Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity - Propers with explanation – Rev Jack’s Sermon– With Video

Rev Jack brings the Propers together today.    His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video here -> https://youtu.be/33FZ-_52sms

The Collect, Epistle and Gospel tie together, laying out, detailing and reinforcing the same message ultimately. The Collect asks that we be able to accept God’s pardon, and act on that pardon in peace. The Epistle is Saint Paul’s discussion of the armor of God. He goes on to tell us all of the equipment God gives us to fulfill His mission as active members of his Christian army. The Gospel is the story of the nobleman of Capernaum whose son is sick.  See how all this ties together.

The Propers for today are found on Page 218-220, with the Collect first:

 

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity

 

The Collect.

G

 

RANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

The Epistle for this morning came from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, the Sixth Chapter, beginning at the Tenth Verse.  In these passages, Paul gives his clearest definition of the spiritual war between the forces of Satan and those who would follow God. It not only assures us that there is a spiritual war, but it warns us that apart from utilizing the weapons which God has provided for us, we are hopelessly underpowered. This passage tells us what our divine weapons are. Beyond this, these weapons imply the nature of the struggle which we are in. The weapons which God has provided for us are those weapons which best repel the attacks of Satan, and thus we can learn a great deal about the nature of Satan’s opposition from simply considering each of the weapons at our disposal.

 

After a consideration of the war in general, we will then proceed to examine in more detail each of the weapons Paul mentions, and the offensive strategy of Satan which they imply. May God give us open hearts and minds to understand the spiritual war, and the means which He has provided for our defense.

 

M

Y brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

The Holy Gospel came from the Fourth Chapter of the Gospel according to St. John beginning at the Forty-Sixth Verse.  This is a telling of the story of the healing of a Jewish nobleman's son Capernaum through the faith of his father.  When the man came to him asking for help, he responded as he often did to Jews, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”  The man persisted and because Jesus saw faith in him, he said, focusing his attention on faith in God, “Go thy way; thy son liveth” or  "Be on your way. Your son is alive." In other words: "Do not worry. My Word can heal your son at a distance." The boy was healed in the very instant when Jesus spoke the Word. The father believed this Word. So did his household, wife, children and servants. More than one person was healed on that occasion.

 

This miracle shares characteristics with the previous healing of the Centurion’s son:

 

• Jesus has just come back to Galilee.
• Someone comes to him with a request.
• Indirectly Jesus seems to refuse at first.
• The person persists.
• Jesus grants the request.
• This leads another group of people (his disciples, the nobleman’s household) to believe in him.

 

Note the necessity of trusting in Jesus as the giver of life.  Of the text, Luther wrote: "Although the Lord performed miracles and signs to make Himself known and to lead people to faith in Him, the underlying purpose was to focus their attention on the Word rather than on the signs which served merely to attest the truth of His testimony. Faith must rest on the Word of God."  Another Lutheran theologian wrote: "In affliction faith is practiced and chastened. If a person does not see, taste and experience the help and grace of the Lord, then that person learns to trust the Word and nothing but the Word. That is the true faith, trusting the Lord for its own sake. Such faith comes not from flesh and blood. It's the Lord to which faith clings. That almighty Word works faith."

 

Jesus led this nobleman from a "miracle" faith to a true faith in His Word. He does this to us also.

 

"Be on your way. Your son lives." This Word of Jesus was not only a prophecy. It had the power to heal the sick boy. And this Word took the nobleman's worries away.

 

T

HERE was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judæa into Galilee. 

Sermon - Rev Jack Arnold

Church of the Faithful Centurion - Descanso, California

Rev Jack brings the Propers together today.    His sermon can be viewed on video here -> https://youtu.be/33FZ-_52sms

 

The Collect, Epistle and Gospel tie together, laying out, detailing and reinforcing the same message ultimately. The Collect asks that we be able to accept God’s pardon, and act on that pardon in peace. The Epistle is Saint Paul’s discussion of the armor of God. He goes on to tell us all of the equipment God gives us to fulfill His mission as active members of his Christian army. The Gospel is the story of the nobleman of Capernaum whose son is sick.  See how all this ties together.

 

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

 

Consider these words from the Collect:

 

… Grant … thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind …

 

We ask God to pardon our sins so we might serve Him with peace of mind and do His Work without having to worry about our fate.  It is good to have a clear mind when you go into battle, to be free of worry that you might do your best. You do not want a foggy mind while performing an action that requires your best concentration, so that is what we are asking from Him. To give us clarity of mind that we might do what is right. 

