ObwefpIjZjoMwHiojOM9C8QPYp-1xbcDPaJIrTL9tOjMIaME7Vi2IPUa-1xzvGnPYMR5=w400-h381" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: repeat white; color: #0d0d0d;">Bishop Jack’</span><span style="color: #333333;">s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <span style="color: #954f72;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Ja</span><span>ck</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine the </span></span>unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week by a cheering crowd, many of whom would condemn Him on Good Friday. In the Collect, we acknowledge God sent His Son to be our Savior. Think about that, the Creator, Lord and Master of the Universe sent His only Son to live amongst us and not just provide us with instruction and leadership, but to give His earthly life as a one time sacrifice for our sin that we might be accounted as perfect in our final accounting, the resurrection. The Epistle calls us to follow the example Jesus set in His actions of His Death and Resurrection, and also calls us to embody His great humility and His great patience. Recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on this day so many years ago. Only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion; everyone else, including Jews, Romans and His followers, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"><br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>The Collect.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY</b> and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. <b><span style="color: #3366ff;">Amen.</span></b></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Epistle came from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, starting at the Fifth Verse of the Second Chapter. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Paul reminds us if Christ, the Son of God, was obedient to God, we should so be. Also, as a result of that obedience, God hath given Jesus the name to which all of earth should bow. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 31.5pt;">L<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ET</b> this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>This morning’s Gospel</i></b> comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, starting at the First Verse of the Twenty-Seventh Chapter and tells the story of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and death. The Gospel was read by in parts. We all read the Crowd part together.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The normally powerful Gospel seems even more powerful when read as a play, so to speak. The crowd’s part is very hard to read as it reminds us of our dark side. If you did not make it to church today, please find someone to read this with in parts. It is an uncomfortable experience that you nonetheless should not miss.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoPageNumber" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Palatino;">Please read this out loud!</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Parts<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Jesus<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Judas<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate’s Wife<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Crowd<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Gospel of Saint Matthew<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">starting at the First Verse of the Twenty-Seventh Chapter<i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew: When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Judas</i>: I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And they said, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">What is that to us? see thou to that.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b><span style="color: #3366ff;">: </span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate</i>: Art thou the King of the Jews? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And Jesus said unto him, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Jesus</i>: Thou sayest.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate</i>: Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate</i>: Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate’s Wife</i>: Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate</i>: Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: They said, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">Barabbas.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: Pilate saith unto them, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate</i>: What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: They all say unto him, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">Let him be crucified.</span><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And the governor said, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate</i>: Why, what evil hath he done? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: But they cried out the more, saying, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">Let him be crucified.</span><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Pilate</i>: I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: Then answered all the people, and said, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">His blood be on us, and on our children.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">Hail, King of the Jews!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.</span><span style="color: #3366ff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="FI">Jesus</span></i><span lang="FI">: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: that is to say, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Jesus</i>: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">This man calleth for Elias.</span><span style="color: #3366ff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.</span><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Moment of Silence<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Reader</i>: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Crowd</i></b><b>: <span style="color: blue;">Truly this was the Son of God</span><span style="color: #3366ff;">.</span></b><span class="MsoPageNumber" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Having read this, do you see yourself in the crowd? The crowd were not a random group of bad Jews, the crowd <b>is us</b>. There is a little or more of the crowd in each of us. Uncomfortable? Yes. But, sadly very real. Yet, if we realize this, we can act to make ourselves less of the crowd and more of the Christ. For in us each is the crowd and the crown. We chose, each of us, which it will be, crowd or crown. One simple letter of difference, yet the gap between the two is bridged only by Christ.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Jack Arnold</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Bishop of the Diocese of the West </span></i><i><span face=""Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif" style="color: #a51e9a;">–</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"> AOC USA</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Education and Training</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack brings</span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack’s sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://youtu.be/ioLPSMynTsA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;">Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the start of Holy Week by a cheering crowd, many of whom would condemn Him on Good Friday:</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkKjkRn1q5NCY_VEnuJe3tK8Wkj7amEw_vEy2GmU-_M4kqpDhFTCYv1aPyWGYe-tuCY_rc3A-AhvT1nPXGozhoSn2BPephLnIRI4otDifnFFJsx2LR3jE-ZkbzbUt2B33Q27p-JppVLeRG92BrcPIZj8q81YnpOZ1D74dZqqQH5cFVXZsWSReD8c7i_Xq/s1202/240324%20Jack's%20Sermon.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="866" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkKjkRn1q5NCY_VEnuJe3tK8Wkj7amEw_vEy2GmU-_M4kqpDhFTCYv1aPyWGYe-tuCY_rc3A-AhvT1nPXGozhoSn2BPephLnIRI4otDifnFFJsx2LR3jE-ZkbzbUt2B33Q27p-JppVLeRG92BrcPIZj8q81YnpOZ1D74dZqqQH5cFVXZsWSReD8c7i_Xq/s320/240324%20Jack's%20Sermon.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>The Collect.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY</b> and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. <b><span style="color: #3366ff;">Amen.</span></b></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Good Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">… thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection…<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the Collect, we acknowledge God sent His Son to be our Savior. Think about that, the Creator, Lord and Master of the Universe sent His only Son to live amongst us and not just provide us with instruction and leadership, but to give His earthly life as a one time sacrifice for our sin that we might be accounted as perfect in our final accounting, the resurrection. How much did God value His Son? Consider what Paul tells us - <i>Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Reading this, let us consider how much God valued His Son and how much He values us that He sent His Son here to teach us to guide us, to love us, and finally to give His Life for us that we might be free from the bonds of sin and death. Jesus humbled himself to a commoner’s death, and not just that of any commoner, but that of a thief. This tells us how much Jesus and God love us, that God would send His Only Begotten Son to die a horrendous death and that Jesus would under go this painful death and then the descent into Hell to save our souls from eternal bondage. If He did that for us, it is only fair that we should do our best to follow His Example and perform good actions for Him. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This thought leads directly to the Epistle which calls us to follow the example Jesus set in His actions of His Death and Resurrection, and also calls us to embody His great humility and His great patience, that we might follow the upward narrow path towards heaven and be partakers of His Resurrection. The Epistle calls us to action and follow in the example of Jesus’s great humility, humbling himself, the being who created this planet, to die for us on the cross, laying down His Life for ours, is an example we must strive to emulate in our own lives, to the best of our abilities. He has set for us the ultimate benchmark for our performance here on Earth. We will never be able to match it perfectly, but if we never try our best to follow it, we will never even get close. So let us allow the Holy Ghost to enter into our hearts and guide us to follow Christ’s example.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If we follow His Example and do our best to emulate His humility and patience, we too can be a part of His Resurrection. We will be a part of our own resurrection of sorts. To accomplish this, we have to have our selfish selves die and be replaced with the unselfish self, which we can achieve through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we need to stop our sinful behavior and replace that behavior with more Godly behavior. This is easier said than done, but it can be accomplished with the help of the Holy Ghost. Without His Help it will be impossible to accomplish. So let us ask Him into our hearts that we might renew our spirit and become New Men. We will find our lives improve remarkably as a result of our transformation into the New Men. Not only will our lives improve, but it will be a big help to those around us as well. So let us cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, allow the Holy Ghost to guide us in our actions and become the New Men that Paul talks about.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Jesus set the ultimate standard for us to following God’s will. His entire ministry can be described as actions. He physically lived His Message. His Message can clearly be seen through His Actions. We need to do as He did and show by our actions that we serve Him. He did not just say nice words and do nothing, He backed up those words with actions. We are called to do likewise. Action, not just diction is what counts in the end and we must always remember that and strive to follow His Example.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Jesus knew ahead of time where, how and when He would die. He even told His followers this, but they could not understand as they did not have the Holy Ghost within them to help them comprehend what He said. He knew with a 100 percent certainty it was going to be a physically and spiritually painful death, Yet, He also knew this was God’s Will that we might live. If He did this for you, how can you not follow Him wherever His Will takes you? And remember His Example, of acting even if it means the death of your temporal body. His Example that He has left to us to follow is that of Action. And like Him, we may have to die for our faith but rest assured that death will have a reward of eternal life. That takes away the threat of physical pain and death to us, as our souls will live on in Eternity and will go to Heaven where Jesus has prepared a place for each and every one of us that has done their best to follow Him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on this day so many years ago. Only Jesus knew of the upcoming crucifixion; everyone else, including Jews, Romans and His followers, thought he was making a triumphant entrance in to the city to take control of things and kick the Roman occupation force out. It was almost a full moon, this was the year of the Messiah according to Daniel. The natural events were lining up as Scripture had predicted which preceded the arrival of the Messiah. Jesus chose the route into the city, through the King’s Gate. The people saw Him coming and met him at the Mount of Olives. When He came in through the King’s Gate, the people were expecting to see their future earthly king. They did not have the Holy Ghost within them to see His true nature. However, they were incorrect, who they were seeing was and is their heavenly king. Jesus had no intentions of establishing a Kingdom of this World. He was looking for followers for the Kingdom of the Next World, of Heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This World is only temporary, but the Next World is of Eternity. What ever trinkets we might acquire on Earth will never measure up to the gift that Jesus bought for us by His Death on the Cross and subsequent Resurrection. We must always keep that in mind whenever we are tempted by earthly trinkets. It is a gift of great joy, the fact is we should be by all rights dead and headed for the pit, instead headed to a kingdom of joyfulness and laughter and all pleasant things, and a world that will be far better than our pitiful shadowland here. This is indeed the most valuable of all gifts we will ever receive in our lifetime. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As an aside the Chief Priests, who had so much invested in their 613 laws, likely searched far and wide for the crowd to convict Jesus of the crimes they imagined against their system. We need to remember that not all of the Jews wanted Jesus executed, just those in power and those that followed them. It is an easy mistake to make that many other Christians have made. They have not seen that it was not all Jews and not only that, they were representative of all of humanity, not just the Jewish people. The system that they followed was of this world, not God’s. Remember, there are none so blind as those who will not see. They were in the darkness, thus they could and would not see what was being shown to them because it would interfere with their comfortable way of living. A new way that asked of them, no demanded of them, accountability unto God for their actions. Know the crowd was not<b> a</b> self-forming group naturally set on condemning Jesus, but a handpicked gang. At the same time, many of those in the crowd who condemned Him the morning of Good Friday were in the crowd that welcomed Him to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. What a difference five days can make.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Make no mistake, we are that crowd. And, like Pilate, no matter what we say, we cannot wash our hands of the responsibility. Thus, we must separate ourselves from the crowd. Separate, that is to make ourselves holy, set aside.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">When the time comes, how will you ACT?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Be of God - Live of God - Act of God</b></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-55630508494043270232024-03-23T12:43:00.003-04:002024-03-23T12:43:57.864-04:00I am come a light unto the world - 23 March 2024, Anno Domini<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc9j2_en3Hs1o77jdBQhFWViVZ2LZR08s0uKjEZ8WleYXqQwwTmDhKgQuh3mYDklLr3JBE3auxD8dNm9dn6H-TKfBvveLEuX-5W8GabJtg3hdYE5iZDlH7PT49O7PHM-2kQPLzNs9QgkNQx52SsVdMojUFTNxUvh6xbrvVb-HHB2D_Cf_Zc5cSyKx4Y4T/s600/search-light-crew-scans-night-sky-enemy-21536646.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="600" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc9j2_en3Hs1o77jdBQhFWViVZ2LZR08s0uKjEZ8WleYXqQwwTmDhKgQuh3mYDklLr3JBE3auxD8dNm9dn6H-TKfBvveLEuX-5W8GabJtg3hdYE5iZDlH7PT49O7PHM-2kQPLzNs9QgkNQx52SsVdMojUFTNxUvh6xbrvVb-HHB2D_Cf_Zc5cSyKx4Y4T/w400-h263/search-light-crew-scans-night-sky-enemy-21536646.jpg.webp" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></b></div><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">J<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ESUS</b> <i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> cried and said, </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">45</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">46</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">47</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">48</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">49</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">50</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">(John 12:44-50)</span><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Today’s scripture text is taken from the lectionary for evening prayer. The greatest light to enter our physical world is the light of the sun. Without that light, there would be no energy and no life on earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the World to those who seek a permanent citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. He is the Sun of Righteousness who rises with healing in His wings </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">(Malachi 4:2)</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> and whose glimmer ascent began as the Morning Star of our night in the world’s wilderness journey that pointed to that coming of our Lord as a babe in a manger at Bethlehem long after those prophecies were uttered by Holy men inspired of God. He brings healing to the gaunt and sallow sinner, and life and energy to all who have eyes to behold that Light. There can exist no promise of eternal life apart from the grace of God and the faith that grace imparts to our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some of the many benefits of light is what light reveals. It reveals two ways – the safe way and the way of tragedy. It reveals truth and exposes error. It serves as a guide for our direction to salvation in Christ. Without that Light of the World, we would be as lost in life as the corrupt politician in the cesspool of Washington, DC.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If we would see the sun, we must look up. Likewise, if we would see the Sun of Righteousness, we must focus on the things above – the things of love and righteousness. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A few years ago, I related a story from Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan entitled, <u>The Man with a Muckrake</u>. The point of Bunyan’s parable is how many miss the light simply because their focus is upon the earth that can only create Shadows and darkness instead up at the Light that can give a Holy wisdom and knowledge leading to eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In following the ways of the world and her Prince of Darkness, our spiritual senses may become dim of hearing and seeing truth. The paltry rags and mudholes of the world for some reason appeal to us more than the celestial stairway leading up to the Gates of Splendor. Our eyes are made blind to beauty, and our ears deaf to truth. Our consciences become seared as with a hot iron so that feeling has waned. Our knowledge dwindles and our wisdom fails of lack thereof. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In Bunyan’s <u>Pilgrim’s Progress</u> you may recall the description of the Man with the Muck Rake, the man who could look no way but downward, with the muck rake in his hand; who was offered a celestial crown for his muck rake, but who would neither look up nor regard the crown he was offered, but continued to rake to himself the filth of the floor”. True knowledge and wisdom cannot abide in a wicked heart. The enemy may be cunning and shrewd, but he lacks true wisdom for he has lost sight of the Eternal Light.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Without him what would be the blessing of sight? So without Jesus we should have no spiritual knowledge, no happy love to God or man, no fruitfulness. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Conclusion - We may gather some thoughts of Jesus from the laws of light, or the modes of its operation. Is the sun an inexhaustible fountain of light? In Jesus there is an infinite fulness of grace. Does the light travel with amazing rapidity? How swiftly do the thoughts of Jesus flow out towards His servants — </span><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;">Before they call I will answer</span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. Does light travel only in straight lines? Jesus is a Holy Savior; His eyes look straight before Him in the prosecution of His Father's purposes. Is the angle of reflection always equal to the angle of incidence? The Christian knows the light he receives from heaven, he will find it his honor and happiness to reflect on earth. Is light a radiant force, and does a small approximation to its center bring <o:p></o:p></span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-90719453975147637002024-03-22T17:35:00.005-04:002024-03-22T17:35:52.571-04:00The Immovable Sanctuary - 22 March 2024, Anno Domini<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLQgaSab_ZbMa-MIcpfRMmX8UuyhyUfZ5MfbhlYACYC950_WMVsBHNAAjba37e7HWBWokxre4aUGdeqcOEIuG_wwf-hzd90MpleuIRmpaew6cmce6a1lP8XrSX5cQPFCqQ2L378tOP2YNA-4kOnLPBeVpmNe6xmGYaeTZOd6q_KSfG5oIrR-zeYMkvS4D/s2048/Rock%20of%20Gibraltar%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="2048" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLQgaSab_ZbMa-MIcpfRMmX8UuyhyUfZ5MfbhlYACYC950_WMVsBHNAAjba37e7HWBWokxre4aUGdeqcOEIuG_wwf-hzd90MpleuIRmpaew6cmce6a1lP8XrSX5cQPFCqQ2L378tOP2YNA-4kOnLPBeVpmNe6xmGYaeTZOd6q_KSfG5oIrR-zeYMkvS4D/w400-h243/Rock%20of%20Gibraltar%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: Palatino; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">I<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b> WILL</b> <i>love thee, O LORD, my strength.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">2</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span>The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">3</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span>I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 18:1-3)</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> There is a narrow passage between the south of Spain and the north of Morocco that allows access into the western Mediterranean Sea that is labelled the ‘<i>Straits of Gibraltar.</i>’ Just to the northeast of this strait is a promontory on which exists a mighty rock –<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>the Rock of Gibraltar</i>, or Mountain of Tariq, named after its Arabian conqueror, Tariq ibn Ziyad.