250330 AOC Sunday Report
Worldwide Communion
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Sunday Report
March 30, 2025
Fourth Sunday in Lent 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 130-131
The Collect for Fourth Sunday in Lent
& This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday (pg 124 BcP)
The Epistle for Fourth Sunday in Lent. Galatians iv. 21.
TELL me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her chil-dren. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the chil-dren of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
The Gospel for Second Sunday in Lent. St. John vi. I.
JESUS went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
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:
O my God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give
praise, even with my glory.
Psalm 108:1
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it
cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that he will not hear.
Isaiah 59:1
Patience and comfort suppose trouble and sorrow, but
each move us to seek the comfort of the scriptures which were written that we
might know what to hope for from God.
The Rev. Matthew Henry
Let us arm ourselves... with a thorough knowledge of
the Word of God. Let us read our Bibles more diligently than ever and become
familiar with every part of them. Let the Word dwell in us richly. Let us
beware of anything which would make us give less time, and less heart, to the
perusal of its sacred pages. The Bible is the sword of the Spirit— let it never
be laid aside.
The Most Rev. J. C. Ryle–author (Knots
Untied, p. 439).
Becoming unequally yoked with unbelievers in intimate and confiding friendships creates exposed positions of which the Devil takes great advantage. Partnership in business or the more sacred union of marriage with unbelievers is perilous to the believer in Jesus Christ... He and Christ cannot be joined in agreement. No unequal yoking, no fellowship, no communion, no agreement can exist. The result is contamination and impurity. The fruit of these voluntary close yokings is a weakened spiritual condition.
The Rev. E. M. Bounds– author (Guide to Spiritual Warfare, pp. 114-115).
O Thou Afflicted
~ J Grant ~
O Zion,
afflicted with wave upon wave,
Whom no man can comfort, whom no man can save;
With darkness surrounded, by terrors dismayed,
In toiling and rowing thy strength is decayed.
Loud roaring,
the billows now nigh overwhelm;
But skilful’s the Pilot who sits at the helm;
His wisdom conducts thee, his power thee defends,
In safety and quiet thy warfare he ends.
“O fearful, O
faithless!” in mercy he cries;
“My promise, my truth, are they light in thy eyes?
Still, still I am with thee; my promise shall stand;
Through tempest and tossing, I’ll bring thee to land.
“Forget thee
I will not, I cannot; thy name
Engraved on my heart does for ever remain;
The palms of my hands while I look on I see
The wounds I receivèd when suffering for thee.
“I feel at my
heart all thy sighs and thy groans,
For thou art most near me, my flesh and my bones;
In all thy distresses thy Head feels the pain;
Yet all are most needful; not one is in vain.
“Then trust
me, and fear not; thy life is secure;
My wisdom is perfect, supreme is my power;
In love I correct thee, thy soul to refine,
To make thee at length in my likeness to shine.”
We must have learned long ago in our childhood Bible school that there is not anything we must do to go to Hell. Hell is where we are headed the moment we are born into the world. If we simply do nothing, then we shall surely wind up in the fires of Hell. Similarly, there is nothing we can do to earn eternal life – it is a gift of God to those who believe. If you have believed upon the name of Jesus Christ, then you have responded to God’s call as His chosen and elect. Our good works will not keep us from Hell, nor earn for us an entrance into Heaven. But faith, responding to the Grace of God, will, indeed, gain for us such an entrance to Heaven.
All
comfort and all grace is from God. It is never earned, but comes ‘paid on
arrival.’ It is, as the Collect avers, a grant and not a wage. Thankfully, we
are not paid wages for our wages would result in a loss of grace. “For
the wages of sin is death;” (sin ALL have
sinned, I prefer to forgo the wages to which I am entitled, don’t you?)…. “but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23) It is so clear and simple, isn’t it? We have all earned our suite
in Hell, but God has made a free provision for us in His mansions on High
The Most Rev. Jerry L. Ogles; (from his collect
for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, 3-30-25).
Jerry Ogles,
Presiding Bishop
Metropolitan AOC 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 videos at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg
The Articles of Religion Video Series: Article 38
Click link: https://youtu.be/HzwyNT3bhmI
Ebenezer: The Rock of Acoma
Click link: https://youtu.be/zjkfLkMzeg4
KIND MAKER OF THE WORLD
a Lenten Hymn Devotion
“For thy Maker is thine husband; The Lord of hosts is his name; And thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” (Isaiah 54:5)
This ancient hymn composed by St. Gregory the Great (540-604) is a hymn for Vespers during Lent to the French tune, Jesu Dulcis Memoria, despite its Latin title. It celebrates not only the Sovereignty of God over all Creation, but also over the heart of the believer. It reminds us of our need to repent in light of that magnanimous sacrifice made in redeeming us of our bondage to sin.
Click here to watch and listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpNscW9THug&t=25s
KIND MAKER OF THE WORLD
Kind maker of the world, O hear
The fervent prayers with many a tear
Poured forth by all the penitent
Who keep this holy fast of Lent!
Each heart is manifest to thee;
Thou knowest our infirmity;
Now we repent, and seek thy face;
Grant unto us thy pard’ning grace.
Spare us, O Lord, who now confess
Our sins and all our wickedness,
And, for the glory of thy Name,
Our weaken’d souls to health reclaim.
Give us the self-control that springs
From abstinence in outward things;
That from each stain and spot of sin,
Our souls may keep the fast within.
Grant, O thou blessèd Trinity;
Grant, O unchanging Unity;
That this our fast of forty days
May work our profit and thy praise! Amen.
