Baptism at Sea – 5 March 2022, Anno Domini

 

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OR Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  (Romans 10:4-11) 

 

            Our Lord Jesus Christ did not require baptism for He was solely righteous among men. Then why did Jesus deign to be baptized? Because he satisfied every requirement of the Law of God in making public example for us to follow. Though salvation is a work of grace in the heart, the public confession by baptism is an outward and visible expression of that inward and invisible grace by which we are saved. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.   (Eph 2:8-9)

 

            All who are admitted into a covenantal relationship with God must come by grace and should be baptized as outward evidence of Him on whom you have believed. We cannot be ashamed of the One who bled and died for us.

 

            During the days of Abraham, Israel dwelt in tents and wandered across the high deserts of the land. They were chiefly herdsmen who dug wells everywhere they sojourned for any time. But God had promised to make Abraham a father of nations, and God’s plans are as sure as if already accomplished. He moves with deliberate intent to fulfill every utterance of His Word. He is I AM who exists outside the bounds of time. His Word is efficacious in the past, in the present, and in the future regardless our limited concept of time.

 

            Before Abraham could become the father of nations, he must be granted as the father of the first and foremost nation in the order of God’s favor - Israel: 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.  (Gen 17:4-6) Israel represents the people of God who have believed the promise made to Abraham of a Redeemer whether Jew or Gentile. 

 

            A nation must have an understanding of their legacy and national heritage. The nation must be founded upon a very high standard to survive. This understanding of the oppressive power of bondage and sin was gained during a four hundred-year stay in Egypt. But in the fullness of time, God sent Moses into Egypt to lead His people out. The first Passover was conducted in Goshen of Egypt in which the Angle of Death would Passover each dwelling that had the blood of the lamb applied to the lintels and doorposts. Pharoah, that night, lost his only son just as thousands of other households in Egypt who were not covered by the blood (a foreshadow of the blood of Christ). Pharoah relented and agreed to let the people go. Upon their departure, Pharoah had second thoughts and sent the might of Egypt’s army after them. 

 

            Israel found themselves trapped between the waters of the Red Sea and Pharoah’s army. They lost heart since they could not believe the power of God could save them. But God sent a Pillar of Cloud by Day and Fire by Night to intercede between Pharoah’s army and the children of Israel. That protective cloud would both lead and follow Israel throughout forty years of Wilderness journey. 

 

            God separated the great waters of the Red Sea and made the ground dry for the crossing over of Israel. It was at this moment that Israel became a people, unified under the banner of the Lord. They crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground and were followed by the Pillar of Cloud and Pharoah’s Army. They were thusly baptized as the nation of Israel in the Red Sea waters. This was a people who were to be led by God.

 

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OREOVER, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. (1 Cor 10:1-5)

The First Sunday in Lent - Propers with explanation – Rev Jack’s Sermon

Below the propers, you will find the Exhortation and Rev Jack's Sermon.  Most people skip over the Exhortation which is to be read at least three times a year: First Sunday in Advent, the First Sunday in Lent, and Trinity Sunday.  That is a mistake, it bears thinking about.  Rev Jack's sermon is also available on video RIGHT HERE.

The Propers for today are found on Page 125-127, with the Collect first:

 

The First Sunday in Lent.

The Collect.

 

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 LORD who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

 

And due to the rubric, the Collect for the Day is followed by the Collect for Ash Wednesday, which is found on Page 124:

 

The first day of Lent, commonly called
Ash Wednesday.

The Collect.

 

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LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.

 

The Epistle for today came from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, the Sixth Chapter, beginning at the First Verse.  In what at first appears to be an incomprehensible single sentence, Paul asks us to be worthy of the grace that God has given us.  He tells the people when they needed him, he was there.  They need to be there for those around them.  They must not frustrate God’s work by showing up late, or not at all.  Those around us are watching our actions in the time of testing.  We have been given eternal salvation by Jesus’ sacrifice, the understanding of the Gospel by the Holy Ghost.  We are at this time dying here on earth, yet progressing towards eternal life in the next world, in Jesus’ world with His help. While we may never be wealthy here on earth, our actions can make our fellow Christians wealthy in spirit beyond measure.  

