Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California

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

Rev Jack Arnold

Consider the words of the Collect, “…God … keep us … from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest …”

 

The Collect asks God to keep us from things that are bad for us and make our hearts ready so we can do the things He wants us to do; this ties perfectly with the Epistle and Gospel as it always does.  The message of the Collect, the Epistle and the Gospel can be summarized by Stay away from things that will harm your spiritual and physical health and do things good for your health and be spiritually aware of what is going on.

 

One word that intrigues me from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is “circumspectly”; which when I looked it up meant “wary and unwilling to take risks.”  I believe Paul meant today we should not be taking risks with our faith, but walking in that which has been tried and true for over two thousand years. He means we should not compromise our belief in the Gospel. We cannot risk comprising the integrity of the faith. Too many of the modern so called Christian churches today compromise the integrity of the faith to gain more power on this Earth. We called not to compromise on the core of our faith which is Jesus and His Death and sacrifice and resurrection.  This is not what being a Church is supposed to be about. It is supposed to draw people closer to God, not away from Him.  We are called to be shining lights towards God and to stand out, to be holy, and not part of the darkness of this World. If God has not changed over the millennia, why should we change our position? 

 

Indeed, we must not change our position; if it is truly derived from His Holy Word, then it should never change. If a minister or bishop’s position conflicts with Scripture, then you know they are not in line with His Word and is not a fellow believer. We must all strive to be in congruence with His Word. We are all working together in His Church to further His Cause. If we are not all on the same page, then we are not furthering His Work. We have to all work together to spread the Gospel, each person contributes to the much larger picture of spreading the Gospel. 

 

Paul in his Epistle warns us not to drink to excess, but to keep it in moderation. He does not mean never to drink wine, as some, (Puritans and certain Baptists, among others) would take, but rather have “moderation in all things”; which is a similar idea Paul expresses in 1 Corinthians 6:12, All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.  Just because you can do something, like drinking or eating, does not mean you should do it to excess where it can cause you harm. He is warning against excesses in everything, and that we should do everything in a healthy dose of moderation. Eating too much can cause stomach problems, something we want to avoid. Drinking too much can cause serious issues, not the least of which is hangovers; the worst is drinking to death. 

 

Our Lord wants us to be moderate in our celebration, not celebrating to the point of excess where bad things can happen to our bodies and our minds; but celebrating to where we are thankful to Him for all things, and for His Love.

 

This is the unifying theme of both the Epistle and the Gospel for today. Keep everything we do in moderation and avoid excesses in anything.  Rather than turn to the excesses of this world, Paul says we must turn to God and be filled with His Grace of the Holy Spirit; making joyful noises to the Lord, be it in prayer or song while giving thanks always for all things to God. 

 

The Gospel’s theme is that everybody is invited to God’s great feast and or wedding party (heaven) but if you do not have the right clothes (the Holy Ghost’s presence in your heart) then you will not be allowed to enter. Just like if somebody shows up to a black tie event wearing a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, if we are not up to God’s Holy Dress Code, then we will not be able to make it into heaven. How do we get His Dress code? Simple, we have to let the Holy Ghost into our hearts and read and digest His Word. Scripture will tell us how to act and be allowed into the feast.

 

How often are we thankful to God for letting us join His Feast? More often than not we seem to forget who made us, who created the world we dwell in, who created the fantastic beasts on land and in the sea. It seems very strange we forget to thank God for all of these things, but we do. Making a joyful noise unto the Lord is part of how we can do this, besides prayer and thanksgiving. Be it through songs, happy declarations to the Lord or joyful worship, we can send our joy unto our Lord.  This is part of the reason it is important to say prayers like the Gloria in the prayer book with “liveliness”, we are expressing our praise and thanksgiving unto God, for having sent His Son down to save us from our wicked selves. 

