Remembrance of Saint Mark superseding the Third Sunday after Easter- Propers with explanation - Rev Jack's Sermon

  

The Propers for today are found on Page 237-238, with the Collect first:

 

Saint Mark the Evangelist. [April 25.]

The Collect.

 

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 ALMIGHTY God, who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark; Give us grace that, being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

 

The Third Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

 

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LMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 

The Epistle for today came from Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the Fourth Chapter, beginning at the Seventh Verse.  

 

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NTO every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

 

Today’s Gospel came from the Gospel according to Saint John, the Fifteenth Chapter, beginning at the First Verse.

 

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 AM The true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

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. 

 

We are in the Easter Season which consists of Easter and the following four Sundays, through Rogation Sunday.  This is a time we should work on centering our lives on the central figure in our religion, Jesus Christ.  

 

Consider these words from the Collect:

 

… who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark; Give us grace that, being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord…

 

Today’s Collect is a bit different than usual, it starts with the statement the Church was left clear and correct doctrine by Saint Mark, and by inference the other apostles, on the doctrine of Christianity as laid down for them by God himself in the form of Jesus.  We are cautioned not to fall prey to those who would spread false, unique and appealing doctrine.  The various books of the Bible differ in minor details from each other, but on a macro or global level they are congruent or consistent.  We are not to chase our wake, but rather to follow a steady course making small and conservative corrections consistent with Scripture. No ‘interpretation’ can override the clear and simple meaning of Scripture.  For, once you start down that rabbit hole, there is no telling where you will end up.  There is no hidden meaning in Scripture which conflicts with the clear and simple meaning.

 

When Paul writes to the people of Ephesus[1], he continues his familiar instruction that God has a purpose[2] for each of us according to our God given talents.  None of us stands higher in His eyes than another, as each block in the arch is necessary to hold it fast.  He points out the one who has assigned these abilities is Jesus Christ Himself.  He says we must no longer be as children but mature individuals capable of setting a steady course.  I liken this to flying.  You set the aircraft in a particular attitude, wait and see what happens.  You make corrections to the attitude and power based on deviation from that which is desired, that is to say you check your performance against a standard and make appropriate corrections.  This is like our lives and Scripture.  No wild changes, no chasing our wake.

 

John records Jesus’ comparison of Himself to a grape vine, with each of us being branches, without Him, we cannot bear fruit, that is to say do good things.  If we fail to bring forth the fruit of His making, then the Father will prune us.  If we do well, then we will be rewarded; if not here, then in the real world.

 

As long as we stay close to Christ and feed our souls on Him, we will bring for that needed fruit.

 

Bearing fruit requires more than mere mouthing, for it is Action, not Diction, that counts.

 

When Jesus got ready to leave this world for His, He told the disciples that He would send them the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to keep them in Him and to help them understand what they had so far been unable to truly grasp.  Unless we allow the Holy Ghost to enter into our hearts, we will never understand that which is from God.  This is an important concept with messages that are not from God being bombarded across the world through principalities and powers of this world. Only the Holy Ghost can help us remain grounded within the truth. We need the Holy Ghost to enter into us that we might be able to hear the Word of God, and more important than just hearing the Word, we need the Holy Ghost to be able to act upon the Word. We must allow the Holy Ghost to enter in to our hearts and souls so we can understand what God has for us.  It is that simple.  Open your heart, pray for God to send Him into that open heart. 

 

For with the Holy Ghost’s help, you can hear, understand and act on The Word.

 

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

 

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

 

It is by our actions we are known!

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

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[1] Ephesus is located near the western shores of modern-day Turkey, where the Aegean Sea meets the former estuary of the River Kaystros, about 50 miles south of Izmir, Turkey.

[2] Everyone has a purpose in life, even if it is only to serve as a bad example.

The Servant’s Humility – 23 April 2021, Anno Domini

 

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EED the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.      (1Peter 5:2-7)

 

            To possess knowledge and wisdom in humility is the sum of Godliness in the minister of God. The text, taken from the Lectionary Epistle for today, reveals a number of stark characteristics to which we should all aspire as Christians – both lay and ordained. 

 

No man is permitted to minister lawfully in the Church unless possessed of the above attributes. The calling of God to preach must meet three prerequisites: 1) that God had called the man; 2) that the man possesses a certainty that he is called of God; and 3) that the Church recognizes the Call in the man’s life. This is consistent with the 23rd Article of Religion:

 

ARTICLE XXIII of the Articles of Religion of the Reformation Church of England:

It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of publick preaching, or ministering the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard. 