Kind maker of the world, O hear The fervent prayers with many a tear Poured forth by all the penitent Who keep this holy fast of Lent! This hymn is actually a prayer that can be sung to music – one which every believer can sing in heartfelt faith and contrition in light of this season preceding the Passion of Christ. Certainly, the tears of the saints are treasured by God when they are shed in repentance and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as Christ fasted for us during the forty days and nights following His baptism, surely the blessed of the Lord could fast forty days and nights prior to the observance of the coming Friday of His Passion at Calvary.
Each heart is manifest to thee; Thou knowest our infirmity; Now we repent, and seek thy face; Grant unto us thy pard’ning grace. There is nothing hidden from the notice of God – even the thoughts of our hearts. “ I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Those sins committed in darkness are revealed in the brightness of the sun to the Father, as well. But God understands our frailty in the flesh and is willing to forgive all who are drawn in repentance to the Throne of Mercy and Grace. He has never turned away any who have been placed in His hand by the Father.
Spare us, O Lord, who now confess Our sins and all our wickedness, And, for the glory of thy Name, Our weaken’d souls to health reclaim. It is to the glory of God that our souls are saved, and nothing of worth that we have done. The Lord is the Great Physician who practices the approach of triage – treating the most serious malady first; therefore, He heals the soul of the deathly disease of sin, and then makes the body whole. When our souls are made whole, we are whole in every whit.
Give us the self-control that springs From abstinence in outward things; That from each stain and spot of sin, Our souls may keep the fast within. Remember, it is the inward spiritual grace that is reflected in the outward man – not the reverse. When we are drawn to Christ, sometimes screaming and resisting, we are first cleansed in the inward man, and then washed in the outward form. That is the meaning of Psalms 51:7 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Hyssop is a purgative to cleanse the alimentary canal within, and then we are washed without to be whiter than snow (sinless with the imputed righteousness of Christ). Every snowflake contains an impurity at its center, else ice crystals could not coalesce to form the flake, but the saved of God are regarded as having no spot or blemish.
Grant, O thou blessèd Trinity; Grant, O unchanging Unity; That this our fast of forty days May work our profit and thy praise! Amen. The Triunity of the Godhead invites the believer to not only be a child of God, but also enjoy a oneness therewith. The blessed Trinity of God has offered all to us in our salvation. The Father offered His Only Begotten son; the son offered His very Life Blood; and the Holy Spirit guides and directs our feet in Light and Truth. We fast to demonstrate our deep sorrow for sin – even sin forgiven. But the greater fast is to fats from those sins more than of meats. A young Confederate soldier once asked General Robert E. Lee “How often must a man fast?” Lee responded, “If a man would fast from his sins, he may eat what he pleases.”
+Jerry Ogles
The Sermon and Collect Devotion – Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Collect
Fourth Sunday in Lent
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10*)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
All comfort and all grace is from God. It is never earned, but comes ‘paid on arrival.’ It is, as the Collect avers, a grant and not a wage. Thankfully, we are not paid wages for our wages would result in a loss of grace. “For the wages of sin is death;” (sin ALL have sinned, I prefer to forgo the wages to which I am entitled, don’t you?)…. “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) It is so clear and simple, isn’t it? We have all earned our suite in Hell, but God has made a free provision for us in His mansions on High.
This prayer of Collect comes from the Gregorian Sacramentary.
GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved Please note the quality that triggers grace – it is MERCY. We have seen many clergy come and go in our church and in others that are within our purview. The single thing that distinguishes a true minister of God from all others, regardless of a parchment attesting by man’s hand that they are ministers, is the single quality of that Compassion and Mercy that was in Christ. It matters not how hard they labor, how long their hours, how accomplished their sermons, or how broad their experience; if they have not the Compassion of Christ for the little children, for the widows and orphans, for their fellow men and women in all walks of life, then they are not true ministers of God. If their concern is more for personal reward than for the additions to the family of God, they are without hope as ministers. Are we judgmental against others? Remember that same judgment will be levied against you.
Being in the midst of the Lenten Season, we may be feeling overwhelmed by the sense of our sinful unworthiness, but bear in mind that even our unworthiness cannot compare with the altogether worthiness of Christ to redeem us. Just as on the mountain two thousand years ago, He is still able to spread a table before us in the wilderness of our sins.
How is it that the Grace of God is a comfort? When we know that it is the Grace of God that has saved us, and not any personal merit we may boast of, then we are comforted in not wondering always if we have done quite enough to earn our salvation. We are comforted as a little child in knowing that, though we have displeased our parents today, their love for us has not diminished. We are as love in our disobedience as we were loved in our times of favor. But the child, like the Christian, must learn through parental discipline, to improve on his incorrigible behaviors under the father’s counsel and discipline. If you are recipient of the grace and call of God, He will not turn you lose for childish misadventures. Did He not tell us: “….I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13:5) As far as I know, Christ has never lost any that belonged to Him for as He prayed the night of His betrayal in the Upper Room: While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12) Of course, the son of perdition – Judas Iscariot – was never a follower of Christ for the Scriptures tell us that he was a devil. (see John 6:70)
I hope that we will know with certainty at the conclusion here of this devotion that we deserve to die for our sins, but that it was Christ Himself who died in our stead. Now we are blessed to have a Heavenly comforter to strengthen us through the feeding of the Bread of Heaven just as that ancient multitude was fed, nourished, and comforted on the mountain slope overlooking the Galilean Waters.
Have you enjoyed that comfort and strength today?