 

If you claim to be a Christian, you know what is right.  If you are a Christian, you do what is right, you don’t take a vote to see what the right course of action might be.  Right does not change with public opinion and we must do the right thing.  It is our actions that count, in good times or bad.  We are Christ’s ambassadors to this world, unfortunately we do not have diplomatic immunity.

 

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E then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain; (for he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation;) giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

 

This morning’s Holy Gospel came from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the Fourth Chapter, beginning at the First Verse. This portion of the Gospel tells the story of the temptation of Christ. In many respects, it shows how little the devil understands of Christ, and through Him, of us. If you understand how little the devil really offers you and how much Christ offers, the temptation is ever so much less.  The devil is often referred to as the deceiver or dissimulator.  His forte is deception, he seems one thing, is another.  Offers what he has no intention or ability to deliver.  Ignores the inevitable result of accepting his proffered help or inside track.

 

He clearly knows Jesus is the Son of God.  There is no doubt in his mind.  So, having understood that, consider what he offers Jesus in temptation.  

 

Remember, Jesus has fasted 40 days OF HIS OWN CHOICE; he who has no real power asks Jesus to turn stone into bread to show His Power.  This to the Son of He who delivered manna daily to the Jews in the wilderness for 40 years. 

 

Cast thyself down and let angels catch thee; this to He who walked on water.

 

Up to the mountain lookout – Here is it all yours if you worship me.  This to He who as it says in Psalm 95:

 

In his hand are all the corners of the earth; * and the strength of the hills is his also.

 

The sea is his, and he made it; * and his hands prepared the dry land.

 

O come, let us worship and fall down, * and kneel before

the Lord our Maker.

 

For he is the Lord our God; * and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

 

The devil promised Jesus nothing that was his to give, nothing that would help Jesus in the real world beyond the Shadowlands.  He never does.  The devil is all about shortcuts.  Remember, if the shortcut was the best way, it would not be a shortcut

 

Like the temptation of Jesus, the devil never delivers what we need, only what we may want short term.  Remember as little as the devil understands of Christ, so he understands little of us.  He will never offer you real help.  Remember that and the temptation is ever so much less.

 

This morning’s Gospel comes from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, starting at the First Verse of the Fourth Chapter. This portion of the Gospel tells the story of the temptation of Christ.  In many respects, it shows how little the devil understands of Christ, and through Him, of us.  If you understand how little the devil really offers you and how much Christ offers, the temptation is ever so much less.

 

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HEN was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

 

THE EXHORTATIONS.

¶         At the time of the Celebration of the Communion, after the prayer for the whole state of Christ’s Church, the Priest may say this Exhortation. And Note, That the Exhortation shall be said on the First Sunday in Advent, the First Sunday in Lent, and Trinity Sunday. 

 

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EARLY beloved in the Lord, ye who mind to come to the holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, must consider how Saint Paul exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves, before they presume to eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament; so is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. Judge therefore yourselves, brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord; repent  you truly for your sins past; have a lively and stedfast faith  in Christ our Saviour; amend your lives, and be in perfect charity with all men; so shall ye be meet partakers of those holy mysteries. And above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man; who did humble himself, even to the death upon the Cross, for us, miserable sinners, who lay in darkness and the shadow of death; that he might make us the children of God, and exalt us to everlasting life. And to the end that we should always remember the exceeding great love of our Master, and only Saviour, Jesus Christ, thus dying for us, and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding he hath obtained for us; he hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries, as pledges of his love, and for a continual remembrance of his death, to our great and endless com- fort. To him therefore, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, let us give, as we are most bounden, continual thanks; sub- mitting ourselves wholly to his holy will and pleasure, and studying to serve him in true holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. Amen. 

 

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:

 

… Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory …

 

In the Collect, we ask God to help us change our natural evil tendencies so we can live life here His way and honor His wishes so we can be truly happy.  Without His help, we end up with what we want, not what we need.  Lent is the time in which we focus on fighting our sinful selves and working with the Holy Ghost to reconcile us with what God wants for us. What we want is not the same as what we need. We are asking him to help us fight our human nature and follow His divine nature, we are attempting to replace our nature with that of God’s. It is a long and difficult road we must travel, doing this, but we are going to be much happier in the long run if we at least do our best. Do or do not, there is no try, Yoda is quoted as saying, and I find it applicable here and in my own life. We have to act, not just say we are going to act, but we must physically perform ACTIONS!