 

1.     TAKE OVERSIGHT

Just as Adam was given dominion over the care of the creatures that God created in love; so, must the learned, called of God, take oversight of those who lack knowledge and understanding of His Word to teach them. That duty is fulfilled in love and not by force. 

 

2.     NOT FOR FILTHY LUCRE

If the motivation to serve is not vocational, but occupational for profit, the man is not called to the ministry of God regardless the acclaim of the Church. Most ministers appealing to us for ordination come with first questions of salary, benefits, and fare lodgings - not desire to serve.

 

3.     EXERCISE AUTHORITY IN HUMILITY

Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. There is no such thing as a Godly dictator or despot. When love rules in the spirit of the disciple, force and coercion can never be part of the equation of service. Godly discipline and teaching is exercised in love and impartial judgment based on God’s Word AND Spirit.

 

4.     YOUTH SHOULD RESPECT THE ELDER

There was a time, still extant in the Christian heritage of America’s past, in which ‘yes, sir’ and ‘no ma’am’ were characteristic expressions of respect of youth for those of greater age. That respect still exists in our land, but to a diminishing circle. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.Decent society is not possible without respect of others.

 

5.     BE SUBJECT ONE TO ANOTHER

This is important in marriage as well as society in general. This quality is summarized in the 2^nd half of the Great Commandment: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:39)

 

6.     BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY

A besetting sin of many ministers and disciples (laypersons) emerge from the very success of their Godly service. Too many are lifted up in pride when many souls are reached through their ministry. They tend to forget that it is only God that saves and not man. They have not saved a single soul, but sown the seeds whereby fruit may arise, and pride places them in jeopardy of losing their own souls. Let the wise beware of this fault.

 

7.     CASTING ALL CARES UPON HIM

Simple counsel yet disregarded to the despair of many. We tend to trust God only so far. When a great heartache or danger arises, many panic contrary to the benefits of faith. . . . . greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

 

A word to the wise is sufficient.

 

The Thirty-Nine Articles - Article 1 - The Triune God – 23 April 2021, Anno Domini

 



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ND God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  (Exodus 20:1-3)

 

Our God is a Triune God – that is, He is, as Genesis 1 suggests, a singular/plural entity. The Elohim (used for God in Genesis 1) is of unusual grammatical character not to be found in English. It literally means a singular Godhead in a plural form – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. All three Persons of the Godhead act in unity of purpose and are of One Mind. Just as He brought the Children of Israel out of hard bondage in Egypt, He has brought His elect out from the bondage of sin and eternal damnation.

 

The Trinity was present on the first day of Creation of the old world, and the Trinity was present as well at the baptism of our Lord signifying the beginning of the new Creation in Christ: there was our Lord (who was baptized), the Holy Spirit (symbolized by the dove), and God the Father who spoke from Heaven. “16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

 

Article I of the Thirty-Nine Articles proclaims the very Foundation of our Faith in the Triune God. Just as all Persons of the Godhead are One with each other, so are all believers One in Christ (and One with the Father and the Spirit) in Christ Jesus. Being One with Him, we are One with all others of faith. There is no division of love or in Unity of Faith in the true Church of God. Division is caused by lack of knowledge.

 

I    Of Faith in the Holy Trinity 

There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 

 

            All doctrinal statements of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Reformation Church of England are abundantly supported by Holy Scripture. If we were to discover any Article at variance with Scripture, we would reject it; however, we have volumes of Scripture texts to support each Article. The Thirty-Nine Articles summarize our faith in the biblical narrative, and we adhere strictly to them as an expression of who we are in the ancient Anglican faith.

 

            St. Patrick (patron Saint of Ireland who was never Roman Catholic) had a gift to express grave matters in simple terms. We all may be familiar with the Shamrock (three-leaf clover) which proliferates in the Emerald Isle. It is comprised of a stem and three leaves. St. Patrick describe the Trinity by the shamrock. It is one plant (stem) with a head of three leaves – all serving the same purpose and nature of the whole – yet still one plant. This is a great illustration of our Trinity.

 

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HIS is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:6-7)

 

            Let no one disparage you by questioning the veracity of 1 John 5:6-7. It does not suit the modern Church to admit the profound truth of the Godhead since they must reduce and challenge the divinity of Christ at every point in their corrupt translations. The Globalist of Babel cannot reconcile their One-World Religion in the face of as Divine Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ keeps getting in the way – so, He must be reduced, in their fevered theology, to less than divine. Perhaps they would settle for a ‘good prophet’. But He is Prophet, King, and Lord – the Ancient Landmark and the Ancient of Days by whom all things were made. (see John 1:1-14)

On Eagles’ Wings – 22 April 2021, Anno Domini

 

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E have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:4-6)

 

What a wonderful illustration! The Lord God brought Israel out of Egypt with a strong, out-stretched arm. He baptized the entire nation in the Red Sea and both followed, and led, them in a Pillar of Fire by Night, and a Pillar of Cloud by day.

