The Way of the Mountains – 31 May 2023, Anno Domini

 

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O forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. (Isaiah 49:9-11)

 

            Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on earth (as physical mountains go) at 29,035 ft above sea level. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tanzing Norgay were the first to mount the summit of Everest on 29 May 1953. Since that time, hundreds – not thousands – have followed in the steps of those two men in conquering that worldly summit. But the mountains of men’s vain labors are less than mole hills compared to the Himalaya’s of God. His mountains are described as moral and spiritual landmarks for His people. There are spiritual mountains to which the Christian can point in his Christian walk – the Bible stories and hymns he remembers as a child, his baptism and confirmation to which he can point back, the moments of crises that seemed to spell doom but was turned to victory in Christ. But there are other mountains that are referred to as the Mountains of God. There are seven distinct mountains that we may refer to as the Mountains of the Lord. These point to the Way of the Lord in dealing with His people each have a symbolic meaning to us. Let us examine these Seven Mountains:

 

Mount Moriah

To me, the foremost mountain, even if the smallest in stature, is Mount Moriah. It is the mountain of redemption upon which the Temple was constructed and where our Lord was crucified. When Abraham approached Mount Moriah, Isaac asked, Father, where is the lamb for the offering? to which Abraham responded, My son, God will provide Himself a Lamb for the offering. And in the fullness of time, God DID provide Himself a Lamb for the offering in the Person of His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God! Abraham called Moriah, Jehovah-Jireh, meaning God will provide.

 

Mount Horeb

The Mountain of Mercy and Revelation. It is the Mount upon which Moses was confronted with the burning bush, but it is also the mountain upon which God mercifully provided an endlessly flowing fountain of water from the split Rock which represented Christ.

 

Mount Sinai

This is the Mountain of Law and judgment. God gave to Moses the Ten Commandments written with the very finger of god atop this mountain. Any who touched the mountain during God’s presence would be stricken with death. The same is true of the Law. All who hope to gain salvation by obedience to the Law (impossible) will be stricken with death. Interestingly, and thankfully, the mountain of law and judgment comes behind the mountain of mercy (Horeb). Mercy trumps law.

 

Mount Hor

The mountain of transition. It was upon this mountain that Aaron was stripped of his priestly vestments, which were then given to Eleazar, and died upon Mount Hor. Aaron, like Moses, was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because of the failure to credit the Lord with the flowing waters from the rock of Meribah at Mount Horeb. He died upon Mount Hor. Mount Hor is the Mount of final things. We will all be relieved of our earthly garments and take up the White Robe purchased for us by Christ at our passing.

 

Mount Nebo

This is the mountain of vision from which Moses was taken up to view the Promised Land. He, like Aaron, was not allowed to cross over Jordan to the Promised Land, but was allowed to view it from the peak of Mount Pisgah thereof. Moses died on Mount Nebo and secretly buried by the Lord in the Valley of Moab. The next time we find Moses in Scripture was atop the Mount of Transfiguration conversing with our Lord – a far greater mountain than Mount Nebo and truly in the Land of Promise.

 

Mount Zion

This is the mountain of final victory and joy. But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. (Obadiah 17)  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Revelations 14:1)

 

Mount Olivet

This is the way to Christ and the way of prayer. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt 24:3) Jesus often resorted to this mountain for prayer.(see John 8:1)

 

            The mountains of the Lord are the high places of our spiritual journey. We all have our Mountains of the Lord to confront, but these are blessings in the climbing: Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. (Psalm 36:5-6)

Traditional Memorial Day (1868-1970), 30 May 2023 Anno Domini

God of our fathers, known of old,

Lord of our far-flung battle-line,

Beneath whose awful Hand we hold

Dominion over palm and pine—

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Recessional by Rudyard Kipling, 1897

 

            This hymn was written in 1866 to augment the observance of Decoration Day observed by the widows of Confederate soldiers by the laying of wreaths. The only identity we have for the author of the lyrics is G.R.W. The musical score is the work of Mrs. L. Nellie Sweet.

 

AE Blackman of New Orleans published the song in 1867. It is one of many poetic works in the South following the War Between the States. Another beautiful song of the period, not printed here, is Somebody’s Darling – a song my mother used to sing often. In 1868, the President of the United States declared May 30^th a National Memorial Day for all who died in defense of our Nation – North and South, and all other wars.