 

In our lives, we should be grateful to God more than we are. We are too often not thinking of God’s role in our lives and only thinking of our own. I can identify this. We have to widen our view to think of what God has done for us in our lives and appreciate and thank Him for it. We have to turn away from that temptation, and let the Holy Spirit in and guide us to thanking God for what He has done for us in our lives. 

 

The Collect, Epistle and Gospel tie together, laying out, detailing and reinforcing the same message ultimately.  We have to be ready and willing to listen to God, and walk with God, and act with the Holy Spirit in us, in order to have the right “clothes” to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

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?

 

The time to act is NOW.  Will you act?  For whom will you act?  Will you count the cost before you act?

 

Action, not diction, is what counts.  It is by your actions you are known.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

---

[1] In that day, the giver of such a feast would have provided wedding garments for those who traveled far and were unable to bring one.  In our case, Jesus provides the appropriate garb to those who will wear it, not just accept it and put it to one side.

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

The Propers for today are found on Page 217-218, with the Collect first: 

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

 

The Collect.

 

O

 ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Dru Arnold read the Epistle for today, which came from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians beginning at the Fifteenth Verse of the Fifth Chapter.  “… the days are evil.  … understand… what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; …” God wants us to be happy, to be good and to enjoy life.  The key to happiness is to do what God asks of you.  No more (you can’t), no less.  Though you fall short, keep trying, that is all God asks.   If you find this no other place, listen to the words of St. Paul.

 

S

ee then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

 

Hap Arnold read today’s Holy Gospel, which came from the Twenty-Second Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew beginning at the First Verse.  Talking to the priests and scribes, Jesus told one of the wedding parables, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then” he sent “his servants … into the highways” to “gather… together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment?[1] And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

J

esus said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California

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

 

Rev Jack Arnold

Consider the words of the Collect, “…God … keep us … from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest …”

 

The Collect asks God to keep us from things that are bad for us and make our hearts ready so we can do the things He wants us to do; this ties perfectly with the Epistle and Gospel as it always does.  The message of the Collect, the Epistle and the Gospel can be summarized by Stay away from things that will harm your spiritual and physical health and do things good for your health and be spiritually aware of what is going on.

 

One word that intrigues me from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is “circumspectly”; which when I looked it up meant “wary and unwilling to take risks.”  I believe Paul meant today we should not be taking risks with our faith, but walking in that which has been tried and true for over two thousand years. He means we should not compromise our belief in the Gospel. We cannot risk comprising the integrity of the faith. Too many of the modern so called Christian churches today compromise the integrity of the faith to gain more power on this Earth. We called not to compromise on the core of our faith which is Jesus and His Death and sacrifice and resurrection.  This is not what being a Church is supposed to be about. It is supposed to draw people closer to God, not away from Him.  We are called to be shining lights towards God and to stand out, to be holy, and not part of the darkness of this World. If God has not changed over the millennia, why should we change our position? 

 

Indeed, we must not change our position; if it is truly derived from His Holy Word, then it should never change. If a minister or bishop’s position conflicts with Scripture, then you know they are not in line with His Word and is not a fellow believer. We must all strive to be in congruence with His Word. We are all working together in His Church to further His Cause. If we are not all on the same page, then we are not furthering His Work. We have to all work together to spread the Gospel, each person contributes to the much larger picture of spreading the Gospel. 

 

Paul in his Epistle warns us not to drink to excess, but to keep it in moderation. He does not mean never to drink wine, as some, (Puritans and certain Baptists, among others) would take, but rather have “moderation in all things”; which is a similar idea Paul expresses in 1 Corinthians 6:12, All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.  Just because you can do something, like drinking or eating, does not mean you should do it to excess where it can cause you harm. He is warning against excesses in everything, and that we should do everything in a healthy dose of moderation. Eating too much can cause stomach problems, something we want to avoid. Drinking too much can cause serious issues, not the least of which is hangovers; the worst is drinking to death. 

 

Our Lord wants us to be moderate in our celebration, not celebrating to the point of excess where bad things can happen to our bodies and our minds; but celebrating to where we are thankful to Him for all things, and for His Love.