*all scripture quoted is from the King James Version
SERMON SUMMARY FOR 4TH SUNDAY IN LENT
“Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.” (Galatians 4:21-23*)
We constantly hear that the Old Testament was the Book of the Covenant of the Law. In a certain sense, that is true; however, the Old Testament Law simply points to the covenant of Grace begun in the promise of a Savior made to Abraham and consummated in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the pure Gospel of Grace. Having proven that we were unable to abide by the Law of God in perfection, we needed a Savior upon whom our burdens of sin could be borne on the cross and His righteousness imputed to those who are drawn to His Throne of Grace and Mercy.
God had promised Abraham to be the father of many nations by Sarah his wife. But in old age, being barren, Sarah decided the Lord needed a little help. She therefore offered her servant, Hagar, to Abrahm for the purpose of conceiving a son for Abraham. This was a failure of faith on the part of both Abraham and Sarah that would lead to a great misfortune for the whole human race. Hagar did, indeed, conceive a son – Ishmael, but Ishmael was not the son of the [promise made to Abraham AND Sarah. Later, Sarah did conceive a son, Isaac, in the advance age of ninety years of age. This was the son of promise that came by the way of God’s promise – not that of Sarah’s presumption in Hagar.
Ishmael was the first son of Abraham, but not by means of the legitimacy of the promise made through Sarah. Ishmael persecuted Sarah’s son, Isaac which resulted in the exile of Hagar and her son conceived in law, but not in accordance with the promise made to Abraham. But in the only promised son of Abraham we can see the shadow of that Covenant of Grace fulfilled in Christ. Hagar represents the Covenant of Law, and Isaac that of Grace. So we find both covenants in the Old Testament. “28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” (Galatians 4:28-31)
I hope that the reader can see how, by faith in Him, the Son of Promise in Christ is the means by which we, too, are the true children of Abraham – not by way of the flesh, but by faith in that Promise fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We find evidence of that faith in today’s Gospel text: “…1JESUS went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him” (John 6:1-5) Herein we find the seeds of faith, but misguided as it was. The people followed Christ “because of His miracles’ and not out of faith in His true nature. It may be true that some realized a growing faith in the real Christ of the Feast, but most were seeking a king who would free Israel from the Roman yoke. Many are seeking signs and wonders, but signs and wonders do not save the sinners soul. They saw His former miracles and, now, this miracle of feeding the five thousand with just “…five barley loaves, and two small fishes.” (John 6:9) Signs and wonders may attract curiosity, but is by no means the end of faith in Christ. “15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” (John 6:15) It is His sinless life, His death and resurrection that are sufficient for saving faith – and that is a gift of God’s grace.
It is the sinner whom comes to himself as did the prodigal son of the pigsty, when the Holy Spirit awakens him to his misery and separation from His Father, and makes Him alive in Christ. Our misguided faith is just as bad as no faith at all; but true faith is Christ as Lord and Savior of those who are worthy of death but made alive in Him is the peak of faith. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In Christ Alone during Lent,
† Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop,
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
& Chancellor, Faith Theological Seminary
Charles Morley
Bishop of Alabama
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
We are always happy to get the instruction that Bp Morley is giving to us. We hope you enjoy the following:
Going My Way?
When's the last time you saw a movie or television program that presented Protestant clergyman in a positive light? Hollywood has produced many major films with sympathetic Roman Catholic priests and bishops - "Going My Way," "The Bells of St. Mary's," "Boys Town," "Thorn Birds," "The Cardinal," "Shoes of the Fisherman and more recently the woke "Conclave." Offhand, I cannot think of any major motion picture that has presented Catholic clergy in a negative light. Even the darker themed films like the dreadful "The Exorcist" have sympathetic priests willing to face Satan himself in a self-sacrificing effort to save an innocent. No other film in modern tomes has had such an influence on the theology of evil - Catholic theology that is. How many American Christians now believe the Devil is scared off by holy water and crucifixes, like Dracula in the old Bela Lugosi films?
But PROTESTANT clergy have not fared as well. More often than not, Protestant clergy are presented as incompetent buffoons, closet alcoholics, or womanizers. Often, they are portrayed as mindless, insensitive bigots as in "Footloose" or fundamentalist "Bible thumpers" who rant about nothing but Hell and damnation. Of course, there was "The Cross and the Switchblade" which popularized Pentecostalism in the ghetto. The only positive film that comes to mind is "The Bishop's Wife" - a fantasy comedy made many years ago starring David Niven as an Episcopal prelate and Cary Grant as an angel.
Television has not treated Protestants much better. "Soul Man" was popular for the short time it was aired but its Episcopal priest's theology and praxis was hardly orthodox. The bishop in the show was a total fool and the "church" was more like an AA meeting. No great Protestant cathedrals here. British television has followed much the same path with the woke PBS "Vicar of Dibley" whose heroine is a female "priest" and "Grantchester" whose vicar is a promiscuous part-time sleuth, and the eponymous "Fr. Brown" - Catholic of course, whose priestly principal is much smarter than any professional detective, or any of his Church of England (PROTESTANT) counterparts.
American churchmen have little to boast of these days. Lutherans have abandoned Luther, Presbyterians no longer revere Calvin or Knox, Episcopalians eschew Cranmer's genius, and Methodists are more likely to name their children Wesley than to study his theology. The look and language of classical Protestantism has virtually disappeared from modern society - in any form, whether it be the language of Protestantism, i.e. the King James Bible - the LOOK of Protestantism i.e. the "architecture" of modern houses of worship - the WORSHIP of Protestantism i.e. dignified liturgy, hymnody, vestiture - and the SPIRITUALITY of Protestantism, more concerned with fund-raising, sexuality, and ecumenism.
