251019 AOC Sunday Report
Worldwide Communion
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
October 19, 2025 - Sunday Report
· Special Convention Issue Coming SOON!
Eighteenth 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 213-214.
The Collect for Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle for Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. 1 Corinthians i. 4.
I THANK my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel for Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. St. Matthew xxii. 34.
WHEN the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
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:
Keep
thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings
of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Isaiah 52:7
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and
turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with
night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the
face of the earth: The LORD is his name.
Amos 5:8
Many people identify the crisis in the Church today
with the ordination of women, and also with the impending acceptance of
practising homosexuals for the ministry. I remember a large group of people
from the Lesbian and Gay Christian (sic) Movement outside Church House after
the debate in the General Synod when the Measure for the ordination of women
was passed, chanting, Women today, our turn is next! Well informed observers
say that the ordination of pracitsing homosexuals is a foregone conclusion.
The Rev. David Samuel – (The Church In Crisis, 2004 p. 11).
A sinful condition is a wasteful condition. How many
of the good gifts, both of nature and providence does one sinner destroy.
The Rev.
Matthew Henry
Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees (St. Matthew 16:6). Now we all know what is the true meaning of the word leaven. It is what we commonly call yeast... This... bears but a small proportion to the lump into which it is thrown; just so, our Lord would have us know, the first beginning of false doctrine is but small compared to the body of Christianity. It works quietly... It insensibly changes the character of the whole mass with which it is mingled; just so, our Lord would have us know, the doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees turn everything upside down, when once admitted into a church or into a man’s heart... False doctrine does not meet men face to face and proclaim that it is false... It approaches us secretly, quietly, insidiously, plausibly, and in such a way as to disarm man’s suspicion, and throw him off guard. It is the wolf in sheep’s clothing and Satan in the garb of an angel of light who have always proved the most dangerous foes of the Church of Christ.
Fall back on them when all other arguments fail. They
are a reserve which will never give way. God has said it, and will make it
good.
The Most Rev. J. C. Ryle, Knots Untied
Our pride acts as the world’s gravity to pull us down;
but humility responds to the magnetic pull from on High to draw us higher and
higher unto the Narrow Way.
Bishop Jerry Ogles,
Friend Go
Up Higher
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
Wednesday Daily Meditations
AOC Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-unseen-thing.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-s12JPldkU&t=3s
Thursday Evening Meditation
You Tube Link:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knKy8Uuo0pQ&t=22s
Sermon Notes for 18th Sunday after Trinity,
19 October 2025, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
The Collect.
LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle. 1 Corinthians i. 4.
Please observe the common appeal to grace across our Collect and two textual references of today’s lesson. It is only by the grace of almighty God whereby we may overcome the temptations of the world. This requires our souls to be constantly in the hands of the Holy spirit in order to resist those persistent temptations of the world - both large and small. It is the small foxes that bear watching more than the greater beasts of the wilderness. That grace comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul reiterates our dependence upon the grace of the Lord to overcome the power of temptations of the world and points our that the confirmation of that grace continues in Christ to the end of our worldly lives. All good gifts derive from that imputed grace of the Lord.
Our Gospel text opens with the enemies of Christ banding together in alliance against Him. The righteous will always be outnumbered by the sinful elements of the world. Satan and his subordinates always attempt to deceive by causing doubts to arise in the minds of their following. Like Satan, the Scribes and Pharisees begin their attempt to deceive with a question. That is the approach always taken by Satan. Remember how Satan began his beguilement of Eve in the Garden - “Yea, hath God said?” So his adherents follow in his footsteps in the matter addressed today in our Gospel text. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” We try to gloss over righteous judgment in dealing with sinners, but Christ does not hesitate to identify open sin. We try to compromise our Bible teaching often to keep from hurting feelings when we are actually doing more harm to the listener by covering his sinful notions.
The Pharisees, who considered themselves righteous without just cause, could not fathom how this itinerate carpenter from Galilee could so consistently put them to shame regardless the cunning of their questions. He always turned the tables - not just in the Temple - but also in their arguments against Him.
