The Unchanging Church: July 2014

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Sixth Sunday after Trinity

Today we celebrated the Sixth Sunday after Trinity Sunday.

On Point

Someone asked, where do the quotes come from? The answer is from the people who uttered them. But, how did you find them? Oh, that. Some from Bishop Jerry, many from Rev Bryan Dabney, a few from other places, some from Rev Geordie Menzies-Grierson, but overall mostly from Bryan. He always has some great ones to share. On to the On Point quotes –

The strongest Oak of the forest isn't the one protected from sunlight,indeed its the one that is exposed to struggle for its existence against the scorching sun,strong wind and even excessive and heavy downpour. Don't give up when partaking your portion of the wilderness experience.

Mareen Awuor

Kenya 2014

True Shade Shelter

A Chinese convert once illustrated the folly of self-righteousness as follows: "How can a man trust in his own righteousness? It is like seeking shelter under one’s own shadow: We may stoop to the very ground, and the lower we bend, we still find that our shadow is beneath us. But if a man flee to the shadow of a great rock or a wide-spreading tree, he will find shelter from the noonday sun. So human merits are unavailing, and Christ alone is able to save to the uttermost."

Rev Geordie Menzies-Grierson

Newcastle, England

625 New Bible Stories and Illustrations

He likes to be asked…

“I am hungry,” said Digory.

“Well, tuck in,” said Fledge, taking a big mouthful of grass.

Then he raised his head, still chewing and with bits of grass sticking out on each side of his mouth like whiskers, and said, “Come on, you two. Don’t be shy. There’s plenty for us all.”

“But we can’t eat grass,” said Digory.

“H’m, h’m,” said Fledge, speaking with his mouth full. “Well—h’m— don’t know quite what you’ll do then. Very good grass too.”

Polly and Digory stared at one another in dismay.

“Well, I do think someone might have arranged about our meals,” said Digory.

“I’m sure Aslan would have, if you’d asked him,” said Fledge.

“Wouldn’t he know without being asked?” said Polly.

“I’ve no doubt he would,” said the Horse (still with his mouth full). “But I’ve a sort of idea he likes to be asked.”

Jack Lewis

The Magician's Nephew

Forgiveness

When it comes to a question of our forgiving other people, it is partly the same and partly different. It is the same because, here also, forgiving does not mean excusing. Many people seem to think it does. They think that if you ask them to forgive someone who has cheated or bullied them you are trying to make out that there was really no cheating or no bullying. But if that were so, there would be nothing to forgive. They keep on replying, “But I tell you the man broke a most solemn promise.” Exactly: that is precisely what you have to forgive. (This doesn’t mean that you must necessarily believe his next promise. It does mean that you must make every effort to kill every taste of resentment in your own heart—every wish to humiliate or hurt him or to pay him out.) The difference between this situation and the one in which you are asking God’s forgiveness is this. In our own case we accept excuses too easily; in other people’s we do not accept them easily enough.

Jack Lewis

The Weight of Glory

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Psalm 103:13

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

St. Luke 5:31-32

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

St. John 20:29

Neither the devil nor any other person or thing is to be blamed so as to excuse ourselves, for the true origin of evil and temptation is in our own hearts. The combustible matter is in us through the flame may be blown up by some outward causes.

Matthew Henry

17^th and 18^th century English pastor and author

That thing which we would not do if we thought Jesus was coming tonight, that thing we ought not to do at all. That place to which we would not go if we thought Jesus was coming this day, that place we ought to avoid. That company in which we would not like Jesus to find us, in that company we ought never to sit down. Oh that men would live as in the sight of Christ!

JC Ryle

19^th century Anglican bishop and author

Are You Ready For The End Of Time, p. 59

To believe in world peace, [the appeasers]... must believe that regimes which ceaselessly talk of war, build weapons of war and torture and murder their own people on a whim somehow share their hopes for peace... [Neville Chamberlain believed that there was a universal aversion to war]. But there is no such universal aversion. If there were, war would be the exception, not the rule.

Daniel Greenfield

21^st century American commentator

War and Dishonor, 1-22-14

Propers

The Propers for today are found on Page 197-198, with the Collect first:

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

As is oft the case, the Collect asks for help from the Holy Ghost to enter into our hearts that we might love God and, thus obtain His most excellent Gifts. As imperfect creatures with free will, if we ask God for something, it tends to be what we want, not what we need. He knows. Thus, we need His Help in the form of the Holy Ghost.

The Epistle came from the Paul’s letter to the Romans, beginning at the First Verse of the Sixth Chapter. Paul tells us that as we were baptized unto Jesus in life, so we are baptized unto his death. We share His death on the Cross for our sins and by His death, our sin is dead; then as He was raised up, so are we. It is intended the death we die unto sin is to be permanent and that we go forth and sin no more. Yet, as long as we live here on earth, we sin. Yet, as long as we live in Christ, we live. Thus, we reckon ourselves “to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

NOW ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today’s Holy Gospel started in the Fifth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, beginning at the Twentieth Verse. Jesus tells his disciples, “Except your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Very worrisome indeed! Scribes and Pharisees spent their entire lives acting the epitome of righteousness. There is no way mere mortals could exceed their righteousness, or so it would seem. Jesus goes on to tell us that not only would we not go to heaven if we commit murder, but we are in danger of the same judgment of we are angry without just cause. If that were not worrisome enough, we are in danger of hell-fire if we call one another a fool! Let not the night fall on discord with your family and friends, your neighbors in the Christian sense of The Word. The text following asks us to do our best to follow Jesus and in return, his sacrifice will serve to set aside the just judgment and we shall be accounted as righteous before God.

ESUS said unto his disciples, Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt do no murder; and whosoever murdereth shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

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.

The Law –Then and Now

Sixth Sunday after Trinity

Saint Andrew’s

Anglican Orthodox Church

27 July 2014, Anno Domini

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. (Matt 5:17-26)

How does the Law of God apply to us as Christians today? Has it been ruled null and void and a thing of the past - perhaps uttered by a changeable God who acts dispensationally from one generation to the next? Is the Law binding today as before? I refer not to the ordinances of administration of Moses, but to those Laws laid down by God – are they no longer of any weight and moment?

It may surprise some, after years on end of false indoctrination, that God has not suspended nor nullified His Moral Law. It is just as binding today as it ever was. Before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, there was no way for man to satisfy the Law of God in the perfect obedience which that Law requires. “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Yes, Jesus fulfilled, or satisfied, the demands of the Law, but that does not mean that He suspended or cancelled them. They still remain inviolate. The modern proponents of “easy-believism” would have us believe that we are free to live in any way we please if we only give lip service to a faith in Jesus Christ. Lip service will not satisfy the Law of obedience – only the received Blood of Christ can substitute for the blood sacrifice required of each of us for our sins.

