250713 AOC Sunday Report
Worldwide Communion
Fourth Sunday after Trinity
July 13, 2025 - Sunday Report
Fourth 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 194-195.
The Collect for Fourth Sunday after Trinity
O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle for Fourth Sunday after Trinity. Romans viii. 18.
I RECKON that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The Gospel for Fourth Sunday after Trinity. St. Luke vi. 36.
BE ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
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 (above)
Points to Ponder:
Thy hands have made me
and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Psalm
119:73
Make no
friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest
thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Proverbs
22:24-25
O Lord,
the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love
him, and to them that keep his commandments; we have sinned, and have committed
iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy
precepts and from thy judgments.
Daniel
9:4-5
True faith will produce fervency in
prayer, and both together will bring an abundance of the fruits of Christ’s
favor..
. The Rev.
Matthew Henry
The
Scriptures give us the only authentic portrait of Jesus Christ. If you want to
know what Christ was like, study the Scriptures; that is where you find the
real Jesus, and we are not at liberty to tamper with what we find there or to
change it.
The Rev. David Samuel –Anglican theologian and author (The Church In Crisis,
pp. 4-5).
We are not responsible to God for the souls that are
saved, but we are responsible for the Gospel that is preached, and for the way
in which we preach it.
The Rev.
Charles H. Spurgeon
God tells us to “earnestly contend for the faith which
was once delivered to the saints,” not look under every rock or in caves in a
hill for a piece of papyrus that God or an angel or a Gnostic hid there. It was
delivered. Once. End of topic. God keeps the truth out in the open, not hidden
for scholars to find. We have a “revealed unto babes” faith, and a “hidden from
the wise” faith... We want to grow in faith in Christ, not stagnate in doubt.
Argue if you want. Or put your trust in the 400+ year tried, tested and proved
King James Bible. What you choose is up to you.
Dr. David Daniels (51 Reasons Why The King James : A Path From Doubt To
Faith , 2018, p. 26).
[Preach] the Gospel of Jesus Christ so fully and
clearly that everybody can understand it. If Christ crucified has not his
rightful place in your sermons, and sin is not exposed as it should be, and our
people are not plainly told what they ought to be and do, your preaching is no
use.
The Most Rev. J. C. Ryle
What does it mean to have mercy on others? Truly, this was the question
of the lawyer to Christ, “And who is my neighbor?” The carnal mind is
centered on SELF! In the self-centered mind, all roads lead home to self. If we
are to help someone else, there must be a reward of some sort to the helper.
But Christ loved unconditionally, and His mercy and grace were as wide as the
oceans. In answer to the lawyer’s question, our Lord told the Parable of the
Good Samaritan which so directly represents the nature of Christ that it may as
well have used His name in lieu of the Good Samaritan. The love of God,
showered abroad in our hearts, should ask no question of return in helping
someone distraught and in need. It is not only what we DO, but the motive in
our doing it. Love is the proper motive always in showing mercy and kindness.
Just as a parent sheds an abundance of love on their little children, with no
expectation of reward, so does the Christian reach out to those whose hurt and
need come before him.
The Most Rev. Jerry L. Ogles -Mercy the Distinctive mark of a
Christian - 2021
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 Blog:
https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com
Bishop Ogles You Tube Channel
that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg
From the Names of Jesus Christ Series: The Resurrection
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fozf_e9HYY8&t=1s
Names of Jesus Series: The Resurrection and the life
You tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvHY6_y3wcg
Dallis/Hoffman Scholarship Awards
Clicklink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HNNgHr6RGE&t=10s
Sermon Summary for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity - MP
SCRIPTURE: First Lesson: Lamentations 3:22-331
Gospel Lesson - St Matthew 10: 24-39
The Collect.
O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Amen”
Our prayer of collect begins as every prayer should – a praise and recognition of God as holy and our protector from all hurts. We ask for nothing except the mercy of God to be multiplied to us in our shortcomings. We need not ask for more since, being endowed with the mercy of God, all things needful for our good pleasure will be supplied. Like the pilgrim crossing the desert, we need to carry only the essentials of life – food, light shelter, raiment, and water. But much of those things may be discarded along the way to facilitate our survival, except water! We pray that we can come through this desert of life unstained by the penalties that sin and greed may bring and preserve, for ourselves, the essential resource of the Water of Life. One of the greatest rules of life is this: to “keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.” (Bishop Garth Neel of Canada) Our focus on Christ is our Main Thing.
Our Old Testament passage is one of the stellar beauties of all Old Testament readings. We are born stained with the blood disease of sin coursing through our souls. We deserve death because we are sinners – and the penalty of even one sin (as Adam and Eve learned) is death. But it is the mercy of God that saves His elect people from the consuming fires of Hell. There is no limit on the mercies and compassions of God.