                                 

Want and Need; two words, used interchangeably in both our speech and thought that do not mean the same thing.  Think about that!

 

Following the thought of the Collect, Paul asks us to be worthy of the grace God has given us.  He tells the people when they needed him, He was there.  Following his example, we need to be there for those around us.  We must not frustrate God’s work by showing up late, or not at all. It all goes back to Jesus’ saying, No man can serve two masters. We have to choose who we are going to serve God or Satan/Mammon and then once we have chosen to serve God, we need to do our best to be there for Him and His People. Action and not just dictions alone are needed to serve God. 

 

Our actions will reflect whom we truly serve,  God or the Forces of Satan. Which side will you serve? You in the end have to choose one side or another. Pick the winning side now, which is the Forces of God, and you will have a rich everlasting life. The key to winning this battle for souls is to never ever ever give up and to trust in God and Dread Naught.  It may get gloomy and depressing sometimes but as long as we turn back to God and His Scriptures and the Church for comfort than all will be well with our souls. And also remembering when we are finished running the race here on Earth so to speak, we will get to spend eternity with God, Jesus and our family who have gone before, it makes bearing the trials and the tribulations of this world a lot easier.

 

When the Devil attempted to tempt Christ, he showed how little he knows of Him.  If we emulate our Lord, it shows how little the Devil will be able to tempt us with his deceit. If we follow Him we will be able to withstand any temptation that arises as our Lord showed for us in the desert 2,000 years ago. 

 

Consider how little the Devil really offers you and how much Christ offers, the temptation is ever so much less.  The Devil is often referred to as the Deceiver or Dissimulator.  His forte is deception; he seems to be one thing, but is another.  He offers what he has no intention or ability to deliver. He actually has zero ability to deliver on his large promises, he has no right to give away what is not his! 

 

The Devil clearly knows Jesus is the Son of God.  There is no doubt in his mind.  So, having understood that, consider what he offers Jesus in temptation.  

 

Remember, Jesus has fasted 40 days OF HIS OWN CHOICE; now comes the devil daring Him to show His Power by turning the stone into bread.  This to the Son of He who delivered manna daily to the Jews in the wilderness for 40 years.  

 

Cast thyself down and let angels catch thee; this to He who walked on water.

 

Up to the mountain lookout – Here is it all yours if you worship me.  This to He, who as it says in Psalm 95:

 

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N his hand are all the corners of the earth; * and the strength of the hills is his also.

 

The sea is his, and he made it; * and his hands prepared the dry land.

 

O come, let us worship and fall down, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

 

For he is the Lord our God; * and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

 

The devil promised Jesus nothing that was his to give, nothing that would help Jesus in the real world beyond the Shadowlands.  He never does.  The devil is all about shortcuts.  Remember, if the shortcut was the best way, it would not be a shortcut. The devil will not help us at all in the long run, if you look at things from the eternal perspective. That is what we need to keep in mind every time he tempts us.  We have to remember that what the devil offers us will pale in comparison to what God has to offer us and that the way of the devil will cause us more pain here on Earth and a lot more pain after we leave Earth. If we keep that in mind, it makes it ever so much easier to fight off the Devil and his temptaitons.

 

The temptation of Jesus is no different than the Devil’s attempt to tempt us!  The Devil never delivers what we need, only what we, in our imperfection, want.  He can’t understand what we really need, he only knows what we want. This is an advantage we have over him. We understand what we truly need; if we remember it, then holding off against the temptations is easier. Remember as little as the Devil understands of Christ, the same way, as we are in God, so he understands little of us.  He will never offer you real help.  Remember that and the temptation is ever so much less.

 

Or, as my grandfather said, “Keep your eye on the donut, not on the hole”

 

There is but one way to heaven.

 

That easy to find, easy to follow, easy to hike path does not lead to the summit where eternal life in the real world awaits.  Open your heart to the Holy Ghost, use His Power to follow our Lord to God who awaits in heaven.