While it is true that OUR obedience to the Law cannot save, the perfect obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ DID save us so that we have a perfect righteousness in the eyes of the Father by that IMPUTED righteousness we enjoy in Christ. The Law clearly says that all have sinned – that there are NONE righteous – and the “wages of sin is death.” So how have we escaped the certain penalty of death levied against us? By that substitutionary death of Christ upon the cross to all who receive Christ as Redeemer, Lord, and Savior. The terms of the Law were satisfied in Him. In this way, Jesus saved us by, and through, the Law. Since we have been pardoned and justified under the Law, does that mean that we should go out and fragrantly disregard the Law and teach others to do so? God forbid! We should obey God’s Moral Law to our best capacity, but when we fail, we have an advocate with the Father who stands at the ready to intercede on our behalf – Jesus Christ! No part of the Law of God has been declared null and void. In times past, it was engraved on Tables of unyielding Stone, but now it is written in the soft sinews of our hearts with an instrument of love. That which we love, we can in no wise disregard. “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Psalms 119:97) Love fulfills the requirement of the Law in Christ: “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10) If God’s Law were no longer in force, why would Paul make such a claim?

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” We do not teach disobedience to God’s Law though some apostate churches (I need not name them) do so with seeming impunity. We do not teach our children that God’s Commandments were nailed to the cross lest we provoke the ire of God against us. It is important, however, to point out that it is not our own obedience to God’s Law that keeps us from the fires of Hell, but the righteousness of Christ whose righteousness is imputed to those who are the Elect.

All religions of the world, except Christianity, are works based religions. Islam is strictly legalistic. Buddhism requires much meditation in order to become part of the great universal self (whatever that is), and Hinduism requires the adherent to satisfy the whims of many, many different gods and goddesses.

The religion of Christ is not works based. It is not what you DO that will gain heaven. It is what you have believed and accepted, through Grace that will get you there.

Our own personal conduct will never be righteous enough to spend eternity in the presence of a Holy God. Men and governments have proven time and again to be incapable of a sustaining righteousness.

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The scribes and Pharisees attempted to keep the letter of the law. This they attributed to righteousness, however, their hearts were dark with envy, power, and intrigue. Their righteousness was not of a good character, but of the outward appearance. True righteousness springs from a heart devoted to God and full of love for Him and His Creatures. Our righteous works are nothing apart from our love in Christ. Of our own strength, we could never attain to the righteousness of God. The righteousness of a Christian is not his own, but is the imputed righteousness of Christ which makes him righteous before God.

Christ is now about to a stricter interpretation of the law than previously considered or understood: “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.” This penalty of the law is still in force as are all the other Commandments of God, however, Christ adds a new dimension: “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” First note the authority with which Christ speaks as the Judge and Lawgiver! He explains the deeper application of the law:

It is the heart that is judged and not the outward appearance. Only God can see the deep chambers of our hearts. Even we, ourselves, are often oblivious to what evil lurks in our heart – but God sees and He knows the means by which our hearts can be made clean and righteous. Our intent to kill is the same as the action itself in the eyes of God. Hate in our hearts is synonymous with murder! Christ provides three examples of progressive judgmental authority:

1. The judgment (lowest and first level of judgment at the time in Jewish courts).

2. The Council which was the Sanhedrin which sat at Jerusalem, and

3. Hell fire relates to the valley of Hinnom, a valley in which the Jews in time past had sacrificed their sons and daughters to the fiery arms of Molech by placing them in his red-hot arms until they fell into the hot fire beneath the idle. God has warned not to allow our children to pass through the fire to Molech. In later days, some records indicate that a continual fire was allowed to burn in this valley to consume the waste and carrion of Jerusalem. This reference by Christ to hell fire represents the final and full judgment of the wicked.

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Therefore, or in view of, the previous statement, Christ issues this serious counsel. There is not room in the heart for both hate and love, for righteousness and unrighteousness. Therefore, when you give your alms to God, or His creatures, do so with a clear conscience. If any man has a grievance against you, settle that first, and then go with your gift to the altar. It is much more possible to be reconciled to God when we are reconciled to our neighbors.

“Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.” Be prompt to settle disputes with others before they escalate into more serious offences. This applies as well to the confession of sins. Do not go to bed on your anger, and confess promptly to God your sins lest you perish prematurely and have no resort but hell. Confession removes walls between a man and heaven, and it is a continual process. Failure to confess a forgotten sin will not necessarily condemn a person to hell, but it will obscure our vision and service to God.

Many Christians may forget that, since sins are freely forgiven, there remains a scar which our sins may cause. David suffered the death of Bathsheba’s firstborn because of sin. Our sins hurt ones we love, and even after God has forgiven them, the image of hurt remains.

“Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.” Here Christ is revealing that, though there may exist a wrong between man and man; there is always a third and higher authority than any earthly court of law, involved. God will exact a penalty for all sin. “The wages of sin is death.” This would be a terminal indictment against man were it not for the sentence which follows: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

So, if the wages of sin is death, and we have ALL sinned, how may we pay the sin debt? We cannot! But Someone else did! Jesus Christ died in our stead on the cross for us to pay the debt we owe. “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4)

Have you fled to Christ as your Ark in the time of trouble, friend?

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California

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

Consider the words from the Collect, … who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire …

We acknowledge that God will give those who love Him more good than they can imagine, let alone ask for. But, first you have to love Him. So what should we ask for? The Holy Ghost to enter in to our hearts that we might truly love Him. If we do, more good will come to use than we can even imagine or hope for. The Holy Ghost is a key element of love, without Him we cannot even love Him. If we cannot love others, how can we love Him who we have not seen? He gives us far more love than we possibly deserve.

That is the great and wonderful news about following our Lord. He has love for the entire world, if they would turn from their sinful ways and follow Him. This is the message that we are bringing to the world. That He loved us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His Son on the cross to die for us, that we and all who believe on Him might have everlasting life. Thi

We are imperfect creatures, created with free will by a Perfect Being. To get into heaven’s gate, we need be accounted as perfect before the Judge. That requires a bit of an accounting irregularity, to get imperfection accounted as perfection.

So what does the Collect counsel, ask for the Holy Ghost to enter into our hearts that we might get more than we can desire! Jesus! Jesus is that accounting irregularity. He can give us his guidance and grace via the Holy Ghost, to make us better men and women of the Lord. By His Sacrifice, made one time, for all mankind, for all time, we are accounted as perfect by His Faith and action. Thus, through His Faith and His Action, we attain life everlasting. Starting today, you don’t have to wait until you die to benefit from your immortality. In fact, God would prefer you to start acting like you will live forever right now. Thus, decisions you make, actions you take will be with the long term view of eternity! Versus our rather usual shortsighted short term view, we must think in the terms of the big picture, not the tiny speck in the picture.

