241103 AOC Sunday Report
Worldwide Communion
Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
Sunday Report
The Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity – October 20, 2024
Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity Propers:
The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.
The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.
The propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saint’s instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent. The Propers for today are found on Page 222-223, with the Collect first:
The Collect for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
The Epistle for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity. The Epistle. Philippians iii. 17.
BRETHREN, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed unto the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.
The Gospel for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity. The Gospel. St. Matthew xx. 15.
THEN went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
On Point
Someone asked, where do the quotes come from? The answer is from the people who uttered them. But, how did you find them? Oh, that. Some from Bishop Jerry, others from Rev. Geordie and many from Rev Bryan Dabney and a few from other places.
Rev. Geordie Menzies-Grierson – England (right)
Points to Ponder:
Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:151
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is
cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Proverbs 11:17
For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the
LORD is our king; he will save us.
Isaiah 33:22
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD,
the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
Amos 5:14
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth.
St.
Mark 9:23
Sin is a renouncing of Him who
made me. It is refusing Him His right to govern me. It is the determination to
please myself; thus, it is rebellion against the Almighty. Sin is spiritual
lawlessness, and utter disregard for God’s authority. It is saying in our
hearts: “I care not what God requires, I am going to have
my own way; I care not what be God’s claim upon me, I am going to be lord over
myself.” Reader, do you realize that this is how you have lived?
Arthur Pink - Repent or
Perish
For Our Country
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our
heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people
mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable
industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and
confusion; from the pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our
liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brough hither out
of man kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in
thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and
peace at home, and that through obedience to thy law, we may show fort thy
praise among the nations of the earth. IN the time of prosperity, fill our
hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble suffer not our trust in
thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
1928 Book of Common Prayer
We are not fundamentally free; external circumstances
are not in our hands, they are in God’s hands, the one thing in which we are
free is in our personal relationship to God. We are not responsible for the
circumstances we are in, but we are responsible for the way we allow those
circumstances to affect us; we can either allow them to get on top of us, or we
can allow them to transform us into what God wants us to be.
Ostwalt Chambers – Conformed
to his image p. 354
The great point of Abraham’s faith in God was that he
was prepared to do anything for God.
Ostwalt Chambers – Not Knowing
Whither.
In
the gospel there is a salve for every sore, and a remedy for every malady.
There is no spiritual disease, but there is power in Christ for the cure of it!
Matthew Henry
When persecution of free
speech comes it always comes against the people that have the religious
absolutes, because that’s what threatens people’s freedom to sin.
John MacArthur
Be
not anxious! Earthly possessions dazzle our eyes and delude us into thinking
that they can provide security and freedom from anxiety.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Good friends are among our
greatest blessings – they may keep us back from much evil, quicken us in our
course, speak a word in season, draw us upward, and draw us on.
J.C.
Ryle
Be not anxious! Earthly
possessions dazzle our eyes and delude us into thinking that they can provide
security and freedom from anxiety.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Good friends are among our
greatest blessings – they may keep us back from much evil, quicken us in our
course, speak a word in season, draw us upward, and draw us on.
J.C.
Ryle
If God’s love for his children is to be measured by our health, wealth,
and comfort in this life, God hated the apostle Paul.
John Piper
Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail-his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world. David Wilkerson
Did we ever love the Lord before
He first loved us? No, we could not – it was an act of the Lord and not of the
chosen: “We love him, because he first
loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Bishop Jerry Ogles – Reason for Love-pp. 79-80
Jerry
Ogles
Presiding Bishop
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
We are fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the Collect and sermon notes.
Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:
Bishop Ogles has a You Tube Channel that is free to subscribe: all of his
Video’s by
Bishop Jerry Ogles for the Week of Trinity 22 and 23
The Names of Jesus Series: The Redeemer
Click
link below to view and listen:
The 39 Articles of Religion Series: Article 22:
click below to listen
A wonderful reading by Bishop Ogles: Abel the First Preacher
Sermon for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity –
Bishop Jerry Ogles
Based on the Gospel Lesson for the Day – (Matthew 22:15-22)
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Prayer of Collect
O GOD, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
It may seem odd that I lead off with a passage from Hebrews that seems far removed from today’s lectionary Epistle and Gospel; but bear with me – there is a close relationship between these three texts and the Prayer of Collect. All parts of Scripture are related to one another for they all tell One Story.