In our text, one of the Pharisees who was a learned lawyer of the word posed a question which he doubtlessly hoped would entangle Jesus in the intricate details of the Law of Moses. “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Notice how he feigns a false respect in addressing Jesus whom he hoped to destroy when possible. “Master” which means teacher. Despite His humble beginnings, these boogers could accept Jesus as a teacher, but never admit to His Sonship with God. I believe, beyond any doubt, that they knew precisely who He was, but could not accept it without the loss of power, prestige and the confidence of the people.
Jesus is the Author of the Law. How could He not answer correctly. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
This is called, in the reformation faith, the Summary of the Law. There is nothing therein to supercede the Ten Commandments of God, but makes both tables even more binding under the banner of LOVE.
How simple is this summary by Jesus. Yet, it is nearly impossible to love they neighbor as thyself. Only a heart fully committed to the Love of God could comply with this last part of the summary.
The Pharisees had failed to stymied Christ with there question on the Law. Now Jesu turns the tables on them with a question they could not have answered without admitted His own divinity: “What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?” This question the Pharisees could in no wise answer. It was a question of great depth and one inconvenient to their cause to answer even if they knew the answer. “And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.”
Now, our Lord asks a question that is applicable to us all: “What think ye of Christ?” Do we study the Gospel of our Lord with the same leisure as reading the morning paper? I hope not. It is the most important matter of our souls. How we read and study Scripture reveals how we answer that question - “What think ye of Christ?” Unless we have fed and digested the Word of God, how could we have a saving knowledge of Christ?
We must make His Word a part of our being. We must feed upon His Word daily just as the body requires daily nourishment for health. We need a healthy and understanding view of the Lord who bled and died in redemption of our sins. Can you answer the second part of the question Christ posed to the Pharisees?
“How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son.” The answer to that question is an open admission that Christ came in the flesh as the Son of David with the nature of both Man and God. This explains why the Pharisees could not, or would not, answer Him. Can you?
In the Name of the Father, and The Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
† Jerry Ogles
Jack Arnold
Bishop of the Diocese of the West – AOC USA
Education and Training Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide
Church of
the Faithful Centurion
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
Today’s sermon tied the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and talked, as is oft the case, of the need for action, not simply diction.
Consider the words of the Collect, “…grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God …”
When you hear the word GRACE, what do you think of?
· Help;
· Heavenly dispensation;
· A gift freely granted;
· The free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.
The word can be any of these, it comes from Middle English: via Old French from Latin gratia, from gratus ‘pleasing, thankful’ and is related to grateful.
In this case we are asking God’s help, for which He charges nothing, except our faith and loyalty to Him, to withstand the temptations of this world. It is impossible to resist the temptations of this world on our own. The Collect notes our temptations come from three different enemies:
1.The world;
2.The devil;
3.Ourselves.
We are asking for God’s help to help us resist each of those temptations from those sources. They are the three sources that will give us the most trouble through the rest of our lives. Without the help of the Holy Ghost it is impossible to hold off the temptations from the three sources. That is why we need to invite Him into our hearts, souls and minds that we might be able to resist the temptations from this three pronged attack on our souls. It is not easy even with the help of the Holy Ghost, but it is impossible without His Help. So let us invite Hiim in and listen and act upon His Advice so that we can resist those temptations.
So, when Paul writes the people of Corinth, it is not just them, but us, for whom he thanks God we have been the beneficiaries of His Grace, through Jesus we might have salvation, through Jesus our sins would in the end be forgiven. This is true of all Paul’s letters, his messages in them are not just speaking to the people of those churches, but to us, the wider part of the Church in general. The messages are truly timeless and are just as applicable to us now as it was to the readers back in the day.
A common misconception among non-Christians is that we are made perfect by Jesus. It would be convenient if we were made perfect. This is something that the Church and Christians in general need to do better at talking about. We are still not perfect, but we are aware of that and working hard to improve every day. There is nowhere in the Bible that states we become magically perfect when we accept the Holy Ghost and follow Christ. However what does happen when we accept the Holy Ghost is that we gain more awareness of our inner flaws and the Holy Ghost gives us the tools we need to help start to fix our inner flaws. This is a process that will occur through the rest of our natural lives. Also we need to make sure that our actions match our diction, otherwise our professed faith would be seen as meaningless by observers around us.
There are too many Christians who do not have their actions match their diction and these are the ones that non believers see and must presume our faith must be false because of it. This could not be further from the truth. We have to be always mindful of our dictions and actions. We also need to have our actions match our dictions in order to show the world that we do have faith in God and Jesus and that even though there are some Christians who have strayed from the path, that does not mean that our faith is a false one.