As imperfect creatures, immortal or not, we make mistakes. One to avoid is being “mad” at ones fellow creatures, particularly family and friends. We pick the most illogical reasons to be mad, the word chosen rather than angry. Looked at logically, as God does, we need to solve the issue, kiss and make up, and do it before the sun sets on our anger. Never part in anger. One of you may not come back. Remember that before you are “angry” at a friend, relative, acquaintance, or stranger. We must not let the anger and other irrational emotions such as fear get the best of us, but rather think calmly and figure out the best way to handle whatever situation we are in without losing control of our emotions. It can be a rather hard thing at times, but it must be done nevertheless.

When Jesus gave His Life for us, He did it knowing we would fail to follow in perfection, but fully aware some would follow to the best of their ability. We must get back up after we make our mistakes and continue on trying the best we can to follow Him. That is all He asks, do your best. That is not the same as saying you are doing your best.

There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.

Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail. The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.

The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?

It is by our actions we are known.

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

Bishop Dennis Campbell’s Sermon

Bishop Dennis is a brilliant speaker. He is able to take biblical precepts and make them perfectly understandable, even to me. Oft he provides the text of his sermons and I take the utmost pleasure in passing them on:

Righteousness that Exceeds the Pharisees

Matthew 5:20-26

Sixth Sunday after Trinity

July 27, 2014

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

The scribes and Pharisees were thought to be the unquestioned champions of righteousness in the time of Christ. They had devoted their lives to studying and keeping the Law of God. The scribes had their beginning in Babylon around 580 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Israel and taken the Jewish people to Babylon in captivity. Having no Temple in Babylon, the Jews formed the synagogues. At first, the synagogues were probably headed by priests, but as the synagogues multiplied the priests began to instruct and ordain teachers, called, “rabbis,” to conduct the services and teach the Scriptures. The rabbis were men of great learning. Not only did they know the Old Testament by heart, they also knew the Talmud, a vast body of history, tradition and commentary which contained the essence of what the Jews considered being Jewish. In other words, the rabbis were experts in being Jews. They helped the Jews keep their Jewish identity and heritage in foreign lands where they could not keep the sacrifices and ceremonies of the Temple in Jerusalem. They adapted the Temple liturgies into services that could be done outside of the Temple, and their liturgies became the foundation of the Christian liturgy we are using today. The fact that the Jews survive as a people today is largely due to the work of the rabbis.

The Pharisees began as a political party. They seem to have developed during an era when the Greeks dominated the land of Israel, and tried to make the Jews become Greek. The Greeks desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem. They outlawed the Temple services, Passover, and most of the Jews’ most cherished rituals and traditions. The Pharisees arose at this time in determination to preserve and perform these traditions, even at the cost of their own lives. The survival of the Jewish people as Jews during the time of Greek occupation is largely due to the Pharisees. Needless to say, they were held in high regard in Israel.

Three hundred years later, in the time of Christ, the scribes and Pharisees had largely deserted their founding principles. Though still well learned in the Law and the massive volumes of Jewish traditions, the heart had gone out of their faith. They had become so concerned about the small details of Jewish tradition that they forgot to love the Lord thy God above all else, and love thy neighbor as thyself. They were concerned more about the outward performance than about the inward attitude.

Our Lord makes a frightening point in Matthew 5; the inward attitude will send you to hell just as surely as the outward performance. According to Jesus, anger without a cause is the same as murder, and looking with lust is the same as adultery. Things, like insulting another person, which make you liable in human courts, make you worthy of hell fire in God’s court of perfect justice. But, notice that Christ is not talking to scribes and Pharisees in this passage. These verses are part of the Sermon on the Mount, delivered in Galilee to the everyday “man in the street.” They were not scholars or “saints.” They were just regular people trying to earn a living and feed their families. They could not while away their days in study and prayer. They had work to do. How could their righteousness ever hope to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? But Matthew 5:20 doesn’t just apply to the ancient Jews. It applies to us today. How can the average person, who hasn’t been to seminary, and has to work a job and support a family and keep up a home, ever hope to exceed the righteousness of the professional holy men?

I think Christ’s point here is that real righteousness has two parts. First, it is a matter of the heart. It is a matter of love for God. The scribes and Pharisees had become so focused on the Talmud they could not see God. They were like a person with binoculars who spent his time admiring the binoculars instead of using them.

Second, the kind of righteousness Jesus is talking about cannot be achieved by our efforts. It has to come to us from God as a gift. This is because nobody is able to keep the law perfectly. Even those, like the scribes and Pharisees, who excel at keeping the letter of God’s commandments, are utter failures at keeping the spirit of the law. Maybe they have never committed murder, but they have hated people without just cause. Maybe they have never committed adultery, but have lusted. Maybe they have never stolen but they have coveted. So they are not really righteous after all. They are sinners, just like everyone else. And if your righteousness is no better that theirs, then you are as lost and far from God as they. Is your righteousness better? Have you not hated without a cause? According to Christ, that is the same as murder in the eyes of God. Have you not lusted? That is the same as adultery. Have you not coveted? That is the same as theft. And we all do it. And there is no excuse for it. We are guilty sinners before God.

I said there is no excuse for our sins, but, thank God, there is forgiveness. Christ died to suffer the penalty of your sins. Imagine yourself dressed in filthy, maggot infested rags. They represent your sins. Now picture Christ taking these rags off of you and putting them on Himself. He dressed in your sins, and died for them on the cross. But that is only half of what He did. He also took the perfect, seamless, spotless, priceless robe of His righteousness, and dressed you in it. He gave it to you to keep forever. And dressed in His righteousness, you are far more righteous than any scribe or Pharisee, or you could ever achieve. In Him you are completely righteous. That is the only way your righteousness can exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s Sunday Sermon

We are fortunate to have Bryan’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.

Sixth Sunday after Trinity

In the epistle for today (Romans 6:9-10) we read, Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Consider also the following passage taken from the Book of Hebrews (9:24-28), For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true: but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enterth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

In Old Testament times, the Israelites were under a covenant obligation to make certain offerings and sacrifices to God for their sins and trespasses. Original sin had brought death— both physical and spiritual— to mankind. God gave to his chosen people a temporary means of being freed from their sins through his prescriptions as set forth in the Law of Moses. But these offerings and sacrifices only covered their immediate sins and did not impute to the individual petitioner everlasting salvation. And so, from year to year, the faithful journeyed to Jerusalem to offer up those sacrifices and offerings which God required. St. Paul likened this to being under the tutelage of a pedagogue or teacher (see Galatians 3:23-25). And so it was necessary for God the Father to send his only begotten Son into the world to set us free from the bondage of the Law (Romans 7:15-8:4).

In response to our Lord’s free gift to us, St. Paul counseled all to, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). And the apostle clarified the issue of the sacrifices when he wrote in Hebrews 10, For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins (vv.1-2)... For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins (v.4)... But this man [Christ Jesus], after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God (v.12)... for by one offering, he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (v.14)... Now where remission of [sin] is, there is no more offering for sin (v. 18).

