Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 14 May, 2006
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises
unto thy name, O most High: to shew forth thy lovingkindness in
the morning, and thy faithfulness every night” (Psalm 92:1-2)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
When the Wicked Flourish
Psalm 92:7
I. The Glaring Fact
II. The Scriptural Evaluation
Psalms: 25:4-10; 44:9-16; 73:7-9, 16-20; 92:5-11
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11
Revelation 11:3-13
I. Their Identity
II. Their Calling
III. Their End
Psalms: 107:1-9; 44:17-26; 79:1-6; 119:41-48
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quotes to Consider:
Herman Hoeksema: “As long as we consider the things of this present life, the success and progress, the advancement and the prosperity of the wicked well-doer, as blessings of God upon him, gifts of His grace which the Most High bestows upon him in order that he should enjoy them for a time; as long as we separate the things of this present time from their eternal purpose and end, we shall never understand that even the reward of the wicked well-doer is a curse. But as soon as we see all things in their true light and relation, this becomes very clear. For, when the wicked well-doer is successful, increases his wealth, enlarges his place, gains in power and influence, he merely enhances his obligation to serve God. For the things of this present time are God’s capital, entrusted to us, placing us under the obligation to serve and glorify the Most High with it all. But the wicked cannot and will not employ all things in His service. To him the things of this present time are means to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. And, therefore, the more he increases his substance and position, the greater sinner he becomes, the more he aggravates his judgment, the severer will be his eternal punishment” (The Curse-Reward of the Wicked Well-Doer, p. 19).
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
Please take copies of the pamphlet quoted above from the back table today.
Membership Class meets this Tuesday at 6:30 PM at the Murrays.
Bible Study will be held at 7:45 PM this Wednesday at the manse as we study the office of believer and testing doctrine, teachers, and churches.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 21 May (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is entitled “Except Ye Be Converted” (Matthew 18:1-5).
The CPRF will have a stall again at this year’s Ballymena Agricultural Show, 27 May. William Armstrong will be setting up and running the stall for us.
Upcoming Lectures: “Miracles & the End of the World,” Omagh, 7:30 PM, Fri., 2 June. “The 2 Witnesses of Revelation 11,” S. Wales, Fri., 23 June.
Last Week’s Offerings: General Fund – £3,735.990. Building Fund – £3,515.00. Donations: £66.50 (tapes), £250.00 (books).
PRC News: Rev. Dale Kuiper undergo surgery for prostate cancer on Monday, May 22. Having served our Lord Jesus Christ as a minister of the Gospel in the Protestant Reformed Churches for nearly forty-one years (thirty-three of those years in our Seminary), Prof. Decker will become emeritus, effective July 1, 2006. We give thanks to God for Prof. Decker’s faithful service in our churches over the years. Rev. Slopsema (First, MI) received the call to Kalamazoo PRC.
