Ninth Sunday after Trinity - Propers with explanation - Rev Jack's Sermon

 

The Propers for today are found on Page 200-203, with the Collect first:

 

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity.

 

The Collect.

 

G

RANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Epistle came from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, the Tenth Chapter beginning at the First Verse.  Paul reminds us we have a common past, regardless of our actual lineage.  Spiritually, we are descended from the Jews of the Exodus.  Their God is our God, their actions were directed by our God, the same God.  He was a Trinity then as He is today.  Their reality it our reality, whether we choose to understand or accept it. Our forefathers drank of “the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”  Those who have gone before provide examples, both good and bad.  In this letter Paul addresses the bad and suggest we should see what their ill behavior gained them before we set our course and not after.  And, let we think ourselves ever so special, he reminds us that we are subjected to no special temptations, only those “as is common to man.”  This is another example of the adage, Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it.

 

B

RETHERN, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

Today’s Holy Gospel started in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, beginning at the Eleventh Verse and recounts the story of the prodigal son.  A man has two sons, the older is a wonderful young man who strives to please his father in everything he does.  The younger son asks for his inheritance, now rather than later, and sets off to spend it wastefully in a far off land.  In dire straits, he decides to go home to his father and beg to be allowed to live as one of his servants.  He decides to tell his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son…”  Before he can get the words out of his mouth, his father welcomes him, gives him new clothing and calls the servants to prepare a fatted calf for a big party.  The elder son is very angry and hurt.  He asks his father what he did wrong; he followed his instructions every day to the best of his ability, worked hard, and yet his father had never even given a small party for him.  The father answered, saying, “Son, thou are ever with me, and all that I have is thine.”   It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost and is found.”  This story, like that of the workers in the vineyard has a number of meanings.  Like the father in the story, God wants us to be His faithful child, but rejoices when we return to Him.  Like the prodigal son, we should be grateful to live long enough to return to Him.  If we are like the oldest son, let us learn from his mistake and be joyful when our brothers and sisters come home to our family.  Let us join in the celebration and not begrudge the fatted calf.

 

J

ESUS said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California

Today’s sermon tied the Epistle and Gospel together talked, as is oft the case, of the need for action, not simply diction, the general content is in forewords above.

 

Consider the words from the Collect, wherein we ask God to give us … the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will …

 

This is kind of a follow-on to last week’s Collect.  We are asking God to give us direction that we might know right from wrong and follow the right way.  If we listen to our hearts and minds, like the aviator, mariner or adventurer without a compass, we will soon be hopelessly lost.  With the compass God gives us, we can find the One True Way, much like the compass always points North.

 

The Collect acknowledges without God’s intervention through the Holy Spirit in our lives we cannot do anything good or right. This has been true since the Garden of Eden; there the Fall shows our own very natures prevent us from doing what is right.  Our nature is inclined towards being away from God. However, we can reset our nature to be towards God. We just have to ask for His help, let the Holy Ghost into our hearts and be ready to listen to what He wants us to do, and then act upon that. This is a very difficult matter, a concept we have always have and always will struggle with.

 

This is not a recent phenomenon.   As Paul reminds us we have a common spiritual past, regardless of our actual lineage.  Spiritually, we are descended from the Jews of the Exodus.  Their God is our God; God directed their actions.  He was a Trinity then as He is today. We struggle with the exact same sins and temptations as they did. If we do not study their history, we are doomed to repeat it. If we do study their history we might have a better chance of not repeating their same mistakes.

 

In light of this thought, those who have gone before provide numerous examples, both good and bad. We should aspire to follow the good examples of those who have gone before and not follow the bad examples that they have left behind. People too often point out the bad examples of our ancestors and not the good examples. We need to learn from from both to help us become better human beings.  In this letter Paul addresses the bad and suggests we should see what their ill behavior gained them before we set our course and not after. He points out their examples both good and bad are for our learning and we can benefit from them if we take the time to study them.  We will always be learning for the rest of our lives, no matter what profession we belong to, there will always be some form of continuing education. 