Each morning, God gives the believer an immaculately clean sheet of paper upon which to record our day’s living. Throughout the day, we may do some good work for a poor soul, orphan child, or widow; but we also make some terrible smudges on the paper by doing those things that are not in favor of our Lord. Even though our good deeds are neatly recorded on the paper, our smudges and blurs make the whole unacceptable. We return to the One who gave us that clean sheet and express our grave sorrow and repentence, and beg for another clean sheet of paper upon which we declare to do better by making fewer smudges and blemishes. That clean sheet of paper is renewed at every occasion of prayerful repentance. “They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Christ makes all things new to those who believe – even those things which we have sometimes ruined by careless living.
The kings of old did not go out into the common fields seeking to whom they could grant favors. They reposed on the thrones of their authority and admitted the appellants to state their cases. The same is true of our God. He desires to test our sincerity in seeking Him out and appealing to His Mercy. It is the agency of the Holy Spirit whereby we are drawn to seek Him. When the storms and billows of life overwhelm, it is a test of our faithful patience to await His intercession and delivery from our troubles.
The prophet points out the importance of learning self-discipline and obedience from the early days of childhood so that when he is grown, the habit of good character and neighborly compassion will be soundly established. “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.”
It is not the will of the Lord to unnecessarily inflict the sinner with pains and short-comings, but those are often the means by which the sinner is made aware of his need for the Lord’s mercies. “31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.”
In our Second Lesson from the Gospel of St Matthew, we learn the law of the hierarchy of authority. In the military, we called that hierarchy the ‘Chain of Command.” It is no different in the professional fields, the factories, or the institutions of government – there is always a higher authority to which we must be subject. “The disciple is not above his Master.” How true that principle is in human government! We have municipal governments that are subject to the county or parish governments; county governments subject to the state government; and state governments subject to the federal authorities. But does the chain of authority end at the national executive or judicial powers? Certainly not – we too often forget that all governments are subject to the authority of God Almighty. All of our rights descend, not from human authority, but from God alone.
If we can be no greater that our master, should we not at least strive to be like him in following his example? Is that not true of the disciples of Christ? If the master of a great house is slandered and mercifully treated by rascals, do the servants of the house not suffer as well? Certainly, they do. Christ was called Beelzebub (Lord of the Flies) by the Pharisees. They did so to deny His power and divinity. The last resort of the rascal is to call names. If we are the subjects of Christ, we must expect a similar treatment from the same sources of cruelty, hate, and unbelief. If all our social contact is going swimmingly well in our lives, something must be amiss, for the world hates those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must not dwell upon the slander of the enemy else we will cede power to them. Every deceit and every lie will be revealed in due time by God our Father. Nothing has ever been hidden from the Lord, and He will reveal all at His future discretion. The righteous will be justified, and the unrighteous exposed. We must boldly declare the Gospel truth regardless the ire it provokes from those who deny truth.
Of whom should be bear the greatest fear of offending – those who can only slay this mortal body, or the One that can destroy both body and soul in the fires of Hell?
As the children of God in Christ, we are worth more than every distant star or galaxy. These are inanimate creatures of God, but His children are His living stones that He treasures above every material being. The One who numbers the very hairs of your head is not oblivious to your trials and troubles in this world. If the sea begins to swamp our vessels, go to the Lord in prayer who will awaken to our distress and calm the seas.
What terrible agony did Peter feel when he denied Christ three times outside the court of Caiaphas! On his third denial, the Lord turned and looked at Peter face to face. (Luke 22:61) Peter went out and wept bitterly as he remembered the counsel of Jesus that he (Peter) would deny Him thrice before the cock’s crow. How would we feel if we denied our best friend who had been willing to sacrifice his life for us. How much more for Someone who had willingly taken our guilt and sin upon His own sinless soul to save us the same death? If we deny such a great Savior, He will likewise deny knowing us before the Father.
Never forget: we have been bought with the greatest price ever paid, or ever will be paid, to save us. We are valuable in the eyes of the Lord.
There has arisen a new form of theology that departs from that which was preached by Christ and the great Reformers termed ‘Irenic theology’ in which all views of religion are treated with equal validity. Under such an approach, it is considered impolite to question any false view of religion. We all must get along together and feel good about it. That kind of theology will not gain you the entry into Heaven desired. That is the Broad Way that leads to destruction. Irenic preaching is that which has sadly come into vogue in the modern church. The Word of God is an offense to those who do not believe – PERIOD!
If we go into the nether parts of the earth preaching the Gospel, do you believe we will be well-received in North Korea, Communist China, Islamic Iran, etc. No, you may lose your head. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” The True Church and the world will forever be at enmity until the Lord comes in great power and glory to judge all things.
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” When I was in elementary school, I stumbled on these words of Christ. I loved my mother and father dearly. As I matured, I learned the simple mystery of this verse. There can never be cause to love the gift more than the Giver. My mother and father were God’s gift to me. How could I love them more than Him! They would not have existed had He not made them for the purpose of being my parents.