Encouraging Quotes:
“Thank you for the books—they arrived this morning. It certainly looks like I’m in for a feast! The last paragraph of the Introduction to God’s Everlasting Covenant of Grace sets out the dilemma that has troubled me, i.e., regarding defining the covenant in terms of an agreement between God and man. For it seemed to me, as the Introduction says, that ‘When in any sense the work of salvation depends upon man [as implied by an agreement], the truth of sovereign grace suffers accordingly.’” – West Midlands
“I’ve been edified by listening to your sermon series while I commute to work. It makes the otherwise tedious hour and a half (each way!) train ride enjoyable and beneficial.” – California, USA
“I’m enjoying volume 2 of Unfolding Covenant History … I have about 6 volumes of RFPA books going and whichever one I pick up, they all are a blessing … I profit from your books enormously. God be praised.” – Suffolk
“Thanking you for all you’ve done for me and … [for] all of the Lord’s people that request sermons and booklets, pamphlets, etc., from yourselves. God bless always.” – N. Wales
“It is really nice to see the good work of the CPRF in collecting and presenting the translated versions of Reformed and ecumenical creeds for the benefit of God’s people. As I was going through the list of those available materials, truly my eyes were seeking for any Reformed materials in Tamil (one of the major Indian languages). To the best of my understanding I’ve not come across with any translated version of Reformed confessions or creeds in any Indian languages thus far. Hence I personally love to do this good work of translating the Three Forms of Unity in Tamil, our vernacular. Moreover we don’t have the metrical version of Psalms in any Indian language. Some day we want to have our Reformed confessions into Tamil, which can be placed in your CPRF web page. We look for sponsors for those who can assist us in this good work.” – India
“I was listening to the tape on ‘The Believers Responsibility for the Preaching’ on the Lord’s day. How very true concerning what people will put up with in much of today’s churches in the U.K. Then I was reading the Voice of Our Fathers how preaching is an act of God’s mercy to the elect. One could only conclude we need to pray for more mercy in the church today. How thankful to our great God we should be for His provision through your ministry of such mercy to such sinners as ourselves when so many are denied such mercy today. May our God keep you and His church.” – Yorkshire
“Having just received your March issue of the C. R. News, I felt it proper to let you know again how much I welcome your writings and also [your] keeping in touch with me regarding other publications and lectures, etc. I continue to enjoy reading the Standard Bearer and always look forward to receiving my copies of RFPA books at regular intervals as a book club member.” – S. Wales
“I listen to the time slot given to the Reformed Witness Hour and I have just heard the message from Romans 13:13-14, ‘Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Could I have a tape or CD of this message and what is the cost? Thank you.” -Co. Antrim, N. Ireland
“I have been reading through Hoeksema on In the Sanctuary and have found the approach very refreshing.” – Bristol
“What an excellent, heart-warming book, A More Glorious Covenant, by Gerrit Vos! A real pastoral treatise, with an amazing insight into the human heart!” – France
“Thanks for sending me the Covenant Reformed News which is always a great blessing to me.” – Shropshire
“I have read again, Rev. Ophoff’s God’s Sovereign Elective Grace and find it forthright and challenging, so unlike the gruel that is served up today. The ‘Church’ (?!!) is gripped by Jewish Dreams and no one seems to ‘Look Up’ these days. Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom by Prof. Engelsma is an excellent work especially for one fed for years on Millennium Mintos and Prophetic Peppermints, that tickle the palate, but leave one empty. Thank God for Reformed Truth that glorifies the Triune God and puts man in his rightful place, at the Saviour’s feet. May God continue to bless His work at Ballymena.” – S. Wales
“I recently read Prof. Engelsma’s pamphlet on Pentecostalism, ‘Try the Spirits,’ and found it to be excellent, not only in explaining the errors from a scriptural analysis but mainly in terms of the pastoral warmth it contained. Here was teaching and experience that clearly came from a heart for God’s people. It has also been very good to listen to him preach although there aren’t many recordings available of him speaking [on-line]. May the Lord bless the PRC and the seminary through his ministry for many years to come.” – Rep. of Ireland
“I enjoyed reading your paper [‘Fundamentalists & the Incorruptible Blood of Christ’ by Martyn McGeown]. It brought back many memories of my earlier days in Baptist fundamentalism and the exposure I had during those times to men like De Haan, Hyles and others. Your presentation, in my view, is both accurate and correct.” – USA
“Your article [‘Fundamentalists & the Incorruptible Blood of Christ’ by Martyn McGeown] is far better researched and more exhaustive than what I have written. Well done! What a need for Christians to take their focus off of ‘the blood’ and to focus on the living Lord Jesus.” – USA
“Many thanks for sending me the Covenant Reformed News each month. May I say that I found the March 2006 issue (‘Married to an Unbeliever 1’) particularly good … Your article is the best every one I’ve yet seen to tackle the subject of married to an unbeliever. Indeed, I look forward, D.V., to receiving the further instalments in this series.” – Essex
“I will notify you when the books arrive and I will respect the copyright [when translating]. Again, thank you for the books that you send me. The titles of the books say all. God bless you!” – Brazil
