Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 25 April, 2021
“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:
fear before him, all the earth” (Ps. 96:9)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Administration of the Lord’s Supper
God’s Work of Reconciliation [youtube]
Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 5
Text: II Corinthians 5:18-21
I. The Agent
II. The Blessings
III. The Exhortation
Psalms: 130:1-8; 32:1-5
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Applicatory
Praying to Our Father [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 63:7-64:12
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 46
I. The Theological Basis
II. The Personal Conviction
Psalms: 89:23-29; 103:8-15
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: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
Herman Hoeksema on Lord’s Day 46: “At the beginning of our prayers the Lord leads us in the marvelous way of his grace and through the entrance of his sovereign election into the presence of his heavenly majesty. We can boast to man of a free will whereby we have accepted our sonship. But even before we utter the first two words of the Lord’s prayer, this boast dies on our lips, and we humbly confess, ‘Our Father in heaven, it is none of self, but all of thee’” (The Perfect Prayer, p. 46).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
After a week of self-examination, CPRC confessing members in good standing are called to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Your participation in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood is in part a witness that you repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ as your only righteousness, and desire to live a new and godly life. As this heavenly food can be taken to one’s judgment (I Cor. 11:28-30) and as the common reception of the Lord’s Supper is a confession of doctrinal unity (Acts 2:42), the elders supervise the partaking of the sacrament. Visitors who are members of other denominations must already have presented to the Council an attestation from their church that they are confessing members in good standing and have received permission from the Council to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Bob & Carolyn Prins have requested and received permission to partake with us as members of good standing in Trinity PRC.
Catechism classes:
Monday, 5:00 PM: Jason & Sebastian (Juniors OT)
Monday, 5:45 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Somaya (Beginners OT)
Monday, 6:30 PM: Angelica, Bradley, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Seniors OT)
Monday, 7:15 PM: Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet in the auditorium to continue our study of “Saving Faith: A Biblical and Theological Analysis.”
Belgic Confession Class will meet and be streamed live this Wednesday at 7:45 PM discussing the last days according to the Pentateuch in connection with Article 37.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled, “Joy in the Groom’s Presence” (Mark 2:23-28).
The Council approved the request of David & Kristin Crossett for the baptism of their son, Jonathan. The baptism is scheduled for next Lord’s day morning.
Offerings: General Fund: £1,158.70. Donation: £300 (England).
Translation Additions: 1 Russian and 2 Hungarian.
PRC News: Byron Center PRC will call from a trio of Rev. Barnhill (Peace, IL), Prof. Dykstra and Rev. Spronk (Faith, MI). Rev. Griess (First, MI) declined the call from Hudsonville PRC.
Dwelling With God
An excerpt from an article in the Standard Bearer, vol. 74, issue 11 by Rev. C. Hanko
“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1).
Lord God, who is worthy to enter into Thy house? Who is fit to stand in Thy presence on Zion’s holy mount? Every sincere believer of the old dispensation was confronted with this question. Whether he lived in Jerusalem or was approaching the holy city of God from afar, he felt the need of doing some soul searching.
We can well ask ourselves today: Who of us has the right to submit his or her child to baptism, or who has the boldness to partake of the supper of our Lord?
But that raises another question: Who is worthy or fit to enter into the presence of the Lord on the Sabbath day to worship in the communion of saints under the ministry of God’s holy Word? But then also: Who has the right to approach God in prayer? Who is worthy or has the boldness to address Him who dwells in the high and lofty place, far beyond all that is creature—the eternal, ever-blessed, adorable, living God?
At times we are so concerned with our own cares that we approach God as if He were in heaven to serve us, rather than that we are on earth to serve Him. James warns us: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3).
Do we come to the public worship service on the Sabbath day merely because of custom or habit, but not to worship? God warns Israel, “I hate, I despise your solemn feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies” (Amos 5:21).
We may even partake of the Lord’s Supper without giving thought to the fact that he who eats or drinks unworthily eats and drinks condemnation unto himself, not discerning the Lord’s body (I Cor. 11:29).
But the psalmist takes every form of worship seriously. He counts it a privilege to enter into the presence of the highly exalted, living God, to abide in His presence, to worship and adore Him as God above all, who is blessed forever, but he also considers it a serious responsibility to do so with a proper attitude.
