God makes a Way for His Own - 13 January 2021, Anno Domini

 

            We read of the bringing of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. They had ventured there to escape famine 400 years earlier and had become too comfortable there. In fact, they remained 400 years and had been taken into bondage by the Egyptians. Egypt symbolically means sin and bondage in Scripture. The account of the Red Sea crossing is found in the 13^th chapter of Exodus. The gravity of this chapter, and the next few chapters, of Exodus are of such profound meaning that it becomes difficult to relate the depth of meaning in a devotional format. I urge the reader to study these chapters for a deeper understanding. 

 

            On a somewhat dismal Sunday afternoon, two men were walking on the Road to Emmaus lamenting the events of the past three days (the crucifixion and burial of their great Teacher. They had thought that He could not be killed by any man, but there you have it. He is dead and buried – or so they believed. Suddenly, a third party joins in their conversation and asks the reason for their despondency. They are surprised that there is any so foolish or uninformed as to not know the sordid events that have stolen their own joy in all of the region. Little did they know that the Savior, whose death they mourned, walked by their very side. The life of the Christian is like that. During the moments that our faith seems to plunge to the depths of the sea and we fill alone and abandoned by God and man, The One who is BOTH God and man is walking right beside us in our sorrow and doubts. How blind if the faithless eye!

 

            In the passage today, God has brought the Children of Israel on the way to leave Egypt. He has promised to bring them out, and He has done so with a Mighty Arm. He is with them on the way just as He is with us on our way (if we are His). “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?  And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.” (Ex 3:11-12) Just as surely as the Lord was with the two men on the Road to Emmaus, He is with you and me as we travel the Road of Life. As the Children leave Goshen, God directs their way just as He directs our own steps today. 

 

The firstborn are sanctified to God

 

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ND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. 

 

You will observe just as the Lord required the first born of Egypt in that terrible Passover night, so He requires the consecration of Israel’s first-born to Himself. The foundation of this duty rested on the fact that the Israelites, having had their first-born preserved by a distinguishing act of grace from the general destruction that overtook the families of the Egyptians, were bound in token of gratitude to consider them as the Lord's peculiar property. The called out in the Church of the First Born are likewise consecrated to God.

 

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O the general assembly and church of the firstborn (the Lord Jesus Christ), which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.  (Heb 12:23)

 

Redemption of the first-born male child of Israel required the sacrifice of a lamb.

 

The Passover Commanded

 

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ND Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4 This day came ye out in the month Abib. 5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. 8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. 9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. 10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year. (Ex 13:3-10)

 

            ABIB roughly equates of our March-April period on the modern calendar. This is the Passover that is to be kept as an observance forever. We still keep the Passover in our observance of Holy Communion. There are two significant symbols here that gives us a better understanding of the nature of the Lord’s Supper – Egypt and Leaven! Egypt prophetically symbolizes the Life of Sin. God has redeemed us through the Blood of the Lamb from our penalty for sin. Leaven represents the spreading effects of sin and false doctrine. It is for this reason that we consume unleavened bread in the Communion. The Bread represents the Body of Christ, and Christ was sinless; therefore the symbol must remain consistent with that which is being symbolized. Matzo bread is a fitting symbol of that unleavened bread of the Passover. For convenience, we use the unleavened wafer today.

 

The firstborn of beasts are set apart

 

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ND it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, 12 That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S. 13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. 14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: 15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. 16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt. 

 

            Here I should point out that all who are the redeemed of the Lord (the OT & NT Church) are those for whom the Blood of Christ (the First-Born) was shed in propitiation for sins. The observance of Passover is a memorial to the redemption of God’s people from slavery in Egypt. The observance of the new Passover (Holy Communion) is the memorial of the redemption of the People of God from sin by the shed blood of the First-Born – Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God.

 

The Israelites go out of Egypt, and carry Joseph's bones with them

 

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ND the it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: 18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. 20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. (Exodus 13:17-20)

 

            You are reminded of the promise Joseph demanded from his brethren that his bones not be left in Egypt. “And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.” (Gen 50:25) When we leave sin and Egypt, we are to leave no part of our persons behind – only those things that belong to sin unlike the wife of Lot who could not bear leaving her luxuries in Sodom and cast a longing, and salty, look back.