 

Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping

 

Kneel where our loves are sleeping,

Dear ones loved in days gone by,

here we bow in holy reverence,

Our bosoms heave the heart-felt sigh.

They fell like brave men, true as steel,

And pour'd their blood like rain-

We feel we owe them all we have,

And can but kneel and weep again.

Chorus

Kneel where our loves are sleeping, 

They lost but still were good and true,

Our fathers, brothers fell still fighting, 

We weep, ‘tis all that we can do.

 

Here we find our noble dead, 

Their spirits soar’d to him above,

Rest they now about his throne, 

For God is mercy, God is love.

Then let us pray that we may live, 

As pure and good as they have been,

That dying we may ask of him, 

To open the gate and let us in.

 

            These lyrics are more an expression of grief than a hymn of worship. It is symbolic only in its venue of the beloved dead for they are not in the grave, but their spirits have returned to God who gave them. It reminds us of the soldier spirit – if one must go down in battle, do so with one’s lights burning brightly as a true soldier of conscience.

 

            Though southern monuments as well as those of our National Forefathers are being tarnished and destroyed by Marxists ideological adherents, we will not forget Lee, Jackson, Jefferson, Washington, Adams, and Franklin of both North and South whose lives reflected a higher quality of character than any we have representing us in Washington, DC today. 

 

Bishop’s Letter for Memorial Day Observance 29 May 2023, Anno Domini (in the 247th year of our Declaration of Independence)

 

 

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HAT this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?  (Joshua 4:6)

 

            In remembrance of all the courageous men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, we observe this day of Memorial, and well we should. The Perfect Law of Liberty comes down to us by the grace of God. All who bear, or have borne, arms in the defense of Liberty as ministers of God to execute wrath against those who would trample those liberties under foot.

 

            Just as the Lord God dried up the waters of the Red Sea and Jordan River for thew passage of His people into His chosen refuge for them, so did He stand on the banks of the Delaware and wrought the fog to cover the waters that blinded the Hessian forces, fighting under the British flag, to Washington’s crossing in force. God has been our refuge in many battles from that time until now. How shall we remember the Hand of God as well as those who ministered His purpose in our victories? We read of them and tell our children of men such as Washington, Lafayette, Robert E. Lee, General McClelland, Sergeant York, Audi Murphy, and a host of others. To bear witness of our heroic Fore-Fathers, we have scheduled this day of Remembrance. We have also erected monuments across the landscape of America to call to our recollection that such men bled and died on the altar of Liberty for us. 

 

            If, by cunning art, the enemy is allowed to destroy our monuments and historical references, we are rendered helpless to justify our God-given rights under a harsh totalitarian regime. In all known history, one of the first methods of subverting a nation has been to destroy its institutional memory. The Nazis did it, the Communists did (and are doing) it, the Al-Qaida Muslims did it, and now we see the same practice emerging on the shores of our beloved land. Our children have been made ignorant of our history through Marxist propagandizing in our public education. And we have stood by silently throughout the entire process. 

 

            Let us honor the memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice on the field of battle for us; and, more importantly, let us be willing to bear the same burden of sacrifice for the freedoms of ourselves, our fellow citizens, and our children. History teaches us what can happen when men and women refuse to stand boldly in defense of their freedoms.

 

            When the Children of Israel passed over Jordan Banks, there were two monumental memorials laid down to commemorate that crossing – one mound of twelve stones on the far Bank of Jordan (western-side), but also one mound of twelve stones in the midst of the riverbed where the feet of the priest stood holding the Ark of the Lord in abeyance of the waters of the river. When the muddy waters of the Jordan were once more set in free-flow, that mid-river memorial was hidden from sight. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.  (Joshua 4:9) What purpose did the hidden memorial serve? It is symbolic of our duty to not simply remember in outward from the great occasion of the crossing of the Jordan, but also the inward and spiritual remembrance thereof in our values and character.

 

            Not only do those who would subvert the God-given freedoms of America wish to abolish the outward recognition of our heroes through demolition of monuments, but also to remove them from our inward understanding by eliminating any historical reference to them in our public schools via indoctrination.

 

            The Providence of God was with us at our Founding as a nation; but He will not stand idly by as we openly rebel against that Providential Hand: For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over  (Joshua 4:23)

 

            Let us honor our God, our Flag, and our Fore-Fathers this Memorial Day, but every day of our future being – and let us ALWAYS stand for our National Anthem under whose Broad Stripes and Bright Stars our Ancestors valiantly fought that we may breathe freely the pristine air of Liberty. Happy Memorial Day! 