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” If we truly believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, should we not understand that we follow Him, not only during the happy days at Bethany, along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, to the Well of Jacob; but also along the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Suffering and the Cross). We have a cross to bear if we are following hard on the steps of our Lord. The glory of that cross is followed by a borrowed tomb which all who believe shall have. He tells us, “Take up thy cross daily and follow me.” So be it, friends.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. AMEN.
† Jerry Ogles
Charles Morley
Bishop of Alabama
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
We are always happy to get the instruction and devotions that Bp Morley is giving to us. We hope you enjoy the following:
With the state of the world these days, I often find myself foolishly longing for what us old folks call "the good old days." We're not really sure what we mean when we say that and of course the " good old days" may not have been as good as we imagine them to have been. But we long for an America not torn apart by cultural and political differences, by riots and violence, racial tensions and sexual immorality, by anger and fear. The Founding Fathers would be shocked to see the state of modern America, compared to the gentle Republic they envisioned at our nation's birth.
In all the Fourth of July hoopla in the public media and in local celebrations, there was a lot of rhetoric about the Founding Fathers, comparing and contrasting their world and their vision of the future with our own. But all that verbiage about freedom, liberty, and America's greatness, I found something lacking. There was no mention of God, of humility, or of prayer. The language of the framers of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the many other documents that shaped our Republic from its humble beginnings contained these three elements, not as a body of theology but as a philosophical treatise to be accepted by all. Somewhere, somehow in the passing years, our leaders have become silent on the matter of the sovereignty of God in Creation, the necessity for humility and repentance as daily requisites, and the obligation to participate in prayer to the Deity for future continued blessings.
The pulpits of Christian Churches in America used to resound with this language, not just with reference to our founding but for encouraging Christian people to look to a future based on these principles - that Almighty God is the sole Giver of every perfect gift: that only a humble people can live in peace; and only by prayer can we rely of God's continual blessings. Our Book of Common Prayer contains many beautiful Collects which reflect this language clearly, as well as a special set of Propers for Independence Day (BCP p. 263) - to insure that the Church stated these things before their people in public worship.
At the outset of the American Revolution, clergy were some of the most outspoken patriots and made no bones about their position, not only from their pulpits but at the risk of their own lives. "The Black Regiment" was well known for those brave preachers who preached the Gospel on Sundays but carried their muskets under their gowns and fought openly for the cause they believed was given by God to men. Those same elements taught by Scripture were to be defended against tyranny, and the Rights of Man insured by Scripture were to be incorporated in the verbiage of the New Republic.
It is not so today. The Church has to a large degree become silent in matters of patriotic expression, and in many cases suggests that clergy remain silent in speaking of national pride or any sort of politics. In my Protestant Episcopal Seminary I was warned never to speak about politics or any associated current events, at the risk of offending one political party or the other, or seeming to be "worldly" in my personal opinions. My congregation was never to know for certain whether I were a Republican or a Democrat. But times have changed, American society has changed, and we must no longer keep silent.
We must abandon those secular issues we have dwelt on in the past. Preaching the absolute Sovereignty of God, Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer must be our sermon themes once again. We must restore the language of the true children of God who repent humbly for sins past and seriously resolve to sin no more - not with empty rituals or breast beating but with changed hearts and minds. No longer should we tell our people that they are the masters of their own fate, that they can pull themselves up by their own boot straps, that they can "be all that they can be" according to their own devices and desires. These are all unbiblical cliches that have entered our modern thinking and led us to believe we are sufficient unto ourselves, without God, without humility, and without prayer.
We are a nation at war - a culture war, but it is as violent and deadly as any physical struggle. The whole country is involved and we must consider how we will fight for our future - if the Republic is to stand at all. But the "good ole' days" can come again. America can be as great as she has ever been - peace and prosperity can be restored and liberty for one and all assured IF we restore the concept of a mighty Sovereign God as our ruler and guide, that we humbly acknowledge sins past and beg God's forgiveness (not just man's) and that we pray, pray, pray - not just in churches, but in schools, at ball games, at political meetings, in hospitals, and at home. May our clergy speak out boldly and be true leaders of the American people as they once were - not in the causes of humanity but in the power of the Gospel and "the peace which passeth all understanding." We can no longer be silent.
Are we sheep or are we goats?
