Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

The Propers for today are found on Page 212-213, with the Collect first:

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

O

 LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Dru Arnold read today’s Epistle, which came from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, the Third Chapter beginning at the Thirteenth Verse.  Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, prays that the people might “be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”   More simply put, Paul asks that we open our hearts to God and to Christ, that they might work in our hearts the miracle of love.

I

 DESIRE that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Deacon Striker Jack Arnold read today’s Holy Gospel which started in the Seventh  Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, beginning at the Eleventh Verse.  Jesus was going into the city of Nain with his disciples and many followers.  “When he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.”  In those days, a widow with only one son had little, a widow with no son was in deep trouble.  Taking compassion on her and also the opportunity to make His power evident, He came to the bier, and touch it said, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”  The young man arose and began to speak; whereupon Jesus brought him to his mother.  Not surprisingly, news of this event was spread “forth throughout all Judæa, and throughout all the region round about.”  Like the young man, we are dead to eternity until we hear the command “… Arise.”  If we hear and act on that command, we have eternal life, just like the young man, it starts right then!

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ND it came to pass the day after, that Jesus went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judæa, and throughout all the region round about.

Sermon – Time and Action

Today’s sermon tied the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in  the forewords above.

Consider the words of the Collect, “…let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness …”

When the Collect talks about the church, just like last week, it is not talking about buildings; it is talking about us.   Each of us; all of us and together.  We need God’s help (pity) to keep the group of us together following His Will, for without His Help (Holy Ghost) we are doomed to utter failure.  With His Help, we are set for success for evermore.  He offers, do we accept?

That leads us to Saint Paul’s point:  If we will open our hearts to God, He will send the Holy Ghost to fill our hearts with Love, Courage, Inspiration, Tenacity and Confidence, to mention just a few helpful additions to our portfolio.  If we will open our hearts to Him, our ears will hear the command “… Arise.”  When we rise, we rise with the confidence of immortals and can conquer any obstacle.  But, without an open heart, our ears will never hear the command directed to our soul, “… Arise.”  We will be dead to eternity.

Open your heart to our Lord and arise.  Arise; go forth with Love, Courage, Inspiration, Tenacity and Confidence to fight the battle our Lord leads us into.

All Jesus asks is that we follow Him.  That is all follow Him.  But, words mean something.  The word follow is very important.

In the military fighter world the strongest acceptance and recognition of excellence that can be given is, "You lead; I'll follow."  For to do so is to put your life in the other's hands.  Literally, completely and without question.  It is a matter of putting the light on the star and hanging in there.   It is said by few to an even smaller number.  When you break out of the cloud after an hour of GE-28 Volt burning in your retina and see the runway or pop over the ridge after a half hour of dodging trees and triple A and the target is right there in the reticule, it is all okay.  Sometimes in between, it does not seem like it will turn out that way.  What makes you keep the light on the star is trust.  I see this as another aspect of that truth.  The numbers are different in the case of God.  We all (unlikely to happen) need to put our lives in the hands of a small number (that would be ONE).

We need recognize who has the ability, the power, the perfection in leadership and have that trust to say, "You lead; I'll follow." I believe that is what Jesus expects from us in regard to our entire life. We may get out of position or even go lost wingman on the odd occasion, but he expects us to Our very best to follow His lead and stay in position.  Hard to do if your eye is not padlocked on Him.

I might add, as ministers of our Lord, we have a similar responsibility to those who would follow us here on earth.  And we have to work even harder, for created by a perfect God, we are imperfect creatures with free will.  A problematic combination.  We must strive for a correct attitude, heading, stability and predictability in our path so that we can be followed towards that final destination that marks a successful mission.

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God.

Bishop Ogles’ Sermon

We are oft fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s sermon notes.  Today is one of those Sundays.  Today’s sermon starts off with the collect, and like always, it will give you a lot to consider in your heart.

Sermon Notes

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

23 September 2012, Anno Domini

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

O

 LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. 18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. (Luke 7:11-17)

            How often have we been at the point of complete and total heartbreak when suddenly our prayers are answered in a far greater way than we could have thought to ask? Love being the one power that is stronger than death (for all love is of God), why are we surprised at the miracles of love that we observe in our own daily lives? Why will a mother sacrifice her last breath of her life for her child? Why do men go off to war against the enemies of their homeland without a sigh or a word of regret in risking their lives to defend it?

