Worldwide Communion
22nd Sunday after Trinity
All Saint’s Day
November 1, 2026
Sunday Report
Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinty
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 218-220.
The Collect for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity.
Epistle for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity. Ephesians iv. 10.
MY brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
The Gospel for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity. St. John. iv. 46.
THERE was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judæa into Galilee.
On Point: Peace
"The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Numbers 6:24-26
This third part in the benediction, says an expositor very happily, is the keystone in the arch, completing and uniting the whole. The blessing of God the Father, consisting in His eternal counsel of grace upon us, the blessing of God the Son, consisting in His redemption, God the Holy Spirit conveys and applies to us. He proceedeth from the Father and the Son and is the Comforter, whose mission is to glorify Jesus, to exalt His blessed name and work before us, and thus to lead us into all saving truth. The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. (Rom. 8:16.) In Him we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18.) The rising sun drives the shades of night away and imparts new life and power to all creatures. So new powers of spiritual life come upon us when God the Holy Spirit shines into our hearts through the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we are born again, made new creatures in the image of God, faintly here, but completely there, where we shall behold God's face in righteousness and shall be satisfied when we awake with His likeness. (Ps. 17:15.) By bringing us to faith in Christ, God's Holy Spirit "gives us peace." What greater joy, what greater blessing can any mortal desire than to be assured of grace and peace with God, his Maker and his Judge ? May this blessed peace of God, which passeth all understanding, be ours, and keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus to life everlasting!
The Lord, my God, be praised,
My Hope, my Life from heaven,
The Father's Spirit, whom
The Son to me hath given:
He who revives my heart,
And gives me strength and power,
Help, comfort, and support
In sorrow's gloomy hour.
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:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg
Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/10/youtube-video-player_0334530574.html
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kD0gyivqNQ
Sermon for All Saints Day – Bishop Jerry Ogles
PRAYER OF COLLECT
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the early decade of the 90’s, Jean Raspail, a French journalist, wrote a controversial book entitled, “The Camp of the Saints.” The book was a novel of prophetic dimensions. It quite well articulated historical policies of the French government and people for the post-war years, and drew a wise and accurate prophecy of where those policies would soon lead. He emphasized the liberal immigration policies of the French government in the last few decades, and then, he drew an amazingly perceptive conclusion as to where these would lead. The French people would be inundated from their own land, their culture (what was left of it) destroyed, and their religion declared ‘verboten’ by Muslim and Near Eastern hordes who flocked, unabated, into France. The French Federal Court banned Mr. Raspail’s book in France - they had not gained a great deal of expertise in ‘political correctness’ at this point so resorted to brute force. But the consequences of keeping one’s culture and religious society pure and undefiled was a lesson that applies to all nations.
Reformation Day signals a return to Holy Scripture as the sole rule of life for the Christian Church. Today is All Saint’s Day. It had its beginning last evening (at sunset) as All Hollows Eve. Both holi(HOLY)days represent the duties and responsibilities of the saints of God to protect their faith and their culture from ungodly movements such as that of Islam.
It is distressing to note the compromising attitudes of formerly godly churches surrendering to sins of the flesh such as homosexuality in the wake of the decision of five ungodly judges who happen to be political appointments on the US Supreme Court. Which law takes precedence – God’s or man’s? And listen to the resounding plurality of pulpit voices proclaiming that the Christian Church and Islam “worship the same God after all.” There are a few characteristics of the satanic Allah that do not measure up to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - of you and me. Allah is by no means a god of mercy. He demands total justice with no hope of redemption - and that justice he demands is twisted by a thirst for blood and torture. Allah has no Holy Ghost. He broods alone over the darkness of Hades and the underworld. There is no Holy Ghost to guide and direct the understanding of the Muslim, he, therefore, is left to his own devices, and the deceit of mullahs and imams, to discover the truth of his wretched book.