 

This is the unifying theme of both the Epistle and the Gospel for today. Keep everything we do in moderation and avoid excesses in anything.  Rather than turn to the excesses of this world, Paul says we must turn to God and be filled with His Grace of the Holy Spirit; making joyful noises to the Lord, be it in prayer or song while giving thanks always for all things to God. 

 

The Gospel’s theme is that everybody is invited to God’s great feast and or wedding party (heaven) but if you do not have the right clothes (the Holy Ghost’s presence in your heart) then you will not be allowed to enter. Just like if somebody shows up to a black tie event wearing a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, if we are not up to God’s Holy Dress Code, then we will not be able to make it into heaven. How do we get His Dress code? Simple, we have to let the Holy Ghost into our hearts and read and digest His Word. Scripture will tell us how to act and be allowed into the feast.

 

How often are we thankful to God for letting us join His Feast? More often than not we seem to forget who made us, who created the world we dwell in, who created the fantastic beasts on land and in the sea. It seems very strange we forget to thank God for all of these things, but we do. Making a joyful noise unto the Lord is part of how we can do this, besides prayer and thanksgiving. Be it through songs, happy declarations to the Lord or joyful worship, we can send our joy unto our Lord.  This is part of the reason it is important to say prayers like the Gloria in the prayer book with “liveliness”, we are expressing our praise and thanksgiving unto God, for having sent His Son down to save us from our wicked selves. 

 

In our lives, we should be grateful to God more than we are. We are too often not thinking of God’s role in our lives and only thinking of our own. I can identify this. We have to widen our view to think of what God has done for us in our lives and appreciate and thank Him for it. We have to turn away from that temptation, and let the Holy Spirit in and guide us to thanking God for what He has done for us in our lives. 

 

The Collect, Epistle and Gospel tie together, laying out, detailing and reinforcing the same message ultimately.  We have to be ready and willing to listen to God, and walk with God, and act with the Holy Spirit in us, in order to have the right “clothes” to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

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?

 

The time to act is NOW.  Will you act?  For whom will you act?  Will you count the cost before you act?

 

Action, not diction, is what counts.  It is by your actions you are known.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

---

[1] In that day, the giver of such a feast would have provided wedding garments for those who traveled far and were unable to bring one.  In our case, Jesus provides the appropriate garb to those who will wear it, not just accept it and put it to one side.

Sermon Notes - Twentieth Sunday after Trinity - Saint Andrew’s Anglican Orthodox Church - 25 October 2020, Anno Domini

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

 

The Collect.

 

O

 ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

T

HE Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? ⁴ And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? ⁶ Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. ⁷ They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? ⁸ He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹ And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (Matthew 19:3-9)

 

Then we skip to the next event – totally related to first:

 

T

HEN were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. ¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.  (Matthew 19:13-15)

 

Our first text deals with the very foundation of our society and how it relates to the Kingdom of Heaven – that of marriage. Marriage was ordained of God as the first institution among men – the foundation of communities, nations and societies – MARRIAGE. 

 

A

ND the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; ²² And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ²³ And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ²⁴ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:)

 

Please note in both cases that marriage is between a man and a woman – this signals God’s creative plan for the world, but also for a foreshadowing of the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

The Passover Lamb was a foreshadowing of the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world, for our sins.

 

The marriage ceremony is provided in the English Book of Common Prayer – a book which was derived from the Ancient Fathers and restored by the Anglican Reformers; however, the ceremony is the traditional one used by most churches today:

 

Read first paragraph of Matrimony BoCP –

 

At the day and time appointed for Solemnization of Matrimony, the Persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church, or shall be ready in some proper house, with their friends and neighbours; and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Minister shall say,

 

D

EARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honour-able among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together,  let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.  