 

We need His pardon and peace to cleanse us from our sins, to enable us to have a mind that is quiet and focused on doing His will. It is a difficult thing to quiet our minds at times, but it must be done, so we can focus on doing our best from Him. His pardon and peace will help us clear our minds from worrying thoughts and distressed thoughts, if we will but let Him in. His pardon and peace is a perfect pardon and peace, He only asks that we go forth in the world and spread His Word, which will give the perfect pardon and peace to all that accept it.

 

When we mention peace, it is a very different concept from what people in this world think of it.  The peace God gives us is the calmness and stability in our soul when the world is crumbling around or even on us. It is the surety that no matter what happens this life, as long as we do what God asks, our souls will be safe in the next life. This will give us a calm of mind that the world is incapable of giving as they do not know the peace of God and the Holy Spirit.

 

It is that peace of mind and soul that comes from knowing when we die, we will be with God and Jesus and enjoying eternity with them. It helps us to know this is only a transitory phase. This is only temporary way point on our way to heaven.  And if we let it, this peace will take the place of worry. This can be easier said than done, but if we let the Holy Ghost into our hearts, we will find our worries will disappear quickly. The peace gives you the confidence to perform actions, even in difficult and very trying circumstances. Once again, action, not diction, is paramount.

 

Not everyone will accept it though, even though all should accept the offered gift, it does not mean they will.  And those that do accept may not accept right away. It may take time for the seed of the Holy Ghost to germinate and bear fruit in the hearts of some of the more worldly people. As our fallen nature attests, we are not instantly transformed into a different person overnight, but rather thorough many days, weeks and years of practicing Christian beliefs, through reading Scripture and being around other believers. The transformation happens in a gradual process, that continues all of our lives. With some of the non-believers we encounter in our live this might occur, the seed we plant may germinate in time to bring them to Christ.

 

Paul gives his clearest definition of the spiritual war between the forces of Satan and those who would follow God. It not only assures us that there is a spiritual war, but it warns us that apart from utilizing the weapons which God has provided for us, we are hopelessly underpowered. This passage tells us what our divine weapons are. Now that we know our weapons and the nature of this spiritual battle, what are we to do? We are clearly commanded to take an offensive role, to go where the battle is. We are not called to be at the rear, but on the front lines, in this spiritual battle.  With the help of the Holy Ghost, we should be using our tongues boldly as St. Paul says, to spread the Gospel. Being bold does not mean we are to be rude or cruelly shouting down the opposition in preaching the Gospel, but it does not mean we are to be timid about it. We must preach it with the great conviction that the Holy Ghost will provide us if we will let Him In.

 

In order to boldly preach the truth of the Gospel through ought the world, we must not worry ourselves with what the world will think. For what the world will think is not as important as what God thinks. We will do our actions and say the truth with clarity and confidence. That is what it means to preach the Word boldly.

 

The Word spreads “by word of mouth” and by action.  It does not spread by mouth alone! There needs to be work backing up those good words. Your mouth, your actions!

 

Speaking of actions, Winston Churchill said, “Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”^[1]

 

Churchill was not the first. God wants us to persist.  Consider the case of the nobleman of Capernaum.  The man asked Jesus for help for his son.  Jesus did not immediately grant the request as He needed the man to persist to make a point for those around him.  He responded as he often did to Jews, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.  The man persisted and because Jesus saw faith in him, he said, focusing his attention on faith in God, Go thy way; thy son liveth or "Be on your way. Your son is alive." In other words: "Do not worry.  My Word will heal your son no matter the distance." The boy was healed in the very instant when Jesus spoke the Word. The father believed this Word.  So did his household, wife, children and servants. More than one person was healed on that occasion.

 

This miracle shares characteristics with the previous healing of the Centurion’s son:

 

• Jesus has just come back to Galilee.
• Someone comes to him with a request.
• Indirectly Jesus seems to refuse at first.
• The person persists.
• Jesus grants the request.
• This leads another group of people (his disciples, the nobleman’s household) to believe in him.

 

Note the necessity of trusting in Jesus as the giver of life.  Jesus led this nobleman from a "miracle" faith to a true faith in His Word. He does this to us also, but only if we will let Him into our hearts and guide us there. 