Allah has no Son and is, admittedly, incapable of visitation of his presumed creation on earth. It seems, according to the wicked Quran, that Allah began his creation with a clot of blood. Where this blood came from, and what was its DNA, no one knows. But blood has been on Allah’s mind from the beginning and he sheds the blood of innocent and defenseless women and children as a ‘bonus’ of war. Rape and slavery are also a mainstay of this brooding satanic idol. The Quran has the temerity to claim that Christ never died on the cross - that God the Father had someone else (who looked like Jesus) die there in His stead. What a stretch of wicked imagination - that one man should die in the place of Christ when Christ only could have died for all men!
The sands of the Levant of Syria and Iraq, and a hundred other venues, are turned to crimson from the shed blood of Christian innocents, and countless others - even little children and babies - by a religion where men lack courage to stand against a standing army in the field. A Christian cannot deny his faith, but a Muslim can lie outright to save his skin. So many young children are beheaded because they will not renounce their faith. Satan is a genius, and he has hit upon a religion that comports perfectly with his evil plan to destroy every vestige of God and His Creation on earth. The media and political culture of America make Islam into a sacred cow. You may curse the Christian faith, destroy its Book, and cast all manner of ungodly aspersions against the Lord Jesus Christ, but do not dare to serve bacon in our restaurants, or forbid Muslim prayers in our schools.
Why do you believe the political forces of America are so solidly behind exalting Islam? It is not because they honor Allah (intentionally), or believe a single Sura of the Quran! It is because Islam is totalitarian and Fascistic. It can be used as a tool for world leaders to finally, they believe, destroy the Church and her Christ! Our Lord Jesus Christ keeps getting in the way of dictatorships around the world. In their struggle to unite into a one world government - compromising its own economic monopolies, religion, and social contract - Jesus is the Stumbling Block. Our Lord asserts an exclusive religion. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!” (John 14:6) All of the others are willing to compromise on that point, but not Christ! And wherever Christ is, there is the Word of God that seems to overrule, constantly, the schemes of evil men who wish to dominate all others and exalt themselves as gods (like Kim Jong Un of North Korea).
If you examine carefully the text from Revelation 20:7-10, you will learn a very important point. God has always preserved His remnant among the people - even among evil, wicked nations who have forsaken the Lord of their blessings. The remnant is not a large host of souls. In fact, a remnant is the trimmed cloth cut away from a pattern and cast into the dustbin. We see in the end time that the saints of God will amount to no more than a simple CAMP. A Camp is a temporary and remote habitation usually found in wilderness places, and the army would not even consider it a fortress. It is small and not naturally well defended. There will be ONE such camp at the end of time - the Camp of the Saints. “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:9) Please note that the combined armies of all of the earth are gathered against this small enclave of saints. But with what result? “…Came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”
The Army of God is not dependent upon superior material and resources, or mighty armaments, or stratagems that are brilliantly conceived, or immaculately arrayed millions standing at arms - the Army of God has One Word sufficient to conquer, and we all know it. The whole Creation was formed by that Word, and the whole Creation shall be consumed with fervent heat by that Word - except those who have accepted the Promise made to Abraham and fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ.
By the way, reading further in Revelation 20:11, we see that, after the devil that deceived those armies (verse 10) and was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone for ever and ever, then comes the White Throne Judgment! “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” (Revelation 20:11) The Adversary of your soul (and prosecuting attorney) will not be found at that Judgment to bring charges as he did against poor Job!
God will not place new wine in old bottles, so He takes His new Creation of the elect and places them in a new Heaven and Earth! “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4) The Tree of Life will be restored to that Edenic Paradise, and there will be no sorrow, pain, or death for these are passed away with the miseries brought upon Creation by the disobedience of Adam.
We need not worry about Muslim butchers in that Land, for all that defiles will be shut out. “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 26And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:22-27) Even mothers who have senselessly aborted their little babies, and found forgiveness in God, shall feel the tender little hand of their child grasping at theirs.
Here is the most beautiful part of all: “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-5) See the miraculous appearance again of the Tree of Life? That Tree of Life surrounds the River of Life and the streets of the City. Our Lord Jesus Christ is that Tree rejected by Adam! His Word is the River! See, we shall still love and know God’s Word beyond this veil of unknowing.
