National Day of Prayer - 2021

 

 

5 May 2021, Anno Domini

 

National Day of Prayer

 

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LESSED is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.  (Psalm 33:12)

 

     The time is becoming later than ideal to pray for this great nation. In doing so, we must remember the great benevolent Lord whose hand was so instrumental in its founding. We thank the Lord our God for His Mighty care of us at our crucial moment of birth as a nation, and for His constant Providential preservation of our nation from enemies of freedom and liberty who, more native than foreign, have attempted, and still attempt, to destroy the principles and ideals upon which our government was established from our primitive past.

 

            Thanking our God first for granting us men and women of courage who were willing to shed their own blood to preserve our liberties on many far-flung battlefields, and for the churches that have had the fortitude to stand when those liberties were assailed, we must march ahead with renewed vigor and patriotic fervor.

 

            Today we are faced with the most crucial threat to Liberty in our history – not from without, but from men of low degree from within. Our freedom of speech is in jeopardy, our right to bear arms to protect home and our Constitutional rights are being challenged by not only political, but corporation interests.

 

            It is sad to see so much of our youth being deceived by ungodly educators who are promoting Marxist ideals in our schools, colleges and Universities. But our Christian people have been silent too long. We have tolerated small violations of our rights and faith in hopes that each excess will be the last. But such appeasement with evil has never worked. It is time for us to stand upon our faith in God and His Word as expressed in Holy Scripture.

 

            If we fail to not only pray, but to prayerfully act, during these perilous times, we shall awaken at a soon approaching moment when we shall realize our freedoms and rights have been abolished by an encroaching totalitarian power that brooks no descension and requires absolute obedience to the whims of rulers who have known not the God of our Fathers and who have little regard for the patriots who bled and died to preserve us the most exemplary nations founded on God’s green earth.

 

            Time wanes as we abide the constant usurpation of our God-given rights declared in our Declaration of Independence and codified in the US Constitution.

 

 

            To quote a leading figure of our American Revolution: 

 

            We shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston (Washington, today).     ~  Patrick Henry

 

            Heed the admonishment of God, so often cited but seldom heeded:

 

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F my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.   (2 Chron 7:14)

 

For Our Country.

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LMIGHTY God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (1928 Book of Common Prayer)

 

In Christ,

 

Worldwide Anglican Orthodox Communion

JERRY L. OGLES, Presiding Bishop

Bishop of the United States

St. Andrew’s Parish 

 

Stand Ye in the Old Paths – 5 May 2021, Anno Domini

 

 

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HUS saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16)

 

            The Old Paths – what are they and how do we know them? The Old Paths to which Jeremiah refers is that laid out to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the promise of God to send a Savior/Redeemer. We know those paths from the reading of the Holy Scriptures with prayerful industry.

 

            The Old Paths of the greatest nation yet to be founded upon God’s green earth are written in the courage, Christian faith, and sacrifice of the Founding Fathers who laid down the path that we must follow if we will remain free. 

 

            Many of the highways in America began as cattle trails and later grew into roads connecting towns and villages. These old trails were perfectly suited to become permanent means of transport because those who pioneered them knew the best routes which were the easiest to travel in the shortest amount of time. This recommends the wisdom of the past to the more recent observers on the scene. 

 

            It would be unwise to cast away the labors of our Founding Fathers, and all who have blazed the trails before us, in favor of a system that has failed at every attempt in history (such as socialism or Communism). The same is true as relates to our faith. Great and courageous men have risked their lives, and some paid the last full measure, to ensure our liberties are safely guarded. But that torch of freedom requires sacrifice to sustain. Our Lord Jesus Christ died for our liberty from the bondage of sin. But we, too, must bear our crosses and bear every burden to defend our faith from usurpers of our day. 

 

            The Great Reformers were very courageous in excavating the sands of heresy from off the true religion taught by our Lord and His apostles. They faced not only political dangers, but even spiritual and religious threats. Some were burned at the stake for refusing to deny a single line of Scripture.  I wonder how many pulpit dandies of our day would risk the loss of even a little finger, or perchance a purse!

 

            Christianity has blazed a trail through the world. Every place of its planting the people have thrived in joy. Science, education, and the social contract resulting from Christian principles have elevated men and women of all races, nations, and tongues. But there is a growing dissent which would have us forget the warnings of Scripture and launch out on a lark of modern religion that accepts all things except that which is righteous. New bible versions are geared to present a politically-correct gospel that is in contrast to the Old Time Religion of our fathers. 