(See Matthew 25:31-46)+cem
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Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi
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 after Trinity Sermon
Now we who have been born again of the Holy Spirit accept God’s word as truth. We understand that it has been given to us for our eternal good by him who is perfect in all things. So then for men to tamper with God’s word written is worse than folly. If they think that they can edit the word of God so that it says something other than what the Holy Ghost intended, they are putting themselves in the place of God. Was it not that old serpent, Satan, who first amended God’s word in the Garden (see Genesis 3:4-5)? Was it not his influence which lead our first parents into sin? And did not that very condition of original sin also pass down to us? The tradition of the elders which our Lord found so repugnant was very much in line with Satan’s temptation of Eve. And our Lord’s reply is telling: 6Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. And our Lord also said: 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:6-10) Think on that last portion of our Lord’s reply: But in vain they do worship me. The superficial Christian has the same status with our Lord as an unbeliever because such a person has never been truly born again of the Holy Ghost. A vain worshiper is merely a show off. He or she possesses no real faith in our Lord, and is only present in church to be seen of others (St. Matthew 6:5-6). Within many churches today, one can witness an appallingly low level of godly faith and obedience as they have welcomed into their midst, and without reservation, individuals who are open and notorious in their sins. They have done this not for the purpose of educating those misguided souls according to God’s word written. No, they want to be thought of as tolerant, inclusive, politically correct, or what have you.
Consider now Article XIX of our Articles of Religion where we find the following, “The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly administered according to Christ’s ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.” After reading that article of religion, do you think it permits the inclusion of the unregenerated without conditions? Consider the apostle Paul’s message to the church at Corinth: I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person (I Corinthians 5:9-13).
The Bible tells us that we ought to, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 96:9) And we ought to, come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. (Psalm 95:2) Worshipping God in the beauty of holiness does not translate into an open acceptance of sin. God has condemned sin, and if we are in agreement with those who do such things, then we too will face his wrath. (Romans 1:18-32) The prophet Amos was given to pose the following question: Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (3:3) And the apostle Paul admonished the Corinthians in his second epistle, …14for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15 and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (6:14-15) If we have been born again of the Holy Ghost, then we ought not continue in fellowship with those who have chosen to disregard God’s word and commandment unless and until they repent and reject their wicked ways.
As the tradition of the elders had brought to no effect the true meaning of God’s word written, likewise the same applies to those churches today which are using one the many corrupted bible translations. It is a sad reality that these new bible versions have contributed to the furtherance of many false doctrines and grievous heresies within the body of Christ. And since all Christian doctrine stems from God’s word written, so it follows that those churches who have employed a corrupted translation of the scriptures will find it difficult to impart a saving understanding of orthodox Christian doctrine to their congregations.
Another example of the modern church adopting the traditions of men can be seen in the various community activities which they use to promote themselves. But rare indeed are these events ever prefaced with remarks by their ministers concerning the Great Commission and the need for salvation in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. “Oh, that might keep people away,” some might say. Well that’s compromising with the world, and the Church is not supposed to be like the world. In truth, the only mission that the Church has been given is to proclaim the gospel to a sin-darkened world and not kowtow to the desires of the unregenerate.
The early Christians broke bread together at an “open table” which meant that it was open to all brothers and sisters in Christ. They also sang songs that lifted up God’s holy name in reverence. These hymns were not about the participants, neither were they a show or a performance as they were addressed to God, and their focus was entirely upon him and him alone. The early Church did not tolerate evil in their midst, nor was their table and their fellowship open to all without reservation. How many modern churches bother to include a message by the pastor on the necessity for salvation even during their regular worship services? Sad to say, many churches have become so much like the world that if those congregations did not possess a building you’d have trouble distinguishing them from any other nonprofit organization. As Pastor Ray Baumann once observed, “Church leadership must decide who is going to grow their church. You either grow it with man or with God. God’s way produces [believers] changed for life; man’s way produces attendees that come as they are and leave as they were.”
Here then is the new paradigm for church growth: churches filled with people who neither care for God or his commandments just like the Church at Thyatira in Revelation (see 2:18-29). If we are to avoid such a state then we ought to seek out folks who have discovered as we have, that to love the world is enmity with God. We want those to attend who have rejected the world, the flesh and the devil. We want those who are desirous of living in obedience to God’s word written.
It is essential for Christians to keep in mind that the traditions of men have been carefully crafted by the evil one to have only an appearance of godliness. As St. Paul reminded the Corinthian church concerning those who would feign to be members of the faith, 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (II Corinthians 11:13-15).
So judge righteously and be alert. The Bible tells us to, 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (I St. Peter 5:8) There are many deceptive practices which the devil would have the church involved in, and not one of them will advance the gospel of our Lord, or seek the salvation of any soul. If we are not telling people about our Lord who was crucified for us and died; and who was resurrected and has ascended to the right hand of the Father; and who will come again to bring us to the Father’s house where he has prepared a place for us; then we are wasting our time and God’s patience. If we ever desire to hear from our Lord’s lips the words, Well done good and faithful servant, then we had best be about his business and that includes our keeping the world, the flesh and devil outside the doors of our churches along with its false traditions and beliefs.
