Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 15 December, 2013
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious,
longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Prophet Jonah (5)
Jonah Is Cast Into the Sea [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Jonah 1
Text: Jonah 1:11-16
I. It Is Proposed
II. It Is Unavoidable
III. It Is Effected
Psalms: 145:15-21; 56:7-13; 93:1-5; 107:25-31
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Preparatory
The One Mediator Between God and Man [youtube]
Scripture Reading: I Timothy 2
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 28
I. His Mediation
II. His Ransom
III. His Proclamation
Psalms: 69:30-36; 57:1-4; 40:6-10; 110:1-6
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
Quote to Consider
Albert Barnes: “For God by all this instructed the prophet … all but saying aloud to him; ‘Imitate these uninstructed sailors. They think not lightly of one soul, nor are unsparing as to one body, thine own. But thou, for thy part, gavest up a whole city with so many myriads. They, discovering thee to be the cause of the evils which befell them, did not even thus hurry to condemn thee. Thou, having nothing whereof to accuse the Ninevites, didst sink and destroy them. Thou, when I bade thee go and by thy preaching call them to repentance, obeyedst not; these, untaught, do all, compass all, in order to recover thee, already condemned, from punishment.’”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
A letter from the Philippines is on the back table (See the bulletin board in the Bible study room for a map and information on the churches in the Philippines.)
This evening, we will have a preparatory service with a view to celebrating the Lord’s Supper next Sunday, 22 December.
Lucas Hall returned home from Antrim Hospital yesterday afternoon. The Halls appreciated the visits, prayers and messages of support from the congregation.
Monday Catechism: Bradley, Samuel (Beginners NT) – 5:30PM
Alex, Nathan (Juniors OT) – 6:15PM
Jacob, Joseph (Seniors OT) – 7:00PM
Timothy (Essentials of Reformed Doctrine) – 7:45PM
Tuesday Bible study meets at 11 AM to study Christ’s controversy regarding the forbidding of remarriage (while one’s spouse lives).
Belgic Confession Class will be held this Wednesday at 7:45 PM to continue with article 22, looking at the role of faith in justification.
Ladies’ Bible Study meets this Friday at 10:30 AM at church to study Rahab. All women are welcome to join us for the last meeting of the calendar year.
Men’s Bible Study meets this Saturday at 8 PM at the Kennedys to study chapter 6 of the Ezra study guide. (Rev. Griess’ series on Sermon Audio is helpful.)
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) is entitled “While They Were There” (Luke 2:6) by Rev. Bruinsma.
Upcoming Events:
29 December – Rev. McGeown preaches for the CPRC
31 December – all are invited to the manse for the evening
5 January – baptism of Hannah Graham
24 January – Rev. Eriks and Sid Meidema arrive for church visitation
29 January – Rev. Eriks’ lecture: “Knowing the Truth in an Age of Uncertainty”
31 January – congregational dinner
28 February – lecture in Lurgan: “John Knox and Predestination”
Offerings: General Fund – £581.97. Donation: £28.60.
PRC News: Doon PRC called Rev. Bruinsma.
Wisdom’s Call Refused
Brian D. Dykstra
Proverbs 1:24-31: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: They despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.”
In these verses we still have wisdom speaking. In the verses preceding we learned the voice of wisdom can be heard everywhere. The call of wisdom has a positive effect upon God’s children. They recognize His voice, know their sin and their only deliverance from it, repent and walk in the Spirit.
In these verses we read of what happens to those who do not obey the voice of wisdom.
When wisdom called, she did not call with pleading. The call was not some type of gracious, general offer. God knows who are His. We read of these people in Romans 9:21-22: “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction …” God does not yearn after these scoffers and desire to save them, if only they would listen. God’s will is not frustrated as He shows Himself to be the God of omnipotence and justice.
Remember, the voice of wisdom is heard everywhere. Those who reject the testimony of God’s Word do so to their own destruction. By God’s making the voice of wisdom heard everywhere, the wicked are left without excuse. They heard the call, but refused. They saw the gracious hand, but thought nothing of it. They knew the counsel, but accounted it to be worthless. They heard the reproof of their sins, but desired the pleasures of this world.
Perhaps they believe God to be similar to the simple-minded people of our time. All a person need do is express remorse, no matter how superficial, and nearly everything, except intolerance, smoking, drinking and gun owning, can be exonerated. If a person admits to some wrongdoing, there is no choice but to give forgiveness and forgo any punishment. No one is to be made to suffer for his behaviour, as long as he admits to it. They must believe God to be as foolish as themselves. They will sneak into heaven’s back door with a last minute confession. They will attempt to satisfy God with a confession, while there is yet a smirk on their faces which expresses, “My, but that was still fun, though!”
Those who lived such lives of unrighteousness and rebellion against God’s Word will be given a surprise. It is now God’s turn to laugh and mock their fear. God will not answer their cry when their destruction and anguish come. God will make them reap what they have sown. God is not mocked. His holiness will not allow it.
The wicked then claim such judgment to be inconsistent to the nature of the God of love. Perhaps they believe, “He will not require me to reap what I have sown because He is the God of love. Because He is the God of love, He must love me, too.” Yes, He is the God of love. What the wicked have forgotten is that His love has an object. God’s love is not some universal, warm, fuzzy glow which cannot help but to envelope everybody. What is forgotten is that God loves Himself in perfect covenant fellowship. He loves His own perfect holiness. Those who would experience this love must be holy, even as He is holy. Of ourselves, our situation would be hopeless, but in His grace He has given the one perfect sacrifice to cleanse us from our sins.
The ark of the covenant was the picture of God dwelling with His people in covenant fellowship. This fellowship is only possible because God is merciful, which is why on top of the ark was the mercy seat. Remember though, the mercy seat on the ark did not sparkle with the glitter of solid gold. That mercy seat was covered with the blood of a sacrificial lamb. Where God does not see the blood of His Son, He will not dwell in love, but in judgment.
The message of these verses is still unsettling to us as teachers. We are to teach our students in the light of God’s Word. We would prefer that Word to be a one-edged sword sometimes, bringing only the fruit which we consider to be positive. It grieves us to hear of former students who have departed from God’s way. There will be students who will show that they hate the knowledge of God, do not fear Him, do not hear His counsel and despise His reproof. Such news brings sorrow. Then we must pray for grace to submit in humility to the will of the Potter who has power over the clay. We must apply His Word in our teaching, and His Word, a two-edged sword, will have His desired effect.