 

            If the institutional memory of a nation can be destroyed by iconoclast pulling down monuments, we will suffer the anemia that is vulnerable to any new idea. The same is true of our Christian faith. The battle we face in the faith today is political as well as spiritual because if freedom is denied, so will the faith of the people be constrained to believe whatever government tells them is the most recently acceptable. I quote below a sometimes wise officer, warrior, cleric and successful business man concerning a part of the challenge levelled against us:

 

There is no such thing as WHITE PRIVILEGE.  What does exist is success for those who work hard and follow the clear instructions of Scripture.  Our church is a fine example, while most members here in the United States are white, worldwide our members are around 99 percent non-white.  So what?  Our members are Christians, not White Christians or Black Christians or Brown Christians or Yellow Christians.  No place in the Word does Jesus discuss race.  A person’s race is of no account, any more than hair color.  What is important is who a person is and how they act.

 

The so called white privilege really means that if you act in accord with Scripture and the principles laid down by our founding fathers, you will be successful.  There are many people who have benefited from that form of white privilege whose skin is far darker than mine.

 

The current trend to divide us by race is put on us by those who would divide and conquer.  

 

I have no black friends, I have plenty of friends whose skin is very dark, but they are my friends because they are who they are without regard to color.

Rev LTC Hap Arnold

Hymns of the Church – And Can it Be? – 4 May 2021, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

 

 

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UT he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.   (Isaiah 53:5)

 

            Amazing Love! Yes, indeed, it is beyond our mortal comprehension to understand that amazing love of God that would cause Him to send forth His only Begotten Son to redeem us of our sin. This hymn was written by Charles Wesley in 1738. Wesley went on mission to Georgia (USA) upon graduation from Oxford. They were yet to know the Lord. Returning home after having failed miserably as missionaries, both brothers began attending meetings of the Moravian brotherhood under Peter Boehler. Both came to know Christ in a warm and personal way. Charles wrote that he began a hymn that very day inspired by his conversion on the very day, 23 May 1738. The musical score is the composition of Thomas Campbell. 

 

And Can it Be

And can it be that I should gain

An int'rest in the Savior's blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me?

 

Refrain:

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me!

 

'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!

Who can explore His strange design?

In vain the firstborn seraph tries

To sound the depths of love divine!

'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,

Let angel minds inquire no more.

Refrain

 

He left His Father's throne above,

So free, so infinite His grace;

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam's helpless race;

'Tis mercy all, immense and free;

For, O my God, it found out me. 

            Refrain

 

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free;

I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

            Refrain      

 

No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in Him is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach th'eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

            Refrain

Amen. 

 

            1 And can it be that I should gain An int'rest in the Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me?  One reason for reluctance to believe the mercies and love of God is in the absolute amazement of it. How could the One so Mighty in Power and Majesty love such a low creature as me? But God loves all that He has created, and mankind is at the zenith of that love He bears. Yes, it truly was our sin – yours and mine and a multitude of others – that caused Christ to die for us. He did not have to do so, but did out of an unfathomable love for us. We were as much the oppressor that nailed Him to the cross as the Roman guards.

 

            2 'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine! 'Tis mercy all! let earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more. T he mystery of the crucifixion is so great as even to escape the understanding of the angels of Heaven. The depths of love in Christ cannot be sounded out for they are bottomless and infinite. 

 

            3 He left His Father's throne above, So free, so infinite His grace; Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam's helpless race; 'Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me. He left the Ivory mantled mansions of His Father to descend to the lowest of human life – a poor baby in a manger with no room for Him in the inn. On the cross, our Lord gave it all – except love. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

 

4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee.  The moment a child is born, that child begins to die. The advancing sword of death immediately begins to operate in his being. He is dead already without the quickening of the Holy Spirit to call him forth. (see Ephesians 2). Our wills, as Luther proclaims, is “in bondage to sin” so that there is nothing the slave can do to free himself. As we were as good as dead (just like Lazarus) we could not even lift a finger or blink an eye until the Holy Spirit called our name and we emerged from our stone-cold tombs. It was all of grace and none of personal merit. And so, being made truly alive, we followed the Master in the Way of truth and love.

