Sunday after the Ascension
Greetings in Christ Jesus,
Sunday May 13, 2018
Epistle: Acts 18: 22- 19:12 A better Baptism, of Christ
Gospel: John 17: 1-26
The Prayer of our Lord for those who come to believe in Him
Psalm 72/73 How good
is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
My Friends,
We begin today by reading about a man, a Jew called Apollos.
This man was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures but he knew only the baptism
of John which means that he knew the Lord through the teaching of John the
Baptist and through his sound knowledge of Scripture which would be the Jewish
Law and the Prophets, Apollos went down to Ephesus and began preaching the
things of the Lord. Even though he knew only the baptism of John he was fervent
in spirit in his preaching of the Lord Jesus. God can use a fervent spirit who
is somewhat less informed much better than He can use one who may be fully
educated but lazy or not so fervent in preaching the Gospel.
Apollos was also bold enough to go into the synagogue and
preach the Gospel to those Jews in Ephesus. He was well learned in the Law and
the Prophets and understood John the Baptist when he spoke of Jesus as the Christ
and so Apollos being bold and fervent began teaching the Lord. This is two
characteristics that one who is to preach needs to have. Understand that we
need true knowledge though, it cannot be some untrue understanding, it cannot
be a false understanding, it has to be true, it may not be the complete truth
but what is spoken is truth. So many people today go off half cocked with a
false understanding and not only is the truth not told but in their pride of
their knowledge they will attack others for what they see as the other’s lack
of understanding and truth. This is not Christian. This leads us to our next
point.
Two Jews who learned from St. Paul, Aquila and his wife
Priscilla heard Apollos preaching and realized that while he preached truth, he
was lacking in some areas, so they took him aside privately and taught him in the ways that he was still lacking. We
have more points here to learn from, Aquila and Priscilla showed love for
Apollos and for the preaching of the Gospel. They took Apollos aside without
making a big show of themselves in their pride of their knowledge. They were
not puffed up in their taking Apollos aside; they were in fact humble and
loving. Apollos also show another good Christian trait in that he was also
humble and allowed two tent makers; one of them a woman, to take him aside and
teach or further explain the ways of the Lord where Apollos was lacking.
How much can we learn from the reading of Holy Scripture if
we ask first, pray, and then actually pay attention to what we read? We are all
guilty of this and many other infractions as well. Pride is incredibly subtle
and often times we believe we are doing some good when actually in our pride we
are doing much harm. Pray on this.
Today’s Gospel is a marvel in itself. Our Lord is praying
for everyone throughout time who will come to believe in Him. Here are some
highlights; 1 These things Jesus spoke, and lifting up his eyes to
heaven, he said: Father, the hour is come, glorify Your Son, that Your Son may
glorify You. 2 As you have given him power over all flesh, that he
may give eternal life to all whom You have given him. 3 Now this is
eternal life: That they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth; I have finished
the work which You gave me to do. 5 And now glorify You me, O
Father, with Yourself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with You.
How much can we learn from these verses? Jesus, as man,
prays to the Father. The hour is come;
Jesus is in complete control. He controls the time and events. He wants all to
have eternal life that come to Him. This is eternal life; to know the father,
the only true God, and Jesus the Christ whom the Father sent. Jesus is to
return to the glory with the Father that He had before the world was created. Jesus
has always been with God, there has never been a time when Jesus did not exist.
11 And now I am not in the world, and these are
in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name whom You
have given me; that they may be one, as we also are. 14 I have
given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the
world; as I also am not of the world. 15 I pray not that You should
take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from evil. 16 They
are not of the world, as I also am not of the world. 22 And the
glory which You have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, as
we also are one: 23 I in them, and you in me; that they may be made
perfect in one: and the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved
them, as You have also loved me. 24 Father, I will that where
I am, they also whom you have given me may be with me; that they may see my
glory which You have given me, because You have loved me before the creation of
the world.
Oh all that call themselves Christian take a lesson. The
Father will keep those who love our Lord. But what does this mean? Will we
become financially rich and successful in all that we do because we say the
name Jesus in public? No, as Jesus has stated, the world will hate us as it
hated Him. Some will become successful and are required to assist those who are
not because there will be those who are poor, sick, frail, born with
afflictions. Jesus prayed that we are not removed from the world but that we
would be kept from the evil, that we would not succumb to temptation to commit
sin, it does not mean that we will not be tempted or tested or pushed to our
limits. But that the Father would give us the strength to endure and persevere.
Another lesson; that they may be one.
This is such a difficult thing to do isn’t it? So much hate,
prejudice, discrimination, and violence both physical and in word that is done
from one group to another. Are there complete fakers? You had better believe
it. Are there many false prophets? We know that there are. Do we see pride in
someone’s preaching while they attempt to disguise it by speaking about it and
calling it a gift from God because they are just so good at being Christian? Of
course we do. Are we told by many that we all deserve the good things in life
and we can get them if we apply ourselves and tithe to them, whoever the
speaker of the moment is? Of course we do.
What are we to do? Do not support them. Pray for them. Give to
the poor and the widow and the orphan. Someone who preaches and asks for money
for his own personal use so that he/she can afford some luxury? Do not support
them. Pray that their heart will be changed.
Pray today with the Psalmist who says that God is good to
the upright in heart. His feet had almost slipped because he was jealous of the
lawless sinner who was at peace with himself and did not look up to God. This
jealousy, this envy of the lawless and the false prophet is a downfall and
leads to perdition. Do not be trapped by the desire of luxury and fine food, or
big houses so that we give up our soul to the evil one. Pray that this does not
come upon anyone.
God can do all things; there is no situation that we get
ourselves into that God cannot help us out of. We simply must have the faith
and believe. Keep in mind however; God's plan is far above ours. We suffer and
we have plenty coming based on what God Himself has in store for us whether it
is for purging, for testing, or for reward or necessity for our life. God is in
control.
We do not know when this will end
and the new beginning will be, in spite of the many modern prophets who make a
living selling Jesus and the destruction of the world; we have no clue when it
will be. In the meantime, it rains on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. The
sun shines on us all, haters and lovers of Jesus. We remain together in this
world until that day. So take a lesson from the readings. Continue to praise
and worship Jesus the Christ and the Father through Him. Never cease to pray
and live according to the gospel. Allow the Holy Ghost to guide you. Love God
with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with
all of your strength; love your neighbor as yourself. You never know whose life
you will change because of this love of God in you.
The light has entered the world and the times; they
are a-changing.
If one does not have love for the soul of mankind and the
desire that all come to the truth than one does not have Christ in them fully.
Little children, love one another; because this is our
Lord’s command and if you fulfill this, nothing else is needed. Through love
and because of love we will follow all of the commandments that we have been
given. They are written on our hearts by the hand of Almighty God. We simply
need to see them within us and follow.
Remember; if we confess our sins and repent, he is faithful
and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.
May the peace of our Lord Jesus the Christ be with you
throughout this day and the rest of your life. May the Holy Spirit fill us all
to overflowing so that everyone in whose path we cross may receive a blessing
from our Lord Jesus the Christ.
Blessings
Bishop William’s videos; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW8XyPtkmtu6a1vVg6MEiNg
Many Blessings!
+William
