Devotion for Friday after Ascension Day 18 May 2012 Anno Domini

1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 
4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. (Isaiah 12:1-6)

The Collect

G

RANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

 ¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave.

     Hearts who are centered on those things heavenly cannot but ascend to those like natures of the spiritual that are possessed in heaven. Today's Collect makes one only appeal – that is to grant to those who believe in all of the cardinal points of the Gospel – including the ascension to which the Creed makes reference – an ascension like unto His that we may ever dwell in the heavenlies with Christ. Of course, the appeal is also an indirect appeal to fellowship with the Holy Ghost and the Father since to abide in Christ entails an abode with the Father and Holy Ghost. In constructing this Collect from the Sacramentary of St. Gregory, with a leading thought from Gelasius, Archbishop Cranmer united the term Mind to that of Heart, for wherever the heart is, there will the mind be stayed. He also substituted "Our Lord" for "Redeemer" since, in Cranmer's mind, Our Lord gives a warmth and all-encompassing meaning to the title of our Savior. If we fully know Christ as our Lord and sovereign, it would be impossible to miss the point that He is also our Redeemer.

     Since I have already written most of the previous year's devotions from the Gospels and Epistles, I am taking the liberty of writing from the lesser practiced texts of the Old Testament and shorter Epistles as they come up on the Lectionary – sort of a random selection, but we need to know the whole of God's Word and not simply those thrilling Words of the more popular Books. (C'est la vie!) Of course, if any would prefer a particular book to be expounded, I will gladly comply where possible.

     1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. God puts a song in the hearts of those whom He has Redeemed and brought through the seas and fires of this life. Moses, after having been miraculously and powerfully saved in the crossing of the Red Sea, burst out into His famous Song of Moses, and all of the Children of Israel sang with him. (Exodus 15:1-19) God has often been disappointed in our pursuit of the trivial and fruitless to the detriment of the riches of heaven, yet, He loves us through all of our slips and stammers just as a father loves his precious children – all born by the wife of his heart. O LORD is an exclamatory title of exalted praise and adoration. Do we truly look upon the Lord with this reverence and unbounded love? What did a loving mother ALWAYS do after giving us a spanking for misbehaving? She later comes and embraces our downcast shoulders, lifts us to her breast, and tells us how she loves us. So does the Lord our God!

     2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (BEHOLD!) – an emphatic expression intended to gain our undivided attention! If God is NOT our salvation, then we have NO salvation.  Is there any absolute other than God? He us unchanging and unchangeable. We can put our complete trust in the Gold of His Currency. Jehovah (the Existing One) is my strength and my song. Perhaps peculiarly to our minds, strength and song go together. When that strength is on our behalf, we cannot but have a song in our hearts. It is by the strength of His Person that He saves us.

     3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. There is no greater relief, joy, and amazement than to come upon a cooling fountain after almost perishing in the desert wilderness. Such Well of Life-giving Water becomes our salvation. There is no lack of enthusiasm in a thirsty soul in drawing water from a well for salvation of the body, and no lack of enthusiasm in drawing upon those Wells of Salvation in Christ. The Woman at Jacob's Well learned by grace and love the greater value of that Water of Life that Christ gives compared to the temporary value of the water the earth yields. Poor Hagar, more than once, discovered the Fountains of Water which God provided for her in the Wilderness which she could not see until God had opened her tear-filled eyes. Have your eyes been opened to this Water of Life – these Wells of Salvation?

     4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Whether the world and Creation continues on unabated for the next thousand years, it is nonetheless THAT DAY in your life that nears its conclusion. What are a paltry seventy, eighty, or ninety years compared to the Scarlet Cord of Eternity? If you have tasted of the cool Waters of Salvation in a "dry and thirsty land where no water is," (Ps 63:1) then you can know that God is worthy of our praise and worthy to be called upon in time of, not only trouble, but harvest.  Are you not proud of the Lord and to be called His Own? If you are so elated, you can not contain your joy and praise. Like the poor son, blind from birth, mentioned in John 9, we will be unable to contain our excitement and joy by keeping secret the name of the One who has given us sight, who has made us whole. Have you made mention of that name to others that is above every other Name? When was the last occasion of your mention?

