Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 1 October, 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
Installation of Office-Bearers
Greatness Among Office-Bearers in the Kingdom [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:17-34
Text: Matthew 20:24-28
I. The Revealing Indignation
II. The Negative Illustration
III. The Positive Example
Psalms: 113:1-9; 77:7-13; 131:1-3; 75:3-10
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Nehemiah, a Man Who Sought the Welfare of Israel (20)
Unpaid Ministers! [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 13:1-14; Malachi 3:7-12
Text: Nehemiah 13:10-14
I. Identifying the Problem
II. Effecting the Solution
III. Requesting God’s Remembrance
Psalms: 118:1-9; 77:14-20; 135:1-7; 62:7-12
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 Matthew 20:26: “The way to be great and chief is to be humble and serviceable. Those are to be best accounted of, and most respected, in the church, and will be so by all that understand things aright; not those that are dignified with high and mighty names, like the names of the great ones of the earth, that appear in pomp, and assume to themselves a power proportionable, but those that are most humble and self-denying, and lay out themselves most to do good, though to the diminishing of themselves. These honour God most, and those he will honour. As he must become a fool that would be wise, so he must become a servant that would be chief.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
This morning we have the installation of Ivan Reid as elder and David Crossett as deacon. May the Lord bless and strengthen these men and all our office-bearers as they labour in our midst.
Catechism classes tomorrow:
5:00 PM: Corey, Jason, Katelyn, Maisie & Sebastian (Seniors NT)
5:45 PM: Felicity, Grace, Jonas, Keagan, Liam, Lucas, Sammy, Somaya, Sophie & Yossef (Beginners OT – Book 1)
6:30 PM: Eleanora, Hannah, Jorja, Penelope & Xander (Juniors NT)
7:15 PM: Angelica, Bradley, Jack, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Essentials)
8:00 PM: Alex & Nathan (Pre-confession)
Tuesday Bible study will meet at 11 AM to consider the relationship between the local and universal church.
Belgic Confession class on Wednesday starts at 7:30 PM. We are covering the sign of global preaching in connection with the empires of NW European countries.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “Gathered Unto Armageddon” (Rev. 16:10-16).
The next Saturday night Bible study is scheduled for Saturday, 21 October, at 7:30 PMs on-line looking at lesson 4 of the study guide on II Thessalonians.
Offerings: £1,497.14.
Translation Additions: 2 Polish.
PRC News: Loveland PRC called Rev. Noorman. Randolph PRC extended a call to Rev. Smit. Zion PRC called Rev. Kortus. Classis West met this past week in Crete PRC, approved Pastor-elect Koerner’s examination and advised Hosanna PRC to proceed with his ordination. They are still working out details for their move to Canada. Rev. Daniel & Sharon Kleyn arrived safely in West Michigan and will be moving to Doon this week where he plans to be installed on 15 October.
Sleep, Poverty and Want
Brian D. Dykstra
“How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man” (Prov. 6:9-11).
Solomon continues addressing the sluggard. After directing the sluggard to go to the ant for instruction, Solomon instructs him that refusing to work by insisting on having a little more sleep leads to ruin. The stubbornness of the sluggard is evident in that Solomon asks him about his sleep two times. What will it take to rouse this person out of bed so he begins to work?
Work is an important part of the able-bodied Christian’s life. One must be mindful that one’s goal in work is not to see how much wealth one can accumulate. The previous verses, where we were instructed by the ants who store food for the coming winter, were not a call to hoarding but to good stewardship. The Heidelberg Catechism in Lord’s Day 38 instructs us that part of remembering the Sabbath day, the 4th commandment, is to “contribute to the relief of the poor.” Lord’s Day 42, in teaching us about the 8th commandment, says that we “must faithfully labour, so that I may be able to relieve the needy.” The sluggard breaks these commandments by his refusal to work. The sluggard cannot provide for the poor when he does not even provide for himself.
In western culture, the sluggard provides comedy in entertainment. The other members of the work crew have patches on the knees of their work pants, an indication of their hard labour. The sluggard bears his patches on the seat of his pants since he spends his day sitting around watching others work. His excuses for his behaviour provide some humour. As is often the case, society finds humour in sin.