We lost our natural citizenship in Paradise with the Fall of Adam; yet God has provided a means for our becoming naturalized citizens (adopted) into the Kingdom of Heaven through our redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The message of today’s Gospel text from the Gospel of St Matthew 22 relates to images – the first of Caesar, and the second of God. Genesis 1:26-28 tells us that God made man and woman in His own image – male and female. Our first parents bore a precise likeness to their Father and Maker. However, due to their fall from grace in disobedience, that image was badly marred. The point is essentially this: do we bear the image of Caesar, or of God today? That is the most important question we can ever ask ourselves.
Citizenship mandates loyalty and obedience to one’s government. To whom do we bear loyalty and allegiance to worldly government, or to the government and kingship of Christ. The answer to that question will determine where we spend eternity when the curtain falls on this life. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:17-21 “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” We all have a god of some form or another – either the unholy desires of the world, or those of the coming Kingdom of which we seek citizenship and whose Monarch is the King of Kings.
Are we naturalized citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, or do we remain in the world of lost and dying souls? Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son of the Father who, through His sacrificial death, has enabled us to become adopted sons and daughters of the Most High God. Though we must endure this world and witness her sinful ways, we are not part of this world for we seek after a better country whose Sovereign is God. We are pilgrims in this world and, as pilgrims, we travel lightly without undue attachment to worldly treasures. We may have become on a tourist visa out of curiosity; but then, we obtain a resident permit that enabled us to enjoy the fruits of the Kingdom for a time, but not as full-fledged citizens. Those are they who bear only a material or social interest in Christ’s Church. But the naturalized citizen must love his newfound Kingdom and be ready to suffer, or even die, in its defense. This is the meaning of Paul’s description of the pilgrim of Hebrews 11.
In our Gospel text from Matthew, our Lord is exposed to the subtle words and temptations of those who claim to be righteous, but are thoroughly evil in their hearts – the Pharisees (or major ministers of the day).In their attempt to entrap Jesus in His own words – which always failed – they asked Him if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Jesus demanded that they show Him the tribute money – which was a denarius bearing the image of Caesar. Jesus asked whose image the denarius bore? When they responded “Caesar.,” Jesus responded “Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” At that response, His enemies were astounded and left in that astonishment. Jesus had turned their argument against them; but its meaning bears significance to us today in our time. Whose image do we bear – that of God, or of the worldly kingdoms?
A full vested citizens has the right to petition His King for grievances – that is the right of prayer set forth in today’s Prayer of Collect – and it is the purpose of all prayer. We pray for those things granted by God that will strengthen and improve our rolls as images of god.
The coinage of the world bears the likeness of its issuing authority. Though it is necessary for us to obey the laws of a nation, it is more important to obey the Law of God and reflect His likeness in our dealings with others. But do we do that. Have we instead adopted the values of the world and forgotten the reverence we owe the Creator of the Universe? Even our church have adopted worldly, man-centered, worship. We have distorted biblical doctrine, adopted the social values of the world, and even its music. Shame on those who profess with their mouths Christ as Lord, yet follow the ways of the world.
Many years ago, I was asked by a young member of this church why we did not sing the songs of many other youthful groups. I then took some of those kindergarten type songs that are being promoted even in adult churches and compared their doctrinal meaning to hymns such as ‘O Worship the King’. We could find more than twenty-two biblical statements in the latter and seldom no more than one, if any, in the former.
An Army chaplain attended our services a few years back – major in rank. He enjoyed the service but suggested we sing more songs of a ‘rock’ nature. I explained to him the same ideas just mentioned and added that most of our youth of that type could play classical violin, piano, of some other instrument and never complained of our traditional hymns of praise and worship. He did not return.
Whose image do you bear today – that of Caesar, or of God?
Yves
M. Méra,
Presiding Bishop
AOC France Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide
We are fortunate to have a sermon from the Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Orthodox Church of France and the Administrative Coordinator of Europe and Africa. As you will read, he is an excellent writer. The sermon is easy to read and provides much insight.
SERMON for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
Philippians 3:17-21; Matthew 22:15-22
GOD OR CAESAR?
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Jean de La Fontaine, in his fable entitled “The frog who wanted to make himself as big as the ox”, takes up and updates a text by Aesop that exposes the risk and ridiculousness of wanting to trap something more important than oneself. At the end of the fable, the frog bursts like an over-inflated balloon, by dint of having swollen itself in order to reach the size and stature of the ox. This inclination to take oneself for more than what one really is is common to all eras: to our own, to that of La Fontaine (17th Century) as well as to that of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees of his time believed that they were bringing to reason a freelance preacher who was not a member of their brotherhood. This competition seemed dangerous to them, as much as it was unpleasant to them.
