Anglican Orthodox
Church sm
Worldwide Communion
Septuagesima Sunday
February 1, 2026 – Sunday Report
Septuagesima Sunday
The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single
thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of
England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop
of Canterbury after the re-founding.
The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday.
The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various
Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading
from one of the Holy Gospels,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect
is said by the minister
as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated
reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel,
which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.
The propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers
in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read
instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks
the titles are in red, are special days. Most
of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early
saint’s instrumental in the development of the church,
others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day
is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or
Lent. The Propers for today are found in the
Book of Common Prayer page 118 -119.
The Collect for Septuagesima Sunday
O LORD, we beseech thee favourably
to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our
offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and
the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Epistle for Septuagesima
Sunday. I Corinthians ix. 24.
KNOW ye not that they which run in
a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do
it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run,
not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep
under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I
have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
The Gospel
for the Septuagesima Sunday. St. Matthew xxiv. 23.
THE kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder,
which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And
when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his
vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in
the market-place, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and
whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out
about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour
he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye
here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He
saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatso-ever is right, that
shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto
his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the
last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh
hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed
that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a
penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the
house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them
equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered
one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me
for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last,
even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what will with mine own? Is
thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first
last: for many be called, but few chosen.
On Point
The Augsburg Confession.
"Be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." 1 Pet.
3:15.
In the sixteenth century God granted the full light of
the Gospel-truth to the nations of Northern Europe, and this truth our fathers
laid down in a compendious book, the public Confessions of our Church. The
foremost among these is the Augsburg Confession, which was read before Emperor
Charles V during the Diet at Augsburg in 1530. This famous document, known the
world over as the Augsburg Confession, contains twenty-eight articles.
It seemed as though this Protestant confession would
never be submitted to the Diet. When the Protestant princes announced that
their confession was ready to be read, His Majesty declined to hear it, saying
that too many other matters were pending. The Saxon Elector John now fairly
pleaded with the Emperor to grant their request, viz., to
grant a hearing to their important cause, as it concerned the eternal salvation
of their souls. Hereupon the Emperor consented, and the Confession was read on
Saturday after noon, June 25, at three o’clock, amid profound silence and rapt
attention.
The reading of the Confession, which
made a deep and favor able impression upon the Catholic princes, consumed
almost two hours, and then the Diet knew what the maligned Lutherans truly
believed, taught, confessed, and practised in their churches. It was a powerful
refutation of the many calumnies spread abroad against the Lutherans. Many
Catholic nobles now showed a conciliating spirit. They felt that it was nothing
but the truth, and they could not deny it. They saw that the Lutherans are
sitting in the Bible and the papists aside of it. This
confession of faith served the loyal Protestant Church as a banner borne aloft,
beneath which her faithful members could rally. To this day it is a solid
foundation whereon to build and a wall of defense against the attacks of our
enemies.
Prayer.
O Lord, it is Thy holy will that
our confession should come from the heart. None other Thou wilt have, saying, “
My son, give Me thine heart.” A confession without faith is therefore
worthless. But, on the other hand, Thou requirest also that we should confess
with our mouth that faith which we have in our hearts: “Whosoever shall
confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in
heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me be fore men, him will I also deny before
My Father which is in heaven.” Amen.
Jerry Ogles,
Presiding Bishop – Metropolitan AOC Worldwide
We are fortunate
to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the
Collect and sermon notes.
Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under
ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:
Bishop Ogles
Blog:
https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com
Bishop Ogles
You Tube Channel
that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:
Bishop’s Chat Monday:
The Lamb of God
AOC Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/01/thelamb-of-god.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Os3Uw6yrEA
Friday Evening Prayer
Study: Hearing the Voice
Bishop’s Blog Link: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/01/hearing-voice.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQu8FFbOpVg
Lay Reader’s Sermon to be used
on:
Septuagesima
February 1st
For Morning Prayer
Written by Bishop Jerry Ogles
First
Lesson: Zechariah 8:1-8,
Second
(Gospel) Lesson: I Corinthians 12:12-31A
“Is it not lawful for me to do what will
with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be
first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”
The Prayer of
Collect.
O LORD, we beseech
thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly
punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the
glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth
with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
The
general theme for today’s Collect and texts is that of the discipline of love,
duty and of reward - but not the reward of selfish greed, but of sacrificial
love.
The
Collect pleads for the Lord to hear our prayers even while we are justly
punished for our sins of commission and omission. There is no doubt that we
cannot deserve the mercy and favor of Almighty God owing to our state of
sinfulness; but we further plead that the Lord will mercifully deliver us - not
for our goodness, but His; and we seek the same for the glory of God. The
prayer closes in the Name the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
During
my ministry, I have been honored to serve in a variety of military
organizations as chaplain. On more than one occasion, I have been asked to
conclude my prayers without mention of the Name of Christ.
I have refused to do so and, on one
occasion, found it expedient to resign from one of those organizations. There
is One who has suffered and died for our sins. Do we not at least have the
obligation to honor Him in prayer?
Paul,
in his epistle from 1 Corinthians, is not only a man of sophistication in
education, but also a competitive runner in his early life. He knows that one
must press on with enthusiastic endeavor if he plans to win a race. He must
also keep his body in top physical condition. On the run, he must look to the
prize that awaits at the end of the race, not look down upon the hard track
upon which he runs. His mind is not upon the monetary reward, but the crown of
victory. He compares that race with the race of the spirit. We are all in that
race, and only the ones who keep their sight on the final reward can win the
crown. Just as the runner must bring his body under strict discipline and
training, so must the Christian fortify his spirit with constant vigilance,
focus, and determination. Our eyes must be focused on the end of the race at
which the reward of unmerited love and joy awaits. Now, if we are to coach and
encourage others to become fit for the race, we, too, must have a track record of
running successfully. If we have not run successfully, how can we lead others
in the race of life to stay the course and taste the fruits of victory?
