Tenth Sunday after Trinity

The Propers for today are found on Page 203-204, with the Collect first:

The Tenth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

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ET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dru Arnold read the Epistle, which came from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, the Twelfth Chapter beginning at the First Verse. Paul starts off by telling us that no man who “speaketh by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” He goes on to say, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but by the same Spirit.” “…it is the same God which worketh all in all.” Every one is gifted in one manner or another by God, the question really is not do you have a gift from God, but will you use it? Our gifts are so different in their character that we sometimes fail to recognize them for what they are, gifts from God, meant to be used, not ignored.

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oncerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Deacons Striker Jack Arnold read today’s Holy Gospel started in the Nineteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, beginning at the Forty-First Verse.

The Gospel tell of Jesus’ time in the temple wherein he sees the people selling their wares having made the temple a den of thieves rather than a house of prayer and cast them out. He also predicts the fall of the temple saying it shall be laid “even with the ground, … they shall not leave one stone upon another,” because the people of the temple had rejected Jesus. The message to those who accept Jesus and his teaching is clear, their temple shall not fall. The message to those who will not hear his message will never be heard, let alone clear, their first indication of a problem will be when their temple falls.

Often people take this Epistle to preclude jumble sales at church. It does not preclude that. It does literally preclude cheating people at those jumble sales! You must understand that the temple hawkers were selling perfect defective “sacrificial lambs” which would be recycled over and over. In their very successful effort to make money they were defrauding the people and insulting God in His own House. It should also be pointed out that a church should be a place of worship. It may be a Prophet Center (to build on Bishop Campbell’s term), but not a Profit Center. If the building needs constant commercial enterprise, then perhaps the emphasis is on the wrong center. A church should be funded for its needs by its members and its wants should go unheeded. A church is about Him, not about IT.

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nd when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple.

Sermon – Time and Action

Today’s sermon tied the Epistle and Gospel together and is mainly contained in the forewords above. We each have differing talents, but if we use them to the Glory of God, without concern for who gets the credit, all will be well. Do what you can, not what you feel like. Read the Bible, what God wants you to do will be clear. If you do your best to do His Will all will be well with you. Death is a pretty hollow threat if you do your duty. The people of Jerusalem would not have been in the pickle they got in when 70AD came along, had they only done what God wanted. But, it was too hard for them. In 70AD, it seemed pretty easy compared to the fix they were in, but by then it was too late. By that time they were left with only “There are none so poor as cannot purchase a noble death.” But, for most of them by that time they had no will. It left when they failed to follow God’s will.

Do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it. That is duty. It does not matter how you “feel” about black or white. Black is black; White is white. Do your duty. Work as hard as you can, do the best you can, trust in the Lord. By the way, cheat no one. If you follow that, you won’t need to be told, “Particularly in God’s House.”

Bishop Ogles message for today

Today’s work from Bishop Jerry is on the Holy Gospel for this Sunday. It is very interesting. I cannot commend it to you enough.

Devotion for Sunday in 9th Week after Trinity 28 Aug 2011 Anno Domini

"41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him." (Luke 19:41-47)

"If you have not yet found out that Christ crucified is the foundation of the whole volume, you have read your Bible hitherto to very little profit. Your religion is a heaven without a sun, an arch without a keystone, a clock without a spring or weights, a lamp without oil. It will not comfort you. It will not deliver your soul from hell." J.C. Ryle

Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the last time in His earthly ministry, approaches Jerusalem where He has declared to the disciples that He will be offered up. Jerusalem has long been a city of turmoil and frequent apostasy away from the Lord who has been its Benefactor and source of particular blessing. Now He comes to this place to prepare all things for those whom He loves even unto the death of the cross. For this moment was He come down to earth, and for this reason will He be lifted up. We are told earlier in this Gospel that Our Lord was resolute to come to Jerusalem for this last time to fulfill all things written in the law and the prophets concerning Him: "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51) Our courageous Lord never wavered in His love for us to prepare all things needful for our salvation. He is so much more than a Dear Friend and Brother!

"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it." Please know that Christ was completely aware of all of the cruelty and treason that would be done against Him by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He knew of the beatings and humiliations – the false charges and mock trial. He knew that the Jewish leaders would turn Him over to the Gentiles for crucifixion. So both Jew and Gentile participated in the sordid and tragic event which would turn to the salvation of all who believed! Jesus, too, saw the many prophets murdered over the centuries within the gates of Jerusalem. He saw the rejection of God's law and prophets by a people intentionally and voluntarily made blind to them. He saw the woman taken in adultery whom He had pardoned.

