Trinity Sunday 2023

 Trinity 2023

 I begin with this illustration, ---St. Augustine on the Trinity

One day when St. Augustine was at his wits' end to understand and explain the Trinity, he went out for a walk. He kept turning over in his mind, "One God, but three Persons. Three Persons--not three Gods but one God. What does it mean? How can it be explained? How can my mind take it in?"

And so he was torturing his mind and beating his brains out, when he saw a little boy on the beach. He approached him to see what he was doing. The child had dug a small hole in the sand. With his hands he was carrying water from the ocean and was dumping it in the little hole. St. Augustine asked, "What are you doing, my child?"

The child replied, "I want to put all of the water of the ocean into this hole."

St. Augustine asked, "But is it possible for all of the water of this great ocean to be contained in this little hole?"

And then it dawned on Augustine, "If the water of the ocean cannot be contained in this little hole, then how can the Infinite Trinitarian God be contained in your mind?"

---for the Christian , humble prayer is most needed when discussing this with others.  One in Three, Three in One.  All are Divine, but separate persons.

We approach the Trinity subject today thru the open door in heaven. Rev . 4:1

1.  He looked and saw a door that did not open, but was open already. "was standing open" perfect participle" had been standing open and continues open.

This word for door, greek is the same as John 10. I am the door. Who is the Door? entrance, gate

John 10:7 " I am the Door of the sheep"  Jesus said, truly and truly 

Not the human Jesus only but the one who rose again and sits at the right hand of God.  The human Jesus is not able to save us alone.  We need a Divine Savior to take away all our sin and carry us to the heart of the Father pleading His righteousness on our behalf.

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I. OF FAITH IN THE HOLY TRINITY

THERE is but one living and true God, ever- lasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker, and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  39 articles of religion

2.  Our individual and corporate faith leads us to ( a vow) to worship 4:11 and the rest of the chapter in the vision we too see thru John's apostolic vision of what is happening right now .

a throne , one sitting upon the throne....a rainbow about the throne. 24 living creatures about the throne in white garments with crowns of gold.

On the throne an emerald to look upon. Holy Holy Holy is the Lord  God Almighty, who was, who is and who is to come.

God is worth worship. Worthy is the Lamb....ch 5, and   He is eternal just as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.  

ST Patrick used the shamrock to try and explain the trinity.  It seems like a good illustration.

We worship no person except Him.  We acknowledge Him to be the Lord.

All of us are human and need Him .  We need Him now and forever in the place called heaven where worship is going on continually. Our worship is not perfect here, but one day we will see Him face to face and our worship will be what it ought to be forever in heaven, forever and ever. 

“…and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” – Revelation 4:8  

Reginald Heber was a man of intense love for the truth of God’s Word. Nicknamed “the man of letters,” Heber was constantly writing to others to encourage and exhort them in truth. 

(from enjoyingthejourney.org)

Born on April 21, 1783, Heber attended Brasenose College, Oxford. His work in poetry and song won him two distinguished awards during his college tenure. 

Upon the completion of his college work, he was appointed as a minister in the small town of Hadnot. This work was one that he gave his entire being to. He delighted in his work. He cared deeply for the people in his congregation. Further, Heber labored tirelessly to meet their spiritual needs and care for their emotional sorrows.  

However, this pastor understood that the greatest thing he could do was preach to them the truth of God’s Word. His wife recounts that he would have family devotions daily and then retire to his study for 7-8 hours. No doubt this disciplined study of the Bible, cultures, history, and the like, created a cavernous well from which he could draw in his poetry and hymn writing. 

While ministering in Hodnet, Heber wrote a hymn or a poem for every Sunday of the year. This was significant in his day because of the overall lack of hymns in the Anglican Church. Heber believed that the church needed more hymns and throughout his life would see many introduced into corporate worship. Of course, his church benefited the most from this work. As He prepared for the Sunday known as “Trinity Sunday” he produced the mighty Hymn Holy, Holy, Holy. Millions have been helped by this mighty hymn throughout the years! 

However, this man’s passion for Christ was not merely in word. His famous poem From Greenland’s Icy Mountains reveals a burning passion for lost souls within the ministering heart. Thus, in spite of his chronic bad health, he accepted the call to become the Bishop at Calcutta. He would spend 3 years feverishly working to spread the gospel and train Indian men in the Word of God. However, his failing health and the harsh condition of India proved to be too much for Him. He passed away while visiting another church in Trichinopoly. He was only 42 years old. 

Truly His life serves as a great reminder to not simply love God in word but also in deed. Let us all labor for our thrice holy God today! 

1.  Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2.  Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,

casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,

which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3.  Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,

though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,

perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

4.  Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky and sea.

Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!