Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 25 September, 2011
“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 – Rev. M. McGeown
Abraham Offering Isaac by Faith
Scripture Reading: Genesis 22:1-19
Text: Hebrews 11:17-19
I. What?
II. Why?
III. With What Result?
Psalms: 66:1-7; 107:17-25; 26:1-6; 139:15-24
Evening Service – 6:00 PM – Rev. M. McGeown
Preparatory
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:17-30
Text: Matthew 5:23-24
I. The Situation
II. The Calling
III. The Urgency
Psalms: 67:1-7; 107:26-32; 120:1-7; 133:1-3
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
Quotes to Consider
Alfred Edersheim: “For this, the last, the highest but also the steepest ascent in Abraham’s life of faith, all God’s previous leadings and dealings had been gradually preparing and qualifying him. But even so, it seems to stand out in Scripture alone and unapproached, like some grand mountain peak, which only one climber has ever been called to attain. No, not one; for yet another and far higher mountain peak, so lofty that its summit reaches into heaven itself, has been trodden by the Seed of Abraham …” (Old Testament Bible History, p. 70).
Matthew Henry: “Religious exercises are not acceptable to God, if they are performed when we are in wrath; envy, malice, and uncharitableness, are sins so displeasing to God, that nothing pleases him which comes from a heart wherein they are predominant … Many give this as a reason why they do not come to church or to the communion, because they are at variance with some neighbour; and whose fault is that? … The difficulty is easily got over; those who have wronged us, we must forgive; and those whom we have wronged, we must make satisfaction to, or at least make a tender of it, and desire a renewal of the friendship.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Rev. McGeown who will be preaching for us today. This evening we will have preparatory with a view to partaking of the Lord’s Supper next Lord’s Day morning.
On the back table are RFPA Updates with an interview of Prof. Engelsma about his writing. Two issues of the Standard Bearer, the September C. R. News, letters from Covenant of Grace PRC and the Philippines, and October daily devotional booklets are also available.
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. We will continue our study of the Antichrist in Revelation 13:2f. All are welcome.
Belgic Confession Class meets Wednesday at 7:45 PM. We will continue Belgic Confession 12, looking at angels and demons. All are welcome.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) will be “Conviction for Christian Education” (Ephesians 6:4) by Rev. Haak.
The Council will meet on Monday, 3 October, at 8:15 PM.
Upcoming Lecture: S. Wales, Thursday, 6 October on “The Unchangeable God.”
Offerings: General Fund: £459.17.
PRC News: Rev. A. Lanning (Faith, MI) declined the call to Hope PRC.
The Unchangeable God
Rev. Angus Stewart
In a world of frequent and often disturbing, even devastating, change, it is the believer’s great comfort that he knows and serves the unchangeable God. With lay-offs and uncertainty in our employment, fluctuations in the stock market, concerns over our own health or that of our loved ones, revolutions in the Arabic-speaking nations, and fears for the future, we are supported by the truth: “I am the LORD, I change not” (Mal. 3:16).
Jehovah is the great, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise God, with whom is absolutely “no variableness” or even a mere “shadow of turning” (James 1:17). He alone can declare of Himself, “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3:14). He is always Triune (as the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit); always perfectly blessed, rich and full; always sovereign, decreeing and governing all things in heaven, in the earth and in the seas (Ps. 135:6). He is always unchangeable in His manifold virtues, righteous will, glorious purposes and faithful promises in the Lord Jesus.
The Most High’s mercy towards His own people in Christ “endureth forever,” as Psalm 136 affirms in each of its 26 verses! The work of grace shall be completed in each of every one of Christ’s sheep (Phil. 1:6), for “whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). The infinite might and grace of God are pledged for the defence and preservation of His elect church (Ps. 125:1-2), the object of the unceasing care of Him who never “slumbers nor sleeps” (Ps. 121:4).
Even the terrible sins of His people do not cause Jehovah’s lovingkindness towards us to fluctuate or cool, never mind turn to hatred. Instead, out of His great love for us, He chastens us, as a good father does his son, to bring us to repent of our evil and so experience again His mercy in the forgiveness of our iniquities (Heb. 12:5-11). As Malachi puts it, “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob [despite your many, heinous transgressions] are not consumed” (3:16).
This is our consolation, that nothing is able to separate Jehovah’s elect, believing people from the unchangeable love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39). All those whom Christ loved, He “loved them unto the end” (John 13:1), even unto the bitter and shameful death of the cross, where the Son of God laid down His life for the sheep the Father gave Him. As the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8) and, since He changes not, we are not—and can never be—consumed!
