Sermon Notes - Judgement - Fourth Sunday after Trinity - Saint Andrew’s Anglican Orthodox Church - 5 July 2020, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

Fourth Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

O

 GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

            The soaring majesty of the words of Martin Luther's, A Mighty Fortress, come to mind in the reading of this Collect: 

A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing;

our helper he amid the flood

of mortal ills prevaling.

For still our ancient foe

doth seek to work us woe;

his craft and power are great,

and armed with cruel hate,

on earth is not his equal

            This hymn was composed at a time when the protection of God's powerful hand seemed most comforting to those, including Luther, who faced imminent of possible martyrdom. A classical hymn is no less than a prayer put to music. Its words are as immortal as the biblical truths that the hymn puts forth in rhythmic prose.

            Is God your help and fortress? Does He preserve you in the moments of hurt and doubt, and prosper your hand in righteousness during times of prosperity? O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee. We see, not only in this prayer, but in scripture itself, a thing condemned by the world but practiced by God. God profiles and discriminates in his dealings with His people. Those who do not trust in God may not claim the privilege of His protection. He seeks those who have the faith to trust in Him under any and all circumstances of life. Remember that there are only two families and classes among all the people of the earth - past, present, and future - the family of God, and the family of the Prince of Darkness. There is NO MIDDLE GROUND! Trust is all important. We all tend to place our trust in SOMETHING - our friends, our job, our wealth, or our own hand. But trust misplaced is trust abandoned. Trust is so important to God that He places it in the very center verse of Holy Scripture: It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. (Psalms 118:9, Acts 5:29) The national motto of our United States is "In God we Trust." We consider it of such importance that we place it on every coin minted by our government. Sadly, the motto is dead without the real trust that should back both our money and our motto.

           When the storms and billows build upon the seas of your life, you may take courage in the Psalmists words of encouragement and strength: If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.   (Psalms 139:9-10)  If we have made our election in Christ sure, we may rely upon the promises found in Isaiah: … Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  (Isaiah 43:1-2)

. . . without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy. Apart from God there is NOTHING! There was only a void where the earth now stands, and even the void was created by the Word of God. There is NO LIFE apart from His loving provision. So there can be NO STRENGTH apart from God. He is the PRIME MOVER and SUSTAINER of all things. And can there be holiness apart from God.  None whatsoever, for there are none righteous - no not ONE! There can be no holy thought, no holy ground, apart from a Holy God to provide it. 

            Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy God's mercy is as abundant as a gushing fountain. We can never reach a point when we believe we have had enough. It continually flows forth and bathes us in its resplendent waters of light. If we magnify our Lord, He will magnify His mercies upon us. . . . that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal.  Do we not pray to get through the fires of life un-scorched? In the burning building, as in the world of smoke and mirrors, we desperately seek the way that leads to safety. We may grope and stumble until the fires consume us because we have no Guide in the fires. But we do have a strong Guide and Ruler who is our King and Sovereign. His eyes are forever on His own. He will go through the fires with us, sheltering us with His wings, and bring us, unscathed, to safety. But we must keep our hand, and our trust, in Him during the danger. Those things of the world may cause us to break hold of Christ and wonder into places that lead us to perish. Can we cast aside the false glitter and dim lights of this world and keep our focus fixed on that Light that never fails. If we are able to persevere to the last, we shall be saved to enjoy the splendor of Heaven.

            How can our saving mercies be granted on behalf of One who has already gained the Kingdom of His Father? How is Christ profited by our grant of mercy? "Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord." The very dying desire of Christ was that we might be saved. His ordeal of torture and earth was all for us. He purchased our salvation with His atoning death if we will only place our trust in that mighty Salvation and answer His call! It is for the sake of His Son that God the Father will admit us into His Heaven as pure and righteous sons of God.  Have you placed your absolute trust in Him, Friend?

The Epistle

Romans viii. 18-23

I

RECKON that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The Gospel

St. Luke vi. 36-42

B

E ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.