 

5 No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th'eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.  Have you realized the full meaning of your salvation – that those old sins of your worldly walk are completely erased? Our Lord Jesus Christ will not lose a single soul that the Father has placed into His hand. He is able to save to the uttermost. We share a wonderful heritage in the Lord. If we abide in Christ, and He in us, we are made One with the Son, with the Father, and with the Holy Ghost for our Lord is One with the Father. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.   (John 17:18-23)

 

The Refrain is a more recent addition and simply summarizes the whole spirit of the hymn:

 

Refrain

            Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me! Amen. No proper hymn can end with less than the Amen to its great beauty and meaning. The REFRAIN repeats the immortal question from the hymn’s beginning and, mysteriously, the very answer is suggested by the question. “How can it be? That Thou, my God, should die for me?” The mystery dissolves once we understand our mortality and His Immortality. Our ways are not His ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts. Only Almighty God could have died as a redemption for our sins; and an Almighty God could only have the vast reservoir of Love to do so! AMEN!

Remove not the Ancient Landmark – 4 May 2021, Anno Domini

  

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EMOVE not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. (Proverbs 22:28)

 

            Landmarks are essential in designating property lines, state borders, national boundaries, and important events to be memorialized. Without landmarks, we would be unable determine which property is, and is not, ours. Every parcel of land purchased has markers, usually either stone or iron, to mark the four property lines surrounding the estate. If moved even a tiny amount, the property line will be compromised. If the landmark is a major one, all properties designated by it would be thrown into doubt and confusion if that Landmark were moved only inches. All subsequent boundaries would no longer be valid. It is a criminal offense to move either a major or a minor landmark.

 

            The Bible presents us with a number of major landmarks, but the Ancient and Eternal Landmark is the Word itself. Its inspiration and authorship is that of God Himself. It is the most important Book in the history of the world. It offers hope, encouragement, chastisement and salvation to those who have believed in its iron-clad promises. Yet, in our day, men of low degree are attempting to tamper with the very words of God that have come down to the Church across the ages. It is not just the general idea of that expressed in Scripture, but the absolute truth. Every Word is precious and inspired of God. The WORDS of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  (Psalm 12:6) – every WORD!

 

            We observe a proliferation of ‘new’ bibles in our day that challenge the textual manuscript evidence – the Masoretic and Received Text - used by the great Reformers in re-establishing faith based on the Word of God and not the ‘opinions’ of man. Their new versions assert the values of the world and its political inclinations over those of the Holy Bible. They omit entire verses and contradict the Greek translations that were made by men of ten times greater academic credentials and who, as well, were willing to lay down their lives in defense of the Word of God. Profit from God’s Word was never a concern to them. The Word belonged to God, not the copyright holder of the new versions. The new bibles attempt to justify sins that God has condemned – the sacrifice of innocent life, for example, by means of abortion. Even the first institution God created of marriage between one man and one woman has been denied by many of the newer versions. Do we trust these unscrupulous scoundrels, or do we trust the Ancient Landmark which God has declared He will preserve forever?

 

            I am amazed at the number of educated and intelligent friends I have who would die to defend a single line of the U.S. Constitution, believing every word sacrosanct and yet, will accept without question the numerous emendations of the very Word of God. We see how the Federal judiciary has turned the U.S. Constitution on its head in their attempt to manipulate its meaning to satisfy the whims of a declining social order. Do we believe this cannot happen to the Holy Bible if Christian men and women stand idle while such abominations are taking place?

 

            To change a single word of the Holy Bible is to exalt man above God. Either He has preserved His Word according to His promise, or He has failed and is not God. What think ye?

 

            If the barrel of an artillery piece is accurately fixed on a target some 3,000 meters downrange, what do you believe would happen if that barrel is realigned only two mils (a tiny value) to the right or left. The barrel will appear to be fairly aimed at the target still, but the rounds will miss the target at impact.  If we allow the social engineers to remake the Word of God – even a little – what effect do you believe that remaking will have downrange? I have shown in my earlier writings how the change of a single word in the Bible can have a devastating effect on doctrine as well as challenging the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            The Ancient Landmark must not be moved an inch, and the Word of God must remain immutable and not subject to the prideful manipulations of unfaithful theologians – best to heed the warning of Rev. 22:18-19:

 

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OR I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The Eternal Rock – 3 May 2021, Anno Domini

 

 

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EARKEN to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.   (Isaiah 51:1)

 

            Presiding 1400 feet over the Gate to the Mediterranean Sea is the promontory called the Rock of Gibraltar. This stone eminence guards the Iberian peninsula against an invasion of ground forces from the sea, and broods over the world's busiest trade route through the Straits of Gibraltar. It is recognizable by all who do extensive sea trade in those waters. There is another Rock of greater eminence and importance that represents the Lord Jesus Christ. All who have studied Holy Scripture and plied the spiritual waters thereof are very familiar with that latter Rock. We find prominent mention of that Rock in both the Old and New Testaments. 