 

Look at the three conditions of marriage given in a sermon by Dr. J Vaughan:

 

      I.         Consider how this union, of which all marriage is the intended allegory, actually takes place between Him and us. The first mover is, as it ought to be, the Lord Jesus Christ. The wife does not seek her husband, but the husband seeks his wife. Gradually, by His own sweet constraints, and the outgoings of His Spirit to Us, we begin to love Him. And then come the early betrothals of a heart made willing—the moving of holy desires and of sacred yearnings. And then the contract—that indissoluble contract which is between Christ and the believer, strong as adamant.

 

    II.         Note the conditions of the union. In the presence of witnesses the covenant of marriage must be ratified. And so here angels and the Church look on when Christ, before the whole universe, confesses you, and will confess you, to be His for ever. And you, on your part, must confess Him before Christians, before the world, before angels, before all men. The mutual confession is the basis of the stipulation.

 

  III.         And with common consent it must be. Free as the wind was His choice of you; absolute and explicit must be your surrender to Him. No compulsion, no outside circumstances, no secondary motive will avail. It must be your own independent, unbiassed will, the full accord of your whole heart. It is a compact of perfect affection, absolute duty, untiring allegiance. The soul of all attachment to you is Christ. It is a relation of the most exquisite fondness, but it is a relation of the most unqualified obedience. —Sermon Bible

 

Note the ancient custom of marriage among the Hebrews (which, incidentally is very similar to the Korean custom):

 

The Father makes inquiry on behalf of his son, for a decent and well-favored young lady to betroth to his son. First, the family must be of well-repute. We, too, must be from the family of God – the Church. When found, the family must consent to the meeting. The father arranges a meeting at the young lady’s home. A cup of wine is provided on a table dividing the son and young lady. The son and young lady talk a bit. If the young man approves of the young lady as his future wife, he will drink from the cup.

 

T

HE cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  (1 Cor 10:16)

 

A

FTER the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (1 Cor 11:25)

 

If the young lady also agrees to the betrothal, she, too, will then drink from the Cup. In doing so, she pledges her undying devotion and faithfulness to this one young man for life. She can never drink from another such Cup. It is the same as our Communion Cup – (1 Cor 10)

 

Y

E cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. ²² Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 

 

The intentions of God are that marriage is not entered into lightly, but with full knowledge and consent aforehand. It is forever.

 

In our sermon text, we read again the Words of Christ

 

⁹ And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

 

What is the purpose of marriage? Of the Church? To REPRODUCE children to the glory of God!

 

Read again the next event from our sermon texts today:

 

¹³ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. ¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. 

 

Christ was a man of rugged physical strength and rough hands that had been accustomed to the art of carpentry. But, as is the case with many strong and simple laborers, He had a heart of love and gentleness which children found attractive – so they came to Him simply and trusting in His love.

 

He took the children into His Arms and Loved them. He pointed out to the sophisticated preachers and others that, should they enter into the Kingdom of God, they must become as little children – innocent in heart and trusting in the love of God.

 

The church is to love and foster the baby Christians. 

 

What is a baby Christian?

 

A child who comes to Christ trusting in His love and power to forgive, save, and preserve.

A child of four years of age, or a child of eighty years of age. No matter our age, we are always children in the eyes of God (or in the eyes of our parents).

 

Children, you need Christ to save you. Come as you are, and He will cleanse your sins and place your feet on solid ground.

The Imperceptible Moth – 23 October 2020, Anno Domini

 

B

LOW ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin. 9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. 10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. 12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. 14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.    (Hosea 5:8-14)

 

            The title of this devotion may seem strange for the casual reader, but a deeper study of this text and others will reveal a judgment under which the modern world and particular nations are coming – in fact, are well on their way to be eaten away in silence and lack of awareness.