Obviously, they did not know who they were dealing with... They believed themselves to be champions of Mosaic spirituality, and thus capable of confounding any opponent and taking away from him the desire to continue or to begin again, by humiliating him before His disciples. It was a bad thing for them, because they were only puny creatures attacking a character much more important than themselves: God the Creator Himself! In truth, they were deceived by the modesty and humility of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:7-8): "He emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like human beings. Recognized as a simple man, he humbled himself by showing obedience unto death, even death on the cross." And in the end, He catches them in their own trap and turns the situation to His advantage. This is why Paul writes to us (Romans 12:16): “Live in full agreement with one another. Do not aspire to what is high, but let yourself be attracted by what is humble. Don't think you're wise.”
Here is the scene as Matthew describes it (Mathew 22:15): “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.” The Pharisees hide in the shadows to plot against Jesus, for they prefer darkness to light: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:9-12).
(v. 16): “… And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians.” The Pharisees are courageous, but not so foolhardy as to present themselves before Our Lord Jesus Christ. Sensing the risk they might run in confronting Christ, they send their second-knives to Him, thinking that He will not distrust them. And who are the Herodians? These are the followers of King Herod, set up by the Romans to control Judea. In 1940-43, they would have been called collaborators, always ready to denounce the Resistance, the enemies of the occupier. Here, the Herodians are sent by the Pharisees who otherwise hate them, in the hope that they will not hesitate to report to the Roman authorities any incident or statement questioning the Roman occupation.
This little company comes to Jesus “... saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.” They try to lull Jesus' vigilance to sleep, by running the polishing brush over his back. Their opening statement commits Jesus to naivety, inviting Him to disregard the party to which they belong. They who lie incessantly, like their satanic master, now urge Jesus to tell them the truth. But Jesus is Christ, and they pretend to be ignorant of Him. They pretend, because if they did not know that Jesus is Christ, the Messiah promised to Abraham and all his descendants, why would they seek to entrap Him as a pretext for condemnation and execution by the Romans? Simply, their hearts are not ready to welcome their Messiah, because their pride has turned their hearts of flesh into hearts of stone. However, it can be believed that the Pharisees are afraid of weakening in their pride, since they hide and send minions instead of themselves.
And these underlings are charged with a seemingly banal commission, but more serious than it seems, in fact. They come to ask Jesus a tricky question. This question is found in Matthew's Gospel text: “Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” (v. 17). The wording is bizarre for indeed, paying the tax is a legal obligation, even if it is the Roman occupier. But then they ask Jesus if the Law of Moses allows us to pay taxes to a foreign power. Let us read Jeremiah 12:6-7: “For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee. I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.” Yes, God handed over His chosen people to the Roman enemies of Israel, because they did not listen to His prophets and mistreated them. Since the days of Jeremiah, they have not changed.
And here's the catch: The question is closed and only admits YES or NO as an answer. Is Jesus going to put the Law of Moses—the Law of God—above Roman law, or not? If he does so by answering NO, then his account is done: He places Himself on the side of the Resistance to the occupier, and he may be handed over to the Roman judge who will condemn Him for rebellion. The Herodians stand there, watching over. And if Jesus answers YES, then He becomes a collaborator with the foreign occupier, the enemy of God and of the Jewish people, His people, the people He came to save from their sins by giving His life for them. He would then lose all authority over the people He loves, and His apostles would abandon Him to His fate after rejecting Him, and His story would have ended there.
Let us read Jesus' answer: “But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?” With His first answer, Jesus turns the tables by answering their burning question with another, even more burning question for them! He unmasks them from the outset, and does not hesitate insulting them as they deserve by calling them hypocrites. Not all anger is reprehensible unless it lasts. Jesus is seized with holy anger here in reaction to their unworthiness, for, unlike the Roman soldiers who will nail him onto a cross, they know very well what they are doing. They suspect that Jesus has miraculous divine power and that He is at least a prophet, at least equal to all the prophets who preceded Him and whom the Israelites all slaughtered. In Matthew 23:29-35, Jesus reminds the Pharisees very explicitly: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.” And not only does Christ insult them, as if to prepare them for His official answer to their trick question, but He proves them to be hypocrites by making them say what they should not have said.
Now comes Jesus' second question: “Shew me the tribute money.” A tribute is a tax levied by a foreign power – in this case, the Romans. In fact, the Romans did not bother with complicated exchange rates; they demanded that the tribute be paid to them in Roman imperial coinage. However, the Pharisees, who boasted here and there of their ritual purity, considered Roman coinage to be impure since it bore the image of Caesar - an idol - and made all who touched it impure. But the curiosity of Jesus' enemies leads them to sin: “... And they brought unto him a penny.” Notice that Jesus does not ask "give me a penny and I will show you something"; He only asks to see a Roman denarius. He doesn't touch it, even with the tip of his finger. Naively, the disciples of the Pharisees take one out of their purse, which connotes them as collaborators with the Romans and unclean! They are caught in their own trap! Red-handed!