Our
Lord now turns to relating a parable of profound significance concerning how we
labor in the race of life. This parable follows hard on the heels of the rich
young ruler of the previous chapter. The young man comes to the right source
for salvation, but asked the wrong question: “Good Master, what good thing
shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” First of all, the young man did
not recognize Jesus as Lord but called Him ‘Master’ (teacher). In the second
place, he asked “What good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
This revealed his total lack of understanding of his own lack of righteousness.
There is no good thing we can DO to inherit eternal life. We receive eternal
life by the grace of God and are accounted worthy based on His righteousness
and none of our own.
So,
following that occasion, our lord relates the parable of the householder. In
the Kingdom of God, the Lord of the Vineyard is the Lord Himself. There is work
to be done by each member of the household, and they are awarded by His grace
and not their gainful labors.
As
the parable goes, the householder “went
out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.”
A vineyard is a place for the production of fruit just as the Church is a place
for the reception of souls. He agrees to pay the laborers a fair wage of a
penny a day. At the time of Jesus, a penny was considered a fair day’s wage.
Having settled with the desired number of workers, he sent them into the field
to labor. The Church is a living organism. It requires constant labor and
additional laborers as the work increases.
Now,
at about 9 Am (3rd hour) the Householder realizes that he needs
more laborers. He goes out and finds more workers in the market-place. He tells
them: “Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.”
Notice, the Householder did not specify an agreed wage to this group, but whatsoever
is right.
He
goes again at the noonday hour as well as late afternoon (3PM) into the
market-place and hires workers for a wage that ‘is right.” He does the
same in the late evening at 7 P.M. He asks the idle workers in the
market-place, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?”
If we have not found labor with the Householder, no man has hired us for
meaningful labor in the Vineyard of the Kingdom. He directs them to His
vineyard with the same offer of “what
is right.”
It
is interesting to note that these latter laborers did not hassle over wages,
but when directly to the labor in the Vineyard. How many interviews for
candidates for the ministry have we asked to come and work in the Church but
whose first question is, “how much pay will I receive, and what are the
benefits?” If they trusted the Church to pay reward them for what is right and
possible, perhaps they would be better candidates for the ministry.
Now
the close of day approaches and the Householder wishes to pay the laborers for
their service. Amazingly, those who were hired at the latter hours were paid a
penny - the same that was agreed to those who came first. Seeing this, those
who had come first in the early morning, and had worked all day long, supposed
that they would receive more - but they, too, received a penny. Please consider
the fairness of that which the Householder di. He paid precisely what He had
agreed to pay BOTH parties. When we agree to an employment contract, we are
bound by the terms offered. What justification do we have to demand higher
wages than that to which we have agreed?
The
model revealed in this parable is precisely that of the Kingdom of God. The
Householder says to the complaining workers: “Friend,
I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine
is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not
lawful for me to do what will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am
good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but
few chosen.”
Throughout
the Scriptures the first have often come in last of all. It is the same with
the disciples of Christ. We are not bargaining for some glorious reward, but
for the privilege to serve the Lord Jesus Christ who paid an immeasurable cost
to purchase our redemption. We owe Him all.
The First man, Adam, was the carnal
head of the human race in a carnal sense. And so it is written written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."
It is in the last Adam (Jesus Christ) that we receive eternal life which the
first man traded away. The first man born to woman (Cain) was a murderer. The
second man born to woman (Abel) was a profit. The first man born to Abraham
(Ishmael) was the son of a bondwoman (Hagar). The second (and ONLY son- Genesis
22) born to Abraham (Isaac) was the child of promise. The same relationship is
signaled in Esau and Jacob.
The
reward in Heaven is not who crosses the threshold first. We are all rewarded
with what is right - and what is right? It is the glory of belonging to the
Lord Jesus Christ and sharing in His flood of Light and Love. A price-tag
cannot be established for that valuable reward.
† Jerry Ogles
Jack Arnold
Bishop of
the Diocese of the West – AOC USA
Education and Training Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide
Church of the Faithful Centurion
Today’s
sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained
in the forewords above.
Consider these words from the Collect:
… who
knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason
of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such
strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through
all temptations …
In the Collect, we acknowledge that God knows the
dangers, toils and snares with which we must contend, which so often keep us
from the upright acknowledgement and defense of that which is true and correct.
Because of our mortal nature, we will at times stumble and fall. Knowing this,
the collect has us turn to God to request his strength and protection that we
might get through the most difficult times when we are at our weakest and tend
to stumble and fall through temptations. We must remember in these times to
call upon the strength of the Holy Ghost and let Him guide us in our actions
through these difficult times.
Paul points out in his epistle that as we are all here
on Earth, earthly rulers are subject to God and His Rules and they ultimately
need to defer to Him for their authority, not look to themselves for that
authority. Their authority derives from God not from man. He points out that whosoever rejects the
powers or the knowledge that the powers they are given come from God are
rejecting/resisting God himself. Paul says thoat those who are in positions of
power that do evil should be afraid, for God does not take abuse of the power
that He has handed man lightly. We know that in the end, all of these rules who
blaspheme and mock God will get their comeuppance. This is a thought that to me
makes bearing the trials of this world that are caused by weak and evil rulers
much easier.
Of course, to paraphrase Solomon, this is nothing new.
Man has always sought to supplant God as the ultimate authority on earth. We
see that with the Tower of Babel among other cautionary tales. It is a tale
that is as old as time. Man is naturally incline to turn away from God and not
towards Him and this is the reason why power corrupts so many. This is the
whole basis behind both communism and National Socialism. There are slight differences between both
mainly the means of production, but the end result is very similar in
both. They both seek to supplant God and
His Authority here on earth, and make the State a non-God based church on
earth, where instead of worshiping God, they worship man, basically worshipping
Satan instead.
