Sermon Delivered at General Membership Meeting of the Anglican Orthodox Communion on 2 October 2025 by Bishop Jerry Ogles, Presiding
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and My Redeemer. Amen
Dear Friends, today we are engaged in a great World War of such proportions as to exceed our gravest human estimates. This was the War declared in Eden at the Fall of our primitive father, Adam. It is a war of great spiritual dimension.
Napoleon Bonaparte has said, “Men such as myself have conquered empires with the sword and few will remember our exploits across the centuries to come; but Jesus Christ conquered empires with the sword of His Word, and thousands to this day will lay down their lives for Him.”
The enemy of the souls of man is arrayed in great multitudes across the landscape of every human endeavor. Not only do they fly their banners openly but also serve as traitors in our midst whispering words of ruin to our sons and daughters. His whispers are heard, not only in the halls of academia, but also from the pulpits of many of our churches, and in the very corridors of political power.
We cannot afford to lose heart in the face of battle, nor can we be intimidated by his larger numbers and arsenals of destruction. The major weapon of his employment is the LIE, for he is the father of lies.
The greater numbers of our neighbors are unaware of the enemy that stands at the gate of their souls to possess them. At birth, we all are afflicted with that deadly and debilitating disease called sin. It is a blood disease, and can only be cured by the immaculate and sinless blood of Christ. Once we are made aware of the depravity of spirit that afflicts our fellow man, how can we remain aloof to those so pitifully suffering from the most deadly of all maladies?
In the Gospel text for Ordination of priests, we find these words of strong counsel of Christ, “When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” The one element that constrains our compassion on others is that of love. Love is sacrificial, and it also is able to feel the like pain of the sufferer whom it beholds. Jesus, being human, understood and felt our pain while we were yet in bondage to sin. His love compelled action, and so should that love compel us to take action, as ministers, to the propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. WE must never leave our charges without a shepherd.
As we behold the enemy drawn up against us, we may be inclined to cower in fear; however, our trust in the God of Battles should inspire courage and valliant action in the hearts of His people.
You will remember how the armies of Israel cowered before the Philistine armies arrayed in the Valley of Elah against them in 1 Samuel 17. The youthful lad, David was sent to bring nourishment to his brothers in the field, but he found the soldiers doubtful of victory and full of fear. The Philistines sent forth their greatest soldier, the giant, Goliath, to do battle with the best Israel had to offer. And who was that? It turned out to be the smallest man among the armies of Israel – the boy David.
David agreed to fight the giant in spite of every attempt of King Saul to dissuade him. He went forth courageously without armament, except a sling and five smooth stones, to face a heavily armed giant. David sent his stone flying toward Goliath and the Lord guided its impact directly to the forehead of the giant who fell dead. As all righteous must do, David gave the God of Israel the glory. The victory still belongs to God in our day as well, and we must never forget to make public acknowledgment of that fact.
Every minister of God must have the courage and faith of the boy, David. Trusting in His care and providence, we move against enemies of formidable appearance and repute. We need no human armaments of protection but only the “full armor of God” to protect as well as the Sword of the Lord’s Word as our weapon of offense.
Love compels His ministers to care for those who are helplessly entrapped in the bonds of sin and ignorance. How can we pass by the poor man who has been beaten and robbed by the devil and left to die on the road to eternity? We must go to where the hurting are to be found. We are to dress their wounds with the soothing Balm of the Gospel. We are to care for them at some cost and sacrifice of our time and resources. And we must care for them all the way as did the Good Samaritan.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-14
We have called two men of record to serve in the Office of Priest (or Elder) in our Church. What is the nature of the that call to the ministry? There are three main points that should be considered in the calling of a minister:
1) The prospective minister must be called by God.
2) The man must be totally convinced of His call to the ministry, and,
3) The church must recognize, by examination and knowledge of the man’s living, that he is called of God.
Remember this counsel: “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be
known.” Romans 10:25-26.
We are not above the same reproach and rejection that was faced by our Lord. We shall be accused of
every libelous act. But the pure silver of the utensil will endure over time rather than the thin coat of silver that
covers the less pure metal beneath. The character of the Christin will endure while that of the hypocrite will be
exposed after many days.
Consider the Camp of the Saints mentioned in Revelations 20: “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.” Revelations 20:9 Consider the fact that a camp is a small and impermanent post –
it is not even a fort (which is designed for permanence). This camp illustrates the people of faith that remain at
the time of the end. In spite of the overwhelming odds of the armies of the world gathered against that camp,
God will rain fire out of heaven to destroy the enemy without.
We are soldiers of the cross in this world war of the age. Take courage and stand strong lest a great falling
away from the faith should take you in a moment of doubt exposing you to the darts and arrows of the enemy.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. AMEN