Jesus now has the upper hand over His opponents, and He leads the discussion to His advantage, by successive stages, by asking one question after another; this is His third question: “And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?” This is not a tendentious interpretation, but a simple observation, in the presence of witnesses. “They say unto him, Caesar's.” Horror, hell and damnation! Here they are, caught at fault, and in flagrante delicto! It would have been smarter to say to Jesus, “We don't know.” But they had no excuse like the blind Bartimaeus, whom Christ healed on the road to Jericho. They were not blind, and the thing was only too obvious; it could no longer be hidden: this Roman denarius was to burn their hands, like a foretaste of Hell! And for good measure, the truth comes out of their own mouths, for before God it is impossible to lie: He knows all, sees all, hears all. Before Christ, they confess, as we confess our sins every night before our Lord, asking Him to forgive us, and promising to make every effort not to do them again.
(v. 21): “Then he said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and those that are God's.” In archaeological excavations in Egypt, terracotta bowls have been found, engraved with primitive Hebrew letters. These are bowls used by the Hebrews during the four centuries when they were slaves of the Pharaohs. Each one had its bowl marked with its name, like the Breton earthenware bowls from Quimper, even today. Note that the Hebrews were not illiterate—and from the time of Moses, all the boys read a passage from the Torah for their Bar Mitzvah—and so they were able to recognize their name, inscribed on a bowl. The same goes for herds of cattle and sheep: all were marked with a sign specific to their owner.
By the way: Who do you wear the brand of? Christ's, through baptism, or the Adversary's? (Revelation 7:2-3): “Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, holding the seal of the living God, and he cried aloud to the four angels who had commanded to harm the earth and the sea, [and said] unto them, Do not harm the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees; until we have marked the servants of our God on their foreheads”... Do you wonder why at baptism the baptized person is marked with the sign of the cross on his forehead? It's just an application of God's Word, even though not all churches do it. On the other hand, those who have the mark of the beast have received it willingly (Revelation 13:16): “... all, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, took a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads”; But further on, I read “... a malignant and dangerous ulcer attacked men who had the mark of the beast, and those who worshipped its image” (Revelation 16:2); “But the beast was taken, and with it the false prophet who had done before it the wonders by which he had deceived those who had the mark of the beast, and who had worshipped his image; and they were both cast alive into the lake burning with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 19:20). Admit it, it's enough to shudder... It is better to fear God than the devil! “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” says King Solomon (Proverbs 9:10).
But let's go back to our text from Matthew's Gospel: (v. 21-22): “Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” The reasonable simplicity of Jesus' frank and direct response expounding verifiable and verified truth surprises the twisted minds that wanted to twist Christ and set a death trap before Him. Frankness and clarity are not in their habits, to the point that they do not dare answering. They are bamboozled into their own trap. Indeed, if they answer for themselves, they risk the same fate that they wanted Jesus Christ to suffer: death, that is. Let us remember that they are only envoys of the Pharisees. They don't master all their science. They would therefore rather be silent than make their case worse, and return to their masters, to consult with them as to the right answer to give Christ. The Pharisees must have been sorry that they did not have the courage to go themselves; no doubt they would have had more repartee than their disciples. But the time for Christ to die on the cross had not yet arrived.
Therefore, “When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.” In the absence of clear instructions as to how they should react in such a situation, they abandon the battlefield and the struggle, like Satan after the Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness: “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.” (Matthew 4:10-11).
My friends, we who have been sealed with the seal of the Lord at our baptism and educated in the Bible, we do know how to respond to Satan with God's Word. We answer him, like Jesus Himself: “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Is that how you do it? Amen.
Rt. Rev. Yves Méra, AOC Bishop of France.
Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi - Sunday Sermon
We are fortunate to have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon. If you want people to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, espouse the truth and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I commend it to your careful reading.
Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
Awhile back, I saw a chart detailing the differences between the Law of Moses and the Grace of God via Jesus Christ. This chart was taken from a tract entitled Law vs. Grace by George and Donna Brady and Steve Roberts. The items were arranged in a columnar format with the points regarding the Law on one side, with those for Grace on the other. Each item was written in clear and concise language making it an effective teaching tool for both gospel preachers and Christian educators. Let us examine the chart’s particulars:
Law: came through Moses.
Grace: came through Jesus Christ.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (see St.
John 1:17).
Law: requires perfect performance. Grace:
is based on Christ’s performance.
