Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 27 August, 2023
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Nehemiah, a Man Who Sought the Welfare of Israel (17)
The Repopulating of Jerusalem [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 11
Text: Nehemiah 11
I. Its New Citizens
II. Its Spiritual Impetus
III. Its Good Results
Psalms: 122:1-9; 73:21-28; 48:1-4, 11-14; 87:1-7
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Scripture Reading: Revelation 22
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 22
I. The Duration
II. The Nature
III. The Experience
Psalms: 63:1-8; 74:1-5; 36:5-10; 16:6-11
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
Matthew Henry on Nehemiah 11: “Jerusalem is called here the holy city (Neh. 11:1), because there the temple was, and that was the place God had chosen to put his name there; upon this account, one would think, the holy seed should all have chosen to dwell there and have striven for a habitation there; but, on the contrary, it seems [some] declined dwelling there … 1. Those who care not for being holy themselves are shy of dwelling in a holy city; they would not dwell in the New Jerusalem itself for that reason, but would wish to have a continuing city here upon earth. Or, 2. Because Jerusalem, of all places, was most hated by the heathen their neighbours, and against it their malicious designs were levelled … Fear of persecution and reproach, and of running themselves into trouble, keeps many out of the holy city … 3. Because it was more for their worldly advantage to dwell in the country. Jerusalem was no trading city, and therefore there was no money to be got there by merchandise, as there was in the country by corn and cattle … It is a general and just complaint that most people prefer their own wealth, credit, pleasure, ease, and safety, before the glory of God …”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Tuesday Bible study will meet this week at 11 AM to consider further the Charismatic teaching regarding “subsequence” in the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Saturday Bible study will be held this week, 2 September, at 7:30 PM, considering lesson 2 of the II Thessalonians study guide.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “The Emergence of the Anti-Christian Kingdom” (Rev. 17:9-17).
Ivan Reid has been nominated for another 3-year term as elder and David Crossett has been nominated for another 3-year term as deacon. Voting by male confessing members to approve/disapprove of the nominations will be held after the evening service on 10 September.
Catechism classes will start on Monday, 11 September. The appropriate books will be handed out next Lord’s day.
Sven Kuhs met with the Council this past Monday to confess his faith and agreement with the doctrines taught in the CPRC. His baptism is scheduled for the morning service of 17 September.
The Annual General Meeting is planned for Wednesday, 20 September, at 7:30 PM.
Offerings: £1,573.62.
The deacons have distributed £5,000 to Vellore, India towards their new church building and £5,000 to the CCES, the Christian school fund of the CERC in Singapore.
Translation Additions: 4 Hungarian (all of Ye Are My Witnesses is now complete) and 1 Polish.
Love Waxing Cold
Rev. Cornelius Hanko, an excerpt from the Standard Bearer, vol. 75, issue 17
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:12).
It is significant that in the twentieth century remarkable changes have taken place, inventions and discoveries have been made, which stagger the imagination … Our grandparents never knew the conveniences we now take for granted, such as running water, the refrigerator, gas and electric stoves, and air conditioning. Today we wonder how they managed without them …
One thing is certain, all this development, along with our present affluence, has brought about an extremely rapid development of sin. Today there are many more means and opportunities to sin than ever before. This is evident from the evils that have resulted from the automobile, the radio, the television, and now the computer. Sin has also come far more out in the open. Evils that were committed in secret, because they were still looked upon with disapproval, are now openly committed and condoned by the general public. God is not in all their thoughts. His commandments are transgressed in the slums, but also among those in positions of authority; among adults, but also … teenagers.
The Word of our Lord that “iniquity shall abound” is being fulfilled. Literally we read that lawlessness shall abound. Lawlessness certainly characterizes the times in which we live. God’s law is deliberately trodden underfoot. That law is no longer the standard of right and wrong, righteousness or unrighteousness. Those in authority, as well as judges, jurors, and lawyers, are swayed by public sentiment, the consensus of the majority of the people. They are men-pleasers, rather than servants of God.
Even the church has fallen victim to the lawlessness of our times. To a great extent Christianity has become idol worship. God is regarded as a servant of mankind, awaiting and granting our requests for anything we might desire. He sends only “good gifts” to mankind. Storms, floods, and all other disasters do not come to us from His hand, but are rather freaks of nature which must be overcome. A good God would not send such evils upon us.