            Does God yet work such wonderful miracles as we have read about on that day He visited Nain? A young man is dead and within minutes of being buried. Is there hope for such a one? His mother has only this one son. She is a widow who has transferred all of her love and dependence from the deceased father upon this one special child for whom her very life is ransom. But he is now dead and she is left all alone! Though crowds gather about her, none have that familiar and loyal heart that beat in the breast of her deceased son, nor the dedicated love that heart devoted to his mother, for he is dead!

            I can only imagine the pain and anguish of that forlorn heart of the woman of Nain that day. She would perform her last duty to a son that she had held dear to her bosom from the day of his birth. As she walked along behind the bier, she was dazed with misery and blinded by hot tears of devastation and wonder." "Can it be that he is truly dead – that I shall no longer hear his voice responding to my calls to supper?" "Is it finally true that I am now left alone against the world since the darling of my heart has departed?" A million questions swirled through her troubled mind as she trudged along a path blurred by the tears of her misery.

            And what of the dead son? What are his thoughts? Well, he has no thoughts at all because the dead know nothing at all. For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. (Eccl 9:4-6)

            The world is populated by dead people who parade about as the living, and by the living who have been made alive from death.  Do we not remember that we were all dead in trespasses and sin before Christ called our name and made is alive in Him? (Ephesians 2:1) We knew nothing. We had no power at all to save ourselves or to even think of our great need. We were, spiritually, just as the young man lying on a bier at Nain that day. Did that young man know of Christ? did he desire to have Christ come and make him alive? No, he did not think any of these thoughts. Remember, he was dead as dead can be, and so were we before Christ chose us as His own and made the life blood of His eternal love flow though our hearts. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you (John 15:16)

11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

Now I pose the question that begs our deep thought: who are the dead? The dead: Those who reject Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who have no forgiveness for their sins…those for whom there has been no redemption for sins. That includes all the world which dwells in utter darkness.

The dead hear not. Who stopped their ears? Not God. Not even Satan. They themselves have chosen to be dumb to the reality of God. Their spirits lie in the same repose of that of Lazarus in the Tomb at Bethany before the penetrating voice of Christ called his name and commanded him to come forth.

This son of the widow is dead, but death cannot exist in the presence of the Fountain of Life. Jesus knows the importance of a son or daughter to a widow. The boy is all his mother has just as He, Himself, is the only Begotten of the Father.

As the procession proceeds from the gate of the city, there may have been little notice paid to the Master of Life who is approaching. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Strange that a Perfect Stranger (and Jesus was both perfect and a stranger to the procession at Nain), should come forward with such a comment – weep not! How could she help weeping over her great loss. Christ speaks today and few listen or know Him.

Jesus never desires our sorrow, but our joy in life.  He neither wants us to `fear' or to `weep'. Fear not, I am with thee always, even unto the end of the world. Or "Hagar, why weepest thou?" The desire of Christ is always for our extreme joy in Him. And Christ knows there is no real joy, or life, apart from that which He offers. He sends no one to Hell. The lost, due to their rejection of Him, send themselves to Hell.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. When God is at work, we had best stand still and see the marvelous works that His hands perform. Stillness is a vanishing quality in a world bent on technology and pragmatism.  As God said to Job in Job 37:14 "Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God"  Or  Psalms 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

So those who bore the body remained motionless while God  worked. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Though the ears of the Rabbi's maiden were closed in the lock of death, the young girl heard the voice of Christ. Though Lazarus lay long dead in a stone cold tomb, the voice of Christ, his Friend, penetrated the bars of death and were heard in newness of life. So with this young man.

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. With Christ, death is always in the past tense! He was dead! No longer was he dead because he had heard and responded to the voice of Christ. He sat up and began to speak. Once you have heard the voice of Christ whisper in your ear a personal message, you cannot fail to speak out. You do not keep it a secret. When you are suddenly made alive in Christ, how is it possible to conceal one's joy?

It may be that you have yet to be made alive, unless you have heard that Voice. When were you dead, and have you been called to life? Have you listened? Did you respond by unashamedly speaking out? We were ALL dead prior to responding in faith to the grace of Christ. All lost. All dead.