 

The Lord often compares His people and His works to that of an Eagle. The eagle flies higher than all birds, can see further, is fast and sure in its descent to the prey, eats only that which it kills, builds its nest on high.

 

We are told in Isaiah that the chosen one of God shall renew their strength as the eagle does. How is that? But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) Who does this mean? 

 

When in mid-life, the Eagle will often become depressed and linger in the valley until it can no longer fly or seek larger prey. He will eat insects and field mice to survive. But after long days of delay in the valley, one day the Eagle awakens to who he is. In disgust of himself, he leaves the valley, climbs the mountain slope back to his highland home on the rock. His beak has become coated with large chunks of calcium which he pounds against a stone until clear; he then pulls all of his feathers out. In the process of time, new and beautiful feathers appear, and the Eagle then soars on high where God intended him to be. 

 

The Christian life may be compared to that of the Eagle. There are times when life is hard and we feel as though we can no longer carry on. We sink into a valley of despair. But one day, we are reminded of our former joys in Christ. We bathe, comb our hair, dress in our best attire, and go out conquering the elements of life.

But why does the Lord use the term ‘On Eagles’ Wings, to describe how He brought the Children of Israel out of bondage? It is because the Eagle does not carry its young by its talons which are so strong that the young one could be crushed – the Eagle carries her young on her back as she flies. If the archer should shoot an arrow at the Eagle, the arrow would strike the mother Eagle first and spare her offspring.

 

This is a beautiful picture of how our Lord Jesus Christ suffered the pains of death for us – He died first that we might live last with Him in Eternity.

 

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (Acts 17:2,3)

 

If you are feeling despondent and sorrowful over that which you lack, consider that which you have that remains your heritage in Eternity. As long as life and faith continue, you will always have more than that which you lack – love, joy, assurance, salvation, inward peace, HOPE, etc.

 

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. (Heb 6:18,19)

Good Works or Grace to Save – 21 April 2021, Anno Domini

 



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HUS saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. ⁷And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. (Isaiah 44:6-7)

 

            All events in Heaven and on earth were foreordained by God to happen just as He commands, and at the very time He commands it. God has a plan for every one of His elect children chosen in Him before the Foundation of the world. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. ⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; ⁸Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; (Ephesians 1:4-8)

 

            The above texts are only a few that declare the absolute foreknowledge and purpose of God in calling His elect by grace through faith to everlasting life – there is no allowance for personal works or merit. This position also accords with the 17^th Article of Religion of the Reformation Church of England:

 

XVII Of Predestination and Election 

Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity. (first paragraph of the 17th Article)

 

Additionally, the 13^th Article rules out good works as meritorious of salvation:

 

XIII Of Works before Justification 

Works done before the grace of Christ, and the Inspiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ, neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or (as the School-authors say) deserve grace of congruity: yea rather, for that they are not done as God willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin.

 

            Both quotations from the Articles are consistent with the provisions of Romans 8: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30) This truth is repeated in Ephesians in which we are told that we are not saved by any good works (being dead in trespasses and sin) but rather UNTO good works. (see Ephesians 2:1-9) 

 

            But man, in his pride to achieve salvation by works, has been blinded to the brilliant Sun of Grace contained in Scripture and summarized in ourArticles of Religion. He cannot see that it is by grace and not of works by which we are saved. Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9) We are not saved by any goodness of conscience nor outward works of our hands, but by grace alone.

 

            What a blessed security the believer has in knowing that God chose him before the worlds were made; and what a joy to realize that Christ will lose not a single believer whom God has placed in His nail-scarred hands.

Hymns of the Church – The Sabbath Day was by – 20 April 2021, Anno Domini

 

 

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HE first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. (John 20:1)

 

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ARY stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:11:16)

 

            Though written with the poetic simplicity of a child, this hymn draws upon the deep springs of beauty and truth of the Resurrection of our Lord. In fact, this Easter Carol was written for children; but the innocence of a child’s mind does not required the extended arguments of learned theologians to see the simple truth. The author of the lyrics is Howard Chandler Robbins in 1929. The tune, entitled DEXTER STREET, was composed by Winfred Douglas especially for this hymn in early 1940.

 

The Sabbath Day was by

 

The Sabbath day was by,

The Light was in the sky,

When on the first day of the week

The Prince of Life drew near.

 

Sad Mary, dry thine eyes,

And cease thy woeful cries;

It is no gardener, but the Lord

Who brings thee glad surprise.