Another important point I wish to point out to the saints hearing or reading this sermon: Where is the Holy Name of our Lord found with the saints? It is important to know this for allusions to it are made in other parts of Scripture. “…And his name shall be in their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4) Where is His Name - is it ON the forehead or is it IN the forehead. The frontal lobes of the brain is the portion in which decisions and judgments are made. Simply smearing a name ON our forehead, of having a mark forcibly branded on our foreheads does not change our hearts and minds one bit; but that which we consciously love and accept is inside our souls - not external to them. In actuality, if you are a saint, that blessed Name is already IN your forehead.
The wicked receive a mark IN their foreheads - not some vile word written on the surface, or a UPC code - but a MARK of decision to follow after evil and to reject the good. “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:9-10) The sin nature is not forced upon us, but a volition of the mind.
The Saints of God receive, not a mark, but a seal. Only a King is able to seal a matter, and our King of Kings seals us to Himself. He places His Law in our hearts and His Word in our Minds. “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:3-4)
There is a current commercial aired on TV in which the gentleman at the end asks, “What’s in YOUR Wallet?” By the same token, I address the saints who hear or read this message, “What is in your thoughts, mind and heart, friend?”
In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
Roy
Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's Anglican
Church
- Diocese of the Midwest Anglican
Orthodox Church
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
22nd Sunday in Trinity
Holy Communion
LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle. Philippians 1:3-11; The Gospel. Matthew 18: 21-35
hymns #210, 456, 563, 625, 631
“Days of Future Past”
It is not only a civic duty to remember those who have served, but it seems that St. Paul made a point of remember those in service of the Lord. At this time of the year as we approach Veteran’s Day, observed on the 11th of November, we as a community try to remember those who are with us who in some way served in the defense of this nation. A long time observation, first being set aside to commemorate those who served in the military from 1917-1919. The day being set aside of course commemorating the cessation of hostilities in Europe with the signing of the Armistice in November 1918. The exact date of the end of fighting was to be at 11 a.m. on the 11th of November 1918. For years afterward this date was celebrated as Armistice Day in the United States. Eventually the commemoration would be renamed Veterans Day in order to remember those who served in the Second World War and the Korean Conflict. This would take effect in 1954. So here we have a day set aside to remember those who served and are serving in defense of this nation.
St. Paul had already begun a similar concept with the early church. He will write to several of the churches that he either founded or helped in the edification/growth of the same throughout his travels in Asia Minor and Greece. In the opening chapter of his letter to the church at Philippi he outlines a wonderful joyful catalog of what the Philippians church was doing right. We always seem to understand Paul as a grumpy old guy calling out sin and error in various churches. His letter to the church at Corinth seems to chastise them for their sinful behavior.
Instead of that we read where Paul praises the church at Philippi for:
1. a happy remembrance, {because of joyful requests},
2. wonderful fellowship from the first time they met Paul,
3. their confidence in the good of the gospel,
4. the good work in Jesus Christ,
5. he has such a high regard for them that even while he is in prison in Rome he can be thankful for their
6.‘defense and confirmation of the gospel’.
I THANK my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Then Paul continues with his great love for the Philippians because of how well they display the love of God through Christ to all those who come to Philippi.
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the tender mercies of Jesus Christ.
He prays that they continue with this great love of the gospel and the desire to share it with the world until the end of time:
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
And then he finishes off with the most important concept, the praise of God in three parts and yet unified as one. being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Do we as a people in Christ portray any of that which Paul wrote about in this first chapter in the letter to the church in Philippi? As he approached the end of his life on earth, he looked back at all that had transpired during his missionary journeys and was able to see that there would be more people being saved because of the faithful witness that he describes in this letter. He could see ‘days of future passed’.
Are we able to reach out to those who are lost and share with them the saving gospel of Christ?
What are we able to do with our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word as far as sharing it with those who are lost? It is sometimes the simplest things we do that make those who are perishing notice. Sometime just the small quiet things we do and say can spark a conversation that may lead to a time of sharing of the Word.
May God help us to be aware of our spiritual surroundings, may He give us the discernment to understand when is the time to speak and when is the time to just do the right things. We should never do what is right when everyone is watching, we must ever do the right things no matter is anyone is watching. God is watching. He neither sleeps nor slumbers.
Let us ever be mindful of who we represent to the world.
