Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 5 October, 2025
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Judges Deborah and Barak (12)
Final Lessons From the Battle at Kishon [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Judges 5:12-31
Text: Judges 5:19-22, 28-31
I. The Additional Warriors
II. The Unfulfilled Hopes
III. The Applicatory Prayer
Psalms: 147:9-18; 143:8-12 (AOS); 37:4-10; 92:5-11
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Praying the First Petition [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Malachi 1
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 47
I. For Divine Knowledge
II. For Holy Fear
III. For Ordered Lives
Psalms: 25:4-10; 144:1-8; 119:137-144; 50:18-23
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murraymailto:[email protected]
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
John Gill on Judges 5:31: “So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord! As Sisera and his army did, and be disappointed as his mother and her ladies were; which is not only a wish or prayer that it might be, but a prophecy that so it would be: but let them that love him; that love the Lord superlatively and sincerely, with all their heart and soul, and from love serve and fear him: be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might; in the middle of the day, when its heat and light are the greatest … and it is hottest: the sense is, let the true friends of God be as bright and as glorious, and increase in light, lustre, and splendour, as that glorious luminary in midday, and be no more liable to be resisted and stopped by their enemies, and as much out of the reach of them as that is.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Dan & Sheryl VanBaren and Phil & Patricia VanBaren to our worship services today.
Ivan Reid is in Antrim Hospital after being admitted this past week for pain in his side. He is receiving IV antibiotics for an infection and they are running additional tests. Please remember Ivan & Lily in your prayers.
Monday night catechism classes:
5:00 PM: Felicity & Sophie (Juniors NT)
5:45 PM: Grace, Jonas, Liam & Sammy (Beginners NT)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Xander (Seniors NT)
7:15 PM: Jason, Maisie & Sebastian (Heidelberg Catechism – Book 2)
The Council meets tomorrow evening at 8 PM.
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to treat the fulfilment of prophecies in Jesus Christ in the sermons of Acts 2 and 13, etc.
The Belgic Confession class will continue this Wednesday at 7:30 PM. We will consider the revelation, appearance and coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the age.
Ladies Bible study meets Friday at 10 AM at church to begin a discussion on Titus.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is entitled “A Little Maid’s Testimony” (II Kings 5:1-5).
Offerings: £1,490.42. Donations: £60 (Co. Antrim), £250 (England) and $1,000 (Ohio).
Translation Additions: 2 Spanish.
PRC News: Rev. Eriks (Unity PRC) declined the call from Southwest PRC. Hudsonville PRC called Rev. Maatman (Southeast PRC). Grandville PRC called Rev. Barnhill (Heritage PRC). Hope PRC (Redlands) called Rev. Engelsma (Crete PRC). Byron Center PRC called Rev. McGeown (Providence PRC) to be minister-on-loan to the Philippines. Grace PRC has formed a new trio of Revs. Barnhill (Heritage PRC), Langerak (Trinity PRC) and Spronk (Faith PRC).
Right and Wrong Methods in Seeking the Office of Elder or Deacon (1)
The second article in a series written in 2021 by Rev. Angus Stewart for the Salt Shakers
The offices of elder and deacon were appointed, and are used greatly, by our Lord Jesus Christ, the sole king and head of the church. Thus it is a good thing for a man to desire to serve Him in these ecclesiastical positions (I Tim. 3:1).
However, just as one can err through evil motivations, as we saw last time, so too there are illicit methods of seeking church office. Often those who desire to be a deacon or an elder for the wrong reasons resort to unlawful means to obtain their end.
Four Sinful Examples in Scripture
1) Numbers 16 records the first instance in God’s Word of people trying to obtain church office by wicked ways. Korah the Levite, and Dathan, Abiram and On who were leaders in the tribe of Reuben, Jacob’s oldest son, used two main arguments. First, they criticised those already in office. Moses and Aaron, they claimed, exalted themselves over the Lord’s congregation (v. 3). Second, the rebels perverted the office of believer (v. 3). One could say that Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On were “levellers,” seeking to bring Moses and Aaron down, and the people of Israel up. However, their goal was not really equality but self-exaltation!