We live in a quintessentially CATHOLIC world. Most people consider the man who calls himself the Bishop of Rome to be the most important figure in modern Christianity. Not long ago it was Billy Graham. Most of the media refer to the Pope as "the Holy Father" even though it far from likely that he truly is THEIR holy father. Despite all the scandals of Catholicism in recent times - the Inquisition, the relationship with the Third Reich, the Vatican Bank, liberation theology, sex scandals in the Holy See, rampant child abuse in American parishes - the Roman Church remains immune to her harshest critics. Protestantism, on the other hand, is in steady decline.
I believe Protestants must regain a PRIDE in their spiritual identity. Protestantism is responsible for the formation of the modern school system. For many years, the King James Bible was the only textbook of the poor to the extent that it even shaped modern English, and knowledge of which was required for entry into Ivy League colleges. Protestantism is responsible for women's suffrage, black emancipation, and the very principles of democracy so much spoken of in these days. Protestant Christians are often ignorant of the history of their own denominations, or have been encouraged to believe all denominational differences are unimportant and should be ignored or done away with entirely. The modern ECUMENIAL MOVEMENT is largely responsible for the demise of Protestant identity in the last century - with its "least common denominator" theology leading to much error, confusion, and division. The decline of the West, so much spoken of by historians and sociologists, is directly tied to the decline of Protestantism. The Episcopal Church abandoned its Protestant title and identity in 1978 - and has been in a state of steady decline since. Americans do not seem to favour non-papal liberal Catholicism.
For almost five hundred years, English speaking Protestants had a common "God language." Before 1901 there was only one English Bible - so even when we disagreed, we could argue with one language. English speaking German protestants were encouraged to use it. Now Protestants suffer from a "glossolalia" of versions and paraphrases which all claim to be God's Word - the sole authority for Christians since the Reformation - but not so much anymore. Some have tried to replace the adjective "Protestant" with "evangelical" but the latter has become virtually meaningless to include Pentecostals, Charismatics, Anabaptists, and even Latter-Day Saints - groups who have no connection whatsoever with historic Protestantism.
No friends, be proud and be PROTESTANT in this day of muddled morality and humanism. You have a noble heritage upon which you can build a great nation and a godly soul. Let no man rob you of your heritage by changing the language of Christianity or by forgetting the sacrifices of our Protestant forbears. We do not PROTEST anything that is truly of God: rather, we STAND FOR the Faith once delivered of the Saints.
+++++++++++++
+CEM
Fourth Sunday in Lent
It is sad to witness the departure of mainline Protestant denominations from their historic roots. The name on the church door rarely corresponds with the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the founders of those denominations. By contrast, Roman Catholic churches can vary markedly in their theology and practice but maintain the illusion of being a united body. The terms liberal and conservative have likewise lost their meaning in describing the differences among congregations and have become relative at best.
The term "evangelical" - often used in the past to describe fundamental, Bible-believing Protestant churches (and even denominations) has also lost its meaning as it may now include pentecostal, charismatic, adventist, and even Catholic congregations. The old Merriam-Webster definition referred to " that branch of the Church of England considered 'low church'."
Many Protestant churches have changed their name to remove a denominational adjective because of changes in the official theology of the denomination or to make a broader appeal to the "unchurched" who might be put off by a denominational distinctive. Often these church names give no indication whatsoever of what the church stands for or the nature of the beliefs of the congregation. This is often done intentionally to avoid theological controversy and to attract local membership of those seeking to avoid denominational ties with their former church.
Vestiture has also radically changed from tradition over the last fifty years. The traditional black pulpit gown has been virtually abandoned despite being the commonly worn garb of nearly all Protestant clergy. Traditional Anglican vestments (black cassock and white surplice) have likewise been almost totally abandoned in favor of the "cassock alb" (invented by Charles Almy in 1947) and Roman Catholic Mass vestments. Anglican/Episcopal bishops have likewise abandoned the traditional black chimere and white rochet and adopted the cope and miter of their medieval counterparts. Some bishops in the newer Anglican denominations wear scarlet chimeres but have abandoned the traditional black, worn by bishops since the Reformation. The modern liturgical attire of clergy has been greatly influenced by haberdashers and wash-n-wear fabrics. In essence, vestiture has lost its theological meaning and clergy are free to wear what they please.
All this may be nothing more than stating the obvious but I suggest there is a trend here present in virtually all denominations (the exception being the Orthodox and Oriental Churches) to purposely change the theology of church history not just in the LANGUAGE but in the visceral, visual apprehension of denominational theology on the part of the layman. How many Episcopalians/Anglicans know anything of Abp. Cranmer or his theology? How many Lutherans could identify his sacramental distinctives? How many Presbyterians would defend the position of Calvin or Knox contrasted with John Wesley or John Smith? Thomas Cranmer went to a fiery death because he defended the Reformed notion that there were but two sacraments. Modern Anglicans/Episcopalians believe there are seven, as the Roman Catholic Church maintains to this day. Most modern Episcopal churches and the liturgies performed in them are identical to the Roman Catholic and are even indistinguishable in appointments.
What does all of this say to the believer who used to take assurance in the old "lex orandi, lex credendi" loosely translated 'what you see and hear is what you get" when it came to church affiliation? Today, please church shop until they find a congregation that matches their personal beliefs or comfort level. What did Chrisianity ever do without coffee and sound systems? Churches now compete for members with the number of "programs" they offer, from health clubs to craft classes, not to mention Starbucks and "singles" groups.
