Vision can be said to be an experience in the life of a person, whereby a special revelation from God was received. Having a vision is to have a sense of purpose and direction. In the Hebrew and Greek languages the idea of a vision involves both seeing and hearing. A vision is revelation – spiritually seeing or hearing of something that God wants to accomplish. Having a vision is to perceive or recognize what is the plan of God for a person, a group of people, or a generation. A vision is a goal or series of goals divinely given to people by the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s purpose.
A vision requires personal participation in what is spiritually seen and heard. Eyewitnesses are very important to the carrying out of a vision. Eyewitnesses to the vision of the Kingdom of God include ministry of the word and thus comprises both seeing what took place and understanding its significance as revelation. John 20:31 states: “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Faith to believe the Word of God is important.
Since the Reformation, the Christian Church has been fragmented. There are now dozens of denominations in Protestantism. Most of these groups have lost the rich pageantry and reality of sacramental worship. Many of these denominations deny the power of the Holy Spirit. Most groups have lost the understanding of Biblical authority and Episcopal Church government. God has raised up the ICCEC as part of a movement to restore ancient forms of worship, Biblical church government, and the power of the Holy Spirit to the Church. This movement of restoration has become called “the convergence movement,” or “three streams worship.” Christian theology and worship, in Christ’s Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church should never have become so fragmented, however. Our vision is to make visible the Kingdom of God. One way that this is done teaching the vision of the Church, as held by the writers of the New Testament and the Fathers of the undivided Church.
Apart from the revelation of God, people cannot discover heavenly truth. It must be revealed. Without a vision from God the world is in spiritual darkness. “Where there is no vision, the people perish….” (Prov 29:18 KJV).
The vision of the Charismatic Episcopal Church includes the restoration of many elements of Christian life and worship. Five key areas of this restoration and revelation are:
1. Establishing the Altar of God in Cities, Nations, and Geographic Regions; as well as in the hearts of individual Christians.
2. Practicing Convergence Worship as the normative form and practice of the Church.
3. Restoration of Fatherhood Ministry and Government By Consensus at all levels of Church governance.
4. Restoration of God’s Economy through tithes, offerings, and alms.
5. Fulfillment of God’s Purpose or Destiny for each Christian, each Church, and each nation of the world.
The International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (also known as the ICCEC or CEC) is an international Christian communion established as an Autocephalous Patriarchate in 1992. The ICCEC is not a splinter group of any other denomination or communion, but is a convergence of the Sacramental, Evangelical, and Charismatic traditions of the Church Catholic.
The founders of the CEC drew inspiration from diverse twentieth-century Christian churchmen and thinkers, particularly C.S. Lewis (Anglican), Alexander Schmemann (Russian Orthodox diaspora), Gregory Dix (Anglican), Lesslie Newbigin (Church of South India), Robert E. Webber (Anglican), Hans Urs von Balthasar (Roman Catholic), Robert Jenson (Lutheran), and Thomas Oden (United Methodist); from the patristic fathers of the undivided Christian East and West, and from the doctrine and life of the early medieval priest-monks and bishops of Ireland, Scotland, England, and Gaul (represented by Columba of Iona, Aidan of Lindisfarne, Chad of Mercia, and Patrick), whom they saw as embodying a fatherly, sacramental, and Spirit-expectant leadership for their congregations.
The Communion has its apostolic succession via Bishop Timothy Michael Barker of the International Free Catholic Communion and the Rebiban line via breakaway Roman Catholic Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who founded the Catholic Apostolic National Church of Brazil.
The Charismatic Episcopal Church believes orthodoxy and orthopraxy to be the essence of the apostolic faith of the New Testament Church and holds the ancient Apostles' and Nicene Creeds as their official doctrinal statements. The CEC is not, nor has it ever been, affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Church (PECUSA) or any other denomination. The word episcopal is used to describe its hierarchy of bishops.
The CEC's founding congregations were largely independent churches with roots in the Charismatic, Pentecostal, Wesleyan and Third Wave Evangelical movements. Pentecostal scholar Vinson Synan reports the CEC is the first church emerging from the Pentecostal-Charismatic revivals of the last century to use the term "Charismatic" in its official name.
St. Luke Church has a vision of ministry based upon several of these Celtic Saints. These are our saints and this is our vision.
1) St. Columba Planting and pulling down:
Isa 60:21 Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.
Isa 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
Isa 61:4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
Isa 61:5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isa 61:6 But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast.
Jer 1:10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant."
Mat 15:13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
2 Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2 Cor 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Josh 24:13 'I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.'
2 Sam 7:10 "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
2) Aidan—Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom
Mat 10:7 "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Mat 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Mat 10:9 "Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
Mat 10:10 "nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
Mat 10:11 "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
Mat 10:12 "And when you go into a household, greet it.
Mat 10:13 "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Luke 4:19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
Luke 9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
Luke 9:2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3) Cuthbert—prayer
Mat 21:13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"
Mat 21:14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
Mat 21:22 "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Phil 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Phil 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4) Bede—Study and Learning
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Isa 26:9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Mat 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Titus 3:14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
5) Confession of St. Peter
Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
Mat 16:14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
Mat 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Mat 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Keys of Knowledge, Binding and Loosing, Death and Hell, Bottomless Pit, and Spiritual Authority.
John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
John 6:67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
John 6:68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 6:69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
PUTTING ON THE DIVINE NATURE
IN IMITATION OF THE SAINTS
In the Galatians 6:15, St. Paul said something that focuses on a very important thing that God is trying to say to the Church Today.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
What rule is he talking about? He says we are a new creation. This theme is one that St. Paul often preached. We are to become like Christ. God desires that the sin nature of Adam be replaced by the new nature in Christ.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Cor 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Cor 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2 Cor 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
This righteousness is a gift of God that comes by putting on Christ, like we put on our clothing—being covered with Christ. Icons of the saints depict Christ (red) putting on humanity (blue). They often depict the saints putting on Christ (red over blue).
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
St. Peter develops this same idea, that through Christ we can be partakers of the divine nature.
2 Pet 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
2 Pet 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
2 Pet 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Pet 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
2 Pet 1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
2 Pet 1:7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
2 Pet 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Pet 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Sometimes we forget that we have been cleansed from our old sins, and have been given a new nature. Instead of living holy and godly lives, people sometimes are tempted to forsake the divine nature and return to the Adamic nature. St. James describes how this happens.
James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
James 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
We must confess our sins and repent, turning from them completely with the intention of living godly and holy lives.
Eph 4:20 But you have not so learned Christ,
Eph 4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
Eph 4:23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Eph 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Col 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Col 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
Col 3:7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
Col 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Col 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
St. James tells us how to put on the new nature—the divine nature.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Instead of yielding to Adamic self will, we must begin to think and respond, in every situation, as Christ would think or respond. In the Epistle reading today St. Paul exhorts us to embrace the mind of Christ.
Philippians 2:5 Let this
mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be
equal with God,
Philippians 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
The ultimate act of humility is to become obedient, even to the
point of death. That is why the martyrs stood so strong in their faith. They
were striving to become like Christ and to respond to every situation out of the
divine nature, rather than out of the Adamic nature.
As Christ humble himself during his passion, which we remember and commemorate on Holy Week, we must humble ourselves and submit to God. Only through complete submission—laying down what we want—can we truly walk in the divine nature (theosis) that God wants us to put at the center of our lives. Humility is the thing that most moves us from the Adamic old sin nature to the New nature that God is creating in us as we submit to Him.
1 Pet 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
1 Pet 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
1 Pet 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Pet 5:9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.