Paul goes onto mention that if we do follow Christ in both out words and deeds, as the testimony of Christ is confirmed in them, through our actions, we will be “In every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge…” We will be enriched significantly by Jesus if we do our very best to follow Him in both word and deed and so will our fellow Christians around us.
But, not everyone is content to take Jesus at His Word. After the Sadducees lost their round with Jesus, the Pharisees, feeling they were superior to the Sadducees, came together to trip Him up. However, as we know ourselves, one cannot trick God and if you try, you will fail every time. An expert in The Law, of which Pharisees were very fond, asked Him a question, trying to trick Him, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Thus, He provided the Summary of the Law we hear every Holy Communion.
The Pharisees made their earthly living providing guidance on how to get around the 613 Mosaic Laws with as little inconvenience as possible. They were astounded when Jesus boiled the intent of those laws down to two sentences. They were much more comfortable getting around laws than complying with ones which might inconvenience them.
Apparently tiring of the game with the Pharisees and wishing to confound them instead, Jesus asked them, saying, “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?” They say unto him, “The son of David.” For the scripture is clear He should be of the House of David. As God, Jesus has been from the beginning, so he queried them, “How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?” Not grasping the concept that God was, is and always will be, they could not answer and “from that day forth” no one would “ask him any more questions.” They realized they could not trick him with any more questions and it only made them look bad when He answered them.
There always be people like the Pharisees who strive to look for ways around doing what is right. That is just within our imperfect nature. We must strive not to be like them, and focus on doing what is right regardless of the cost to us. We need to follow Jesus’s example in this. He took action, even when it led to His painful death on the cross and descent into Hell. But still He did it anyway. We need to remember his example the next time we find ourselves reluctant to do what is right.
People are always going to try to avoid doing what God wants us to do, that is in our nature. We can see this today in our country, as it replaces God with the rule of man. We are to be Christians, not “good”, to do what God asks, not Go with the Flow! When you think about being a Christian, consider these quotes from GK Chesterton:
· Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.
· The word good has many meanings. For example, if a man were to shoot his grandmother at a range of five hundred yards, I should call him a good shot, but not necessarily a good man.
· The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.
· Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.
· A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.
G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
We are called to a new and different life, we ask the Lord, in His Grace, to lead us and follow us, to keep us always. Our goal is to do the Lord’s will, not to avoid 613 laws or to replace Him altogether. To do what is right, no matter how hard that may be and be humble. This is the summary of what the Christian life should be all about.
Action, not diction, is what counts. It is by your actions you are known.
Be of God - Live of God - Act of God
.jpg)
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.
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Sermon
The Bible tells us that it was the atoning work of Jesus Christ which opened the way of salvation for all who would believe on him. The Bible also makes it abundantly clear that there is nothing we can do to wipe away our sins apart from accepting Christ’s finished work on the cross at Calvary. For without his blood upon us, God will see only our wicked natures, and will regard all our works as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
And we cannot truly be assured of our salvation unless we are obedient to God’s word and commandment as found within the Holy Bible. Now, that will not be an easy task as the devil is ever industrious to keep as many as he can from embracing God’s word as truth (St. John 17:17). He tempted our first parents to sin against God in the Garden when he assumed the form of a serpent. And since that time, he has utilized his human agents to inhibit God’s plan for redemption both before and after the first advent of our Lord. Nevertheless, God sent forth his messengers to proclaim his plan for the redemption and restoration of mankind through Jesus Christ. And when at last the Messiah’s coming was revealed, Satan was there to tempt and test our Lord. The Rev. E. M. Bounds noted that, “...in the wilderness, Satan did not come as he came to Job, in frustrating storms of distress, but in the form of apparent sympathy and friendliness. It may have been in the disguise of a saintly hermit...If thou be the Son of God...command these stone be made bread (St. Matthew 4:3).” The devil tempted our Lord to demonstrate his power (vv.5-6). He went even further to seek worship from him in exchange for the kingdoms of the earth (vv.8-9). Unable to defeat our Lord in the wilderness, Satan then tried to discourage him with the meanness and pessimism of the religious elites. Under Satan’s influence, these human puppets mocked our Lord’s good deeds and miracles; accused him of fomenting rebellion against Rome; and charged him with blasphemy against God. They also convinced a sizeable number in Jerusalem to call for his crucifixion while at the same time calling for the Roman governor to release the murderer Barabbas. But whatever the Devil’s plans were at Christ’s death and burial, they surely “went the way of the Dodo” with our Lord’s resurrection. Whether Satan realized it or not, his kingdom had been beaten (Colossians 2:9-15).