His panoramic view of, not just the present moment, but of the entire history of the city which moved His soul to weep for her brought tears to the Lord. He could see Mount Moriah where Abraham prepared Isaac as a sacrifice unto the Lord, but relented in order that He might offer up His own Beloved Son. The peak of this Mount reportedly is where the Temple Mount rests. He could see the little children, whom He loved tenderly, playing in her streets. But now the full knowledge of her doom loomed before the loving eyes of Christ. Even though they would treat Him as an outcast good only for crucifixion, He loved them. At last, He saw, seventy years hence, the Roman Armies under General Titus (soon to be Emperor), on April 14, 70 AD (Passover), arrayed before the walls of Jerusalem to destroy it. Siege engines and wall breechers would be erected and the inhabitants both starved and made savage – so much so that they devoured their own babies. He saw the walls breeched and the city ravaged by cruel conquerors. So He wept over Jerusalem for all that was coming to pass over her.

"Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." He speaks, not only of old Jerusalem, but to us of the latter day Camp of the Saints. We, too, have opted for a kind of academic approach to faith, and one which will allow the incorporation of social sophistication and worldly values. What is it that hides God's will and purpose from our eyes? It is no cause of God but one which we own entirely. God is our Day Star. His light is so brilliant that it cannot be hidden from our view as long as we allow nothing to come between us and His Face. We are like the reflected light of the moon (it is His Light which we reflect). But when we allow the world to come between us and God – as in an eclipse – we are made dark in our separation from God.

"For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." This happened precisely at the end of the siege of Titus. No man could enter or depart from the city during the siege. Desperation reigned in the hearts of the inhabitants. What a sorry end for a people who had been favored and visited by God Himself! The Roman conquerors destroyed the walls and structures of the city so thoroughly that, indeed, not one stone remained upon another. They did this in search of hidden wealth which the Jews were notorious for hoarding. So the Romans completely demolished every structure that had potential as a hiding place for gold. If the inhabitants had owned any gold, it perished with them as does all of the wealth of the wicked.

"And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought." Commercial enterprise within the walls of worship? How busy would Christ be if He entered the "First' churches of our cities today. His labors would have been double were He to come on the Sabbath Day (Saturday) when the grounds are flung open to yard sales and crafts. God does not require income or offerings gained on spiritual grounds. The tithes and freewill offerings of His people are all that is appropriate for the church maintenance. When the Church becomes an unnaturally large Mustard Tree (Matthew 13:32) demons of greed and sin come to live in her branches. Who told you that Christian worship must take place within the refined walls of a cathedral? Who told you that the church and her ministers should be wealthy business executives over the Lord's vineyard? The only such structure our Lord ever entered was the Temple at Jerusalem, and He took a switch to those same people who today proudly stand in the holy places every Sunday to solicit more money from the people after raising all they can by youth car washes or bake sales!

"Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves." The purpose of a building, set aside for worship, is to be reserved to that end and not made into a commercial, money raising venture. How can real prayer be lifted up to God within the earshot of venders and money-grubbers! If divestiture of all properties and buildings is necessary to rid ourselves of the greed of money and love of opulence, then, by all means, leave it and hold all future meetings under a tree. Is the purpose of your presence to pray, or as one member of the den of thieves? How many professional men today join some small, struggling church? Not many! They seek out churches with fashionable décor and a large membership rolls whereby business contacts can be made.

"And he taught daily in the temple." This may be the first proper use of the Temple in many decades. Christ teaches, not about wealth and social fashion, but about things related to God's Will for man. There were some gathered in the dark corners whose minds were not set on the things of God, but the things of this world. We read about them in the remainder of this verse.

Christ drove most of the thieves out, but the bigger ones remained inside – the priests and Temple workers, the Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin. How did they respond to this challenge to their wealth and power? "But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him." The chief priest and scribes could tolerate a bit of healing and preaching, but not an assault against their filthy lucre. Now they must try to "destroy him." I have seen this same motive undertaken in churches here in my local community of Enterprise when a deacon, a vestryman, or a warden attempt to make the expenditures of the church public record. I have witnessed, first hand, a very large church (of reputable renown) attempt to cover up the most vile of sins involving even little children. So I am not surprised at the rascals in the Temple at Jerusalem. I know who they are for I have witnessed them with my own eyes! How many of your large churches would even consider a ministerial application of Peter, of John, of James, or even of Christ? "And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (John 7:15) Ah, yes! If you cannot question the facts, question the credentials of the messenger! They did likewise to the apostles: "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13) The question is: unlearned at what? These apostles may not have been conversant in the many externals the Jews had added to the law or the many fine robes necessary to be worn by a "man of letters", or even the proper range of Temple polity – but they had been with Jesus! What a difference THAT makes. It would be edifying to God and man if many who call themselves ministers of God would spend time with Jesus. Then, perhaps, their perspective would change. Have you spent time with Jesus in prayer and in His Word this week?