            

          In a world that places a very high premium upon achievement and performance, we are often misled, even by our clergy, to believe that our works are the means by which we are saved. The modern church emphasizes giving almost to the exclusion of all other considerations. The rich man, or woman, will be rewarded with honors and positions of responsibility even if their daily lives do not reflect that Spirit of which Christ spoke. Perhaps the poor widow that spends all of her available time in cooking for the sick and homeless will be forgotten in the perishable minds of men, but shall be more highly remembered and favored in the Infinite Mind of God. God gives us many hints of His Will to be fulfilled in Christ in the midst of the Old Testament. The people of Israel were living as they pleased and believing that all their sins were remitted by the sacrifices of the wealthy. But God counseled: For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6) The money-changers of the modern temple would have us persist in believing that we can BUY God's favor while living as we please, but it was NEVER so. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalms 85:10) Mercy and truth are husband and wife – inseparable! If we will have mercy, we must accept truth with it. As Jesus told the Samaritan Woman at Jacob's Well,  . . . the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23) `Spirit' is not emotionalism, but love of God and our fellow man. But our love must be directed in truth, for false worship is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.

            As we read in our biblically-oriented prayer of Collect, God is the protector of all who trust in Him. We can claim none of God's protection apart from the measure of trust we place wholly in Him. Without God, we have no strength at all, and our righteousness is as filthy rags. Apart from God, there is no holiness to be had. We lean upon God for His increasing mercies in His Sovereign Rule over us, and to Guide us through the Wilderness of Sin of this present world. Only God can show us the safe and righteous way – we cannot find it alone. In avoiding those things that worldly, we are amassing to ourselves those treasures that are heavenly. These are the Godly petitions we repeated from today's prayer of Collect.

            In our Epistle for today, taken from Romans 8, we discover that there is groaning of the mortal soul that is inclined to the Holiness of God. Such a struggle and groaning is forever present with us until the curtain of time is lifted and time shall be no more. It is not a sorrowful groaning, but an intense desire to see God's will worked out on earth as it is in Heaven according to that prayer the Lord taught us to say.  When sorrow and misery befalls the stranger to God, hope is forlorn and there is no brilliant Light upon which he may fix his eyes from the darkness that engulfs his wretched soul. But the child of God embraces the Light even more earnestly as the dark circle surrounds him, or a loved one. He knows, innately, that the Light is his destination and not the dark fires of Hell that seem to presently surround him. . . . . weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.   (Psalms 30:5b)

            Our Gospel text calls us to a higher standard of life and Spirit than a rigid adherence to the law can afford. If perfect obedience were possible, there would be no need of mercy; but we can never be perfect keepers of the Law of God, therefore, we must have mercy if we are to be accounted blameless and righteous in entering the Kingdom of Heaven. 

            Consider the great pardon and mercy shown to us through the substitutionary death of Christ! He suffered that we might forego the eternity of Hell. We should rightfully be punished for our life of sin, yet Christ died in our stead that we, accepting His Lordship, might be pardoned and forgiven. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. This is a mighty admonition to us, for we can never be as merciful as God has been toward us. But God would have us to take on the very nature of mercy in our dealings with others. Though a child can seldom match the understanding of his father or mother, he will nonetheless mimic the nature he sees in his parents. That is what God desires of His children today.

            37  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven So many good Christians misunderstand this to mean that Christian judgment is forbidden. Nothing could be further from the truth. The meaning to us is this: We should not judge with our personal judgments, but with the righteous judgment of God as evidenced in His Word. Jesus Christ gives us commandment that is clear: Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24) We are not only to judge from the heart, but also judge only by the measure of God's judgment and not our own. If God has declared a certain behavior sin, that is not OUR judgment, but God's. Simply declaring God's condemnation of a sin is not our PERSONAL judgment, but HIS! Remember the debtor to the king whose great debt was forgiven by the king and, who, after went out and took a man by the throat who owed him a small sum, threatening to sell his wife and family into slavery?  He was forgiven a fortune, but refused to forgive his own servant a small debt. How merciless was he! Are we not the same? The King of Glory has forgiven us an enormous debt, and a multitude of debts, yet we refuse to forgive those who offend us in the slightest measure.  

            38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. It is not possible to give more than God has given, for He immediately replenishes our bottles of oil the moment we pour out our blessings to others. There are blessings that cannot be measured in simple terms of a piece of bread for a piece of bread. Our giving of bread to the poor is multiplied in return value a thousand times. Our souls have rest and a good conscience thereby. Peace of mind is a possession not enjoyed by the greedy.