 

God neither forsakes nor leaves His people

 

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ND the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.  (Ex 13:21-22)

 

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O, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matt 28:20)

 

 

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 will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb 13:5) 

 

He is ALWAYS with His people. Not only did God send forth the Pillar of Fire by Night, and the Pillar of a Cloud by Day, but God Himself was in that Pillar to defend His people, Israel. Those who travel in the dark streets of night need light from without themselves. For the Christian, walking in this dark and sinful world, we need the Light of God’s Word. We dare not go a single day without that Light! The Pillar of Cloud and Fire serves to both lead us, and to defend us from the enemy who “walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” The Pillar of Cloud is called the Glory, and that Cloud-Pillar is represented on the Seal of the United States above the great Eagle. How we need, but have abandoned today, that leading of God in our national life.

Hymns of the Church – Only Remembered – 12 January 2021, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

 

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 WILL make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.  (Psalm 45:17)

 

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ND I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.  (Revelations 14:13)

 

             Not many days ago, I was reviewing a packet of correspondence and literature that I had received from Bishop James Parker Dees, the founder of our Church in 1963. This material covers a long period of communication mostly via mail since we did not enjoy internet service in the olden days. Bishop Dees faced hard choices that lesser men would not fain to make. He saw the Episcopal church (PECUSA) launching out into the dark and turbid waters of doctrinal heresy. Not willing to be party with those who would reject Holy Scripture and embrace heresy, Bishop Dees withdrew and instituted the Anglican Orthodox Communion based on the solid doctrinal formularies and biblical foundation of the English Reformation. He was scorned and demeaned by ministers of his former church (PECUSA) by demonstrators with loudspeakers and torches well into the night for three days, but he did not deviate from his righteous course. He committed his family savings to the building and perpetuation of the Church.

 

            There were many old tracts and news clippings of mission trips among ther many papers; but I came upon a copy of an old, old hymn that I believe is a proper memorial of the work of such courageous men as Bishop Dees – ONLY REMEMBERED. The hymn is written by the Rev. Horatius Bonar of Edinburg, Scotland,(1808-1889) and was sung at the funeral of Dr. C.H. Spurgeon. Bonar helped found the Free Church of Scotland and worked as well to organize evangelical meetings of D.L. Moody on his visits to the English Isles. His many hymns were codified by the music director of Moody, Ira Sankey.

 

 

Only Remembered

Up and Away, Like the Dew of the Morning

 

Fading away like the stars of the morning,

Losing their light in the glorious sun--

Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling,

Only remembered by what we have done.

Refrain:

Only remembered, only remembered,

Only remembered by what we have done;

Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling,

Only remembered by what we have done.

 

Shall we be miss'd though by others succeeded,

Reaping the fields we in springtime have sown?

No, for the sowers may pass from their labors,

Only remembered by what they have done.

Refrain

 

Only the truth that in life we have spoken,

Only the seed that on earth we have sown;

These shall pass onward when we are forgotten,

Fruits of the harvest and what we have done. 

Refrain

 

Oh, when the Saviour shall make up His jewels,

When the bright crowns of rejoicing are won,

Then shall His weary and faithful disciples,

All be remembered by what they have done.

Refrain

 

1 Fading away like the stars of the morning, Losing their light in the glorious sun-- Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling, Only remembered by what we have done. When a small lad, my father would wake me early in the morning before sunrise, splash cold water on my face, and take me out in the meadowlands surrounding our home. In those days (I was about five years old) it would not have been my willing desire to go out at such an hour while it was yet dark, but no it is one of my fondest memories. In the late autumn months, the ground and vegetation would be covered with frost. My dad, I suppose, was trying to toughen me up since he had learned the importance of early rising and exercise during the Second World War which had just been concluded. I remember the pristine skies of the autumn and winter months, the chill of the air which was usually dead calm, but the most beautiful memory I have of that time was the pristine canopy of heaven punctuate by brilliant points of light. 

 

The sky was literally full of those lights with the cloudlike Milky Way bisecting the Universe above. My father pointed out the Big Dipper, the Seven Sisters and other celestial bodies and made me identify them each morning. I was very puzzled that the stars only shown at night. Why did they disappear after sunrise? The Bright and Morning Star was always last to abandon its place in heaven. It was very bright during the hours of darkness but disappeared with the coming of the Sun. That Bright and Morning Star represents our Lord in our dark and dreary pilgrimage in the wilderness of the sins of this world. He is there to renew His promise that He will never leave nor forsake us – even when darkness is all around. But there comes a Sunrise to the people of God – a time when the very Sun of Righteousness (and our Day Star) shall arise. In that day, all other heavenly lights will vanish in the brilliance of His beams. Whatsoever treasure we have placed on deposit beyond the Gates of Splendor will be our earnest deposit for that day.