     5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. My son used to come home from school with a different little Bible ditty almost every day. One such song was, "If you're Happy and you Know it, Clap your Hands!" I often wondered  just how we could be so happy as to clap our hands ….and not KNOW IT? The ONLTY things the Lord has done have been EXCELLENT THINGS! All of the earth knows the greatness of God – even the pretended atheist! There are only two responses to the reality of God – great joy and comfort to those who know Him, and fear, trembling, and rejection to those who make as show of denying His Works and Person. I say "make a show" because every human born upon God's green earth know that God exists. They will climb great mountains to deny Him when they could comfortably stand upon the flat earth and confess Him.

     6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Wait! This must not apply to us, right? Do we inhabit Zion? Who is YOUR Holy One?  Is it not the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you prayed "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven?" Do you believe that such a glorious existence is possible? Isn't our Zion the Holy City of God which every believer shall, or does, inhabit? Has Christ promised that "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I AM IN THE MIDST OF THEM?" Perhaps the people of God have been too timid in these evil days to "Cry out and shout." The world is headed for Hell in a hand-basket – how is that we can hold our tongues in the face of such tragedy?

__._,_.___

Ascensiontide - 17 May 2012

Message from the Presiding Bishop

We live in an age of sensationalism and fantasy which often passes, among the naïve and spiritually gullible, for reality. On today’s charts there are books and DVDs claiming their authors to have made visits to either Heaven or Hell, and then returned to tell us of the fabulous experience they enjoyed there. Unlike the writings of CS Lewis such as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which derive from higher Gospel truth, these fables have no authority in biblical truth and openly violate that truth.

      The modern apostate churches have ventured into like error and open defiance of Gospel truth. Is there nothing sacred to the spiritual scoundrels of our day – not even Heaven itself? Reflecting on that great Creed of the Church, whose every claim is profoundly biblical, we aver Sunday after Sunday that Christ is the Son of the Father who came down to us by assuming a carnal body through the agency of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin, lived a sinless life marked by miracles and holiness, died a substitutionary death on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose the third day according to the scriptures. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father. Do we believe this? Do we believe that Christ is uniquely the Son of the Father. Do we believe that his descent and ascension distinguish Him from all us mortals? Or was Christ wrong in His description of Himself as the Bread that came down from Heaven? If we believe Christ (and our mortal souls depend on that belief), He is the only Man who descended from Heaven and ascended again. If we believe, then all the popular claims of the sensationalists are egregious lies from the pits of Hell.

      Christ is distinct and different in His Office as Son of God and, even Himself, very God. He descended for us mortals, and ascended on High where He intercedes for us with the Father. And He will come again in like manner of his ascent to receive His Bride, the Church. Where will we own our estate if we have not believed in the immutable Word of God for He it is who bought and paid for us.

     At this Ascensiontide, let us reaffirm that biblical faith once delivered to the saints and reject the fables and myths of ungodly men.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

The Most Rev. Jerry L. Ogles

Presiding Bishop

Anglican Orthodox Church

Ascensiontide - 17 May 2012 We live in an age of sensationalism and fantasy which often passes, among the naïve and spiritually gullible, for reality. On today’s charts there are books and DVDs claiming their authors to have made visits to either Heaven or Hell, and then returned to tell us of the fabulous experience they enjoyed there. Unlike the writings of CS Lewis such as The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which derive from higher Gospel truth, these fables have no authority in biblical truth and openly violate that truth. The modern apostate churches have ventured into like error and open defiance of Gospel truth. Is there nothing sacred to the spiritual scoundrels of our day –not even Heaven itself? Reflecting on that great Creed of the Church, whose every claim is profoundly biblical, we aver Sunday after Sunday that Christ is the Son of the Father who came down to us by assuming a carnal body through the agency of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin, lived a sinless life marked by miracles and holiness, died a substitutionary death on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose the third day according to the scriptures. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father. Do we believe this? Do we believe that Christ is uniquely the Son of the Father. Do we believe that his descent and ascension distinguish Him from all us mortals? Or was Christ wrong in His description of Himself as the Bread that came down from Heaven? If we believe Christ (and our mortal souls depend on that belief), He is the only Man who descended from Heaven and ascended again. If we believe, then all the popular claims of the sensationalists are egregious lies from the pits of Hell. Christ is distinct and different in His Office as Son of God and, even Himself, very God. He descended for us mortals, and ascended on High where He intercedes for us with the Father. And He will come again in like manner of his ascent to receive His Bride, the Church. Where will we own our estate if we have not believed in the immutable Word of God for He it is who bought and paid for us. At this Ascensiontide, let us reaffirm that biblical faith once delivered to the saints and reject the fables and myths of ungodly men. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. AMEN. The Most Rev. Jerry L. Ogles Presiding Bishop Anglican Orthodox Church