Have you considered yourself righteous in your own right? Romans 23:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God  ALL? Does that include you and me? Yes, ALL

What is the condemnation to those who sin such as you and I have done? Rom 6: 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What remedy is there for all of us who are born under the condemnation  of sin? Rom10: 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Christ is the great Creator and Giver of Life. Death will not exist in His presence. So we must insure our salvation that we may be present with him. But, how? Know that the wages of sin is death. Admit that we are dreadful sinners and cannot save ourselves through any good works. Repent of our sins and turn away from the desires of the flesh. Receive Christ as you Lord and Savior – not simply Savior, but Lord of your life as well.

How many of us present today have taken a `dry' shower, or a `dry' swim, or walked in a `dry' rain?

Is it possible to get into the water, or to come into contact with a fountain of water, and remain dry?

            There is a River of Life which makes all alive who bathe therein and drink from its fountain:

John 4: 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life

When we are IN Christ, all our sins are covered by His blood. When we are IN the River of Life, we are wet with that water of life all over. We are baptized in newness of life. Your eternal destiny depends upon which choice you make at the crossroads of life – will you be fearful and unbelieving? Or will you partake of the Tree of Life and Fountain of Living Waters?

Rev 21:6 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

            Simple response – John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Have you, too, believed unto salvation? 2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

It will not be tomorrow, or next week, month, or year. The time is NOW! How do you stand, Reader, in regard to your soul?

Bishop Dennis Campbell’s Sunday Sermon

As is oft the case, we are honored to present Bishop Dennis’ Sunday sermon presented to his parish.  Dennis has a great sermon for the Sicteenth Sunday after Trinity:

God Our Stronghold


Psalm 91, Ephesians 3:13-21, Luke 7:11-17


Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity


September 23, 2012



The Scripture readings for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity show God's answer to the ancient prayer in the Collect asking God to defend the purity of His Church and to preserve it evermore by His help. The Epistle, from Ephesians 3, shows purity is preserved as the Church is filled with all the fulness of God by "the power that worketh in us." That power, the Holy Spirit, strengthens us in the inner man; indwells us with Christ, and makes us to know the fulness of the love of God. The Gospel, from Luke 7, shows both the ability and willingness of Christ to answer our prayer. "He had compassion on her," the Bible says, when He saw the widow of Nain. And this God of compassion can be trusted to have compassion on His Church, and on His people individually to preserve us from all enemies. The Church will endure because God will preserve it, and those who trust in Christ will make it to Heaven because God will preserve you.



Psalm 91. Qui habitat.

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HOSO dwelleth under the defence of the Most High, * shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my stronghold; * my God, in him will I trust.

3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, * and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers; * his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, * nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, * nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.

7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand; * but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold, * and see the reward of the ungodly.

9 For thou, Lord, art my hope; * thou hast set thine house of defence very high.

10 There shall no evil happen unto thee, * neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, * to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee in their hands, * that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: * the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; * I will set him up, because he hath known my Name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; * yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, * and show him my salvation.

Psalm 91 is also about God's protection of His people. In the Psalm God promises to protect those who dwell under the defense of the Most High. His protection is described through picturesque word illustrations. The Israel of God abides "under the shadow of the Almighty," like a village in the shadow of the castle of a mighty king. She is defended "under His wings," as a bird spreads her wings to protect her chicks. The terrors of the night and the arrow that flies in the day refer to dangerous animals that hunt by night, and to theives and criminals and enemies who prowl in darkness or shoot their arrows from concealed ambushes during the day. These, like pestilence, plague, and war are literal dangers from which God promised to deliver the Old Testament Israel if she loved God and followed Him in obedience to His laws. We all know She did not, therefore God allowed her to be harrassed and dominated by enemies throughout most of her existence. She could have trod upon the lion and the adder, which may be symbolic references to Babylon and Egypt. Instead, she was constantly mauled and bitten by them.