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> For centuries, this mighty Rock has guarded the traffic both into, and out of, the Mediterranean. Having no earthly sources of waters, its water supply has been provided by the capture of the waters of the rains of Heaven and stored in rock caverns cut into the stone.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> In some points, the Rock of Gibraltar is a much smaller type of that Rock which followed Israel in the Wilderness and remains the strong Rock and Fortress of the people of God. That Rock is likewise immovable and its waters are the Life-Waters streaming down from Heaven. Our relationship to that Mighty Rock determines whether we shall be admitted, or denied, entrance to the Paradise of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> The Kingdom over which this Divine Rock stands sentinel is likewise immovable in nature: <i>Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire</i>. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Heb 12:28-29)</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> Just as the Rock of Gibraltar stands as a rock of defense for the Mediterranean, so does the Rock of our Salvation stand as our sure defense from the tumults and tides of world of wilderness dangers. Though we are frail and weak, in Him we cannot be moved: <i>He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 62:6-7)</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> When we abide in Christ, we will act with the gracious favor of our Lord. We will be constant and unchanging in friendship and respect for others: <i>A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance</i>. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 112:5-6)</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> Abiding in the Lord anchors us steadfastly in His love and constancy: <i>He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 121:3)</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> God has ordained a place of stationary security for those who follow Him. Our Lord has gone to prepare a place for us that shall never be subject to the quakes and turbulence of our earthly habitation: <i>Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning</i>, </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(1 Chron 17:9)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> These are just a few of the spiritually inherited characteristics of the devout Christian. The Christian need not wear his religion on his collar. His identity is revealed in his living sermon he delivers everyday in the way he or she conducts their lives, treat others, stand staunchly on the side of righteousness, and trade in the currency of Godly love.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> I have heard some claim they have no religion – they only live by faith, they say. Either they do not know the meaning of religion, or they are missing the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Encyclopedia Britannica describes religion as <strong><i>Religion</i></strong><i>, </i></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-being" style="color: purple;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;">human</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence</span></i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Palatino;">.</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> That is an incomplete definition. The better and more accurate definition is found in God’s Word: <i>Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world</i>. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(James 1:27)</span></p></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-22281838936449154452024-03-22T16:38:00.000-04:002024-03-22T16:38:06.233-04:00Hymns of the Church – O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus – 20 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<p><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWZD9Oa97eAdM-gu6FHRdHqYmJtXMpkMmJ7BhS0-pfl8QSDql-_ciWx64RWbTa9kwC4huFkTYuPqkX61FWyOIQXkH0yqPZTd301UGeN-iUJkvEYLpje3FAXTvwK-MFtw6W7SIVxNyOjA9sq2z9_2n_o2QxKuEHg15aWTKKf_Ar13ItOlO9ycpASFilcvA/s1100/Lamb%2001jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1100" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWZD9Oa97eAdM-gu6FHRdHqYmJtXMpkMmJ7BhS0-pfl8QSDql-_ciWx64RWbTa9kwC4huFkTYuPqkX61FWyOIQXkH0yqPZTd301UGeN-iUJkvEYLpje3FAXTvwK-MFtw6W7SIVxNyOjA9sq2z9_2n_o2QxKuEHg15aWTKKf_Ar13ItOlO9ycpASFilcvA/w400-h181/Lamb%2001jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div><p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">8</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">9</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">10</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">11</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">12</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i>Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Sam 7:7-12)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Holy Spirit can penetrate every distance, every age, and even into the mind of a child. The youngest member of St. Andrews Church is Miss Soo-min Kim, a 7<sup>th</sup> grade student. Each Sunday she selects a short devotion to read to the Church – a task which she performs admirably. It is beyond coincidence this young lady selects readings that always seem to fit purposely into my lectionary text sermons. Last Sunday, I preached on the Two Tabernacles – the first representing Christ in the wilderness, the second the True Tabernacle which is Christ. I was amazed that Soo-min’s story was about that very subject even though she was unaware of my textual subject. Obviously, the Holy spirit speaks to her young and innocent mind week after week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> In the case of today’s hymn, there seems a rare and perfect correlation between the lyrics of the hymn and its tune, <i>Ebenezer. </i>Ebenezer is from the Hebrew meaning Stone of Remembrance, or help. The hymn is the composition of Thomas John Williams (1869-1944) which he named <i>Tune in a Bottle</i>, and comes from the 2<sup>nd</sup> movement of his Welsh anthem, <i>Light in the Valley</i> published in 1897.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The lyrics are by Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925). The deep, infinity of space cannot either be measured in time of distance, and neither can the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus – in fact, the depth of His love is immeasurable and deeper beyond and human comprehension. Our Lord Jesus Christ was led to many ordeals that no mortal human would choose to go – He was roughly led into the Wilderness to fast and to be tempted for 40 days and nights; He was roughly accosted in the Garden at Gethsemane by rough and heartless soldiers; He was roughly led before Annas, Caiphas, and Pontius Pilate into the Hall of Judgment. At the last, He was led away as a Lamb to be slaughtered to the brow of Calvary. (John 19:16). All this He did willfully for you and me. He could have returned at any moment to the glorious Throne of His Father, but He endured for us!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">O the deep, deep love of Jesus,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">rolling as a mighty ocean<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">in its fullness over me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">Underneath me, all around me,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">is the current of Thy love;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">leading onward, leading homeward<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">to Thy glorious rest above.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">O the deep, deep love of Jesus,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">spread His praise from shore to shore!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">How He loveth, ever loveth,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">changeth never, nevermore!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">How He watcheth o'er His loved ones,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">died to call them all His own;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">how for them He intercedeth,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">watcheth o'er them from the throne.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">O the deep, deep love of Jesus,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">love of every love the best;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">'tis an ocean vast of blessing,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">'tis a haven sweet of rest.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">O the deep, deep love of Jesus,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">'tis heav'n of heav'ns to me;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in;">and it lifts me up to glory,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">for it lifts me up to Thee. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>1 O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free, rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me. Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love; leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above</i></b>. ‘<i>Safe in the arms of Jesus’</i> is the Ebenezer (Stone of help) to the believing Christian. He need not worry of times and distances for the Love of Christ is as an endless, unfathomable ocean surrounding him all the days of his life regardless of place or time. That Ebenezer is a Stone – not only of salvation – but also unconditional victory in Christ. Love is that immovable Stone that characterizes our Lord’s care for us. Just as the Stone Memorial at Ebenezer marked Israel’s return to God, so does that Great Rock of Christ (which is pure love) mark the memorial of our salvation and victory in Him. Should we stumble in the dark night, <i><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;">27 </span></i><i>The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Deuteronomy 33:27)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>2 O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore! How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore! How He watcheth o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own; how for them He intercedeth, watcheth o'er them from the throne</i></b><i>. </i>He gives the believer Songs in the Night. <b><i><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;">5</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></i><i>I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;">6</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></i><i>I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 77:5-6)</span> Even in the dark, dark valleys where no light is, He is with us – <i>Yea, thou I walk through the Valley of Death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me</i>. The believer is <i>in Christ’</i> and Christ is in the believer. There is no death in the presence of the Lamb of God for He conquered both death and Hell. Death is only a shade without substance or force. He is our One High Priest and the only Intercessor with the Father on our behalf. How can we love Him less than with all our being?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>3 O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best; 'tis an ocean vast of blessing, 'tis a haven sweet of rest. O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 'tis heav'n of heav'ns to me; and it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee</i></b>. The Havens of the Lord are fair and safe – a place of rest and shelter from the stormy seas of the world. <i>Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 107:30)</span> On the sea voyage to Rome, Paul and the ship’s crew encountered many restless seas, but <i>And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The Fair Havens</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Acts 27:8 (KJV)</span> Despite the angry Ocean Seas of the world, have you found your Fair Havens in Christ? No matter the tumult of the billows and the dangers of the hidden shoals, we are safe in the arms of Jesus and can enjoy peace and security in the midst of the world’s most threatening storms. That is our Rock of Ebenezer – the memorial of that repository of the Love of Christ on which we draw and return to the Owner in like measure.<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-3792191544410611342024-03-17T14:54:00.000-04:002024-03-17T14:54:57.915-04:00AOC Sunday Report – Fifth Sunday in Lent<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDvtmkVzDfbSgRRXimtXioXz9QovL38adItwqeyZkY3VPxbBloxr8BnfHPlyzR3i4RNg0mZWIfHjOj34eqtnbOvrO62czb01T6QmXKbPI7k3xXAAu2tPsmie56kWbMzvhPcXLjqr93OpdIYleXIU8vL8JNv9R0D6sQye3DhpjRkTt2oWz4J-SI2vlZnfJ6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="727" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDvtmkVzDfbSgRRXimtXioXz9QovL38adItwqeyZkY3VPxbBloxr8BnfHPlyzR3i4RNg0mZWIfHjOj34eqtnbOvrO62czb01T6QmXKbPI7k3xXAAu2tPsmie56kWbMzvhPcXLjqr93OpdIYleXIU8vL8JNv9R0D6sQye3DhpjRkTt2oWz4J-SI2vlZnfJ6=w303-h400" width="303" /><br /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Happy Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded <span style="color: #954f72;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A1-dy8biWMmsd_3sKp38cwg-bYV_Su06/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a></span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">There is news from Pakistan and Bishop Jack’s write up on the Madrid trip; Bishop Jerry will have one in a week or two.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Yves and Jack, as well as Rev Bryan. <span style="background: white; color: #0d0d0d;">Jack’</span><span style="color: #333333;">s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we acknowledge without God’s great goodness and divine intervention, we cannot be preserved in either body or soul. in order to get into heaven one must be perfect. But as we all know as Saint Paul says, all fall short. So how do we get in then? In the Gospel, Jesus explained to the Pharisees before Abraham had even been conceived, He was. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who has just been released to him after two months on a ventilator in ICU with Covid then work your way through Candy, Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As we near the end of Lent, season of preparation for the coming of the Lord into Jerusalem amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">May you see the epic week ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Hap Arnold<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxlJoqf8hw34qzsc5VBCG04uhCTMsmkxDDt0WoHDZyyQpm0WIUOQKJWHimZo7oiki4uzucgY9oM2VyQhAc2Xa3cg9api1xOXH4-j-mlL-9pwZ1C2ADz33O6ZbZLoCNyIKi4RtFGFE5eGFhTkuB0dhOv4RdVSaYxrBBl9X8hzAwbzVoB24D5PeSomEyYuhS" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="158" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxlJoqf8hw34qzsc5VBCG04uhCTMsmkxDDt0WoHDZyyQpm0WIUOQKJWHimZo7oiki4uzucgY9oM2VyQhAc2Xa3cg9api1xOXH4-j-mlL-9pwZ1C2ADz33O6ZbZLoCNyIKi4RtFGFE5eGFhTkuB0dhOv4RdVSaYxrBBl9X8hzAwbzVoB24D5PeSomEyYuhS=w102-h100" width="102" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Bishop Coadjutor<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-11315245225471775372024-03-17T13:57:00.000-04:002024-03-17T13:57:40.075-04:00Fifth Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video<p> </p><p><br /></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOw4aKLJyrGWLN8s34kxsyNgqaYdqx5Ixoma3s2EpeJiOeRAJ1Eld4jPxv10NQLlAbq45Suta_RjTLP9sH08HHi_t6I7Dv6gPxzV-_KtkyJIGMvIbUgOrgKPs_Vmi3eNsQrg5oRoNgMPJF7gz3vxrmGmfpH-akMkKukIVkOE7rjONOz6q8QA4spsS9AvRY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="800" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOw4aKLJyrGWLN8s34kxsyNgqaYdqx5Ixoma3s2EpeJiOeRAJ1Eld4jPxv10NQLlAbq45Suta_RjTLP9sH08HHi_t6I7Dv6gPxzV-_KtkyJIGMvIbUgOrgKPs_Vmi3eNsQrg5oRoNgMPJF7gz3vxrmGmfpH-akMkKukIVkOE7rjONOz6q8QA4spsS9AvRY=w400-h223" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #0d0d0d;">Bishop Jack’</span><span style="color: #333333;">s sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we acknowledge without God’s great goodness and divine intervention, we cannot be preserved in either body or soul. in order to get into heaven one must be perfect. But as we all know as Saint Paul says, all fall short. So how do we get in then? In the Gospel, Jesus explained to the Pharisees before Abraham had even been conceived, He was. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Propers for today are found on Page 132-133, with the Collect first:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly called<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">Passion Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 13pt;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino-Roman;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Epistle for today came from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, starting at the Eleventh Verse of the Ninth Chapter. Paul summarizes both the symbolism and the substance of the Lord’s sacrifice on our behalf. Paul opens the secret of the One Perfect Sacrifice, One Time, for All Time and All Mankind. Paul is clearly appealing to the sense of the Jews when he asks them if the blood of goats will set aside or atone for sin, how much more can be done by the Perfect Sacrifice made on our behalf?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 30.5pt;">C<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>HRIST</b> being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint John, starting at the Forty-Sixth Verse of the Eighth Chapter and tells the story of Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees in the temple. Like much of John it is filled with deep explanation of Jesus and His purpose here. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Knowing them looking to find the worst in Him, Jesus asked, “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” In a point central to Christianity, he went on, “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” When we hear the term Jews here, we should hear the world in general, for He spoke to all who would not hear. When they would not hear, He pointed out He sought not glory or praise from them, but only from the Father whom in reality they knew not. Here He offers the singular benefit of Christianity, “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” This concept being foreign to them, they asked if He thought He was greater than Abraham. That brought the crowning touch, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day.” Knowing He was only in his early 30s, they could not grasp how he could have seen Abraham.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In a demonstration of the non-linearity of God’s time, He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.<a href="applewebdata://FCF29327-EF46-42A8-9E0C-685D23E1F43E#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>” As might be expected, this offended the Keepers of The Law.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 24.5pt;">J<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ESUS</b> said, <span style="color: red;">Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God</span>. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, <span style="color: red;">I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death</span>. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, <span style="color: red;">If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad</span>. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am</span>. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"></span></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="applewebdata://FCF29327-EF46-42A8-9E0C-685D23E1F43E#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">This response was similar to God’s answer to Moses’ question, “Who do I tell them sent me?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Jack Arnold</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Bishop of the Diocese of the West </span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif;">–</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"> AOC USA</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Education and Training</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack brings</span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack’s sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://youtu.be/AcNrGm8DkHA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;">Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. I got back from the trip to Madrid earlier this week. I managed to get a fever and pretty bad cough, from which I am recovering. So, if I cough during the sermon, please excuse me I advance. Luckily it is not contagious on video.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFOzEOvG_bs0aNBDm0ah5D9v38syzFW_ztsyKDrdqPivVHYlJwetFmhtEw7RZKWL98T7S_hWaTXdEKByb3rqg7xOb6z1w1MxtR8L8HBKYZSMpB_6rZbFrNNKsOdU4rfEZInDItt1o7rYRNqImwwkoGZ3RrARgbEc3dyBLVw2S-3hXfXuWEp59mG2kRkhm0" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1014" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjFOzEOvG_bs0aNBDm0ah5D9v38syzFW_ztsyKDrdqPivVHYlJwetFmhtEw7RZKWL98T7S_hWaTXdEKByb3rqg7xOb6z1w1MxtR8L8HBKYZSMpB_6rZbFrNNKsOdU4rfEZInDItt1o7rYRNqImwwkoGZ3RrARgbEc3dyBLVw2S-3hXfXuWEp59mG2kRkhm0" width="178" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino;">In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation. Let us start by reading today’s Collect:</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly called<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">Passion Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">… thy people; … by thy great goodness … may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul …<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the Collect, we acknowledge without God’s great goodness and divine intervention, we cannot be preserved in either body or soul. This is a constant truth through ought the Bible, the New Testament in particular. Without God’s great goodness we simply cannot be preserved. What does asking for God’s great goodness mean for us? It means when we ask we might be governed and thus preserved by His <i>great goodness</i>, we are in effect asking for His Guidance for us, so we can be preserved in both body and soul. We acknowledge God is the ultimate good and is the source of all truth, and we need His Help if we are to succeed. This concept is constant throughout all the collects. It is constant because it is the truth. We can only follow the narrow uphill path towards heaven with His Goodness and His Guidance. As always, if we are left to our own devices and desires, we are lost. <i>Guided</i> means we need to ask, then listen to what He Tells us, then actually follow those instructions. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">For those who are not perfect<a href="applewebdata://876DEFB6-7865-420F-84C9-E4ADD22BB849#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>, following instructions can be hard at times but it must be done nevertheless. And I have found this holds true in all aspects of live not just our spiritual aspect. However, in all areas without His Guidance we are truly doomed. We must look to Him for the guidance we need to get through the spiritual and physical turmoils of this life. We must trust in Him and not in our own fallible guidance. We on our own volition cannot drive the narrow up hill path towards heaven safely, we must rely on the Holy Ghost as the perfect infallible lead car that we follow for that guidance. The Holy Ghost will always give us perfect directions, however it is on us to act on and follow those directions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Further to this thought, if we are looking to Him for guidance, we then need look to Him for safety. Safety meaning <u>only</u> the safety of our soul, our eternal life. It does not mean safety from dangers to the body here on Earth. Our bodies are still able to be physically harmed, but our souls are safe from eternal damnation, that is what safety truly means. It also does not mean we are to put ourselves at risk recklessly, but it means we are to have confidence that if we die while doing actions for Him, we are ensured that our souls will be safe and headed towards heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">However in order to get into heaven one must be perfect. But as we all know as Saint Paul says, all fall short. So how do we get in then? This is quite the accounting dilemma. How do you account us, who are very imperfect creatures as purified and perfect creatures? There is an easy solution for this and that is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our only means of being accounted as perfect when we come before God is to rely on the sacrifice and intermediary priesthood of His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to account us as perfect before God on that final day. Christ has replaced the intermediary priesthood of the Jews with himself, our one and only High Intermediary Priest. Your AOC ministers, while officially titled as priests, are not intermediary priests! The day of the intermediary priests have come and gone for us with the Old Testament in the past. We need only Christ, there are no middle men between us and Jesus. He is our Savior, our Leader, our Teacher, our Master, our Example! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ came to succeed the Old Covenant marked by sacrifices of innocent animals; killing off animals in an effort to atone for our sins really did not do the job. However as we have stated before, the Old Covenant was a needed step before the New Covenant could occur. It was a way to prepare people for Christ’s coming. They would not have understood His Message otherwise without it. Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection highlighted that His Ministry was all about action. If we truly are believers of Him, we will ACT upon His Word and not just say it. There is truth to the saying that action speak louder than words. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the Gospel, Jesus explained to the Pharisees before Abraham had even been conceived, He was. In fact, Jesus was the one who created this Earth, so He has been around since before the beginning of the planet. The Pharisees could or would not grasp in their heads Jesus was who He claimed to be, the Son of God. They chose to <u>try</u> to destroy His ministry rather than follow Him. He was interfering with their comfortable way of living and deceiving the Jewish people. He was a threat to their system. They would not understand His Message, so they opted to try to destroy Him instead. Note the word try. Try as hard as they might, the Pharisees could not interfere with Jesus’s ultimate action for us, his Death and Resurrection upon the cross. Even with the truth of who He was laid bare in front of them, they still chose not to believe. Time and time again we see them confronted with the truth Jesus offers and they always choose to reject it rather than embrace the truth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This is a very common pattern with God’s enemies. Their names and appearances my change, but their inner hearts and souls have not changed over the eons. Their hearts have been blinded by their love of their selves, pride and greed. They cannot see the simple truths we see as followers of God. They look down upon us and think we are the ignorant ones, when reality is the other way around. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">They cannot, or will not, see that the priceless gift Jesus came to offer us. Jesus came to save our souls and give us eternal life, eternal life starting right then. Not just for the Jews and Israel, but the whole wide world, Jew, Gentile, Greek and all others. Jesus brought salvation and life to the entire world. That was not what the Pharisees were looking so hard for with their magnifying glasses as they examined Torah and The Law. They were looking for what would be only a temporary power, power on this physical plane. This pales in comparison to safety and happiness forever, for all eternity. Pharisees were not big picture people, and as Calvin told Hobbes, <i>We big picture people rarely become historians</i> or Pharisees, I might add. The Pharisees were very obviously not big picture people; they misinterpreted the prophecies of the Messiah. Regardless, even though some people chose to misunderstand the prophecies, He came and He made that one sacrifice, at one time, for all mankind, for all time. <i><span style="color: red;">For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life</span></i><a href="applewebdata://876DEFB6-7865-420F-84C9-E4ADD22BB849#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Who is Jesus? Our Savior? Indeed. But, more He has been since before the beginning of the world, for He is One with I Am.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Through His Actions, we are saved.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Do ye likewise:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>ACT<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail. The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Be of God - Live of God - Act of God<o:p></o:p></b></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://876DEFB6-7865-420F-84C9-E4ADD22BB849#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">All of us, that is.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="applewebdata://876DEFB6-7865-420F-84C9-E4ADD22BB849#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: purple; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">If the text of this sentence seems familiar, it is John 3.16, probably the most widely quoted text of the Bible.</span></p></div></div></div></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-26400658116537334472024-03-17T10:32:00.000-04:002024-03-17T10:32:23.341-04:00Fifth Sunday in Lent - Passion Sunday - The Cross - Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide - 17 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTmZdnPp1jT6-kYonbfVhyphenhyphenN9dV5LSCUxm-anSqnPsh8r7Y-QXQCgL3kaLWWvoKL4qRn8Fi6xbzf-UhT34lMMrkwkB1YComKmIy2IYxLntovDXUQ0TUr5dX0kj8Poh-dZsZp5ELZV6xoaN0FDCRP0b7BXQFwpktO711KFJlQ8ATmgIbXVsomNvbvUHKR6l/s960/Jesus%20on%20Cross%20talking%20to%20thief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="727" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTmZdnPp1jT6-kYonbfVhyphenhyphenN9dV5LSCUxm-anSqnPsh8r7Y-QXQCgL3kaLWWvoKL4qRn8Fi6xbzf-UhT34lMMrkwkB1YComKmIy2IYxLntovDXUQ0TUr5dX0kj8Poh-dZsZp5ELZV6xoaN0FDCRP0b7BXQFwpktO711KFJlQ8ATmgIbXVsomNvbvUHKR6l/w303-h400/Jesus%20on%20Cross%20talking%20to%20thief.jpg" width="303" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Fifth Sunday in Lent,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">commonly called Passion Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaPTdrdOSaekEjl6tXF4VBABUHFL3fRmR0CO0VtvHb3tANt5yaRZCw4EEbO1MBycr-pcd48c4xtPaMg_FdSmvTYMZNH_4maui_NMvJF5_yrqfDNptnbFICtA-NJ98mHdOo1mpAd53O30qTyy79vZPOyWCcYOiZJZDpcFNPacVKl5f_Isds3MtbeLzjhod/s406/Rev%20Jerry%20007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaPTdrdOSaekEjl6tXF4VBABUHFL3fRmR0CO0VtvHb3tANt5yaRZCw4EEbO1MBycr-pcd48c4xtPaMg_FdSmvTYMZNH_4maui_NMvJF5_yrqfDNptnbFICtA-NJ98mHdOo1mpAd53O30qTyy79vZPOyWCcYOiZJZDpcFNPacVKl5f_Isds3MtbeLzjhod/s320/Rev%20Jerry%20007.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt;">¶</span><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;"> This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Scripture to be discussed:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #942092; font-size: 31.5pt;">H<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>AVING</b><i> therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">20 </span></i><i>By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">21 </span></i><i>And having an high priest over the house of God; </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">22 </span></i><i>Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Hebrews 10:19-22)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Sermon <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> This Sunday bears out the Doctrine of Atonement – a term I heard another minister describe as ‘<i>at-one-ment’</i>with God. The cross reconciled us to God from the curse of Adam’s Fall and the subsequent Law which was our teacher to point out our infirmity and inability to be obedient to God in our own strength and merit.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Christ is the realization of that true Tabernacle of which that the Church in the Wilderness *<span style="font-size: 10pt;">(see Acts 7:38)</span> was a type and picture. Christ is our Tabernacle “<i>not made with hands</i>.” “<i>For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(2 Corinthians 5:1)</span> The later Temple was an improved picture of that Wilderness Tabernacle.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Wilderness Tabernacle was lavishly furnished with silk and wool curtains, gold covered furniture, and other ornaments of gold. It was a thing of beauty INSIDE, but was rough and shabby appearance without being covered with goat’s hair. In that respect, it foreshadowed the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ: <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">2 </span></i><i>For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">3 </span></i><i>He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Isaiah 53:2-3)</span> But the Heart of our Lord was pure beauty of finest gems.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Both the Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon were oriented toward the east. This symbolizes the welcoming gate of the Son of God at His second coming. <i><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></i><i><span style="color: red;">For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be</span></i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Matthew 24:27)</span> He is our Sun of Righteousness and His brightness is beyond comparison. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Malachi 4:2)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The doctrines of salvation, atonement, redemption & justification are all fully consummated in the Doctrine of the Cross. These are physically represented in both the Wilderness Tabernacle and the Temple. Inside the outer gate of the both stands the Altar of burnt offerings. No one enters without confronting this demand for a sacrifice as the covering of sin. On the Hebrew Day of Atonement, each family brought their lamb, or other acceptable animal. Without blemish to be sacrificed as an atonement of sin. The sacrifice of Christ is the Christians offering for sin – a continual offering which was sacrificed once-and-for-all. It is thereby an eternal sacrifice. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Christ is an High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek (King of Righteousness). He is the eternal High Priest and therefore the only High Priest for all time and eternity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> At the moment of His death on the cross, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, <i><span style="color: red;">Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: </span></i><i>and having said thus, he gave up the ghost</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Luke 23:46)</span> At that very moment, the Passover Lambs were being sacrificed. Moreover, During the Day of Atonement, the High Priest of Israel entered into the Holy of Holies beyond the veil to sprinkle the blood sacrifice of the people. On entry to the Holy of Holies, the High Priest must pass between the seven candles on the north side of the Holy Place and the Shewbread Table on the south. The Candles represented Christ as the Light of the World as well; and the Shewbread represented Christ as the Bread of Heaven. The High Priest stopped at the Altar of Incense to offer up the prayers of the people – the rising smoke of the incense representing the prayers of the people being wafted up to Heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The High Priest could only go into the Holy of Holies once per year, but as our High Priest, Christ intercedes for our sins continually and forever. Behind the Veil was the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments, the rod of Aaron, and Manna. Above the Ark of the Covenant was the Mercy Seat symbolizing grace as trumping the Law. The Mercy Seat, to me, is a clear representation of Christ and His grace.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #942092; font-size: 31.5pt;">T</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>HEN</b><i> said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">53 </span></i><i>Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">54 </span></i><i>Jesus answered, </i><i><span style="color: red;">If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God</span></i><i>: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">55 </span></i><i><span style="color: red;">Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying</span></i><i>. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">56 </span></i><i><span style="color: red;">Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad</span></i><i>. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">57 </span></i><i>Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">58 </span></i><i>Jesus said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">59 </span></i><i>Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 8:52-59)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Christ most often referred to His divine role as the Great I AM. He was the <i><span style="color: red;">I Am</span></i><span style="color: red;"> </span>of the Burning Bush before Moses, and He is our great <span style="color: red;">I am </span>having neither beginning nor end. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #942092; font-size: 31.5pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>OR</b><i> he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">18 </span></i><i>For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">19 </span></i><i>For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">20 </span></i><i>And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">21 </span></i><i>(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">22 </span></i><i>By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">23 </span></i><i>And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">24 </span></i><i>But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">26 </span></i><i>For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">27 </span></i><i>Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Hebrews 7:17-27)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> By the means of the Law, we have realized our weakness and inability to be accounted righteous. But by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, we are made clean by His blood and are accounted righteous by the imputed righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have an Advocate with the Father who is our continual Intercessor. We need not other – neither saint, nor pope, nor priest. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> In the Absolution pronounced by the minister in Anglican worship, the minister has no authority to forgive sins but, instead, pronounces the will of God to forgive every sin of which the penitent has confessed and repented of.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>LMIGHTY</b><i> </i>God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon <u>you<a href="applewebdata://5713DFC6-4A52-4A84-AECD-798B622750C7#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></u></span></span></a></u>; pardon and deliver <u>you</u> from all <u>your</u> sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring <u>you</u> to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen</i><o:p></o:p></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">Prayer of Absolution, 1928 Book of Common Prayer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The minister simply pronounces the Lord’s will to grant based on the General Confession of sins that precede the Absolution.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Christ is our Redeemer, Atonement, Savior, King and Lord of all. As the old minister described the Atonement, so I concur – Christ came to put us At-One-Ment with God. We are all One in Christ as He is One with the Father. He has reconciled His elect from Abraham to you and me by His cross. If we have put on the Mind that was in Christ, we are One with Him and with the Father. And if we are One with Him, we will not suffer quarrels and dissension in the Church. Such divisions is evidence of a lack of grace in the church and her members.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Let us all embrace that Oneness with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Father, and our Father.<o:p></o:p></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="applewebdata://5713DFC6-4A52-4A84-AECD-798B622750C7#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">In most of our parishes, the <u>you</u> is changed to <u>us</u> and the <u>your</u> to <u>our</u>, inasmuch as the minister has just confessed to his sins also and we want to make it very clear it is God who is forgiving and not the minster who has not that power.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-19977509700394302092024-03-16T19:57:00.002-04:002024-03-16T19:57:50.191-04:00Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly called Passion Sunday<p> </p><p><br /></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVnqCy84YbPyX_pp65GmmwpGYOetkGDeIHmlaoF3JQNS8LvNwFNVNzydl8S5r7jo1ndlhPRzgPVYgcRDbjtTJ9q2FmkobDfSmiZnxUxfSQOoPqW7ovBeP9OF4ZmeUAlMASpeMyiBnJjk42n5hyR-2fp3YFN7aVtNetUFRSNeN6hLsfXnGw5QzUHEwfd9Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVnqCy84YbPyX_pp65GmmwpGYOetkGDeIHmlaoF3JQNS8LvNwFNVNzydl8S5r7jo1ndlhPRzgPVYgcRDbjtTJ9q2FmkobDfSmiZnxUxfSQOoPqW7ovBeP9OF4ZmeUAlMASpeMyiBnJjk42n5hyR-2fp3YFN7aVtNetUFRSNeN6hLsfXnGw5QzUHEwfd9Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Fifth Sunday in Lent,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">commonly called Passion Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E</b> beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord<i>. Amen.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Collect<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The COLLECT for Passion Sunday relates to the just and orderly government of the people of God in His trust and preservation. This COLLECT, too, is taken from the Gregorian Sacramentary.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span> The original (in the Latin) for <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">‘</span>thy people<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span> was<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i>familia</i>. I prefer the older term for it means the <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">‘</span>Household, or family, of God<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>and that is what those who trust in God should be called.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span> The government of God is just and equitable, and all governments incorporate to some extent the Laws of God for governance, but those that corrupt aspects of these laws in contempt of the Maker are those tyrants and despots that are so common in our day around the world. I need not remind the Christian that ALL just laws derive from the Law of God and are subordinate thereto. The French economist and Parliamentarian, Frederick Bastiat recognized this principle and very well articulated it in his short commentary entitled, <u>The Law</u> of 1848. But even sooner than this, the Holy Bible also held forth the same principle lest any forget:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>It is</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i>better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 118:8)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>We ought to obey God rather than men</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Acts 5:29)</span> I hope no minister of God ever doubts his allegiance to God over the traditions or deceits of man-made government. If the government forbids the admonition of sins such as homosexuality, abortion, or adultery, I hope every Christian and minister reading this devotion will be faithful to his Christian vows and follow God rather than man. If the laws and purposes of government become contrary to Scriptural truth, then they are not legally binding on the Christian. God did not give us a conscience to be squandered away at the bar of government.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Our Founding Fathers well knew the legitimate limits of governmental power and included a clear definition in the Declaration of Independence <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">–</span> an oft disregarded formulary of our freedoms: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“</span><b><i><u>We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. </u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">—</span></u></i></b><b><i><u> That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, </u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">—</span></u></i></b><b><i><u> That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness</u></i></b>.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">”</span> Declaration of Independence, unanimously ratified by the Thirteen United States of America, 4<sup>t<i>h</i></sup><i> </i>July 1776, Anno Domini. Governments that are righteous will also enforce laws that are righteous.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>ready to every good work</u></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Titus 3:1)</span> Every good work is not possible under the tyranny of oppression and religious persecution. It is noteworthy that the Founding Fathers of the most flourishing Republic in history acknowledged the Source of legitimate governmental powers to descend from God.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">We petition, in today<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s COLLECT, for God<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s government and preservation of His own people.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><i><u>WE beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon</u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></u></i><b><i><u>thy people</u></i></b>. Our prayers have no effect on the government of the ungodly, but they indeed do have application to the national character and morals of the nation in which His people dwell. You will recall from 2 Chronicles 7:14, that well-worn petition and counsel for national healing:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(2 Chron 7:14)</span> Though modern-day America has become overpopulated by heathen and luke-warm Christians, only those who are called by HIS name, with serious intent, will suffice in prayer. All the false professor and legal idiots do not need to offer prayer at all for no one would hear them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">“………</span><b><i><u>that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul</u></i></b>.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span>What result may we expect if we are a nation well-favored by God for our faith and obedience? The amazing testimony of America in her first 175 years has been characterized by faith and righteousness before the Lord.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">7</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">8</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">9</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">10</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Prov 3:7-10) </span> The blessings of God on a nation obedient to His laws are inexhaustible and extend not only the health of the soul, but the health and preservation of the body as well.