Paul says if we are doing good then we need not be
afraid of the power from God that is on loan to the rulers who are ministers of
God in a way. The only people who need be afraid of them are evildoers, who the
ruler is appointed to use the sword to bring before God for justice. However,
if the rulers that be are not punishing evil doers put people who are good
doers, then we know they are not worthy of the power that God has bestowed upon
them. Again, this is becoming more and more apparent across the globe. We are
not in the business of condemning people’s souls to one eternal destination or
the other, that is God’s job. But, Paul points out that we can arrange for the
meeting to happen, when people violate God’s most sovereign laws.
Paul goes on to say that through the authority
invested by them in God, people need to pay the rulers tribute, to which it is
due, the customs to custom, fear to fear, honor to honor. It goes very much
hand in hand with what Jesus said on the subject “Render
unto Caesar’s which is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” There
is respect which ought to be paid to the rightful people who are the
representatives of God ruling the people. That respect ends however, when those
representatives reject God’s authority and are no longer worthy of the respect.
This also goes back to the honor thy father and thy
mother concept. As long as they are doing their best to raise you up in a
Christian way and showing by example to follow Christ to get to heaven, then
they are worthy of that honor. But if they are doing the opposite, then they
are not worthy of the honor. It is still
worth behaving in a Christian manner to both unfaithful rulers and parents, but
realize they become unworthy of that honor when they reject God and His
Authority. This does not mean to treat them spitefully or wrathfully, but to
simply recognize that they are no longer worthy of that honor when they reject
God and His Authority.
Christianity is not a solitary religion, one all about
the individual, though it certainly depends on individuals as part of the Team
lead by Christ to carry it out. It relies on each and every one of us working
together to spread the Word through ought the known world. A hermit worshiping
alone will not effect much in this World, but a group of believers that are
unapologetically bold and transformed by the renewing of their minds will
accomplish much for His Cause. We must allow the Holy Ghost into our heart
souls and minds, that our minds might be renewed and that we can go forth and
spread the Word.
Faith and action, is what Christianity is all about.
Christ’s actions upon the cross the solid base that our faith is based
upon. His death and resurrection is the
key principle behind Christianity. Actions are a crucial element of our faith.
Christ’s faith accounts us as perfect before God because of His Actions. The centurion of this week’s Gospel is a
symbol of faith and what appears to be inaction is his action. He is also the person for whom our parish
draws its name. The centurion was the
basic leader symbol of the Roman Empire.
A group of eight to ten soldiers was led by a Contubern. Ten Contubernium formed a Centuria, which was
led by a Centurion. Six to ten of these
formed a Cohort, also led by a Centurion.
He was an important man, able to reward or punish at will. He knew power and how to wield it.
When the Centurion came to Jesus, he knew who He was
and His Power. When the Centurion told
Jesus of his servant’s illness, the Centurion knew all Jesus had to do was will
the wellness and it was done.
There was no
question in his mind, the Centurion knew Jesus. His action was the seeming
inaction of acknowledging his unworthiness and telling Jesus, “I am not worthy
that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant
shall be healed.”
We are all unworthy.
The best of us is not worthy that He should come under our roof; yet we
know if He will speak The Word only, our souls shall be healed and all will be
accounted well before God. That is all
He asks, “Let Me speak The Word only.”
There is but
one way to heaven.
That easy to
find, easy to follow, easy to hike path does not lead to the summit where
eternal life in the real world awaits.
Open your heart to the Holy Ghost, use His Power to follow our Lord to
God who awaits in heaven.
The time is
now, not tomorrow. The time has come,
indeed. How will you ACT?
It is by our
actions we are known.
Be of God
- Live of God - Act of God
+Bishop
Jack Arnold
Charles Morley -Bishop of Alabama - Anglican Orthodox
Communion Worldwide
We are always happy to get the instruction and
devotions that Bp Morley is giving to us. We hope you enjoy the following:
Where are the Clergy?
A large percentage of American Christians had no idea who Charlie Kirk
was. His unfortunate murder made him a national figure, as much for the
negative response of the radical eftist/Communists who now control our
media and our college campuses, in addition to several Protestant
denominations. Charlie was not an ordained clergyman, nor did he
promote any particular church or denomination in his ministry. He simply
spoke Biblical Truth about the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He did not fight or argue in anger, even when insulted or challenged, but he
did not mince words or back down when confronted either. He did not pastor a
congregation or sport a clerical collar, but he did more to promote a right
understanding of true religion than most "preachers" I know. He
influenced and changed many minds. The ungodly reactions of Charlie's
detractors who took delight in his death
shocked the nation, highlighting the deep anti-Christian
sentiments of the Left.
Charlie's unfortunate death prompted a question from one of
my parishioners that I had never considered. Where are the clergy? I was first
taken aback and didn't understand his meaning. But as I struggled to
conjure an answer, I began to realize Charlie's life and ministry
indicated a distinct change in American life, in the way we regard the role of
the clergy these days. Catholic and mainline Protestant leaders were
virtually silent regarding Charlie's murder and their silence was deafening.
Many evangelical church leaders, on the other hand, were very outspoken about
the attacks on Charlie's ministry and character by the Leftists and the Media,
made all the louder by the silence of his religious and political enemies. But
there were also some outspoken Christians who made it very clear that, while
they regretted Charie's assasination, they felt they did not share his methods
or his views, and were skeptical of his intentions.
This sad event prompted my
parishioner's question but encompassed a broader scope. Where are the
voices of conservative clergy in response to what has become an all-out assault
on Christianity in America? Immigration, transgenderism, same sex marriage,
pornography, child abuse, sex education, not to mention ABORTION, are all
current topics in need of some discussion if not absolute CONDEMNATION by
biblical Christians. The majority of Americans know the media slants on all
these topics and we express concern about these things as individuals. But
where is the unified Christian response, either in ecclesiastical circles or on
the social level, that would present a clear message to those enemies of
religion and decency who constantly assail the Truth?