Let us pray,
Father bless us with such an in-filling of thy most holy Spirit that we may
discern what traditions are of thee as opposed to those from our adversary; and
this we beg 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
Fourth Sunday after Trinity Sermon
Evening Prayer
Psalm 51; First lesson. Isaiah 29:9-15; Second lesson. Matthew 15:1-20
O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
They didn’t wash their hands !
You can almost see the headline now... “They didn’t wash their hands before they ate”. Let us be a bit anachronistic here supposing that there was a newsletter or weekly news bulletin that was available to the local Hebrew population. The headlines would scream out that this group of followers of this son of a carpenter from Nazareth was violating all holy codes, statues, and ordinances. The religious folk in charge had to find a way to discredit this group in order to neutralize their message, especially the message of their leader, Jesus Christ. The rabbinical code of Jesus time and for centuries after included some very elaborate rituals and practices.
The scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and other “learned and holy” men used all types of ritual and dress to set themselves apart from the common and unclean population during the times after the return from the Babylon captivity. Because there were half-breeds (Samaritans) and other unclean half-Hebrew peoples in the area of restored Israel, the “extra holy” men of the cloth had to be sure of their credentials. They had to show by dress and custom that they were not like the common folk. So into this world of ritual and strict custom steps the Son of God who does not follow these mores and therefore is called out for being uncouth and ceremonial unclean.
Jesus will answer the scribes and Pharisee with a question about their behavior and transgression of God’s commandment, not traditions of the elders.
Wow, he did not pull any punches. God’s commandments are far above the traditions of the elders. Ritual hand washing and cleansing of plates and bowls was not the central point of worshiping God. Obeying God’s commandments was. There were a number of traditions of the elders that did NOT honor the parents of the “holy” men.
They made it clear to their parents that certain items and gifts were not subject to a tithe, they were to be counted as gifts, they were exclusive to the “holy” men. This was a direct contradiction of the commandment to honor your father and mother. By the way, the first commandment with a promise. “...that you should live long on the land that the Lord thy God giveth you...”.
Then to make the point that these “holy” men were not doing something new, Jesus quotes Isaiah: 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:8-9)
Now Jesus addresses the tradition of hand washing (he is not against good hygiene) where he points out that it isn’t what goes into the mouth that defiles a person...it is what comes out of the mouth that does. Whoa. Pretty heady stuff. We are to guard what we say, we must be gentle as doves and wise as serpents. (See Matthew 10:16)
Jesus remarked that this concept and demoting the elders’ tradition would upset the Pharisees, he then emphasizes the difference between those who are God’s and those who are not: 13But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:13-14)
Now here is where Peter gets to be the foil for Jesus. We are always amazed at Peter’s lack of understanding, but mind you, we have the whole Bible, Peter didn’t. His behavior is also a great lesson to us in this time, we need to stay humble, don’t play the fool.
So we know what happened at each location, we know the story or can read about it, Peter was living the story. So when Peter asks Jesus to give the disciples a parable Jesus gently rebukes Peter: 15Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? (Matthew 15:15-16)
Jesus will carefully explain to Peter and the others there with Jesus what he meant by this exchange with the scribes and Pharisees. Now mind you this next passage is from Jesus, not Paul, who isn’t a believer yet. Many modern critics will try to say Jesus never said anything about the horrible behavior now flooding our nation, the sexual garbage being fobbed off as “normal”. And yet here Jesus does declare that this behavior is wrong.
17Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:* 20These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (Matthew 15:17-20)
{*... can you see a similarity of this list and that which Paul enumerates for those back sliding believers at the church in Corinth? Very interesting. Adulteries, fornications, blasphemies could all fall under the counterfeit behavior of the gender changing activism that is permeating the culture.
You can also see the idea of rampant abortion as murder, which it is, false witness; the idea that if one stands up to this evil behavior they are some how evil. Evil thoughts, thefts of ideas and what were considered morally upright concepts and ideals, all of which are eroded by what is considered the woke way of living round out this list of Jesus and St. Paul in his letters to the Corinthians.}
So what are we to understand from the lessons that we have read about in the Gospel of St. Matthew? The essence of the Gospel is righteous living. The concept that what the world considers correct has many levels of manmade corruption attached to it, Jesus guides us back to the Word. In his ministry he would teach again and again that the Way was through Him, that the Truth was through Him, the path to eternal life was only through Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of the Father.
Today’s lesson is crystal clear. We must follow the Way of Christ, not the way of the world. There is no good found in the world’s way and lifestyle/behavior. It all leads to destruction.
David illustrates this with the first four verses of the 51st Psalm: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalm 51:2-4)
Notice in verse two, he asks God to wash him from his iniquity, to cleanse him from his sin. And then most importantly, unlike the scribes and Pharisee of Jesus time, David acknowledges his transgressions and sin. Wow. We ask God to cleanse us from our transgressions and sins, we ask God to forgive us of these sins. We must understand that when we sin, we sin against God. He forgives us through his gift, his Son, only begotten Son, by His death on the Cross. Wow what a powerful message.