The Anglican Orthodox Church stands apart from this debilitating modernism, and is to be commended for her faithfulness, not because we preserve the old and tried "Faith of our Fathers" but because we are able to offer true Christianity TO THE NEXT GENERATION and to seekers who are more interested in Biblical Truth than trips to Disney World or gourmet suppers. We hold with what Episcopalians/Anglicans have always believed not because we are in love with antiquity or opposed to change but because those beliefs represent AUTHENTIC Christianity not subject to the spirit of the age or the whims of interpretation.
We have little to offer, in competition with the modern churches, in terms of influence or architecture. We have no million dollar music systems or squash courts. Some denominations have congregations larger than our entire constituency. But Scripture tells us that God is not interested in grandeur or numbers or influence - He is interested only in FAITHFULNESS to the truth of His Gospel. Let us never forget that Scripture predicts the rise of THE FALSE CHURCH and we cannot pretend it does not exist in our day. It is not some future phenomenon of the Apocalypse but exists today all over the world and her numbers are ever INCREASING. Where might this false church exist? What are her IDENTIFYING MARKS? All true Christians must answer these questions to themselves, honestly and openly. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said, "... let the wheat and the tares grow together..." but remember the fate of the tares.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thank you,
+CEM
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 Fourth Sunday in Lent
Galatians 4:21-31; John 6:1-14
THE CITY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD
When the Son of God becomes a man, it is natural that a misunderstanding arises about Him, so unaccustomed are earthly or worldly men to rub shoulders with an envoy from Heaven. Our Lord Jesus Christ played on this misunderstanding during the three years of His public ministry. He never ceased to give signs and proofs of His heavenly identity, while constantly avoiding allowing Himself to be enthroned on the earthly throne of His ancestor, King David. However, Christ is waiting for the hour of His trial to reveal His true identity; first before Caiaphas, then before Pilate, for He knows that His passport to the Kingdom of God is such as to bring upon Him the incomprehension, jealousy, and wrath of unbelieving men. See Him before Caiaphas, the High Priest (Matthew 26:63-66): “But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.” Their reaction is violent, but predictable, and that is why Jesus waited until His time had come to declare Himself “the Son of God, the Messiah.” Caiaphas then sent Jesus to Pilate, who alone had the right of high justice over Him, as the representative of the civil authority in Judea occupied by the Roman power. Here He is now before Pilate (John 18:36-37): To Pilate, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” My friends, are you of the Truth? Do you hear the voice of the Lord saying to you, “My kingdom is not of this world... now is my kingdom not from hence.”? Do you believe that this Jesus, born in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea, rejected by the leaders of His time and crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, is truly the King of kings, the Lord of Lords, and the only begotten Son of the Father, God made man?
Do you really believe that there is an eternal Kingdom in Heaven, of which our Father is King, and where a special place is reserved for each of us who have been chosen by God and who believe in Him? Yet it is to tell us this that Christ came to walk in the land of the Jews, at the risk of being mistreated, rejected and nailed to a vulgar wooden cross by pagan strangers, enemies of the Jews and of their God: the Eternal, the only living and true God; the one God Creator and Redeemer; the only One worthy of praise and glorification, and above all the only One who loves us and proves it by coming Himself to give His body to death and then rise again, thereby proving that He truly is the living and true God, the Almighty. Behold, then, this almighty God Stoop Himself to descend onto earth to visit us, to teach us, and to redeem us by snatching us from the clutches of the Evil one! He takes on the mantle of a man, this new Adam who has come to make amends for the fault of our first ancestor. Because there is no forgiveness without reparation. This is the very logic: what has been damaged must be repaired in order for the crime to be forgiven. To suffer a penalty of mortification is not enough. It is necessary to restore to its original state any damaged item that can still be repaired. And that's what Christ did: He didn't just suffer the punishment deserved by our sin; He has opened the gates of Heaven to us, making His elect subjects of the Kingdom of Heaven in their own right, even now, in hope, and for eternity, with direct access to the Father, by means of that red telephone that is called: prayer (Ephesians 2:15-19): “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” More than reparation and restoration, Christ offers us promotion in His Kingdom by making us His brothers by adoption of the Father.
But don't think that those who betrayed and killed Jesus Christ were atheists! They were Jews serving the true God, and Romans serving false gods. Do not imagine that they eliminated Jesus Christ by handing Him over to the executioners because they did not believe that He was the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah! On the contrary, they knew that Christ was the famous Messiah-God, but they did not want to humble themselves before Him; they did not want to give up their privileges as a ruling caste; they preferred to serve themselves than to serve Him.
They were even the first to believe in the resurrection of our Lord, before the Apostles themselves (Matthew 28:11-15): “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Their first reaction was therefore to believe in the resurrection of Christ, as if they had expected it - and that is why they had the tomb where the body of Jesus was locked up guarded - and their first action was to invent an official lie by buying the silence of the witnesses of the event at a price of money. Matthieu makes us understand through this paid omerta that the elite had a mafia-like behavior, as is often the case when a caste remains in power for too long.
The pagan Romans even believed in Jesus Christ before all these upper-class men, even before the resurrection of our Lord (Matthew 27:54): “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” This officer was right to fear God, and he is a colleague to that other Roman officer whose dialogue with Jesus is worth listening to (Luke 7:2-9): “And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Note that if the Roman officer believed in Jesus, the "Elders of the Jews" - the elite - found it quite natural to intercede for this officer with Christ, as if He were God...