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 33:12)</span> What a tragic downfall that is destined for the favored-nation who has known well the blessings of God but, yet, has fallen for the filth and slop of the world <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">–</span> a nation that once honored God in all her public institutions and expressions, but has now abandoned every reference to God and embraced the sins of abortion and homosexuality along with every other abominable thing.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span> It has long been the yearning of my heart that I could write in truth and good conscience of my beloved nation<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s turn back to the God that gave her standing from her ancient founding; but I cannot do so. I have prayed that God would place a hook in our hearts, if we awaken not to our peril, and draw is by force back to His favored ground. He may do so yet, but I fear we are approaching that impasse of which Jeremiah prophesied. He at first preached repentance for national salvation, yet, the apostasy became so great and tragic that he changed his prophesying to a preaching of going into bondage as a chastisement, and then a national salvation based on repentance from the land of bondage at Babylon. How earnestly I pray that such bondage will not overtake our beloved America, but if it cause a national repentance, I plead that the Lord will bring it on sooner rather than later. It will be a sad day when the American Song is sung in bondage to strangers as in Babylon:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">1</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>By the rivers of Babylon, there</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>we sat down</u></i></b><b><i>, yea,</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>we wept</u></i></b><b><i>, when</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>we remembered</u></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i>Zion. </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">2</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof</u></i></b><b><i>. </i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">3</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i>For there</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>they that carried us away captive required of us a song</u></i></b><b><i>; and</i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></i></b><b><i><u>they that wasted us required of us mirth</u></i></b><b><i>, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion</i></b>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 137:1-3)</span> Will it not be far more edifying to sing our national song by the Mississippi or Missouri Rivers than on the riverbanks of some strange and hateful enemy of our people? Unfortunately, the enemy is encamped among us today and will have a song in mirth of Christ and our God. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Again, beware the fateful words of that ancient Roman proponent of Republican forms of government, Marcus Tullius Cicero:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><b><i>Power and law are not synonymous. In truth they are frequently in opposition and irreconcilable. There is God's Law from which all Equitable laws of man emerge and by which men must live if they are not to die in oppression, chaos and despair. Divorced from God's eternal and immutable Law, established before the founding of the suns, man's power is evil no matter the noble words with which it is employed or the motives urged when enforcing it. Men of good will, mindful therefore of the Law laid down by God, will oppose governments whose rule is by men, and if they wish to survive as a nation they will destroy the government which attempts to adjudicate by the whim of venal judges</i></b>. 42 BC.</p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-78113713271496635672024-03-15T17:19:00.002-04:002024-03-15T17:19:46.064-04:00Live not by lies – 15 March 2024, Anno Domini<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOUCBsIggMmJo8KOjHMWM25hjeIjREs4bjm9og9A2NUxjGNKwW4YlwdHzcI8NQCgOXtUFghLAj5CxAe4HYdcoIoFzcnccV3WsngO92qvcdTFCNK0DR8Wv2Z9R-TpLp8iZd3OTWQVKyx3zswVUaxXEKN6JEs80fGwetN9O4GV29UczIVGttAHYP4VeeqosY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1408" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOUCBsIggMmJo8KOjHMWM25hjeIjREs4bjm9og9A2NUxjGNKwW4YlwdHzcI8NQCgOXtUFghLAj5CxAe4HYdcoIoFzcnccV3WsngO92qvcdTFCNK0DR8Wv2Z9R-TpLp8iZd3OTWQVKyx3zswVUaxXEKN6JEs80fGwetN9O4GV29UczIVGttAHYP4VeeqosY=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;">T<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="gmail-msonospacing" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Palatino;">HE</span></b><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;">10 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 7.5pt;">11 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool</span></i><span style="font-family: Palatino;">. </span><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 10pt;">(Jeremiah 17:9-11)</span><i><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> It is common knowledge to the committed Christian the heart (even our own) is deceitful and easily led aside from the truth. But by faith and conviction, the Christian disregards the beguilement of satanic sirens of destruction to lead us from truth and into abject deception – such deception as arises to delusions of titanic proportions. Are we not approaching the realization of those delusions? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Serpent of Eden has longed plotted to destroy the man that God had made from the beginning – through abortions, homosexuality, wars, famine, poisonous drugs, and ruthless attacks on the Holy Estate of Matrimony. According to the <i>Worldometer</i>, the population of the world has reached 8.1 billion in 2024. The degenerate, so-called elites, propose that the world population be reduced radically to merely one billion. Of course, that would not include the lunatics who propose such a reduction. But those who are left would be perceived as pawns of those elites pulling the puppet strings. What philosophical debauchery!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Merely twenty years ago, who would have believed we would be scolded for denying a man can become pregnant, or that men could compete in women’s sports, or that the greatest enemy of the world’s environment was man himself. Yet these very denials of science are being foisted upon our youth from kindergarten to college . . . . and, unfortunately, the ruse is working.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> A great Christian and Russian patriot who stood up against the lies of the so-called ‘elite,’ by refusing to play the game of making belief in Marxist delusions, wrote the following statement upon being exiled from Russian following long imprisonment there:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252);">Yes, at first it will not be fair. Someone will have to temporarily lose his job. For the young who seek to live by truth, this will at first severely complicate life, for their tests and quizzes, too, are stuffed with lies, and so choices will have to be made. But there is no loophole left for anyone who seeks to be honest: Not even for a day, not even in the safest technical occupations can he avoid even a single one of the listed choices—to be made in favor of either truth or lies, in favor of spiritual independence or spiritual servility. And as for him who lacks the courage to defend even his own soul: Let him not brag of his progressive views, boast of his status as an academician or a recognized artist, a distinguished citizen or general. Let him say to himself plainly: I am cattle, I am a coward, I seek only warmth and to eat my fill</span></i><span style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252);">.</span> Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Live not by Lies, 1974<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> There is One who knows the heart of man intimately and He has privileged His elect to invite Him into their hearts to sit as Sovereign and Lord of all. His Holy Word is the only assurance of truth and grace. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The very center verse of the Bible is found in Psalms 118:8 – <i>It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man</i>. It is no accident this verse is at the heart of Scripture. The principle is loudly reinforced in the New Testament: <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i>We ought to obey God rather than men</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Acts 5:29)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Our introductory text contains a curious illustration – <i>As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool</i>. There is a belief among the people of the Middle East the eggs of the partridge, which she lays on the ground, are often stolen by other predators. To compensate for the loss, the partridge steals the eggs of others and hatches them as her own; but, once hatched, the babies run to their natural mother leaving the surrogate alone and unloved. Truth lies trampled in the streets of the thorough fares of man, but when truth is discovered, it rises up to claim its own and leaves the impostor childless. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Lord God has given us Divine and Immutable truths by which to conduct our lives. The truths, or partridge eggs, of other false ideologies and philosophies will never profit us, but will leave us loveless and without our Godly Parent. Those who deny the natural and moral law of God will likewise end in ruin: <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span><i>Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Is it not high time for us, as Christian and lovers of our land and family, rise up <i>en masse</i> and loudly proclaim the truth over the delusional voices being sounded from the very towers of governmental power?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 30.5pt;">C<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>RY</b><i> aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression</i>. <o:p></o:p></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Isaiah 58:1)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-82367894108335292342024-03-12T21:45:00.002-04:002024-03-12T21:45:36.497-04:00Hymns of the Church - I heard the voice of Jesus say– 12 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKO4jnDGxvx9bc1UcNKCWGi2s_J_EskjBkQyTgHPErm1NDcodDoWfzWuQOOd-Uxl8-koBMeva2qcZJKj2JmtY8CjMv17fQm1OX4MCSnOcwWWtW0a1ZOgEJ7Iv9VQqamG0vryms3ROAO0MsgFdD0EOlan0BhFdtRYrit2q_nTG9Vd8z3wronmj5hjPVkaJA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="353" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKO4jnDGxvx9bc1UcNKCWGi2s_J_EskjBkQyTgHPErm1NDcodDoWfzWuQOOd-Uxl8-koBMeva2qcZJKj2JmtY8CjMv17fQm1OX4MCSnOcwWWtW0a1ZOgEJ7Iv9VQqamG0vryms3ROAO0MsgFdD0EOlan0BhFdtRYrit2q_nTG9Vd8z3wronmj5hjPVkaJA=w400-h163" width="400" /></a></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">G<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>O</b><i> forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">12 </span></i><i>And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Kings 19:11-12)</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> This beautiful old hymn is the work of the beloved Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) who wrote this, and many other hymns, while serving as minister of the Church of Scotland, and later the Free Church of Scotland. The tune I prefer is <i>Sarah-Elizabeth</i> by Amanda Husberg. Bonar has recorded the voice he heard of Jesus in many of his classic hymns. If you have yet to hear the voice of Jesus, you will doubtless miss the depth of this beautiful old hymn.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>I heard the voice of Jesus say<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;"> I heard the voice of Jesus say,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Come unto Me and rest;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">lay down, thou weary one, lay down<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">thy head upon My breast.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I came to Jesus as I was,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">so weary, worn, and sad;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I found in Him a resting place,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">and He has made me glad.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I heard the voice of Jesus say,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Behold, I freely give<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">the living water, thirsty one;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">stoop down, and drink, and live.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I came to Jesus, and I drank<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">of that life-giving stream;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">and now I live in Him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I heard the voice of Jesus say,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I am this dark world’s Light;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">and all thy day be bright.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I looked to Jesus, and I found<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">in Him my Star, my Sun;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">and in that Light of life I’ll walk,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">till trav'ling days are done.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i> <b>1 I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest; lay down, thou weary one, lay down thy head upon My breast.” I came to Jesus as I was, so weary, worn, and sad; I found in Him a resting place,and He has made me glad. </b></i>We hear the voice of our Lord in sundry places and under some surprising circumstances, but He speaks in soft and whispering tones to the heart and not the ears. He seldom speaks in the ballroom, the cocktail lounge, or the gambling halls; but even in those venues, He is able. The beloved Apostle of Love, John, was the young man who laid his head upon the breast of Christ at the Last Supper. He loved Jesus unconditionally for he understood, as a young man, that Christ first loved Him unconditionally. Many a heart-broken father or mother came destitute of hope to Christ on behalf of their darlings, and Christ always satisfied the compulsion of love in healing or raising from the dead. He still does! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>2 I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give the living water, thirsty one; stoop down, and drink, and live.” I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream; my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him</i></b><i>. </i>The downcast woman of ill-repute heard that voice of Jesus offer the Water of Life at Jacob’s Well outside the gates of Sychar. Her life was changed and made anew at the very utterance of His grace. She left her empty bucket at the well and went home rejoicing. She gained credibility as a woman of faith and all beleived her testimony. The Water of Life is not costly to the beneficiary (in fact, it is free), but of great cost to the Benefactor who purchased it with His own blood on the brow of Calvary. If one drinks of that Flood, it will become an over-flowing stream of grace in the lives of its possessors.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><i>3 I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light; look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.” I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun; and in that Light of life I’ll walk, till trav'ling days are done</i></b><i>.</i> Jesus is truly the Light of the World and our Sun of Righteousness; but He is also our Bright and Morning Star to lead us through the long, dark nights of this world of trouble and hurt. <i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">16</span></i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></i><i><span style="color: red;">I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star</span></i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Revelation 22:16)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">That Morning Star is the brightest in our night Heaven and becomes the Sun of righteousness that shall arise with healing in His wings.<i>“</i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">2 </span></i><i>¶ But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Malachi 4:2)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-11672169264618756632024-03-10T19:51:00.000-04:002024-03-10T19:51:07.327-04:00AOC Sunday Report – Fourth Sunday in Lent<div style="text-align: left;"> <br /><o:p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffHbkYaSwP2UPN2V0RcVJUVhfTiKey-5_46Daz2AyE-FTrt9MPKK0KG9pACPwVNg-ohECx6QnRNwTvRNgOykeNv7afxAMN8y7Lr9haA-OMzKzQS2RoTF25Bg0q5r4rwmgELm7GMv6TsH0pt6V-dcxm5Fbo_VSjxbNpkvfavRxqHvVLi4ri3cHbCuh-te3/s800/basket.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffHbkYaSwP2UPN2V0RcVJUVhfTiKey-5_46Daz2AyE-FTrt9MPKK0KG9pACPwVNg-ohECx6QnRNwTvRNgOykeNv7afxAMN8y7Lr9haA-OMzKzQS2RoTF25Bg0q5r4rwmgELm7GMv6TsH0pt6V-dcxm5Fbo_VSjxbNpkvfavRxqHvVLi4ri3cHbCuh-te3/w400-h297/basket.jpg.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /></o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Happy Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1046Pguf8EQyo7EU4Are7Q1FOQrOwuUvl/view?usp=sharing" style="color: #954f72;">RIGHT HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy and Dennis; inasmuch as Jack is in Madrid, you get one from me, as well as Rev Bryan. <span style="color: #333333;">My brings the propers together. and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">My</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"> sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, as is often to the case we acknowledge to God we have fallen way short of our goals He set for us; the Collect goes on to provide an accounting irregularity to solve our problem. Paul is right on point when he talks about the two sons of Abraham, one of the bond, one of the free. Before we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit we were like the son of the bondwoman and enslaved to sin. Once we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit and have made an effort to transform our lives from our old sinful selves as the son of the bond, to the better selves, we are now sons of the freewoman. John tells the story of the feeding of the five thousand. In the middle of nowhere, two thousand years from the nearest McDonalds, the disciples looked to Jesus to fill the needs of their congregation. Jesus took what they had and gave them what they needed; “for he himself knew what he would <b><u>do</u></b>.” He <b><u>acted</u></b> to help them. Do ye likewise. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who has just been released to him after two months on a ventilator in ICU with Covid then work your way through Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">As we near the end of Lent, season of preparation for the coming of the Lord into Jerusalem amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">May you see the epic week ahead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Hap Arnold<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;">Bishop Coadjutor<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">PS – The pictures are in no particular order, I am not that good. But, next week there will be captions and everything,<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-28086922087096913572024-03-10T18:50:00.002-04:002024-03-10T18:50:40.834-04:00Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Lent - 10 March 2024, Anno Domini<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdGho_G7yK7y-v5oGADcuj8gc2gPXKiyL1vw52A6wa-vwVJ0GdC6yTlsnDaCv73JFD-ZETZhLFp9G0a-vxkKbmCXoLn6dI5GdDk5ioUjal6POFHvetn_TqUSWuDOixZ8H0ROqXURCzFmgM0-N94OP5nC-kT2QTdut7yQ9sIEAC6V4Mc09lk_L9itTcwh2/s786/Collect%20Lent%2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="786" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdGho_G7yK7y-v5oGADcuj8gc2gPXKiyL1vw52A6wa-vwVJ0GdC6yTlsnDaCv73JFD-ZETZhLFp9G0a-vxkKbmCXoLn6dI5GdDk5ioUjal6POFHvetn_TqUSWuDOixZ8H0ROqXURCzFmgM0-N94OP5nC-kT2QTdut7yQ9sIEAC6V4Mc09lk_L9itTcwh2/w400-h299/Collect%20Lent%2004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;">The Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: KisBT-Roman; font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #7030a0; font-size: 30.5pt;">G<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>RANT</b>, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="break-after: avoid; color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>S</b><i> it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one</i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Romans 3:10)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="break-after: avoid; color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;">F<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>OR</b><i> all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Romans 3:23)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Collect<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> We must have learned long ago in our childhood Bible school there is not anything we must do to go to Hell. Hell is where we are headed the moment we are born into the world. If we simply do nothing, then we shall surely wind up in the fires of Hell. Similarly, there is nothing we can do to earn eternal life – it is a gift of God to those who believe. If you have believed upon the name of Jesus Christ, then you have responded to God’s call as His chosen and elect. Our good works will not keep us from Hell, nor earn for us an entrance into Heaven. But faith, responding to the Grace of God, will, indeed, gain for us such an entrance to Heaven.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> All comfort and all grace is from God. It is never earned, but comes ‘paid on arrival.’ It is, as the Collect avers, a grant and not a wage. Thankfully, we are not paid wages for our wages would result in a loss of grace. <i>For the wages of sin is death</i>; (sin ALL have sinned, I prefer to forgo the wages to which I am entitled, don’t you?)…. <i>but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord</i>. (Romans 6:23) It is so clear and simple, isn’t it? We have all earned our suite in Hell, but God has made a free provision for us in His mansions on High. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> This prayer of Collect comes from the Gregorian Sacramentary.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <i><u>GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved</u></i> Please note the quality that triggers grace – it is MERCY. We have seen many clergy come and go in our church and in others that are within our purview. The single thing that distinguishes a true minister of God from all others, regardless of a parchment attesting by man’s hand that they are ministers, is the single quality of that Compassion and Mercy that was in Christ. It matters not how hard they labor, how long their hours, how accomplished their sermons, or how broad their experience; if they have not the Compassion of Christ for the little children, for the widows and orphans, for their fellow men and women in all walks of life, then they are not true ministers of God. If their concern is more for personal reward than for the additions to the family of God, they are without hope as ministers. Are we judgmental against others? Remember that same judgment will be levied against you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Being in the midst of the Lenten Season, we may be feeling overwhelmed by the sense of our sinful unworthiness, but bear in mind that even our unworthiness cannot compare with the altogether worthiness of Christ to redeem us. Just as on the mountain two thousand years ago, He is still able to spread a table before us in the wilderness of our sins.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> How is it that the Grace of God is a comfort? When we know that it is the Grace of God that has saved us, and not any personal merit we may boast of, then we are comforted in not wondering always if we have done quite enough to earn our salvation. We are comforted as a little child in knowing that, though we have displeased our parents today, their love for us has not diminished. We are as love in our disobedience as we were loved in our times of favor. But the child, like the Christian, must learn through parental discipline, to improve on his incorrigible behaviors under the father’s counsel and discipline. If you are recipient of the grace and call of God, He will not turn you lose for childish misadventures. Did He not tell us: ….<i>I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee</i>. (Heb 13:5) As far as I know, Christ has never lost any that belonged to Him for as He prayed the night of His betrayal in the Upper Room<i><span style="color: red;">: While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled</span></i>. (John 17:12) Of course, the son of perdition – Judas Iscariot – was never a follower of Christ, for the Scriptures tell us that he was a devil. (see John 6:70)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="color: #00000a; font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> I hope we will know with certainty at the conclusion of this devotion we deserve to die for our sins, but Christ Himself died in our stead. Now we are blessed to have a Heavenly comforter to strengthen us through the feeding of the Bread of Heaven just as that ancient multitude was fed, nourished, and comforted on the mountain slope overlooking the Galilean Waters. Have you enjoyed that comfort and strength today?<o:p></o:p></p></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-60573667365515888452024-03-10T18:40:00.000-04:002024-03-10T18:40:11.431-04:00Sermon Notes - The Feeding of the 5,000 - Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide - Fourth Sunday in Lent - 10 March 2024 Anno Domini<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"DengXian Light";
mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:Palatino;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-ascii-font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"DengXian Light";
mso-fareast-theme-font:major-fareast;
mso-bidi-font-family:Palatino;
mso-font-kerning:0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:.5in 1.0in .5in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:787747752;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:2132675340 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
-->
</style><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L0ImYRpnpmewSFh0DuXK2TYp6_sWHhp3Ci4FNdplIg1hz8anYywYOdHEIU2OevxY6hQ1HyrMBjNNbJUHkZnPO3fCuq7FSRZSeqJIzvEcYratSfkW8SIYsmFJDXVaydFrtkDrEZwyq4c3-OoPfrQW3W9oXr8A6PkWSqUHvIUF4YEHAt_onoE2a8KiCEND/s800/basket.jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L0ImYRpnpmewSFh0DuXK2TYp6_sWHhp3Ci4FNdplIg1hz8anYywYOdHEIU2OevxY6hQ1HyrMBjNNbJUHkZnPO3fCuq7FSRZSeqJIzvEcYratSfkW8SIYsmFJDXVaydFrtkDrEZwyq4c3-OoPfrQW3W9oXr8A6PkWSqUHvIUF4YEHAt_onoE2a8KiCEND/w400-h297/basket.jpg.webp" width="400" /></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">Bishop Ogles is in Madrid to consecrate two new bishops into the service of the Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide. He sent us this assessment of the Collect for today, as well as his sermon.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: KisBT-Roman;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>The Sermon</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> Over the past several years, I have often preached this text, and usually on this 4<sup>th</sup> Sunday in Lent. The text itself is pregnant with spiritual meaning that is clearly overt and plain to the understanding; however, I want to look at this same passage through a slightly different prism on this special Sunday before Passiontide on next Sunday.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQShgdZgltIzj_NKLhPb0WF7yyF0hayxzVI2dZjW8FAm58bnvZgZw5cTwwFsl8aKr8a32hp7l2DhtN22uqrWBUbDTCIFTYt29cP9Amy5xr6l3X269Ub2kYumigepFKW_ZUSccq3SW3cbZlPmo1cJBWjxC0K-Li7u9bYGeMK9kIzDYv7IqXv-Zpg7J4s6AH" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="334" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQShgdZgltIzj_NKLhPb0WF7yyF0hayxzVI2dZjW8FAm58bnvZgZw5cTwwFsl8aKr8a32hp7l2DhtN22uqrWBUbDTCIFTYt29cP9Amy5xr6l3X269Ub2kYumigepFKW_ZUSccq3SW3cbZlPmo1cJBWjxC0K-Li7u9bYGeMK9kIzDYv7IqXv-Zpg7J4s6AH" width="197" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> Bearing in mind there is no word in Scripture expressed without great purpose, let us observe the introduction the text itself makes to the mountain-top event which is related in the feeding of 5,000 men and at least a similar number of women and children. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><i>After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. <b><u>And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh</u></b></i>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>First<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Note a great multitude followed Christ, but HOW did they follow Him? Christ being, at this time, ascended into Heaven, a great multitude still follows Him. But we do not follow across the ethereal expanse of empty space just as the multitudes did not follow Jesus ACROSS the Sea of Galilee. Their fervent determination to follow caused them to follow in whatever route was open to them to follow – AROUND the Sea! Whatever path leads us to Christ is a GOOD path!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>Second<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><u>N</u></b>ote the REASON that the people followed Him. They followed Jesus for spiritual reasons based upon the miracles that He had performed in their sight. His Miracles are not the great reason we should follow Christ, unless we are referring to the Miracle of Love He has demonstrated in His Redemption of lost sinners. But bear in mind, the reason for their following was spiritual and not carnal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>Third<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><u>O</u></b>bserve Christ does not always make it easy to follow Him. It sometimes includes bearing a cross – in fact, it ALWAYS includes bearing a cross. So we should not hesitate to follow Him (not only around the Sea), but also up the Mountain of Bread! Jesus loved to pray and to commune from the Mountain tops because the higher one climbs; the less of the world is there which surrounds us. The world falls sharply away so that when we reach the mountain peak, there is only the sky that surrounds us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><b>Fourth<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Mark the OCCASION of the event. <b><i><u>And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh</u></i></b>. In that day, the Passover was, at the time, a Jewish feast that pointed directly to that Lamb of God sacrificed before the foundation of the world, but illustrated in the unblemished lamb sacrificed in long-ago Goshen under whose blood the Children of Israel were Passed Over by the Angel of death that terrible night in old Egypt. <i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">18 </span></i><i>Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">19 </span></i><i>But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: </i><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">20 </span></i><i>Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Peter 1:18-20)</span> It is the point made of the PASSOVER that I wish to emphasize today. That symbolic lamb of the old Passover is now fully realized in the true Lamb of God who was about to miraculously and spiritually feed far more than five thousand people (when women and children are accounted for). The Passover is no longer a mere Jewish feast, but is now consummated in the Lord Jesus Christ who is our Eternal Passover!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> This Feeding of the Five Thousand has strong Communion implication for the Christian Church. The mystery of it is in the Bread itself – not the numbers alone!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> There are national holidays that are observed in every nation. The most important of national holidays usually center upon the date of founding of the nation (4<sup>th</sup> of July in America, for example). The 4<sup>th</sup> of July is not commonly celebrated in Britain, or Germany, or China – but only in America. There is, however, a holiday (Holy Day) that is celebrated more often that annually, and in almost precisely the same manner, in every country in the world in which Christians live and worship. That Holy Day is Holy Communion. Truly, it is the Passover of the Lord to the Church. The crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord are the church’s nation foundation day, and we observe that day in a continual spirit of spiritual Presence of the Lord and of remembrance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>And the Passover……was nigh</i></b>. Were this not important for us to know, it would not have been included in our text for today. The extraordinary symbolism of bread to the very spiritual nature of Christ is emphasized throughout Scripture – sometimes overtly, and sometimes in shadows. The Manna that came down from Heaven to the children in the Wilderness was not simply a spilling over of the bread pans of Israel – it came miraculously and with spiritual meaning. It satisfied their famished spirits and souls. The Bread of Presence in the Tabernacle on the shew Bread Table just before the Most Holy Place symbolized the spiritual Presence of Christ in Tabernacles of flesh to us today. The Bread Crumbs from the Master’s Table for which the Syro-Phoenician woman pleaded with humble and persistent heart symbolized the same. Even bread crumbs are still bread, and just a small measure of that Bread from Heaven was enough for her – and enough as well to feed 5,000 in our text. It is this very point that I believe our Lord is making here. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">The Passover of the Jews had been celebrated for centuries with a boring sense of ceremonial obligation. They had forgotten the great depth of meaning it had for them in Egypt, and would now have for all peoples. We, too, often receive the Holy Communion with dull sense of its meaning and importance to us in sharing in the real Spiritual Presence of our Lord at the Table. What great spiritual power opened the eyes of the Two Men on the Road to Emmaus to the identity of their beloved Lord? He had related to them on the way all of the Old Testament Scriptures that spoke of Him, yet they did not recognize Him. When He took the bread in hand at their table, they still knew Him not; but when He BROKE the BREAD and gave to them, their eyes were opened to His Presence. It should also be true of our eye-scales dropping away at the reception of the elements of Bread and Wine of the Last Supper.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><ol start="1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Your attention is invited to consider the manner of the miracle of Bread as Jesus performed it.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><i>When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, </i><b><i><span style="color: red;">Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?</span></i></b> Jesus spoke this question rhetorically to fathom the waters of Philip’s faith. He had no intention of ‘buying’ bread, for the Bread of Heaven is not for sale. He knew precisely that He would miraculously feed the people from just a small morsel of fishes and loaves. <i>Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding</i>. (Prov 23:23) There seems to be a lot more selling of the truth (of man) than buying the truth of God in today’s churches.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="2" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Philip, just as you and I often have done, failed the test of faith. <i>Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.</i> Even if there was a king’s ransomed of gold, no amount of money could have purchased an adequate supply of bread near a seaside mountain. Even all of the bread in the bread shops of Capernaum would not have been sufficient to feed so many.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="3" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There is only a tiny grain of faith expressed by the good man, Andrew: <i>One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?</i> Had Andrew not believed that the Lord could somehow make the five barley loaves and two fishes of the boy expand to feed thousands, he doubtless would not have raised the issue. Sometimes, it is only a small grain of faith, as small as a grain of mustard seed that is needed to open the abundant granaries of Heaven. Another point to note in this narrative is that Jesus will use whatever resources of faith and materiel we have available to accomplish mighty works. It does not take much – He could have fed them from thin air had He desired. He also allows even little children to be used in furthering His work.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="4" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>And Jesus said, </i><b><i><span style="color: red;">Make the men sit down</span></i></b><i>. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.</i> There is no hungrily standing in line when the Lord feeds us. <i>He makes us to lie down in green pastures</i>. When we are sitting down, we are not taking credit for any of our own works, for it is Christ who works in us and not we ourselves. <o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="5" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Does Jesus not do ALL things well? <i>And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.</i>He gave out no blessings from Heaven without first giving thanks. Can we not, at least, follow His example in this before meals? He allowed the disciples a hand in His work. He allows you and me to be involved as well in His work of the Church. Someone must serve the meals, someone must PREPARE the meals. Someone must preach. Someone must prepare the Lord’s Table. Someone must light the candles. Someone must welcome guests. Someone must go out in the community and seek out the needy, etc. What a privilege that each of us is a perfectly shaped stone to fill a particular void in the Temple of God.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="6" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, </i><b><i><span style="color: red;">Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost</span></i></b><i>.</i>Waste not, want not! my dear mother used to say to me. The gifts of God are too important to be wasted. Many men live miserable lives because God has called them to exercise a gift of Preaching, and they have refused the call. By the way, like crumbs, the fragments are still Bread. Those who were privileged to serve the bread (much like clergy) were also the ones who were called upon to take up the remnants and to clean the tables. <i>Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.</i> At times, we may regard the small churches as simply fragments of God’s church, but they may amount to a far greater treasure of Bread than that with which we began to serve. After all were fed from five loaves and two fishes, observe that twelve basketfuls remained of that pitiful beginning.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><ol start="7" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It is possible to believe in Christ the WRONG WAY! <i>Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.</i> This is a commendable beginning of faith; however, such faith that is based on signs and wonders alone may get derailed into a great abyss of error. <i>When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.</i> The people who were fed viewed the miracle as a sign of great power (which it was). But they desired to employ that power to further a carnal, and not a spiritual, agenda.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">That Bread of the Mountain was not a common bread, but spiritually created bread. It was a preview of that Bread of Life that was the Incarnate Lord and Bread of Heaven. Just a taste of Jesus can amount to a complete change of life. Like the elements of the Communion, a little goes a long way!<o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span> </p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-81105000432667263472024-03-10T14:06:00.000-04:002024-03-10T14:06:31.530-04:00Fourth Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Bishop Hap’s Sermon – With Video<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0a4x5YAp95HFV9W0BkrWOu_BFa-u0UIWI--ecnU1hhgpeEOIkVCNvrT8cHf1Lg1_N6mA4F0JdOpXnlvVf1wxf0m-80mwUQs1rxTjFVVq1R15_ZJ15AMipBXVPUU7mZ8Pd1NWPQ0zIUNIEf5awc-aShRnY42GYifqJMHHeyWxepwXZJCT2s9Ur48rI3JE9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0a4x5YAp95HFV9W0BkrWOu_BFa-u0UIWI--ecnU1hhgpeEOIkVCNvrT8cHf1Lg1_N6mA4F0JdOpXnlvVf1wxf0m-80mwUQs1rxTjFVVq1R15_ZJ15AMipBXVPUU7mZ8Pd1NWPQ0zIUNIEf5awc-aShRnY42GYifqJMHHeyWxepwXZJCT2s9Ur48rI3JE9=w400-h297" width="400" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background: white; color: #0d0d0d;">With Bishop Jack in Madrid, you get a sermon from Bishop Hap. H</span><span style="color: #333333;">is sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop H</span>ap<span class="MsoHyperlink">’s sermon looks at the </span><span class="MsoHyperlink">unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation</span>. In the Collect, as is often to the case we acknowledge to God we have fallen way short of our goals He set for us; the Collect goes on to provide an accounting irregularity to solve our problem. Paul is right on point when he talks about the two sons of Abraham, one of the bond, one of the free. Before we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit we were like the son of the bondwoman and enslaved to sin. Once we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit and have made an effort to transform our lives from our old sinful selves as the son of the bond, to the better selves, we are now sons of the freewoman. John tells the story of the feeding of the five thousand.In the middle of nowhere, two thousand years from the nearest McDonalds, the disciples looked to Jesus to fill the needs of their congregation. Jesus took what they had and gave them what they needed; “for he himself knew what he would <b><u>do</u></b>.” He <b>acted</b> to help them. Do ye likewise. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Propers for today are found on Page 130-132, with the Collect first:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 30.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">G<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>RANT</b>, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 31pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>LMIGHTY </b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Epistle for today came from the Fourth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians beginning at the Twenty-First Verse.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Paul talks about the two sons of Abraham, one of the bond, one of the free. These two, the bond under The Law and the free under The New Covenant. The people of old are the people of The Law, 613 laws by which they must abide. Perhaps more properly said in practice that they must work around or evade those 613. Yet, they cannot comply with all the laws nor even work around them. They are doomed to failure with no help from God. As people of The New Covenant, the original and <b><u>real</u></b> New Deal, we have only to comply with two laws or rules; To love the Lord with all our hearts and to love our neighbor. Actually, those two are much harder to fully comply with than avoiding the 613 laws of The Law. But, we have the key – Jesus Christ. He came to earth not only to lead us to heaven, from the front; but to be a propitiation for our sins, to make us account as perfect to God to allow us to come into His Land.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 39.6pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 50.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">T<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>ELL</b> me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This morning’s Gospel comes from the Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of St. John beginning at the First Verse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" style="height: 55px;" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" height="41" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 41.05pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 41.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">J<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>ESUS</b> went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, <span style="color: red;">Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? </span>And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, <span style="color: red;">Make the men sit down</span>. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, <span style="color: red;">Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost</span>. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Hap</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"> Arnold</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Bishop Coadjutor</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bp Hap brings</span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Hap’s sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: purple;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0" style="color: purple;">https://youtu.be/W3ngvin9dO0</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezUFY3jlLEMtZ-gBDdRvSc1di30KujpJspJhYkwnjZ3NJoV4CKVqSc_po_RmZ3V43m0UxBCYpMmnM0HfBNbGVGIPT4I-tMN1QYkzh_-8VYv2Yk6bdZt9tUHl6cpSw32EIKlGcAI4bcCt-DjVwwhKVQCHjZY0VvDuY25mb9SzuulLbqMluSfxBUTG5Lyjw/s1282/240310%20Hap's%20Sermon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1028" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezUFY3jlLEMtZ-gBDdRvSc1di30KujpJspJhYkwnjZ3NJoV4CKVqSc_po_RmZ3V43m0UxBCYpMmnM0HfBNbGVGIPT4I-tMN1QYkzh_-8VYv2Yk6bdZt9tUHl6cpSw32EIKlGcAI4bcCt-DjVwwhKVQCHjZY0VvDuY25mb9SzuulLbqMluSfxBUTG5Lyjw/w161-h200/240310%20Hap's%20Sermon.jpg" width="161" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we near the end of Lent, a season of preparation. Let us start by reading today’s Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Fourth Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #bb0f9e; font-size: 30.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">G<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>RANT</b>, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="text-decoration: underline;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">… we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved …<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the Collect, as is often to the case we acknowledge to God we have fallen way short of our goals He set for us. We are also acknowledging we deserve to be punished for our failures; by His Grace we are relieved of our well deserved punishment. Jesus laid down His Life so we might be free from eternal damnation. That we might be accounted as perfect at our final judgment, not that we might be perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In order for us to enter heaven, we have to be accounted as perfect. Most of us know we are so far away from perfect, it would not seem to be possible. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">How then can we get into heaven, if not by our own means?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The answer is simple. God has provided the Way, the one true Way, by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins so we might have eternal life, and He also sent the Holy Ghost to help guide us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">At that final judgment day, if we stay the course and follow God’s guidance, we can be accounted as perfect through the Grace of God’s Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Paul is right on point when he talks about the two sons of Abraham, one of the bond, one of the free. Before we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit we were like the son of the bondwoman and enslaved to sin. Once we accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit and have made an effort to transform our lives from our old sinful selves as the son of the bond, to the better selves, we are now sons of the freewoman.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The son of the bondwoman represents not only our state before Christ; but also those who refuse to follow Him. They are stuck in bondage to their own sinful selves and can never exit that state, except they allow the Holy Ghost into their hearts and redeem themselves. It represents the state of all those who do not have the Holy Ghost within them and us before we let the Holy Ghost into our hearts to regenerate us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The two are representative of the two covenants with God, the bond under The Law and the free under The New Covenant. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The people of old are The People of The Law. Six Hundred Thirteen Mosaic Laws each of which they were to follow. They really did not attempt to follow them, rather to avoid being seen to break them. A very complex and even more difficult life to live, to comply and uphold those laws and failing. It did not work that well. We still fail miserably at times, but we only have two laws, which we will hear about in a second. They are still hard to follow at times, but impossible to skirt with fancy reasoning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The important thing to remember about the 613 laws is they could not accomplish what Christ accomplished with His Sacrifice and establishing the New Covenant. The Holy Ghost helps us along the journey to this goal, to bring us to eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The New Covenant is so much less complex than the Old Covenant. It is much easier to remember the ways of the New than the Old. It is more efficient than the Old Covenant. However, the New Covenant requires that our actions match our claimed belief in Jesus, God and the Holy Spirt. However, tempting as it may be to discard the Old Testament entirely, we must remember that the Old Covenant had a purpose. The Old Covenant had to come first to get people’s hearts ready to follow the New Covenant. For the New Covenant could not be introduced, or in other words, Jesus could not come to Earth until the people were ready for His Teachings. The Old Covenant was a stepping stone to the New Covenant. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Remember this from Holy Communion:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ saith:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 31.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">T<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">HOU shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Under the New Covenant, we have only two laws with which we must comply. But, there is a catch. We are not to just avoid breaking those two laws, we must actually live them in our hearts, souls, minds AND bodies. We must <b><u>act</u></b>ualize them. It is the common theme of Action not just Diction, that appears in sermons past here. The only way in which we can follow these two laws is we have to put them into practice in our day to day lives, which requires Action and not just Diction. The New Covenant is not about following the Law perfectly, but it is about living the spirit of the Law to the best of our abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This requires we act based on what we can and should do, not what we want to do. What we want to do will not get us the results that acting from following God’s word will. The results may or not be obvious right away, but they will be soon enough. A hard principle to follow; but in the end, it is the easiest way and worth the struggle to trust God instead of worrying and or doing what we want to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What we want to do is very rarely if ever in congruence with God’s Word. We have to realize this and shift our behaviors to be in line with God’s Word and Will. We must recognize what we want to do will not benefit us as well in the long run as what God wants us to do. This is very hard, but it can be done with the help of the Holy Ghost. We just have to let Him into our hearts and provide us that guidance. Once we receive that guidance than we should act upon that guidance. In John 6:30 Jesus tells us, <i><span style="color: red;">For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me</span></i>. If Jesus strives to do His Father’s Will, how much more should we do so?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Action will always benefit our spiritual state compared to inaction. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are compelled to act upon our faith. Perhaps not what we want right at the time, but certainly what we need then and in the eternal future. In the middle of nowhere, two thousand years from the nearest McDonalds, the disciples looked to Jesus to fill the needs of their congregation. Jesus took what they had and gave them what they needed; “for he himself knew what he would <b><u>do</u></b>.” He <b><u>acted</u></b> to help them. Do ye likewise:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">ACT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail; the easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Be of God - Live of God - Act of God</span></b></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-20843634097641858902024-03-05T20:24:00.003-05:002024-03-05T20:24:26.525-05:00Hymns of the Church – Beautiful Savior – 5 February 2024, Anno Domini<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Palatino; font-size: 9pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNggrItux9hVrinJkF4O21YobmiBuaxFq2-OpsfGkHb1yfgGsS8NxkgyVBVj0xj7kpGy9jhipw6iWvvm6f8K4tRuE7ZA_QqVTjTjvqkTXGMdf25RFpHkH-9rJFZfZHzjJzphBK3-1Ur9KgzQYy3bBR4klPFz24zNBWwyjHHHbcjCUyz2CszxPJ3cu18fe/s578/Beautiful%20Savior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="578" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNggrItux9hVrinJkF4O21YobmiBuaxFq2-OpsfGkHb1yfgGsS8NxkgyVBVj0xj7kpGy9jhipw6iWvvm6f8K4tRuE7ZA_QqVTjTjvqkTXGMdf25RFpHkH-9rJFZfZHzjJzphBK3-1Ur9KgzQYy3bBR4klPFz24zNBWwyjHHHbcjCUyz2CszxPJ3cu18fe/w400-h300/Beautiful%20Savior.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> </span></div><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">M<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Y</b><i> beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">11</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">12</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">13</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 7pt;">14</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Song 5:10-14)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>. . . . fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners? </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Song 6:10)</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> I have written of this hymn before, but choose to do so again for its beauty as a rose unfolding with time. We may consider the beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ to be fully comprehended in an instant of time, but with the passage of those moments, we see even more glorious and resplendent beauty in His magnificent Personage. I was reminded of this great old hymn by a dear friend recently, and could not resist a re-visitation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The hymn is known as the Crusader Hymn for it was sung by the children who, en masse, marched off to their demise to its notes on Crusade from Europe. All were captured and enslaved, or died, during the event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> A fond memory written, in indelible love, on my heart was to hear this great hymn sung at breakfast time during retreat in north Alabama by the Samford University Acapella Choir under the able direction of the good Dr. L. Gene Black in 2002. The choir was comprised of some 200 members, and their harmonious singing of this hymn lifted us all to the very gates of Heaven. The most popular modern version of the hymn is entitled, <u>Fairest Lord Jesus</u>; but the original translation by Joseph A. Seiss – a Lutheran theologian – was entitled <u>Beautiful Savior</u>. It is Seiss’ translation I will comment on in this devotion. The lyrics of this hymn were written by Jesuit scholars (date unknown), and the tune is a Silesian folk tune called <i>CRUSADER</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Beautiful Savior, King of Creation<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Beautiful Savior, King of Creation<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Son of God and Son of Man!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Truly I’d love Thee, truly I’d serve Thee,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Robed in the flowers of blooming spring;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Bright the sparkling stars on high;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Than all the angels in the sky.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Son of God and Son of Man!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Glory and honor, Praise, adoration<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Now and forevermore be Thine!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Beautiful Savior, King of Creation Son of God and Son of Man</i></b><i>! </i>Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Master Artist who drew out and flung the stars into their orbits at the early instant of Creation. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and thus the King of Creation itself since <i>All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made</i>. John 1:3 (KJV) He placed the sun and moon at their stations, and artfully fashioned the mountains, meadows, seas, vegetation, and you and me. When we view the multi-colored and beautiful sunrise, how much more of beauty must be the Artist who fashioned them! Our Lord Jesus Christ is both the Son of God, and also the Son of Man. Possessing both natures, He was able to relate to us the character of the Father, and to redeem us from our sins as the unblemished Lamb of God.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Truly I’d love Thee, truly I’d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown</i></b><i>.</i> How can we truly love and adore a Lord of such high majesty and power? How could the sinner, over-burdened with guilt and the filthy rags of sin, presume to love One of such exalted Nature? <i>We love him, because he first loved us</i>. 1 John 4:19 (KJV) We could never have approached the Throne of Mercy and Grace had the scepter not been lowered to us. He is the Light of our souls and the Light of Life itself: <i>In him was life; and the life was the light of men</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 1:4)</span> Nothing of greater meaning or beauty can exist for us than the One who gave us life by the giving of His own Life; the One who became our Day Star of Light in a dark sky of sin.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The Jordan River, like the life of our Lord, is a short river with its origins in the snowy heights of Mount Herman. As it flows south, it creates a beautiful band of green life on its way. It spills into the Sea of Galilee which teems with life. Emerging on the south tip of that Sea, it continues through the wilderness – down and down to the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea. The Jordan dies in the desert Wilderness just as our Lord died in the desert Wilderness of our sins. The Dead Sea is dead because it surrenders not a drop of the Water of Life which it receives; but the Wilderness of sin could not hold the Water of Life that came down from Heaven, for He arose as victor over death and sin. <b><i>Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in the flowers of blooming spring</i></b><i>;</i> everywhere our Lord goes, He gives life and light to the wilderness darkness.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Our Lord places a melody in our hearts, and a burning Light in our souls. <b><i>Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, He makes our sorrowing spirit sing</i></b>. The song He gives us a divine and heavenly one: <i>Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Isaiah 30:29-30)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><i>Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high;</i></b> The sunshine, the moonlight, and the sparkling stars are things of great beauty; but these are simply the icing on the cake of Creation. What of the sons and daughters of God? Since these things were made for our comfort, must not our Lord consider us to be of even greater beauty in His Crown? <i>When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalm 8:3-5)</span> The crowning achievement of God’s Creation is the man and woman which He created in the Garden eastward at Eden. Though many souls have been misappropriated by the serpent of that Garden, the Lord knows, and shall reclaim, His own from among them: <i>And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him</i>.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> (Mal 3:17)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i> <b>Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels in the sky</b>.</i> Jesus does, indeed, shine brighter and purer because He is the Personification of Light. Without Him, all is darkness and there could be no light to shine. <i><span style="color: #fb0007;">I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life</span></i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(John 8:12)</span> Some have questioned this as a contradiction of Matthew 5:14 in which our Lord tells His people <i><span style="color: #fb0007;">Ye are the light of the world</span></i><span style="color: #fb0007;">.</span> This is to be viewed in the same sense as we consider the light of the moon. Any elementary astronomy knows that the moon has no light except that which it receives from the Sun. Likewise, no Christian has any light except that Light which it receives from the sun of righteousness and the Day Star of our salvation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The last verse is a benediction to all that precedes it: <b><i>Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration Now and forevermore be Thine</i></b>! Can you imagine anything more beautiful than the strong and Everlasting Arm that reaches down to pull your drowning soul from the swirling waters of the sea of sin? He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords – of ALL kings, and of all LORDS. We cannot honor, praise, and adore Him enough. But that of which we are capable – our ALL – is due Him. And that will be enough. If we are crowned with the Ensign of Love, if we are called and chosen according to His purpose, if we love as we are loved, we shall not suffer shame or damnation. The River we cross at last shall be a glorious Jordan whose far banks are lit continually with the Light of our Beautiful Savior.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-52826351496656651662024-03-03T20:29:00.000-05:002024-03-03T20:29:28.881-05:00AOC Sunday Report – Third Sunday in Lent<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifd3tP7z2T1ZNqidCYKRGTdjl08G9d6-Kh9Pa8Q2ybcLRG14ndwIGsF4uEpbccXy5W66dE15Yi_2KQzUQdSM73_X4gjKNLelVu5yyxLIJ8QGcicgmPkKHpIuVo3rTYa_8afFfqrqzkV8nLK8k0MC3wT6oCEX5GkyJCfh5DS9w2r7tY7k0H-9VxfAF9Vywk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="469" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifd3tP7z2T1ZNqidCYKRGTdjl08G9d6-Kh9Pa8Q2ybcLRG14ndwIGsF4uEpbccXy5W66dE15Yi_2KQzUQdSM73_X4gjKNLelVu5yyxLIJ8QGcicgmPkKHpIuVo3rTYa_8afFfqrqzkV8nLK8k0MC3wT6oCEX5GkyJCfh5DS9w2r7tY7k0H-9VxfAF9Vywk=w400-h219" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Third Sunday in Lent.<br /><o:p> </o:p><br />The AOC Sunday report can be downloaded <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-xR-4EiTjWjwye1qdiw95QMkqoxWfVAG/view?usp=sharing" style="color: #954f72;">RIGHT HERE</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify;"> </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We have excellent sermons today from Bishops Jerry, Roy, Dennis and Jack, as well as Rev Bryan. <span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack brings the propers together. His sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack</span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we are about half way through Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we ask God look in to our hearts, and see our desire to be His children and defend us against evil. Paul tells us in order to live out our faith, we need to make our actions match our stated desires. One man cannot serve two masters. Remember <span style="color: red;">where your treasure is, there will your heart be also</span>. We can easily tell who is for Him and who is against Him. It is simple, who holds to the principles of Scripture is for Him. They who do not hold to them are not with Him. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Bishop Jerry also provided this lovely video presentation, Salt <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">–</span> Who we are to be as a people - <a href="https://youtu.be/nKLhP3jgqmE" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 11.5pt;">https://youtu.be/nKLhP3jgqmE</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Palatino;">I cannot recommend this video enough.</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"> </span><span style="font-family: Palatino;">You will really really enjoy it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As always, we have a lot of people who desire your prayers. I know that seems to never change, that is because it doesn’t ever change. Today we ask you start with Alan Ridenour’s father who is been in ICU for well over a month now with Covid then work your way through Shamu, Tricia, Laurie, and continue from there when you have time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As we are over halfway working our way through Lent, season of preparation for the coming of the Lord amongst other things, we all need to see if we are really opening our heart to God’s guidance in the form of the Holy Ghost. If we’re not, and I doubt any of us really are as much as we could, we need to try harder and harder to do that. It is very difficult to follow God’s instructions if you don’t listen to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">May you see the epic week ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Godspeed,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6BEVMaoZoLYhnkMX7XUVPPIrn_Ni449-ZiY08TwYkelSQxBB1tjTQNMVxEKDgneJHsyn5rk-Gs9MyKKmMmVAAICfnDAXe_XMyhjacCd5bo083wKEiDAZ9NvOeXbkENqI8oC5FJnOwBgbKO-pvGaaMLm6XNR07ktrpBsB-X_YQbBdNvPDyS2CG3yG0YSO/s158/Hap%20Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="158" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6BEVMaoZoLYhnkMX7XUVPPIrn_Ni449-ZiY08TwYkelSQxBB1tjTQNMVxEKDgneJHsyn5rk-Gs9MyKKmMmVAAICfnDAXe_XMyhjacCd5bo083wKEiDAZ9NvOeXbkENqI8oC5FJnOwBgbKO-pvGaaMLm6XNR07ktrpBsB-X_YQbBdNvPDyS2CG3yG0YSO/w90-h88/Hap%20Signature.png" width="90" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hap Arnold</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Bishop Coadjutor<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide</span><span style="font-family: Palatino;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-65953559733562287402024-03-03T19:24:00.003-05:002024-03-03T19:31:10.638-05:00Sermon Notes - Third Sunday in Lent - House Divided - Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide - 3 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTXNYbX9ndIRWqEu5xB91t4SE1Xc69NqjjnOQsf9LMgc0mhtYnQnb_YdtPve6hVEEflnhfu2qGK5MD6ETRf2fbHxGgrfaj8WYcMYsWV7I55GGgNF72RQ74QjLu72etSM0G3xZQOsiNzRyHuVeJgAiLZwUyMrpR2-CYjJCl-N85i2d5EBXRtguuxXZbdp6C" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="469" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTXNYbX9ndIRWqEu5xB91t4SE1Xc69NqjjnOQsf9LMgc0mhtYnQnb_YdtPve6hVEEflnhfu2qGK5MD6ETRf2fbHxGgrfaj8WYcMYsWV7I55GGgNF72RQ74QjLu72etSM0G3xZQOsiNzRyHuVeJgAiLZwUyMrpR2-CYjJCl-N85i2d5EBXRtguuxXZbdp6C=w400-h219" width="400" /></a></div><b><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;"> <br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Bishop Ogles</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #c10ab5; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span><span style="color: #c10ab5;"> Sermon<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Presiding Bishop<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #c10ab5;">Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s sermon notes. Today is one of those Sundays. Today<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">’</span>s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will give you a lot to consider in your heart. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Bishop Jerry also provided this lovely video presentation, Salt <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">–</span> Who we are to be as a people - <a href="https://youtu.be/nKLhP3jgqmE" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 11.5pt;">https://youtu.be/nKLhP3jgqmE</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT1SsAN-TdrxqWxZwAkZYoTt29M-SUry-59-G1beBQBvga0P1Gz_iZIgkjwiRSRpW_PfbdAZjJPwFi0jmZcTgO8GLkKunUj5WVHWMW4kI75BBlrPWss0M2jNsF8cyyAyg5SE3bsJ9TvTTkBfZJ1D9eVDdmg9NPMOKzkv9UR6RPLQjgL-BhjpqTUkwWK-X/s406/Rev%20Jerry%20007.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT1SsAN-TdrxqWxZwAkZYoTt29M-SUry-59-G1beBQBvga0P1Gz_iZIgkjwiRSRpW_PfbdAZjJPwFi0jmZcTgO8GLkKunUj5WVHWMW4kI75BBlrPWss0M2jNsF8cyyAyg5SE3bsJ9TvTTkBfZJ1D9eVDdmg9NPMOKzkv9UR6RPLQjgL-BhjpqTUkwWK-X/s320/Rev%20Jerry%20007.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">I cannot recommend this video enough. You will really really enjoy it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;">The Third Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E </b>beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>The </b><b>Gospel<o:p></o:p></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Luke 11:14-27</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></b></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. <sup>15</sup> But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. <sup>16</sup> And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. <sup>17</sup> But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. </span></i><i><sup>18</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. </span></i><i><sup>19</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. </span></i><i><sup>20</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. </span></i><i><sup>21</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: </span></i><i><sup>22</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. </span></i><i><sup>23</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. </span></i><i><sup>24</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. </span></i><i><sup>25</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. </span></i><i><sup>26</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.