 

Paul is telling us we are in a way to embrace the Japanese concept of kai-zen or continuous development. Just as pilots need to keep learning to become better and more proficient pilots, good Christians need to always be learning to become better and kinder human beings. 

 

We should not strive to emulate the murmurings of the people, though we may feel that way sometimes, as we can learn from their bad examples.  We must see their bad examples and do not emulate those; on the other side, we must see the good examples, and strive to emulate them.

 

Speaking of lessons, when Saint Luke recounts the story of the prodigal son we oft think ourselves as that prodigal one returning to God so late in life.  Yet there is far more to be learned than the titular son.

 

The older son has resentment to the younger son for coming back after having wasted his money and is not willing to forgive him. However the Father is more than willing to forgive. This parable illustrates that we should not hold grudges against those in the world that repent and join Christ’s flock, but rather that we should wecome them into the church with open arms, as God does when we return to him.

 

This story, like that of the workers in the vineyard has a number of meanings.  Like the father in the story, God wants us to be His faithful child, but rejoices when we return to Him.  He is a loving and patient Father, but will not accept our sinful behavior. Yet, if we repent of that behavior, He will always welcome us back with open arms. We should always do our best to recognize when we have erred and strayed from our ways like lost sheep. Like the prodigal son, we should be grateful to live long enough to return to Him. 

 

The moral of the younger son’s story is that God is always waiting for us, and if we are not too late, we can always return to Him.  Today preferably rather than tomorrow! He will always accept us with opening arms, but we must make sure it is not too late. Don’t wait until you die! If you feel you have erred and strayed, repent now! Do not put off until tomorrow your repentance. If you are led by the Holy Spirit to repent, please do it today, you may not live to see tomorrow. 

 

Do not let the sun go down on your sins and wrath, you may not live to see another day! There is another lesson to be learned, this time from the the oldest son. Let us not repeat his mistake and be joyful when our brothers and sisters come home to our family. Let us put aside the anger and jealousy and replace those hurtful emotions with the emotions of pure love and joy! Let us join in the celebration and not begrudge the fatted calf.  We should not be jealous or angry when our long lost brethren return to the flock of Christ! We should be merry and joyful they have returned to us! Do not let your pride become anger and cloud your emotions like it does so many of us. But, rather see a sinner coming back into His flock and rejoice in he is no longer headed towards The Pit! 

 

Action counts.  For by their actions ye shall know them.  

 

Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail.  The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.

 

The time is now, not tomorrow.  The time has come, indeed.  How will you ACT?

 

It is by our actions we are known.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

Collect for the Ninth Sunday After Trinity – 31 July 2021, Anno Domini

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity.

 

The Collect.

 

G

RANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Collect for the 9^th Sunday after Trinity is that which expresses the “whole doctrine of grace.” The strength of the Collect was slightly reduced by the 1662 revisers in the phrase, we cannot do any thing that is good without thee from the original of Cranmer’s which CANNOT BE without thee! While it is true that we cannot do anything good without God, it is more importantly true that we cannot do anything at all without Him for, without Him, we could not exist. The Collect petitions for a grant of benefit. As is customary of all Godly prayers, nothing of personal and material benefit is sought, but only that which is pleasing to God.

           

It is important to bear in mind that only those things which are pleasing to God are of any benefit to us as well, in the last resort, for He loves us and pines for only the good things of His Love to be manifested through our lives and testimonies. We can only live a life pleasing to God through the efficacy of His Will and Word both for us and acting through our members. Of course, His grace is not restricted to believers only, but is also manifested in a general application to the whole world. The world is full of lost and dying souls, but God is present even in the darkest corners of our world, and His saving Light only revealed to those whose souls and spirits respond to that bright beam of the Searchlight which tops the turbulent waves of the sea and draws us nearer by faith. Faith is our spiritual eyes without which we are blind beggars, and even that faith is also a gift of God.