Let us pray:
O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast ordained this holy sacrament to be a pledge of thy love, and a continual remembrance of thy passion: Grant that we, who partake thereof in faith, may grow up into thee in all things until we come to thy eternal joy, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
Be mindful, O Lord, of thy people bowed before thee, and of those who are absent through age, sickness, or infirmity. Care for the infants, guide the young, support the aged, encourage the faint-hearted, collect the scattered, and bring the wandering to thy fold. Travel with the voyagers; defend the widows; shield the orphans; deliver the captives; heal the sick. Succour all who are in tribulation, necessity, or distress. Remember the good all those who love us, and those who hate us, and those who have desired us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them. And those whom we have forgotten, do thou O Lord, remember. For thou art the helper of the helpless, the savior of the lost, the refuge of the wanderer, the healer of the sick. Thou, who knowest each man’s need, and hast heard his prayer, grant unto each according to thy merciful loving-kindness and eternal love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
†Bishop Roy
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Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi
We are always grateful to get these wonderful sermons from Rev. Bryan, they keep us on our toes!
Sermon Text for Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity:
Today we celebrate the feast of All Saints wherein we honor the memory of Those whose works advanced the gospel message throughout all the world. Now some may ask, “Who can be rightly called a saint?” Our answer should be clear and straightforward: “Anyone who loves the Godhead and is obedient to his will is a saint.” In light of that response, it should be apparent that the saints of God also come in a variety of packages—young and old, rich and poor—and can be found in every corner of the world where the light of the gospel has been proclaimed and accepted. With that in mind, let us turn in our bibles to chapter 7 of Revelation where the apostle John saw a multitude standing before the throne of God dressed in white robes and bearing palm branches. While the apostle was informed that such were those who had come out of the great tribulation, we know from our reading of Scripture that all who are born-again of the Holy Ghost will likewise be vested with same title before God (7:9-17). Ergo, all so described are properly called saints of the most high God (Daniel 7:18, 27). There are other passages in Scripture that speak of living saints such as Acts 9:13, 32, 41; 26:10; Romans 1:7, 8:27, 12:13, 15:25-26, 31, 16:2, 15; I Corinthians 1:2, 6:1-2, 14:33; II Corinthians 9:12, 13:13 etc. so such a title is not confined solely to those who are deceased.
And so with that in mind, let’s examine the specifics of sainthood as found in Scripture. To begin with, fervent praying is a characteristic of a saint. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us specific instructions about praying (see St. Matthew 6:5-15). The Rev. E. M. Bounds pointed out that faith and prayer are supremely important to the believing Christian as he associated true faith with an active prayer life. He once wrote that, “When we pray, give us this day our daily bread, we are...shutting tomorrow out of our prayer. We do not live in tomorrow but in today. We do not seek tomorrow’s grace or tomorrow’s bread. They thrive best, and get the most out of life, who live in the living present...Victory today is the assurance of victory tomorrow. Our prayers need to be focused on today.” Bounds identified the two principal foes of our faith as being doubt and fear because they will interrupt our prayer life and limit the power of God to work therein owing to our lack of faith. According to Bounds, “A simple, confiding faith, living day by day and casting its burden on the Lord each hour of the day will dissipate fear, drive away misgiving and deliver from doubt... Faith grows by reading and meditating upon the Word of God. Most, and best of all, faith thrives in an atmosphere of prayer.” Bounds also urged Christians to trust in God for his provision; to earnestly desire of him that he provide for a particular need or want which is within his will for us; to show fervency or strength in praying; to be persistent in our praying; to understand that our praying affects our conduct and character; to be obedient to the will of God; to be vigilant in prayer; and to read the Scriptures because in them we have a record of the prayer life and successes of those notable mentioned personalities whom God called as his followers. As he noted in his famous book on Prayer, “The Word of God is made effectual and operative by the process and practice of prayer;” for, “When prayer is a stranger [in God’s house], then it ceases to be God’s house at all.”
Secondly, a saint is a person who trusts in the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ. A faithful and true Christian has accepted without equivocation the sacrifice of our Lord on the cross, and has confessed his or her sins to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. That acceptance of his undeserved favor, or grace, sets such a person apart from those who believe that they have to earn their salvation through works (see Ephesians 2:1-22).
