Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 11 March, 2012
“Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps. 92:13)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Zechariah’s Night Visions (6)
The Golden Candlestick [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Zechariah 4
Text: Zechariah 4:1-6
I. The Glorious Vision That the Prophet Saw
II. The Holy Spirit Who Builds the Church
Psalms: 113:1-9; 120:1-7; 46:1-7; 33:12-20
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Zechariah’s Night Visions (7)
Divine Promises for Building God’s Temple [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Ezra 5
Text: Zechariah 4:7-14
I. The Great Mountain Will Become a Plain
II. Zerubbabel Will Finish the Work
III. Christ Will Supply All Needed Grace
Psalms: 65:1-5; 121:1-8; 138:1-6; 147:1-8
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Ballymena-United-Kingdom/Covenant-Protestant-Reformed-Church-N-Ireland/337347932331
Quote to Consider:
Richard D. Phillips on Zechariah 4:6: “Here is the principle animating this vision, and to make it the angel directs our attention away from the lights to the flow of oil that fuels the lamps. Oil is one of the clearest symbols in all the Bible, consistently pointing to the Spirit of God. Just as the flow of oil keeps the lights shining, so the Holy Spirit empowers and animates every spiritual work” (Zechariah, p. 90).
H. C. Leupold on Zechariah 4:7: “The success that Zerubbabel will have as a result is concentrated on one instance. From this he may gather what the outcome will be in other cases of legitimate and necessary enterprises. The same promise is, of course, held out to the entire people. This bit of success is described: ‘He shall bring forth the top stone.’ ‘Bring forth’ refers to the bringing forth out of the place where it was being prepared. The ‘top stone’ or as it might be translated, ‘headstone,’ signifies the stone that in some way marks the completion of a structure; it is the last one to be fitted in place as would, for example, be the stone that marks the point of an arch whose upper masonry runs into a point over a door” (Exposition of Zechariah, pp. 89-90).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
The Council would like to remind the saints of the original decision regarding the orderly exiting of all the congregation after the worship services, whereupon the sanctuary doors will be closed. This sets a good example for the children and helps teach them that the sanctuary is a place for reverence and public worship. It also avoids any appearance of cliques, for all the saints are to fellowship together in the narthex. Moreover, the Bible study room is open and it has many chairs for any who wish to sit.
Sunday Catechism: 10 AM – O.T. Juniors
Monday Catechism: 6 PM – O.T. Beginners (Alex & Nathan) 6:45 PM – O.T. Juniors (Jacob & Joseph) 7:30 PM – Heidelberg (Timothy, Zoe, Amy & Lea)
Our Tuesday morning Bible study meets at 11 AM on “Eschatology and Time.” We will continue our discussion on the “two ages.”
Belgic Confession Class meets Wednesday at 7:45 PM to study Article 14 on the creation and fall of man.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) will be “Weep Not for Me, But for Yourselves” (Luke 23:28).
The Mens’ Discussion Group will meet Saturday, 24 March, at 8 PM at the Kennedys. A resume of Daniel 11 and questions for Daniel 12 are on the back table.
Lectures:
S. Wales, 12 April, Rev. Stewart, “God’s Sovereignty & Man’s Responsibility”
Ballymena, 20 April, Rev. Stewart, “God’s Sovereignty & Man’s Responsibility”
Offerings: General Fund: £669.50. Building Fund: £343.55. Donation: £200 (DVDs).
PRC News: Edgerton PRC called Rev. R. Kleyn (Spokane, WA).
John Calvin on Zechariah 4:6:
“Here the angel bears witness to what I have shortly referred to—that the power of God alone is sufficient to preserve the Church, and there is no need of other helps. For he sets the Spirit of God in opposition to all earthly aids; and thus he proves that God borrows no help for the preservation of his Church, because he abounds in all blessings to enrich it. Farther, by the word Spirit we know is meant his power, as though he had said, ‘God designs to ascribe to himself alone the safety of his Church; and though the Church may need many things, there is no reason why it should turn its eyes here and there, or seek this or that help from men; for all abundance of blessings may be supplied by God alone.’ And host and might, being a part for the whole, are to be taken for all helps which are exclusive of God’s grace. It is indeed certain that God acts not always immediately or by himself, for he employs various means, and makes use in his service of the ministrations of men; but his design is only to teach us that we are very foolish, when we look around us here and there, or vacillate, or when, in a word, various hopes, and various fears, and various anxieties affect us; for we ought to be so dependent on God alone, as to be fully persuaded that his grace is sufficient for us, though it may not appear; nay, we ought fully to confide in God alone, though poverty and want may surround us on every side. This is the purport of the whole.
But God intended also to show that his Church is built up and preserved, not by human and common means, but by means extraordinary and beyond all our hopes and all our thoughts. It is indeed true, as I have just said, that God does not reject the labours of men in building up and in defending his Church; but yet he seems as though he were not in earnest when he acts by men; for by his own wonderful power he surpasses what can be conceived by human thought. To be reminded of this was then exceedingly necessary, when the Church of God was despised, and when the unbelieving haughtily ridiculed the miserable Jews, whom they saw to be few in number and destitute of all earthly aids. As then there was nothing splendid or worthy of admiration among the Jews, it was needful that what we find here should have been declared to them—even that his own power was enough for God, when no aid came from any other quarter. The same also was the design of what we have noticed respecting the seven pourers and the olive-trees; for if God had need of earthly helps, servants must have been at hand to pour forth the oil; but there were seven pourers to supply the oil continually. Wherefrom? even from the olive-trees. As then the trees were fruitful, and God drew from them the oil by his hidden power, that the lamps might never be dry, we hence clearly learn, that what was exhibited is that which the angel now declares, namely, that the Church was, without a host and without might, furnished with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and that in these there was a sufficient defence for its preservation, in order that it might retain its perfect state and continue in vigour and safety.
When therefore we now see things in a despairing condition, let this vision come to our minds—that God is sufficiently able by his own power to help us, when there is no aid from any other; for his Spirit will be to us for lamps, for pourers, and for olive-trees, so that experience will at length show that we have been preserved in a wonderful manner by his hand alone.
We now then understand the design of the Prophet, and the reason why this vision was shown to him—that the faithful might be fully induced to entertain a firm hope as to that perfect condition of the Church which had been promised; for no judgment was to be formed of it according to earthly means or helps, inasmuch as God had his own power and had no need of deriving any assistance from others. And Zechariah says also, that this word was to Zerubbabel, even that he might take courage and proceed with more alacrity in the work of building the temple and the city. For Zerubbabel, we know, was the leader of the people, and the Jews returned to their country under his guidance; and in the work of building the city his opinion was regarded by all, as peculiar honour belonged to him on account of his royal descent. At the same time God addressed in his person the whole people: it was the same as though the angel had said, ‘This word is to the Church.’ The head is here mentioned for the whole body, a part being specified for the whole.
Now as Zerubbabel was only a type of Christ, we must understand that this word is addressed to Christ and to all his members.
Thus we must remember that all our confidence ought to be placed on the favour of God alone; for were it to depend on human aids, there would be nothing certain or sure. For God, as I have said, withdraws from us whatever may add courage according to the judgment of the flesh, in order that he may invite or rather draw us to himself. Whenever, then, earthly aids fail us, let us learn to recumb on God alone, for it is not by a host or by might that God raises up his Church, and preserves it in its proper state; but this he does by his Spirit, that is, by his own intrinsic and wonderful power, which he does not blend with human aids; and his object is to draw us away from the world, and to hold us wholly dependent on himself. This is the reason why he says that the word was addressed to Zerubbabel.”