 

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

The Lamb of Goshen – 4 March 2022, Anno Domini

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ND the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 

 

            The Lord God had blessed the sons of Jacob when they came down into Egypt at the behest of Joseph, their brother whom they had sold into slavery, and they prospered. The household of each son flourished so well in the rich soil of Goshen that they multiplied greatly over the intervening years before they were enslaved by an Egyptian Pharaoh who knew not Joseph and who feared the Children of Israel would overwhelm the land and take power. The whole of the events were all according to the designs of their true Sovereign – God Almighty. Joseph pre-figured the only Begotten Son of God who would also be betrayed into the hands of unbelievers but became the once-and-for-all sacrifice to save His people.

 

            There are many points and symbols to grasp in the hard bondage of Egypt, many of which exceed the scope of a short devotion. Some main points to remember is that God works always in the affairs of men. Even when we are fearful of the outcome, His plan is always for the good of the faithful. The Land of Egypt was a type of bondage that sin works on all men and women descended from Adam. Though we may flee to a far country for relief in time of famine and farewell for a time, like the Prodigal Son, we will eventually be used up in that land apart from the place God planted us and wind up living like swine of the sty. 

 

            After 400 years in Egypt, the bondage became almost unbearable just as the life of sin leads to the most depraved of spirits. God had already made provision for Israel even though they were ignorant of His silent workings in a man named Moses whom He had schooled in the palaces of Egypt, sent away to the wilderness to learn of Him, and was now sending Moses back to Egypt to set His people free. 

 

            Moses was God’s chosen vessel to convince old Pharaoh to “Let my people go!” God wittingly sent ten plagues upon Egypt as an example of the intractability of the sinful disposition. The first plagues of curses were not fatal, but only the tenth plague of death (to which disobedience invariably leads) could move the stony heart of Pharoah to release the Children of Israel. Since no other tragic plague would bring the Pharaoh to heel, God must resort to a great sacrifice on the part of Egypt. Woeful disobedience to God always leads to death.  It brought death to the firstborn of every household in Egypt whose doorposts and lintels were not covered with the blood of a choice lamb. 

 

            The innocent and unblemished lamb of Goshen to be sacrificed stood as a figure of that greater sacrifice to come – the Lamb of God. The blood applied to the doorpost and lintels represented our relationship to God (the vertical) and to our fellow man (vertical) and the strokes followed that of the vertical and cross beams of the cross at Calvary. Among other requirements, the lamb chosen for the household of each of the Children of Israel must be perfect and without blemish – an example of the Only Begotten of the Father: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1 Peter 1:18-20) The Lamb of Goshen was a feeble figure of the true Lamb that would be a sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. As John proclaimed: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) There is much more to the story for a later day to come.

Shades and Shadows – 3 March 2022, Anno Domini

  

 

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HE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.       (Psalm 23:1-6)

 

            Shadows are sometimes alluded to as shades, or spirits. Perhaps the reason is that shadows represent a presence but a presence that no one can see.  You see, a shadow is not something you can see. It is just a patch of darkness or partially blocked light. So some refer to ghosts as shades or shadows. 

 

            Shadows have been viewed with superstitious contempt in some cultures. For example, the renowned Hindu, turned Christian minister, Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929), once discarded his meal when the shadow of a Christian fell across it – as if the shadow actually had the power to pollute. He later became the greatest early Christian missionary in the Himalaya and Punjab area of northern India.  On visiting Europe, Singh became disenchanted with the modernism of the Church and its attachment to materialism (even at that early day).

 

            But shadows are most often referred to in God’s Word as a place of defense and security. The 23^rd Psalm is an exception to this since it describes the shadow of death’ as only a perceived danger but not a real one. The Shadow of Death is only a time of reduced light as we walk the valleys of this world. It is a temporary absence of the full Light of the World as we walk in the long night of the soul by the reduced light of the night luminaries. 