Thirdly, a saint is one who is sealed of God. Consider the following passages: Now he which stablished s with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (II Corinthians 1:21-22) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world... In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 1:3-4, 13) God has sealed all who are his via the workings of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they have been set apart as his saints and are co-heirs with Christ in his kingdom. In the future, the Antichrist will mark those who come into his fold, but there will be a terrible penalty for all who accept such. For to receive the mark of the Beast is to receive an everlasting sentence of damnation which cannot be undone. Therefore a godly saint will avoid all marks of the world, the flesh and the devil, keeping himself, or herself, solely unto the Lord who bought him. (see I Corinthians 6:19-20; I Thessalonians 5:22).
Fourthly, a saint will minister to others as part of his or her Christian witness (see Hebrews 6:10). An important part of ministry and witness will require us to do several things such as keeping God’s word (see St. Jude 3); seeking after God’s perfect will (see Romans 12:2); judging righteously those who are within the body of Christ via our exercise of godly discernment (see I Corinthians 6:1-2); and by seeking the whole counsel of God via our reading of the Scriptures just as the Bereans did (Acts 17:11). In these and other ways, a godly saint will be able to effectively minister to those around him.
Finally, a saint will trust in God’s provision as he has promised not to forsake us in this life (see Psalm 37:28). In providing for his own, God will gather us and keep us because he counts us as precious to him (see Psalm 50:5; I Samuel 2:9; Psalm 116:15). Our Lord Jesus Christ will continue to intercede for us (Romans 8:27-30; Hebrews 7:25) until that day when he comes to bring us to our eternal home in the kingdom which he has prepared for all his saints. ( St. Matthew 25:34).
So there should be no doubt that every person who has been so called and so empowered by God are his saints. Ergo, you do not need a certificate from some earthly body to affirm your bona fides with the Lord for such would be merely a confirmation of an already known fact. God has inscribed the names of his saints in his Book of Life. And the Bible tells us that he knew us before the foundations of the world were laid, and has endowed each of us with gifts and duties on his behalf. And because God’s love for us has been manifested to us in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, let us therefore live in obedience to his will, as we await his coming again. So then in answer to our initial question regarding who is a saint we should understand that every regenerated person in Christ Jesus today is just as much a saint as any from antiquity, and you have God’s word written which confirms it (see Ephesians 1:3-14).
Let us pray,
Father, we beseech thee to bless us, thy saints, in this mortal life; that through our witness, those who are as yet unsaved might come to a saving knowledge of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ; for this we ask in his most precious name. Amen.
Have a blessed week!
Bryan+
Rev.
David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity
Six Marks of the Christian by Allan Pearson Shatford. Today Loyalty
(This series is based upon a book I found in my grandfather's library ---by Canon Allan P. Shatford , Rector, ST James the Apostle, Montreal published in 1925)
Romans 8; Parable, Matthew 13:44.
"Pray as though everything depended on God.
Work as though everything depended on you."
— St. Augustine
Today we continue thinking about the six marks of the Christian: "Loyalty, Courage, Patience, Humility, Freedom & Generosity." The quote above reminds us that being a Christian depends on God's call. Romans chapter eight, says that in the Epistle lesson. God was loyal to us before we believed. We have been called to know Him. Salvation is of the LORD.
God is loyal to us when we were in unbelief. Romans 4:10-11, tells us that Abraham was reckoned as -10-1righteous when he was in uncircumcision. Romans chapter eight, talks about a calling through God's predestination. Whatever we think that says we know it is clearly teaching that God gives us eternal life. He foreknew that He would call us. We say this is God's work on our behalf even before we believed through the call of the Holy Spirit to know and love His Son Jesus Christ. John chapter three, tells us we must be born of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God and that is His action to call us through His Holy Spirit. We cannot birth ourselves. We must be born again, or as we know it says in the Greek, be born from above.