 

"Be on your way. Your son lives." This Word of Jesus was not only a prophecy. It had the power to heal the sick boy. And this Word took the nobleman's worries away. As it will take ours away if we will let it. 

 

As we see in the Gospel, persistence is a very important part of the Christian life, it helps build our character in bad times, and also in good as well. Persistence is what fuels us in our day to day physical and spiritual lives. Persistence is a very important character trait to have as a Christian. The more we open ourselves up to Him, the more persistent we will become as we embody more and more of His characteristics. Persistence will help us greatly in our character development and will help strengthen us spiritually.

 

Consider also that God, through our Lord, offers forgiveness.  Forgiveness lets you restart your life, regain your foothold, strengthen your soul.  If you accept the forgiveness and go forward you can do great things. If you will not, and likewise you will not forgive, you will be bound by the prince of this world and doomed to failure.  You will never attain the greatness of which you are capable with God’s grace and help.

 

Do what is right, I would say no matter if there is no one looking; but He is always looking.  It is not that hard.  Believe, take His help, act on the belief you profess, never ever give up.  

 

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

 

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

 

The time to act is NOW.  Will you act?  For whom will you act?  Will you count the cost before you act?

 

Action, not diction, is what counts.  It is by your actions you are known.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

---

^[1] Sir Winston Churchill, Speech, 1941, Harrow School

Sermon Notes - Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity - The Blessing of Peace - Anglican Orthodox Communion of Churches Worldwide - 6 November 2022, Anno Domini

 

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity

 

The Collect.

G

 

RANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

 

The Collect

            As this biblically-based prayer of Collect clearly reveals, forgiveness and comfort can only come to those who are faithful to the Lord. We must know and believe that the Blood of Christ is sufficient to cover our sins, and that He is ready and willing to grant pardon according to our faith. It is through this means of faith and pardon that our minds can be still and stayed on Him during every turbulent storm on the seas of life.

 

The Epistle

Ephesians vi. 10.

 

M

Y brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

If we were to cringe and withdraw into our desert dugouts, we would need no armor. A non –belligerent needs no armor. But we are soldiers of the cross locked in mortal combat with the very enemy of the soul of man – the Devil and his legions. Our battle must be more of offense than of defense since we bear the advantage of the higher terrain and every resource of heaven. So our armor is to protect ourselves, but also to inflict devastating blows to the enemy in the field. He has attempted to misappropriate and corrupt the Creation of our Lord. But the decisive victory has already been won by the Captain of our souls at Calvary. We must now occupy the land and eliminate his pockets of resistance and silence his vedettes and lines of pickets. Truth is our strength and support. Our hearts are covered with the imputed righteousness of Him who has commissioned us to His Army. The Gospel of Peace, having been instilled in our hearts through study and preparation, is the liberty of movement and maneuver which we enjoy on the field. Our main protection against the blows of the enemy is our Faith.  The helmet of our salvation is the strength of our learning and belief. Our Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God which is a Two-Edged Sword to either condemn, or convict of sin. Prayer is our communications network whereby we are in constant supplication for the entire army and for each other. This, and the Prayer of Collect, join together as a hand to the glove the Imperative of Faith as our most treasured possession of victory!

 

The Holy Gospel

-54

 

S

O Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine;  And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

 

The Sermon

  The Gospel text provides an example of victorious faith over the curse of Eden and the Law. Faith is the crown jewel of our religion and, without it, there can be no reconciliation to God. Our souls would remain in the dark abyss and our bodies wracked with every sore and boil without the Balm of the Faith of Gilead. The Gospel is a fitting benediction to that overcoming faith described in both the Collect and the epistle for today.

 

           God would have us, I believe, to learn:

 

1.     ‘Believing faith’ will draw down the miraculous powers of heaven; 

2.     Faith believes where evidence does not appear. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Heb 11:1-3);  

3.     Faith must have a vehicle upon which to move – hearing; 

4.     Faith compels us, in our dire need, to draw on the smallest morsel of faith to satisfy that need;

5.     Our proper response to faith is immediate and without delay or procrastination. Its urgency is compelled by love.

 

            Cana has been blessed with the first miracle of Christ, and a land that lends itself, by faith, to one miracle shall receive more. “So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine.” This is the city at which Jesus, in due regard for the high esteem in which He holds the first institution of God at Eden, honored the same estate by turning six large, stone vessels full of water into wine. It was a divine tribute to Marriage as an institution. Now, Christ, in His second miracle, will pay tribute to the blessed fruit of marriage – the child! The miracle would issue from Christ at Cana, and find its fulfillment in Capernaum, in the healing of a young boy. 