 

Simon, thy Lord knows all;

He doth forgive thy fall,

And sends thee forth to feed the sheep

That heed the Shepherd’s call.

 

So did the Lord draw near

To his disciples dear,

When he came back from death and hell,

And to them did appear.

 

Blest were the eyes of yore

That saw their Friend once more,

And blessed we, who have not seen,

But love Him and Adore.

 

            The Sabbath day was by, The Light was in the sky, When on the first day of the week The Prince of Life drew near. It was, indeed, early dawn on the first day of the week when Mary and the other women came to the opened Tomb; in fact, it was yet dark and the sun of Creation had yet to rise – but the Sun of Righteousness had certainly risen.

 

            Sad Mary, dry thine eyes, And cease thy woeful cries; It is no gardener, but the Lord Who brings thee glad surprise. In my opinion, this is the most wonderfully beautiful account of all concerning the resurrection. We learn the tender heart of Mary Magdalene from other scriptural accounts, and this present occasion of the empty Tomb reveals that beautiful heart to the highest degree. When Mary braved the darkness to come to anoint the body of Christ, and found the Tomb empty, she was overcome with grief. Looking into the Tomb, and blinded by her tears, she saw the great angel there who asked her, Woman why weepest thou – whom sleekest thou? When Mary expressed her anguish, the angel told her, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.  (Mark 16:6)The angel looked out from the Tomb at Mary and beyond. He must have smiled to see the very Person for whom Mary wept approaching her from behind. Mary had come seeking a dead body, but would soon find her ever-living Lord. Her tears blinded her, but when Jesus called her name, Mary knew that Voice just as every good lamb knows the voice of its shepherd. 

 

            Simon, thy Lord knows all; He doth forgive thy fall, And sends thee forth to feed the sheep That heed the Shepherd’s call. Yes, the Lord knows the secrets of every heart whether in sunlight or smothering darkness. Simon had boasted of his courage to stand for Christ and did, even, in the Garden of Gethsemane, prove that courage in severing the ear of one of the soldiers. But once Simon Peter was separated from the Lord, he melted like a leak in the storm. Christ had warned Peter (at Peter’s boast) that he would deny Him three times before the cock crew. Peter stood without the quarters of the high priest at the Lord’s arraignment there. He was recognized by some in attendance three times. On the last accusation, Peter denied his Lord the third time, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62) This stanza of the hymn points to the misery of Simon Peter those three days in which the Lord lay in the Tomb. What did the angel at the open Tomb tell the women who came early? 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. (Mark 16:7) This was the Lord’s way of letting Peter know that his failure of courage in denying Him was forgiven. Peter was the only disciple specifically named by the angel for that reason.

 

            So did the Lord draw near To his disciples dear, When he came back from death and hell, And to them did appear. Our Lord appeared numerous times in His resurrection body – to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who knew Him not until the breaking of the bread; twice to the disciples in their secret resort in Jerusalem;  to the disciples on the Galilean shore, and on other occasions. What joy must have filled their souls in seeing the risen Lord. Like many of us, they were slow to understand the very clear prophecies of Christ in the Law and Prophets, and the Lord’s own prophecy of His coming betrayal, death and resurrection.  But when they saw His resurrected body, all things fell into place in their understanding. I often wonder how little we place our trust in the sure Word of God just as these disciples did.

 

            Blest were the eyes of yore That saw their Friend once more, And blessed we, who have not seen, But love Him and Adore. For a surety, I tell you that we, too, shall see the same risen Savior as the men of Jerusalem and Galilee. We will not see Him once more but forever. We need a lesser faith than Abraham to believe since Abraham looked forward in faith to His coming; but we have the certainty of the historically recorded fact. Better than Job, we can say, as he said: 23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:23-27)

 

AOC Sunday Report - Second Sunday after Easter

  

Happy Second Sunday after Easter!

The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

There are excellent sermons from Bishops Jerry and Roy, as well as Revs Jack and Bryan. Jack's was delivered at a meeting in Williamsburg, VA at a meeting of like minded Christians, so the camera view is slightly different.  It can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

There are always a lot of people needing your prayer, this is just like every other week.  While we were on travel to Williamsburg, we stopped in to see Shamu on the way to the airport.  For a person who had had 30 surgeries and pulled her port out inadvertently that morning she is amazing.  So, start with her, Jim and Laurie and work out from there.

There is the usual dull, boring and pathetic week ahead, as well as an epic one. You choose.  Choose God's Help through the Holy Ghost.

I apologize for the late posting,  but between work and travel I had no time.

Godspeed,

Hap

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

United States of America