The silence of the Roman Catholic
hierarchy indicates their obvious approval of illegal immigration. Not
since the European immigration of the nineteenth century has the American
Catholic Church stood to gain so many members, with the assistance of the
American government who allowed millions to cross our borders at tax payers
expense. It is understandable (but certainly not excusable) that the bishops
remained silent on the morality of lawbreaking on such a massive scale. They
even went so far as to assist undocumented aliens to hide from authorities and
to take advantage of assistance offered through church sponsored charities. But
this by no means answers for their continued silence on the many issues of
sexuality - of homosexuality, transgenderism, same sex marriage, an most
exceptionally ABORTION.
It is the Catholic LAITY who demonstrate most publically at
clinics and prayer vigils, risking abuse, arrest, and worse by taking a
courageous stance against what is the most devastating and IMMORAL
activity of the century, standing against public opinion, the pro-death Press,
and even the law. Where are the hierarchy of the Church, who should stand at
the forefront of this battle for the very soul of the nation? Are they leading
the more than 100,000 person March For Life recently held in Washington D.C.?
Granted, media coverage was almost non-existent but all the more reason
for the bishops to step up and be seen - speaking as a body with one voice in
solid opposition to what history may record as one of the greatest GENOCIDES of
history. Some brave minor clerics did march, and do protest with their
parishioners, but the unquestioned support of their bishops is noticeably
absent. I know of one local priest who was first censured by his bishop for his
persistent condemnation of infanticide, and when he refused to desist, was
deposed and sent to a monastery where he could no longer speak or publish. A
sinful shame.
The sad fact is that in this age, some church leaders
and even entire denominations have emerged as proponents of the immoral
practices they had condemned just one generation ago. Some actively promote
homosexuality, transgenderism, same sex marriage, and even abortion as
"human rights" protected by Christian "liberty" and
"non-judgementalism." Not long ago, the laity could count on the
voice of the Church in nearly all social and political issues. The Press would
even seek out those clergy willing to speak in the public forum, and virtually
anyone with an "Rev." in front of his name was assured national
coverage. The Rev. Jesse Jackon, the Rev. Daniel Berrigan, the Rev. Al
Sharpton, the (Rt.) Rev. John Spong all had their persona very much in the
public eye, and thereby earned public support for their previously unpopular
not-so-personal opinions. Many lay folk were taken back by the revelation that
the Protestant hierarchy were in fact quite liberal in their theology and
SOCIOLOGY - and supported the decline in morality along with major changes to
the historic Faith.
We have come to a turning point in American history
that will demand a public stance on the part of Church leaders as to the future
direction of the country. Just as at the time of Revolution of 1776, clergy
will have to stand on one side or another in representing to the people in the
pew not only where they stand personally, but where the witness of the Church
may best continue to be expressed. Islam as a religion looms as a rival entity
in American political life to historic Christian values which are rapidly
disappearing. Communism has again reared its ugly head in American politics,
and has already invaded government as outspoken Christians are vilified and
become increasingly invisible. Bible-believing citizens must again make their
presence known - not as a faceless force of opinionated bigots but as a body
whose LEADERSHIP not only supports them intellectually but in ACTION. Deeds
speak louder than words. Conservative theology is all well and good but unless
the Church is able to LEAD by example, it will bear little fruit for the
Kingdom.
I thank Almighty God for the ministry and witness of
the Anglican Orthodox Church, and for those in other Communions who have stood
for the Faith for so many years, in light of the drastic changes that have
occurred in society and in the American Churches, often at great personal
expense. We are tiny, in the eyes of the state-controlled media and the liberal
(a.k.a. "progressive") majority now in power in the mainline
Protestant denominations as well as the Catholic Church. The laity must stand
behind the conservative minority at every turn - there is much at stake. Apathy
must be defeated and a clarion call must be issued before it is too late.
Globalism, Communism, Islam, and Humanism are not abstract
philosophical concepts to be discussed in college and seminary classrooms.
They are living, existential threats to the very existence of the Christian
Religion in America.
The path I am suggesting is a difficult one. Church leaders must actively
seek out a public presence, an open forum, a determined face - as did Charlie
Kirk - in order to win back the public mindset, and the confidence of Christian
people themselves. Many American Christians are confused and afraid, at best
uncertain. Their leaders have compromised on so many issues, and compromise has
been the "modus operandi" of the Church for so long it will be
difficult to change. But as Martin Luther said, "Here I stand; I can take
no other stand!" - and as the hymn says, so it comes once to every nation,
a moment to decide. Let us soon be able to answer the question, where are the
clergy? We are HERE!
+Charles Morley
Rev Bryan Dabney
of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi
We are fortunate
to have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon.
If you want people to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth,
espouse the truth and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I commend
it to your careful reading.
Sermon Text
for Septuagesima Sunday:
In our first lesson for today, we heard the words of
God to the prophet Isaiah, Now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my
vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and
break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down (v.5). God’s
hedge protects and separates his people from the evils of this life. It’s
composition and arrangement are such that no evil can penetrate it without his
knowledge and permission. And in that light, God expects those who are under
his protection— including their corporate formations such as government and
their religious orders— to conform to his will and commandment. Therefore, it
is the duty of those so blessed to maintain their relationship and fellowship
with God; for in so doing their hedge will be maintained against the wiles of
Satan and his minions.
Consider the account of Job as found in the book which
bears his name. It was said of Job that he was, perfect and upright, and one
that feared God, and eschewed evil (1:1). Now the Devil will use every
opportunity he can to bring down a godly person. Witness his accusation before
God against Job, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge
about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou
hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land (1:9-10).
That is a rather straight-forward view of how God protects those who have been
blessed by him according to his gracious favor. And God only took away his
protection to show that Devil that he was right about Job’s faithfulness and
that the Devil was wrong.