For whosever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is
guilty of all. (St. James 2:10). For if by one’s man’s offence death
reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift
of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17).
Law: kills. Grace: gives life.
...for the letter [of the law] killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (II Corinthians 3:6).
Law: shuts every mouth before God. Grace: Opens every mouth to praise God.
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be guilty before God. (Romans 3:19). But by him [Jesus Christ] therefore let us offer the sacrifices of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15).
Law: put a great distance between God and man. Grace: reconciles us to God.
Therefore the LORD God sent him [Adam] forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken(Genesis 3:23). Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature... 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ... (II Corinthians 5:17-18).
Law: written on stone. Grace: written on our hearts.
And he [the LORD] declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. (Deuteronomy 4:13). Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. (II Corinthians 3:3).
Law: not based on faith. Grace: is through faith.
The law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. (Galatians 3:12). For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: 9not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Law: Does not justify. Grace: Justifies us.
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 2:16a).
Law: Has an end. Grace: has no end.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4).
Our Articles of Religion (BCP pp. 603-611) cover much of what has been discussed. Article XI states in part that, “We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith and not for our own works or deservings.” In actuality, our sinful natures have rendered us powerless to stand and justify ourselves before a righteous and holy God. As St. Paul noted in his epistle to the Romans: 10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one... 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God... 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested... 22by faith... 24being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (3:10-25). Further on in Romans, he stated, 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:33-34). Without a doubt, our Anglican fathers embraced the concepts of “justification by faith alone, in Christ alone” based upon these and other passages of Scripture.
Consider also the words of the apostle John who noted in his first epistle: 4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This is he that came by water and the blood... And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth...9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself...11And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (5:4-11). As we have received Christ, we also receive the Comforter who witnesses to us that we are in fact heirs with Christ in his glory (see Romans 8:16-17).
The law was a works-based system which God gave to the children of Israel as part of his covenant relationship with them. St. Paul tells us in his epistle to the Galatians: that the law …19was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made…. That seed was Jesus Christ who is our Mediator. 21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus... 29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (3:19-29).
As the Bible tells us, God provided the law to remind us of our sinfulness not our goodness. St. Paul affirmed such in his first epistle to St. Timothy when he wrote: 8But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, 9knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners... 10and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. (1:8-10).
Instead of seeking to justify ourselves, we ought to trust in him who justifies us through his own shed blood. God has provided the gift of redemption and reconciliation through his only begotten Son. His sacrifice has the power to wash away our sins and put us in good standing with God the Father. Sadly, many Christians do not possess such an understanding of this important tenet of our faith. The Devil would like nothing better than for each of us to abandon the biblical concept of justification and hop on his works-equal-salvation bandwagon. He has been hard at this game for a very long time, and he has persisted in its use because it was and remains a successful tactic. He would like nothing better than for as many Christians as possible to buy into his version of the Works Progress Administration so that he might get them to turn away from the truth of God’s word. And as the WPA failed in the 1930's, so too will this or any program, practice or the like, fail to save those who attempt to rely upon their works apart from Christ as a means of salvation.
C. S. Lewis once penned an excellent example of the above in the Screwtape Letters. “The real trouble about the set your patient is living in is that it is merely Christian. They all have individual interests, of course, but the bond remains mere Christianity. What we want, if men become Christians at all, is to
keep them in the state of mind I call Christianity And. You know — Christianity and the Crisis, Christianity and the New Psychology, Christianity and the New Order... If they must be Christians let them at least be Christians with a difference. Substitute for the faith itself some Fashion... Work on their horror of the Same Old Thing... [this] is one of the most valuable passions we have produced in the human heart— an endless source of heresies in religion, folly in counsel, infidelity in marriage and inconstancy in friendships.”
Think about how the modernists have altered the Parable of the Net— as the Rev. E. M. Bounds once noted— changing its dynamics so that their goal has become an effort to change the sea, not catch the good fish that are in it. And on this account, they have rejected the notion that there are good fish and bad fish in favor of saving every fish (see St. Matthew 13:47-50). They have also developed a set of doctrines which they refer to quite disarmingly as “customs and traditions.” But the mere fact that a set of practices and behaviors have been around for a long time hardly warrants their unqualified acceptance within any church. Even during the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry, the Pharisees had their own man-made traditions which often ran counter to what he had taught. Thus it should not be surprising that these demonically inspired cadres and teachers— who have been ever mingled with the true worshippers over the millennia— have endorsed such religious practices and tenets which have the appearance of biblical truth, but do not match up with such in verbum.
