Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 14 December, 2003
“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise thee.” (Psalm 63:3)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM (Prof. H. Hanko)
Luke 16:27-31
I. A Wicked Request
II. A Persistent Complaint
III. A Just Refusal
Psalms: 136:1-8; 89:13-18; 147:1-5, 19-20; 119:129-136
Evening Service – 6:00 PM (Prof. H. Hanko)
Galatians 5:17
I. The Combatants
II. The Battle
III. The Victory
Psalms: 107:1-8; 89:19-25; 1:1-6; 44:2-8
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:
Martin Luther on the sufficiency of the Scriptures: “I have covenanted with my Lord that he should not send me visions or dreams or even angels. I am content with this gift of the Scriptures, which teaches and supplies all that is necessary, both for this life and that which is to come.”
Martin Luther on Galatians 5:17: “The scholastics are at a loss to understand this confession of Paul and feel obliged to save his honour. That the chosen vessel of Christ should have had the law of sin in his members seems to them incredible and absurd. They circumvent the plain-spoken statement of the Apostle by saying that he was speaking for the wicked. But the wicked never complain of inner conflicts, or of the captivity of sin. Sin has its unrestricted way with them. This is Paul’s very own complaint and the identical complaint of all believers. Paul never denied that he felt the lust of the flesh. It is likely that at times he felt even the stirrings of carnal lust, but there is no doubt that he quickly suppressed them. And if at any time he felt angry or impatient, he resisted these feelings by the Spirit. We are not going to stand by idly and see such a comforting statement as this explained away. The scholastics, monks, and others of their ilk fought only against carnal lust and were proud of a victory which they never obtained. In the meanwhile they harboured within their breasts pride, hatred, disdain, self-trust, contempt of the Word of God, disloyalty, blasphemy, and other lusts of the flesh. Against these sins they never fought because they never took them for sins.”
Announcements:
There will be tea after the evening service today as we bid Prof. and Mrs. Hanko farewell. Rev. Stewart will also give a short talk about the trips to Bradford (to see Stephen Rushton) and South Wales this past week. The back of the bulletin contains a photocopy of an advertisement placed by Stephen Rushton in an advertising flier in West Yorkshire. Another sheet contains a report on the meeting in south Wales and news from the Philippines.
Bible Study will be held Wednesday (DV) at 8 PM at the manse. We will continue with our study of the end times in the Old Testament.
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 21 December, (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is “Why Jesus Came” (I Timothy 1:15).
Last Week’s Offerings: £741.90. Donation: £20 & £160 (tapes).
PRC News: Rev. Key (Hull, IA) declined the call to Faith. Faith’s new trio is Revs. Bruinsma (Kalamazoo), A. Brummel (South Holland), and Haak (Bethel).
MEETING IN SOUTH WALES FRIDAY 12TH DEC. 2003
by H. L. WILLIAMS
Three years and two weeks ago, Rev. Ronald Hanko of the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church at Ballymena preached what was (unbeknown to himself or any of us at the time) his last sermon in Porthcawl, south Wales, after four and a half years of faithful ministry labours. Tragic events were to unfold, which meant the loss of Pastor Hanko’s ministry. Added to this, the south Wales fellowship lost the inspirational drive and guiding light of Mr. John Beaton, an elder brother who had done much to promote in the Reformed faith in the area. Smitten with a serious illness, Mr. Beaton went to be with the Lord on Jan. 1st 2001.
After three years, his widow, Mrs. Isabel Beaton stirred up interest for a meeting. One was arranged in which Professor Herman Hanko, was to be the speaker. The chosen topic was THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. We organised the meeting with some trepidation, wondering if any of the scattered and disappointed fellowship of three years previous would be interested again. But a welcome surprise awaited us, for upwards of forty people were in attendance, filling the small room we had booked in the old Miner’s Convalescent Home in Porthcawl. And we had thought that we might only get maybe a dozen; twenty at the most. Present were some young men and a young Korean lady, plus several more of the older generations that had not attended before.
Prof. Hanko spoke on the appointed topic for 50 minutes or more, taking his starting point from Revelation 5:1-6:11. We listened with acute attention as he expounded on the Sovereignty of God, showing it to be a foundational Scriptural concept, which does not diminish human responsibility. God controls all human history, and the natural history of the Universe. God, he showed, had everything planned right from the beginning, nothing escaped His minute attention, and all is directed to His glory in Jesus Christ in the salvation of His Church, His bride, for whom Christ laid down His life.
Hence, the events of world history are nothing less than the outworking of God’s purposes for the sake of his elect (Rom. 8:28), and the prevalent whole-scale moral and spiritual decay is a sign that God is ripening the reprobate for Judgement. God’s people are to take heart from this, rather than be discouraged, and prepare for the Day of His Coming.
A question and answer time followed, with some interesting exchanges. At the close of the meeting the enthusiasm of the audience spilled over into further running discussions as they partook of coffee and biscuits, and many expressed their desire for further meetings … NOT THREE YEARS HENCE AGAIN, said one brother, but NEXT WEEK! Books, pamphlets, and tapes were eagerly acquired as the book table was besieged. Many expressed their regards for Pastor Hanko, and enquired after him.
People from all over South Wales attended. One farmer came from Pembrokeshire, a distance of about 80 miles straight after milking his cows. Another elderly gentleman even came from south Somerset, and more came from east south Wales. The “catchment” area extended for well over a hundred miles. It was particularly humbling to hear these dear saints from south Wales express ardent desire for more of this kind of ministry.