 

2 Shall we be miss'd though by others succeeded, Reaping the fields we in springtime have sown? No, for the sowers may pass from their labors, Only remembered by what they have done. Why should we remember and honor those saints of God who precede us in death? It is not them that we honor, but the Lord Jesus Christ who labored through them to do the works of righteousness. In every success I may have in life, I honor my mother and father for I would not have been here to do so had God not given my mother conception that I might be born. In all the works of nature, we see no accidents! Every flower, every bird, every raindrop,  is a creation of the Maker of all things. In remembering the martyrs of faith, the great Reformers, the Apostles of the Lord – we are actually honoring and remembering the One who gave strength and direction to their labors. All my good works (the little that I do) are not my own, but Christ who works in and through me. The unfruitful works I do belong solely to me.

 

            3 Only the truth that in life we have spoken, Only the seed that on earth we have sown; These shall pass onward when we are forgotten, Fruits of the harvest and what we have done. The sowers of the filed may not seem like illustrious workers but wait for the due time when those seed produce a profusion of fruit. Without the sower, there would be no crop other than weeds and briars (the fruits sown by the Adversary). Only those things we do out of compulsion of love will survive the fervent fires of this world. In fact, love is the only thing that we own that will survive death. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39)

 

4 Oh, when the Saviour shall make up His jewels, When the bright crowns of rejoicing are won, Then shall His weary and faithful disciples, All be remembered by what they have done. I am often troubled by the dreary thought of appearing empty-handed before the Lord. After all He has done for me, and all that He has given in blessing, how could I presume to come before him naked and penniless? The treasures we bring are the kinds that are most often not seen by the world – the broken chains we made possible for those in bondage, the happy smile of an orphan child whom we may have fed and clothed, the grateful tears of the widow for whom we provided shelter – all these are the treasures we have laid up on heavenly account. We who love the Lord are the same jewels, in His eye, as the beloved and obedient child of the blessed mother’s bearing. We go to Him in our imperfections that have been tempered by love and faith. “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him  (Malachi 3:17)

 

  Do not forget the service with the love.

 

AOC Sunday Report - First Sunday after the Epiphany

Happy First Sunday after the Epiphany!

The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

There are really great sermons today from Bishop Jerry and Revs Jack and Bryan.  Bishop Roy is feeling poorly, but promises an even better next Sunday.

There are always a lot of people who desire your prayer, today is no exception, there never will be.  I ask your personal favor to pray for the aforementioned Roy, as well as Shamu and Mrs. Kay and Bob and our Jim Flanagan who is recovering from surgery.  Please take the time.  If you have spare time, you might add me in, I managed to get the shingles, which, if you have not had them, are no fun.

There is an epic week ahead. You all not find it without the help of the Holy Ghost.  Look for it through Him.

Godspeed,

Hap

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

United States of America

First Sunday after The Epiphany- Propers with explanation - Rev Jack's Sermon

See below for the Propers

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action
Church of the Faithful Centurion, Descanso, California

Today’s sermon ties together the propers, that is to say the prayer and readings for this week. Consider these words from the Collect:

 

…grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same…

 

As imperfect creatures with free will, we will never figure out what we should be doing, let

alone do it, on our own.  We are confused beings who get into trouble left to our own devices. Without an external source of help, we will never be able to follow God on our own.  God sent the Holy Ghost that we might listen to Him and understand. He will give us the ability to figure out and know what and how we are to do the things we need to do here on Earth for Him. Not just understand The Word spoken to us through Jesus and the Scriptures, but to understand what we should do; hence the prayer to figure out what we need to do, then give us the power or strength to do what we are supposed to do.  He will help us to understand how to implement the concepts found in Scripture in our day to day lives and live the Word. We might have some difficulties, some nervousness, some stumbling; but in the end as long as we act and do our best to follow His will, and not worry, things shall be ok. The key word is act.

 

To live the Word requires action and self-improvement each and every day of our lives. We need to ask ourselves at the end of each day, what did I do to act for God and what I did right today and what did I not do right? And figure out with the help of the Holy Ghost how to correct our wrongs and go on to the next day and do our best to do better.