God does not promise the New Testament Israel that she will never see sorrow, sickness, oppression, or death, yet it is still true that obedience to God has its own rewards. Chastity avoids the complications of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease. Christian marriage puts you in a loving, life-long relationship with a person who is 100% committed to your well-being and happiness, and avoids the complications of being used and discarded like an old shoe. Honesty avoids the complications of jail and confusion that can accompany theft and deceit. Finding happiness and joy in Christ rather than possessions avoids covetousness, jealousy, and dissatisfaction with your possessions and life. So, we could avoid many of life's sorrows if we lived according to the Bible, which shows also that we bring many of our sorrows upon ourselves. They are the self-inflicted, natural results of sin, which can be changed by changing our habits and life-styles to obedience and faith rather than rebellion and unbelief. But the real protection God offers to His Church, in both its Old and New Testament forms, is spiritual. It is protection from Satan, your adversary who "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet. 5:8), "the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan" (Rev. 20:2). He is the one who has gone "to make war on those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev. 12:17). He is the devil who deceives the world until he is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone with the beast and the false prophet (Rev. 20:10). 



The protection of God is for those who dwell "under the defence of the Most High," and "abide under the shadow of the Almighty." To dwell is to make a home; to live in a place. We dwell in a dwelling. To abide is to remain in a place. Thus, we abide in an abode. The point the Psalm is trying to make is that God's people dwell and abide in Him. He is our dwelling place in all generations, and God Himself, as we read in Ephesians, dwells in us. The closest comparison I can make to what this means is that of the child in its mother's womb. He shares the same blood, same oxygen, and food with his mother, down to the very molecules. They are as close to being one body as it is possible for human flesh to be. But the oneness of the Church and God is even closer than that. Our oneness with God is oneness of the spirit and essence, so that God flows in our souls, and our souls flow in God.



We dwell "under the defense of the Most High" through faith in Christ. We "abide under the shadow of the Almighty" as we continually trust in His one, all-sufficient sacrifice to be our peace with God. The essence of the Christian faith is that God became Man and went to the cross to bear in Himself the cost of our sins, and He forgives us of all sins as the gift of His grace. Faith receives that gift. Faith trusts God to forgive us. Faith trusts Christ's sacrifice to pay fully and completely for the sins we have committed, are committing, and will commit. And faith trusts God to care for us in this world and the next. And let us never forget that a major part of faith is faithfulness, and we abide under the shadow of the Almighty as we live for Christ in daily, loving obedience, seeking to live righteous and holy lives that please Him.



Let us pray.

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 LORD, by Thine infinite mercy, make us to dwell by faith under the defense of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty, through Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s Sunday Sermon

We are fortunate to have Brian’s Sunday Sermon.  If you want people to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, expouse the truth and live the truth.    This is really a good piece and I commend it to your careful reading.

The Sermon - That Christ may dwell in your hearts

In our epistle lesson for today, we read the words of St. Paul who said, ...that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:17-18). The apostle then went on to pen an uplifting affirmation of our Lord's words in his epistle to the Ephesians (3:20-21): Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. The Rev. Matthew Henry once noted that, "There is an inexhaustible fullness of grace and mercy in God which the prayers of all the saints can never draw dry. Whatever we may ask or think, still God is able to do more, abundantly more. We should encourage our faith by a consideration of his all-sufficiency and almighty power."



In his epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul advised all Christians to... put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof (13:14). Also St. John in his first epistle wrote, Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God... (4:2) He also noted that, Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God (4:15). 



Now one might think that every person who claims to be a Christian would follow these tenets of the faith. No doubt some do; nevertheless, a goodly portion of the body of Christ does not. To put it simply, they belong to denominations that have rejected the fundamentals of the faith. They do not believe in the Jesus of the Bible. They deny his virgin birth, his resurrection, and ascension, as well his coming again in glory. They denigrate God's word written by saying it is a compilation of myths, sagas or legends. They believe that the gospel writers tell only of a man called Jesus— a good teacher who was executed by the Romans— but not the living Lord who rose again from death to life that Easter morn so long ago. They cannot teach a saving faith in the only begotten Son of God because they do not accept the living Christ as their Saviour.

Consider also a modern survey of Christians which the Barna Group conducted awhile back. It asked participants if they agreed with the following six statements:

1) believe that absolute moral truth exists;

2) believe that the Bible is completely accurate in all of the principles it teaches;

3) that Satan is a real being;

4) that a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or by doing good works;

5) that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and

6) that God is the all-knowing, all powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.