            Can the blind lead the blind? Of course they can! It is happening in 90% of America's churches today. Ministers, blind to the love and Spirit of God, are leading their blind disciples ever nearer the gaping abyss that awaits all who do not hear with clarity the voice of God. 39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? This is a parable of Jesus that has profoundly present implications. Our seminaries have been turned from a concentrated focus on the Word of God to an obsession with church growth, conflict resolution, Scriptural compromise, seeker friendly programs, and, yes, MONEY schemes! If the lay Christian is NOT blind (informed deeply by the Word of God) it is not likely that he can be led by the nose by a blind guide.

            Do you know that there are theologians today who believe that they are better informed of God's Will than Jesus Christ? It is true. There are those among the despicable movement called "Higher Critics" who believe that textual analysis and archeological digs have revealed to them information that Jesus did not have while on his earthly ministry. They obviously discredit Christ as the Son of the Living God, and God Himself! Their new bibles attempt to alter the evidence to support their intentional errors. 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. I once disputed with a local minister who claimed that speaking in tongues (nonsensical babbling) was required for salvation. We argued the issue endlessly. Finally, I asked, "Is Jesus Christ our perfect example in all things?" Of course, the minister answered in the affirmative to which I followed up, "Do we have any evidence of Jesus EVER speaking in an ecstatic and incomprehensible tongue?" The man REFUSED to answer. If we will have perfect religion, and undefiled, let us be as much like Christ as our earthen vessels will afford.

            How many clergymen preach against the sins of lying, stealing, adultery, etc., and harbor those sins in the dark chambers of their own hearts? Of course these sins are condemned by God; however, we must not judge others by a stronger measure than we apply to our own conduct. If we criticize the housekeeping of a neighbor, let us first sweep the trash and filth from our own floors. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

            If we are to have authority as men and women of God, we must see that we follow Christ in love and truth. We not only pronounce the truth of God's Word to others, but we must make that truth the rule of our own lives. Owning the Spirit of Love and Truth, we shall walk the Valleys and Mountains with our eyes open to the presence and company of God.

Mirror, Mirror on my Desk - Part 2 – 3 July 2020, Anno Domini

B

UT be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:22-25)

            It seems to me many important aspects of the Mirror and Looking Glass of our last devotion need further elucidation and fathoming. We discussed the evil step-mother Queen who looked into the wonderful Mirror (God’s Word) which was incapable of lying, but could not bear the truth revealed therein. Instead, she attempted to alter the truth rather than adjust her disposition to that truth revealed. How many today are doing the same thing?  If they despise the image that looks back at them from the Mirror, instead of considering how to improve the image, they seek to alter the Mirror of Truth. This is happening with unchecked license with our Bible versions today and the weak and sterile Gospel being preached from our pulpits.

            There is no sin known to man that is not reflected and exposed in the Mirror of God – His Holy Word. When we read with understanding and faith, we can see our sordid souls in the adulterer and murderer, King David; the lying deceit of Abraham; the murderous treachery of Cain; the tepid courage and failure of St. Peter: or the damning treason of Judas. We may not like what we see of our soul when we look deeply into God’s Word. If we see our own mortal and sinful souls with twisted countenance, we may be discouraged; but right beside, if we look keenly into the Word, we will see an altogether different image that reflects a soul who has been saved by the grace and mercy of God. That image will be that of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must be like Him if we are going to be His.

            How can we see the images of the Looking Glass, or Mirror, in sharpest contrast? To begin with, we need Light in order for the Mirror of God to be useful to our understanding. A Mirror is useless without Light. So having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and fully informed of His Gospel, we have the benefit of the Light of the World. And in order to comprehend what that Word MEANS to us and our own particular circumstances, we need a Counsellor to open our understanding. That Counsellor is the Holy Ghost whose principle mission is to open eyes to truth by bringing to our remembrance ALL things contained in the Gospel concerning our Lord Jesus Christ:  26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  (John 14:26) You should know, friends, the Holy Ghost cannot remind you of any Word which you have not even bothered to read.