 

The Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide Communion

Jerry L. Ogles, DD, Presiding Bishop

Master Aviator, US Army

AOC Sunday Report - Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday

 

Happy Pentecost Sunday, commonly called Whitsunday in the Anglican tradition.

The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

You have some really great sermon today from Bishops Jerry and Roy, as well as Revs Jack, and Bryan.  Rev Jack brings the Propers together today.    His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on video HERE ->  https://youtu.be/knwN_g4TNxA

In the Collect we acknowledge God sending us the Holy Ghost that we might have a direct connection to him.  The text serving as this morning’s Epistle came from the Second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles beginning at the First Verse, which consisted primarily of a listing of all the countries and regions surrounding Jerusalem, or at least the hardest to pronounce ones, and a description of the actions of the Apostles when the Holy Ghost came upon them.  But, you will also notice that the coming of the Holy Ghost demonstrated the universality of The Word, for when they spoke in tongues, The Word spoke to each in their own language.  The Word was not some stranger’s language, but their very own!   In the Gospel, Jesus tells us if we truly believe on Him, we have no choice, but to actualize those beliefs in our actions.  It all comes together.  Having trouble visualizing that?  Read or listen to Rev Jack’s sermon.

There are always a lot of people who desire your prayers. Today is no exception. Please take a little bit of time out of your busy day and pray. You'll be surprised what a good can come of it. Please start with Shamu, Tricia, Laurie and work out from there.

Tomorrow in the United States we honor those who have given their lives in the service of our country, and those have gone before us on Memorial Day.  Bishop Jerry's letter which can be downloaded HERE will be published tomorrow. Freedom is not free and has cost many many lives. Perhaps more than that it affected those who remain behind.  Thank about it as you have your day off and Bar-B-Que.

Today is a particular Sunday we think about that Third God Guy the Holy Ghost. I hope you will let him into your heart.

Godspeed,

Hap

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

United States of America

Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday

Rev Jack brings the Propers together today.    His sermon is below the propers and can be viewed on videoHERE -> https://youtu.be/knwN_g4TNxA

 

In the Collect we acknowledge God sending us the Holy Ghost that we might have a direct connection to him.  The text serving as this morning’s Epistle came from the Second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles beginning at the First Verse, which consisted primarily of a listing of all the countries and regions surrounding Jerusalem, or at least the hardest to pronounce ones, and a description of the actions of the Apostles when the Holy Ghost came upon them.  But, you will also notice that the coming of the Holy Ghost demonstrated the universality of The Word, for when they spoke in tongues, The Word spoke to each in their own language.  The Word was not some stranger’s language, but their very own!   In the Gospel, Jesus tells us if we truly believe on Him, we have no choice, but to actualize those beliefs in our actions.  It all comes together. Having trouble visualizing that?  Read or listen to Rev Jack’s sermon.

The Propers for today are found on Page 180-182, with the Collect first:

 

Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday.

The Collect.

 

O

 GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end.  Amen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout Whitsun Week.

 

The text serving as this morning’s Epistle came from the Second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles beginning at the First Verse, which consisted primarily of a listing of all the countries and regions surrounding Jerusalem, or at least the hardest to pronounce ones, and a description of the actions of the Apostles when the Holy Ghost came upon them.  But, you will also notice that the coming of the Holy Ghost demonstrated the universality of The Word, for when they spoke in tongues, The Word spoke to each in their own language.  The Word was not some stranger’s language, but their very own! 

 

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HEN the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 

 

Today’s Gospel came from the Fourteenth Chapter of the Gospel according to Saint John beginning at the Fifteenth Verse: 

 

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ESUS said unto his disciples, If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.

Sermon – Reverend Jack Arnold - Time and Action

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

Rev Jack’s sermon is available on video RIGHT HERE.  https://youtu.be/knwN_g4TNxA

 

Today’s sermon brought the Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords above. 

 

Consider these words from the Collect:

 

… sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort …

 

When Jesus left on Ascension Day, we lost a teacher here on earth.  We still have Him in our memories as Redeemer and Savior; but what to do for understanding and that needed closeness to God?  In response to His departure, God sent us the Holy Ghost.