 

            God uses a number of natural creatures to describe the divine nature in a manner which the mortal human being can grasp. In Hosea 13:7, God says: As a leopard will I observe them (sinners). On my last mission trip to Kenya a few years, I visited a zoo in Kenya in which were kept many vicious animals of the wild. On passing the caged pen of a leopard, I noted the leopard had its head turned aside from us and appeared to be asleep, but Bishop Job assured me that leopard was watching us intently. He said the leopard appears to close its eyes until its prey is too close to escape. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Jeremiah 13:23 Why can the leopard not change his spots? It is because his spots are on his skin even if you shave off the fur.

 

            7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: 8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. (Hosea 13:7-8) The lion is persistent in his tracking of his prey. His eyes penetrate the darkness of night. He avenges with severe punishment any who harm him or his cubs. Once he launches his attack, there is no stopping the tearing and hurt he inflicts. That is much like our God of Judgment. We may feel that we have lost his pursuit for a time but comes the night and he strikes out with impunity. The revenge of the lion will scarcely be survivable. The bear, too, will often devour its victims alive. No reprobate will ever escape the wrath of God even if that wrath is delayed over time.

 

            So, in the leading text, God gives a different example of his working among the lost that seems much more gradual than the retribution of the lion to its offender. The moth is tiny and harmless to man when it stands alone. But the example is not of man’s personal well-being, but his physical comfort and treasure. Like rust that eats away at our armor and conveyances, the moth eats away at our fine and presumptuous robes and fancy apparel. His favorite feats is upon velvets, fine wools, and silk. He does not force his way into the closet by physical violence. He enters unseen when the door is momentarily ajar. Silently, he eats away at the threads that hold the garment together. He devours large patches that renders our prideful garment of no use to impress. It is much like the social disease of America that, at first, go undetected but gradually is revealed when much damage has already occurred. Sin spoils the nation and the moth of desolation is God’s means of bringing judgment: 7 Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 25:7)  The closet is our decadent churches; the garments are the erstwhile sinners that have gained preeminence therein.

 

            You may believe the greatest danger in America comes from the propagandizing curricula of our public institutions of learning, or the radical elements pervading our streets, or drugs and alcohol abuse, or sexual sins and perversions; but these are only symptoms of a luke-warm church that has compromised on her duties to her Betrothed and sold away her doctrines for profit. It is the churches of America that are responsible for the horrible decline in morality and respect for constituted law in our nation. While the churches have burned with lust and permissiveness toward sin, her shepherds have, like Nero, fiddled away during the time.

 

            The moth will not invade where the garments are kept clean, dry and free of dust and dirt. They prefer the closet of carelessness and disarray. The same is true of the abject sin that has entered into the heart of America owing to a failure of the churches to call sin by name and to label its progenitor as the devil himself. 

 

            The work of the moth is done in secret. So do the spoilers of a nation work secretly to erode the foundations of the city and church. God will often work secretly in preparation for his damning judgment, Remember Sodom and Gomorrah. Does any Christian in his right mind believe that God has overlooked the sins of America and forgotten his righteous judgment of Sodom? Sodom! A city whose very name has come to mean the salient and grievous sin for which the city was destroyed.

 

            When the pillars of moral decency are being destroyed, the sinful society may believe that they are getting off scot free of the accountability for their apostasy. But God is working beneath the surface to cause their very sins to be the cause of their coming downfall. The moth will eat through the outer cover of a garment and imbed himself in the inner linings where his presence is kept unseen until immeasurable damage has occurred. The same is true of our blessed America. Who would have believed that the nation would have come to this immoral state of today at the end of the Second World War? Who would have believed the total disregard for compassion and value for human lives – especially the most innocent among us in a mere fifty years? Who would have believed the demeaning of the Holy Estate of Matrimony in such a manner as to mock the very substance of God’s first Institution at Eden?

 

The solution to our moral decay is almost too simple to repeat. 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) Please read this text carefully. Does it say that the whole nation must pray, repent and turn from their sins? No! It says If my people, which are called by My Name! If the churches of America will repent of their departures from truth and love and repent, prayerfully turning from their sins, then, and only then, will God heal our land. 