 

            In the arid climate of the Middle East, shadows are sometimes hard to find to protect against the hot sun of day. The cold nights on the high deserts of the region are quickly turned to a furnace of almost intolerable heat at noonday. Men search for the shelter of a shade in vain in a land of sparse vegetation and almost devoid of trees other than the oasis palm tree. Jonah learned a hard lesson when he tried to escape the presence of the Lord. The Lord found Jonah on the waves of the sea, and Jonah found God in the belly of the whale at the greatest depth of the sea. Later, when the people of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes, Jonah was unhappy.  So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city. And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, (Jonah 4:5-8)

 

            The sinner, like the snail, finds it impossible to abide the hot sun of the judgment of God. But God has provided a shadow from His judgment for His elect. We are either in bondage to sin and Egypt, or servants of the Most High God. 15 But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name. 16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.  (Isaiah 51:15-16)

 

            The elect are sheltered beneath the wings of their Maker. Having been redeemed from the wages of sin, we abide in the shadow of His wings. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday .  (Psalm 91:1-6)

 

Do not be a Jonah and disdain the sun but embrace the shadow.

Run Silent, Run Deep – 2 March 2022, Anno Domini

 

 

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ND he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (1 Kings 19:7-12)

 

            The mysteries of life itself have altogether escaped our most advanced scientific arts. Even if we could construct a single gnat, we would be helpless to make it live. The spark of life, and its origin, escapes the feeble works of man. Life comes from God alone, the Creator and Sustainer of life and the Author of every principle of Natural Law. 

 

            Several years ago, I attended a Church seminar in Tucson, Arizona, and was amazed at a Nurse Practitioner who attended many terminal patients. She said the last sense lost at the moment of death is the sense of hearing. It is almost as if the Creator leaves the door open to hearing the Gospel until the very last moment. I have confirmed this point with other medical personnel. In another fairly recent medical study, I have learned the traditional approach to declaring the moment of death may not be accurate. It seems that brain waves can be detected up to fifteen minutes after a patient is pronounced dead when the heart stops beating.[1]

 

The sense of hearing is a vitally important feature in the propagation of the Gospel:

 

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OW then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  (Romans 10:14-15)

 

            God does not usually speak in thunderous tones, but in a small, still voice, or even in silent Spirit. Like the deep of the ocean seas, there is a deep in the soul of man that can only be filled by a loving Father: “Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”  (Psalm 42:7-8)

 

            Would we hear the soft and whispering voice of the Lord, it will not be heard in the noise of the madding crowd, or the downtrodden alleys of commerce. It will be best heard in the closet of the heart even if on the fiery battlefield. Hearing the Voice of God may not be heard in prayer unless the petitioner’s heart is stayed on God. In prayer we must focus on God – not just in our asking, but in His answering. Communication is a two-way path. Too often we leave our laundry list of wants at the Throne of Mercy without politely waiting for a response from the King of Glory. The Spirit knows every nook and cranny of our hearts. He knows our needs, our failures, our weaknesses, and He knows the status of our spiritual standing with God the Father. The Spirit communicates with our spirit much like the Underground River communicates life to the distant pasturelands.

 

            Perhaps we would be wise to remind ourselves of the simple counsel of the Lord on prayer: 

 

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ND when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matt 6:5-8)

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[1] Norton et al, 2017. Electroencephalographic Recordings During Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Therapy Until 30 Minutes After Declaration of Death. Can J Neurol Sci. 44(2) : 139-145

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28231862

Resting in the Lord – 1 March 2022, Anno Domini

 

 

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OR Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.⁹  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. ¹⁰  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. ¹¹  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. ¹²  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. ¹⁴  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:8-14)

 

            There has been no little contention in the days after our Lord’s Ascension concerning the observance of the Sabbath Day. Many works have been written either advocating an adherence to the seventh-day Sabbath or, else, insisting that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday. In my opinion, there is little credibility to either view. 

 

            There can be no question that the Sabbath of the Old Testament was, indeed, to be celebrated from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday – the seventh day which began at even and continued to day. “⁸  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”  (Exodus 20:7-11)

            

God did not annul the Ten Commandments but actually made the obedience of them even more binding (and possible) through the agency of LOVE. ^“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.” (Matthew 5:18) The last I checked, Heaven and earth have yet to pass away, so neither have the Commandments of God. Did God change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday? No, such an important change would not have been merely insinuated but explicitly revealed in Scripture. So, are we obliged to observe today the seventh-day Sabbath? No, not in the sense of one day in seven. Does Sunday substitute for the Sabbath. No. Then how do we keep the Sabbath which we are commanded to do continually and forever? This is not a hard question.