In spite of our Lord’s victory, Satan has continued his campaign of luring souls away from Christ. He has done this via his corruption of the various denominations of Christendom much as he did to the Aaronic priesthood (see II Chronicles 36:14; Ezekiel 8); the kingly offices Israel and Judah; as well as the hearts and minds of the people (see II Chronicles 34:24-28; 36:15-16), not in some direct frontal assault, but by deceit. Now God did not leave us uninformed concerning Satan’s schemes for in the Book of Acts (20:26-31), we are supplied St. Paul’s warning to the Ephesian elders. First the apostle set the record straight when he said, 27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all that counsel of God (v. 27), and afterwards he warned them to 28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore, watch, and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears (vs.28-31). Sadly, we know from history that the later bishops failed to heed the apostle’s instruction. Consider our Lord’s parable of the foolish virgins who did not take sufficient oil with them (St. Matthew 25:1-13). They represent that portion of the church which will be unprepared to meet the Lord upon his return. Who else but the devil would insinuate such an alternative program to that of being prepared for the Master’s return?
And Satan continues to use his various puppets within the churches for a variety of tasks. For within these bodies, a host of ministers have been tutored in a false understanding of the Christian faith. And what do his disciples peddle, but that very thing which St. Paul spoke against: another gospel. Without a doubt, those so trained pose a very serious danger to the lay people of those churches where they have been posted as they are teaching and preaching various forms of infidelity from same-sex relationships to infanticide. Also, they have given their assent for persons who hold such beliefs to become ministers and bishops in spite of God’s stated condemnation of such behavior (Exodus 20:13; Leviticus 18:22).
They have even embraced a false universalism which does not conform to the exclusive nature of the gospel. And last but not least, many churches no longer use the Authorized King James Bible in favor of the more user-friendly new versions which remove such things as St. Mark 16:9-20 leaving their readers with a verse which reads, 8and they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid (v.8) rather than, 19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen (vv. 19-20). What a feeling of hopeless to end a gospel message with the former rather than the latter.
And should a congregant question one of Satan’s clergy minions about said matters, the Devil is ready to dialogue. “By all means, go and tell everybody but don’t be dogmatic. Teach them to love the world, and the things that are in the world for did not God create it and certify that it was good?” To which the observant Christian might respond, “But didn’t God say in the Bible that we are not to love the world and the things in the world?, 16for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (I St. John 2:16-17)?” (The word world used in this passage is kosmos and refers to this world system dominated by Satan). Undeterred by the presentation of God’s word the Devil’s puppet might respond, “Shouldn’t you rather love those you do not understand, or who are different from you? Shouldn’t you relax your fundamentalism which has no standing any longer in this church or, for that matter, in the one over there on the corner, or those down the street and across town? Check it out. The church has moved on since you were a child. We’re much more open now. What you need a good dose of tolerance and a willingness to be more inclusive. Does not the word say Judge not (St. Matthew 7:1)?” That last comment usually silences the inquirer because very many Christians are not fully schooled in what our Lord meant by that statement. We have been called to make righteous judgments and not hypocritical ones (St. John 7:24). We have been called to discern what the truth of God’s word means and that requires us to study and properly handle it (II St. Timothy 2:15).
And it goes without saying that the Devil will take full advantage of our ignorance so as to mask his real intentions. The English politician Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” And St. Jude reminded us, ...3that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (vv.3-4).