But in every situation, God will not accept sin and
wickedness neither will he hedge those who do such things. Consider now the
words of the prophet Ezekiel, Then he said unto me, Has thou seen this, O
son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the
abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with
violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the
branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not
spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud
voice, yet will I not hear them (8:17-18). Throughout the whole of chapter
8 of Ezekiel, God presented his case against those of the kingdom of Judah who
were willfully violating his commandments. They had rejected the LORD their
God, and had in his place adopted the idolatrous practices and behaviors of the
nations around them. Notice the specifics of their idolatry which we have been supplied.
Take the phrase they put the branch to their nose found at the end of verse
17. This refers to a Persian practice where the worshippers of the pagan Ahura
Mazda held a branch or bundle of twigs in their left hand and appear to wave
such before their faces. By the time of the prophet Ezekiel, God would no longer
tolerate the Israelites’ adventures in proto-ecumenism via pantheism. As he warned
the people of Judah through the prophet Jeremiah with a question: Will ye steal,
murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and
walk after other gods whom ye know not; and come and stand before me in this
house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these
abominations (7:10)? Our LORD then said, And now because ye have done all
these works, saith the LORD, and I spake to you, rising up early and speaking, but
ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not (7:13)... I will
cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole
seed of Ephraim (7:15).
The typical response to the aforementioned verses from
those of the Modernist camp has been, “Oh, but those passages were for the
children of Israel. Those are the violent words of the angry God of the Old
Testament not the loving and caring God of the New Testament. Surely those
passages do not apply today. They are much too harsh and too restrictive. We
are expected to be tolerant, open, and accepting without judgment, you know,
for that is what Jesus would have us do.” Really? Since when did the nature of
God change? How did they get past the words of the prophet Malachi, For I am
the LORD, I change not... (3:6)? And St. Paul noted in the book of Hebrews,
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (13:8). God
has been and ever will be the same God with the same
unchanging message.
The Hebrews attempted to offer similar
rationalizations, in response to the warnings of their prophets which were
insufficient as they were demonic. And it should be noted that all pagan
deities from across the globe have an eerie similarity which can be attributed
to the influence of the evil one who is attempting to build a new tower of
Babel— a religion that will unite all mankind against God. As St. Paul noted, that
the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to
God, and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils (I
Corinthians 10:20). We cannot keep the commandments of God, in particular, I
am the LORD thy God... Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus
20:2-3), if we are involved in worshiping other things regardless of what they
might be. We must remember that Satan has been encouraging mankind to violate
God’s word and commandment since the beginning. His principal weapon has always
been deception and through such he has whitewashed sin and given it an appeal
which excites our flesh. Thus, he makes, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eye and the pride of life appear to be good and acceptable by twisting the morals
and ethics of human beings so that good becomes evil, and evil becomes good
(Isaiah 5:20).
As a result of the evil one’s handiwork, when a people
turn away from God, he will, as the prophet Isaiah noted, take away [their]
hedge... and break down the wall thereof, and [they] shall be trodden
down. While there are many who claim to be Christians here and across the
world, only a few have been truly born-again of the Holy Ghost. Their lives
lived in disobedience to the commandments of God are ample testimony of their
lack of a true and abiding faith. They remain unregenerated, and their lives
reflect that sad truth. As one pastor has said succinctly: “They come [to
church] as they are and leave as they were.” They are thus considered by God to
be of the wicked and not his. Consider the following passages:
Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out... (Job 18:5). God has made it plain that he will put
the dark light of every wicked soul in a place where it will never see his true
light again (St. Matthew 25:30). As the world of the unregenerated continues to
fall away from the prohibitions found in Scripture, we draw closer to that day
when their national existence will be extinguished.
...God is angry with the wicked every day
(Psalm 7:11). God has no love for sin and no toleration of it. We who have been
redeemed know that God is love; but we also know that God is just and holy. He
cannot go against his nature, and his nature is opposed to sin. If the host of
unregenerated souls do not forsake their evil ways, then a righteous and holy
God will reveal his wrath against their lands much as he did to Sodom and
Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-25).
...the seed of the wicked shall be cut off
(Psalm 37:28). God will not spare even the descendants of those who have
sinned, if they will not turn from the wicked ways of their fathers. With the
removal of God’s hedge of protection, any cataclysm, any pandemic, any war
could eventually mark the end to of their civilizations.
...the desire of the wicked shall perish (Psalm
112:10). God has called for a day of wrath and judgment to come upon those who
love their sins and who would cling to them rather than turn unto his Messiah
and repent. Apart from our recent return to sanity, this country was previously
led by persons who were mired in sin and degradation. And said persons set into
law and practice a multitude of shameful and ungodly acts such as abortion,
legalized theft, murder couched in patriotic terms, as well as the licensing of
an assortment of inordinate desires of the flesh which God has specifically
identified as being abominable. So unless something is done to change this
situation, God will not save any person or country that does not respect and
honor his word and commandment.
...the name of the wicked shall rot (Proverbs 10:7). There is no state of nature into
which human beings will ultimately come that is more foul than that of the
grave. For it is there that their mortal form will waste away and will not be restored
until the judgment. But the name of the wicked shall also decay and be as refuse
fit only to be cast out. Any person or country which does not honor and serve
the God of heaven and earth, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, will
have their names blotted out of his book of life. In the case of a nation or country,
just the very mention of that land’s name will cause all who hear it to become
disgusted. What a despicable end that would be for such a people.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the
LORD... (Proverbs
15:8). Those who claim to be Christians and attempt worship God without being obedient
to his expressed will as found within the Holy Bible will one day find that
their offerings and prayers were but a wasted effort and their future abode meet
for their lack of faith. The false doctrine of ecumenism with its
all-inclusive, one-size-fits-all religion does not have any standing with God.
When our leaders attend prayer breakfasts, or other such gatherings where the
unregenerate come together to be seen of men, and attempt to mingle the faith
of the true Christian with that of other faiths; such will not be accepted in
heaven. Our prayers are accepted only if they come from hearts truly broken by
the knowledge of sin and from those who have embraced the Son of God as their
Saviour. No country so founded as America can hope to be freed from the bondage
of Satan without a true turning unto our Lord Jesus Christ who is the author of
all liberty.