Bishop Dennis Campbell

Today’s Sunday Report has a guest sermon by Bishop R. Dennis Campbell. As you may have noticed, we often publish Bishop Jerry and Bishop Dennis sermons and notes. This is because no one I have ever heard does as fine a job at expressing biblical concepts in terms we can understand. Today is one of those times!

When God Weeps

Luke 19:41

The Tenth Sunday after Trinity

28 August 2011

There are no tears in Heaven, but on earth even God weeps. There is something particularly touching about this. The idea that God is moved to sadness and tears for us is something that captures our attention, and our imagination. Numerous works of literature, art, and music draw upon that theme. But why does God weep? What is it about this world that moves the God of all Creation to tears?

Let us make it clear at the start that He does not weep for Himself. Our Gospel Reading finds our Lord in Jerusalem during what He knows are the final days before His crucifixion. He is well aware of what lies ahead of Him. He has come to Jerusalem to die, and die He will. Nothing can turn Him aside from this mission. Yet, it is not the scourge, or the nails, or the cross or the grave that moves Him to tears. He will bear them with all the courage and dignity of the Son of God.

He knows also that His own people will not receive Him. He knows they will reject Him and kill Him. They will curse Him and spit upon Him, and beat Him as He passes them on the way to Golgotha. But He is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. It is not the rejection that moves Him to weep.

He knows that an even greater terror awaits Him; a terror far worse than any suffering mere men can inflict upon Him. He knows that on the cross He will bear all the hurt and anguish, and anger of God, for the sins of His people. I have no way to even imagine what that must be like. I know on one hand it is to bear the active wrath of God, and that is unimaginably horrible in itself. But even worse is the complete severance of His essential fellowship with the Father and Spirit; to be removed from that sweet and pervading Divine Love and cast into the fiery hate of God's consuming wrath. I do not wonder that He cried out on the cross, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" But even this does not move Him to tears. He weeps for none of these things because He weeps not for Himself. He weeps for us.

Christ weeps for Jerusalem, the Holy City; Jerusalem, the city of peace. As He looks down upon the city from the Mount of Olives, He sees the Temple, symbol of faith, symbol of the presence of God, symbol of Christ. Everything about the Temple is a symbol of Christ. He is the Lamb, slain upon the altar. He is the Great High Priest who offers the sacrifice. He is the altar upon which the sacrifice is offered. He is the Temple, the place where God dwells with man. But the Temple and its ministers have failed Him. They are full of pride and corruption. They have left the true faith to follow the vain imaginations of their own hearts. And God weeps.

He looks at the palace where the king rules the city and the country. This too is a symbol of Christ, the Great King and Shepherd of Israel who rules in justice and mercy. But the human king is nothing like the Great Shepherd of Israel. The human king is corrupt and faithless. Justice is just a word and a joke in his court, and the ability to rule Israel has been taken away from him and given into the hands of the Roman, Pilate. What little power the king does possess is not used to promote true religion and virtue. It is used to promote his own security and wealth. And God weeps.

Our Lord sees the wall around the city, strong and massive, designed to defend Israel from her enemies. The wall is a symbol of Christ. He surrounds His people with safety. He stands between them and their enemies. "A Mighty Fortress Is our God." But the people of Jerusalem do not want protection from their real enemies. Their real enemies, which are world, the flesh, and the devil, are far more dangerous to Israel than the Romans could ever hope to be, yet they pass freely into the city by the consent and invitation of the people; and God weeps.

Christ sees the people of Jerusalem "throwing away happiness with both hands," completely ignorant of the things which belong to their peace. He is their peace. He is their joy. He is their prosperity. He is their hope. But they have rejected Him and sought their peace in wealth and worldly pleasures, though in His Name they "bless" their misguided values and the self-destructive means by which they chase their dreams. He sees them as sheep without a Shepherd, and He would gladly gather them to Himself as a hen gathers her chicks, but they "would not" (Mt. 23:37). They won't have it, and God weeps.

From His position on the Mount of Olives, Christ looks over the Jerusalem of that time, but He also sees it forty years in the future. He sees the city in A.D. 70, surrounded by the Roman army, under siege that will last for years. He sees the wall destroyed. He sees unimaginable suffering. He sees millions of Jews dead in the streets of Jerusalem and in other cities of the Roman Empire, and God weeps.

As Christ looks down on Jerusalem He also sees us. He sees billions of people, just like the Jews, but people of every nation and every era rejecting Christ and chasing the rainbows of sin that will never give them anything but a momentary diversion, while He offers everlasting treasure. He sees people ruining their own lives and bringing untold pain and suffering into the lives of others, and, finally, bringing themselves into the eternal sorrows of hell forever. He knows the joy and blessings He offers, and He sees the destruction and suffering they choose, and God weeps.

If only the things we desire were the things God made us to enjoy. If only we would learn to love the things He promises. If only the things that please God would also please us, how much sorrow we would save ourselves. O, let us learn to love what God loves, and to seek what God wants to give.