 

            The Old Testament provided shadows and types for the fuller reality fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ. The worship of the Church on Sunday is not an error. It is fitting to maintain the principle of a day of worship one day in seven. Neither is it wrong to worship on the seventh-day. In fact, it is more suitable to pay homage to the Lord seven-days-in-seven, for Christ, like the Passover, has become our Sabbath. How is this true, you may ask?

 

            The fact that we have our REST in Christ is undisputed. He has given us rest. As Paul proclaims, it is not his own work that he does, but Christ who works in him. Our works cannot save us. We are saved by Grace and not by works, but we are saved unto good works. To whom do our good works belong? To Christ! And what is the meaning of the word, rest? It is sabbatin Hebrew and sabbaton in Greek – or SABBATH. Are we not told that the Lord Jesus Christ has become our Rest (Sabbath) just as He has become our Passover? The committed Christian who acts on the continual Voice of God is resting from his labors and allowing the Lord to work in and through him. In such cases, every day is the day of rest for the Christian – every day a Sabbath as we attribute our works to Christ as well as our rests. In the formularies of the Roman Catholic Church, they claim to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, but why do they not call the Sunday, Sabbath, and who gave them authority to change any part of the Word of God? 

 

            If you wish to continue to believe Sunday is the Sabbath of the Lord, that is not an issue of salvation. It is not a sin. Sunday is perfectly fitted for the day of worship – but so is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – in fact, all of them together are the times we should obey the Word and pray ALWAYS, and let us continue to perform our formal acts of worship on Sunday if it pleases our souls.

 

The Evening and the Morning – 28 February 2022, Anno Domini

 

 

 

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N the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.  (Genesis 1:1-5)

 

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F I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.   (Psalm 139:11-16)

 

            How can we draw a comparison between the two text above, and can we? I believe the comparison will become vividly clear by the end of this devotion if I can only draw the beauty of them out for the reader.

 

            Just as there is a comparison between spiritual death and physical death, there are also great differences. The same is true of spiritual darkness and physical darkness. The darkness to which the Scriptures most often refer is SPIRITUAL darkness. As is the case with physical darkness, spiritual darkness deprives its victim of Godly wisdom to know the way he should go. As David has said, “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.”  (Psalm 82:5)Solomon says: “Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness. (Proverbs 2:11-13)

 

            There is only one path that is well-lighted by the Word of God and the beams of wisdom – the Narrow Way that leads up to Heaven. If I purchase a perfectly good flashlight in good repair that is equipped with a new bulb, what am I to think if the light does not come on when the switch is moved to ‘ON?’ You are right – there are no batteries in the flashlight. The battery for the soul of the Christian is the Holy Spirit to guide us in the right path by bringing to our remembrance all things about Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the invigorating Spirit of Love that animates the Christian soul. The Word (Truth) must be joined to the Spirit (Love) to make a whole for the soul.

 

            Did you notice from the text from Genesis 1:1-5 that God began His Creation in darkness – “the evening and the morning were the first day?” It is for this reason that the Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown Friday until sundown on Saturday. Without God, all things stand in darkness. He begins His work of Creation in darkness and completes it in wonderful light of day.

 

            Did you notice in the second text from Psalms 139:11-16 that God created YOU in the darkness of your mother’s womb? You had nothing to do with your being created – it was altogether the work of God in the darkness of the womb just as a seed germinates in the darkness of the soil to burst forth into the brilliant light of the sun!

 

            We are born with living bodies because God created those bodies before our birth. The same is true of our living souls. We were all dead in trespasses and sin, though our body enjoyed a temporary life. But the Spirit of God quickened us and made us alive in the Spirit to understand and know Him personally as our Lord and Savior. (see Ephesians 2) 

 

            Though we once walked and sat in darkness, great light has shined upon us! (see Isaiah 9:2 & Matthew 4:16) Having our batteries charged with the invigorating and life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, we walk a different way that that Broad Way of the world that leads down to destruction. We have a light available to us that they have rejected.

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

 

            Do you have your LIGHT for the journey in the wilderness of life?