 

Who is this Holy Ghost and why is he here?

 

We worship the One True God, a triune God, that is Three in One; Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Most people have no trouble understanding the concept of God the Father, Christians seem to get God the Son, but many seem to have a difficulty with the Holy Ghost, the Third God Guy.

 

The Holy Ghost has been there since the beginning.  He breathed life into the world, yet His actions seemed to be sporadic until Pentecost. 

 

Well, today is Pentecost, the time one normally thinks of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, the Comforter.  When people do think of Him, they oft think of the actions described in the words of Saint Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.  The dancing and speaking in tongues.  All that happened so we might understand with the help of the Holy Ghost we might bring the Word to all mankind.  The Word of God is a universal language.  When the disciples spoke in tongues, the people around them heard the Word in their own language, not an odd combination of sounds that no one understood.  The point behind the demonstration was that through the Holy Spirit, we can reach out to all the corners through the world and find a way to communicate the Good News to all people in this world. It was not to show that we could communicate in different languages with no effort required on our part. It was to show that we need the help of the Holy Spirit in order to help us spread the Word. There will of course be efforts to be made to learn the languages of the various peoples, this was just to show that with work and practice and with the Holy Spirit within us, this massive effort is indeed possible. Without the Holy Spirit this would be an impossible mission, but with the assistance of the Holy Ghost this mission is very much possible.

 

We need the Holy Ghost if we are to follow Christ’s Great Commission. He knew we would need the Holy Ghost if we were to have any success in this endeavor. Because we alone left to our own miserable devices would surely fail in following the Great Commission.  However, He also knew He needed to leave if the Holy Ghost were to come and stay, so the Holy Ghost’s coming had to wait until after the Ascension. He had it planned out so the disciples would not be without a direct connection to Him for very long. His Plan as always was perfect and His timing is impeccable.

 

Another reason we need to have the Holy Ghost within us is to give us the “righteous judgment” the Collect speaks of. This judgment is not the same as God’s final judgment on our performance, but it is a judgment based on Scriptural values, with the Holy Ghost’s help, we can make on our lives and others lives, based on how we see it through the lens of the Holy Ghost and Scripture. It is not to insult people, but to be truthful from the standpoint of Scriptures and be able to say certain behaviors in this world do not line up with Scripture, i.e. homosexuality and abortion. To say those behaviors are not Christian is a righteous judgment statement that the Holy Ghost helps us determine.  To stay on course we need to use the Holy Ghost for that righteous judgement so we can stay on the narrow up hill path towards heaven. People who do not have the Holy Ghost within them get offended and think we are judging them. We are judging them but not to their final destination, we are judging them by their inadherence to the concepts of Scripture. We do not have control over their final destination, only they do, which they will not like if they keep proceeding on behaviors that are not compatible with scripture.

 

Using the Holy Ghost for righteous judgment  is like when flight instructors are teaching a student, they go by the FAA’s Airmen Certification Standards and if a student busts an altitude variance level or go outside a parameter for a certain maneuver, the instructor has to tell the student of their mistake and that they went outside the standards and then work with them to help stay within the standards and correct their mistakes. This is why God wants us to have the righteous judgement to help point out the errors, not force people into correcting them, but pointing it out for them to correct on their own. We cannot correct peoples mistakes for them, but we can let them know where they are in error so they can rectify it themselves.

 

The Holy Ghost is also our direct connection to God. When Jesus left, the disciples were distant from God. When they were not near Jesus, they did not do as well as when they were with Him. This is why God sent the Holy Ghost that the Apostles and us might have that connection. As with the righteous judgement, the Holy Ghost helps us to align our actions and views with that of Scripture. The Holy Ghost helps us to properly understand and apply Scriptural principles in our own lives.  He helps us like the focus feature on a camera to see clearly what God wants us to do. Without Him in our hearts, it is like a blurry, unfocused and unlit image, very dark. We need Him in our hearts to focus our minds, souls and hearts on what we need to do for Him. The people not of God and that don’t have the Holy Spirit within them will never understand the righteous judgement and label it bigotry when that word couldn’t be farther from the truth. Note Peter’s actions after the arrest of Jesus for an example, thrice denying His Lord. The Holy Ghost came so we would have understanding and a direct connection to God, wireless as it were, instead of having to be tethered to Christ.  This is how God can always be with us wherever we arer.