O, God, "Let thy merciful ears... be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

The Propers for today are found on Page 200-203, with the Collect first:

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect.

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RANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ryan Hopkins read the Epistle, which came from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, the Tenth Chapter beginning at the First Verse. Paul reminds us we have a common past, regardless of our actual lineage. Spiritually, we are descended from the Jews of the Exodus. Their God is our God, their actions were directed by our God, the same God. He was a Trinity then as He is today. Their reality it our reality, whether we choose to understand or accept it. Our forefathers drank of “the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Those who have gone before provide examples, both good and bad. In this letter Paul addresses the bad and suggest we should see what their ill behavior gained them before we set our course and not after. And, let we think ourselves ever so special, he reminds us that we are subjected to no special temptations, only those “as is common to man.” This is another example of the adage, Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it.

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rethern, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Deacon Striker Jack Arnold read today’s Holy Gospel which started in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, beginning at the Eleventh Verse and recounts the story of the prodigal son. A man has two sons, the older is a wonderful young man who strives to please his father in everything he does. The younger son asks for his inheritance, now rather than later, and sets off to spend it wastefully in a far off land. In dire straits, he decides to go home to his father and beg to be allowed to live as one of his servants. He decides to tell his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son…” Before he can get the words out of his mouth, his father welcomes him, gives him new clothing and calls the servants to prepare a fatted calf for a big party. The elder son is very angry and hurt. He asks his father what he did wrong; he followed his instructions every day to the best of his ability, worked hard, and yet his father had never even given a small party for him. The father answered, saying, “Son, thou are ever with me, and all that I have is thine.” It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost and is found.” This story, like that of the workers in the vineyard has a number of meanings. Like the father in the story, God wants us to be His faithful child, but rejoices when we return to Him. Like the prodigal son, we should be grateful to live long enough to return to Him. If we are like the oldest son, let us learn from his mistake and be joyful when our brothers and sisters come home to our family. Let us join in the celebration and not begrudge the fatted calf.

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esus said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Sermon – Time and Action

Today’s sermon tied the Epistle and Gospel together and is mainly contained in the forewords above. All that has gone before is for our edification, but if we will not learn of those things, we will repeat the bad and miss the good. Do what God asks and do not worry about the actions of others. If they are rewarded, accepted or admonished, that is not your concern. Your concern should be that you do your very best to do God’s will. It is important that you try your best to take the Father’s view of things. Work as hard as you can, do the best you can, trust in the Lord.

Bishop Ogles message for today

Devotion for 9^th Sunday after Trinity 21 August 2011 Anno Domini

"And every man went unto his own house." (John 7:53)

"1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:1-11)

Here is one of the most grace-filled passages in the entire New Testament; yet, most modern versions attempt to dismiss its authenticity by falsely claiming that it is not included in the more ancient and more reliable manuscripts. The manuscript evidence which they prefer is so flawed and incomplete that any man of common intelligence could recognize its total fabrications if he studied the issue thoroughly. Thank God that the Received Text of Scripture (comprised of the overwhelming majority of all available manuscript evidence) includes the true and beautiful encounter of Christ with a disreputable and ill-fated woman! It grieves me that I find it necessary to point out that there are those who challenge even the Word of God whose duty it is to protect it.

Who is this woman? She is every one of us who read this devotion. She was caught red-handed in the act of committing adultery. Her sin is not subject to question or defense; she is therefore silent before Christ. We, too, have been caught red-handed in our sins. We have no words of extenuation or justification. WE ARE GUILTY! Beyond the obvious sin of adultery, when were you guilty of such a sin?

Most of us will agree that adultery is the act of engaging in sex with a party to whom we are not married. But there is also an even deeper spiritual dimension that we may have not considered: As members of the Church (the Bride of Christ), we commit spiritual adultery anytime we engage in idolatry. When we turn from our espoused Bridegroom to other gods of money, sex, power, and pride, we have committed that adultery which makes us unfaithful to our Bridegroom – the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note the last verse of the preceding chapter: "And every man went unto his own house." Every man went unto his own house, because they had houses into which to go! But the Lord of Glory had no such luxury. "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives." What a dear Friend and Savior is our Lord! We are oblivious to our great failures of righteousness. We enjoy our homes in comfort, but the One who came to die for us has not even a place to lay His precious Head. He resorts, as He often does, to the Mount to pray and to rest. The best place to pray is always a place apart from the noise and commotion of the public square – a place of solitude! High above the madding crowd!

"And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them" Jesus is never failing in satisfying His every spiritual responsibility. Even God will go early, at its very opening, to the Temple. All the people came unto Him and He sat down and taught them (as One having authority). The Pharisees come early as well, but not to satisfy a spiritual obligation, but to seek the death of a helpless woman, and to trap Jesus and entangle Him that they might destroy Him.