 

Christianity is all about action and self-improvement. Part of the self-improvement is  have to recognizing the signs we are in trouble and immediately consult Him and His Word and figure out an action plan according to the principles in Scripture. This is a continuous process that will occur for the rest of our earthly lives.  Jesus set the ultimate example for us in action, by His Death and Resurrection. His Ministry revolved around action and helping others. We must do the best to do likewise and act. It is by our actions that our faith in Him is shown to others. 

 

We are asking God to help us know what we should do and then help us to do it right.  Seems pretty simple, but is the root of almost all our problems. It is harder to do what is right than what seems easy to us at the time.  First, even if we ask God what He wants us to do, “There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.”  Then, if we hear what He wants us to do, and hear it correctly, we often find it “too hard.”  Do you recall this quote from GK Chesterton:

 

“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”

 

 

So, once we find out what God wants, we often try to rationalize our way around it. Note the word try. There is no good way to rationalize our way around what God wants in the end. It is impossible to rationally get around the concepts found in the Summary of the Law. Think about the 613 Mosaic laws and the Pharisees who made a good living telling people how to comply with them to the letter and still do just what they wanted to do.  So, then, even if we find out what God wants and decide to actually do it instead of avoid it, we are faced with the often huge problem of where do we get the strength to accomplish this task?  The answer is circular, from God.  He never asks us to do anything we cannot do good enough for Him if we rely on Him.  Never.  End of that discussion. 

 

What we need to do next is we need to turn ourselves outward.  Not be self-centered, but we must think of God and our fellow Christians.  Speaking of that, one of the tools God gives us to get things done is a Team; that Team is fellow Christians.  So, we need to work together as a Team.  Think not of your glory, but that of God.  President Reagan had a sign on his desk which read:

 

“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.”

 

Paul tells us not to concentrate on our status, position or grandeur, but to see what we can do to help.  Just like our body would not function if all parts were brains, neither will Christ’s Team function if everyone is concerned about their position.

 

When we look at the Gospel today, aside from the historical function telling us that Jesus was in the temple bringing the light of the gospel to the rabbis, there are other lessons.  We do not want to micromanage your life, but it is a good idea keep your friends and family informed of what you are doing and where you are going.   Jesus’ earthly parents risked life and limb going back up the road to Jerusalem at night.  But, that was their duty as parents.  A duty must be done, no matter the cost. The lesson here is to keep your family and friends well informed of what you are doing, rather than going off on your own, figuring you can handle it. 

 

Duty means to do what you are supposed to do, then count the cost.  There is no sense of duty if you are merely doing what is easiest for you at the time.  While doing your duty will in the end be the right thing, thus the easiest thing, it may not seem so at the time.  Doing one’s duty can result in one’s temporal death, the end of their time here on earth.  Not an easy way on the surface.  But, recall that what seems like that easy downhill path leads to The Pit, it does not lead to the summit.  Our country is where it is today because of those who preceded us, those who did their duty.  It will not keep going up if, as a country, we stroll down that wide smooth downhill boulevard.  We must struggle to stay on the narrow path, which leads to the summit.  

 

Look back at those who stepped forward when the country called, Concord, Veracruz, Gettysburg, San Juan Hill, Chateau Thierry, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Peleliu, Bastogne, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Chosin Reservoir, Ia Drang Valley, Khe Sanh, Hanoi, Laos, Cambodia, Basra, Kabul, Bagdad and countless unfamiliar and unpronounceable names in Southwest Asia.  In them, you find a unifying theme of Duty, doing what you have to do, no matter what it takes, then count the cost.  Those who fought for our country did it out of duty to their country and God and to protect their family. We must emulate their purpose and serve God dutifully. Christ is the ultimate example of this, the only begotten Son of God, yet doing His duty to die for us, which is what God needed Him to do, to save us from eternal hellfire.  So, it was His Duty and He did it with honor.

 

Through duty, we too might have a noble death and welcoming in heaven.  We must do our duty to God, to Honor, to Country and Family.  Sometimes we will fall short, for we are imperfect creatures with that darn free will.  Thus, at times we choose the wrong path or our strength falls short or we just cannot do what is needed of us.  Then, we need to reset and restart towards the goal God has set for us.