Devotion for Wednesday in (3rd Week after Trinity Sunday), 13 July 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Wednesday in (3rd Week after Trinity Sunday), 13 July 2011 Anno Domini
“19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.” (Acts 14:19-28)

“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.” A heart set upon wickedness knows no hardship of distance or effort. These Jews traveled a great distance seeking to destroy Paul and the Gospel which he preached. Being restless in their evil designs, they were filled with the hot blood of contempt for Christ. We are told that they “persuaded the people” through deceit and polished words, perhaps, but the people themselves are not innocent. When we, like Eve, stop to listen to a wicked voice, we also bear responsibility for the evil that follows. Please remember that the same crowds who shouted Hosanna to Christ in welcoming Him into Jerusalem were the same who cried out for His crucifixion five days later after being “persuaded” by the Jewish leaders. Now, the same Saul (Paul) who oversaw the stoning of Stephen faces the same inhumane treatment from the opponents of truth.

“Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.” Though there were great numbers of wicked people in Lystra, there was still a remnant of believers who gathered around the body of Paul grieving. Perhaps the day shall come when the chosen in Christ will understand that not a single hair of the head of a disciple will be lost to violence. As these were expecting a funeral, Paul decided not to be a part of such an event and rose up. He immediately went into the city (a fearless journey in view of what had just transpired), and departed the next day to Derbe. It seems that among those who believed, there was one who would become special to Paul – Timothy. (see Acts 16:1-3)

“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Though many enemies lay in ambush always in these cities, Paul was undaunted and did not allow fear to deter him from the mission to which God had called him. Who better to exhort to continuance in the faith than Paul who had now faced much tribulation – even stoning! Perhaps a brief discussion of the purpose of tribulation is in order here at this point. God is not always the author of tribulation. It is the natural outcome of preaching truth in a world of deceit and bitterness. But God will always use tribulation to strengthen and purity His saints. “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” (Mal 3:3) Purification requires fervent heat and the nature of the metal is altered and made more resplendent in its character. The refinement of silver is a process in which the refiner sits at the fire and heats the silver until it becomes a liquid, molten mass. He then skims the impurities from the surface, and heats again – each time skimming the impurities from the surface. He performs this purification seven times the seventh of which enables the Refiner to look into the purified silver and view His own likeness reflected in the silver. It is through this process that we become more and more like Him. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” (Psalms 12:6) It is the Word, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are purified. The mode of purification may vary: “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10), but always intended for our consummate good.
“And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” Before a man is confirmed by the church in his calling, he must first be aware of it. The Church here has chosen their called out men and, after much prayer and fasting, these were commended to the Lord by whose authority all acceptable witness is performed.
“And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” It is perfectly normal to return, after a successful ministry to which the church has called us, to return to the calling Church and give an account of all that has transpired. This is a courtesy that the sponsoring church deserves. It also strengthens the sponsoring church in its testimony and resolve to continue missions.
“And there they abode long time with the disciples.” This is possibly the most blessed of sojourns for a minster of the Gospel. What a comfort and a lovely pleasure to be among those of strong faith and one mind with Christ. It is ample reward for all the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” hurled against the preacher when in a strange country. It is a blessed experience we all feel when we attend our National Convention in the AOC. We are reluctant to leave the place where love is so profuse and freely shared. May each of us abide forever with the disciples of Christ.