            Can a man see God? Well, not literally in image, but he certainly can in faith and truth. When we look into the Looking Glass and can see the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have seen God the Father, because our Lord is the express image of the Father. Jesus Christ is the blueprint of God for every person’s original design, but that design has been marred and ruined by sin, beginning with Adam and continuing to our own transgressions.

            Remember the Mirror that could not lie in the story of Snow White? That is just like God’s Word. It cannot lie! Our Bible is a perfect Mirror in every respect. We not only see EXACTLY what kind of person we are, but also what God can do to redeem and sanctify our souls.

            The Bronze Mirror at the base of the Laver in the Tabernacle was of polished bronze. Its purpose was to give the worshipper a sharp image of his human mortality before going before God in worship. This same principle is followed by example in the Book of Common Prayer for Holy Communion. The opening Collect to Holy Communion reveals our exposed souls and appeals to God that our worship be reverent and Holy.

            The polished bronze mirror was used to alert the watchman on the wall of approaching danger to the city. So the Mirror of God warns and defends against the constant assaults of false doctrine and enemy subterfuge. There is an ancient legend in Greek history that Archimedes used concave mirrors to concentrate sunbeams of light on the wooden hulls of Roman invading ships to set fire to them. (much like a magnifying glass).

            When the believer looks into the Mirror of God’s Word, the Word of God and its precise image is revealed to Him. That Mirror of God, like the one of Snow White, cannot lie!

           The image reflected in a Mirror, or Looking Glass, is precise and sure. So is the sinfulness of man reflected in God’s Word and that Perfect Law of Liberty reflected in the image of Christ there.

A certain kind of Looking Glass (magnifying glass) enlarges the Word of God and magnifies His image to our weakened sight. Other may cause our vision of Christ to be seen in greater relief from great distances when we have wandered far away from Him. (telescope). When we look to God through the telescope of His Word, we see Him magnified to our soul’s eye and brought much nearer. But if we ourselves are viewed from the opposite end of the telescope, we appear, appropriately, much smaller and further away.

Looking into the Mirror, our express natural image, warts and all, are clearly revealed to us. But beside we may view that perfect image of Christ that contrast so massively from our own. We see what sin is like in our own image, and what righteousness is like in Christ Jesus. We see what our character was like before grace in the deformity caused by sin and error; and we also see what light of beauty and holiness of our Lord is reflected in our redeemed souls following that redemption.

A mirror is used to confirm our proper dress and appearance. The Mirror of God may be used to look into our souls and see what is amiss according to God’s Word. We learn how we should appear in reverence before God and to dress our souls, and our bodies, in modesty and humility.

            If a man or woman wants to view, with accuracy, their complete appearance, they must face the mirror squarely. We cannot view our image askance, but full faced. The same is true of God’s Word. We cannot presume that sin is acceptable simply because where sin abounds, so grace abounds much more.

            There are numerous parallels and examples in Scripture of the Mirror principle. One is reflective of the sower who went forth to sow. There were four kinds of soil, but the same word (Gospel). One of the soils demonstrate a shallowness of understanding that cannot endure the temptations of the world:  22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matt 13:22) This is the same principle of two different men looking into the Mirror of God: 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  (James 1:23-25)

            The natural mirror of glass cannot amend our characters, but the Mirror of God’s Word can certainly do so. As one crosses the Seine River in Paris to the louvre, he is confronted with the most spectacular and beautiful examples of the architectural genius of humankind. Proceeding into and across the central square, the thoroughfare turns right down a street bordering the Seine. There may be seen many aspiring artists and their works of art. Many behold the great masterpieces of art deposited in the Louvre so intently that they seem motionless for long periods of time. They then may make a single stroke on their canvas in imitation of the Master Artist. That is what God’s Word is to us. We intently study the image of god reflected in His Word and Mirror and are gradually changed into the Masterpiece which He intentioned in our making. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.  (2 Cor 3:17-18)

            Who are you, friend? If you wish to truly know yourself, look into God’s Mirror. Then you may observe how your sin-oppressed image is morphed in that greater image of the Lord Jesus Christ whose visage you behold therein. By studying the great Master, we become more and more like Him, and are sanctified to Holy service.