We should rejoice in this truth. God is loyal to us before we were loyal to Him, but He now calls us to be loyal to Him. That is another mark of the Christian according to our book, Six Marks of a Christian by Shatford. "The mark of loyalty was found upon the personality of Jesus and upon the life of Paul, and must be upon the life of everyone who would follow Him as a disciple." God is working all things for those who love God for good. Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."
Are we loyal to our Lord? We said earlier we bear in our bodies as did ST Paul the marks of the Lord Jesus. (Galatians 6: 17) The opposite of loyalty is lawlessness. Our age is characterized by that. Let me quote what Canon Shatford, Rector of ST James in Montreal, said is book written in 1925:" I do not think there ever was a time when lawlessness was so marked as it is at this present time. All authority seems to have gone by the board....loyalty in the home, loyalty of citizens to the laws?.." As we sit here in 2026, we can agree it is still a problem.
God had been loyal to us. WE must loyal even in the little things. Luke 16:10 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much….” “Take care of these little things, and then you need never fear the great emergency, because, having been in the habit and custom of loyalty all through your life, you will be aware when the great temptation comes.” Canon Shatford
I think we assume that we know about other people. The other day I heard from the person I would never expect,” Well this is not happening ...so we can see that God will work it out, and we were not supposed to do this thing now…” I was quite amazed at the statement. It made me realize that I need to trust God when I am disappointed at others or in situations.” Patience is difficult under a sense of disappointment…” Shatford (We will look at patience soon ...)
An Epistle lesson makes us think, “…If God is for
us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
Hitler imprisoned a German pastor, Martin Niemoeller, for eight years. He spent
some time in prisons and concentration camps, including Dachau. Hitler realized
that if Niemoeller, a First World War hero, could be persuaded to join his
cause then much opposition would collapse, so he sent a former friend of
Niemoeller to visit him, a friend who now supported the Nazis. Seeing
Niemoeller in his cell, the one time friend is reported as saying,
"Martin, Martin! Why are you here?" To which he received from
Niemoeller the response, "My friend! Why are you not here?"
Today we are encouraged that God is loyal to us. We know that from the Scriptures. The real question today is that knowing that, “Are we loyal to Him?” We are tested and tempted to deny Him in so many ways, and this as we said starts with the little customs and habits we practice. “The first mark, the mark of loyalty----loyalty in little things, loyalty in inward things, loyalty in the home, loyalty in the church, loyalty in the state, loyalty in the business. Wherever you may be, let this be manifested in your life, and then you will be a worthy disciple of Jesus Christ.”- Shatford
This little book on Six Marks of the Christian is still relevant to our needs in this present day. Evil continues and goodness is trying to respond even though we know in the end God will triumph and His will is always done. The question is how much we are going to trust Him in all circumstances to do His will and not our own exclusively.
David D. Mc Millan,
Pastor, & Chaplain (Major) US Army, ret.
The Rev. Don Fultz
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC located in the AOC National Office
We are grateful to have this sermon today from Rev. Don Fultz from
St. Peter’s AOC, Statesville NC
Twenty-Second Sunday in Trinity
Matthew 5:1-12 “The Beatitudes”
This morning we celebrate All Saints Sunday with the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus spoke this message to His Disciples as well as a crowd up on the mountain. Although, He did not speak directly to us, the message still applies to all of us today as Christians.
In His opening passage, Jesus gives us a list of 8 different statements of qualities of a good Christian and disciple. On each of them a present blessing is pronounced, and to each a future blessing is promised. These qualities give a picture of the character of the true people of God, those who are part of his kingdom and have the full blessings of the kingdom to look forward to. These quality statements of Character are commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. The word beatitude is from the Latin word beatus, meaning “blessed.” Blessed implies a current state of happiness or well-being. This is not an outward blessing that comes from anything of this world, but an internal Spiritual blessing that comes from the Lord. Through these 8 Beatitudes, Jesus teaches us of virtues and values in life that will result in blessings and rewards. Let’s review what Jesus is telling us this morning.
In verse 3, Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in Spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” We tend to think of the “poor” primarily in terms of finances or possessions. Jesus isn’t telling us to become financially poor by throwing away what God has given us. Jesus isn’t talking about wealth but about humility. The bible tells us God resisteth the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6, 1st Peter 5:5).