           

The grace expressed always in God’s Word is very like a great Magnet which draws the metal whose properties are of the same nature with His own by having the Law of God written in scarlet letters upon the tender tissues of the heart. The great comfort we may have in all of this promise of grace is that God knows WHERE we are and where we are GOING! He sees our small bark on the restless waves of the sea and He knows, as well as we, that we cannot brave the storms of the seas in our bark without a great Power of Help. His outstretched Arm sustains us on these seas of life, and we are without in Him danger though the sea billows roar. This is our Friend, our Father, our God, our Redeemer, and our Lord. Have you seen the Light?

           

            One of my favorite men of God, Charles Spurgeon, describes in ingenious language the means whereby men are drawn to Christ. Remember, Christ will lose none that the Father has placed in His care. Here is Spurgeon’s quote which is antithetical to Arminianism:

           

            When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and though I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this. I can recall the very day and hour when first I received those truths in my own soul - when they were as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron; and I can recollect how I felt that I had grown all of a sudden from a babe into a man - that I had made progress in scriptural knowledge, through having found, once for all, the clue to the truth of God ... I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, I ascribe my change wholly to God. 

Autobiography: 1, The Early Years, Banner of Truth, p. 164-165

           

Self-will of man is evil continually, but the will can only be made free through redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) 

Only Begotten – 30 July 2021, Anno Domini

H

E came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.   (John 1:11-14)

 

            The globalists of our day, and since Babel, have wrestled with the idea of a Savior apart from political government. An old heretical philosophy persists that the only manner in which the globalist, one-world objectives can be accomplished is by the elimination of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They can abide the worship of some nebulous God who exercises no sovereign power, but Jesus Christ is one who keeps getting in the way. He is the Stone which the builders of globalist government must reject. If they could, they would relegate Him to the office of good teacher or rabbi, but no way can they tolerate Him as Savior!

 

            The modern versions are printed for profit. They are not the work of God since God has no copyright on their production. A believer cannot freely copy these modern Bibles without a man’s permission. The editors of such perversions boldly proclaim their right to alter and to change the Word of God to suit the modern tenor. They claim to have superior understanding of the Greek text in making these alterations; but the Greek text they use is full of omissions and distortions. They are based, for the most part, on the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts discovered less than two hundred years ago in possession of the Vatican and a monastery in the Sinai desert. These manuscripts comprise less than 5% of all available manuscript evidence. If they were reliable witnesses, at least they should agree with each other, but they diverge in meaning with each other in many points. Though in the possession of Rome since the early Church, even Rome found them unfit to use.

 

            Many ministers are lackeys of their denomination upon whom they rely for their advancement and retirement. So, these echo the line of their denominations who have a financial stake in the profits derived from falsifying the Word of God. Like the serpent of Eden, these unprincipled advocates of most modern versions begin with the same question of their mentor, Hath God said? (see Genesis 3:1) The Received Text is that which was used by the great Reformers, and it has been the underlying text that has led to the greatest propagation of the word of God for the past five hundred years. Every effort was made by the depraved church of that early day to suppress the truth, and there seems no change in the climate today. If I say I like the Bible of my fathers and the one which produced great missionaries for the past four hundred years, the modern lovers of the new Bibles label me a KJV cultist. Of course, any of the Reformation bibles translated from the Received Text have merit, and I would accept any of them. But the King James Bible is a majestic glorification of God in exalted language and written in such meter as to make easy to memorize. 

 

            Most modern (per)versions omit the term ‘BEGOTTEN’ which has been used from the first days of the early Church to identify the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is a profound omission and easy to see through to their ill-intent. In the leading text of this devotion, we see how Christ is referred to as the only Begotten Son (also in John 3:16); yet, these new versions change the term to one and only son. That makes the Word of God to lie for all believers are sons and daughters of God. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Cor 6:18) While it is true that Jesus Christ is a son of God, He is not a son in the same way you and I are. We are ‘adopted’ sons and daughters, but Christ is the literal Son of God from all Eternity and is of the SAME substance with the Father. You and I are not! Even the faulty Greek text these manipulators of His Word use gets this term right. The Greek word used in John 1:14 & John 3:16 is μονογενής  (monogenes, or monogenace) This term means the literal bodily Son of God. It means from the same substance of the Father. They are attempting to slowly demean the divinity of Christ, and they do so for profit! This is only one example of the errors being passed down in these corrupt versions. 