On the other hand, the little people of the Hebrews who had been called to repentance and baptized by John the Baptist, followed Jesus wherever He went, for they had clung to the One who had saved them from their sicknesses, delivered them from their demons, and forgiven them their sins (John 6:2): " A great crowd followed Him, because the people saw the miraculous signs that He made on the sick "; (John 6:8-14): “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”
Seeing this miracle, and to use Caiaphas' expression, we could say (Matthew 26:65): “Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.” By doing the works that only God can do, Christ places Himself as the Son of God, in deed as well as in words. And this displeases the elite because they have taken the wrong side: that of religious power, rather than that of service to God and His beloved creatures. But Christ goes away in order to avoid any misunderstanding about Himself (John 6:15): “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” Christ thus prevents the crowd from using Him, which would be a reversal of roles: We are here to serve Him, we who have been called, chosen and predestined for this one purpose! There are therefore two kinds of humans on earth: on the one hand, those who use God, always asking Him to bless them, to heal them but not to govern them; and on the other side there are those who are willing to serve Him.
Paul explains this to the Galatians that we may well be, by means of a comparison between the sons of Sarah by Isaac, and those of Hagar by Ishmael. Hagar was Sarah's slave, and as a slave, she did not inherit the promise made to Abraham at Mamre, unlike the son of the promise Isaac was (Galatians 4:22-23): “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.” And Paul draws a parallel between the Old Covenant (Hagar and Ishmael have only the Law, in the absence of a divine promise) and the New Covenant: Sarah and Isaac (Galatians 4:24-26): “Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.5For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Thus, Ismailis are slaves to the Law (the Sharia), while Jews and Christians are free from the Law, being in the benefit of God's grace (but they are not without the Law - the Ten Commandments - which they observe in their lives to please God). This is what Paul then clarifies (Galatians 4:28... 31): “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” The children of the promise are those who benefit from it by faith, that is we, the believers in Jesus Christ the Son of God, our only Lord and Savior.
And Paul puts back in their du place the disbelievers of all kinds, even Jews, those who believe but refuse to submit and serve God in Christ, like Satan the rebel against God “Non serviam - I shall not serve” and all those who, following him, want to have no "God or Master", such as Free Masons. And if only they would just rebel against the Lord, what a good thing! But they do not cease to persecute Jews and Christians, the latter being the true heirs of Abraham through Sarah and Isaac by the Spirit of God, from the time of Abraham to the present day (Galatians 4:29): “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” And to our misfortune, “… It is written: ... the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. [Sarah]” (Galatians 4/27a & c). And Paul invites us to the joy of the children of the promise made to Abraham and Sarah (Isaiah 54/1a... 3… 8): "… “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child! … For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited ... In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” Yes, we are the people of the redeemed, the tribe of Abraham, the children of the Father; and His promises are for us who believe in Him and serve Him night and day, in prayer of praise and worship. Amen.
Rt. Rev. Yves Méra, AOC Bishop of France
.jpg)
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.
Fourth Sunday in Lent Sermon
Now consider the blessings which the Israelites received both before and after the presentation of the law. Were they not called of God to be his people chosen for his purpose? Were they not witnesses to the terrible plagues that fell upon the Egyptians but did not come near their homes? Did they not see the forces of Pharaoh destroyed in the Red Sea? Did they not receive from God the Commandments on tables of stone? Did they not have access to God via their worship in the tabernacle and later the Great Temple in Jerusalem? Did God not send them his messages of truth through his holy prophets so that they would seek the coming of the Messiah who would redeem mankind from sin and death? Yes, in all these things they were shown firsthand the reality of God and his powers.
One would think that on account of such displays of the LORD’s majesty they would desire to know him better and seek his will for them. But this they did not do. What they did, over time, was to institutionalize what God had given them in the law to the exclusion of God’s promise of the Messiah who would save them from their sins. Instead of looking for his coming, they came to regard the things which they had received as sufficient in and of themselves, rather than simply the shadows of things yet to come (Hebrews 10:1-3). And so, they rejected the Lord of Glory in favor of their amendment of God’s word written. Saul of Tarsus was a perfect example of a man who was on fire for God in his understanding of that belief system. And on account of his flawed understanding of what God intended, he sought to round up and persecute all who were part of the sect of Jesus never once questioning his motives until our Lord called him out on the road to Damascus— Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4). Only at that moment did Saul of Tarsus realize that he was working against God. Afterwards, he was converted and was baptized. At that moment, the man known as Saul of Tarsus died and the apostle Paul was born of the Holy Ghost. In time, he came to understand what God had intended in his law and that it was not the creation of a system whose end was itself and whose adherents were locked in a cycle of repetition from one year to the next without end. The Bible tells us that God has determined an end to all things and that his Christ— his Messiah— is that person who will bring it all to a close.
So, what then was the purpose of the law? It was to show us where we have come up short in our relationship with God and in that knowledge, it requires sacrifice. It also requires obedience. And if not satisfied, it kills. It does not save. It was never meant to. When one looks at God’s purpose for the law of Moses, it was to point us to him who can save us from the burdens of sin. How did Jesus Christ accomplish this? He did so via his death on the cross. He died so that we might live. He came to fulfil the law, not destroy or take away from it. He satisfied the particulars of the law for all who would believe and accept him has their Saviour. Returning to Galatians 4:22-31, we are told that, Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman which is an allegory that explains the two covenants: one from the mount of Sinai, which gendereth to bondage which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Therefore, the new covenant is of grace while the old covenant is of the law and on that account, the apostle explained: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:19-24).