People who are “poor in spirit” are those who humble themselves before God. They acknowledge God is great and holy and they are sinful. A good example is the Parable about the Publican and Pharisee praying. The Publican went up to the temple and prayed the words “God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) Jesus said He went home exalted as He had humbled himself before God. (Luke 18:14) Everyone who wishes to enter the kingdom must be “spiritually poor.” for salvation is a gift from God. The poor person is not excluded because of his poverty; and the rich person is not accepted because of his wealth. Both must humble themselves before the Lord in order to be part of the kingdom.
In verse 4, Jesus says “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Typically, when we think of mourners, we think of those who are physically grieving. However, those that mourn can also mourn and grieve in spirit. According to JC Ryle, this is the mourning Jesus was referring to. Its people that have a Godly sorrow for sin and a grieving for one’s own shortcomings. Also, those who live a life of repentance who also mourn for the sins of others just as Christ weep over Jerusalem. These are those who trouble themselves more about sin than anything on earth. Psalm 51:17 says “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart.” Jesus says one day they shall weep no more, “They shall be comforted.”
In verse 5, Jesus says: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” This beatitude is very much like the promise in Psalm 37:11 which says “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” If you study this passage, you will see it is also a Messianic Psalm.
The meek who Jesus refers to are those who have a spirit of gentleness and self-control. The meek may like the poor have no resources of their own, but then they may, for Moses was described as being meek in Numbers 12:3. They accept God’s dealings without murmur or resistance, as absolutely good and wise. Like, the beggar Lazarus in the parable, they are willing to wait for their good things. Those that are meek also submit themselves to God and are gentle, patient, forgiving, and control of temper, toward others. St Paul tells us in Titus 3:2, “speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing meekness unto all men.”
In verse 6, Jesus says “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Righteousness is that which satisfies the demands of moral goodness and divine law. It is one who is i n a moral and right standing with God. It is doing God’s will rather than following the sinful desires that we all have in our hearts. It is the desire to be Holy. Jesus here is saying it should be our passion in life to do the will of God above everything in life. We should strive to be more holy each and every day. Those that do shall be filled and one day wake up after God’s likeness and be satisfied. (Psalm 17:15)
In verse 7, Jesus says: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” The merciful are those who show compassion towards other. They pity all who are suffering either from sin or sorrow. Showing mercy to others includes both the forgiveness of the sinner and compassion for the suffering and needy. They are called blessed because they place showing mercy above their own rights; they take no hostile stand against people in need, but try to show kindness to others. It is not that they are merciful by nature, but because they have been shown mercy and live in constant dependence on the Lord. The bible says we should show mercy to others as God has been merciful to us.
St. Paul tells us in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Ghost.”
In verse 8, Jesus says “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” According to JC Ryle, Jesus means by pure of heart those that do not aim merely at outward correctness, but at inward holiness. They are not satisfied with a mere external show of religion. The bible says it is not enough to be content with just an external and formal obedience, for the righteousness that is pleasing to God is inward righteousness of mind and motive. (cf Ro. 2:28-20; 9:6; Phil 3.3). The heart used in the bible is for the will or inner spirt of man. So, the pure heart means that the decisions one makes, the desires one has, the thoughts and intentions of the will, are untarnished by sin, and that the will is determined to be pleasing to God. From the pure of heart comes only good things, acts of love and mercy, desires of righteousness and justice, decisions that please God. By nature, mankind is sinful which means our spirit is sinful. Nothing short of a change in heart will bring about a pure heart. Jesus does not explain that here, but his language of being born again to Nicodemus in John 3:3-5 will necessarily begin the process.
The transformation from a heart of flesh to a pure heart will come by accepting Christ as one’s savior and following Him. Jesus says the promise of them that are pure in heart will see God. What a glorious time that will be! The bible says that no one has ever seen God face to face. (Exod 33:18-23; 1 Tim 6:16). People have seen appearances of the Lord in various forms, like Moses on Mount Sinai seeing the back side of God (Exod.33-23).