"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst." These ruthless religious leaders prove hereby that religion may take an entirely different course from that which is right. These brigands did not bring the man! Why not? Does it not take two to tango? They were too politically correct for the time. Men were privileged with political power and social prominence over women ere Christ came. So these devils bring only the woman. They care not a whit for her feelings – her shame, her terror. There only object is to place Christ in a compromising position in determining her fate. Hear what the Law sayeth: "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." (Lev 20:10) They roughly cast this humiliated and terrified woman before Christ in the public square! It is quite more than coincidental that the men who meant this woman the greatest harm brought her to the One who was able to grant her the most good. Without these wicked Pharisees, this woman may never have come to Christ!

"They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" Perhaps they had not read ALL the Law of Moses, especially Lev 20:10? Being bloodthirsty beyond measure, these men would have loved to take up sharp-cornered stones and repeatedly cast them at the woman until she was dead. I observed such evil happen while living in Iran after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Why did these Pharisees bring this woman? You do not need my explanation for the Holy Bible clearly tells us in the next verse: "This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him." If Christ had violated the law of Rome by condemning the woman to stoning, He would have been guilty of violating Caesar's law. On the contrary, had He frankly forgiven her and spared her the sentence of the Law of Moses, He would have been guilty of violating the Law of Moses as expressed in Leviticus 20:10. This, the Pharisees considered, their Catch 22!

"But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not." I have observed this act of `writing on the ground a number of times in Iran. There is a cultural tendency among the Persians (and the wider Middle East) to avoid telling you something to your face that may displease, or embarrass, you. They say that they do not want to "disturb the water of your face." So if you ask a question whose answer may be embarrassing or displeasing to either you or the listener, they will often kneel down and diddle in the sand as if distracted. The Holy sensitivity of Christ was surely embarrassed at the situation – not only for Himself and the gathering, but also for the woman. He wrote with the Finger of God for the fourth time mentioned in Scripture. The first two times was in the graving of the Law on tables of stone, the third was in the court of Belshazzar, the Babylonian king who drank from the Holy vessels of the Temple. The Hand of God appeared and wrote upon the wall. Now the Finger of God writes upon the shifting sands. What He wrote is not revealed to us, however, we do have some suggestive reasons provided by Scripture: "O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters." (Jeremiah 17:13) These Pharisees had not only forsaken the Lord, but were attempting to destroy him by cunning and craftiness. Perhaps, though we do not know with certainty, this was what Christ had written!

Please bear in mind that the terrified woman is in the midst. She dares not even look up at Christ. Her face is burning with shame, and her heart is racing in terror. But she only listens to the dialogue unable to say a word in her defense. She hears the cruel Pharisees calling for her stoning, but she also hears the very limited responses of Christ. Perhaps she gains a glance of His kindly features when He stoops to her level and writes upon the ground?

"So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself," The wicked must be full of fear whenever Christ arises. He will not forever write upon the earth. The day will come when He shall take upon Himself the vesture of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and grasp the Sword of His Word in Power and Thunder. The woman is in much better stead of perspective to have Christ come to her level than are the Pharisees when He stands to theirs. "and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." What a kind and loving Advocate this woman has found in Christ. He may be our Advocate as well if we shall come before Him in repentance and love. These are the first words the woman has heard Jesus utter. "Surely these Pharisees," she thinks, "must be worthy and without sin for all the show they make of righteousness?" "Anyone of them must be worthy to cast the first stone. Why would Christ, if He is my helper, ask them such a thing?" But Christ sees something the woman does not see. He sees into the dark and ugly chambers of the hearts of these men. He knows their sins and guilt.

"And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground." Christ does nothing in vain. He wrote twice upon the ground for a real cause. This is the fifth recorded time of the Finger of God writing. When God writes, it is no small issue. What did He write THIS time? We are not told. Perhaps it was the name of one or all of the Pharisees, and beside those names, there may have been a woman's name written with whom they had, themselves, committed adultery. Whatever it was, it had a grave and sobering impact on them!

"And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." The wicked men left without a benedictory word! They began leaving by the eldest to the younger. Why? Perhaps the older a man is, the more opportunity to sin he has. Now, Jesus is left alone with the woman. The day will come, dear friend, when you, too, will be left alone to face your Lord. Neither will your Accuser be present for we are told in Revelations 20:10-11 that Satan and his followers will first be cast in the Lake of Fire, and then the White Throne Judgment. So your prosecuting attorney will not be present at that judgment, but your defense attorney (Christ) will be so present! This woman does not know what to think. She has only come to love this Voice she has heard – the same which Mary Magdalene heard through her profuse tears at the Garden Tomb!