Mirror, Mirror on my Desk – 2 July 2020, Anno Domini

Below is the first of a two part devotion I wrote a few years back.  I need to share this again today and tomorrow. Though I disagree with most of his writings, Herbert Spencer, philosopher of the 19^th century, writes of this peculiar habit of elephants:

            It is said that the elephant before drinking in the water, troubles the water with his feet in order that he may not see his own deformity. This applies especially to old elephants with hollow eyes, pale, cheeks and a wrinkled front.” Perhaps that illustrates the reason that many refuse to read the Holy Scriptures – they do not desire to be reminded of the filthy rags they wear in presumption of their false righteousness.

W

HEREFORE lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  (James 1:21-25)

There is some evidence to suggest the Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, which they gathered from the folk of the mountains and hidden valleys of old Europe, were actually Gospel accounts veiled in a fictional setting to protect those who shared them for centuries. This could have been so since the Roman Papacy forbade the Bible to the common folk. One such tale is Sleeping Beauty which is very similar to the Church age in which we now live. The Church sleeps behind hedge and wall unaware of the Coming Prince whose kiss shall awaken her. Another is that Cinderella who was the true church, outcast by the false church system (step mother) but whose foot was the only foot for which the glass slipper could be worn. But the Fairy Tale of Grimms that best compares to today’s devotion is that of Snow White. I will not greatly detail the story for it is such common knowledge that the details will not be necessary.

To summarize, when Snow White’s father, the King, died, she was left in the care of her evil stepmother the Queen. The Queen was a vain and wicked woman. Each day she would peer into a magic Mirror (our Bible), which never lied, and ask, Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, whose the fairest of them all. To which the Mirror would respond, Thou art fairest, O Queen. But as Snow white grew to the age of seven, the Queen suddenly got a different response for Snow White had grown disarmingly beautiful. When the Queen asks her question, the Mirror answered that, though the Queen was beautiful, Snow white was a thousand times more beautiful. This aroused the rage of the Stepmother (False Church) and she had a hunter take Snow white into the forest for the purpose of killing her and bringing back her lungs and liver for the Queen to consume. The hunter instead killed a wild boar and brought the lungs and liver to the evil Queen which she ate. Snow White is comparable to the Church of Christ in its purity and beauty. The Queen represents the false church that survives to our day and grows stronger as the warp of time endures before the Return of Her King.

            6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (Rev 12:5-6) Snow White takes shelter with the Seven Dwarfs (the Seven Churches of Revelations) who care for her and protect her. Discovering the whereabouts of Snow White, the Evil Queen disguises herself as a peddler and gives to Snow white a poisoned apple (the apple is good, but poison has been added). This may represent the false doctrine of the modern church and the additions and deletions made by apostate Bible versions of our day. There is meat in the false versions but, unfortunately combined with poison which kills the believer’s faith.

The protective dwarfs have warned Snow White not to allow anyone to enter the cottage while they are away. 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (2 Tim 3:1-7)

The Evil Queen, disguised as a farmer’s wife, offers Snow White the half-poisoned apple. Snow White hesitates, but the evil Queen then bites from the non-poisoned side and gives the red half to Snow White. The Red Apple also represents pure biblical doctrine; however, when doctrine is contaminated with the ‘Leaven of the Pharisees’ it becomes poison. This is true of Bible versions that change the meaning of Scripture and add to, and subtract from, the Word of God. Even though we perish, we are covered by the Red Blood of Christ’s sacrifice. Snow White bites from the apple and drops to the ground immediately – apparently dead. The dwarfs place her in a glass coffin because of her beauty. The true Church has nothing to hide but all of which to boast in the Gospel. One day, a handsome young prince (Jesus Christ) spots Snow White in the glass coffin and comes to her. He strides to her coffin and, enchanted by her beauty, instantly falls in love with her. The dwarfs succumb to his entreaties to let him have Snow White. The moment he lifts the coffin to carry it away, the piece of poisoned apple falls from between her lips, and Snow White awakens, saying, “Where am I?” The Prince then declares his love for her, and soon a wedding is planned. Snow White and the Prince invite everyone to come to their wedding party, including Snow White's stepmother. Meanwhile, the Queen, still believing that Snow White is dead, again asks her magical mirror who is the fairest in the land. The mirror says: “Thou, lady, art loveliest here, I ween; But lovelier far is the new-made Queen”

 (Wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_White) 

The day will come when Christ shall come to claim His Bride the Church which may be sleeping as a result of poisoned doctrine. The Evil Queen (False Church) observes the Wedding of Snow White and the Prince at which sight she drops dead. The false church will be likewise destroyed at Christ’s coming along with their phony mirrors (bibles).