Given the aforementioned verses, a proper understanding of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper would be that it is a memorial to our Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. In our prayer book on page 80 are the words of institution given us by our Lord: do this in remembrance of me, and, this is my body, and this is my blood. Admittedly, without a proper bible understanding of this sacrament, one might come to see it as the Medieval Church did when it changed the character of the Lord’s Supper into a ritual re-enactment of his sacrifice. This errant practice was initially proposed by a Benedictine monk named Radbertus in the 9^th century but was not formally approved until the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215. And ever since, the Medieval Church continues to offer up our Lord— sacrificing him again and again, as it were, “on cue”— in opposition to the expressed word of God (Hebrews 9:24-28).

While this and other errant practices— such as the use of icons, statuary, relics and monstrances— were viewed as instructional tools to educate the illiterate and the unlearned among the laity; all of the aforementioned items are beyond the precincts of Scripture. Consider God’s second commandment, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them... (Exodus 20:4- 5a). God has spoken and it is not subject to change by his creatures. It is one thing to have God amend his word as noted in Acts 15:1-21 wherein we read St. James then said, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return , and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. But it is something else entirely for men to amend God by their tradition (St. Matthew 15:1-11).

At first blush, it does seem strange indeed that the Medieval Church would simply ignore the expressed will of God as noted Hebrews 10 concerning the nature of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. But if one examines church history, one will discover that by 13^th century, it had become the doorkeeper for interpreting the Holy Bible throughout much of Europe. There was no private interpretation of the scriptures by the laity, or even the lesser clergy. Every interpretation had to pass muster via the church hierarchy, and even then it was likely to be changed to conform to some new pope, or church council’s point of view. Ergo, the sound doctrine of one day could become the next’s new heresy. As St. John wrote concerning the church at Pergamos in the Book of Revelation (2:14), Thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols... that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. The Nicolaitanes were the precursors of the formal priesthood that lorded over the people. It was the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes which heralded the coming of the papacy. Therefore that which, in the church at Ephesus was more or less an administrative evil (2:6), had now become, in Pergamos, an accepted doctrine (2:15).

The doctrine of Balaam hearkens us back to the Book of Numbers (25:1-18) wherein the hireling prophet induced the Israelites to engage in idol worship and fornication, which angered God and resulted in not only the prophet’s death, but that of several thousand Israelites who had participated in his false worship. As one commentator put it, “The doctrine of Balaam was his teaching Balak to corrupt the people who could not be cursed by tempting them to marry women of Moab, defile their separation and abandon their pilgrim character. It is that union of the world and church which is spiritual unchastity.”

Given what we know about the history of the Medieval Church— particularly its adoption of extra-biblical forms and practices— we can better understand why it had become like the scribes and Pharisees whom our Lord rebuked saying, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition... This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (St. Matthew 15:3-8). Traditions within the Medieval Church, such as transubstantiation, originated in a time well apart from our own and that is what makes them so hard to root out. Also, it has not been slack in its teaching of these errors to every generation of its congregants since the time of their acceptance. And such explains why those erroneous doctrines and practices possess an aura of credibility. Finally, they are supported by the testimonies of men who possessed great learning and were reputed experts in the field of theology and bible languages. Who then can rightly question them today? What credibility will the critics of these traditions have against such a cadre of respected and learned scholars? Well, folks, you cannot make right what God in his word has said is wrong no matter how many letters you have following your last name, or what prefix you have before your first name. The words and numbers that matter are the chapter number and verse of a named canonical book of Scripture. That should be the measure of truth and nothing else.

It is important for us as born-again believers to follow the precepts of the written word of God. Both the early church and the Reformation church attempted to carry that message forward, and it is vitally important for all true and faithful Christians, regardless of their denominational brands, to be obedient to the expressed will of God. If we are engaging in false worship based upon false doctrines, then we are no different than Cain, or Korah or Nadab and Abihu. Will worship is not God worship. It is after all God who is sovereign. He has not left us without proper instruction. It would behoove us all to follow those things that are found within the Holy Bible, and not offer up to God those things which will impair our fellowship and endanger the salvation of others who might see our errors and embrace them as truth.

Let us pray,

ather, keep us from all false worship and idolatry, and guide us into the paths of righteous; for this we ask in the name of him who made one offering of himself for sin, and will come again in glory to rule as our King, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed week, Bryan+

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Fifth Sunday after Trinity

On Point

Rats in the Cellar

We begin to notice, besides our particular sinful acts, our sinfulness; begin to be alarmed not only about what we do, but about what we are. This may sound rather difficult, so I will try to make it clear from my own case. When I come to my evening prayers and try to reckon up the sins of the day, nine times out of ten the most obvious one is some sin against charity; I have sulked or snapped or sneered or snubbed or stormed. And the excuse that immediately springs to my mind is that the provocation was so sudden and unexpected; I was caught off my guard, I had not time to collect myself. Now that may be an extenuating circumstance as regards those particular acts: they would obviously be worse if they had been deliberate and premeditated. On the other hand, surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.

Jack Lewis

Mere Christianity

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

St. Mark 13:35-36

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

St. John 14:27

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and to do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

I St. Peter 3:10-12

Satan knows biblical terminology. He is also a master in masquerading under the guise of divine power. Alleged miraculous cures or manifestations often are accomplished by doctrinal errors. Every believer should realize that Satan can use doctrinal errors to his advantage, but he cannot overcome the Christian’s defenses in God’s Holy Word! This is our bulwark against demon incursions.

Dr. Merrill F. Unger

20^th century American theologian and scholar

(Demons in the World Today, pp. 17-18)

When the fish swallowed Jonah, he found him a morsel which he could not digest; and when the world devours the church, it is glad to be rid of it again. In all times of fiery trial, in patience let us possess our souls.

Charles H. Spurgeon

19^th century English Baptist pastor and author

(Morning and Evening, p. 569)

There is no surer way to make the church worldly than to put its material prosperity in the forefront. This is the surest way to put Satan in charge. It is easy for material assessments to become priority by emphasizing them until the opinion is created that these things are most important. When collecting money, building churches, and counting attendance become the evidence of church prosperity, then the world has a strong foothold, and Satan has achieved his purpose.

Rev EM Bounds

19^th and 20^th century American theologian and author

(Guide to Spiritual Warfare, pp. 46-47).

Peace either exists as a given condition or it is maintained by strong armies and ready deterrence. Peace cannot be found on the moral high ground, only [on] the mountains of the graves of the dead.

Daniel Greenfield

21^st century American commentator

(Winning the Moral High Ground is a Loser’s Game, 7-16-14)

Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.

Blaise Pascal

17^th century French mathematician, philosopher and author

James Madison warned that the loss of liberty rarely happens in one great event but rather happens gradually, over time, resulting from the actions of government officials who claim to be fortifying security. He practically predicted today’s events. The violations of our rights are obvious, undenied and undeniable. Yet what Madison probably feared most, he did not articulate: Once lost, liberty is lost forever.