 

            There was a nobleman with connections to the power of the ruler whose son was deathly ill at the point of death. There was no earthly hope for the son so insidiously had the fever possessed his small frame. “And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.” Capernaum was some sixteen miles from Cana; however, that was a good day’s travel in the time of Jesus. The nobleman had, without doubt, sought after every remedy, treatment, and physician at close hand who might improve his son to no avail. He had, most likely, expended every resort. When hope faded as a distant star on the horizon, suddenly, there came news of the coming of the man called Jesus coming out of Samaria into Cana of Galilee. He may have been present at the first miracle of Jesus at Cana, but not likely in my thinking. Certainly, he had heard of the miracle for it was voiced abroad in the area. Suddenly, that fading star of hope became, to our nobleman and loving father, the Bright and Morning Star! Hope often gives birth to the primitive germination of faith, and so it was for this nobleman.

 

            47 “When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.” He had not seen Jesus previously in all likelihood, yet, when he heard that Jesus was coming, hope gave over to the early yearnings of faith – there was Light breaking over the distant landscape! “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Perhaps the nobleman had heard at the lips of a single, or many, witnesses. But SOMEONE had told him of Jesus and His coming. How sad that many have not had the benefit of hearing that Jesus has come, and will come again! I might add that ALL are at the very point of death without Christ. The need is great to carry the Gospel into every dark corner.

 

            It was the elemental tug of faith that impelled action on the part of the distraught nobleman and father. Such a faith crosses all lines of class and stature – the poor as well as the rich and powerful. There comes a moment in the lives of great men such as General Naaman of Assyria whose leprosy made wreckage of his life, to the poor blind Bartemaeus whose hope hinged on the miracle he besought from a man he could not see outside the gates of Jericho. When all hope is abandoned, there remains only faith to rekindle its warm light. So, desponding of all possibility of an earthly cure, the nobleman now latched onto the Fountainhead of all Hope and Healing in that early touch of faith that suddenly penetrated the fortress walls of his heart. Here we see a man of great influence begging a favor of a poor itinerant carpenter! Does this make sense? No, it doesn’t make a bit of worldly sense, but the actions of heaven are not dictated by worldly intelligence. Life and death matters (which are the concern of Heaven) breach all lines of royal propriety and academia. No time for role-playing when his son is at the very point of death! So, he begs mercy from an unlikely source, but the only Source of life and miracles. What may seem unlikely to the world may make perfect sense with God.

 

            How would the itinerant Master receive the nobleman of stature? He makes a very telling statement of fact. He is not questioning the nobleman’s faith, but EXPOSING it as a contrast to the lack of faith that abounded among common men. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” This man had not seen signs and wonders as many of the latter multitudes had seen, yet still did not believe. This man had not seen, yet believed still! That is the faith that begets miracles and the favor of God! This approach is very like a father telling his precious little daughter, with tongue in cheek, “Surely you do not want this candy treat – you are just pretending!” Jesus already knew the heart of this nobleman. He would have those who listened to his pleas to know his heart of faith as well. There is no discouragement or rebuff that will quench the light of earnest faith.

 

            The gentle rebuff of Christ in no way diminishes either the faith, or its kindred, perseverance, of the nobleman. His nobility of character comes to light in his manner of responding to Christ. It is as if he knows that Christ will not deny him. His faith has told him this. 49 “The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.” “Please, Lord, let us not mince words – my son will die if you do not come down!” He knows Jesus well enough in his heart of faith that He will not slam the gates of mercy on a child – and He never has done so! He spoke out of faith but not out of mature spiritual knowledge. He believed that Jesus must personally come to where his son was to heal him, but faith and divine power knows no distance.