 

There are literally thousands of changes in the Word in these perversions. Most align with the non-believing New World Translation of the Jehovah Witnesses who do not believe that our Lord is the Son of God.

 

My advice to the believer: Get a real Bible not produced for profit or trade on God’s Word.

Seven Crowns – 29 July 2021, Anno Domini

T

HEN the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.     (Matthew 27:27-31)

 

            For every rose, there must be a thorn; and likewise for every crown of the righteous. Our Lord counseled His disciples to take up their cross daily and follow Him.  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23) This counsel of our Lord sticks in the craw, like the gnats of the Pharisees, sticks in the craw of the modern, name-it-and-claim-it church. They will go many furlongs abroad to avoid addressing the matter. But the life of our Lord was one of sacrifice borne on the wings of Love. He expects no less of those who follow – not just to the shores of Galilee, not just to Bethany or to the coasts of Tyre – but to Calvary and the borrowed Tomb. Then shall we be privileged to share in that resurrection of our Lord. 

 

            There seven crowns of which I will remind the reader in this short devotion:

 

1.     The Crown of Thorns

This is the tortuous crown that our Lord wore on His bloodied brow on the cross at Calvary. This was the crown of the curse of sin. (see Matthew 27:29) All who would seek to follow Christ must likewise suffer the slings and arrows of the wrathful serpent and enemy of our souls. Every thorn of the Lord’s Crown on the cross was replaced with crowns of glory in His Father’s Kingdom: 11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12   His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (Revelation 19:11-12)

 

2.     The Crown of Gold

Gold is highest reward in crowns. But too many seek rewards for serving the Lord instead of the joy and privilege of glorifying His Name. ¹ The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! ² Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. ³ For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.   (Psalm 21:1-3)

 

3.     Crown of Life

For those who have endured temptation and held strong in faith – 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.   (James 1:12)

 

4.     The Crown of Incorruptibility – This is the crown of temperance in things acceptable to God unlike men who seek after the rewards of Mammon: 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.    (1 Corinthians 9:25)

 

5.     The Crown of Righteousness

Those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ will joy in His appearing: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.   (2 Timothy 4:8)

 

6.     Crown of Rejoicing

Those who have brought souls to Christ as did St. Andrew will rejoice with the angels at every soul brought forth to victory – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  For ye are our glory and joy. (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

 

7.     The Crown of Glory

Those who have shared little of the Gospel of Christ with others may be ashamed at their dim lights in Heaven: And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.   (Daniel 12:3)

 

Will there be any stars of light in YOUR crown, or will your crown be simply made of dog’s hair?

Sleeping Beauty – 28 July 2021, Anno Domini

 

A

NOTHER parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.  (Matthew 13:24-30)

 

            In the Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, there are many stories with points of comparison with the Gospels whether by intention or by coincidence. One such story with profound similarities to the biblical account of the Church is Sleeping Beauty, or Little Rose Briar. Of course, the Church has never yet to be perfect for with every Rose there is an accompanying array of thorns and briars. When the Light of the sun is shed abroad in the Church, the enemy cannot openly sow seeds of decent and division; but come the time of shadow and sin, the enemy is able to sow his seeds of wickedness abroad while men sleep. 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

 

            In the tale of Sleeping Beauty, the King had no children. He and His Queen prayed for a child and, in the process of time, a daughter was born to the King. The Church of God, too, was born through the agency of the Holy Spirit and redemption made available through God (the King’s) only Begotten Son.