So it should be incumbent on all true and faithful Christians to know where their church leaders and denominations stand in relation to the truth of God’s word written. Unfortunately, there are no “Bereans” (re: Acts 17:10-11) out there pressing them for the truth. While I have heard it said that one can still find within the various apostate churches those who still love the Lord, if they are there, why don’t they speak out? One answer is that the Devil has made it hard for them to leave those bodies into which they were born and were baptized; where they spent their childhood, were confirmed, were married, and where many lovely and godly relationships were formed. Satan enjoys tugging at their heart-strings and trotting them down memory lane all in the hope that they will remain where they are and not seek out a church where the truth of God is preached, taught and lived. But sentimentality is a poor trade for the truth of the gospel and it certainly cannot save. God’s word is clear. In II Corinthians 6:14 the apostle Paul wrote, 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers... That last statement is self-explanatory. In no way, shape or form, are we to have unity with those who are in opposition to the truth of God’s word written. If a church body cannot be turned, then the true Christian must obey the voice of the Lord and forthwith leave that fellowship. It may mean that families will be divided (St. Matthew 10:34-37), but better that than to deny the truth of God’s word written and suffer the consequences for doing so.
In closing, I have a few questions which would be helpful: Does God’s word say that he will pardon the willfulness of the impenitent? Will he give those a pass who stayed in those places where his word written has been twisted? Will he accept their excuses such as, “My friends and family have attended this church for a long time”, or, “I cannot be buried next to so-and-so if I were to leave”, or, “I have gone to this church all my life and I am comfortable here”, or, “I have my social network here”? I can tell you in absolutely clear language, God expects obedience to his word written. If he tells you in Scripture to come out from among them and be ye separate (II Corinthians 6:14-18), then that is what you are supposed to do. Being obedient is a measure of faith. It does not matter what people will say now. Their excuses, their friendships, their associations, their social networks, their burial plots, etc. will not save them from being cast into perdition. All that truly matters is our faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ. Many will hear on that grim day of judgment his words , I never knew you: depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. (St. Matthew 7:23) And to that end, the Devil is counting on his minions and fellow-travelers to hold the ambivalent Christian in his or her pew, for in so doing he has chalked up a victory over them.
In sum, the Devil would have us believe another gospel which embraces all manner of heresies and spiritual frauds. So beware Christian! Reject them and live your life in obedience to God’s will in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is no time like the present, so begin today by following his word and commandment. And remember, tomorrow is promised to no one. Live today as if you would meet the Lord today.
Let us pray,
Father, we appeal to you for thy divine assistance, that you would keep us,from
all that the world, the flesh and the devil would have us to suffer; and make,of
us a people truly fit for thy kingdom; for this we ask in the name of him who,came
to seek and save the lost, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have a blessed week,
Bryan+
Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Diocese of the Midwest Anglican Orthodox Church
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Sermon - MP
Psalm 48; O.T. Lesson: Proverbs 2:1-9; N.T. Lesson: 1 Timothy 3:14-4:16
LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Book study in Colossians. Colossians chapter 1
1-8 All true Christians are brethren one to another. Faithfulness runs through every character and relation of the Christian life. Faith, hope, and love, are the three principal graces in the Christian life, and proper matter for prayer and thanksgiving.
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
The more we fix our hopes on the reward in the other world, the more free shall we be in doing good with our earthly treasure. It was treasured up for them, no enemy could deprive them of it. The gospel is the word of truth, and we may safely venture our souls upon it. And all who hear the word of the gospel, ought to bring forth the fruit of the gospel, obey it, and have their principles and lives formed according to it.
5For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Worldly love arises, either from views of interest or from likeness in manners; carnal love, from the appetite for pleasure. To these, something corrupt, selfish, and base always cleaves. But Christian love arises from the Holy Spirit, and is full of holiness.
7As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9-14 The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom.
9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power.
10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; The special use of this strength was for sufferings. There is work to be done, even when we are suffering. Amidst all their trials they gave thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, whose special grace fitted them to partake of the inheritance provided for the saints.
12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: To bring about this change, those were made willing subjects of Christ, who were slaves of Satan. All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared for heaven now. Those who have the inheritance of sons, have the education of sons, and the disposition of sons. By faith in Christ they enjoyed this redemption, as the purchase of his atoning blood, whereby forgiveness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings were bestowed.
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Surely then we shall deem it a favour to be delivered from Satan's kingdom and brought into that of Christ, knowing that all trials will soon end, and that every believer will be found among those who come out of great tribulation.
15-23 Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were created for him; being made by his power, they were made according to his pleasure, and for his praise and glory. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of his power that they are upheld.
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Christ as Mediator is the Head of the body, the church; all grace and strength are from him; and the church is his body. All fulness dwells in him; a fulness of merit and righteousness, of strength and grace for us. God showed his justice in requiring full satisfaction. This mode of redeeming mankind by the death of Christ was most suitable. Here is presented to our view the method of being reconciled.