Andrew P. Napolitano

20^th and 21^st century American jurist and author

(Spying on Innocents, 7-10-2014)

Propers

The Propers for today are found on Page 195-196, with the Collect first:

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

RANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle came from the Third Chapter of the First Epistle of Saint Peter beginning at the Eighth Verse. Peter tells to be of one mind, have compassion and pity for each other, to be courteous, to give good to all our brethren, to return good for evil, to seek peace, to do good, not just talk good. Peter tells us to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. To put ourselves in others’ places, understand when they fall short and make good things happen.

E ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.

Today’s Holy Gospel started in the Fifth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Luke beginning at the First Verse. This is one of the classic stories of Jesus in the Bible. Jesus had gone down to Lake Gennesaret to pray and then speak to the people. As they pressed in on him, he asked Simon Peter to use his boat as a speaking platform. Speaking from a small boat near the beach is almost like speaking in an amphitheatre. When he finished talking to the people, he told Simon Peter to go out and set his nets. Simon pointed out they had fished all night with no result, but at His word, he would set his net. The net gathered an incredible catch that Simon Peter and his friends could not board. At that point, it was clear to Simon Peter he was in the presence of one far greater than himself. He fell to his knees, saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Then Jesus said, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” From then on Simon Peter followed Jesus.

Do not misunderstand, every day Jesus speaks to you telling you what to do. It is your choice, you can listen like Simon Peter, or you can ignore Jesus. He has the pony for the lottery. He wants to give it to you, all you have to do is accept. While He is a bit more subtle than a Drill Instructor, the question is the same, “Can you hear me?”

There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.

T came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: and so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Bishop Ogles’ Sermon

Sermon Notes

Fifth Sunday after Trinity

Saint Andrew’s

Anglican Orthodox Church

Fishing for God, or Self?

20 July 2014, Anno Domini

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

I have often wished that I were a fly on the wall of history – to stand by the Galilean Sea when Christ preached so often, the same at which He had his final breakfast with His closest disciples, and the Sea Upon which He took His midnight stroll in the midst of devastating storm. This Sea teems with life, so a fitting place for our Lord and Savior to discourse. This body of blue and placid water has several names: Galilee, Gennesaret, Tiberius, or Chinnereth – yet all terms refer to the same Sea. As I have said, it is most often a smooth and placid body of water, but storms can build upon it with swift and unpredictable resolve. In a manner of speaking, the Sea is, in many ways, like the nature of our Lord who was most often gentle in speech to inveterate sinners, but quick to castigate the hypocritical clergy of His day. Like Christ, the Sea teems with life, but it yields its bounty most fully and handsomely to those who follow His counsel. It yields a profitable return to those who listen to His Word, and it may swamp the boat of those who are rebellious or lacking in faith.

The Sea of Galilee, in its unpredictable nature, too, is much like the character of the Apostle Peter. He was obedient to his Lord, but, at times unexpectant, his temper and self-will could flare-up to surprising measure. He drew a sword in the Garden of Gethsemane against a host and only a couple of hours later denied his Lord thrice on the porch of the Sanhedrin. A focus of today’s text dwells, among other important features, on the person of Simon Peter and his questioning obedience to our Lord.

Simon Peter is a man of the sea. He was robust and manly and beset with a stubborn and assertive nature. As is true with many such man, Peter had a tender heart that belied his manly nature. I like Peter very much. Even his name is intended to reveal that his quarrelsome will was finally surrendered to Christ completely. Petros (Peter) is the Greek term for stone, not Rock. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the Rock from which Peter was hewn. He gradually, as a stone chipped away through sanctification, took on the nature of the Rock from which he was cast. We all should be such stones of Christ – having the nature of that same Rock from which we must be cleft. Peter was the kind of hardened and masculine figure that I have known often in the military service – hard on the appearance, but soft and gentle as a lamb inside that hardened outer shell.

Our text opens with beauty and meaning. “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret.” Imagine! “Jesus standing by the Sea!” What remarkable beauty in that single thought! His feet are forever on solid foundation, and the Sea represents the world filled with every kind of diverse fish. You and I are in that Sea of Life. We all hear the Words of Christ, but we do not all respond to it by faith. Unlike the multitudes of perishing souls of our day, there was a hunger on the shores of Blue Galilee for the Word of God. In fact, the people “pressed upon Him” to hear that Word. Today they flock to miracle promising evangelists whose heart are empty of compassion and full of greed; but Christ is missing from that forum.

Our lives should be a pulpit for Christ, just as Peter’s boat became that pulpit. “ (Jesus) saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's.” What a resounding privilege to have our very souls serve as a pulpit for Christ. There were TWO boats there, but Christ chose the specific boat of Peter. He has chosen you and me in the same way. He knows the seaworthiness of our hull, and the strength of our sail before we, ourselves, know it. Both boats, like many professing Christians today, were in precisely the right place at the right time but Simon’s boat was chosen by Christ. Many sit in the pews Sunday after Sunday, but are not chosen by Christ because of a failure of faith and steadfastness. Others, like Peter, are known to God and a Chosen Vessel. Simon, as well, consented to his Lord’s use of his vessel. All that was Peter’s belonged to Christ. Is this true in your case, my friends?

When we prepare to study the Word, or to even preach it, we must make a separation of our spirits between ourselves and the world. This, Jesus does next. “. . . and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.” Next, our Lord “sat down” and taught the people. The people were standing on the shore while the Gospel itself was being pronounced. Notice that we always stand when the Gospel is read in the Church? The Teacher sits as one having authority, the students stand and listen reverently. Peter could have protested his vessel being used by Christ, but he did not. Christ has often called each of us to serve some need in our Church, or in our neighborhoods, but we often protest and fail to supply the need. We must all strive to be like Peter.

After hearing the Word preached, what comes next? ACTION! We act on the Word! “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” It is very much like Jesus is saying, “Now, Peter, that you have heard the faith-strengthening Word, I need you to DO something!” Perhaps Jesus is whispering this in the ear of the listener of this sermon, and even its deliverer? Peter was cleaning and drying his nets when Jesus came to the shore of Galilee (Genneserat).

Jesus loves Simon Peter just as He loves all who respond to His Beacon Light of Love. But Jesus knows that something needs to grow inside the heart of Peter: his faith needs bolstering. And this is what Christ is about to do. Poor Peter and his fellows have fished all night without Christ and caught NOTHING. Casting off the heavy nets and retrieving them is no easy task, but Peter has labored all night long at this tiring exercise without profit. We, too, labor under the force of our own sails in a dead sea, and achieve nothing, but when the Wind of the Holy Spirit fills our sails to capacity, we then navigate waters never before imagined. Peter seems to think the counsel of Jesus is a bit on the ridiculous side. He even argues, just a bit, that point, but relents: “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” Now Peter will go a’fishing with Christ as his Sea Captain. I wonder what will be the result. When we surrender our on self-wills (free wills that are in bondage to sin), and accept His perfect will and counsel, what a difference a day makes!