 

If we allow the Holy Ghost into our hearts, we will never be far from Him, and He will never be far from us. We have to consciously let Him into our hearts, He will not come uninvited into our hearts. He will be a constant guiding presence in our lives, that will give us peace in times of trouble, and will help us guide and focus our minds in our worship of God.  He will give us inspiration and help us to do what is right for our fellow Christians and friends, while staying true to God. He will light our paths in difficult times and trials and will give us the guidance we need to finish our race for God.

 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that He would be leaving, but the Father would send a facilitator; one who whose presence, if we let Him into our hearts, would bring understanding of His Word into those self-same hearts.  The Comforter would bring the Love of God into our hearts to let us feel His Love.  He will help us understand we are striving to be one with God, with Jesus and with the Holy Ghost.  Our love is demonstrated by our actions.  Jesus points out those who do not truly love Him will not keep His Commandments. However, if we truly do love him, we must act for Him and by doing so will keep his commandments.  

 

If you think about it, you will recall the second half of the Book of Luke is titled The Acts of the Apostles.  It is not the thoughts, the beliefs, the feelings, the meditations, the inner feelings or any other touchy feely thing, it is the ACTS.  If you believe, you must act on those beliefs. The Holy Ghost is here to help us know how to act, we will just have to let Him into our hearts, and then ACT. Only by acting can we show that we have faith. Faith without actions is a very hollow faith.

 

We need the help of the Holy Ghost to learn what we are to do, how we are to do it and most of all to do it.  Action, not just diction.

 

Pray for His continual presence in your heart.

 

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

 

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

 

It is by our actions we are known.

 

Be of God - Live of God - Act of God

Sermon Notes – Perception - Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday - 28 May 2023, Anno Domini

Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday.

The Collect.

 

O

 GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end.  Amen.

 

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout Whitsun Week.

 

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HE woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. ²¹ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. ²² Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. ²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. ²⁵ The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. ²⁶ Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.  (John 4:19-26)

 

After our Lord’s Ascension, He did not leave us without the Presence of the Holy spirit to comfort, lead, direct, and enlighten our understanding of the testimony of the Holy Spirit. As the Prayer of Collect stipulates, the Holy Spirit is our Light in present times. The right judgment we seek to have is that proper understanding of God’s Word and its application in judging right and wrong. The Holy Spirit is a gift from our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven.

 

We have hitherto observed the Church Season from Advent to Whitsunday (today) of the present year. The entire church year is like the budding of a beautiful rose in revealing the completed works of Christ for us.

 

The stronger part of today’s lectionary text is not in complete context, so I have added to the introductory verses for further clarification. The Bread and Water of the Lord is sourced at a far more exalted Fountain than our wells and tables of earth. Even earlier in this passage from John 4, the Lord asked the woman to give Him water. This was not only intended to establish a friendly rapport, but to introduce a mild covenant. 

 

In the custom of the East, to partake of the courtesy of a drink from the enemy, the recipient cannot be treated otherwise than as an honored guest.

 

In today’s text, Jesus had begun his ministry on Jordan Banks at His baptism, performed His first Miracle at a Wedding Feast at Cana of Galilee, and then determines that “He must needs go through Samaria.” This is more than a quaint phrase from Shakespearean English. Why did Jesus NEED to go through Samaria when this would have been a diversion to the normal course of travel to Galilee? Perhaps we might posit that question much earlier: why did Jesus find it necessary to come to Bethlehem as a babe, or to be baptized like unto us, or to do so many marvelous works and wonders among us, or to readily go to the cross and die in our stead? The answer, of course, is that He must satisfy the foreordained purpose and grace of God the Father in saving us…..and, as well, a poor and sinful woman at Jacob’s Well, and at an insignificant city in Samaria. Christ must needs go through Samaria because He knew of a woman whose heart was pierced with many wounds that sin had caused in that heart. And He came not only for that particular woman, but all of the other men and women of Samaria who would be drawn to Him through the testimony of that woman whom no one would have believed prior to her coming to know Christ. Is this not marvelous to know - that He came, two thousand years ago, to a manger in Bethlehem to save multitudes of that land, but also you and me in particular!

 

Christ had a rendezvous with an unsuspecting woman whom He had watched many times, through the eyes of the Holy Ghost, come to draw water at an inopportune time of noon to the Well.  She thirsted for water, but she knew not that Water which would satisfy not only her thirst but her soul. She brings an empty bucket to be filled, but she also brings an empty heart that needed filling more. 