When these four thought that the time was right, they went public and directly confronted the two brothers whom God had appointed as the principal leaders of His people. They engaged in a show of power, bringing with them 250 prominent Israelites, in order to intimidate Moses and Aaron (vv. 1-3). Numbers 16 states that the Almighty swallowed up (vv. 30-34) and burnt up (v. 35) these wicked men, before slaying 14,700 sympathizers with a plague (v. 49).
2) If these rebels in the wilderness sought a higher office, King Uzziah in II Chronicles 26 sought an additional office, the priesthood, by burning incense on the golden altar before the veil in front of the holy of holies (vv. 16-20). Significantly, his attempted usurpation of the Aaronic privilege came “when he was strong” (v. 16) through military victories, tributes from his vassals, impressive building projects, agricultural prosperity and equipping the army (vv. 2, 5-15). These successes in his lengthy reign (v. 3) occasioned the proud overreach (v. 16) even of believing Uzziah (vv. 4-5)!
3) Impostors used many wiles to gain acceptance as prophets in the Old Testament. In Zechariah 13, they alleged that they were the recipients of divine visions (v. 4) and claimed that their wounds were the result of suffering for the Word of God (v. 6). They even wore the rough clothing (v. 4) which was associated with Elijah (II Kings 1:8) and other true prophets.
Other Scriptures speak of false prophets using props (I Kings 22:11; Eze. 13), performing miracles (Deut. 13:1-2), claiming revelatory dreams (Jer. 23:16, 21, 25-26, 32) and telling people what they wanted to hear (I Kings 22:6, 11-13; Isa. 30:10; Micah 2:11). Their purpose was to intrude into the prophetic office in order to gain prestige and financial support.
4) The classic example in the New Testament narratives is Simon Magus (Acts 8). Simon’s method to obtain the ability to give the Holy Spirit to others—an apostolic privilege (vv. 17-18)—was offering Peter and John money (vv. 18-20). Simon’s infamy has been underscored by the coining of the term “simony,” the giving of bribes to attain ecclesiastical office. This sin has been rife in (false) churches for many centuries and was developed to a high degree of institutionalization in the late Middle Ages, when it was fiercely denounced by John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, among others.
Attempted Usurpations of David’s Royal Office
After Saul’s various efforts over many years to kill David (I Sam. 18-II Sam. 1), and the civil war with Ishbosheth and the northern tribes (II Sam. 2-4), finally, David became ruler over all Israel (II Sam. 5). Not only did Jesse’s youngest son face the longest and fiercest opposition of any biblical character before entering into public office but, even when installed as king, three men wickedly sought to usurp his position.
The earliest was David’s handsome but murderous third son, Absalom (II Sam. 15-18). Especially the opening verses of II Samuel 15 reveal his cunning methods for obtaining the regal office. First, the prince assumed royal dignity by riding in a chariot with 50 men running before him (v. 1), doubtless flaunting his beautiful hair (14:26). Second, he pretended to be interested in advancing justice in Israel (15:2-4, 6), while criticising the working of King David’s legal system (v. 3), though Absalom’s only care was to promote himself. Third, he flattered and kissed those who came to see him (v. 5). Thus he “stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (v. 6). In effect, he got the votes of many church members by schmoozing them. One could add, fourth, that Absalom won over not only many of the people but also some of the leaders in Israel, like Ahithophel (v. 31).
The second ungodly aspirant to Israel’s throne in David’s day was Sheba, the son of Bichri (II Sam. 20). Though this Benjamite’s rebellion is not as well known as Absalom’s, at one time it looked to be even more dangerous than that of David’s third son (v. 6). Sheba seized upon the church divisions between Judah and the other tribes (19:41-20:2) to make his bid for the kingship over Israel. (… to be continued)