 

            But in the Garden, eastward in Eden, the maleficent one personified by the serpent, enticed Eve and her husband, Adam, to sin and bring a curse upon all the host of mankind. The curse of sin was much like the curse of the maleficent fairy who cast a curse upon Little Briar Rose that she would prick her finger and die when seventeen years of age. This, sadly, was done at her Christening Feast given by her Father, the King. The curse of death brought upon Adam was ameliorated by the Father’s provision of His Son coming to redeem of that curse of death in Christ. 

 

There was one good fairy in our fairy tale who waited behind the curtain to pronounce a means of removing the curse of death proclaimed by the evil one. The good fairy stepped at last from behind the curtain to say: Do not grieve, O King and Queen. Your daughter shall not die. I cannot undo what my elder sister has done; the princess shall indeed prick her finger with the spindle, but she shall not die. She shall fall into sleep that will last a hundred years. At the end of that time, a king’s son will find her and awaken her.

 

I need not remind the biblically conversant readers of this devotion that the Church has fallen asleep from the prick of the serpent. But her sleep is not eternal. Like Sleeping Beauty, she has been redeemed and will be received as the Bride of Christ at the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

In our tale, sleeping Beauty did fall asleep at her seventeenth birthday. She slept for one hundred years as prophesied by the good fairy. The entire palace fell asleep. The great walls of the Palace grounds were overgrown with the thorns and thistles of forgetfulness just as the modern church has forgotten her first love in sleep. But after the time appointed of one hundred years, a fine young Prince sighted the Palace towers rising above the thorns and thistles. After inquiring and learning the story, he fell in love with the sleeping princess behind the ruins. He entered the grounds and the underbrush of thorns disappeared before him. He found the young Princess and was fascinated by her beauty. As he kissed her, she awoke to her Princess just as the Church will do in time.

 

I still love fairy tales even if as an old soldier and servant of the Lord. I hope they continue to enlighten the imagination of our children and even our old men and women. But most of all, I pray that they encourage us to know better the true Love story of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Church.

There’s within my heart a melody – 27 July 2021, Anno Domini

B

Y reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. 10  But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; 11  Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 
12  There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13  Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.     (Job 35:9-13)

 

            This is a Gospel song written by Luther Bridges (1884-1948) The author wrote the lyrics shortly after a terrible family tragedy. While a student at Asbury College in Kentucky Luther met and fell in love with Sarah Vetch. The couple were married and had three sons. Once while preaching at a service near his wife’s parent’s home in Kentucky, at which there were many professions of faith, Luther received a call informing him that his wife and three sons were burned in the fire that destroyed her parents’ home. 

 

He was devastated and asked why God would allow such a thing while he was doing his work of evangelization. He was bereaved for his wife and children, and asked himself, "How could this happen while I was doing God's will?"  Once Luther stopped asking God ‘Why?’ he was inspired to continue his ministry. "The Lord is my portion saith my soul. They that dwell in the secret place of the most high shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty." Luther thought to himself, "The secret place, the shadow , and the presence of the Almighty", he could trust Him. The God of all earth would not fail or forsake him.

 

There’s within my heart a melody

 

There's within my heart

There's within my heart a melody, 

Jesus whispers sweet and low, 

Fear not, I am with thee, peace be still. 

In all of life's ebb and flow 

Chorus:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 

Sweetest name I know, 

Fills my every longing, 

Keeps me singing as I go.

 

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife 

Discord filled my heart with pain 

Jesus swept across the broken strings 

Stirred the slumbering chords again

Chorus

 

Feasting on the riches of His grace, 

Resting' neath His Sheltering wing, 

Always looking on His smiling face, 

That is why I shout and sing.

Chorus:

 

Tho' sometimes He leads thro' waters deep 

Trials fall across the way, 

Tho' sometimes the path seems rough and steep, 

See His footprints all the way.

Chorus:

 

Soon He's coming back to welcome me 

Far beyond the starry sky 

I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown 

I shall reign with Him on high.