Devotion for Tuesday (3rd Week after Trinity Sunday) 12 July 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Tuesday (3rd Week after Trinity Sunday) 12 July 2011 Anno Domini
“8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 9The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.” (Acts 14:8-18)
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked.” This is a seeming casual coincidence that the man sat where he sat at the time most advantageous. He heard the powerful preaching of Paul and realized it to be from a true minister of God. If God could speak through this man (Paul) perhaps that God could heal as well; however, perhaps out of courtesy or fear, he said not a word! “The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed.” Paul, being informed by an ever-presence of the Holy Ghost, looked on this crippled man and saw faith reflected in his eyes. Do our eyes also reflect a strong faith in the power of God? Paul reckoned that this crippled man had the faith to be healed!
Paul issues a fairly simple to understand command, echoed to him from the Holy Ghost. And Paul: “Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.” Now, is it possible that the man suffered from impaired hearing as well? Paul had only asked him to “stand up,” but, instead, the man not only stands up, but leaps and walks. I can tell you for a surety, the man was not impaired in his hearing – he was inspired by healing and the mercy of God!
“And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.”Men who know not the voice of the Holy Ghost often draw the wrong conclusions from their unlearned observation. Paul was certainly not God. These men were of seemingly low sophistication and maybe steeped in superstition. But they unwittingly got one thing right even if they knew not what they had said: God did, indeed, come down to man in the form of a precious child of Mary the blessed Virgin at Bethlehem. He came in the form and likeness of a man, but was also the very issue of God the Father and, as we know, God Himself.
“And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.” Barnbabas appeared to them to be Jupiter for his commanding presence; and Paul seemed to them Mercury, the god of eloquence (to them) and a messenger. I would deign to say that these poor people certainly meant no offense to the sovereign God, but were trying to compliment the apostles.
“Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.” There was, most likely, an edifice erected to Jupiter without the gates of the city so that Jupiter was their premier idol. Now the priests of this false god will bring spoils of offerings to the apostles. They would furthermore have made sacrifices along with the people. This was abject error. I can say, with a high margin of confidence, that many false evangelists and pulpit vipers of our own day would cherish the offering of sacrifices to themselves as if they were gods – but NOT Barnabas and Paul!
“Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.”It was customary for a Godly minister to rend his garments at the utterance of blasphemy. “We are also men of like passions with you!” We are only men and no more. Christ was at once man and God. He was the only One out of all time and Eternity that possessed in equal measure the characteristics of both God and man – and He was the only One that walked sinlessly through His thirty three years upon the earth! He was Creator, as well as Redeemer. He had allowed man to attempt to be obedient to the Law as a school teacher to them and a foreshadowing of that fuller salvation made perfect in Him which, to them, was future promise.
“Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Actually, the entire Creation - from stormy seas to lush rainforest, from the beauty of the sunrise to the charm of the nightingale, from the birth of a child to gift of art – all are testimony to the Person of Christ. If our hearts are united in Christ, they shall also be filled with gladness and never lack of food or the necessities of life. Why can man not grasp this as the point has been proven too many times to doubt? Though the heathen are without a full witness of the Word, they, nonetheless, have the evidence of His Godhead represented in the marvelous testimony of all that is in nature and that is natural to our eyes.
“And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.” Though Godly ministers, called and sent, preach the Gospel with power, man will always seek to place his own stamp of workmanship of God’s will where it is not a trifling acceptable. Superstitions and the traditions of men have crept in to most churches, and it has marched under a proud banner into the Church at Rome. They have adopted many of the filthy rags of paganism and the proud rule of a mere man to be their own answer to the complete Will of God. Better to shed ourselves of such worldly accoutrements and return to God’s Word alone as our rule of practice and worship in faith. There is no substitute, no efficacious seasoning, no additive acceptable, to the Word of God. It stands alone pure and undefiled by the fingerprints of man!

Devotion for Friday 8 July 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Friday 8 July 2011 Anno Domini



“ 13Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.” (Acts 13:13-25)



Prefatory note: Henceforth in the biblical account, Saul of Tarsus is referred to as Paul (as indicated in verse 9 of this same chapter). The name means ‘small’ and most likely is attributable to the slight stature of Paul. It also is more suitable to the ears of the Romans and other Gentiles to whom Paul is sent; therefore Paul assumes a Gentile name rather than a Jewish one.

“Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.” It is clear from subsequent verses that John Mark had caused some disappointment in Paul’s opinion of him. (see Acts 15:38). Later on in the narrative of Acts, we learn that the division between John Mark and Paul eventually affected that between Barnabas and Paul so that they separated in their work at a later point as well. John Mark, being a young man, may have lacked the maturity to adhere to the rigorous schedule that Paul was keeping, or it may have been a simple difference in approach. At any rate, the letters of Paul later revealed that they were reconciled wonderfully to one another.

“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” Worship in the synagogue on the Sabbath Day was liturgical and much like that of the Prayer Book; however, the form of worship is never so important as that Divine Being in whose Person you have placed your faith. The Law and the prophets were read usually followed by an exposition of them. The Jews had only half the truth if they had not Christ – and half is not enough in the economy of heaven.

“The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.” A proper worship of God requires that we must acknowledge His works in our lives. Here, Paul reminds the people of how God guided and protected them in the Wilderness by no man’s power but God’s. “And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.” The people, all along in the Wilderness journey, were murmurers and complainers of, not only God Himself, but those whom God had placed over them. This He did in spite of so many marvelous works of providence and miracles of light, thunder, water, and smoky cloud.