Have you ever followed Christ until your net has broken? What about now as you contemplate this story of the Sea, the Land, and the Savior? Has He not filled our nets to the breaking point? Does your cup runneth over with the gentle mercies and comfort of the Lord? “And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” Not before, or after, they had obeyed God, but IMMEDIATELY, their nets broke for the large draft of fish. God may be calling you away to some remote South Pacific Island, or to the hot and humid climate of central Africa to drop down your nets. Or He may be asking you to become a father, or mother, to some orphaned child who needs you. Have you let down your net at His command?

The Lord always rewards our obedience and often in ways we could never have imagined. Can you imagine Peter’s shock at the large draft of fishes after no success at the best hours of fishing – the night?

Our Lord is the Captain of Battles and the Victor of each one. He is not a proponent of defense, but of offense. He orders His streamers forward beyond the Forward Edge of the Battle Field. He needs no defense, He insist that we take that ground misappropriated by the Adversary of our Souls – the Devil! God is never satisfied with maintaining the status quo. We must either be growing in faith or, else, we are dying as that faith atrophies.

Take some lessons from Peter:

1. Be in the right place at the right time;

2. Offer your vessel as a pulpit for the Lord;

3. Obey His Counsel;

4. Be prepared to be amazed at the mercy of the Lord; and

5. Take upon yourself His nature and become a “chip off the old Rock” – a stone in the Temple of our God!

Have you?

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California

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

Consider these words from the Collect:

… the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness …

In the Collect, we ask that the events of this world might follow God’s governance or will. Why? Because in those places where it does, we find happiness and joy. It is that simple, it means more, reflect on that. After all, Amazing, is it not? Since the Garden, it has always been one of the two same choices:

1. We follow God’s Will for us, we do what is good for us, individually and as a people or a country. It is hard work, but easier than we imagined; we prosper when all goes well. It was all our doing, we are happy because we were so smart.

2. We ignore God’s instructions, doing what we want to do, not what we are supposed to do. It turns out to be way harder than we thought possible, in the end everything turns to weasel spit. It was not our fault, it was God’s fault, He is punishing us.

As long as we are human, imperfect creatures with free will, it will never change for humanity. But, we individually can change, and with enough individuals changing, humanity will change. We can learn from the past and live for the future in Him who gave His Life that we might be free eternally. This is a very similar theme to last Sunday’s sermon, with very good reason. It applies to almost every single lesson in the Bible, which is to do God’s will, above what you want to do. Even though we want to do what we do, rather than what God wants us to do, it is better for us in the end to do what God wants us to do. Doing what God Asks = Happiness, Not doing what God Asks = unhappiness, to put it into mathematical terms!

So, how do we make our little part of this world follow God’s will? Peter tells to be of one mind, have compassion and pity for each other, to be courteous, to give good to all our brethren, to return good for evil, to seek peace, to do good, not just talk good. Peter tells us to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. To put ourselves in others’ places, understand when they fall short and make good things happen. The key word is “walk”, to act upon the teachings of Christ, and not just utter them and not do them. All of us, including myself struggle with this, but as long as we are DOING our best, and not just saying it, then that is all He asks of us. We cannot do more than our best. We must be doing our best and not just faking doing our best. There is a sincere difference between the two. If you are sincere, people will know it. If you are not sincere, people will also know it too.

So, just how do we make good things happen? Fairly simple, do what God asks! This is an extremely common theme again! Doing what God asks is the answer to all of our problems if you think about it! Don’t figure out ways to seem to do what He asks, while doing what you want. Don’t be a Pharisee! Consider when Jesus told Simon Peter to go out and set his nets. Simon was tired, he was hungry, he had fished all night with no result. After making excuses, he decided to do what he was told! There is a lesson there, instead of making excuses why things are the way they are, why not be quiet and do God’s will instead? It will have a lot better results that is for sure, like Simon Peter and his nets! The net gathered an incredible catch that Simon Peter and his friends could not board.

That is what happened to Simon Peter; that is what will happen to you, if you will but listen. Listening and then acting are the key principles of this Gospel, we must listen to what He says, and then ACT upon it.

Do not misunderstand, every day Jesus speaks to you telling you what to do. It is your choice, you can listen like Simon Peter or you can ignore Jesus. He has the pony for the lottery. He wants to give it to you, all you have to do is accept. While He is a bit more subtle than a Drill Instructor, the question is the same, “Can you hear me?” The problem with us is that we just do not want to hear. That is why we need the Holy Ghost to open up our ears, that we might hear and obey.

There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.

Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail. The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.

The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?

It is by our actions we are known.

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

Bishop Dennis Campbell’s Sermon

He Leadeth Me

Psalm 23

Fifth Sunday after Trinity

July 20, 2014

Psalm 23, verse 3 says, “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.” This is the second time Psalm 23 tells us of God’s leading. Verse 2 says, “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” We have been talking about healing in our souls, and how God accomplishes it. I have tried to convey the fact that healing usually comes through the very ordinary means of grace, which we all have at our finger tips. It especially is wrought in us by the diligent reading of the Bible. By diligent, I mean not only continuing effort, and devotion, but also thoughtful and reverent, and even prayerful effort. This is a pondering, meditative reading. It is reading with the intent to allow the Bible to fill our minds, and to shape our minds. We read to allow the Bible to shape what we think about, and we read to allow the Bible to shape the way we think about it. We read to allow the Bible’s interpretation of the entire scope of existence to become our interpretation. This kind of reading transforms and renews our minds, which then transforms and renews our lives. Transformation and renewal are a large part of what I mean by spiritual “healing,” or, healing of the soul.

We know, of course, that the Shepherd of Psalm 23 is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who leads us. He used similar wording in John 10, verses 3 and 4, saying He:

“calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

How does the Good Shepherd lead His sheep? Let me suggest a few ways.

He leadeth us by being “with” us. One of the great passages of Scripture is Matthew 28:19-20. It is often called the “Great Commission” because there our Lord commissions the Apostles, and through them, His Church, to “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Most Christians know these words by heart, and we should. But I have noticed many Christians do not know the ending of verse 20, which is also the ending of the Gospel of Matthew. It ends with these words, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Psalm 23 echoes this same promise of the presence of Christ. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” This world is the valley of the shadow of death. In the midst of life we are in death” and we are surrounded by those who are dead in trespasses and sins. But fear not, for God is with us. He is present with and He leadeth us even through the valley.

He leadeth us by means of His Church. Here I am talking about the organised body of believers with duly ordained clergy and duly baptized and confirmed members. I realize there are false professors within the visible Church. I realize there are false teachers. I realize many congregations, and even whole denominations have become synagogues of Satan, but they are not really part of the Church anymore, regardless of what they call themselves. But, a person who believes he can be a Christian without also being part of a faithful, organised Church is fooling himself at best. Christ is with us and Christ leadeth us to, in, through, and by means of the Church. The Church belongs to Him. It is His spiritual body on earth. He dwells in it. The Bible is given to the Church. The Spirit is given to the Church. Bishops, pastor/teachers and deacons are given for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edification of the body of Christ to minister the word and sacraments to, in, by, and in the context of the organised Church, (see Eph. 4:11-12, and 1 Tim. 3:1-13). He leadeth His people by the Church.