 

But, back to the Gospel and the parents’ arrival at the temple, where lo, they found him.  He was among the learned men “both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”  His parents were amazed and confounded.  He asked them why they worried and why they did not understand that he was about his Father’s business[1].  It is noteworthy to see Jesus at twelve was able to “hold his own” with the learned scholars of Judah.  He was able to out reason those who lived to dissect the Law.  “A little child shall lead them,” (Isaiah 11:1-10)

 

He comes!

 

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

The Propers are found on Page 109-111 with the Collect first:

 

The First Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

 

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LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ

to the Gentiles.

[January 6.]

The Collect.

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 GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave

 

The Epistle for today came from the Twelfth Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans beginning at the First Verse. Paul asks not only those long gone Romans, but us, as well, to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”  He tells us our home is in heaven.  Life here is not the end, rather the stepping off point, either to heaven or hell.  Thus, were are “not conformed to this world: but to be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that we ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Some of us may be better than others, but all fall short of the minimum standard.  Through Christ we attain eternal life.  In the meantime, each of us should not “think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”  Each of us has a place in the church, a reason to be and job to do.  “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

 

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 BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

 

The Gospel for today came from the Second Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke beginning at the Forty-First Verse.  It tells the story of when Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem after the Passover Feast in his twelfth year.  When they were done, the family group, for they likely traveled with their extended family for safety, left together.  After the first day’s travel they stopped for the night and could not find Jesus.  So, fearing the worst, they headed back at night for Jerusalem.  Braving robbers and worse, they made their way back.   After looking for three days, they went to the temple, where lo, they found him[1].  He was among the learned men “both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”  His parents were amazed and confounded.  He asked them why they worried and why they did not understand that he was about his Father’s business.  It is noteworthy that Jesus at twelve was able to “hold his own” with the learned scholars of Judah.  He was able to out reason those who lived to dissect the Law.  “A little child shall lead them,” (Isaiah 11:1-10)

 

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OW his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist[2] ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

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[1] Note also the tremendous advantage God has over the Devil.  Not only did God make both man and the Devil, but He has actually been a man, the Devil only read about men and thought about men and contemplated men. In Jesus, God has been a man.  Note - in this instance, He learned about the compassion, worry and duty of parents towards their Son!  The Devil, not so much.

[2] wist – understood or grasped.

---

[1] Note also the tremendous advantage that God has over the Devil.  Not only did God make both man and the Devil, but He has actually been a man, the Devil only read about men and thought about men and contemplated men. In Jesus, God has been a man.  Note - in this instance, He learned about the compassion, worry and duty of parents towards their Son!  The Devil, not so much.

Sermon Notes - First Sunday after The Epiphany - 10 January 2021, Anno Domini (in the Year of Our Lord)

 

The First Sunday after The Epiphany.

The Collect.

 

O

LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ

to the Gentiles.

[January 6.]

The Collect.

O

 GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave

 

A

T the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 

 

W

OE unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:1-14)

 

Who, indeed, is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? What motivates the question? Is it a covetous and proud spirit?

 

Man wants to always have a prominent position.  Little children could care less about the position – they simply desire the company of someone who loves them and whom they love.

 

First

 Jesus shows the conditions for the entrance of the Kingdom by example:

 

Jesus here sets an excellent example for us: He does not use the old approach of parents – "Because I said so!" He sets an example of a little child. Let a little child teach them…..Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

 

Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,

 

Notice that the little child does not recoil from the arms of Jesus. The child, though not having known Christ for more than a short few minutes, trust this heart of His implicitly.

 

Children are generally excellent judges of character.

 

This is the manner and state of the Kingdom of Heaven – it is like the innocent heart of a little child and, yet, there are those in it who wish to be first in the Kingdom.

 

Those who wish to be first will always persecute those of less stature. They will forbid, as much as possible, others from coming near to Christ. This is demonstrated also in Mark:

 

A

ND they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.  

 

He shows the conditions of entrance into and eminence in His kingdom by a living example.

 

There were always children at hand round Him, when He wanted them. 

 

Their quick instinct for pure and loving souls drew them to Him, and this little one was not afraid to be taken by the hand, and to be afterward caught up in His arms, and pressed to His heart.

 

The discussion of the disciples made a certain presumption that was not entirely correct. They presumed that each present would be in the Kingdom of Heaven. We know this was not true for at least one among them – namely, Judas Iscariot.

Greatest in the kingdom? Make sure that you go in at all, first; which you will never do, so long as you keep your present ambitious minds.'