 

            Having exposed the child-like faith of this nobleman to the multitude gathered, Jesus speaks again, 50 “Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” If the man did not understand before that Jesus need only say the Word, and not come personally to heal his son, he knew it now form the lips of Jesus whom he believed explicitly. The nobleman had no need of pressing his point further….mission accomplished! He immediately believed the word of Jesus and went on the trip back to his son at Capernaum.  God will give this man CONFIRMATION of his faith is a most delightful way. Faith of the believer is ALWAYS confirmed in due time. We may be facing challenges that appear to have no end other than tragedy, but clinging to that morsel of faith that has been planted in our hearts; we believe the impossible….and the impossible comes to pass!

 

            The servants of the nobleman have been standing a sorrowful watch over the man’s son whom they most likely loved more than even the nobleman himself. Suddenly, they noted his perilous fever had broken and the boy was well – as well as he had ever been! In amazement, they ran along the road to Cana to tell the nobleman. 51 “And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” Note here, again, the direction the man was traveling. He had experienced a mountain-top experience with the Savior. Any direction we take after being with Christ in either presence or prayer is down again to the valleys in which we must move and labor. When told that his son lived, he inquired of the time of his improvement for the sake of confirmation of his faith.  The journey from Cana to Capernaum was at least a day’s travel. When told that the son recovered the previous day at the 7^th hours (1 P.M.), the nobleman was not surprised but rejoiced in the confirmation of that small kernel of faith that had brought him face-to-face with Jesus. I hope you, too, have had that kernel of faith that has brought you face-to-face with Jesus. After that encounter, that kernel will grow into a hundredfold, an even untold harvests of souls.

 

            We must not dismiss the results of the faith of the fathers for the children. Remember Zaccheus whose was saved with his whole household at his faith in Christ. See here how the noblemen believed AND HIS WHOLE HOUSE (including servants). We have the promise of God that our children shall not depart in old age from that righteous path wherein the fathers walked if they are trained up in the nurture of the Word of God. One of the imperatives of baptism is to raise the child according to the promises of God, and that child shall confirm the faith 

Trinity 21 Collect - a Devotion for 6 November 2022, Anno Domini

 

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity

 

The Collect.

G

 

RANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

 

            This Collect is the last to be taken from the Sacramentary of Gelasius to be used by Cranmer in the Book of Common Prayer. The Archbishop made only one notable change in substituting the word ‘pardon’ in the place of ‘indulgence.’ Being a man mindful of those ‘acquired’ meanings which words can take upon themselves that differ from the original through practical use. Indulgence was too closely related to a repugnant and erroneous means Rome used to squeeze money from her adherents. 

 

            GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace. Who, among the peoples of the world, are beneficiaries of pardon and peace? It is only those who are the faithful people of the Lord as clearly elucidated in the prayer.  We are pardoned through the blood of Jesus Christ, and we receive that peace which surpasses all understanding in our hearts thereby.   And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)  The peace of the Christian is not a peace from the noise and tumult of the world, but an inner peace that is granted IN SPITE of that noise and tumult of the world. It is a peace, as the above verse avers, of the heart and mind and that only through Jesus Christ.

 

            There is a beautiful hymn entitle ‘Blessed Quietness’ or ‘Joys are Flowing Like a River’ that gives an excellent summary of that quiet comfort given by faith in Christ. 

 

Blessed Quietness

 

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

Blest assurance in my soul!

On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,

And the billows cease to roll.

 

 In the above refrain, note Christ speaks in the midst of the storm. He speaks peace to our HEARTS, not to the sea. It is when this peace is transported to the heart that the sea billows cease to roll. They are no longer threatening to the child of God. There is no other way whereby we may be cleansed from our sins except by pardon of Christ and the attendant peace which that pardon grants. 

 

            Peace is not a result of surrender to the world, but a surrender to God. Once we have surrendered our sin-burdened hearts to Him, the battle ceases, and the battlefield is hushed and quiet. 

 

            “…and serve thee with a quiet mind” How do we serve with a quiet mind, and what IS a quiet mind?  There are a number of salient virtues of Anglican worship which are not characteristic of most of the mainline denominations – virtues such as a reading of much greater numbers of Scripture texts based on the Reformed Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer. But another virtue of Anglican and biblical worship is the great reverence demonstrated both before, during, and after our worship services. In the Anglican service, the people gather quietly and unobtrusively as they enter the very doors of the church. There is no show of gossip or chatter in our foyers. The worshippers take their pews in an attitude that will be conducive to a reverence in both worship AND attitude. The worshippers often kneel as if they are coming before God personally, and surely they are if the counsel of Christ is believed: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) We gather at church for one purpose, and one purpose only: to worship and reverence the Lord. If the President of the United States were to attend our services, would we gather outside the sanctuary and chatter as neighborhood gossips, or respectfully enter on our best behavior? Christ is a far greater dignitary than any earthly potentate! Do we recognize this fact?