Regenerated Christians beware! Accept nothing but the unvarnished word of God as written, and not as interpreted by those who have the hiss of the serpent under their breath. If God’s word written has set forth the matter at hand, do not add to it or take away from it. Be a Berean. Search the Scriptures and compare, but do such in a prayerful manner. Pray for God’s Spirit to guide you. Remember, we work because we have been saved. We work because we have already received God’s free gift. And we labor because we are justified by Christ. For it is through him and him alone that our works have any meaning.
Let us pray:
O gracious
Father, grant to us such a measure of thy Spirit that we, ever growing in thy
love and service, will always give thee thanks for thy salvation through the
blood of thine only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and this we ask in his most
precious name. Amen.
Have a
blessed week,
Bryan+
Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Diocese of the Midwest Anglican Orthodox Church Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Sermon on the Gospel Lesson for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
The Epistle. Philippians 3:17-21 The Gospel. Matthew 22:15-22
O GOD, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns # 563, 625, 569
And How Shall We Follow?
15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way. (Matthew 22:15-22)
Isn’t it interesting what powerful messaging comes from so few verses? In just eight verses we learn several valuable lessons about Christian faith and how it pertains to everyday living.
A. Jesus knew that these two rival groups of Jewish intelligentsia had suddenly joined forces to try and trip up Jesus. First, they came at him with flattering words. They spoke of his truthfulness and that he taught the truth of God. Then they pointed out that he didn’t care what man thought about his teachings and he didn’t cotton to any person’s position in society. We do know that Jesus teaches the Truth of God and that he is not a respecter of anyone’s station in life. We are all the same in his eyes. Sinners in need of a Savior. “...for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Jesus knew the wickedness of their hearts and even called them out; “...why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?”
B. Now that Jesus has given them warning that he knows their motives, he then does the most marvelous job putting them in their place, not as a cruel lesson, but one filled with wisdom and simplicity. By using an object lesson, Jesus emphasizes the truth of his nature. When he asks for a coin he asks them to describe what is on it. Notice how he says it. “...Whose is this image and superscription?” There is no doubt as to who’s image is going to be found on the coin. All Caesars made sure that their image and a patron god or goddess was impressed on the coins of the realm. Then Jesus clinches the lesson. This is what we are to do. We are to give to Caesar those things which are his and we are to give to God those things which are His.
Notice that this is not about separation of church and state, quite the contrary, it is about being part of the society in which we live.
We are to taught that the Christian religion is no enemy of civil government. We are in fact not to live separately from the world. We are living in the world, but should not be part of the world.
This lesson is emphasized by the “salt and light” descriptions of our faith. We are to be in the world to season it with God’s Gospel message of Hope. And part of that “seasoning” is to give a clear example of what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. So what is required to the world {taxes, following regulations, etc.}, is to be carried out, but also understanding that Christ is, and will be, the wonder, not only of his friends, but of his enemies.
With Jesus using a rebuke of the intelligentsia by a simple illustration, lets us know that he who is on our side is far greater than all who are against us. And in spite of such a great lesson we will still see these folks walk away in their disbelief. They may admire Jesus wisdom, but will not be guided by it; his power, but will not submit to it. Of course this will be to their detriment and eventual destruction.
So out of this object lesson what do we as Christians need to understand?
1. Even in his simplest nature, Christ is greater than we are.
2. His wisdom is above anything we could contemplate.
3. We must follow his lessons and apply them to our everyday living as Christ-followers ie. Christians.
Let us pray for that wisdom and knowledge that is above this world in all ways. Let us prayerfully enter the voting booth this Tuesday with a desire for peace and calm in this land. Help those who seek peace at state and in the nations capital be successful in their bid to office.
ALMIGHTY God, who hast created man in thine own image; Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil, and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice among men and nations, to the glory of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O LORD Jesus Christ, who saidst unto thine Apostles, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; Regard not our sins, but the faith of thy Church; and grant to it that peace and unity which is according to thy will, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
Bishop Roy Morales-Kuhn
The Rev. Don Fultz
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC
located in the AOC National Office
We are grateful to have this sermon of for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity today from Rev. Don Fultz from St. Peter’s AOC, Statesville, NC.
Sermon for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity
Sermon: Matthew 22:15-22
In today’s gospel reading, we have another account of the first of several subtle attacks by the Pharisees against our Lord Jesus during the last days of his earthly ministry. The Pharisees felt their authority and influence over the Jewish people was being severely threatened by Jesus. They saw the influence and popularity Jesus was gaining among the Jewish sect in his preaching and miracles. They were determined to come up with a plan either to silence Him or put Him to death.