 

This is what America needs above all else at this time. It is amazing that the solution for every social and moral ill of our nation finds solution in the Word of God; yet, that is the ONLY solution that is totally unacceptable to the hell-bent social engineers of our age. Wake up, America! Wake up, my brothers and sister! Face the music and the Ensign that should lead us out of bondage – the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Only Way – 22 October 2020, Anno Domini

 

F

OR the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:18-32)

 

            The Pontiff of Rome has more convincingly earned for himself, with credible logic, the moniker of ‘anti-Christ’ (if any doubt remained) in his most recent disavowal of clearly stated biblical morals – in fact, standing the counsel of Holy Writ on its head – by his advocacy of what he terms ‘civil unions’ for practicing homosexuals. “Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,” Francis said in an interview for the documentary "Francesco." “What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.” Homosexuality is a grave sin, and those who practice the sin are NOT the Children of God, but of the Devil. “41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:41-44)

 

            The underlined portions in the text above from John 8 perfectly describe “the little horn” of Rome – Francis. 

 

            I remember the tired old idiom, All Roads Lead to Rome[1], arrogantly proclaimed by my Roman Catholic friends. The term arose from the road system of the Roman Empire which was the central convergence of all Roman roads constructed by the Empire. It later came to refer to the Roman Catholic Church, and rightly so, since that church represents the mammon of Caesar more than any other. All roads of Catholicism may lead to Rome, but certainly not to the Gates of Heaven. There is only One Way that leads to salvation and that Way is Jesus Christ. 

 

            I make frequent trips to Atlanta from southern Alabama. My community is surrounded by a network of roads – many beginning in a northerly direction toward Atlanta, but either stop short, or swerve off-course prior to that destination. To be sure of getting to Atlanta, I must take I-85 in order to be assured of getting to Atlanta. 

 

            But the road to Heaven is even more restrictive than any choice of roads – it is limited to the Narrow Way laid out by our Lord Jesus Christ and not some, golden-robed, tin-horned saint in a dark chamber in Rome. 

 

            “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Words of Jesus, John 14:6

 

The pope of Rome feels absolutely comfortable in contradicting and defying the Word of God and claiming an holy mandate in so doing. He is no representative of God on earth – that representative is Jesus Christ – the Lord is my Bishop and the Bishop and High Priest of all who claim His grace and mercy. “ 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

 

            On the obverse side of the Roman coin would be the over-judgmentalism demonstrated by many Protestant Christians concerning the abject sin of sexual perversion. No sin is beyond the scope of our Lord’s forgiveness other than that of a constant rejection of the Holy Ghost and its counsel. If a person who is an admitted homosexual comes to my church, I will in no wise refuse him admittance. The sinner comes to church for a reason. But I will not satisfy his perversions by giving comfort to him in his sins.  Can God forgive such a person and change the very course of their lives? YES, He can do so! He has done so for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Note the below text from Paul:

 

K

NOW ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-11)

 

Note that there were SOME among the audience to whom Paul spoke who had practiced all those sins listed – including sexual perversion. But now their sins had been washed clean by the redeeming Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            I love my Roman Catholic friends in spite of the grave errors taught by their man-run church. I believe many love the Lord and are His children by faith. But their testimony could be made so much stronger and valid were they to recognize the evils of the man who declares counsel in contradiction with the Word of God and His Book. I urge them to lay aside all superstitions with which they have been deceived and go to the very source of the Fountain of the Waters of Life rather than drinking downstream (i.e. from Rome) where the feet of men and beasts have muddied the waters.

---

[1] It is equally true All roads lead away from Rome.