 

            At the conclusion of the service, we do not follow the modern fad of hugging, and kissing, one another and telling them how much we love them. There will be opportunity for this in the fellowship hall. Once the last prayer is spoken, the worshippers remain in silent meditation until the candles are extinguished and a respectful silence is observed. This is Anglican worship and it differs from every other church of which I am familiar (unless we might add the beauty and dignity of the traditional Lutheran service). 

 

            Can you see the quiet beauty evidenced in this form of worship? We have a Prayer Book for a reason. That reason is to keep us reverent and respectful in the presence of the Lord during our worship of Him. We are kept from innovating and from adding worldly additions by either officiant or worshipper. This form of worship has existed since long before our Savior came bearing gifts of mercy, grace, truth, and salvation; in fact, from ancient Israel. Dare we sell out in order to satisfy the modern trend toward ‘informality?’

 

            I will quote an anonymous source whose words seem to beautifully illustrate the beauty of that Godly quietness enjoyed by God’s chosen people at every place and at all times: “The dew which so bountifully baptizes the flowers and grass, on quiet summer evenings, does not distill in wind and storm. So the dews of grace come down on calm and trustful souls. If we would receive the Holy Spirit of which the dew is an emblem, we must abide in patience and prayer, down low, as the grass waits for the dew.”

 

            I will quote another source that is not anonymous: Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. (Psalm 107:30) Do we come to church to know God better? Then heed this counsel: Be still, and know that I am God  ((Psalms 46:10) 

 

Perhaps we would profit to remember this admonition next time we approach the sanctuary for worship. Will you?

The curse of Balaam - a Devotion for 4 November 2022, Anno Domini

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UT I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.  (Revelation 2:14)

            

            Just who was Balaam, and what was his role in God’s dealing with Israel? Balaam was a pagan prophet who prophesied truly on the words of the Lord on one occasion. He was greedy and cunning. He convinced King Balak to put a stumbling block before the Children of Israel in order to invoke the wrath of God against them. On a lighter note, the argument could be made Balaam was a member of the democrat party since his sole conveyance was a donkey.

            

            A detailed account of Balaam can be found in Numbers 22-24. In this brief devotion, I will only touch on two significant highlights – the prophecy of Balaam according to God’s command, and the treachery of Balaam in the demoralization of the Children of Israel.

            

            Though a greedy and false prophet, Balaam did hear and proclaim the prophecy that  the Lord told him  to pronounce to King Balak concerning the people of Israel. After much pleading by King Balak to curse Israel, Balaam stood up and prophesied thusly: “15 ¶And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. * 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.” The Star of Christ did arise and led the Magi to His very bedside.

            

            Though Balaam did, indeed, prophecy truly as the Lord had spoken, his heart of greed and avarice was not changed. Jude speaks of him in this wise: “11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. Jude 11 This verse amply describes Balaam’s character of greed. But what does the Book of Revelations mean in referring to the “doctrine of Balaam?” It was two-fold. Balaam taught King Balak an insidious means of causing Israel to lose their blessing of God. These are listed below:

 

1.     Balaam taught Israel to sacrifice to idols and turn from God (the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols).

 

2.     Balaam taught Balak to present a fleshly temptation before Israel to sleep with the Midianite women (fornication). “14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.” (2 Peter 2:14-15)

 

Until Israel returned to God after these sins and diversions, God refused to bless them. So, what does that bit of biblical truth have to do with us today? Are we not worse than Israel in going after strange and perverse flesh? Have we not turned to other gods in sacrificing our children to them in abortion mills, and those who survive in the mother’s womb are they not given over to every immoral teaching in the public schools?

            

Today is the time for national prayer and repentance for our beautiful and once-favored nation. It is high time to be spiritually awakened – and not WOKE -  to the dire danger facing us and our children. Once God brings down the hammer of Judgment, the circumstance is not easily reversed.

            

Let’s get Balaam out of our schools, out of our governments, out of our society at large, and out of our homes, or else suffer the consequences of those nations of the past whose monuments have long been covered with the drifting sands of time.