There were two ways they thought they could get revenge on Him and be rid of Him, either by law or by force. According to St. John, 18:31, The Jews did not feel they had the authority under Jewish law to put any man to death. So by law they could not do it, unless they could make Him offensive to the Roman government. By force they could not do it, unless they could get the support of the people by alienating Jesus and making Him look highly objectionable to them. Most of the Jewish people thought Jesus was a prophet.
In the passage, we find the Pharisees joining forces with another group of Jews called the Herodians in their plot against Jesus. These two groups were polar opposites in their view toward Rome, especially their taxation of the Jewish people. The religious group Pharisees objected strongly against paying anything to Rome, claiming it was a heresy to do so. They saw Rome as a stranger in their country and were in a state of denial that they were under the authority of Caesar, emperor of Rome. They refused to pay anything, except a Temple tax, which was paid in Jewish shekels.
On the other hand, the Herodians, a non-religious group of Jews were closely aligned to Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee who wanted closer and better ties with Rome. They supported Roman taxation and believed it only right that everyone pay taxes, including the tribute tax.
So the Pharisees developed this plan. First, they were going to try and flatter Jesus to get him off guard, and then ask Him a hard question about paying Tribute taxes. Their intent was to try to “entangle” Jesus to say something that could be used as condemnation against Him. They thought their scheme was fool proof. However, as we are told in these verses, their scheme entirely failed and in the end they all retreated in confusion and astonishment.
Furthermore, we are told in v. 16 that the Pharisees sent out their disciples with the Herodians with their Plan. (Note they sent out their disciples they didn’t go themselves). (They didn’t want to arouse any suspicion from Jesus).
Their first action was to flatter Jesus as told in v 16: When they addressed Jesus “Master,” they said, “we know that Thou are true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: For thou regardest not the person of men.” How well these Pharisees and Herodians spoke. Though what they said was true for the matter of it, yet there was nothing but flattery and treachery in the intention of it. They called Jesus “Master” when they were contriving to treat Him as the worst of enemies. They pretended respect for Him when they intended mischief against Him. They thought by good words and fair speeches they would throw our Lord off his guard. Their flattering words were like the Psalmist warns us about in Psalm 55:21: “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.”
All professing Christians should always be on guard against flattery. Satan has many evil weapons in his arsenal that can be used against us, and flattery is just one of them. Let us not be misled by someone’s kindness, when there is an alternative motive to try and trap us and deceive us.
Let us never forget this truth. There are many examples in the Old Testament to remind us, such as; What brought about the down fall and ruin of Sampson? It wasn’t the Philistine armies but rather the pretended love of a Philistine woman, Delilah. What led to King Solomon’s backsliding? Not the strength of his outward enemies but the gentle persuasion by his numerous wives who led him astray. Let us always be on guard against the flatterer. Satan is never as dangerous to the Christian as when he appears as an angel of light.
The second part of the plan was to ask Jesus a question about paying Tribute taxes. They thought they had a question, that no matter what Jesus answered, he would condemn himself. The question (v.17) “…Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”. Tribute taxes were not an income tax but more like a poll tax in which almost everyone had to pay to the Roman Government.
The conspirators thought there were only two possible answers. Yes, it is right to pay these taxes or no, it is not right. Either answer would condemn Jesus. If Jesus said it was right to pay the tribute, he would be accused of being a traitor to the Jews and of being in favor of the Roman occupation. This would alienate Him from all his Jewish supporters.
If Jesus were to say it was not lawful to pay the tribute, then he would prove he was against Rome. The Jewish leaders would be able to denounce Him to the Romans as a mover of sedition and as a rebel against Caesar, who refused to pay his taxes.
Then He could be handed over for trial and execution. But we see the marvelous wisdom of our Lord Jesus in the reply to his enemies about this question of Tribute in (v19-21). In (v19), He demanded to see the tribute money, and they immediately brought Him a penny. A Roman penny in silver was given to him.
These were the silver coins, with an image of Caesar on them, which were used to pay the tribute taxes. It was equivalent to about a days wage. There were also plain copper Roman coins which were used everywhere else, even in the temple at the money changers as many people did not trust the Jewish money. Jesus then asked in (v20) whose image and superscription was on the penny? And they responded in (v21) Caesar’s.
By this reply, they acknowledged that the Roman Emperor Caesar had authority over them, by using money bearing his image and superscription, since the rule was he that coins the current money is ruler of the land where that money is current. It is also a rule in the Jewish Talmud, that “he is the king of the country whose coin is current in that country. At once they received a conclusive answer to their question from Jesus when he said in (v21) “…Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s”. From thence, he inferred the lawfulness of paying tribute to Caesar. There was no offense given by Jesus in his answer. It was much to the honor of Christ and his doctrine that he did not interpose himself as a Judge or a Divider in matters of this nature but left them as He found them. The Roman government would have no reason to take offense at his answer, but to thank Him, for it would strengthen Caesar’s interest with the Jewish People.