So, with that in mind, let us avoid all who claim to represent God’s true religion while peddling doctrines which fall short of the saving grace of Christ. Remember to keep the law in a proper perspective. It is a guide. It points us to him who can save us from its penalties. If we truly understand the nature of original sin, then we will see the law as God desires us to see it— judgment, justice, and condemnation. Once we see ourselves by its light, we then are made fit to see the light of Christ shining out to us, calling us to embrace him and be received of him. He is ready with arms wide open to receive every penitent sinner. He will not turn any away who truly have confessed their sins to God in his name. Therefore, come to Christ today and let his love and forgiveness wash you clean from all your sins which the law has revealed to you.
Let us pray,
O Lord our God, grant that we may see ourselves and our misdeeds as you see them, and that in so doing give us humble and contrite hearts to confess the same before thy throne and receive the pardon for which thy Son shed his blood; for these things we ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 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 for Fourth Sunday in Lent
Psalms 147; First lesson. Exodus 16:4-15; Second lesson. John 6:27-40
hymns #362, 376, 382
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“What bread do you desire?”
Two of the three passages of scripture we read today deal with food. Some type of sustenance is discussed, but it isn’t just the physical need met, meat and bread, but the spiritual. It is interesting how Jesus Christ refers to himself in the spiritual feeding of his own, using water and bread primarily in the feeding of the soul.
Throughout his ministry Jesus makes reference to Old Testament “feedings” or times of life saving water and/or food. And to emphasize this, most of these references deal with the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. Without this divine help from heaven, the Hebrew folk would have died of thirst or starvation. 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. (John 6:31)
Now to make the spiritual connection very clear, Jesus indicates rather pointedly, where this life saving bread came from: 32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
He circles back around to the desert account and makes it clear that this was/is not only a physical food and water, but more importantly an everlasting life-saver for all mankind. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Please take the time to read the whole of chapter six in the Gospel of John. You then will understand what is really happening during this several days event. Jesus has just fed over five thousand people, the number written is five thousand men, that doesn’t count the women and children who were also in the crowd. So not to over inflate the number, just be taking a random set, if many of the men had wives, and these families had two to three children, you can see that the actual number of those fed that day was somewhere north of five thousand, say maybe eight or nine thousand. But that isn’t the issue, it was the account of the miracle of multiplying five barley loaves and two small fish to feed such a large crowd.
Included in this account is the desperate seeking of Jesus by the crowds over the next several days. Why were they seeking him? Did they desire to hear more truth? Where they looking for healing and physical/mental care? No, Jesus calls them out rather pointedly: 25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Some two hundred years ago with the arrival of the earliest Protestant missionaries in China, there developed a very interesting phenomenon, it would later be called “rice Christianity.” As missionaries spread out into the vast interior of China, they would set up compounds where many of the physical needs of the Chinese peasantry were taken care of: food, clothing, medicine, and some sundries including tools as such. What developed rather quickly into very large gatherings of the local folk seemed to encourage the missionaries with some type of success. Translators were engaged to speak the local Chinese dialect so the Gospel message could be shared with the large crowds gathered. Then reality struck. When the missionaries did not get their bi-annual operational funds to run the mission station, no more rice was served, no more clothes, sundries, and such were forthcoming. The crowds melted away. Thus the phrase was coined: “Rice Christians”. They only came as long as there was something physical for them and there was food. This is not a new issue. Jesus called out the “bread and fish” believers early on, they only came for the food. And maybe the fellowship! But they did not understand why Jesus was there.28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?.....36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. (John 6:28-30, 36)
Now let us see what the conclusion of this passage is about. When asked by those multitudes who were following Jesus to give them a sign as to who Jesus is he very clearly points out the scope of this mission that God the Father has sent God the Son on. Jesus was sent to this world to save that which was lost. Jesus very specifically points out those who will be saved: 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. He pointed out to the folk that he was there to do the will of him who sent me, not his (Jesus) will. This theme will tie into the story during those dark hours in the garden just before Jesus is arrested and tried for crimes he did not do. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And then the final attestation that Jesus makes once again focusing on the will of the Father and on the means of Salvation, both clear messages of the Gospel. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day
During the next week try to read the other two passages set aside for this Fourth Sunday in Lent. Exodus 16:4-15 and Psalms 147. These two passages also deal with the concept of spiritual and physical sustenance. These are illustrations that the LORD has given us both from the Old and New Testament to help us on our faith journey. We can always learn more of God’s will in our lives when we spend time reading His word that has been preserved over the centuries. This gives us the opportunity to feed on His word and be edified, strengthened, and enable us to grow in grace.
Let us pray:
O Heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open, we beseech thee, our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works, that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness, for the sake of him by whom all things were made, thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty Savior, who at midday didst call thy servant Saint Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles: We beseech thee to illumine the world with the radiance of thy glory, that all nations may come and worship thee, who art, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, on God, world without end. Amen.
Bishop Roy Morales-Kuhn
Rev. David
McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
Josh (4:19-24) 5:1(2-8)9-12 Ps 34 or 34:1-8 2 Cor 5:17-21 Luke 15:11-32
Parable of the Forgiving Father
"The two parables are written to heal our wounds, for they represent the Divine remedy that comes from the Trinity, the father representing God the Father, the shepherd Christ, and the woman the church - Ambrose" in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture-Luke
"But you, Lord, are good and merciful, and your right hand plumbed the depths of my death, draining the cesspit of corruption in my heart, so that I ceased to will all that I had been wont to will, and now willed what you willed." St. Augustine of Hippo
"In 1986 Henri Nouwen, a Dutch theologian and writer, toured St. Petersburg, Russia, the former Leningrad. While there he visited the famous Hermitage where he saw, among other things, Rembrandt's painting of the Prodigal Son. The painting was in a hallway and received the natural light of a nearby window. Nouwen stood for two hours, mesmerized by this remarkable painting. As he stood there the sun changed, and at every change of the light's angle he saw a different aspect of the painting revealed. He would later write: "There were as many paintings in the Prodigal Son as there were changes in the day."