20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
And that, notwithstanding the hatred of sin on God's part, it pleased God to reconcile fallen man to himself. If convinced that we were enemies in our minds by wicked works, and that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice and death of Christ in our nature, we shall not attempt to explain away, nor yet think fully to comprehend these mysteries; but we shall see the glory of this plan of redemption, and rejoice in the hope set before us. If this be so, that God's love is so great to us, what shall we do now for God? Be frequent in prayer, and abound in holy duties; and live no more to yourselves, but to Christ. Christ died for us. But wherefore? That we should still live in sin? No; but that we should die to sin, and live henceforth not to ourselves, but to Him.
23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24-29 Both the sufferings of the Head and of the members are called the sufferings of Christ, and make up, as it were, one body of sufferings. But He suffered for the redemption of the church; we suffer on other accounts; for we do but slightly taste that cup of afflictions of which Christ first drank deeply. 24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
A Christian may be said to fill up that which remains of the sufferings of Christ, when he takes up his cross, and after the pattern of Christ, bears patiently the afflictions God allots to him. Let us be thankful that God has made known to us mysteries hidden from ages and generations, and has showed the riches of his glory among us.
25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
As Christ is preached among us, let us seriously inquire, whether he dwells and reigns in us; for this alone can warrant our assured hope of his glory. We must be faithful to death, through all trials, that we may receive the crown of life, and obtain the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.
27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
* commentary from Matthew Henry
Beloved, go in peace, in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen
+Roy Morales-Kuhn
Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
18th Sunday after Trinity – St. Luke’s Day
Luke and the Doctors. There are Doctors and there are Doctors!
"None can adquately describe the radical contrast there is between the bondage and misery of the service of sin and the liberty and peace of practical holiness. But anyone who has personally experienced both, need have no difficulty in determining whether he be out of Christ or yoked to Him. If you have a peace which passes all understanding and a joy which the world knows nothing of, you are a godly person. If despite both inward and outward opposition, you find obedience to Christ desirable and agreeable, then, His Spirit must indwell you, and the more you grow in grace, the easier His yoke and the lighter His burden." Arthur Pink , " Identification of the Ungodly"
ARTHUR W. PINK (1886-1952) was an English Christian evangelist and biblical scholar known for his staunchly Calvinist and Puritan-like teachings)
The Prayer for October 18 - St. Luke the Evangelist
ALMIGHTY God, who didst inspire thy servant Saint Luke the Physician, to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of thy Son; Manifest in thy Church the like power and love, to the healing of our bodies and our souls; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LUKE the Dr…..and there are Doctors! We celebrate Luke today ( Oct 18 or today 19th) the physician. OT: Isaiah 52:7-10; Epistle:2 Timothy 4:5-13; Gospel :Luke 4:14-21; Sermon- " There are Doctors , and there are Doctors!"
Doctors, nurses, their staff are important people in our lives. Who can remember when drs made house visits? I remember when I lived in Philadelphia as a kid. I was very sick. Dr. Coffee came to see me.
(was it a flu bug --I forget). Now paperwork seems to be the issue when they can't spend the time, but some still seem to do it. We all have great memories and present ones of some good medical care we have received. Today is the Day (18 Oct) to remember doctors and medical all.
2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 7Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. 10Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 15Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. 18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. ( Colossians 4:2-18)
Paul calls Luke in his letter to the Colossians 4:14, "the beloved physician". This was quite a commendation. He was beloved by God and Paul calls him beloved.
What will be said about us? Are we resolute in our faith, trustworthy in doing the work of sharing the good news, the gospel? Can God count on us? Can people count on us? Do we have resolute beliefs that come our faith in Christ and the Holy Scriptures, or do we drift with the times and the feelings of the moment? Do we look like the house built on rock or the house built on sand?
The author speaks of a high fever Luke 4:38 Simon's mother-in-law while Mt 8:14 speak only of a fever, and Mark 1:30 as well so medical knowledge seems to be present. The author speaks of a man full of leprosy 5:12, so it was an advanced case. 8:43 the author speaks of an issue of blood 12 yrs " (she) had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any ...Mk 5:26 says this as well. But Jesus healed her when she touched His garment.