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is foremost a gentleman. The Spanish say: “Jesus es el Senor” He will not impolitely impose upon our hearts without a proper opening.  The Lord insightfully engages the woman with a marvelous exchange of wisdom and insight into her character and present circumstance. Doesn’t He engage us in the same manner? Have we ever gone through the usual exercise of the day when, suddenly, we meet someone, or have an experience, that is totally unplanned but which changes our whole day? The woman got out of bed as usual that day. She avoided the women of the city and their gossip by going to the Well at the unusual hour of greatest heat – Noon.  But there she met someone whom she considered to be a Stranger. Perhaps He had been to her, but she had been no stranger to Him for He knew of every secret of her heart. He knows the secrets of our hearts as well and nothing is hidden from His understanding.

 

As the two discuss the matter of water, the poor woman’s heart is focused on water that lies fifty feet or so beneath the surface in the bottom of a Well; but Christ makes reference to that Water which comes down from Heaven – the Water of Life which He freely offers. An empty heart can hold much of this Water once it opens to the Giver. Our hearts are also made to be receptacles of that Water of Life if we open them to the Giver.

 

The woman claims not to have a husband, and Jesus confirms she does not have, for the five she has had before are not her husbands, and the one with whom she lives now is not her husband. The woman is mystified by this Stranger whom she cannot deceive. He knows too much of her to be one of those kinds of men she has known in her past.  That is one of the characteristics of Jesus – He mystifies us with His grace, His love, and His Wisdom towards us.

 

The woman recognizes that none other than a great prophet could utter such words of understanding. Her sin-dimmed mind is beginning to receive a small and glowing light that leads to an even greater suspicion of who this Figure might be.  She says that Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Now her mind is turned from earthly water to that which Christ offers. She is curious to know more. 

 

²¹ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. ²² Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. ²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.  Has that hour yet come for the moslem-infested land of Samaria? Truly it has.  We, too, can know what and Whom we worship for Christ has taken upon His perfect Person the flesh of men such as we are. Being sinless, He suffered every pain and temptation that we are heir to. There is not longer any geographic limitation to the worship of God; however, we must worship in Spirit and, at the same time, in Truth. If we have great spirit, but depart from truth, we are not worshipping the True God. If we worship rigidly in Truth but lack the attendant Spirit of Love, we are amiss in our worship. Truth and Spirit combine to the glory of God in worship.

 

The lesson of today’s Gospel text reminds us of the fullness of the ministry and Person of Christ. He came in the flesh to minister to us and to be Light unto our path. He died for us sealing the redemption promised to Abraham and his Seed. He was, in fact, that Promised Seed. He rose on the Third Day, according to the Scriptures, and then what? He ascended into Heaven where He sits on the right hand of God to be our constant Advocate and Intercessor. Having physically departed, Christ promised not to leave us comfortless (Greek meaning: orphaned). He must send the Spirit to be our Comforter and Guide in leading us into an understanding of all the truth of Christ revealed in Scripture. A Spirit is not limited in physical properties. The Holy Spirit has the nature to be in a billion hearts at once and leading all in the particular way the Spirit determines. Christ went away in bodily form and sent the Spirit to be a comfort to all of God’s people regardless the distance and time that separates them from one another. This is the Glory of Pentecost and Whitsunday! 

 

Do you have that Water of Life poured out in your heart by that Holy Spirit of God in Christ today?

 

Esau have I hated - 25 May 2023, Anno Domini

 

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S it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Romans 9:13-15)

 

            There are mysteries associated with the character of Esau but as with most biblical mysteries, they can be understood with a deeper study of the Will and Mind of God in His Scriptures. As with righteous Abel, with Isaac, and with Jacob, these were the second born of their fathers. Esau was the first-born, so was Ishmael, and so was Cain. They would have legally been the sons of preeminence with the fathers, but not so in either of the cases mentioned. Cain was an incorrigible sinner – murderer, liar, and uncaring for his brother. Ishmael was born outside the promise to Abraham that Sarah would bear a child (illegitimate); therefore, Isaac was considered to be the ONLY son of Abraham. 