Let us take that great promise and powerful message with us out into this world of darkness and chaos, understanding that it is only through Jesus we have any right to come to the Father. Amen and amen.
Let us pray:
O most merciful Father, we humbly thank thee for all thy gifts so freely bestowed upon us. For life and health and safety, for power to work and leisure to rest, for all that is beautiful in creation and in the lives of men, we praise and magnify they holy name. But above all, we thank thee for our spiritual mercies in Christ Jesus our Lord, for the means of grace, for the hope of glory. Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in thy well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that all the peoples of the earth, though now divided and in bondage to sin, may be made free and brought together under his most gracious rule, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.
+Roy Morales-Kuhn
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC located in the AOC National Office
Fourth Sunday after Trinity
Sermon Luke 6:36-42
Jesus tells us in the Gospel reading today “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) It is clear from the context of these words that Jesus is not speaking about our earthly fathers here, but about our Father who is in Heaven.
We can learn a lot about mercy from the many examples in Holy Scripture in which God, the Father shows himself to be merciful. If we look at the history of the people of Israel we can see God’s mercy in action. Time and time again in the Old Testament we see God acting in mercy towards his fallen children.
He showed mercy to Adam and Eve in the Garden after condemning their sin and cursing them and their descendants. He showed mercy to Noah and his family when he placed them in the Ark and delivered them from the worldwide flood. In mercy, he delivered the children of Israel from their captivity in Egypt. He destroyed Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea and brought the Israelites safely to dry land. In mercy, he did not destroy them in the wilderness completely, even when they rebelled and disobeyed his Word. Instead, he fed them with manna and quail. He provided a tabernacle in the wilderness, and pardon for their sins through the sacrifices of the priests. He showed mercy to King David when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and directed her husband, Uriah into battle with a sure death. Over and over again, He demonstrates his mercy and loving-kindness to his people, not dealing with them as their sins deserve, but forgiving them. He shows himself as a God who does not delight in wrath or in punishing the wicked, but saving them. Just as a parent does not take delight in punishing his children for their misbehavior, so also our heavenly Father prefers to show mercy.
He invites all to turn from their wickedness and calls them to repentance so that they might avoid destruction. He desires mercy, not sacrifice. Those who believe in Him and trust in his mercy will not be disappointed. This is why the psalmists and other writers of the Old Testament tell us to “take refuge in Him”, that is in his mercy, for he is “slow to anger, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, and abundant in loving kindness.” (Psalm 103; 8. 145:8) (Neb. 9:17b) In mercy, He even sent his only begotten Son into our flesh, to redeem us from our sins. And just as the Father is merciful, so also is the son. Like his Father, Christ showed mercy to sinners during his earthly ministry. He prayed for the salvation of his executors. He forgave the sins of the Adulteress woman and even forgave the disciples when they abandoned Him. In mercy, he fed the multitudes with bread in the wilderness. He raised Lazarus and others from the dead. He healed all kinds of diseases, and in one final and great act of mercy, He offered up His own life on behalf of sinners. Never was the merciful character of God so clearly revealed as it was in his sacrifice of his son on Calvary. For there the Son of God bore the sins of all men in his own body on the cross.
This is what mercy does. It forgives, it pardons, it does not stand Judgement or condemn. It covers the sins of others, and does not give them what they deserve. Christ came for this very reason as John 3:17 tells us “Not to condemn the world, but the world might be saved through him.” Like his Father, it is Christ’s ultimate desire to save, not to destroy. It is his desire that all men repent of their sins and take refuge in his pardon and mercy.
For this reason, Christ praised the publican who prayed “God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) He rewards the faith of the Centurion, who said, “I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof.” (Matt. 8:8) He heals the daughter of the Canaanite woman who clings to his mercy and promises. Everyone who comes to Christ looking for mercy finds it. The thief on the cross is a good example. In Luke 23:42: He said to Jesus; “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Jesus responded to him in verse 43: “verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
On the other hand, those who come to him filled with their own accomplishments and goodness, He turns away. “Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come” as John the Baptist tells the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matt. 3:7 and as Christ says in Matt. 23:27: “Woe to unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. for Ye are like unto whited Sepulchers which indeed appear beautiful outward but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”
They are turned away, not because they are undeserving of Christ’s love and pardon, but because they refuse to humble themselves before Him and confess that they are poor, miserable sinners. The Scribes and Pharisees were blinded by their own pride and self-righteousness. They were more interested in pleasing men than they were God.
They did not look on Jesus as the Messiah but felt their power and control threatened by Him. Therefore, they rejected Jesus’ pleas for repentance and turned on him. By repentance and faith in Christ, we too have received mercy from God. Our sins have been forgiven by his precious blood. God now looks upon us as redeemed and forgiven sinners. We are covered by the robe of Christ’s righteousness.