For the first time, this Voice speaks to her! What a lovely Voice it is: "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" Only God has the authority to condemn. Those guilty men who brought the woman and the charges are gone having been found at least as guilty as the woman. The term `woman' as used here by Christ was a term of respect, and should be today! "What has happened, Woman? Has NO man condemned thee?" It is doubtful that the woman understands the tremendous events that have transpired in her salvation, but she knows the One who granted it! That is ENOUGH! The guilty men left still guilty, but only the woman remains for the great forgiveness of Christ.

Perhaps lifting her tear-filled eyes for the first time to behold this Great Presence before her (for she knew who He was), she responded timidly, "No man, Lord." The next words of Jesus thunder across the eons of time and Eternity having the authenticity of a Heavenly Decree. They pierced the hidden chambers of the heart of the woman and gave more comfort and hope than any she had heard before: "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." It will be a great privilege for her now to be forgiven, and also to avoid falling into the same pit of sin that was most nearly her ruin. She will "go and sin no more" with a forgiven heart. Can you say as much? Have you faced Christ with your filthy rags and burden of sin and heard His loving Voice of forgiveness? See to it, friend!

Eighth Sunday after Trinity

The Propers for today are found on Page 199-200, with the Collect first:

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

O

GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ryan Hopkins read the Epistle, which came from Paul’s letter to the Romans, the Eighth Chapter, beginning at the Twelfth Verse. Paul tells us to live out our lives as Jesus instructed us to. If we live as we want, we die and are gone. If we live as Jesus commanded, we will live through to eternity. Life is not about here, it is about doing well enough here so we can get there. If we want the fruits of the heirship we have been given, we must live the part:

B

RETHREN, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Deacon Striker Jack Arnold read today’s Holy Gospel which started in the Seventh Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, beginning at the Fifteenth Verse. Matthew records the warning that so few heed. Many leaders talk a good line, but how do they actually act, particularly in private? For it is private when none are looking that we are revealed. If you want to get to heaven, you have to act the part, not just talk about it.

B

EWARE of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Sermon – Time and Action

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

Because they were so great and so on topic, we have printed both Bishop Campbell’s sermon for the day and Bishop Ogles’ piece on the Gospel. Please take the time to read them. They are both superb!

Devotion for 8th Sunday after Trinity 14 August 2011 Anno Domini

"15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matt 7:15-21)

Jesus has just finished giving strong counsel, in the previous three verses, to the people of the end of the Law. "12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt 7:12-14) All that the Law and Prophets have taught has been to the end of love and concern for thy neighbor. The Scribes, Pharisees, and elders have turned the Law of God on its head and have added grievous burdens thereon to soak away all the joy of life. They have made the Law an instrument of oppression. Even so, since we are not able to perfectly keep the Law, it has become a curse for man. The Law and Prophets of the Old Testament end with the word `curse' (Malachi 4:6) for that is the Law to man. It has been so since the Garden at Eden.

Christ, in verses 12-14 above has given us a positive instruction on how we might live gloriously and in righteousness; however, He will now give caution on what we must be alert to and avoid: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." God came down in human form in the essence of a Lamb to save us from our sins, but false prophets, as ravening wolves come in the false garb of lambs to devour us ere we know the Light of Christ! Please do not consider these false prophets to be rare in the church today for they are not! "4….Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Matt 24:4-11) Please remember the unnatural growth of the Mustard Tree (Matt 13:32) in whose branches the birds (demons) came to roost. Observe also the word `many' used by our Lord in describing the prevalence of these false prophets – there shall be MANY! And observe, too, that there will be MANY who are deceived by their false witness.

"Ye shall know them by their fruits." Our Lord speaks in such simple, yet powerfully accurate terms. What can be more simple and logical than judging a tree by its fruits? Why would we assume that the fruits of men would not identify the worth of their words and works? "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Many of the poor and simple sinners who were touched by Christ came to know these simple truths to a far greater measure than all of the school-trained doctors of Israel. Perhaps the reason resides in the false pride that sometimes attends the letters one has been privileged to receive through sophisticated academia. Serious learning does not lead to pride, but humility, for the more we learn of God, the more we realize what little knowledge we really possess.

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit." The doctrine of God is the good tree represented in His ministers and people. The fruit is the results of that doctrine lived out in a humble and contrite heart. "But a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." The leaven of the Pharisees of which the Lord warned us is false doctrine. This false doctrine bears fruit which embitters the soul and quenches the Spirit. "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." (Matt 16:6) "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." It is not possible for peach trees to bear crab apples any more than it is possible for a crab apple tree to bring forth peaches. The teaching of Christ is so basic that even a child can grasp its meaning while the philosophers and professors often will not deign to lower their minds to a matter so simple! How I envy the privilege that the young lady, Mary of Bethany, enjoyed while sitting at the very feet of the Master!