 

            Esau was a macho-man who was a hunter before the Lord. In fact, he placed a higher premium on his hunting than he did upon obedience to God. He was a fellow who was quite sure of himself. He was not only disrespectful to God, but also to his father. In disobedience to the will of his father, Isaac, Esau took wives of the women of Canaan and also married a daughter of Ishmael. This grieved Isaac greatly just as God was grieved at Esau insolence toward his inheritance.

 

            God loved Jacob, but Esau he hated. That seems so out of character of our view of God, but it is a biblical fact. God does not love child predators, vicious murderers, or the depraved. There is a terrible judgment that awaits such people who remain intransigent in their sins. God loves those who love His only Begotten Son. And He knows already those whom He will call out of egregious sin to Himself. The others are doomed to an eternity of darkness in Hell. Those will be subject to the second death mentioned in Revelations: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Rev 20:14)

 

            Jacob, too, was quite undesirable in some respects. He usurped his brother’s inheritance; but in doing so, God made us of his treachery to suit His own purpose. When we come to Christ, God will use even our past sins as a guide to moral consciousness. 

 

            While out hunting, Esau became famished with hunger. On his return, his brother, Jacob, was making some red porridge. Esau requested a bowl of the porridge, but Jacob made a deal with Esau – a bowl of red porridge for Esau’s birthright as first son. Like many who take their vows to the Lord seriously, Esau agreed to the exchange perhaps thinking his vow would not be realized. After all, Esau was a macho man and would get his way (he thought). Many professing Christians today are daily trading away their birthright in Christ for a bowl of soup, a diamond ring, a bag of gold, or a night of debauchery. Those who are most materially blessed seem to be more subject to the disavowal of their duties before the Lord – much like Esau.

 

            How did God demonstrate His hatred toward Esau? Did he afflict him with leprosy or some other debilitating malady? Did He take away his status as a wealthy owner of many flocks of cattle? No, God did none of those things. He simply forsook any interference in the life of Esau. He left Esau to his own devices. Esau became the father of the Edomites. Ironically, the hatred of God for Esau was visited upon Esau’s own descendants. Just as Esau had little respect for his own inheritance, so the Edomites suffered the inheritance of God’s disfavor with their father: Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever. (Malachi 1:4)

 

            If we desert God after having known Him, He may forsake us to our own devices. How do you suppose that will work out for us? But it may be that God will not forsake altogether – He may use our decadence as a means of awakening our consciences to the terrible need we suffer. Only God knows if He will bring the desperate sinner to His bosom - the matter was decided in eternity past before the worlds were made. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)

Occupy! - 24 May 2023, Anno Domini

 

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 CERTAIN nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.  (Luke 19:12-14)

 

            This parable is a summary of the whole Gospel. It represents the earthly ministry of our Lord, His returning to the throne of His Father, and returning to judge the world.

 

            Let us examine the term ‘occupy’ before proceeding to a more detailed study of the parable. Regardless the offensive capability of an army, it cannot achieve full victory if it is unable to occupy and hold the conquered territory. This is one of the responsibilities of the infantry branch in the modern field army. The Church, too, is composed of such foot soldiers whose mission is to recover the mal-appropriated lands the enemy has held and then hold it securely until its disposition can be ascertained. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we have a duty to prosecute battle against the adversary who presumes to still away the souls of men and hold them in the prison of sin and bondage. We cannot defeat the enemy from the trenches or from foxholes, but by engaging him wherein whatever realm he falsely claims as his own.

 

            In our parable, the nobleman (our Lord) goes into a far country for an unspecified period of time. This is much as our Lord ascended to Heaven to sit on the right hand of God the Father awaiting the fullness of time for His return in Clouds of Glory. He leaves a sum of money to be wisely invested in his absence. The Lord also left able men with the authority and responsibility to occupy in His absence. These are much like the Apostles who bore the responsibility to go and preach the Gospel unto all the world. This commandment they fulfilled admirably – giving their very lives in the process of preaching and teaching. 

 

            But in the space of time, some men of lesser character have usurped the pulpit in teaching fables and the traditions of men. These will be the ones to answer before God at the return of our Lord. Let’s look at the relevant parts of this parable in explanation:

 

            The Traders are the Body of believers in Christ who are commissioned to maintain the Kingdom in His absence. But what is the stock-in-trade? The one thing that all Christian men and women have in common – the Gospel. Our commodity is not gold, silver, precious stones, but the Gospel once delivered to the saints (ours to keep and to share). In some church groups, the money outweighs the burden of preaching and sharing the Gospel in truth.