Barna found that less than one percent of the participants agreed with all of those statements.

That is astounding and tragic to say the least because nearly every point mentioned by Barna was once an established teaching for much of the Christian Church nearly a century ago.



The noted preacher, E. M. Bounds once observed that, "The church is distinctly, preeminently, and absolutely a spiritual institution... Her ministers and doctrines have appeal, relevance, and power only when they are channels of the Holy Spirit. It is his indwelling and inspiration that give the church its divine character and accomplish its divine purposes." And what purposes has it been called to carry forth? "Its purpose is to regenerate and sanctify the individual, to prepare him by purifying and training him for the high pursuits of eternal life. The church is like a net cast into the sea. The purpose is not to change the sea but to catch the fish... What if fishermen spent all their energies trying by some chemical process to change the essential elements of the sea, vainly hoping to improve the stock of fish? They would never catch any fish! If the church used this method, personal holiness would be impossible, and heaven would be stricken from our creed, life and hope. To attempt to save the world while ignoring the individual is not only Utopian but also destructive in every way.

"

St. John reminds us in his first epistle to, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (2:15-17). How can Christ dwell in those who love the world in opposition to the expressed will of God the Father? He cannot. How can said folk understand the absolute need for salvation which Jesus Christ provides through his atoning work on Calvary's cross? They cannot. What can modern, Laodicean Christianity offer but a flawed Jesus, a compromised bible and a useless religion fit only to be cast out? They are powerless without the permission of the Holy Ghost who will not assist them in their efforts.

Why are so many young people leaving the faith of their forebears? Because the modern church has so denigrated its doctrines and tenets as to render it a fruitless exercise.

As the apostle Paul noted in his first epistle to the Corinthians, ...if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain (15:14)... And if Christ be not raised (15:17)... then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable (15:18-19). Why follow the dead Christ of myth and legend which the modernist church teaches its congregants?

The Barna Group's survey results give us the answer: wholesale rejection of the truths of the faith.

  If one would have the benefits of the Christian religion, one must recognize that the true Christ of faith is the same as the Christ of history. One does not cancel out the other. To have Christ dwell in one's heart, one must accept Jesus Christ as the risen Lord who is the only begotten Son of God and then seek God's pardon for his or her sins in his name. God expects us to come to him believing not in faithlessness.

If we are to have any success in winning the young back from the world, we must present to them a clear and consistent gospel message that says what it means and means what it says. But as we have learned, such will not be devoid of difficulty. The Devil and his minions have done much to prepare the ground of their hearts for the bad seed of the world as opposed to the good seed of the word. They have labored to spread tares among the wheat, bad fish among the good, apostates among the saints, and ravening wolves versus the pastors and shepherds of our Lord. They have won victory after victory within the various denominations of the Church and now are poised to sweep away the last vestiges of sound doctrine within the very near future.



But we must not lose hope. Our Lord proclaimed that the Church will not be triumphed over by evil, neither shall the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. In spite of the seeming triumph of our adversary, we have confidence that he will not ultimately succeed. God foresaw the rise of evil, has judged it, and will call an end to it in his time. Our duty is to occupy until he comes for us. The wretched figment of the modernist church is but the synagogue of Satan. It has no real power to save, and has only the power to destroy those of its membership. God's wrath will fall upon it much as he poured out his fury on Sodom and Gomorrah. Our job is to call out to the righteous who, like Lot, have had their souls vexed by the things they have witnessed within those churches.



If Christ dwells in us, then we must preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (II St. Timothy 4:2-4). Without a doubt we are in such times as the apostle Paul has described. If we love the Lord, we will follow his word and commandment. Seek therefore then to be a beacon for the gospel. Spread the true message of Christ to those around you and live as becomes the name "Christian" proving that Jesus Christ does indeed dwell within your heart.



Let us pray,


H

OLY and gracious God, grant to us the courage and the wherewithal to spread the truth of the gospel of Christ to those who are as yet in darkness and the shadow of death; that they being so informed might turn unto thee and give thee thanks for the free gift of salvation in his name; all of which we ask in the very name of Christ Jesus thy Son and our Saviour. Amen.



Have a blessed week, 
Bryan+