 

            We find a profound truth tucked away in seemingly common parlance in the verse from Isaiah quoted above. The verse is taken from the Old Testament lectionary text for today. Please peruse the verse above once more. There is, as is often found in Holy Scripture, a contrast of meanings that have a personal impact on all on earth.

 

            Your attention is invited to the occasion at the Coast of Caesarea Philippi:When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:13-18)

 

            Peter expresses an exceptional spiritual understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God. Jesus refers to Peter as Petrus (meaning stone or a chip from a rock). But the reference Jesus makes to the Rock upon which He will build His Church is Petra (large Rock or Crag). Peter is not the foundation upon which the Church is built, but our Lord Jesus Christ is that foundation. The faith expressed by Peter is expressive of who Peter is in Christ – Peter is a chip off the old Rock! The disciple of Christ should be cut from the same cloth as his Master. Being a stone of the Rock, he bears the same likeness and composition as the rock from which he is hewn.

 

            So must we all be like the great Rock of Christ! We are part of Him, and He is part of us – both alike ONE! Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. (Psalm 61:1-4)

 

            Granite rocks of Everest are strong and immovable by man’s power. But these will perish with fervent heat as all other elements at the last day; however that Spiritual Rock that our Lord is will never perish. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  (1 Cor 10:1-4)

 

          The Rock from which floods of water gushed at the Mountain of the Lord (Horeb) represented the Fountain of Living Waters which is Christ. He is the Rock of our Salvation. We are very much like God’s eagles as His elect:  Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. (Job 39:27-28) The safe place is not in the Wilderness of Sin, but high upon the Mountain of Mercy in the Crag of the Rock. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. (Psalm 18:2)

AOC Sunday Report - Fourth Sunday after Easter

  

Happy Fourth Sunday after Easter!

The AOC Sunday Report can be downloaded RIGHT HERE!

We have very interesting sermons from Bishops Jerry and Roy, as well as Revs Jack and Bryan.  While Bryan covers the Morning Prayer Scripture and the others cover the primary Propers for this Sunday, each is totally different and very good.  Jack's sermon is available on video RIGHT HERE.

There are always many people who need your prayer, today is no exception.  Please start with Jean, Shamu, Jim and Laurie, work out from there.

There is a super week ahead, but you won't find it without the help of the Holy Ghost.  If you don't understand that, check out Rev Jack's sermon!

Godspeed,

Hap

Church of the Faithful Centurion

Descanso, California

Sermon Notes - Fourth Sunday after Easter - The Sure Light - St Andrew’s Anglican Orthodox Church - 2 May 2021 Anno Domini

The Fourth Sunday after Easter.

The Collect.

 

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 ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

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ESUS cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:44-50)

 

            We have often referred to Christ as the Light of the World and all that the Light means. A Light reveals the true path of security and righteousness. That is what Christ did for us, and He made it possible for us to have the scales removed from our eyes and hearts that we might be benefitted by that Light which He is. The Way itself is a Way laid out by God the Father. All that Christ did or said was in conformity to that commandment given Him by His Father in Heaven. His death and resurrection made the path available to us, as well. 

 

It would be impossible to believe on Christ and omit the Father. That which the Father is, so is Christ; and that which Christ is, so is the Father. The Triune God of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are truly One in Mind and Purpose. It would not be possible for Christ to act in a manner, or speak in a style, that was not in complete agreement with the Mind of God the Father. We believe in God the Father because we have believed on His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ – "… like Father, like Son!" He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. There is no line of separation, either in Power or Majesty, between God the Father and God the Son. Of no other man could this be said without blasphemy.

 

            We are called Christians because we are, presumably, the children of God in Christ. Just as there are many who are not Israel who are of Israel, so it is true that there is a very large percentage who call themselves Christians but do not approach the qualifications to be so called. 45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. Do you KNOW God the Father? If so, are you bound to His Will by those iron-bars of love that compel obedience to His Commandments and reverence for His only Begotten Son? Jesus was so closely bound in love to the Father that He was precisely like the Father. There could not be daylight between His Will and that of the Father. When folks saw Christ, whether they knew it or not, they were seeing the selfsame likeness of the Father. This presents to us a great question: When people see us, are we so close in Mind and Purpose with that of Christ that they see Jesus? I read a touching illustration of a poor little boy who was standing before a storefront window admiring a pair of shoes. It was winter, and the boy had only wrappings for shoes. A kind lady saw the boy and invited him into the store. She bought him a new pair of shoes along with socks and gloves (it was winter time). When she bade the boy Godspeed and began to leave, he called out behind her: "Say, Ma'am, are you the wife of Jesus?" Should we not all behave in such a way that innocent little minds will think that we are very much like Jesus?