Who, O Lord, with Thee abiding, in Thy house shall be Thy guest?
The psalmist knew the answer, and so do we.
To us are entrusted the covenant and the promises, but above all the oracles of God, that is, God’s holy and infallible Word. From that we know, as did the psalmist, that he who comes into God’s presence does not make himself guilty of backbiting, nor of slandering his neighbour. But he speaks the truth in love.
He does not seek his companionship among vile persons. He does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat with the scornful. Of wicked men he says: Shall I not hate them who hate Thee, O Lord? I hate them with a perfect hatred. His friends and companions are those who fear the Lord. When he swears to his own hurt he willingly suffers the consequences. He does not take advantage of the poor, of the widow, or of the orphan, but rather comes to their aid.
In one word, he walks uprightly, keeps God’s commandments, and works righteousness!
Yes, Lord, I know, even in the depths of my heart I know. But that gives me the more reason to ask, “Who has the right to abide in Thy tabernacle, who is fit to dwell in Thy holy hill?” Certainly not I!
… When I put my hand in my bosom, it comes out, as it were, leprous. I am prone by nature to hate God and my neighbour. Of myself, I am incapable of any good and inclined to all evil.
What right have I, how can I lift my voice in prayer to God, to worship in the beauty of His holiness on the Lord’s day or to partake of the sacraments that He has instituted for the strengthening of our faith. Yes, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?
But, Jehovah, Thou knowest. And Thou hast revealed to us in Thy holy Word that there is One who does have the right and who possesses the worthiness to enter into Thy presence, to dwell with Thee in Thy eternal dwelling place. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who from all eternity was appointed for that very purpose, came in the likeness of our sinful flesh, became like unto us, yet without sin, begotten of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.
He dwelt among us, witnessing by His Word and by signs and wonders that He was given the tongue of the learned to know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. The Lord opened His ear, and He was not rebellious, neither turned He away back. He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. He hid not His face from shame and spitting.
He who had no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Even in all His sufferings, bearing the torment of God’s wrath unto the dark agonies of hell, He stood the test. He had clean hands, and a pure heart. He did not lift up His soul to vanity. Nor did He swear deceitfully (Ps. 24).
He conquered all the powers of darkness: Satan, sin, death, and the grave; and He ascended to heaven for us. At His ascension, a section of the heavenly choir sang: Lift up your heads, O ye gates! And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in!
Another section asked: Who is this King of glory? To which arose the powerful response: The Lord, strong and mighty! The Lord, mighty in battle!
He breaks into our hearts by His Spirit, makes us partakers of His new, spiritual, heavenly life. We are made new creatures in Christ. We have the gift of faith that is wrought by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Wonder of wonders! I can say with conviction: I believe! I believe in God, the God of our salvation, and in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord! And by that bond of faith and love I am united with Him forever. I am righteous in Christ and sanctified by His blood. God sees me not as I am in myself, but as a new creature in Christ.
As our Mediator, our Lord Jesus Christ intercedes for us in the heavenly sanctuary on the basis of His atoning work. His prayer is heard, so that in Him we have access to, and boldness to approach, the throne of grace in prayer, to dwell in His presence in the communion of saints under the ministry of the Word, and to partake of the holy sacraments.
… I now realize that God eternally sees us as we are in Christ, as we belong to our faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He regards us no longer as we are in ourselves, but He sees us as new creatures in Christ, clothed from head to foot in the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
Now in my consciousness I stand before the judgment seat of God. The question is put to me, Are you guilty of transgressing My commandments? I hang my head in shame: Yes, I have transgressed, not one, but all Thy commandments. I have even grossly transgressed them all.
Hast thou at some time kept any of them perfectly? No, not one. Will you promise henceforth to keep all My commandments? No, I cannot, for I am still inclined to all evil.
The verdict of the Judge rings into the depths of my soul: Without any of your merit, but purely of grace, I grant and impute to you the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ.
I stand before the face of God, “as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all the obedience which Christ has accomplished for me” (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 23).
Lord Jehovah, through faith in the infallible truth which Thou hast sealed in my heart that I am justified and sanctified in Christ Jesus, Christ’s worthiness is mine! Christ’s fitness is mine! I can, I may, I will, I must abide in Thy tabernacle and dwell in Thy holy hill in prayer and worship!