The Wall of Fire – 21 October 2020, Anno Domini

 

W

HEREFORE, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.  (Hebrews 12:28-29)



F

OR I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. (Zechariah 2:5)

 

            A Wall of Fire affords an enormous barrier of protection from those within. During the Vietnam War, perimeter defense was the first order of business when a unit moved into a hostile area. Part of that defense often involved establishing a line of foo-gas (Fr: fougasse) as the last line of defense if the enemy penetrated our outer defense. This foo-gas was a mixture of gas and a powdered substance that resembled napalm. When ignited, the explosion blew the mixture over any enemy before the lines. It was like a jelly that adhered to the skin like glue as it burned – a horrible weapon and an equally horrible way to die. But when confronting an unscrupulous enemy, extraordinary measures were required. God, too, takes extraordinary measures in protecting His Church. He accomplished that with a Pillar of Fire by Night and a Pillar of Smoke by day in leading Israel out of bondage. The Fire becomes a blessing to those for whom it is a protection, and a curse to those who violate the limits of God’s approbation.

 

            When we read that God is a ‘consuming fire,’ we may be moved with a feeling of dread and doubt, for we have learned that God is love. God is both a consuming fire and love at the same time. Both are perfect descriptions of our God. We may erroneously consider that the love of God will override His perfect sense of judgment – that is not the case. Because the judgment of God is immutably averse to sin, He will tolerate no sin in His presence. His Judgment is so unwavering that He sent His only Begotten Son to pay the required penalty for our sins.  The love of God cannot cancel out His certain Judgment. It is not a question of intention, but one of impossibility. 

 

            It is by the means of fire that God will finally judge this wicked world. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:9-12)

 

            The elements will be dissolved with fervent heat! That would be comparable to a combination of both fusion and fission nuclear reactions as in the sun. THAT IS HOT! Whoever is left on this old globe will be burned to physical, but not spiritual, oblivion. Perhaps there is a message for the fickle modernist today in this warning. Though not a fan, I do like the illustration of the Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, who tells a parable of a theater where a variety show is proceeding. Each show is more fantastic than the last, and is applauded by the audience. Suddenly the manager comes forward. He apologizes for the interruption, but the theater is on fire, and he begs his patrons to leave in an orderly fashion. The audience thinks this is the most amusing turn of the evening, and cheer thunderously. The manager again implores them to leave the burning building, and he is again applauded vigorously. At last he can do no more. The fire raced through the whole building and the fun-loving audience with it. ‘And so,’ concluded Kierkegaard, ‘will our age, I sometimes think, go down in fiery destruction to the applause of a crowded house of cheering spectators.’

 

            The invention of fire-making marked a great leap forward in civilization. Things that before were impossible suddenly became possible. Metallurgy suddenly came into practice. Not only metal tolls for cooking were possible but, unfortunately, the making of more deadly weapons came into popular practice. There are two sides to every technological advance – good and evil. 

 

            With the advent of fire, man was able to more properly cook his foods. He was able to endure the cold winter weather in greater comfort, and he was more able to secure his lodgings by building fires in the perimeters to scare away ravaging animals. 

 

            But fire is a deadly weapon used to destroy homes, cities, and fields of harvest. It is a dreaded resource of the greater numbers of men and women on the surface of the earth. Perhaps it is because, deep in the hearts of all, fire is the destiny of all who are wicked. Despite efforts to modern so-called Bible translators to expunge the reality of a fiery destiny to those who are reprobate sinners, the Word of God cannot be denied. An eternal torment is not palatable to the modernist, so two verses reflecting that fact are removed in most modern perversions of the Bible (translated from corrupt text): 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  (Mark 9:43-46) KJV The most popular corrupt translations, NIV & ESV, delete the verses (44 &46) lined through above in the text. It is a lot easier to graphically delete than it is to change or eliminate truth. 

 

            Yes, fire is a deadly weapon, but it is also the Lord’s instrument in protecting His people. That Wall of Fire to which Zechariah alludes is constantly encircling the people of God and He truly is in the midst. That Wall of Fire could not be breached by the Rich man who shunned the Beggar Lazarus.

 

            11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Cor 3:11-17 )

 

            Having a Rock-solid foundation in Christ, the security of the soul is assured even if unmeritorious works are not accepted. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Christ, but we have assurance of salvation and forgiveness in Him.