In verse 9: Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Peace makers are those who promote peace and charity on earth both in this country and abroad. As Christians, we are to promote love among our fellow man just as Romans 13:10 says “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” God alone is the source of peace, for he is Yahweh Shalom (Judges 6:24). Peace, translated from the Hebrew word Shalom meaning wholeness of life or completeness, a right relationship or harmony between two parties or people. His whole plan of redemption is to provide peace with God for those who were formerly alienated from God, and ultimately bring peace to the whole world. (Isa. 9:6-7) Our peace with God, came through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we need to continue the work that that He did while on earth promoting peace and charity among men.
In verse 10, Jesus says “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In this fallen world when people try to promote peace, or champion righteousness, or live a life of gentleness and meekness, they find opposition. The secular view of the world is the exact opposite of those expressed by Jesus in the Beatitudes. They much prefer power, and privilege, and possessions. As Christians, we will always be the minority and may be mocked, laughed at or despised and even persecuted like the disciples and John the Baptist. Jesus tells us our reward is not of this world, but of a heavenly kingdom to follow.
The Apostle Paul summarizes it quite well in Galations 5:17 when he wrote, “For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so ye cannot do the things that ye should.”
The quality standards that Jesus gives us in these Beatitudes is quite a high standard to follow. Through God’s grace, and only through his grace, can we hope to approach any of these qualities. God gave His son so that we all could benefit as a member of His family. He was our teacher and savior. It is the reward after this life that we should look forward to. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is not here, but in Heaven with the Saints. Embrace God and the “peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” (Phil 4:7).
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
The 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: Keep Praying Please
Howard – car accident – hospitalized – paralyzed from the neck down – surgery to remove 2 vertbrae folloing car accident – movement beginning to return with much pain – pray for full recovery
AOC Church of the Redeemer who still needs a Pastor
Bishop John – gall bladder removed – pray for complete recovery
Brenda – fracture knee cap and shoulder, long recovery – at home and recovering well
Sandy Carpenter – Congestive Heart Failure – weak limbs – husband, Darryl and their family
Michele Gee- stage 3 cervical cancer
Darryl and Jennifer Baughn - assisting Darryl’s mother who is suffering with end of life issues
Arnold and Martha Robbins – Senior Health issues
Rhett Carter – has succumbed to his injuries – comfort for widow and parents, John & Karen
Donny Clark – hospitalized for stroke – Anne – overseeing his care
Kathy – Kathy is beginning to heal please keep praying for this healing and severe anxiety related
Baby Baelin – Keep praying for her, she was sick this past week and had to go back to hospital.
Donny – hospitalized due to multiple strokes and inability to speak, pray for David and Anne, family who are helping him in recovery
Ben Hancock – treatment for colon cancer
Rev. Geordie: needs prayer for medical issues
Debbie Grimes: colon cancer – surgery
Bobby Effinger – recovery from heart surgery and ongoing heart issues
Joseph Broddie – recurring throat cancer
David Williams – serious cardiac issues – pray for David and wife Sherie for coping with changes
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.
USA – Leaders, citizens, military, first responders – President Trump & all Cabinet Members Safety
Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain
Dave – COPD –Diabetes type 2
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:
Shamu-health issues, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, AOC USA, AOC Missions, Harper-IBS,
Linda –MM, Sophie, Colin and Lori Beall –
cancer, Malou –
cancer, Myra Cox, Faye Miller, Diane, Alice, Yves Mera, Lucile, Ryan, Steven, Rency, Jack & Karen, Brannon, Camella –
just completed radition, Charlie, Dennis, Beverly and Howard, Betty, Deborah
Points to Ponder
Let the comfortable thought of our
Lord’s return sustain us in public troubles and cheer us in private trials.
When the governments of the world are reeling and tottering; when the air is
filled with rumours of wars and revolutions; when the nations of the earth are
heaving up and down and ill at ease; when faith is faint and love is waxing
cold, and the best of churches seem running to seed and decay; when men’s
hearts are failing for fear and looking after the things coming on the earth—
in times like these let us fix our eyes steadily on the second advent of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
The Most Rev. J. C. Ryle– (Knots Untied, p. 268-269).
AImighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; we humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will.
Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning and pure manners. Save us from vio-lence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to thy law we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