“And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.” It was the Will of God to take from the unrighteous and give to the righteous. Though Israel was often disobedient and stiff-necked, God inclined a tender and forgiving heart to them. Those who so out rightly rejected Him in Canaan, for them He had no mercy. WE must daily consider our standing in God to make our election sure.

“And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.” If God will give the judge, or the magistrate, the land will enjoy justice. When judges are named for political reasons, the system will soon be corrupted and there can be no justice. The Will of the Lord was that Israel should have no king, but judges of His choosing. The issue reminds me of a quote from 44 B.C. by a great advocate of the Republican form of government which I love to repeat: "Power and law are not synonymous. In truth they are frequently in opposition and irreconcilable. There is God's Law from which all Equitable laws of man emerge and by which men must live if they are not to die in oppression, chaos and despair. Divorced from God's eternal and immutable Law, established before the founding of the suns, man's power is evil no matter the noble words with which it is employed or the motives urged when enforcing it. Men of good will, mindful therefore of the Law laid down by God, will oppose governments whose rule is by men, and if they wish to survive as a nation they will destroy the government which attempts to adjudicate by the whim of venal judges." -Marcus Tullius Cicero

“And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.” Just as our modern wonders of legislative process of today wish to emulate all that is European in law and government (a system which our forefathers endured much deprivation in escaping), the people of Israel did not want to have God as their king, but mere men such as their surrounding neighbors had. They didn’t want to be different or peculiar, but that is exactly what the man or woman of God is called to be - “Come ye out from among them and be separate!” The irony of the moment could not have escaped Paul’s notice: the first king of Israel shared the same name of Paul (Saul) and the same tribe as well.

“And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Saul did not do that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. He ruled in an ungodly manner, consulted with the Witch of Indor, and fell at his own hand on the battlefield. David was an unpretentious, courageous shepherd boy whose heart was given over to God in innocence. David was a man after God’s own heart, but even David sinned shamefully and sought forgiveness (which was granted) of the Lord.

“Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.” Yes, the Seed of Abraham, through David as the royal and priestly line (both sides thereof). It is interesting to note that the lineage of Christ, given in Matthew and Luke differ in some respects. In Matthew 1, we have the lineage given from Abraham down through David and Solomon down to Joseph, the husband of Mary. (Christ is One who came down from Heaven). This lineage in Matthew provides a Royal lineage through Solomon. In Luke 3, we have the lineage given, beginning at Christ and leading up the genealogical COLUMN to Nathan the prophet and finally all the way back to God the Father (Christ not only came DOWN, but He also ascended back up to Heaven). This lineage provides for the priestly lineage of Christ (through Nathan’s side).

“When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.” What a prophet was John the Baptist! Yet, he was not worthy to unloose the shoe laces of Him of Whom he prophesied. We read of him in Isaiah 40:3 - “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” He is also explicitly described in Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, and John 1:23 in precisely the same words of Isaiah. God’s people must repent ere Shiloh come! I believe that we often feel alienated from the world as Christians. If so, that is precisely how we should feel. We are not citizens of this world. This world is perishable and shall surely end in chaotic and cataclysmic ruin. We are citizens of heaven and should deport ourselves as such. Just as John was a “Voice Crying in the Wilderness” so are we who believe the whole counsel of God. There are not a great number of hearers in a wicked and adulterous world. We are, therefore, like voices crying in the Wilderness, yet, even in the Wilderness, there are those who travel far and wide and come to it to hear God’s Word. Such people who come must forsake the things of Egypt – its comforts, its security, its opulence – and come into the Wilderness place to be led of God. We must not only hear that Voice crying in the Wilderness, we must all become that voice in our living, in our associations, in our daily intercourse, and in our very being. Have you yet come to the Wilderness, my friends?

Episcopal Appointment

Dear Friends and Family of the Anglican Orthodox Communion:
This letter will confirm that the Rt Rev. Dennis Campbell has been designated Bishop of Virginia, a post left vacant by the good Bishop Roger Jessup, Sr. who is suffering from illness for these past few years.
A certificate will be issued to Bishop Dennis Campbell making the designation official. He will assume the responsibilities of his new (and additional) duties immediately. Bishop Campbell graciously agreed to this post in previous discussions. He will have the good offices of the Rev Roger Jessup of St Joseph's of Arimethea and the Rev Ken Johnson upon which to rely as a help in his ministry.
Please join me and the AOC in prayers that God will bless and propser the Diocese of Virginia under the able leadership and episcopal oversight of Bishop Campbell.
In Christ our Lord,

Jerry L. Ogles
Presiding bishop
AOC