Many regard God as a god of love, who is willing and eager to save the whole human race. He stretches out His hand with earnest pleadings, but He cannot save us unless we by our own volition grasp that hand. All the gifts of salvation are available to us, except faith. We, on our part, must show our willingness to be saved.
Some even maintain that salvation is possible outside of Christ, even for those who reject Him. … And there are those who maintain that, while there is a temporary place of punishment, no one remains in hell forever, for ultimately all mankind is saved.
I need but remind you that profanity, once frowned upon, at least in public places, has become so common that it passes almost unnoticed. Sabbath observance is increasingly neglected. Shopping centres and factories carry on as usual. Stores do their largest business on that day.
Maybe one of the root evils in our time is the neglect of the family. The struggle for equality among the sexes, working mothers, all our modern conveniences, ever-increasing busyness—all these have had a profound effect on family life. Rarely is the entire family quietly enjoying each other’s fellowship at home, much less at meals. Authority and obedience, instruction and training have gone by the wayside …
The murder of unborn and unwanted babies has run into the millions. Our daily news reports give numerous accounts of murder … Many formerly peaceful communities have become centres of drug dealings and crime, unsafe to pass through either by day or by night …
Fornication and adultery are openly committed and condoned. There is an increasingly large number of single-parent homes. Divorce and remarriage have become a common practice, even to the extent that churches allow it. Though Scripture clearly condemns it, homosexuality finds common approval. And sex outside of marriage is virtually encouraged by making contraceptives available to teenagers.
Lotteries, gambling of all sorts, have become an exciting venture. The love of money accounts for all kinds of evil, such as theft, lying, cheating, backbiting, and slander …
Jesus warns us that the result of this abounding wickedness is that the love of many waxes cold.
Our first reaction might very well be to think that this is not true today. For the fact is that there is more emphasis on love today than ever before, not only in the world, but also in the church. Much of the preaching and teaching is centred in love, loving one another in the home and in the church, loving our neighbour, loving all men. It is even emphasized that God loves all mankind with an earnest desire to save all. And all this is stressed at the expense of God’s justice, righteousness, and holiness.
The love that Jesus is speaking of here is not a mere outward expression of affection, but the love of God. It is the love that fills the heart of God and is spread abroad into the hearts of His people. Thereby we love God, and we love the neighbour for God’s sake. That is much richer than the mere human affection which is so strongly advocated in our day.
Our Lord speaks of the love of many waxing cold. Literally the text says that the love of many is being blown cold. Breezes of chilling false doctrines sweep into the church. Drafts of worldly-mindedness waft through the congregation. The increasing lawlessness in the environment has its evil effect upon the members of the flock.
These gentle, almost unnoticed breezes grow stronger as Satan and his followers increase their attack upon the church in order to wipe out God’s cause from the face of the earth. They appeal strongly to the flesh, and therefore they appeal especially to the carnal element. As these pleasing breezes increase, they become more appealing and more commonly accepted.
Sound doctrinal preaching is sorely lacking. All the emphasis is no longer placed upon God, but upon man, upon public appeal, and upon external growth. The sacraments are offered to all who care to partake. Christian discipline is no longer exercised. All sorts of compromise are made to make the preaching appealing to all who can be drawn into the church.
The love of many waxes cold. Since they lack knowledge, they object to sound doctrine from the pulpit because it does not appeal to them. Sunday services are not worship services to glorify our God, but places of entertainment. People come to enjoy themselves, be aroused to enthusiasm, excited not edified. Therefore many attend church only once on the Sabbath, and complain that they must listen to a long, dry discourse from the minister. Being ignorant of the truth of Scripture they also become lax in their daily life. Scripture no longer has a prominent place in their homes. There is no time for family worship. More time is spent enjoying the sports and other entertainment of the world.
Complacency turns into apathy, apathy becomes hostility. Even though at one time many faithfully attended the public worship, and even made confession of their faith, they now turn against all that is holy. They are cold, lifeless, enemies of God and His Christ.
Paul warns us, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (II Tim. 3:1-5).
… It does not take long for a church that falls into error to become an apostatizing church, and soon apostate, ready for the final judgment. Jesus warns us: Beware, be alert, be on your guard. Hold that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown!
At the same time He comforts and encourages His church with the assurance that the white horse and its rider are going forth conquering. The gospel is being spread to the ends of the earth … God’s church is being gathered from the ends of the earth, His kingdom is coming, His name is glorified.
The crown awaits us! The Lord is coming speedily!