We are all born of a Seed – either that of Abraham (ultimately, Christ), or that of Cain (ultimately, the Deceiver). "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." If we are believers in false doctrine, our works will reflect that resulting false character. We will be fruit of that bad Tree in the midst of the Garden of which Christ warned us not to eat. If we believe in the sincere milk of the Word of God, our works will reflect that faith and we will be Seed of the Tree of Life which is Christ. Rather than being the fruit which is cast into the fire, I pray all who read this commentary will be the fruit which will be had in the celestial City of New Jerusalem.

Please do not consider a casual faith and living to be the kind that will suffice in living for Christ. We must cast aside our casual styles of belief and practice and take up our cross daily and follow Christ. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Many who have never missed a Sunday in church will also not miss an eternity in Hell. If the great number of church attendees in America sincerely believed with power and hope, how could our society be falling to such dire lows? The great distress of society in America is not a result of unbelievers in our midst, but result directly from a Laodicean Church mentality whose faith is luke-warm and whose holiness is contrived and not genuine. Every Lord's Day, we of the Anglican Communion worldwide repeat the Lord's Prayer. How oft have we repeated the line in that prayer which says: "They Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." Is this simply a repetition from rote memory, or is it repeated with a deep, spiritual conviction? Have we taken the Lord's Name in vain by praying in that Name without conviction?

It would be incomplete to conclude the devotion today without noting the two verses from Matthew 7 that follow today's lectionary reading: "22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt 7:22-23) There are many prominent clergy and laypeople today who are held in high esteem for their well known preaching and apparent works against the devil. They have preached convincing sermons in the name of Christ couched in smooth and lovely speech, but which lack the deeper truth of Christ. These are wells without water, and wandering stars with no fixed place in the ether of space. High sounding words and elaborate cunning will not gain the gate, for the path is that broad way that leads in the opposite direction from life. Many are thereon. The Way we must seek is the simple Way – the straight Way that is not adorned with vain accoutrements. This Way is less traveled and often evokes the sneers of those on that broad, political way that leads down to destruction. Which Way are you traveling, friend?

Bishop Dennis Campbell

Today’s Sunday Report has a guest sermon by Bishop R. Dennis Campbell. Bishop Dennis is one of the smartest people I know and is very good at expressing biblical concepts in terms we can understand. He often preaches a wonderful sermon on one of my favorite topics – ACTS. Action, not diction. Today is one of those times!

Profits and Prophets

Eighth Sunday after Trinity

14 August 2011

I want to begin with something that is very important for all Christians to understand today. The Gospel reading for this morning says, "Beware of false prophets which come in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves." When Christ was speaking there were prophets living on the earth. John the Baptist was a prophet. Christ Himself was a prophet. And even in the early New Testament Church there were prophets, their ministry was markedly different from that of the Old Testament prophets, but they did exist and minister at that time. If that is true, then why do we not have prophets in the Church today? I am not a prophet, and I am not a priest, at least not in the sense of an Old Testament priest. Now I know we Anglicans sometimes call our clergy "priests" but that's because we are using a shortened version of a word that has come down to us from Greek through French, and it is the word for "elder." The word is "presbyter." So were not talking about a human priest in the New Testament that has the same function as the priest in the Old Testament. Why? Because in the Old Testament, the priest was, at least, symbolically, a mediator. Of course we all know that no human being can ever be a true mediator between God and man. The priest in the Old Testament was a shadow, a figure, a forerunner, and a symbol. He was a sign, like a traffic sign, that points us to the real Priest, the Great High Priest, and the only real Priest that we have, and that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That's why I don't often refer to myself as a priest. I call myself a minister or a presbyter, or a bishop, but I rarely refer to myself as a priest, because people today think of a priest as a minister in the Roman Catholic Church, whom they believe actually has a mediatory role between people and God. That's why the Catholics go to confession; they believe the priest is a mediator who has power to absolve and forgive their sins. You notice that in none of our services do I say, "I absolve you." I say, "God absolves all who truly repent and unfeignedly believe His holy Gospel." I never say God has given me power to remit sins. I say, "He has given to His ministers the power to pronounce to His people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins." It is God, not man who forgives sin. So it is not I, it is God, and I am not a mediatory priest. The reason we don't have mediatory priests is because our High Priest is in Heaven. 



Now, follow that same logic for a moment as we ask, "why don't we have prophets in the Church today?" The answer is, because we have one Prophet now and that prophet is in Heaven. Our Prophet is Jesus Christ; therefore, we no longer need human prophets.

Listen to this; "God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2). Why don't we have prophets anymore? Because The Prophet has come. The Prophet, who, in Himself fulfills the role of all the prophets, and speaks the Word of God in truth and in perfection, has come. He has spoken to us, and His revelation is recorded for us right here in Holy Scripture. So we don't need prophets anymore. We don't need people to give us new revelation, and if someone comes to you and calls himself a prophet, trust the word of God, that the person is not a prophet. Our Prophet is Jesus Christ; His prophecy is in the book we call the Holy Bible. We need no other.