As to the Jewish people, the Pharisees could not accuse him to them, because they themselves had admitted the good and lawful money of a country is an implicit submission to those powers, and an owning of them in money matters. We are told in V. 22, “When they had heard these words, they marveled and left him and went their way.”
There is a general principle laid down in Jesus well known words “…Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22: 21) First, there is one obedience owing by every Christian to the civil government under which he lives, under matters that are temporal, and not purely spiritual. We must have a structure, such as a government to administer and run the laws of the land. We cannot act as a society without some form of government providing for our public welfare, peace and security…otherwise we would have chaos! Also, we could not possibly manage to support the poor and the vulnerable without some system in place. We may not approve of every requirement of the government but we still must submit to the laws of the government in which we live.
Then it is only right that we pay taxes to that government for the support of those services. Israel at that time was under Roman rule but it was not all that bad. They had lost their independence but had also gained much. For example, they had roads, peace, and security. The Jewish church was allowed to keep going and people could still worship as they pleased. So it is right for people to pay taxes, using the coin with the government’s stamp on it for the services received. Just like St. Paul tells us in Romans 13:6 -7: “6For this cause pay you Tribute also; for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.” 7Render therefore to whom tribute is due; custom to custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whose honour.”
Second, there is an obligation which the Christian owes to God for all matters which are purely spiritual. This includes rendering to God both out of our time and financial resources. Yet while the laws of the land should serve to protect our human lives and human future, it does not and cannot support our spiritual life and spiritual future. That is the job of the Church: To support God’s people and teach them about Him; To work alongside the government to ensure it acts fairly, justly, and in accordance with God’s law.
In closing, so we give our taxes to the government and ourselves to God. There is no conflict in this until the government acts or forces people to act in a way contrary to God’s law or scripture. Then we must act in accordance with God’s law and scripture and not man’s. Sometimes this might be difficult…Christians are facing many challenges from civil authorities to some of our scripture doctrine today. However, we need to stand steadfast in our beliefs and always put God’s laws first. We must render “…unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen
Rev. Don Fultz
Rev Stephen Cooper Church of the Redeemer Fairbanks, Alaska
From time to time we are fortunate to receive a sermon from Rev Cooper in Fairbanks Alaska. The head of our northernmost church, Stephen is a brilliant and inspiring speaker. I wish we had video of him rather than just audio; but I am confident you will enjoy this. This sermon is for last week. Please take the time to listen to it.
Click below to listen to this wonderful sermon For the 22nd after Trinity:
https://youtu.be/O4xh6JqxY9I?si=2wRh-Exu7X2_MCyn
AOC Worldwide Prayer List –
I have received updates from a few and those will be the first added to the list. Please send all prayer requests and updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for future reports. If you would like to be removed from list just respond with remove in the subject line.
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu, Tom, Craig, Jim, Dotty, Jan Jessup, Steve, Josh Morley, Jennifer, AOC USA,
AOC Missions, Zach, Jess, Luke, Jacquie, Harper, Bishop Zephaniah, Jim Kniffen, Linda,
Prayer Needed:
Family/Friends of Jerry Audiss – mourning the loss of their beloved husband, father, brother, friend
Katie Pope – Just beginning treatment for Stage 4 Pulmonary Carcinoma “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
Mike Gettinger– heart related difficulties
Jim Sevier – God’s Peace in his life
Mauri Turner – Stomach Cancer
Charles Pittman – heart issues
Anne Lee – Lung Cancer – recent diagnosis
Colin Beall and daughter Lowery – each has a different type of cancer
Dallas Minner – man with possible breast cancer – tests this week
Thanksgiving- Brett Wydra has come off the ventilator, out of coma and out of ICU and recovering.
Extended Issues need continued prayer;
Laurie with long Covid Symptoms - Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing depression to settle in.
Malcom Allred – Cancer Treatment
Jim Kniffen – came out of surgery for Staph infection in knee replacement – will need 6 weeks IV Antibiotics to continue to defeat the Staph
Hurricane Helen Recovery
Please keep praying for all the people and towns affected by Hurricane Helene
All Those in Recovery from Hurricane MILTON
Pray for all those affected by Wildfires around the United States
Pray for the People of Spain affected by the flash floods in Valencia
Pray for Safe Elections and ongoing freedom for all Americans and USA to return to God
Comments
Post a Comment