Chorus:

 

            The words of the popular old gospel hymn cited above reveal the kind of fiber with which the Christian hearts should be filled – melodies of love, hope, faith, and trust, and of friends dear and precious. 

 

            I have found it a blessing to reflect upon the melodies that have enriched my life. The vibrant voices of the people of St. Andrews Parish, young and old, are a source of warmth and strength to me in my daily walk. During my moments of sorrow or challenge, I recall those familiar voices and rejoice in God. Their shining faces are associated with thousands of little kindnesses they have afforded me without condition. 

 

            My surety of the promises of God are reinforced by the Sunday readings from the Scriptures of young voices whose association with the English language is measured often in months and not days, the beauty of music both sung and played by our youth - the melodious harmony of violin chords performed by our young ladies so wonderfully as to evoke the praise of Heaven, the organ and piano renditions of the beautiful old hymns of the church – these are my daily fare and sustenance. 

 

            It is upon each other that we Christians must lean in times of despair and hopelessness that reveals our own testimony and depth in Christ. We are each other’s angels to a certain degree. 

 

            The broader Communion of our fellow saints from around the globe combine together in joyous musical acclamation of the Creator God and His Glorious Son in time present, past and future. 

 

            Though we approach the Throne of Grace as individuals, we are thereafter united as One Body in Christ forever. We bear one another's burdens, share our common hurts and pains, and work together to reach those whose lives are steeped in seemingly impenetrable darkness. 

 

            It is the exalted and blessed melody that we bear in our hearts that distinguish us visibly, and invisibly, as the people of God and members of His Glorious Church. 

One with the Son – 27 July 2021, Anno Domini

N

EITHER pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.  (John 17:20-23)

 

            Our lives are not our own, but belong to God. In fact, they never were our sole position - even our physical bodies are on loan from the grave. Our next breath and heartbeat are borrowed from on High from the Giver of Life. The life of man is as a vapor which ascends from the kettle, rises only a short distance and fades away. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)  Even while we are yet in the womb, the Maker blows the breath of life into our nostrils and imparts the spirit of life. When our appointed days have run their course, that breath leaves us and we die. It is then that the spirit returns to God who gave it. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.  (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

 

            What does it mean to be One with the Lord Jesus Christ? It means to take upon your sinful soul the Mind that was in Christ in exchange for that mind and will in sinful bondage to Satan and the world. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8) That is what it means to take upon yourself the Will of God and not of sinful man. That is Freedom undiluted. Apart from Christian faith, there is no freedom.

 

            The Christian life is much like a beautiful symphony. There is a conductor and the orchestra. The conductor sets the tenor, and each member of the orchestra plays from the same page of music. If one plays from a different musical score, the entire symphony is out of harmony. God loves harmony among His Church, and that harmony is only achieved when all members abide by the same Word of God that is an expression, in writing, of His Will. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

 

            Why is it so that more Church divisions occur over superficial concerns than over spiritual truth? One of the largest churches in my hometown split over the color of carpet to be installed. The old, political leaders of the Church wanted to demonstrate their power to decide such matters. The formed two churches but had not disagreed over the truth of John 3:16-17; nevertheless, much damage was done to the testimony of that Church. If the Church is worshipping in Spirit and in Truth, it will be united on the word, and the word is the overriding concern of the Church. That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us  (John 17:21)

 

            Having the same Mind that was in our Lord Jesus Christ assures that believer the security of a protecting Savior: Neither shall any pluck them out of My hand... and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand  (John 10:28-29)

 

            As our Lord told the woman at Jacob’s Well, the day will come when they will worship in Spirit and in Truth. That is assured with His spirit in our hearts. Sent forth the Spirit of His Son in your hearts  (Galatians 4:4-6)  He has sealed us – not with a visible mark ON the forehead, but in our souls and in our foreheads. 

 

In whom... ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)  Calling The hope of our calling, which is to be with Him; and The hope of His calling, which is for Him