 

What a child is naturally, and without effort or merit, by reason of age and position, we must become, if we are to pass the narrow portal which admits into the Kingdom of Heaven. For broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be they go in thereat. 

 

Before becoming the star of the team, be certain that you first make the team!

 

The child is, by its very position, lowly and modest, and makes no claims, and lives by instinctive confidence, and does not care about honors, and has these qualities which in us are virtues, and is not puffed up by possessing them.

 

 That is the ideal which is realized more generally in the child than analogous ideals are immature manhood. Such simplicity, modesty, humility, must be ours. 

 

We must be made small ere we can enter that door. 

 

And as is the requirement for entrance, so is it for eminence. The child does not humble himself, but is humble by nature, but we must humble ourselves if we would be great.

 

Second

After answering the question of preeminence in the Kingdom, Christ goes on to express our duties and responsibilities for little ones:

 

A

ND whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. 6. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

The subject, then, of these verses is the blessedness of recognizing and welcoming Christlike lowly believers, and the fatal effect of the opposite conduct. 

 

To 'receive one such little child in My name' is just to have a sympathetic appreciation of, and to be ready to welcome to heart and home, those who are lowly in their own and in the world's estimate, but princes of Christ's court and kingdom.

 

"In my Name" 'In My name' is equivalent to 'for the sake of My revealed character,' and refers both to the receiver and to the received. The blessedness of such reception, so far as the receiver is concerned, is not merely that he thereby comes into happy relations with Christ's foremost servants, but that he gets Christ Himself into his heart

 

When a person is an agent for a company, he acts in the name of the company and in the best interests and purposes of the company. When we act in the Name of Christ, we act in every way as much as if it were our Lord Himself giving the directions.

 

Third

Christ summarizes the honor and dignity of His 'little ones.'

 

E

VEN so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

 

If God wills a thing, it will surely come to pass. Even the smallest and weakest among us, devoted to Christ, will not perish but have everlasting life.

Ploughing a Straight Line - 7 January 2021, Anno Domini

 

N

OW when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. (Matt 11:2-19)

 

John the Baptist has been imprisoned for a terrible crime – that of proclaiming the truth. He had told King Herod that to live in concupiscence and adultery by marrying his brother, Philip’s wife – Herodias. Can you imagine? Today, John would be accused of that disarming act of being “too judgmental” yet John simply proclaimed God’s judgment from His Word! We walk daily among many Herods and Herodiases who would if they could cast us into prison for revealing their sinful lives to them. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. (Mark 6:17-20) If you cannot abide the message, then by all means kill the messenger. The messenger is killed today by accusations of being too judgmental; thus the church has become sterile and impotent in dealing with sin. Instead of being salt and light to the world, the church has heard the world and agreed not to judge against the sins of the world.

 

What is the first characteristic of John the Baptist that comes to mind when his name is mentioned? For me, I think of a Voice Crying in the Wilderness – For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Matt 3:3) What is this Wilderness?

 

Wilderness - a wild or uncultivated state. (Webster’s 11^th Collegiate Dictionary) The greatest and most desponding of wildernesses is not geographic, but spiritual. Bread and water are in short supply in a geographic wilderness, but so, too, in a spiritual one – there is lacking the Bread of Heaven and the Water of Life on the neon-lit streets of most American cities. As one walks those streets, he sees a wanton decadence and lust in the vacant faces of those he meets. There is no one with which he can fellowship concerning the riches of Christ for all are spiritually penniless. On those streets, the only mention of Christ is as a ‘Voice Crying in the Wilderness.’

 

The text today falls into two sections. The first: reveals a faltering faith of the great witness (John) and Christ’s gentle response to this man of faith. (verses 2-6) The second: Christ provides a witness to John of the truth of His ministry. We are not to consider John weak in faith for that is clearly not the case. John has been imprisoned and treated with dishonor. His life is in peril daily, yet he continues to believe under harsh conditions that exceed our ability to comprehend. But any of us have moments when we need a reassuring word, and this is the moment when John sends for confirmation.

 

 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? This is not for the benefit of John’s disciples, but for his own comfort of reassurance. He is giving his very life on preparing the way for Christ’s ministry, so a reassuring word under these circumstances is reasonable. John is in prison in the gloomy fortress of Machaerus that Herod had built to serve as a sinful pleasure house and an impregnable fortress in the savage hills of Moab. The halls of pleasure and impregnable walls have collapsed, but the dungeon area is still discernible with the holes in the masonry to serve as witness of the chains of its victims (John included).