</span></i><i> <sup>27</sup> And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. <sup>28</sup> But he said, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Yea rather, blessed arethey that hear the word of God, and keep it.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ presents to our hearts, minds, and eyes a very stark lesson on the power of sin, darkness and death.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></b></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">A</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">A person is possessed of a devil, or evil spirit. This person has all his faculties of speech and communication, but the presence of an invited and evil guest into his heart has deprived him of the ability to use his God-given powers to speak and to communicate. It happened 2,000 years ago, and it has been happening in all intervening times to include the modern day.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Note the wonder of the people at the restoration to health of the formerly possessed person. The world is always surprised and misinterprets the works of God.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">When we hide the Word of God in our hearts, we are strengthened against the ArchEnemy of our Souls – the Devil! <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Ps 119:11)</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">However, when we have a divided heart to admit even a small and cherished sin to remain in our hearts, it will grow and take possession of the whole organ.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Allowed sin always masters a man in time. The man may loathe his master, yet he obeys him; he may fear his master, yet still he does his hateful bidding.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Light always overcomes darkness because light is a positive value. Darkness has no real force. It is the absence of virtue – of righteousness. Even a tiny candle will dispel a roomful of darkness. <u>But we must light the candle</u>!<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">God has given us His Word to light our way and illumine our dark hearts.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. </i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Ps 119:105 )</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>15</sup></i><i> But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. <sup>16</sup> And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The modern church seeks signs and wonders! They must have always some present wonder and presumed miraculous sign to legitimize their faith, but what saith Christ?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>1</sup></i><i> The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. <sup>2</sup> He answered and said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. </span></i><i><sup>3</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? </span></i><i><sup>4</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.</span></i><i> And he left them, and departed</i>. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We have been provided enough evidence for our faith and more in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – a well-documented historical event of history.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The doubters accused Christ of using the power of Beelzebub to cast out devils.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">What does this term, BEELZEBUB, mean? Lord of the flies – another word for DEVIL. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">When a dead body, or even excrement, is exposed to the light of day, flies cover it and lay their eggs thereon. Later, maggots appear on the dead. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">These unbelieving and wicked observers accuse Christ of bringing a lower form of life from filth. But Christ never resurrected maggots, but totally restored and healthy human beings. His power was the Creative Power that created man in the first occasion in Eden.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>Beelzebub<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><u>The Lord of the Flies</u> is a book by British novelist William Golding and, for some reason, is required reading in most American schools.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is a sordid tale about a group of kids who are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The story is set during the Atomic War and plenty of references are made to the fact. <span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">However, the real key to the story lies in the role of Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Beelzebub has a central role in the story as he represents the Beast, or evil, that dwells within all humans. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The Beast cannot be hunted and since it dwells within all humans, humans are all guilty because mankind is sick.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The destruction of mankind is a point that Golding makes apparent often in this novel. He establishes early on that Beelzebub is a force within all humans that drives them to destroy and maim. (a perfect description of Satan as well as the sinful nature in all men and women born upon this earth)<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Simon – loner who knows that the evil in every man’s heart can only be fought by reason and virtue. Murdered sadistically by all the others.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This book is an unhealthy book for one primary reason: <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It ignores the <u>God Equation</u> and offers a <u>human, rather than a spiritual, remedy</u>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>. <sup>17</sup> But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. </span></i><i><sup>18</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ knows our hearts. He sees our nakedness always. Nothing is hidden from Him – even our thoughts and motives are revealed as a book written.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ says: “…..<i><span style="color: red;">a house divided against a house falleth”</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If you ask the average historian who said this, they would tell you, Abraham Lincoln. But Lincoln was simply paraphrasing the Bible.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">It is ridiculous to allege that good can result from the spirit of evil.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>19</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">I was once involved with a local Korean minister who desperately wanted to acquire a new building for the church, but he did not want to inform the people of the plan. He knew, since they were paying for the building, they might object to the cost. I advised him to inform the people and conduct prayer services to determine the Will of the Lord in the matter and to enlist the support of the people.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">He became upset with me and later told a mutual friend: “That brother Jerry is good man, but He too much Bible!”<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">No one has ever, before, or after, paid me such an unintended compliment.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">When you launch out courageously into the deep waters of God’s Word, there will always be the nay-sayers who gather to condemn you and impute false motive to your seeking. But, just as Father Noah did, keep building the Ark of Hope and Faith.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;"> </span></i><i><sup>20</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. </span></i><i><sup>21</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: </span></i><i><sup>22</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. </span></i><i><sup>23</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. </span></i><b><span style="font-size: 2pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i>Compare with </i>Luke 9:49-50:<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">49. </span></i><i>And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. <sup>50</sup> And Jesus said unto him, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.</span></i><i> </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If a Roman priest stands and condemns homosexual marriage and abortion of innocents, will we today stone him for being Roman Catholic?<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">This might be Christ response to the book, Lord of the Flies -<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 2pt;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>24</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. </span></i><i><sup>25</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.</span></i><i><sup>26</sup></i><i><span style="color: red;"> Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.</span></i><i> </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">We are unable to clean and garnish our own hearts. This is the work of God, through His Word, and the working of the Holy Spirit.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If we renounce our sin of lust and greed, and remove them from our repertoire of sins, soon a greater and more wicked bag of sins will inhabit the place left vacant. <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">God’s Word, being Light, is necessary to dispel the darkness from our hearts. We are unable of our own strength and merit.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The book which I mentioned, obviates this principle and would leave men more destitute of virtue than before the attempted amendment.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">If we have not yet surrendered our souls, unconditionally, to Christ, we are set for a fall to a lower point than before our feeble resolution to better ourselves.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Human reason is not the answer. We need God in our lives. We need His Word in our hearts. We need the old heart regime to be filled with goodness – not simply devoid of evil.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">A vacuum always draws on the environment. It always seeks to be filled. If we presumably empty our hearts of evil, we cannot keep them empty. Something will force its way in and occupy by force our Soul’s bastion. But if Christ resides there, there will be no room for the devil.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><sup>27</sup></i><i> And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. <sup>28</sup> But he said, </i><i><span style="color: red;">Yea rather, blessed arethey that hear the word of God, and keep it.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Christ is not interested in elevating our human image – He seeks to alter it completely – to restore it to His own intents and purposes evidenced in the Garden at Eden.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Hearing and knowing God’s Word is not enough for as James has said:<b> </b><i><sup>19</sup> Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. <sup>20</sup> But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James </i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Saving Faith will always be reflected in our daily lives – the things we say and do, the manner in which we love and respond to those in great distress.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Remember the Love of Christ was not simply a fondness, but a sacrificial, compassionate love that always expressed itself in action. When He saw, He had compassion.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-73666759546678308272024-03-03T12:44:00.000-05:002024-03-03T12:44:38.383-05:00Third Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Bishop Jack’s Sermon – With Video<p> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKdHbMXyJP2u_7x-TTEVLbFsuU63Wp78T_MDPsI7omEJSDgviu3JfV0zF_Rxy1mPL9lUc6h_53bL2zz62yHOoIvouRNq4WrSpB5oPv15ZGKDtbQDlaG0Co2fPxyEfCV_yFltO3Qpsr7T8sbezuptyqReh5YJ8qBfmyu00CqJhC9Lr6MljjE3zMeUcqT_vA" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="469" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKdHbMXyJP2u_7x-TTEVLbFsuU63Wp78T_MDPsI7omEJSDgviu3JfV0zF_Rxy1mPL9lUc6h_53bL2zz62yHOoIvouRNq4WrSpB5oPv15ZGKDtbQDlaG0Co2fPxyEfCV_yFltO3Qpsr7T8sbezuptyqReh5YJ8qBfmyu00CqJhC9Lr6MljjE3zMeUcqT_vA" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333;">Bishop Jack brings the propers together. His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: #954f72;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY</a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></o:p><span style="color: #333333;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Bishop Jack<span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">’s sermon looks at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we are about half way through Lent, a season of preparation</span></span>. In the Collect, we ask God look in to our hearts, and see our desire to be His children and defend us against evil. Paul tells us in order to live out our faith, we need to make our actions match our stated desires. One man cannot serve two masters. Remember <span style="color: red;">where your treasure is, there will your heart be also</span>. We can easily tell who is for Him and who is against Him. It is simple, who holds to the principles of Scripture is for Him. They who do not hold to them are not with Him. <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);">Action, not diction is what counts. It all comes together.</span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847);"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Propers for today are found on Page 128-130, with the Collect first:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The Third Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E </span></span></b>beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in 1in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The first day of Lent, commonly called<br />Ash Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">LMIGHTY </span></span></b>and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Epistle for today came from</span></span><span style="color: navy; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> </span></span>the Fifth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians beginning at the First Verse. He echoes the advice of St. James in his general epistle to be Christians, not just claim to be followers of Christ, when James wrote, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 39.6pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 50.5pt;">B<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">T</span>his morning’s Gospel comes from the Eleventh Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke beginning at the Fourteenth Verse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 39.6pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 39.5pt;">J<o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">ESUS was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, <span style="color: red;">Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, <span style="color: red;">Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bishop Jack Arnold</span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Anglican Orthodox Church of the United States</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Training and Education Department</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Diocese of the West</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #a51e9a; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #a51e9a;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bp Jack brings</span></span> the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together because as is always the case there is a unifying message in the Scripture for this Sunday. <span style="color: #333333;">Bp Jack’s sermon can be viewed on video</span> <a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: purple;">HERE</a><span style="color: #333333;"> -></span><a href="https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY" style="color: purple;">https://youtu.be/iOgSnCwhhQY</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc5ZwW9YdylghPSdG6_6HG9W4ryymQC1Jod1Lu_DSnUo5P-bM9AK3y2F4Qc8oeqX3dJyYn6zjOe0jTu87wm5MSzMSXTAh4kk8uW1xMjGCBqXIqCPnZqVTVeExDta9ixl5HbcYO2DYKTSquMuWyv3q2Fb6jKy3AwEY-zngxM_fIAG2vA4pnOTVdXhm_crW/s1412/240303%20Jack's%20Sermon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="1172" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc5ZwW9YdylghPSdG6_6HG9W4ryymQC1Jod1Lu_DSnUo5P-bM9AK3y2F4Qc8oeqX3dJyYn6zjOe0jTu87wm5MSzMSXTAh4kk8uW1xMjGCBqXIqCPnZqVTVeExDta9ixl5HbcYO2DYKTSquMuWyv3q2Fb6jKy3AwEY-zngxM_fIAG2vA4pnOTVdXhm_crW/w166-h200/240303%20Jack's%20Sermon.jpg" width="166" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Good morning! I hope you are all doing well. In today’s sermon we will be looking at the unifying message of the Collect, Epistle and Gospel and examine how they share a common message of action as we are about half way through Len<br />t, a season of preparation. Let us start by reading today’s Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Third Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></p><div style="text-align: start;"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">E </span></span></b>beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Consider these words from the Collect:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">… look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies …<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the Collect, we ask God look in to our hearts, and see our desire to be His children and defend us against evil. That also means we are looking for His Help which comes in the form of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will assist us in the process of changing of our hearts to actually have “hearty desires” to do His Will and to be “humble servants”, not our usual and customary self-centered selves. Quite a combination of thoughts in a small bit of verbiage! It is amazing how much we can put in a short sentence if we use words to their best advantage! If we will be follow Him, He will <i>defend us in all assaults of our enemies</i>. <a href="applewebdata://84779E00-0C3C-4635-A1DC-549DC7D7AB94#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: purple;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> If we will not accept His Help, He will not force it on us. Back to that old, “Thy will be done.” The question arises once again, from whose mouth does it proceed, ours or God’s? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Today’s Epistle and Gospel share the same theme. This theme is centered around action. In order to <u>be</u> a Christian, you have to <u>act</u> as a Christian and not just say we are. And we cannot try and please both man and God, we have to pick which master we are to serve God, or Satan/man/mammon. I know who I want to serve, do you? Faith without the actions to back it up is a false and meaningless faith. Sadly there are too many people in this world today who call themselves Christians who do not truly act like Christians. We must strive to not be like those people, but strive to be Christian not just in name only but in deed as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In light of this, there are two phrases particularly worth remembering, “<span style="color: red;">a house divided against a house falleth</span>” and “<span style="color: red;">He that is not with me is against me</span>.” Middle ground exists, but it is quicksand. Eventually one has to choose a side. Everybody has to make that choice sooner or later. It is very clear to us what side we should choose. The only rational side to take is that of God, the side that will lead us to eternal life not that of eternal death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And, we cannot keep with the opposition. It is the natural part of the history of the Bible and of life. We have to choose to follow God, as there is no other reasonable option, which will give us the result following God will result in. We must decide who we will follow. We do not have true faith if we do not act upon the words that our lips speak, of believing in Christ and His Father. We must emulate the example that Christ Himself set for us in His ministry of action. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Speaking of His ministry, Jesus set the ultimate example for us to follow for action. Saying we are Christians and actually being Christians are two different states of being. It is like the difference between saying we are going to the grocery store and actually getting in the car and driving to the grocery store. It is quite easy to say we are Christians, it is quite another to act like we are. Acting like Christians is a lot harder than just saying we are but it is something we must strive to do if we are to be more like Christ. This will be something that we work on for the rest of our earthly lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In his Epistle, Paul tells us in order to live out our faith, we need to make our actions match our stated desires, very much in line with the thought above. Paul calls us to avoid those actions that are unbecoming of Christians and we need to walk in the light and not the dark. Given our fallen nature it can be a difficult task sometimes, but with the help of the Holy Ghost, it will be easier. We need the Holy Ghost to enter into our hearts and listen to His advice to stay on the trail of the light and not fall into the pit of darkness. He talks about uncouth behavior of those who are of this world and not of God. He says that those folks have no inheritance in the kingdom of God, so let us strive not to be like them. He is warning us not to let our natural desires overcome us, but let the Holy Ghost in so we can desire what is good for us, versus what is not good for us as our natural tendency is. This can be a hard thing, but it is something that we must do all the same. We need the Holy Ghost’s help to fight our natural tendency of wanting bad things. We should be doing our best to emulate Christ’s example as much as we are able.