The fool hath said in his heart - a Devotion for 2 November 2022, Anno Domini

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O the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  (Psalm 14:1-3)

 

            The story is told in a 18^th century book I have of English Church humor concerning a sermon given there:

 

            Bishop Godson of the north of England had a speaking engagement at a chapel some distance removed from his local diocese. He chose as his text, the 1^st verse of the 14^th Psalm – ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.’ Upon completion of his sermon, the good bishop stood by church door with the vicar to greet congregants as the left. But none remarked on the bishop’s message. Out of some bewilderment, the bishop asked an elderly congregant what he thought of his sermon. The gentleman responded, ‘Well, sire, I thought the sermon was well and good, but I disagree wi’ ye.’ ‘What do you mean, you disagree with me?’ the bishop asked. ‘Well. Sire, I tend to believer there be a God after all.’

 

            How many sermons are delivered from pulpits every Sunday that are of the same nature of that given above by Bishop Godson? There is too often an inclination on the part of ministers to preach above the congregation by using abstruse terms that the minister believes will lend sophistication to his sermons. Of course, this misses the mark of his office. Our Lord always taught in simple terms, often using word pictures and parables, that was understood by every listener in His audience. Seeking sophistication in preaching is both foolish and unprofitable.

 

            Our Lord Jesus Christ often sat down as He taught. He spoke in common terms and in a balanced voice – never shouting or prancing about. He never spoke in a tongue not understood by His audience. In summary, He spoke in the language and terms used by the common people.

 

            But our text above applies much more than to simple sermon delivery. It is the fool that questions the reality of A God in Heaven. He is unable, or unwilling, to think for himself using reason and logic. He is victim to every fad and sensation being promoted by modern society in academia, entertainment media, or news reporting that has an agenda.

 

            God has placed us among an amazing variety of resources – all intended for our good. He is the First Cause and the Intelligent Designer behind all of Creation. Modern research is not needed to prove the existence of God – it descends from common sense and faith; however, recent scientific advances in biology, archaeology, and geology have left little possibility that any part of our Creation could have occurred by random chance. 

 

            Far more faith is required to believe that all the earth, stars, and heavens could have been created from nothing than by the Hand and Word of God. Nor could the intricate workings of cell design and DNA have occurred by some ridiculous combination of mixed elements and compounds. In spite of all their presumed knowledge, scientists can neither create nor explain life or define precisely the nature of Light itself. They proclaim the end of the world in two decades due to Global Warming while they are yet unable to forecast rain or sunshine one week from today. They claim to know precisely when life began, yet they are unable to make a flea. 

 

            There is no reasonable or logical explanation for what we see in our world of Creation other than a Creator and an Intelligent Designer. WE have our eyes and ears to observe the wonders of nature, and we have the infallible Word of God to reveal the truth of Genesis 1 and 2.

 

All Saints Day - a Devotion for 1 November 2022, Anno Domini

  

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ND after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.  (Revelation 19:1-5)

 

            This is the day we observe following Reformation Day. From a spiritual point of view, our genealogy is an important matter to consider. All Saints Day helps to bring into focus the greater spiritual descent from our spiritual Father Abraham as opposed to that legal descent from the bondage of Hagar. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:23-29)

 

            If we are the children of the faith who have believed in that Promised Seed of Abraham, then are we the elect of God. There are many who are descended from Abraham’s bloodline who remain lost and under the law. 

 

            All Saints Day calls to remembrance the Church Victorious. All saints (true believers in Christ) from Abraham to today we remember in love and gratitude. We remember their testimony as well as their good works and try to emulate their good example. Those good works are on deposit beyond the Gates of Splendor. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:13)

 

            All Saints Day is a good time to remember our loved ones who died in the Lord, and all the great Christian men and women who lived before us including, for the Anglican Orthodox Communion, such saints as Bishop James Parker Dees, Mrs. Betty Hoffman, Mrs. Arwyn Dallis, and Mr. Dick Schoenmann (plus a plethora of other dear souls of years gone by).

 

            The saints we commemorate on All Saints Day were by no means perfect men and women in righteousness, but men and women whose faith annulled every desire to sin with intention. Their faith was strong to lead them in the paths of righteousness while still depending upon the mercy and grace of God to sustain them in their frailty. May many more such Christians be spawned in these latter days of the Church.