 

 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Christ gently gives counsel to John’s disciples to go and give testimony of all that has been prophesied and fulfilled in the ministry of Christ.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5-6)  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.  (Isaiah 61:1) These are prophecies written seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, so we are emboldened in our faith to see their complete fulfillment – so was John. I love that phrase from Isaiah regarding the proclamation of Liberty to the captives. As a nation, God has favored our founding and our place as a nation among the nations of the world; but He has also made available to every man and woman of every land this Liberty from the captivity of sin if they will but come to Him. Jesus tells these things to John’s disciples so that John will have his faith confirmed, but to us, too!

 

 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. These are all questions whose import is every whit as directed to us today as to the disciples around Jesus. When we go to prayer service, do we go to see some amazing performance of a man preacher?  These services are seldom called prayer services today, but more often ‘Celebrations” or “Festivals.” Such terms describe experiences intended to uplift man; prayers and worship uplift Christ! Do we expect our clergy to wear the latest fashion in clothing? My father told me any man given to frequent changes of fashion in attire is also likely to be blown about by every wind of doctrine. We have evangelists today clothed in $2,000.00 suits, wearing great diamond rings, and sporting gold, Rolex watches appealing for “seed money” from widows and elderly who barely can supply their pantries with bread. I can almost smell the scorching fires of their punishment to come. John is no mere prophet, but the chosen messenger of God to herald the coming of His only Begotten Son!

 

            For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (see also Malachi 3:1) Christ extols the virtues of John after his disciples depart. He desires that no honor be lost of John’s character in sending his questions to Christ. The character of Christ is quite different from that of men: Christ gives acclaim to the Baptist after his disciples have departed. Man gives flamboyant acclaim to men to their faces, but often critical stabs to their backs. Though John stands high above the mark in the company of men, he is well short in the Kingdom of Heaven to which he aspires – as are all of us.

 

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. The battle is hot and the mournful cries of the battlefield are full of the painful suffering of the saints. The path to the Kingdom is not a self-willed, demonstration of manly power (as is today in the modern church), but a gentle following of that Great Shepherd of the Flock. The wolves stalk the flock seeking every remunerative opportunity to shed blood and get advantage. This describes the Kingdom of Matthew 13:31-32. Those ‘birds’ lodging in its branches are demons, and they most often win the higher positions of honor in the tree.

 

 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.  Christ is generous in sharing great mysteries to those whose ears are open in humble faith to hear. Amazingly, the worldly-wise can never grasp the simplicity of truth uttered by Christ. But if we have ears (open ears, believing ears, trusting ears, hearing ears) to hear (not just the Words but the Spirit speaking) understand these mysteries.  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.  (Mal 4:5-6) Please note the last word of the Old Testament: CURSE. The law is a curse to those who do not believe. Note the last word of the New Testament: AMEN (hearty approval).  Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  (Rev 22:20-21) There is a glorious difference in our prospects from the Old to the New Testament. Jesus Christ makes ALL the difference!

 

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. Donald Frasier wrote (in Metaphors of the Gospel) that Jesus ‘pictured a group of little children playing at make-believe marriages and funerals. First, they acted a marriage procession; some of them piping on instruments of music, while the rest were expected to leap and dance. In a perverse mood, however, these refused to respond, but stood still and looked discontented. So the little pipers changed their game and proposed a funeral. They began to imitate the loud wailing of Eastern mourners. But again they were thwarted, for their companions refused to chime in with the mournful cry and to beat their breasts.’  These non-participating children are nonplayers. They never like the tune or the narrative, but stand jeering on the sidelines. Have our churches become such dead events of observation?

 

 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. The world will always find cause to condemn the people of God and to kill the prophets. Either they are too pious, or they lack piety; either they are too hot, or they are too cold; either they are too bold, or not bold enough; either they are too spiritual, or not spiritual enough. If we are the Children of Wisdom, we shall have ears that hear and know. We dare not stand on the sidelines jeering, but become active responders to the pipe. The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. (Isaiah 50:4-5)

 

Are we rebellious children jeering those who labor, or are we those who, taking to the plow, never cast an eye right, left, or back, but plow a straight row for Christ? (Luke 9:62)