 

            In the trading is to be included the whole of the outward life which is to be shaped by the principles and motives of the Gospel. We have received a precious legacy in hope from our Lord. How shall we keep in to ourselves without sharing the most important truth of eternal consequence to others?

 

            In the rules of engagement of all battles emerges the necessity to hold that which is gained against the foe. Many churches are begun by true and earnest believers. In gathering a church body together for the worship of the Lord, a great hill has been taken from the enemy; however, we must then occupy that hill for future advantage. Too often, once the church has been established, the heads of her people are turned to the external features of the building and the pride of life in being more imposing than the next church down the street. That is a failure to occupy!

 

            On our Lord’s return, Christ rewards diligence on the part of His adherents. 

 

            Our pound of commitment and service follows in the path of diligent effort and labor in the fields of the Lord, and we claim no personal merit for our service – we must ascribe all our good labors to the glory of the Lord who works in and through us.

 

            Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.(Psalm 115:1) and, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

 

            Not only do we seek to bring the lost to Christ, our duty continues to nurture them up in the full truth and glory of the Gospel once they have believed – this is the meaning here of ‘occupy.’

Remember Lot’s Wife - 21 May 2023, Anno Domini

 

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EMEMBER Lot’s wife.  33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it (Luke 17:32-32)

 

           We read of Lot’s wife in Genesis 19, and Jesus found cause to warn us – just as the angels warned Lot’s wife – to turn from a fascination on the things of this world and look to God and His Word for direction. But Lot’s wife looked back to her world among the wicked sinners of Sodom and forgot the counsel of God. Jesus used Lot’s wife as a warning to us. “Remember Lot’s wife!” Do we take that warning any more seriously than did Lot’s wife?

 

            God often cautions us to ‘Remember’ in His Word. It stresses the point of the thing to remember. He stresses us to remember something that we may be prone to forget or fail to heed. “Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth….” Ecclesiastes 12:1 The fire of youth burns brightly but may get out of control if we do not remember it is God who hath made us and not we ourselves.

 

Let us examine the account of Lot’s wife in view of its meaning to us today. The quote in our text is the language of our Savior in pointing out the wickedness of the world at His second coming and cites Lot’s wife as a warning to the heedless.

 

We know the very minimum about Lot’s wife. She had no known family on her own side. She is not named in Scripture (those whose names are not written in the Book of Life have no need of a name.) The rich man before whose gate the beggar Lazarus was laid had no name – none needed in Hell. There is not a single complimentary word recorded about her. She was fascinated with her status in Sodom, her stylish apparel, her wealth, her social life, etc. She could scarcely brood leaving all of that behind even for the salvation of her mortal soul. 

 

Our Lord had good reason to issue the warning to us to remember Lot’s wife.

 

In looking back in disobedience to God, Lot’s wife yearned for the streets of wickedness in which she had made her home. In doing so, she forfeited fellowship with the righteous n favor of that of the wicked.

 

Her future course of depravity was sealed when Lot chose the fertile plains over against Sodom and pitched his tent toward that wicked city. She had made her bed among the wicked – and cherished it. 

 

The heart of Lot’s wife was fixed on the things of this world and not on those things above.

 

She despised the counsel of God. She could not resist the inclination to turn back to look upon the ruination of Sodom in contradiction to the warning of the angels of God.

 

The monuments of a nation call to the attention of her citizens some hero of greatness who perhaps sacrificed his all for the liberty of the people. But there are also monuments of shame and ruin. That is what Lot’s wife became in looking back to the sins of the past – she became a column of salt. There is some evidence of that very column of salt in the southern edge of the Dead Sea today. For at least two thousand years, the Bedouins and others of Jordan refer to that column as Lot’s wife. She is a monument to the sinful rejection of the counsel of God.

 

The warning was of no benefit for Lot’s wife for she had made her choice over three thousand years ago. The warning is to you and me. Once we have known the salvation of God, how can we return to the filth of our sins in the past and even long to return to them.

 

The warning is to all of us. Warnings are not heeded harden the heart in the same way Pharoah’s heart was hardened by the ten plagues of God.  

 

The way of the Lord is ALWAYS the best way, and, in the end, the Way less difficult. Heed the invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

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OME unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  (Matthew 11:28-29)

 

            The Righteousness bears no burden, but sin weighs heavy on the soul . Christ is our Burden-Bearer.