 

            The Way is already laid out from Eternity Past. But who shall be blessed to find that Way in a sin-darkened world? 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt 7:13-14) Forgive me if I quote these verses too often, but the meaning is so crucial to our understanding that they must be emblazoned in blood on our hearts and minds. That Road that leads DOWN to destruction owes its ease and comfort to its downward plane. It is wide and filled with far greater numbers than the Narrow Way that leads up life eternal. Why would anyone desire to belong to a small and struggling conglomeration of churches called the AOC? They travel a difficult incline, and the Way they travel is considered, by the more sophisticated of the churches, as Narrow-Minded. Yes, we are Narrow Minded, and I pray that we can keep that Narrow focus on our Lord and savior and not opulent buildings, salaries, and prestige. Those are reserved for the Broad Way that leads down.

 

            But the world is dark and gloomy. How can we find the Way that leads to life eternal? 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. Jesus came to us in love, and only to those in whom His love is finally reciprocated. He comes as a Light to SHOW us the Way. Those who reject the Light need no judge, for the darkness itself is an overwhelming judgment and relegates their eternity to the fires of Hell. Oh, sorry, Mr. Episcopalian and Mr. Joel Osteen follower – I forgot that the word Hell is a no-no. It makes people unhappy (Osteen). If we are lost in sin, no one can do us a better favor than to teach us of our depravity before God that leads to a remorseful unhappiness that can only be resolved by a direct fleeing to the Throne of Grace. If we have the Light of Christ to illumine our dark souls, then we will see the Way and will follow it.

 

            Does God judge a man and condemn him to Hell? God's judgment is His Word. It is the Word that will judge us. God has very fairly and openly taught us of His Will in His Word. If we reject that counsel, we have chosen to make our beds in Hell. It was OUR decision! 47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The world was already lost when Christ came. He simply came bearing the fruits and wisdom of salvation. He came teaching us of the Way, and the Truth and the Life. If we choose to ignore that truth, we simply remain in our lost and damned condition. Even if the world, in its fallen state, were allowed to enter Heaven, it would be the most miserable of all conditions. The world could not obey and reverence the Lord who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They would still love their sins, and there would again follow war in Heaven.  That war has already been fought and Satan was cast down along with his errant angels. Those whom He foreknew, He has granted faith through grace to believe.

 

            Isn't it a sad state of affairs when you decide to invest in an enterprise against the anguished pleadings of your friends, and then lose all in the gamble? Your friends would have every right to say, "I told you so!" Jesus has, indeed, told us so. 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. When we label an openly homosexual practitioner as a profligate sinner, whose judgment is that? It is the judgment of the Word of God and not our own judgment. God's Word is a two edged sword to either convict of sin for the purpose of salvation, or to condemn of sin for the purpose of legal damnation.

 

            Jesus came as an Emissary of Heaven. There were moments when He was so tired He could hardly lift another foot, yet He kept going from before sunrise until after sunset in teaching and preaching – souls were at stake! He was often thirsty and hungry, wet and cold, yet He kept going for us – all the way to Calvary's crown. As an Emissary and Likeness of the Father, He came with all of the Authority of Heaven. Emissaries do not make treaties and agreements out of their own imaginations, but in accordance with the Will of the governing authority. In Christ's case, that governing Authority was God the Father. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. What commandment did God give to His Son that seemed different from the Ten given at Sinai? A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John 13:34)

 

What function does this valuable essence of love offer? It writes all of the other Commandments upon our hearts in the red blood of love so that it is love that compels our obedience and not fear. 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Cor 3:2-3) Did you catch that brilliant ray of streaming truth, friends? When the world looks at us, they should see the Word of God written upon our hearts. We are the letters (epistles) of God written. No longer written with an iron pen on Tables of Stone, but God's Law is written with the ink of Love on the fleshy Tables of our Hearts. I love God's Word, don't you?

 

            50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. Which single commandment leads to life everlasting? It is the same Commandment called `NEW' given by Christ in John 13:34 above. Love is the one essence that survives death and is victor over ever hateful thing. Christ Himself is LOVE personified. He is our Ark against the coming calamity just as the Ark of Noah was for those eight souls spared from the ravages of the Deluge. Look with me, in conclusion of today's sermon, at these beautiful truths given in Romans:

 

 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:36-39)This tells us that the Holy LOVE of which Christ spoke survives every challenge – even death!