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a
sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it... (St. Matthew 16:4). There is no sign or
demonstration from God that will change the mind of the unregenerate except the
unalterable judgment of God at the Great White Throne. In that moment, every
atheist, every agnostic, every adulterer, every murderer, every worker of
iniquity shall see before them the Lord of Glory whom they had rejected and the
burning cauldron that will be their eternal abode for rejecting his
prescriptions for living.
Judgment is coming. And in that light, I implore all
who hear, or read this sermon to make their commitment to God through Jesus
Christ. Accept the free gift of salvation in his blood and turn from the wicked
ways of this world so that you might be made fit for the life of the world to
come. Make that choice while you still can. Remember, tomorrow is promised to
no one so choose now to serve him who died and rose again that you might live
forever within the hedge of his eternal kingdom.
Let us pray,
Holy and gracious God, who has given to us the light
of truth within the pages of Scripture; grant that as we, who are born again of
thy Spirit, may read and inwardly digest the same; and this we ask in the name
of him who is thine only begotten Son, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Have a Blessed Week,
Bryan+
Roy
Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's Anglican
Church - Diocese of the Midwest Anglican
Orthodox Church
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Fourth Sunday
after Epiphany - HOLY COMMUNION
The
Epistle: Romans.
13:1-7 The Gospel:
Matthew. 8:1-13
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
O GOD, who knowest us to be set in
the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our
nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and
protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Obeying a higher power”
Or rebellion 2.0
As followers of Christ, we have many
essential obligations, not a list of dos and don’ts as such, but things we
should do as Christians to provide a witness of our faith in Christ. This
is the hardest when we apply the lessons from the passages of scripture we read
or heard today.
As an average American, we generally follow the rules, we stay within the speed
limit, try to not pass in dangerous areas and mostly follow the laws of the
land. We probably do the worst job when we drive, simply because it seems
everyone else is breaking the law. But that aside, we usually have a few
questions about ceding ourselves to a central authority. We have
this legacy that came from our earliest time both in the colonies and as a
newly minted nation to bend or test the rules and to always question authority
or the authorities.
It really is
a human condition, we have been breaking rules since the first days in the
Garden of Eden. But as Americans we have gone to the point of making it a
national passion to question and pick at the authorities of the
land.
And yet is this really the Christian way to
live? We have the lessons of today’s scripture to point us in the right
way.
There are several reasons we are to submit to authority”
1. Number one
is that God has mandated it. “…For there is no power but of God: the
powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13:1)
Yikes. Does that mean someone like Fidel Castro was in power because of
God. Yes. Why?
God’s
purpose is not ours. We tend to forget that He has plans and the time to do
what He wants, in spite of what we want to do. “Let every soul be subject
unto the higher powers...” (Rom. 13:1)
This whole concept opens up so many avenues
of questions, many of which make us very uncomfortable, especially if we think
of the times of rebellion in our own lives.
Rebellion?
Yes, how about the time we defied mom or dad? Or how about the time we
disobeyed the teacher, coach, law enforcement officer, etc. Wow, guilty as
charged.
2.
Another reason we pray for our leaders; we are compelled by the Word of God.
St. Paul tells us to pray for those in authority over us.
I
remember several years ago, after a Morning Prayer service, a young fellow,
father of at least five children, came up to me as said I shouldn’t be praying
for the current president. This fellow said since the president was not
acting in a Christian manner that he did not deserves our prayers. I
reminded him of St Paul’s, writing, while in prison to a number of city
churches, urging them to pray for those who “hold the sword” of justice and
law: “3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the
evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and
thou shalt have praise of the same: 4For he is the minister of God
to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth
not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute
wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Romans 13:3-4)
I believe this young man lost the
point of why we are to pray for ALL who are in authority over us, we are both
asking that justice be true and balanced and that those charged with carrying
out the law do it according to the law. As we find in Morning Prayer, pages 17
& 18 or in Evening Prayer page 32 in our prayer book, there set out three
different prayers for the president and all others in authority. These prayers
have been a fundamental part of daily and weekly worship for centuries.
In
verses six and seven of the Romans passage we read today St. Paul sums up the
civic lesson, important to a civil society and mandated by God:
6For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers,
attending continually upon this very thing. 7Render therefore to all
their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom
fear; honour to whom honour.
Let us always remember, that God is
in control, He has set the boundaries of everything, things that happen are for
a purpose. “...2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power,
resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation….5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only
for wrath, but also for conscience sake.” (Romans 13: 2, 5)
The bad things happening, because we live in
an imperfect world. It is a fallen world, thanks to the first
Adam. He disobeyed God, the Father and Creator, we are all still paying
for that disobedience.
But not all is lost, because God
provided a way, that He compelled the prophets to speak of, the angels to sing
of, the Gospels to proclaim the WAY. For it is written, As I live,
saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to
God. (Romans 14:11)
Yes, He sent his Only Begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, to fix, once and for all, the problem of the fallen world. The
Second Adam came to fix what the First Adam broke, so all who call on the Name
of Jesus may be saved from the destruction brought on by a disobedient
creature. We are still struggling with that disobedience, we are still
trying to find a way around the very clearly marked warning signs, laws that
point us to the Gospel, and the life of Christ which leads us to salvation.
And now from the Gospel reading we see first
hand the concept of authority. Here we find secular authority and sacred
authority: both having equal bearing, secular being used correctly, not in
abuse or corruption.