Saints should not coddle nor enable the sluggard. The sluggard brings shame to Christ’s church. Faithful Heidelberg Catechism preaching will call the sluggard to repent. Also the sluggard must not think he has done a day’s work just by getting out of bed, finally. Rising out of bed to idle away his day by trifling through his hours is not obeying God. He must work.
Solomon speaks of “a little folding of the hands to sleep.” This hand-folding is not as we instruct our children to do during prayer as part of the “traditional three” for the posture of prayer; the bowed head, the closed eyes and the folded hands. This refers to the hands being folded across the chest when one lies in bed, hands which are not at work. As an illustration, NASA trained the Apollo astronauts to cross their arms and place their hands under their upper arms to prevent hands drifting in weightlessness from disturbing switches and controls, doing some accidental work. Hands folded for sleep cannot perform any work, not even accidentally.
The sluggard’s folded hands show wilful inactivity. Almost everyone is up and busy, but not the sluggard. The dutiful labourer exerts himself and shows it by the sweat of his brow. He takes seriously God’s call to him that he labour six days of the week. Meanwhile, the sluggard lolls in bed, while someone asks how long they plan to stay there. The sluggard wastes the time and abilities God gave him.
Our hands are instruments of work. If God has given us the ability and health to work, and not all of God’s people can work due to age, health problems or physical condition, we should. Using our hands to work is the means by which God provides us with food convenient for us. There are instances in the Bible when God gave food by means of a miracle. We remember Elijah by the brook Cherith and Christ feeding the multitudes. However, God usually provides our daily bread through the means of our diligence and effort.
Solomon warns, “so shall thy poverty come.” Here one can appreciate the Authorized Version of the Bible. Note the use of the word “shall.” The translator’s intent is to show certainty. The AV uses “will” to show intent. I will go to work tomorrow, shows intent. Going to work is what I desire but there are unexpected developments which could prevent me from doing what I wish. “Shall” is a guarantee. The sun shall rise in the east. The inspired Word leaves no question about the sluggard’s poverty. Poverty is his sure fate and shame. When God’s children experience poverty because of persecution, that’s another matter but the sluggard has no one to blame but himself.
The sluggard’s poverty comes as one who travels. There were different means of travel in Solomon’s time, just as there are in ours. Some means of transportation are slow. One may walk at a leisurely pace, for there is no need to arrive at the destination quickly. In this instance, the sluggard’s poverty comes slowly but surely. All can see it coming. One can travel quickly. Solomon’s era had horses, while we have jets. Now the sluggard finds himself poor in the blink of an eye. The sluggard didn’t work but continued to spend carelessly so now he has nothing. Solomon is telling us that poverty is certain, no matter whether it comes slowly or quickly. One knew the traveller was coming, sooner or later, but one did nothing to prepare. The sluggard should have known poverty was coming but he yet stayed in bed.
The sluggard’s poverty also comes as an armed man. Solomon’s point with the armed man is that this is not a fair fight. We do not have two armed combatants equally prepared for a fight. Poverty comes prepared, weapons ready and shield in hand. The sluggard still has his hands folded, dozing on his bed. Poverty’s victory over the sluggard is certain, irresistible.
Earthly poverty is not what anybody wants. It’s impressive what one will endure to work hard to avoid being poor. Think of the energy expended and the weariness suffered through diligent labour. Spiritual poverty is far worse. This is not the spiritual poverty of the poor in spirit, those who know they have nothing to offer God to merit blessings and salvation from Him, for they will receive the kingdom of heaven because of what Christ did for them on the cross.
This is the spiritual poverty which comes from a lack of knowledge of God and His Word. It’s not that spiritual poverty came because of a lack of opportunity. The spiritual sluggard had plenty of opportunities to accumulate spiritual wealth. He simply passed it up in the lethargy of the heart. The sluggard didn’t read the Bible, pay attention in church or avail himself of other means of growth. Let’s be warned! We work hard for earthly bread. Let’s wake up and labour “for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27).