He leadeth us by means of His word, which is the Bible. Some theologians try to make a separation between Christ and the Bible. They say the Bible is the words of men thinking about God, while Christ is God revealed to us. Therefore, these theologian say, we must always follow the spirit of Christ rather than the letter of the Bible. But this is a false dichotomy. In reality, God inspired the Bible in such a way that it is as though it came from the very mouth of God. In reality, Christ inhabits the Bible. He speaks to us by its words. We know Christ, the Living Word only as He is revealed in the Bible, the written word.

Fourth, He leadeth us by His Holy Spirit. I think it is important to note that the Spirit never leads us in contradiction to the Bible. “Holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” says 2 Peter 1:21, describing the way these people wrote the Bible. The same Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible leads us to understand and practice the Bible. He will not move men to write one thing in the Bible, then lead us into doctrines and practices that contradict what He moved them to write.

As you can see, I am stating again that God leads us by the still, small voice of the ordinary means of grace. Miracles and mountain top experiences are exceedingly rare, and those who constantly seek them are constantly disappointed. It is through everyday prayers, Bible readings, worship, and fellowship that God leadeth us.

Lastly, for today, He leadeth us by example. I think this is critically important to a correct understanding of God, and to a faith that finds healing in the soul. Leadership by example is the only way to really lead people. You can push and force people to do things, but that is coercion, not leading. It is only by example that real leadership happens. And Christ is our Great Example. Hebrews 4:15 says He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. That means He had to face life the way we face it. He had no special privileges, no exemptions. In John 4:6 we see Him weary. In Matthew 4:2 we see Him hungry. In John 19:28 He is thirsty. In Matthew 4 He is tempted. In Matthew 26:39 He says, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, which simply says, “Jesus wept.” And in John 19:30, Jesus died.

It is important that we understand that Jesus had to live, and die, by faith, just like us. By faith He lived without yielding to temptation. By faith He lived a pure and sinless life. By faith He endured the cross and the grave, being faithful even unto death. So when He asks you to resist temptation, He has already resisted. When He asks you to trust God, He has already trusted. If He asks you to forgo pleasures and indulgences, or to endure hardship in the service of God, He has already foregone and endured. He leadeth His flock by example. He is our example in a way the ancient Hebrew Shepherds could never be to their sheep. David, being a man, could never become a sheep. But God, being God, could become a man. And He did. He leads by becoming one of us. He became a man, lived as a man, and died as a man. So He is our Great Example. “He leadeth me.”

Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor - St. Paul's Anglican Church - Anglican Orthodox Church

Bishop Roy is pastor of the biggest AOC parish West of the Mississippi and is in charge of the Diocese of the Epiphany.

Fifth Sunday after Trinity

20 July 2014

Proverbs 3: 1 – 7 , 11, 12

y son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

In this passage of scripture we can understand why Solomon was considered the wisest man on earth. He outlined some very simple things that we can do, each of us, with or without education, with or without riches, every single person listening today. Essentially we are to care, to love, to commit, and to be humble.

Histories are written by the victors; yet we can still learn from written histories. Biographies, also, especially a good primary source biography can be invaluable. It can teach us to avoid mistakes, to use what tools and experiences the subject of the biography used to get on in life. If you will notice, there are quite a few biographies in the Bible. They are written with all the warts and flaws that humans possess, and yet not presented as an ET or Hollywood tabloid, but for our edification. We can read the life of a prophet, priest, or king and learn so many lessons from their life.

1. “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.” Was Solomon giving a false promise here? No, the prolonging of life, in the sense of good years as opposed to bad years and the prosperity are both in feeling more than the literal sense. Your quality of life will be better.

3. Let love and faithfulness never leave you...he then describes how to not let it leave you. Bind it on your neck, write it on the tablet of your heart.... DO NOT forget...ie. Love and faithfulness.

4. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” This is one piece of wisdom is so easy to remember and yet so hard to apply. I think you can look out over the wrecks of history and see the many man-made religions that have failed to understand this very simple idea. Lean not on your own understanding..... Why? Because as humans we tend to want to do it our way, we want to replace God’s wisdom with ours, we want to be God. Yikes !! What do I mean by that ? Look at all the failed attempts to reach God. When man has been left up to his own devices, he has found all types of ways of reaching God, all in one form or another based on the WORKS of man, not the gift of God, Jesus Christ. And in all cases, man has failed. But this passage does not leave us without some promise or hope. “...in all ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” You think so what ? Remember when this was written, humans had only a few ways of getting about. Horse, donkey and cart, or oxen and wagon, or most commonly...by foot. So any rise in elevation was felt by the walker. “Make your paths straight” would be such a nice promise. Your way through life will not have many hills.

5. Verse 7 is directly attached to verse six. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Again, do not rely on your wisdom, but on the fear [respect or worshipful attitude towards] God. And the most practical part of the advice....AVOID EVIL. Wow, that is just too simple. What does this mean, avoid evil. It really isn’t rocket science. Very simply do not go to places that promote evil, don’t participate in evil, do anything to avoid it. St. James wrote in chapter 1 verse 13 - 15, that temptation must be avoided, because “...Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hasth conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth for death.” The rest of his letter is full of practical information on how to avoid evil and how to overcome the same. Take some time to read the epistle of St. James.

Let us turn to the last two verses of our Old Testament reading; Here we find in reality a most comforting concept. Because we are His, he will discipline us. Do not despise correction, do not resent his rebuke, because it means we are loved by the Lord. Just as a father disciplines his own children so does our Heavenly Father discipline us. Let us take comfort in his love.

Let us pray.

LMIGHTY and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being; we implore thy grace and protection for the ensuing day. Keep us temperate in all things, and diligent in our several callings. Grant us patience under our afflictions. Give us grace to be just and upright in all our dealings; quiet and peaceable; full of compassion; and ready to do good to all men, according to our abilities and opportunities. Direct us in all our ways. Defend us from all dangers and adversities; and be graciously pleased to take us, and all who are dear to us, under thy fatherly care and protection. These things, and whatever else thou shalt see to be necessary and convenient to us, we humbly beg, through the merits and mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

✟

Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s Sunday Sermon

Fifth Sunday after Trinity

In Proverbs 15 we find the following passages: The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD... (v.8) The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD... (v.9) The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD... (v.26). Within these passages, God has made plain how he views the wicked of this world. The language is crystal clear for in every verse cited he describes each of their works and ways as an abomination. The word abomination in Hebrew is transliterated as towebah and refers to anything that is impure or disgusting.

So what then qualified those people as abominable? In the intervening verses of Proverbs 15 we are given insights into the character of the wicked. First of all, they are purveyors of grievous words (v.1) which incite others to anger. Doubtless you have known people who spend their waking moments seeking to “stir the pot” as it were. They love to create disharmony. They sow the seeds of confusion and uncertainty. Some times, they do so as interested spectators— desiring to witness what will happen. At other times they might seek some advantage which may arise out of their evil plans and positions. Regardless of their particular reasons for creating trouble, grievous words are often used by the wicked to degrade those around them. In an earlier chapter of Proverbs we are told that there are six things that the LORD hates: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (6:16-19). Thus three of the six may with surety involve grievous words.

And God regards the wicked as fools whose mouths poureth out foolishness (v.2) and the perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit (v.4). As Matthew Henry once noted, “An evil tongue... wounds the conscience of the evil speaker, and occasions either guilt or grief to the hearers, and both are to be reckoned breaches in the spirit. Hard words indeed break no bones, but many a heart has been broken by them.” We know that foolish and perverse speech can cause even a faithful believer hardship not only in the hearing of such, but in its vexation of the soul. St. Peter wrote in his second epistle that righteous Lot’s soul was vexed daily with the filthy conversation of the wicked (2:7). That word conversation was translated from the Greek word anastrophe which may be defined as conduct, manner of life or deportment. So it has to do with more than simple speech. The conscience of the wicked was described by the apostle Paul as having been seared with a hot iron (I St. Timothy 4:2). Taken together, these passages describe the wicked as being souls who are wreaking with filth and devoid of any consciousness of their true condition.

Proverbs 15 also described these benighted souls as one who despiseth his father’s instruction (v.5). The scriptures tell us to honor our parents (Exodus 20:12) and that fathers are to train up their children in the ways of God (Deuteronomy 6:4-7;20-25). Those who will not heed the warnings of their parents against sinful behaviors are destined for trouble in this life and separation from God in the afterlife. In Ezekiel 18:4 the LORD said, Behold, all souls are mine, as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. The prophet was given, in that entire chapter, to proclaim God’s desire for men to live righteously in him and reject wickedness. In verses 20-23, the LORD said, The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins... and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions... shall not be mentioned unto him... Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways and live? God desires that all men come to him and live. But for men to come, they must first see themselves as sinners and then reject their old life. They must be renewed by the power of God through the atoning work of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. They must receive the Holy Ghost and be subject to his influence.

And such is problematic for the wicked as their father the devil (St. John 8:44) will work to prevent them from ever turning from his camp. Only the cries of those who come to recognize their true state, and in such call out to God for salvation will God heed and answer. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, they will be led to Christ. For in their embrace of him as their Saviour and Lord, they will be saved.

Now, that can be quite a task for the wicked as most see themselves as having no need for salvation. For them, this life is good enough— for the moment—and so it is all that they will focus on as their master will present them with new attractions to keep their hearts and minds away from the good that God would have them experience not only in this time, but throughout eternity.

E. M. Bounds once observed that, “The world is the Devil’s heaven. Its rest, crown, and reward are here. When the world comes in, God’s heaven goes out. It fades from the eye and heart. The struggle for it ends, and God’s heaven, with its fadeless and eternal glories, is lost... The world is Satan’s place. His power is here. To fix our hearts on the world is to be loyal to him. To fix our hearts on heaven is to be loyal to Christ. Here we have the reason for the world’s cruel hatred of Jesus, and why it has so bitterly persecuted His followers (Guide To Spiritual Warfare, p. 75).”

God also tells us that while the righteous will have much treasure, the wicked will have, the revenues... of ... trouble (v.6). The wicked are inviting trouble to come to them through their bad behavior. The Devil’s only interest in them is purely utilitarian. He will put up with selected ones for a time provided they conform to his wishes. But in the end, he will use them up and cast them away. He has only hatred for mankind. As our Lord said, The thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy (St. John 10:10). The greatest stealer of men’s souls is the Devil.

And because, the heart of the foolish does not spread abroad the true knowledge of God (v.7), the wicked and foolish person will not have his sacrifice accepted by the LORD. In that regard, consider the words of Matthew Henry who said, “A foolish head and a filthy heart make persons easy prey to seducers.” The same father of seducers is the father of lies and of every evil thing. The Devil will pollute the worship of God through his willing minions within the body of Christ. He will direct their efforts to make every offering an affront to God; every prayer an occasion for false piety; every profession of faith, a finger in the eye of the Creator. He will foster arrogance in place of humility before God. He will encourage excesses of every sort: from overzealousness in public worship to extravagance in church expenditures which elevate those in charge of worship and feed their lusts for power and wealth. He will inspire those who have not been called of God into his ministry, to seek positions within the church in contradistinction to those doctrines which have been set forth in Scripture. Is it any wonder why the LORD then inspired Solomon to pen: The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD (v.8)?

All ministers of the gospel have a God-given duty to proclaim and defend the truths of Scripture. If we are not teaching sound doctrine, we will not be that salt and light which our Lord spoke of in the gospels. We are called to set forth God's word written and not restate it in terms which take away its true meaning, or pad its impact upon our congregations. On numerous occasions prior to my being called into the ministry I witnessed ministers take the very texts of the Scripture and turn them on their heads in order to support their jaded and godless views. It seemed as if I was watching a segment of the Twilight Zone as the narrator presents the prologue: “Consider for your approval pastor A. Now pastor A does not believe in the sanctity of human life. He does not believe in the Bible as God's true and inspired word without error. He does not believe in the risen Christ. But here he is every Sunday, bearing all the vestiges of a minister, taking his salary as a minister but not truly serving as a minister because he is not truly in Christ. He is, therefore, a hireling and a fraud. In short, he is of the wicked and an apostate of Satan.”

And so it follows that if the offerings and sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD then so are the ways and thoughts of the wicked (v.26). It is from such persons that we are admonished to beware and to turn away from them (Ephesians 5:11; II St. Timothy 3:1-5; II St. Peter 3:17). We are not to have fellowship with them ( I Corinthians 5:13; II Corinthians 6:14-18; St. Jude 3-19).

As members of the body of Christ, we have been called out of darkness into the light of our Lord. We are to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ to all. If they will listen and respond by accepting him as their Saviour and Lord, then they are to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. They are then, to paraphrase our prayer book, members incorporate in the mystical body of God’s only begotten Son. If they will not accept and believe on him, they are castaways— lost to the evil one and to the fires of perdition. Scripture was given of God to teach us about the things of this life that we might better avoid those who are subject to Satan and ministers of his will. Our daily walk and work in the Lord may bring us from time to time in contact with the wicked so we ought to properly discern what God would have us do so that we are not led astray by their errors. Purpose in your hearts today to follow God’s truth as expressed within the pages of Scripture and reject the unfruitful works of darkness.

Let us pray,

ather, protect and guide us into all truth, that we might better serve thee in these days of darkness and confusion; for this we ask in the name of him who came to seek and save the lost, even our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have a blessed week, Bryan+

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