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As we have discussed many times, action is the central theme of the Christian faith, which was first shown with Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection. He came to act for us, not just to talk or meditate; His great plan involved action, though it was painful, it was His action which released us from the wages of sin. We have to follow His Example that He set for us and live our lives in a manner that reflects we believe the Gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Think about the Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is very important to be unified in our worship and maintain mutual support; a team always beats individuals. That is not to take away from individuality, but rather to note we need to remember whose side we are on and work together with our teammates. If we are not working together, then we are not truly united under Christ’s banner. And if we are not truly united, then we will not get anywhere in spreading the Gospel for all to hear, learn and understand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We might have individual personality differences, but as long as we all believe on Christ and His Death and Resurrection and Gospel, then those differences we might have with others are minor and not worth arguing or fighting over. We must cast aside our personal feelings about the minor differences and focus on how we can work together with our fellow Christians to further His Mission here on Earth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Christ himself came not to unite the world, but to divide it, father against son. In Matthew 10:32-34 He says “<span style="color: red;"><span style="background: white;">Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”</span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"> </span>He is saying here He has not come to unite the World, for the World is not on our side. But to clearly divide the world to show who is with God and who is against God. He came to highlight who is for Him and who is against Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For as earlier explained, one man cannot serve two masters. And also the saying of <span style="color: red;">where your treasure is, there will your heart be also</span>. In this life by reading </span>through Scripture we can easily tell who is for Him and who is against Him. It is simple, who holds to the principles of Scripture is for Him. They who do not hold to them are not with Him. </span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You must keep constant vigilance against backsliding, for a fallen Christian is in worse shape than one who was never exposed to The Word. In order to maintain the constant vigilance you have to always act upon your faith. The Epistle and Gospel both talk about the curious dichotomy; you are saved by faith, Jesus’s faith, and your faith alone saves you, not what you do; yet if you have faith, you must act on that faith</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">. </span></span>To maintain your Christian course, you must truly turn a new leaf, and not slip back into the old man. This is one of the most difficult challenges as a Christian, but with the help of the Holy Ghost, we each can do it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You must receive the Word, hear it, and act upon it and spread it joyously to others, in order for your faith to have any meaning at all. Otherwise we will have been for the worse than if we never had heard the Good News. It is not a gift to selfishly lock up, but to share and give to others. That is the true joy of the Good News. It is most certainly more blessed to give than to receive in this case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You must grasp your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your savior and your repentance is the beginning of your life as a New Man in Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Will you slip? Without doubt. But, when you do, will you again repent and continue to do your best to follow the Word of God, the Light and the Truth? All that matters is you get up and do your best not to do what you did to slip. Life is a continuous learning process. Indeed, if you are a Christian that is what you must do. We will always slip up in our lives, that is in our fallen nature. But we have to get up and get back on track, using the Holy Gospel to guide us like the instruments in an aircraft. We cannot trust our feeling, but only our instruments (God’s gift of Holy Scripture). You are called to believe and act on those beliefs to the best of your ability. If you do not, then prepared as you were for life, you will so be prepared for the pit. As you read Luke, remember the second half of the Book of Luke is The ACTS of the Apostles, not thoughts, wishes, prayers or meditations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For, “<span style="color: red;">blessed are they that hear the word of God, and <b><u>keep it</u></b></span><b><u>.</u></b>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: 26pt;">ACT<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It is by our actions we are known.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Be of God - Live of God - Act of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p><p class="Body" style="border: medium; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://84779E00-0C3C-4635-A1DC-549DC7D7AB94#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: purple;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A Collect for Peace – <u>1928 Book of Common Prayer</u> Page 17</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></span></div></div></span></div></div>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-41173694269354983462024-03-03T11:37:00.002-05:002024-03-03T11:37:36.695-05:00Lent 03 Collect – 3 March 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmZhZ1v_I4luVHf7BcZS0NzxapgG7iqEMlAVY1Jxs5g0FeyQKHyrixtIgTx1uygymdlC5_MNQGjJZBaGO3ZYP035U6PUx55YpJOnYxFKiRiJP0F9fsDYBWzmoSzPHSFYm-Ho98Njh51e7_ZbdTvaZ7ZIREplQEPQd8SmF9n3eUCgZoC6_8ekxgo_uRtCV/s718/Lent%2003%20Collect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="718" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmZhZ1v_I4luVHf7BcZS0NzxapgG7iqEMlAVY1Jxs5g0FeyQKHyrixtIgTx1uygymdlC5_MNQGjJZBaGO3ZYP035U6PUx55YpJOnYxFKiRiJP0F9fsDYBWzmoSzPHSFYm-Ho98Njh51e7_ZbdTvaZ7ZIREplQEPQd8SmF9n3eUCgZoC6_8ekxgo_uRtCV/w400-h378/Lent%2003%20Collect.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i> </i></b></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 13pt;">The Third Sunday in Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Collect.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #660066; font-size: 31pt;">W<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 3pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>E </b>beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <i>Amen</i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> Those who wear their religion on their sleeve need not appeal to God for defense. Their defense against the spiritual powers of darkness, great though those powers be, will remain the arm of withering flesh. Pride is its own reward and can never be coupled with our prayers for God's protection and grace. Humility is a rare commodity in today's world. After all, do we not all need a positive self-image? What good will that false self-image be in the grave of worms and decay? We even train our youth to believe that they must have a good opinion of themselves. Good opinions of our own worth will scarce purchase a drop of water in the fires of hell. It is only when we realize that without humble love we are "nothing worth" (as stated in the Collect for Quinquagesima) can we be worth a glance of grace from heaven. This is another Gregorian Collect that was composed when the enemies were at the gate. The Roman Church at the time of the original writing of this Collect was not yet so `full of itself.' It was not lifted up in pride, but prayed daily for the preservation of body and soul from those monsters without the gate, and the demons from within the gate. Is it any different today except that the Church is too asleep to know?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <i><u>WE beseech thee</u></i> Here is another vivid portrayal that our prayers in public worship are communal – that is, these prayers are timeless and worthy of being lifted to God with hearts united in the faith we profess. The prayer following can be uttered in the heart of every worshipper to good profit. This is one of the strengths of Prayer Book worship. Individual prayers of extemporaneous nature may contain elements unrelated to the other worshippers, or may even contain appeals to things contrary to our doctrine and faith. But all of the prayers of the Prayer Book are based on sound biblical principles and truths. To whom should our prayers be directed? To <i><u>Almighty God</u></i>! <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> "…<i> <u>look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants</u></i>…" What are hearty desires except those desires that have been filtered by love and faith in the most intimate chambers of our hearts? Can a proud and boastful suppliant have such hearty desires? I doubt that they can have. Their desires are based on a proud mind and flesh, not a humble heart. How does God view pride? Not very highly, I'm afraid. It is pride itself that separates us from the grace of God: <i>The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts</i>. (Psalms 10:4) <i>The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate</i>. (Prov 8:13) Space does not afford the luxury of quoting many more verses of God's condemnation of pride, but those already provided are sufficient to the point. Just remember, the mighty Lucifer fell as a result of pride.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> "….<i><u>and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty</u></i>." Truly this is the Right Hand of Supreme, Sovereign Authority. I may swear an oath with my right hand uplifted, or sign a bank note with my right hand of authority; but my right hand is limited to the feeble power of man alone. The right hand of a king has serious implications, but the Right Hand of the King of Kings seals every truth and judgment. If God stretches forth His Right Hand, you may be sure that Heaven and earth may be shaken.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> "…..<i><u>to be our defence against all our enemies</u></i>…" God's defense is not a limited defense, but will defend against ALL enemies. While we all were once enemies of God, those who have been received by grace may now appeal for that powerful arm of defense in the Almighty. What defense do we need always? It has a direct bearing on a defense from the spiritual powers of darkness that assail us daily; and it has a relevance to the Gospel text for this Sunday from Luke 11:14-28. If we may consider the world a jungle (and it is definitely so from a spiritual perspective), we pass through that jungle with a thousand hungry eyes watching our every move. At the first stumble (at sin) those eyes inform vicious claws and teeth to attack. That is the devil's way, and it has not changed an iota since that Old Red Dragon fell from Heaven as lightning. He has never, and WILL never, be anything other than the mortal enemy of your soul. <i>Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour</i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(1 Peter 5:8)</span> If it pleases you to sin, just be ready for the devouring lion. As God said to Job from out of the whirlwind (regarding that dragon, Leviathan): <i>Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more</i>. (Job 41:8) The same is true of Satan – his power is beyond that of man to oppose. Only God can win the battle against such a vicious creature.<o:p></o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878630148805611602.post-35475438050893590132024-02-29T22:41:00.000-05:002024-02-29T22:41:05.285-05:00Hymns of the Church – Jesus Paid it All – 29 February 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord) originally posted 7 April 2015<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL96OkzR8CGrtRouKJgavBcOWv3xLxkeuox6TN9EDGglKARYl9q9sJw2tlBruvGFWlX12izEER1tcC8P0EI_dRzGaqPJAQpPhzfJwKfm_Muky3dWAiiMgFtxtVKLOekZy9GM-_eB4wd7zpWf92tyFOcpTb68UN7sqdEirtiLMCIa0P9YYkEW5t49eiEgGY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL96OkzR8CGrtRouKJgavBcOWv3xLxkeuox6TN9EDGglKARYl9q9sJw2tlBruvGFWlX12izEER1tcC8P0EI_dRzGaqPJAQpPhzfJwKfm_Muky3dWAiiMgFtxtVKLOekZy9GM-_eB4wd7zpWf92tyFOcpTb68UN7sqdEirtiLMCIa0P9YYkEW5t49eiEgGY=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" hspace="0" vspace="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; font-family: Palatino; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 26.4pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: 31pt;">A<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>ND</b><i> Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">2</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">3</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">4</span></i></b><i> And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, <span style="color: #fb0007;">Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?</span> </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">5</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, <span style="color: #fb0007;">I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.</span> </i><b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;">6</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i><i>And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, <span style="color: #fb0007;">Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.</span></i> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Acts 9:1-6)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"> “These Christians are an exasperating lot,” thought Saul (later the Apostle Paul) as he journeyed to Damascus to murder and maim any Christians he found there. “They seem to fear nothing or no one, yet pretend to a faith of greater enlightenment than our religious teachers of the Jews. Their ill-intentioned faith seems to have turned the world upside down. They must be destroyed, along with the memory of their supposed Savior, Jesus,” he mused as he went on the way with his escort on that dusty road to Damascus that day. But Saul never completed the mission he had planned. Why not? Because he heard a Voice unlike any other voice he had ever before heard. “<b><i><span style="color: #fb0007;">Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #fb0007;">?</span></i>” The Voice carried with it the tone of Authority and Divinity. Saul KNEW this was no earthly Voice. Saul knew this was a Voice from Heaven, but WHO was it? “<b><i>Who art thou, Lord</i></b><i>?</i>” he asked with trembling voice. Once he knew the Voice to be that of Jesus, suddenly the error of years of false learning dawned on poor Saul. This was the very Jesus against whom Saul was going to war against in Damascus. That ‘was’ became an eternity. Saul never again warred against the Lord Jesus Christ or His people. That Voice changed Saul’s life forever, and in an INSTANT! It will change the life of all who hear it!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;">This wonderful old hymn is by Elvina Hall and was published in 1865. The music, All to Him I Owe, was composed by John T. Grape.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;">There is a truly wonderful and soul-inspiring testimony regarding this hymn that happened not long after it was first published. The story takes place in London under the Preaching of Rowland Hill – a rather colorful and lively evangelist: “<i>While he was preaching in a park in London to a large assemblage, she was passing in her carriage. She said to her footman when she saw Rowland Hill in the midst of the people, "Why, who is that man?" That is Rowland Hill, my lady." She had heard a good deal about the man, and she thought she would like to see him, so she directed her coachman to drive her near the platform. When the carriage came near he saw the insignia of nobility, and he asked who that noble lady was. Upon being told, he said, "Stop, my friends, I have got something to sell." The idea of a preacher becoming suddenly an auctioneer made the people wonder, and in the midst of a dead silence he said: "I have more than a title to sell -- I have more than a crown of Europe to sell; it is the soul of Lady Ann Erskine. Is there anyone here who bids for it? Yes, I hear a bid. Satan, Satan, what will you give? 'I will give pleasure, honor, riches -- yea, I will give the whole world for her soul.' Do you hear another bid? Is there any other one? Do I hear another bid? Ah, I thought so; I hear another bid. The Lord Jesus Christ, what will You give for this soul? 'I will give peace, joy, comfort, that the world knows not of -- yea, I will give My life for her eternal life.' Lady Ann Erskine, you have heard the two bidders for your soul, which will you accept? And she ordered the door of her carriage to be opened, and came weeping from it, and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. He, the great and mighty Saviour, is a bidder for your soul to-night. He offers you riches and comfort, and joy, peace here, and eternal life hereafter, while Satan offers you what he cannot give. Poor lost soul, which will you have? He will ransom your soul if you but put your burden upon Him. Twenty-one years ago I made up my mind that Jesus would have my soul, and I have never regretted the step, and no man has ever felt sorry for coming to Him. When we accept Him we must like Him. Your sins may rise up as a mountain, but the Son of Man can purge you of all evil, and take you right into the palaces of Heaven, if you will only allow Him to Save you</i>.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b>Jesus Paid it All</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">I hear the Savior say,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">“Thy strength indeed is small;<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Child of weakness, watch and pray,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Find in Me thine all in all.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;">Jesus paid it all, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;">All to Him I owe; <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;">Sin had left a crimson stain, <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.5in; text-align: justify;">He washed it white as snow.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">For nothing good have I<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Whereby Thy grace to claim,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">I’ll wash my garments white<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Lord, now indeed I find<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Thy power and Thine alone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Can change the leper’s spots<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">And melt the heart of stone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">And when from my dying bed<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">My ransomed soul shall rise,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">“Jesus died my soul to save,”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify;">Shall rend the vaulted skies. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> The most wonderful thing about the unbelievable meanings of this hymn is that they are very true and believable to all who will hear the Voice of the Lord. “<i>I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all</i>.” It is beyond doubt that Saul, too, recognized his utter weakness before that Personage that struck him down and blinded him with His brilliance on Saul’s Road to Ruin. That Road to Ruin became Saul’s Road to Light. He heard the voice of Jesus, and that was ENOUGH! Saul did find in Christ his “All-in-All”! <i>Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all</i>. <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Col 3:11)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> “<i>For nothing good have I Whereby Thy grace to claim, I’ll wash my garments white In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.</i>” True, Saul had no good thing to give, but his intentions were full of bad things – just like you and me before we heard that Voice. “<i>As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one</i>:” <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Rom 3:10)</span> By the way, grace is not something to be earned or purchased. Grace is the free gift of God. It is unmerited and undeserved mercy. The Prodigal Son (you and I) was covered with the finest robe his father had to offer to cover the filth of the pig sty. Imagine! You and I, too, are covered with the finest White Robe of Righteousness that Heaven has to offer – a Robe purchased at the immeasurable expense of the Blood of our Lord and Savior! The miracle of forgiveness – and that is what it truly is – is beyond our understanding. How can we wash our dirty rags of sin to a white splendor in the crimson blood of Jesus? Yes, and even whiter than snow? It is the red stains of His blood that bleaches out the black and sickening stains of our sin. He is our Lamb of the Passover!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> “<i>Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone, Can change the leper’s spots And melt the heart of stone</i>.” If we are depending on the slightest iota of our own power to cross Jordan Banks, we shall be drowned in the deep; for our power can avail nothing of salvation. He is the only resurrection power that acts as a magnet to pull up that metal of similar nature to Him. We will be like Him because we have taken on that Mind which was in Christ Jesus! The leper’s spots are blemishes in our feasts of righteousness that is made of sin. Given a White Robe each morning by way of repentance and forgiveness, it has horridly defiling spots by evening time. But Christ has made the Mercy Seat available to all who will plead their cause to their Advocate seated by the Father. The stony heart is cold and hard, but the volcanic fountain of Christ’s love will melt even that stone, and replace it with a heart of flesh upon which He has written His Table of Laws.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> My dear friends, regardless of your present age and health, there awaits every reader of this devotion a room of dying determined by the will of God. When we are children, we believe, mercifully, that no such day and hour will come; but come it surely will, and not always at the expected moment. “<i>And when from my dying bed My ransomed soul shall rise, “Jesus died my soul to save,” Shall rend the vaulted skies</i>.” Please bear in mind that the Lord, our God, has reserved an escort for you at the moment of death – an escort of the angels of Heaven. It will be the first VIP escort for many of us. Notice the deference paid to the saint of God, as opposed to the sinner, at death. In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, we read: “<b><i><span style="color: #fb0007;">22</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #fb0007;"> And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and <u>was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom</u>: the rich man also died, and was buried</span></i></b>;” (Luke 16:21-22) Remember the old negro spiritual: “<i>Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Coming for to Carry me Home</i>?” It was a band of angels that was coming after that dear old singer, and that band was coming to carry him home! “<i>A band of angels coming a’ter me, jes’ a coming for to carry me home</i>!” I hope I will meet that old gentleman beyond the stormy Banks of Jordan Waters. Jesus paid for our travel fare but we must accept the ticket!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>The Refrain</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><b><i> “Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.</i></b><b>”</b> It is true! Jesus paid it all on that terrible instrument of torture called a cross. We can never give to God a single thing. All of Creation belongs to Him alone. But we can surrender our souls (which belong to Him) back to His loving care. We are able to surrender those souls because Jesus paid it all at Calvary! The crimson gashes of the whip made in Pilate’s paddock; the gaping and crimson wounds on His sinless brow made by the crown of thorns; the terrible and painful crimson wounds on His feet and hands made by the Roman nine-inch nails: and the horrific wound made by the spear to His divine and Holy side by the lancer which drains crimson blood and water – all were made to pay for the laundry bill of our crimson sins. His blood washes – not just white as snow – but WHITER than snow. Snow flakes are formed by the condensation of ice crystals about a particle of dust or smoke in the upper atmosphere. So at the heart of every snowflake is a particle of impurity. But the blood of Christ removes even that particle of impurity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;"><span style="font-size: 5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48pt;">Please consider the gems of truth in a single verse of the Psalms: “<i>Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow</i>.” <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(Psalms 51:7)</span> Hyssop is a popular purgative in Asia. It cleans out the alimentary canal. It cleans the INSIDE of the body. If we are cleaned by God from within first, we shall appear every whit as white, and even whiter, than snow in the outward appearance. But if the filth remains at our core, the impurity remains in the heart.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Palatino; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17560748219250900159noreply@blogger.com