Having said that, let's talk about things that are profitable and unprofitable. We're talking now about profits spelled, p-r-o-f-i-t, not p-r-o-p-h-e-t. Romans reminds us that some actions lead to death. This "death" is a spiritual condition toward God, which Romans describes in other places as being under God's wrath and condemned to suffer for sin forever. Some actions lead us into spiritual death. Other actions lead to life, which is also a spiritual condition meaning "peace with God." The Gospel, Matthew 7:15 and following, warns us that ideas can also lead us to life or death. False doctrine kills, while truth brings life. So, false prophets lead us into death., while those who proclaim the truth of God, lead us into life. I emphasize here that it is not the person but the message that brings life. It follows then that, if God is going to put away from us all hurtful things, some of the first things that will have to go are things we have taken into ourselves by our own free choice, and that these things will include both actions and ideas. These things lead us into the spiritual condition of death. Now, I realise that we are all born into this spiritual death, so don't jump on me when I say sin leads us into spiritual death. So understand that I know this and understand that this truth is the foundation of what the Bible is talking about in our readings for today, especially our reading in Romans. It also follows that the profitable things God will give us will also be things of both thought and deed.

We know about the bad things. We know how they kill souls and destroy lives. If we do not understand this we cannot call ourselves Christians. If we do not understand the wickedness of sin, especially our own sin, we must admit that we are outside of Christ and still in our sin. For one of the distinguishing character traits of a true Christian is the recognition of the sinfulness of sin and its devastating effects. This understanding results in a holy hatred of our own sin. The true Christian "acknowledges and bewails" his "manifold sins and wickedness," and is "heartily sorry for these our misdoings." "The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burden of them is intolerable." 



The person who is not a Christian has a very different attitude toward sin. He may be indifferent to it. He may adamantly insist that it is not sin. He may even have a genuine regret for the moral decline of the country, and for some of his own actions. But to hate sin as God hates it; to root it out of his life like weeds in a garden, to "earnestly repent" this he cannot and will not do.



The true Christian loves God above all things, even above his own life. Today, the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, is sandwiched between the days of Saint James and Saint Bartholemew. I don't talk about "Saints" much, because some might get the idea that we in the Anglican Orthodox Church venerate saints, or pray to them, or think they somehow mediate for us with God. We don't venerate them, and they don't mediate for us. Christ is our mediator, why would we bother with anyone less than Christ when He has given Himself for us and ever liveth to intercede? Besides, a "saint" in the Bible is anyone who is a true believer and true Christian. So it is proper to talk about the Gospel according to St. John, or an Epistle of St. Paul. But it is also proper to talk about all the rest of us as saints, and we see the Bible doing just that in many places. Sainthood is not an office granted by the Church, it is a condition of the soul purchased for us by the sacrificial life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and received by us through Biblical faith. To be "saved," is to be a saint. St. James was one of the first martyrs. He was killed for the "crime" of being a Christian, and the reason the Anglican Church still talks about such people is that they are good examples of faithful, Christian living. They loved Christ more than life. They wanted God more than they wanted anything else, and they were willing to turn away from everything that impeded their communion with Him. The lesson here is this; death is not a hurtful thing, hell is a hurtful thing. Life that is empty of meaning and hope is a hurtful thing. Life that has no purpose higher than the pleasures of the world and the flesh is a hurtful thing. Life that is controlled by attitudes, thoughts, and actions that are self-destructive or bring sorrow to the marital relationship, the familial relationship, and other relationships all the way from the inner personal to interpersonal to international relationships, are hurtful things. And anything that disrupts the relationship with God is a hurtful thing. May God truly "put away from us" these things. And, may He "give us those things which are profitable for us." 



Let me talk for a moment about just what we are praying for in this Collect, for this is the emphasis of this week in our cycle of prayer. What are these profitable things? First we are praying for holy living. We are praying for some good, old fashioned Godliness. We're not talking here about thrills and chills, or smells and bells, or happy clappy times in Church. We are not talking here about health and wealth and popularity in the world. We are talking about loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. We are talking about love for God that goes far beyond mere emotions; love that is expressed more in actions than in feelings, love that leads us to keep His commandments, not in order that we may earn His favour or escape His wrath, but for the sheer joy of pleasing Him.

Second, we are asking God to give us right understanding, or, right doctrine. Yes, I know people don't want to hear about doctrine anymore. They want to "experience God" and they want "practical" sermons about dealing with stress and achieving their dreams. But notice how different this is from the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles in Scripture. They majored on doctrine, and Christ Himself warned us against false prophets and false teaching. Right doctrine builds up God's people. Right understanding of God leads to right understanding of self and world, and life. But more importantly, right understanding teaches us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. 


O

God, whose never failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; we humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.