So what does all of this have to do with the Bible and the Mirror? The Bible is a Mirror into the very depth and essence of our soul. If we behold ourselves in vanity and wicked disposition, the image we see shall be as distorted as was that of the wicked Queen.

            The Holy Bible is full of such mirror images that demonstrate truth – truth that is sometimes not welcome, but truth nonetheless. Remember the account of David and Bathsheba. David slept with the wife of Uriah, he had Uriah killed to cover his own sin, and then took Bathsheba to wife. He felt no guilt once the evidence of his transgression was destroyed. However, a ‘merchant of mirrors’, the Prophet Nathan, comes to David with what might appear a child’s story of a poor man, a precious little lamb, and a greedy man of wealth. 1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.  (2 Sam 12:1-7)

            The Word of God is of paramount importance to the Christian – more so than any government constitution such as the US Constitution; but suppose we ask the Library of Congress to print copies of the US Constitution and to destroy the old copies. When the new copies were inspected, the print was excellent. The format was appealing – only the First Amendment had been omitted. Would this not render the other parts of the Constitution sterile? Or suppose only ONE word had been omitted from the First Amendment so that it read, Congress shall make (Omitted word, NO) law respecting the establishment of religion and prohibiting the free exercise thereof. You need not be an English major to spot the enormous error of that omission. But men and women of faith seem absolutely oblivious to violations of God’s Holy Word in the changes being foisted upon them by these specious versions of our time. The rampant sin in society is witness of that ruin.

Without even citing the omissions and deletions that they contain (they are legion), let us examine just two verses. When Isaac asked Abraham where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (Gen 22:7) What did Abraham reply?  My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. (Gen 22:8) What does Abraham say God will do? He will provide HIMSELF a Lamb (the Lamb of God) for the offering!  What do the new phony bibles say? God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. (Gen 22:8 NIV) How dare the filthy feet of man corrupt the Waters of God Word so much. This removes Christ from the equation of the Lamb of Sacrifice. Let us look at one more serious example (they are all serious): For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) This conforms to our Creeds and the veracity of the Son of God as completely different in His Holiness to us. Begotten means of the same substance! But see how slyly the NIV changes that Holiness of Christ! For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV) Jesus is not simply a SON of God, but the only BEGOTTEN Son. We, too, are sons and daughters but only by adoption. He is of the same substance with the Father. The new versions intentionally distort that fact. God does not lie by saying one and only Son.

            I would ten times rather behold my ugly visage in a true mirror than a distorted and false image in a warped mirror. How about you, friends?

The Brambles of Deep State – 1 July 2020, Anno Domini

 

The Setting 

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HEN the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekelsof gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. 27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. 28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. (Judges 8:22-28)

In preceding texts leading up to the men of Israel asking Gideon to be their king, Gideon was a young shepherd of small stature. He was called upon by the Lord to defeat the Midianites and Amalekites who fielded an army of 132,000. In the economy of God, it is possible to have too large of an army to go forth to battle. Gideon mustered 32,000 men for battle, but God told him that number was too large. He asked all who needed to return home to do so, but still 10,000 remained which the Lord said was too many. Finally, Gideon took the men down to the waters of Harod at the command of the Lord. “And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.” (Judges 7:6-7) 

There is a time and place for everything under the sun according to Solomon – a time to bow the knee, but also a time to be vigilant for battle and not to bow the knee. Gideon was left with the 300 who did not bow the knee. With these 300 men, he divided his forces in three parts in the face of the enemy – not wise by human military tactics, but God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. Gideon routed and defeated all of the great host of the enemy with only these three hundred men. Whose victory do you suppose this was? Was it Gideon’s, of the three hundred, or was it God’s victory?  It was God’s victory beyond any doubt!

The Result

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HEN the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.” (Judges 8:22-23)

Who needs a worldly king who loses great battles as did the king of the Midianites when God will serve far better with such a small number as Gideon had in defeating that king of Midian. We have King Jesus as our King, or we are forlorn of worth and hope. For the first two hundred years of our existence as a nation, America had a High King to guide and govern the nation through the hands and minds of honorable men. Now what!