It is difficult for us to see something new in the parable of the Prodigal son. We have heard the story so many times we believe that we have squeezed it dry of meaning." from sermons@sermons.com for the 4th Sunday in Lent
Last week we looked and spoke about the Fig tree. The need for repentance was our focus. Cutting down the tree that did not produce fruit was an option. God is merciful and first in the story gave it three years, but even so, mandating its destruction was not the focus, but it did not produce fruit. Luke 13 (from last week's meditation. "The last phrase of this parable may be better thought of as, "you can cut it down." ( in the original language). I had not seen that before, and it shows that God is long-suffering and has patience with us. This is from Leon Morris' Luke. (a well known evangelical in the Church of England)"
1. Today we ask about what this story means for us told by our Lord. Note the tax collectors and sinners in Luke15:1 "1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them."
They were literally grumbling to excess." The verb διαγογγύζω (diagogguzó) is used to describe a thorough or intense form of murmuring or complaining. It implies a sense of dissatisfaction or discontent that is expressed in a subdued or secretive manner. This term is often used in contexts where there is a communal or collective expression of discontent, typically against leadership or divine provision." biblehub.com
People do want to hear about and from Jesus. Our problem is that we too are sometimes like the grumbling religious leaders . "We must not give up on those who have gone out of the way, but according to the example of Christ we must take great pains for them.
Some publicans and sinners came to Christ from all areas." Geneva commentary biblehub.com
We need to seriously examine ourselves on this point of grumbling and not accepting even the trying people we write off. If we want to see Christ in all His glory and splendor we will not see Him in our complaints.
2. Jesus tells us the stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin and lastly the Two sons. Why? What are they all about?
They are certainly about repentance which we have suggested earlier. They are about God who takes the initiative in our repentance as well as our faith. He calls us to love and serve Him, and without that call in our hearts, we are unable to respond. Some see this as a negative, but the Scriptures are full of God taking care of His people and calling them to Himself. This is not a negative, but a wonderful blessing and truth!
"…6Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." (Luke 15: 6-7) Parable of the lost sheep
The same is true in the Parable of the lost coin. "…9Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." (Luke 15:9-10)
3. The Parable of the Prodigal Son says the same thing in a different way. The Forgiving Father sees the son afar off on his journey back home when "17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.” 9luke 15:17-18)
I like the title better, Parable of the Forgiving Father.
God loves us in Christ way before we knew Him. Our repentance is a fruit of His call and love. Wow I say. I can't see the other way at all. We are unworthy. We are in the more of sin, and God calls in His forgiving love to know and love Him, for that is true life.
I go back to our opening quotes for they are a lot richer than just passing over them quickly. Augustine had it. He knew what true faith and repentance were. "The two parables are written to heal our wounds, for they represent the Divine remedy that comes from the Trinity, the father representing God the Father, the shepherd Christ, and the woman the church - Ambrose" in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture-Luke
" But you, Lord, are good and merciful, and your right hand plumbed the depths of my death, draining the cesspit of corruption in my heart, so that I ceased to will all that I had been wont to will, and now willed what you willed." St. Augustine of Hippo
If you want a good read, take up his Confessions and you will find yourself in it too. We too ran off and were not responsive until God called us in love and repentance.
Conclusion- Have our wounds been healed? All of us need His cleansing every day and for eternity by faith and repentance in His blessed Son.
Rev. David McMillan
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.
Prayer Needed:
We
humbly seek thy face in the words of our prayers, beseeching thee, O God, to
acknowledge our petitions and bring comfort and an end to suffering of the
following of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we thank thee for answered
prayer,
Colin and daughter, Lori Beall – cancer
Alicia – Struggling caring for parents at home – NEEDS HELP
Toni- Breast Cancer- Surgery went well, keep praying for successful recovery treatment-praise god
Donna – Breast Cancer- Surgery Successful onto Radiation treatment and Chemotherapy
Leslie – False teachers
Malou – Cancer
Jim Kniffen – Antibiotic treatment ongoing
Daniel Sparks – following Surgery Heart Ablation symptoms – fatigue, physical exhaustion, brain fog
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
Katie Pope –treatment for Stage 4 Pulmonary Carcinoma “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
Mauri Turner – Stomach cancer
For the government and people of South Korea that God will protect them
from the forces of Communism.
MYANM MAR – EARTHQUAKE – Rev. Titus Hleil & Family
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu, Mauri Turner, Mike, Jim, Dotty, Jan Jessup, Steve, Josh Morley, Jennifer,
AOC USA, AOC Missions, Zach, Jess, Luke, Jacquie, Harper,
Jim Sevier,
Linda,
Colin, Lowery, Robert, Donna, Eddie, Tate,
Dear Prayer Partners,
We have an Urgent Need of Prayer for the
Rev. Stephen Cooper of AOC Church of the Redeemer in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was
recently admitted to the hospital for dehydration, low blood pressure, and
possible renal failure. Pray for his recovery and for his congregation, who are
rallying around him. Pray for God’s Healing, Strength, and Comfort for him and
all those
who are caring for him at this time.
Hear, O Lord, we beseech thee,
these our prayer, as we call
upon thee on behalf of this thy servant
Rev. Cooper; and bestow upon him the help
of thy merciful consolation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment