Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 5 June, 2022
“… walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Eph. 5:2)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
The Most Avoided Messianic Psalm (1)
Drowning in the Depths [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 69
Text: Psalm 69:1-4
I. The Watery Imagery
II. The Fearful Reality
III. The Striking Restoration
Psalms: 42:3-7; 32:1-5; 40:1-5; 69:1-4
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 6
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Days 36-37
I. By God
II. By Us
Psalms: 110:1-6; 32:6-11; 89:1-4, 35-37; 66:12-20
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
Quotes to Consider
W. S. Plumer: “[Psalm 69] is very decidedly Messianic. The only question is, whether it is directly and fully prophetic or typical-Messianic. There is no valid objection to the admission that in some parts David, as a sufferer, speaks as a type of Christ, and that in others he rises to the height of unqualified prediction respecting Messiah. Verse 4 is cited in John 15:25; v. 9, in John 2:17; Romans 15:3; v. 21, in Matthew 27:34, 48; Mark 15:23; John 19:28, 29; vv. 22, 23, in Romans 11:9, 10; and v. 25, in Acts 1:16, 20. Sound commentators generally admit that it has its fulfilment in Christ. Theodoret: ‘It is a prediction of the sufferings of Christ, and the final destruction of the Jews on that account.’ Calvin: ‘David wrote this inspired ode, not so much in his own name, as in the name of the whole church of whose head he was an eminent type.’ Vitringa: ‘It is admitted among Christians, that in the sixty-ninth Psalm Christ, and Christ as a sufferer, is to be placed before our eyes. We add, that it refers to Christ crucified as the Evangelists Matthew, Mark and John apply it.’ Fabritius: ‘In this Psalm David is a figure of Christ.’ Alexander: ‘The only individual in whom the traits meet is Christ.’ Hodge: ‘This Psalm is so frequently quoted and applied to Christ in the New Testament, that it must be considered as directly prophetical.’ Similar remarks might be cited from Gill, Anderson, Scott and others. Calvin’s first remark on this Psalm is: ‘There is a close resemblance between this and the twenty-second Psalm.’ Many others have observed the likeness. This is a composition of great beauty and poetic excellence” (Psalms, p. 675).
J. A. Alexander: “There is no psalm, except the twenty-second, more distinctly applied to him [i.e., Christ] in the New Testament [than Psalm 69]” (The Psalms Translated and Explained, p. 292).
John Gill: “[Christ] satisfied justice he had never injured, though others had; he fulfilled a law, and bore the penalty of it, which he never broke; and made satisfaction for sins he never committed; and brought in a righteousness he had not taken away; and provided a better inheritance than what was lost by Adam: and all this was done at the time of his sufferings and death, and by the means of them” (Comm. on Ps. 69:4).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Billy & Ann Gould, Grace Gould and Kerryann Gould have been received as members from Antrim Free Presbyterian Church.
It is good to fellowship with other saints. However, before the services, the volume in the sanctuary should be lower, with silence prevailing prior to the start of public worship. There should be no children running around inside the church building after (or before) the meetings.
The Council meets tomorrow evening, 6 June, at 7 PM at church.
Tuesday Bible study at 11 AM will meet this week. Having considered the Arminian view of faith, we now turn to the views of Amyraldianism and the Federal Vision.
South Wales Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak on “The Irresistible Grace of God” on Thursday, 9 June, at Margam Community Centre.
The Saturday night Bible study will continue discussing Malachi 3:1-6 this week, 11 June, at 8 PM at the Kennedys and on-line.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is entitled, “Israel Preserved in Egypt” (Gen. 47).
Please reserve Wednesday, 29 June, for our annual general meeting.
BRF Conference: Have you booked your place at the BRF Conference yet? Full payment should be made by this week Wednesday, 8 June. If you are willing to host someone at your house after the conference, please sign-up on the sheet on the back table. If you have already arranged something with someone, please put that down as well. Thanks!
Offerings: £1,080.37. Donation: £100 (Malaysia).
Translation Additions: 2 Polish, 1 Russian and 1 Spanish.
PRC News: Grace PRC called Rev. Guichelaar. Rev. Smidstra is considering calls from Edmonton and Hudsonville PRC, and the call to be home missionary.
Encouraging Quotes
“I am enjoying Corrupting the Word of God by Herman Hanko. It is packed with useful material.” – Lincolnshire, England
“Thank you for the large consignment of Reformed material that arrived here this morning. I am very pleased to have received these items and have already begun to read them.” – Co. Antrim
“Thank you for the books. I feel honoured getting genuine Reformed books. This is so rare … I was studying covenant theology from your website. I read great articles, especially the long article on baptism related to the baptist view of the covenant … I was quite shocked about immersionism and the many baptists who kept saying to me all the time that baptism means immersion. Well, it does not. I translated portions from a pamphlet and sent it to some of my baptist friends.” – Hungary
“Thank you again for regular issues of the monthly Covenant Reformed News during the past year. Please find enclosed a cheque towards P&P.” – S. Wales
“I decided to listen again to the CPRC sermons on Psalm 2. I listened to sermon 1 in the morning of Easter Sunday, number 2 in the early afternoon and number 3 in the late afternoon, ‘The Begotten Son,’ which couldn’t have been more apt for the commemoration of the resurrection of our Lord. Yesterday, I listened to the fourth, ‘The Messianic Kingdom’ which speaks so clearly to the state of the country and world now. I hope to listen to number 5, ‘The Gospel Call’ tomorrow. I am now reading volume 3 of Triple Knowledge for the first time …” – Yorkshire, England
“Thank you for the CPRC ministry, especially with the continuing Belgic Confession series. I’m currently in the baptism section.” – Massachusetts, USA
“Just a quick message to say I was very blessed by the AM sermon, ‘When the Wicked Flourish’ on Sunday. My church has been vacant for a year and my constant stability had been listening to the CPRC sermons. Good food for the soul generally but this sermon was excellent.” – Co. Down
“Saved by Grace—what a book! I’m about to commence reading it through a second time.” – London, England
“Both articles in the CR News were profitable reading for me. Thanks again. In the Dutch Statenvertaling [Bible translation] the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6:1-2 is written with a capital and the annotations, being the voice of our fathers, point to Christ as being the Rider. Your explanation fits perfectly with these annotations.” – Netherlands
“Thank you for your help and kind assistance in sending me the newsletters, etc. The commentary on Revelation, Behold He Cometh, is easily the best I’ve come across and Herman Hoeksema’s interpretation is so accurate looking at the events that are developing in the world today. The Reformed Dogmatics volumes are very impressive too from what I’ve read so far. I’ve been very interested in your church and have been watching your sermons on YouTube and reading the articles on the church website, in particular the issues within the Calvinist churches regarding common grace and the watering down of our Lord’s eternal decree. The pamphlet on A. W. Pink’s book opened my eyes. I have the Banner version and I never knew it had been severely edited.” – Essex, England
“The audio recordings on the Belgic Confession series were the best exegetical and theological expositions I have ever laid hands on. I will be downloading every individual mp3 file for my private safe keeping.” – Malaysia
“Please find enclosed a donation for the work in Ballymena and, indeed, around the world. I’m a bit behind with your sermons on the temple, though I did see this past Sabbath on the Holy Place. The point on the altar of incense was well made—only one Mediator. The comments on ‘children’s church’ in the baptism service were apt. It has always struck me as bizarre that the children are removed from worship. While they may not understand the reading and preaching of God’s Word, the Spirit can surely still use it to their good … Am enjoying the British Reformed Journal and the Standard Bearer arrived this afternoon.” – Co. Down
“Thank you for your newsletters. It is a pity they aren’t longer, as I love the wording.” – Devon, England
“I want to praise God for the CPRC website. It is a wonderful blessing with many helpful resources. I have enjoyed reading the notes/commentary (articles) for the Belgic Confession classes Articles 1-7. I am a pastor in the United Reformed Church in North America and hope to start preaching and teaching through the Belgic Confession soon and would be grateful to direct those in my congregation to your resources on the Belgic Confession.” – Washington, USA
“Really enjoyed the sermon on Ruth’s move to Israel. At the time, it was close to bringing me to tears.” – India
“I’ve been listening to CPRC sermons for quite some time now, and the clarity of the exposition and application speaks volumes. [Our denomination] is flirting with ideas of women in office. So to be able to listen to preaching and hear the voice of the Good Shepherd is a joy.” – South Africa