By faith in Christ our sins are not counted against us, as St. Paul tells us in Romans 8:1: “There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” This mercy was given to us not because of righteous works that we have done, but freely, it is a gift of God paid for by the sacrifice made by Christ on the cross. It is what God’s word says it is, as St. Paul tells us in 2nd Cor. 5:19, “That God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” Freely have we received and so freely we are to give in his Name, as children of God, who bear the image of the only-begotten Son, we are now called to “be ye therefore merciful, as your father is also merciful.”
This means we should treat our erring Christian brothers and sisters exactly as our heavenly Father has treated us in His Son. Rather than seek vengeance, we should seek reconciliation. Rather than stand in God’s place as judge, our desire should be to forgive as God has forgiven us. For this is the way of the Heavenly Father. This is the way of Jesus our Lord and savior. This is the way of any truly converted and baptized Christian.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that Christian perfection consists only in avoiding sinful habits and behaviors. The so called, “Good Christian” is the one who never drinks, never smokes, and never tells a lie. And yet, these same so-called “Good Christians” often have an unforgiving heart towards others, and are quick to condemn those who are lacking in personal merit. The true mark of the Christian, according to the Gospel today, is not personal holiness, but mercy. What defines God’s character and that of a believing Christian more than their lack of sin is their merciful attitude toward sinners.
Jesus commanded his disciples to extend the same mercy to others that they had received from God. In Matt. 18:33: He says “Shouldest not thou also have compassion on the fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?” Christians who are in the habit of condemning and finding fault in others show that they do not truly know this God of mercy and hence do not believe. They also show that they have not truly examined themselves, as Christ tells us in the Gospel: “Why do you see the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye.” Could anyone sin against us to the same degree that we have sinned against God? Could any offense committed against us be as undeserved as the abuse hurled against the sinless Son of God? How quickly we forget the mercy that God graciously bestowed on us, only to focus on the injustices we endure from others!
The forgiving Christian, however, like Joseph in the Old Testament, who forgives the same brothers that sold him into slavery and lied about his demise to their father. He knows that he is subject to the same standards he applies to the erring brothers and for this reason he is slow to condemn the erring brothers, and quick to forgive. He is also keenly aware of his own mountain of faults and vices. They are much more serious in his eyes than the sins of others. And since he does not want to be dealt with according to the severity of the divine law but according to mercy, he also uses this standard when judging the words and actions of others.
This is what Christ means today when he says: “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.” He is not telling us as some would believe, that the Christian must hold his tongue and never speak condemningly about sinful actions and lifestyles that are clearly condemned in Holy scripture. Many are those who would use these words to excuse their own ungodly life or that of others. “See, even your own Bible says you are not to judge.” This is a misunderstanding of Christ’s words. Certainly Christians have the responsibility to speak the truth in love to those who are in error, but not in such a way as to ignore their own faults. “First remove the beam that is in your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the mote that is in your brother’s eye.”
The Christian community is to be marked not by judgment and condemnation but by mercy. There are times when a Christian congregation must pass judgment on one of its own. But this is only after making several attempts to win the erring brother or sister and return them to repentance. When it is clear that there is not repentance, then the Church must speak and, to use the words of St. Paul, deliver the person over to Satan. Individual Christians are not to assume this role for themselves. Our duty is always to show mercy. Like our heavenly Father, we should be slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, quick to pardon and forgive, and hesitant to judge and condemn.
This is one of the hardest things for Christians to learn, since our natural tendency is to be more aware of other’s faults that we are of our own. When we fall short, our only hope is to seek refuge in the mercy of Christ.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Rev. Don Fultz
Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
Fourth Sunday after Trinity Devotions
Are
we Ignorant of Satan's Devices?
2 Corinthians 2:11
Many years ago in the 17th century Christians were taught by learned and reformed ministers. This question was asked by the Apostle, and Thomas Brooks does a whole series of messages on this....discussing Satan's devices (attacks), and the Biblical remedies for Christians to know and practice. A lot of these books and his as well have been re-published by The Banner of Truth Trust. This series of sermons is meaty and Biblical and can help us in our Christian way of love and holiness.
Thomas Brooks first published 1652) in his book Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices has some good thoughts from the Scriptures about how Christians should not be ignorant of Satan's tricks to get them to sin. Brooks goes back to the Apostle Paul's thought in 2 Corinthians 2:11. "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." Satan is not even thought of by most Christians today, and many messages today do not mention the problem of the enemy we must fight.
If we take a look at the Scriptures, we see that Satan is talked about with regularity. We are in a war Ephesians 6 :11, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." When we go to war, we should know that we have to understand the tricks and sneakiness of the Devil, our enemy. Who goes to war without understanding the opposition?