Gideon Sleeps with His Fathers

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ND Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.” (Judges 8:32-35)

             Does this situation sound familiar to you? The Providence of the Lord God oversaw our founding as a nation through able and godly men such as Washington, Jefferson, Henry, and a host of others. Yet, our history books do not credit God or these great men with any accomplishment at all; preferring rather to pay homage to those who advocate the destruction of the American Republic! Abimelech was a son of Gideon by his concubine in Shechem. He was jealous, LIKE UNTO Ishmael, for power and killed his own brethren at Ophrah, seventy men altogether. But Jotham, the young son of Gideon survived! Then, all the men of Shechem and of Milo made Abimelech king over them.

The Parable

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ND when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.” (Judges 9:7-15)

            It is my hope that those American patriots among those who read these lines (and this parable) will take heed to the warning of it. There is a great political lesson, as well as spiritual, to be learned herein. Godly rulers will not strive for the power of the crown, but will happily defer that role to God Almighty. All of the works and duties of such man as Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Patrick Henry, Lee and others, will be directed toward satisfying the higher law of God – not the whims and fads of men. Just as was Washington disposed to want, they prefer to tend to their farms and homes rather than rule over a nation. But there are disreputable men who will seek the crown at all cost, not caring for the law of God, but preferring the wicked ways of the Deceiver. The two diverse groups are described in the parable.

The People of a Nation are Described as Follows:

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HE trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them.

The First Class of God-Fearing Men

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ND they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?” Great men do not seek to possess power, it falls into their hands from the Throne of God; and to execute that power based upon his dictates as did Gideon. Each of the types of trees mentioned produces fruit. The Bramble does not!

The Second Class of Power Hungry Scoundrels

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HEN said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.” 

Please consider the present moral demise of America – a land once-beloved with pristine values and high standards of moral compunction. What happened to our beloved land? Have we not opted for the bramble to rule over us in all three branches of our government? Who shall we blame at our coming fall – the rulers into whose hands we have entrusted the diadem of government or those who knowingly placed such men of decadent and licentious character in office?  “Then said all the trees!” Friends, the majority of the American people opted for the lowest standard in government, and even the righteous must suffer along with the unrighteous the outcome of God’s wrath.

            I dare not pray God will bless America in her present downfallen state – a state that she has chosen for herself. Instead, I pray that God will bring a purifying judgment of wrath upon the fair prairies and mountains of our once-great country – not to destroy it, but to save it from fools and sinners!

            This Saturday is Independence Day – the day our great Declaration of Independence was signed. On such a day, let us remember Concord, Lexington, Valley Forge, Yorktown, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Flanders Fields, Iwo Jima, Bastogne, and Normandy. We may do well to remember the courageous men of Chosin Reservoir, of Bong Son, of Long Binh, of Fallujah, and a thousand other battlefields unheralded in our day upon which American blood and valor was spent that we might have liberties that are being threatened by our present regime! And, too, “Remember the Alamo!” Remember Lee and Grant; remember Davis and Lincoln. History is prologue to the future.

4 July 2020, Anno Domini (the 244th year of American Independence)

4 July 2020, Anno Domini (the 244^th year of American Independence)

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F my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (2 Chronicles 7:14)

            The duration of man’s life on earth is best measured in years, but the existence of nations are more often measured in decades – not centuries. The American Republic, on the other hand, may be measured in centuries -that makes it an exception among the nations of the earth and not the rule. I emphasize the ‘American Republic’ because it is too often referred to as a democracy. In fact, that dreadful form of government seems to be what our Constitutional Republic is swiftly devolving into. This the Founding Fathers feared might happen, so, they incorporated safeguards into our founding documents to forestay such a digression from the principles of freedom and liberty inherent in Godly government.

            A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." What did Franklin mean by that remark?