I titled this sermon because there are doctors and there are doctors and it takes a real DR to help us .....! As we know some do not do as well as others. Of course, our Lord is spoken of as the Great Physician Luke 4:23 (Mark 2:17 "They that are whole have no need of a physician but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.." Luke 5:32 adds to repentance.)
---How does our faith into our work lives? That is the real question. Having a foundation in our lives helps us do our jobs better for God and man. Luke was such a person. He believed, and told about God and our Lord in such a way that others heard it. He wrote Acts of the Apostles as well it is believed. As a Gentile, Luke wrote for the salvation of all. He traveled with the Apostle Paul. Luke alone tells of the birth of Jesus, and moreover tells of the Lord's love for all women.
A martyr is a witness. Mark Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.
Luke Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.
John Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
Peter was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
Today we celebrate the medical----There are nurses, and there are nurses too. I found Jo Taylor informative who said in her column, "Things I have learned from being an ER Nurse"---
There really is a light in your eyes that goes out when you die. It is humbling to watch. ...Playing practical jokes on the doctors makes the day go by faster. Surgeons don't have the ER sense of humor. If you tell a mother that her 18 year old son is dead, you will remember her face and her name forever. If you advocate for a mother to hold her 7 year old child one more time, she will remember your face and your name forever."
Here are some more, " Everyone's spelling nurse wrong. It's spelled ANGEL."
Perhaps we should include Chaplains in this as well who deal with people of all faiths and try and bring man to God and God to man.
"We pray for all doctors, nurses and emergency workers. May they rejoice in the skills you have given them which enable them to bring hope, healing and wholeness to those in their care. May they also know guidance and support in times of pain and frustration when their skills are not enough to prevent permanent injury, disability or death. Bless each one of them, that they may be a blessing to others." (c. Barbara A Scott ‘Shaping Prayer)
It is really all about the soul and body set forth in the Gospel "the love and healing power of thy Son..." So we pray the Church as well would manifest this too...the power and love of Christ to the healing of our bodies and our souls.
ALMIGHTY God, who didst inspire thy servant Saint Luke the Physician, to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of thy Son; Manifest in thy Church the like power and love, to the healing of our bodies and our souls; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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:
Kamil – pray for successful – Chemotherapy
Sherrie – recovery from Surgery
Donna – Brain Cancer that returned – receiving radiation that is horribly affecting her speech
Paul Meier – throat cancer- radiation treatment successful
Richard Bailey – Brain Cancer
Pastor Glen Shoals – Skin Cancer
Heather – healthy pregnancy and delivery
Rachel – Conratulations Rachel had a healthy baby boy – Obidiah Richards, continue praying for Rachel health, having some difficulties post partum
Marilee – Mastectomy Update – pray for successful – chemotherapy- difficulty had to stop – keep praying
Roy – Bulging disc – upcoming surgery
Jim - scheduling surgery for a heart ablation
Turpal, Bishop Mera – Spiritual Warfare for a new Christian
For those who Mourn:
J. W. Manley and friends – loss of wife, friend, Maria
Travis – wife Cindy unexpectedly with cancer – undiagnosed
AOC Convention and Ministers meeting Sept 30- Oct 2 – Thank you for your Prayers – Succesfful and Spirit filled Convention -with Two New Priest Ordained – The Rev. Don Fultz – Statesville, NC; The Rev. Francisco Nieves - Texas
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
Betsey – Lane – Betsy onset of Dementia- Marianne her daughter
South Korea – pray to defeat the communists trying to take over; protection for the South Korean people.
Church of the Redeemer – changes in leadership, mourning loss of a wonderful Minister and Friend
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu-health issues, Jim – medication
tolerance, Dotty, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia,
Josh Morley-Praise no seizures 1-1/2 years, AOC USA, AOC Missions, Zach, Harper-IBS ,
Jim Sevier- God’s
Peace, Linda –
multiple myeloma, Colin, Marianne, Betsey - Dementia
Donna-chemotherapy, Aleyda-doing well, Daniel, Alicia-caregiver, Lydia, Sophie, Colin and Lori Beall –
cancer, Toni – cancer, Donna - cancer, Malou –
cancer, Roseanne, Bobby,
Archie, Eloise, Janice, Dakota, Katie, Finley, Mike & Gayle
Comments
Post a Comment