His wiles come upon us unaware. 2 Timothy 2:26 "And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." Unbelievers are being spoken about here. The servant of the Lord must not strive with them, but gently teach with patience and meekness.
It would be wise to take some of the lessons Brooks brings out. He was an Army Chaplain in England during Cromwell's victory over the Scots in 1650.
1. We begin with Device 1 of the Devil. He "presents the bait and hides the hook." Adam and Eve were listening to the lie of the devil Genesis 3:4-5 They were tested in the Garden of Eden. Satan says, "4Ye shall not surely die....5your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
The bait was an apple. They were to eat this apple and the lie and to exchange their heaven for something that looked so good, but was not.
In Matthew 4:8-9 our Lord Himself was tested and tempted by the devil. "8The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.....9All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.". Brooks in his book says there is are remedies for fighting against this trick or strategy of Satan.
"First, keep at the greatest distance from sin, and from playing with the golden bait that Satan holds forth to catch you." Thomas Brooks
Does this make sense? If something looks good, that does not mean it is good. We are tempted by the many devices of the enemy. We dance near the edge of the sin. We should be more like Joseph who fled from Potiphar's wife when she lured him to lie with him.
Romans 5:12 says Adam by one sin spread all over mankind. Today many do not believe this verse. The old way to learn the alphabet was for the letter A, " In Adam's fall, we sinned all." Today we have confusion about gender in our public schools, and what is true.
"Sin will usher in the greatest and saddest losses" - Brooks
Is sin worth the loss of our peace that passes understanding?
"Sin is of a very deceitful nature"-Brooks
Hebrews 3:13 "But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
“Sin so bewitches the soul, that it makes the soul call evil good, and good evil; bitter sweet and sweet bitter, light darkness, and darkness light." Does this sound familiar in our modern culture? We murder the unborn, and don't execute the guilty that commit murderous crimes. The list goes on and on.
2. Device 2 is to present sin / paint sin with virtue's colors. - Brooks
He has several remedies for this. A poisonous pill is still that even if it has been covered with gold.
We shall see sin in its true nature when we get ill, or are near the end of our lives. " Sin shall be unmasked and its dress and robes shall then be taken off; then, that which appeared most beautiful will appear more vile, filthy and terrible than hell, itself."- Brooks
He goes on to say, " then even those very sins that Satan paints, and puts new names and colors upon, cost the best blood, the noblest blood, the life-blood, the heart-blood of the Lord Jesus." Remedy 4
Let never go out of our minds the thoughts of a crucified Christ.
3. Device 3 " By extenuating and lessening of sin"
Remedy 1- "Those sins which we call small have brought the greatest wrath of God."
Examples are touching the ark and the eating of an apple.
Remedy 2- " Giving way to less sin makes way for committing of greater"
Satan will draw you to be unclean in your thoughts, your looks, then in your words, and at last to unclean in your practices.
Remedy 3- Other saints have chosen to suffer rather than commit the least sin.
Daniel and his companions chose to be burned and cast to the lions rather than bow to the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Conclusion- I take this to sum up what we have been saying that knowing God and loving others is the most important thing we can have on this earth. "If any should ask me, what is the first, the second, the third part of a Christian? I must answer: Action; as that man reads that he may know that he may do, and that labors to know that he may do will have two heavens---a heaven of joy, peace and comfort on earth, and a heaven of glory and happiness after death." Brooks
We shall continue these important remedies against Satan and his wiles as we need to be encouraged in our Christian lives, and not discouraged to only see our failures. But we have many examples of great saints who may have greatly sinned, but God received their labors in their works of mercy love.
"David falls fearfully, but by repentance he rises sweetly." (from the next discussion!)
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:
Richard Bailey – Brain Cancer
Steve
Williams – recovery Hip Replacement
Dakota Reynolds- hit by truck –
multiple injuries
Finley Cartwright – bypass surgery – recovering at home
Walter Hallberg III – Hospice Care
Thomas Broome – hospice
Jeff Maraman - at the fire academy in Arkansas.
Lydia Collins - rectal cancer.
Marilee – Mastectomy Update – second surgery successful – chemo begun
James Cavanah – health issues, new medication tolerance – starting to work - keep praying
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
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu-health issues, Mike, Jim, Dotty, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, Josh Morley-seizures, Jennifer, AOC USA, AOC Missions, Zach, Jess, Luke, Jacquie, Harper-IBS , Jim Sevier- God’s Peace, Linda – multiple myeloma, Colin, Lowery, Robert, Donna-chemotherapy, Eddie, Aleyda-heart and bp issues, Leslie, Daniel, Jim-TBI issues, Alicia-caregiver, Lydia, Sophie, Colin and Lori Beall - cancer, Toni - cancer, Donna - cancer, Malou - cancer, Roseanne, Bobby, Missy, Archie, Eloise,
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