            The union of thirteen sovereign states under a common compact defined by the U.S. Constitution was envisioned to provide a form of government that would guarantee equality of rights and liberties to all her citizens – no exception. The people were the ultimate power brokers in their vote to send representatives to Washington to vote on their behalf and in their best interest. Why did Franklin fear our becoming a democracy? In a democracy, the people vote directly on all laws and acts with no higher restraining force. When those who vote taxpayer benefits to themselves outnumber those who labor, there will no long exist any assurance of personal freedom and privileges. To summarize the difference; in a Republic, the laws apply equally to every citizen without exception (including government officials); in a democracy, the special interest group who makes the loudest noise will get their way, or “it is the squeaking wheel that gets the lubrication.’ 

            Well, our Republic has survived, in part, for more than twenty-three decades. During that time, we have witnessed our freedoms slowly being trampled upon by “the power that grabs simply because there is no resistance and everything is within its reach.” WE have witnessed a lowered respect for our premier Founding document – the Declaration of Independence – and the Constitutional compact our fathers deliberated with care and concern for the preservation of our inalienable rights. One of the greatest and most subversive of elements that have led to the undermining of our Constitutional rights is the one who should be least suspected of doing so – the Judicial branch of the Federal government under the activist Justices appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court who make laws rather than interpreting them (please remember, it is the US Constitution that is the Supreme Law of the Land and not the Supreme Court). For example, where do we find abortion rights, homosexual rights, or any of the deprecatory denial of those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, in the plain language of the document itself. Heed the words of that great advocate of republican government, Marcus Tullius cicero in 44 BC.: 

Power and law are not synonymous. In truth, they are frequently in opposition and irreconcilable. There is God's Law from which all Equitable laws of man emerge and by which men must live if they are not to die in oppression, chaos and despair. Divorced from God's eternal and immutable Law, established before the founding of the suns, man's power is evil no matter the noble words with which it is employed or the motives urged when enforcing it. 

Men of good will, mindful therefore of the Law laid down by God, will oppose governments whose rule is by men, and if they wish to survive as a nation they will destroy the government which attempts to adjudicate by the whim of venal judges.

It saddens me to make this dismal reminder of the dangers that lay ahead for our people if they fail to realize the hazards that have been erected against free speech, the right to self-defense, religious liberties, etc. 

I remind the reader of this perfectly logical cycle nations undergo in the annals of time:

The following quote attributed to Scottish history professor Alexander Tyler in 1787, seems to portray an accurate reflection of what has occurred during our 200+ years of existence as a democracy.

A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

·      From bondage to spiritual faith;

·      From spiritual faith to great courage;

·      From courage to liberty;

·      From liberty to abundance;

·      From abundance to complacency;

·      From complacency to apathy;

·      From apathy to dependence;

·      From dependence back into bondage

While our nation roars in pain and anguish, our elected politicians do as Nero whom folklorist claim played the harp as Rome burned. Rome had become powerful and wealthy. Their citizens claimed their right to take from the treasury money for which they were not entitled. Moral decay and rot undermined the Republic which had already deteriorated into a democratic empire. 

This 4^th of July may be the last on which we can celebrate many free3doms remain, and commemorate the great sacrifices and courage of those whose blood has nurtured the soil of freedom. Perhaps on this day, we can resolve to follow in the footsteps of our glorious fathers and, instead of marring their memories by defacing monuments, build more to such heroes who may have gone unrecognized.

I our people will do as counseled in 2 Chronicles 7:14, we have divine assurance of a healing and restoration of our land under the Perfect Law of Liberty which is our Lord Jesus Christ.

For,

Anglican Orthodox Church

JERRY L. OGLES

Presiding Bishop

JLO:pma

One Nation, Under God will result in Liberty and Justice for all

The Anglican Church, being founded on the principal of one nation, one church, holds patriotism and true love of country in great regard.  It is quite interesting the majority of the Founding Fathers were members of the Church of England and transferred their national church identity to what became the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States.  Like Henry VIII and Thomas Cranmer, they saw the need for a national church.  Not a captive arm of the government, but a link to God for the people of the nation.

We hold our Independence Day dear to our hearts and it is one of our religious feasts or holidays.  A proper Red Letter Day!

The Independence Day Propers are found on Page 263-264.

Independence Day.

[July 4.]

The Collect.

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 ETERNAL God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle comes from the Tenth Chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy beginning at the Seventeenth Verse: 

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HE LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: he doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen..

Today’s Gospel started in the Fifth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew beginning at the Forty-Third Verse: 

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ESUS said, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.