Let us
pray:
The Lord
is my light and my salvation; who then shall I fea ? the Lord is the strength
of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? Teach me thy way, O Lord, and
lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies. As the psalmist
of old wrote and sang, Lord give us the same peace and comfort he found in your
word, help us daily to seek your word, to seek your will, and to serve you in
gladness so those around us can see that we serve the Risen One, the savior of
the world. Go with us this day, keeping us from sin and error, lift
us up, help us in the week to come to do your will, these things we ask in the
Name of the Father, in the Name of the Son, and in the Name of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end, Amen
ALMIGHTY
God, the supreme Governor of all things, whose power no creature is able to
resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to
those who truly repent; Save and deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the
hands of our enemies; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved
evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art the only giver of all
victory; through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O GOD,
merciful and compassionate, who art ever ready to hear the prayers of those who
put their trust in thee; Graciously hearken to us who call upon thee, and grant
us thy help in this our need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O LORD
Jesus Christ, who saidst unto thine Apostles, Peace I leave with you, my peace
I give unto you; Regard not our sins, but the faith of thy Church; and grant to
it that peace and unity which is according to thy will, who livest and reignest
with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
+ Bishop Roy Morales-Kuhn
The Rev. Don Fultz
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC located in the AOC National Office
We are grateful to have Don's Sermon today from Statesville, NC - St. Peter's AOC
Septuagesima
Sunday
Sermon: Matthew 20:1-16
Parable of
the Laborers in the Vineyard
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is using another
parable to give us some truths regarding the Kingdom of Heaven. He tells us in his parable of the Laborers in
the Vineyard that the Kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a
householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his
vineyard.
Then we are told when he had agreed with the laborers
for a penny a day (going wage for a day’s work-12 hours), he sent them into his
vineyard. Then he went out into the
market place at the 3rd, 6th, and 9th hour and
told the laborers to go into the vineyard and whatever is right I will give
you. Then he went out at the 11th
hour and found laborers still standing idle and asked them why they had stood
there all day idle and they told him that no man had hired them. So the Householder sent these laborers into
the vineyard and agreed to pay them a wage that was just and right. At the end of the day, the householder
instructed his Stewart to pay each of the laborers, starting with the last unto
the first a penny a day. So he paid each
laborer the same wage, whether they worked 12 hours or just one hour. Of course, those who were hired first, we
not happy and expected more so they
complained to the Goodman of the house,
in verse 12 “saying these last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal
unto us, which had borned the burden and heat of the day.” Then, the householder responded to one of
them, and said” Friend, I do thee no wrong:
Didst not thou agree with me for a penny?” (13) “Is it
not lawful for me to to do what I will with mine own? “ (15) The Householder was forced to defend his
actions to the first workers, even though he had dealt with them in perfect
fairness according to the work agreement.
The householder, whose decision to pay all the workers the same was an
act of mercy, not injustice, represents God, whose grace and mercy are shed
abundantly upon those of his choosing.
It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s
mercy.
The main point of this parable is fairly straight
forward. The work day represents life.
Some people are born into faithful families who bring them to the Lord while
they are still infants or young children.
These people never know a time when Jesus is not a part of their
lives. Others find faith later in life
after becoming an adult. At the extreme
opposite end, are people who make death bed confessions. The Holy Spirit brings such people into the
faith just moments before death. As the
householder hires people at various times of the day, we are meant to think of
the different times in life when the Holy Spirit calls people to faith. The point is that as long as a person is
alive. It is never too late for the Holy
Spirit to bring him into God’s family.
Jesus concludes the parable with the words “The
last shall be first, and the first last. “ However, first and last is not always related
to time. The words “First” and “Last”
have a much broader meaning.
In order to get a better understanding, we need to
look back to the previous chapter 19 in verses 16-22 which St. Matthew gives us
an account of the discourse between the rich young ruler and Jesus.
This passage tells of this rich, young ruler who came
to Jesus and wanted to know what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus first quizzed him about the second
table of the law of the 10 commandments, the laws forbidding murder, adultery,
Stealing, and bearing false witness.
Then Jesus said “Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself. “ The young man claimed to have kept all these
laws. Then Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. “
“But when the
young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. “ After wards, Jesus told his disciples” It is easier for
a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into
the kingdom of God. “
The whole point of this encounter with the rich,
young, ruler is that some people are first by virtue of their wealth and other
people are last by virtue of their poverty.
Never the less, the wealthy may never see heaven while the poor may wait
for the Last Day in the bosom of Abraham, just like Lazarus the beggar.
Our culture has many ways of judging people to be
first: wealth, fame, talent, beauty, and so forth. While none of these things are bad in and of
themselves, these things are no
indication that people are first in God’s eyes.
Jesus wants us to understand that many who seem to be the lowest or the
last in our culture may in fact be the first in God’s heavenly kingdom.
Let’s us now look in more detail, the main points of
the parable. We see one man called to
repentance and faith in the beginning of his days, like Timothy, and laboring
in the Lord’s vineyard for forty or fifty years. We see another man called “at the eleventh
hour,” like the thief on the cross, one day a hardened sinner, and the next day
in Paradise. Yet the Gospel leads us to
believe that both these men are equally forgiven before God. Both are equally washed in Christ’s blood,
and clothed in Christ’s righteousness.
Both are equally justified, both accepted, and both will be found at
Christ’s right hand at the last day.
There can be no doubt that this doctrine may sound strange to the
ignorant and inexperienced Christian.
It confounds the pride of human nature. It leaves the self-righteous no room to
boast. It is a leveling and humbling
doctrine. It gives occasion to many a
murmur but it is impossible to reject it, unless we reject the whole
Bible. True faith in Christ, though it
is but a day old, justifies a man before God as completely as the faith of him
who has followed Christ for fifty years.
The righteousness in which Timothy will stand at the
day of judgement is the same as that of the penitent thief. Both will be saved by grace alone. Both will owe all to Christ. However, let us beware of supposing in this
parable, that all saved souls will have the same degree of glory. This would be a contradiction to many plain
texts of Scripture. The title of all
believers no doubt is the same, the righteousness of Christ. But all will not have the same place in
Heaven. According to St. Paul in 1st
Cor. 3:8) “Every man shall receive his own reward,
according to his own labour.”
Here is what Jesus said to the 12 disciples when Peter
asked the question about rewards in the previous chapter (Matt. 19:27-30). There we find the apostle Peter asking our
Lord a remarkable question: “We
have forsaken all, and followed Thee, What shall we have therefore.” There we find Jesus giving a remarkable
answer.
He makes a special promise to Peter and his
fellow-disciples: “They shall one day sit on twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel.” He makes a general promise to all who suffer
loss for His sake: “They shall receive a hundred-fold, and
inherit everlasting life.”
Now we must remember that Peter was a Jew and like
most Jews he had probably been brought up in much ignorance as to God’s
purposes respecting salvation of the Gentiles.
In fact, we know from the Acts 10:28, that it required a vision from
heaven to take that ignorance away.
Furthermore, we must bear in mind that Peter and his fellow-disciples
were weak in faith and knowledge. They
were probably apt to attach a great importance to their own sacrifices for
Christ’s sake, and inclined to self-righteousness and self-conceit. Both these points our Lord knew well. He therefore speaks this parable for the
special benefit of Peter and his companions.
He reads their hearts: He saw
what spiritual medicine those hearts required, and supplied it without
delay. In a word, He checked their
rising pride, and taught them humility.
According to JC Ryle, in the calling of individuals
and nations, God exercises free, sovereign, and unconditional grace. He calls the families of the earth unto the
visible Church at His own time, and in His own way. For He saith to Moses “I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Rom.
9:15).
We see this truth wonderfully brought out in the
history of God’s dealings with the world.
We see the children of Israel called and chosen to be God’s people in
the very beginning of “the day. We see
some of the Gentiles called at a later period, by the preaching of the
Apostles. We see others being called in
the present age, by the labors of missionaries. We see others, like the millions of Chinese
and Hindus, still ‘standing idle”, because no man hath hired them.
And why is all this?
We cannot tell. We only know
that God loves to hide pride from Churches, and to take away all occasion of
boasting. He will never allow the older
branches of His Church to look contemptuously on the younger. His Gospel holds out pardon and peace with
God through Christ to the heathen of our own times, as fully as it did to St.
Paul.
The old wall between Jews and Gentiles is
removed. There is nothing to prevent the
believing heathen being a fellow-heir and partaker of the same hope of entering
God’s heavenly kingdom as the believing Jew.
The Gentiles converted at “the eleventh hour” of the
world, shall be as really and truly heirs of glory as the Jews. They shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac,
and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven, while many of the children of the kingdom
are forever cast out. “The last shall indeed be first.”
Let us beware of supposing, from anything in this
parable that salvation is in the slightest degree to be obtained by works: to
suppose this is to overthrow the whole teaching of the Bible. Whatever a believer receives in the next
world, is a matter of grace, and not of debt.
God is never a debtor to us, in any sense whatever; just as Jesus tells
his disciples in Luke 17:10 “So likewise ye, when
ye shall have done all those things which ae commanded you, we are unprofitable
servants: we have done that which was
our duty to do.”
Let us also not assume from this parable that the
distinction between Jews and Gentiles is entirely done away by the Gospel. This would be a contradiction to many plain
prophecies, both of the Old Testament and New Testament.
In the matter of justification, there is no
distinction between the believing Jew and the Greek. (Rom. 10:12) Both had their sins forgiven and wiped away
when Jesus died on the cross. (John
3:16).
However, in the matter of national privileges, Israel
is still a special people, and not “numbered among the nations.” God has many promises concerning the Jews
which are yet to be fulfilled.
Finally, let us not assume from this parable that it
is safe for anyone to put off repentance till the end of his days. The longer men refuse to obey Christ’s voice,
the less likely they are to be saved. No
one really knows when the sun will set on his life. Accidents happen and they happen
quickly. Sometimes death is the result
of a long illness and we know the time is soon. Don’t resist the Holy Spirit because you
think you have plenty of time. As the
Apostle Paul told the Corinthians, (2 Corinthians 6:20) “Now is the accepted time;
Behold, now is the day of salvation.
“
In Closing, God
continues to search the market place of this world looking for workers for His
vineyard. The Holy Spirit may find
workers in the market place early in the morning when, as infants or young
children, He works faith in them through the Word combined with the water of
Holy Baptism. The Holy Spirit may find
some in the market and give them faith at the exhalation of their last breath
before sun down. He may find some in
between. No matter when one receives
this faith, we know that all the guilt of every sin is gone, taken away by
Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. We know
that, by His resurrection and ascension, our Lord Jesus Christ has prepared a
place for everyone. Whether our faith is
old or young, we all receive the gift of life everlasting. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast. “ (Eph. 2; 8-9)
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Rev. Don Fultz
AOC
Worldwide Prayer List –
I
have received updates from a few and those will be the first added to the list.
Please send all prayer requests and updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for
future reports. If you would like to be removed from list just respond with
remove in the subject line.
Prayer Needed:
Prayer Needed:
Audrey Beebe
- who fell and broke her hip. Other health issues also. Please pray for her
recovery.
Colby Landry - cancer. Please pray for his wife, Leah and
their family at this time of trial.
Persecuted Christians - subject to persecution and imprisonment for their
faith.
Bobby Bryan -
suffering with cancer and cardiac issues.
For an increase in the true faith in Jesus Christ here and across
the globe.
David – Hip Bursitis
Bobby Bryan –
cancer and cardiac issues
Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain
Dennis Potrikus - fall with bad knees – recovering his rehab
Richard
Bailey – Brain Cancer
Donna – ongoing radiation and Chemotherapy. Pray for successful remission
Roy – Bulging disc – upcoming surgery
Michelle – metastasized lung cancer – treatment ongoing – 50% positive remission
Extended Issues need
continued prayer;
Laurie with long Covid Symptoms - Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations,
breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing
depression to settle in.
Malcom Allred – Cancer
Treatment
Keep Praying for the following:
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