Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 28 September, 2014
“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done
whatsoever he hath pleased” (Psalm 115:3)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM Lord’s Supper
Christ’s Seven Words From the Cross (5)
Christ’s Request for a Drink [youtube]
Scripture Reading: John 19:23-42
Text: John 19:28
I. The Reality of His Human Nature
II. The Fulfilment of Old Testament Prophecy
III. The Bearing of God’s Hot Wrath
Psalms: 42:1-5; 79:1-6; 22:13-20; 69:21-26
Evening Service – 6:00 PM Applicatory
The Strict Preaching of the Law [youtube]
Scripture Reading: James 1:18-2:13
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 44
I. What It Is
II. Its Role in Justification
III. Its Role in Sanctification
Psalms: 122:1-9; 79:7-13; 1:1-6; 119:113-120
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
A. W. Pink: “How marvellously complete was the prophetic foreview! No essential item was missing from it. Every important detail of the great tragedy had been written down beforehand. The betrayal by a familiar friend (Ps. 41:9), the forsaking of the disciples through being offended at him (Ps. 31:11), the false accusation (Ps. 35:11), the silence before his judges (Isa. 53:7), the being proven guiltless (Isa. 53:9), the numbering of him with transgressors (Isa. 53:12), the being crucified (Ps. 22:16), the mockery of the spectators (Ps. 109:25), the taunt of non-deliverance (Ps. 22:7, 8), the gambling for his garments (Ps. 22:18), the prayer for his enemies (Isa. 53:12), the being forsaken of God (Ps. 22:1), the thirsting (Ps. 69:21), the yielding of his spirit into the hands of the Father (Ps. 31:5), the bones not broken (Ps. 34:20), the burial in a rich man’s tomb (Isa. 53:9); all plainly foretold centuries before they came to pass” (The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross, p. 107).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
After a week of self-examination, confessing members in good standing are called to partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Your participation in the Lord’s Supper is in part a witness that you repent of your sins, believe that Jesus Christ is your righteousness and desire to live a new and godly life. As this heavenly food can be taken to one’s judgment (I Cor. 11:28-30) and as the common reception of this food is a confession of doctrinal unity (Acts 2:42), the elders supervise the partaking of the sacrament. Visitors from other denominations must request permission from the Council.
Monday Catechism:
Taylor, Josh, Corey, Bradley & Samuel (Beginners OT, book 1) – 5:30PM
Alex, Nathan, Jacob & Joseph (Seniors NT) – 6:15PM
Timothy & Chris (Essentials of Reformed Doctrine) – 7:00PM
The Tuesday Bible study meets at 11 AM to study greatness in God’s kingdom.
The Belgic Confession Class this Wednesday at 7:45 PM will study definitive sanctification in connection with Article 24.
Ladies Bible Study meets Friday, 10:30 AM, at church to consider lesson 3 and begin lesson 4 in the Philippians study guide.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled “The Church: The Body of Christ” (Eph. 1:3-6).
Offerings: General Fund – £733.04.
The next council meeting will be held on Monday, 13 October, at 7:45 PM.
Upcoming Lectures: Rev. Stewart will speak on Friday, 31 October, in the CPRC on “Gottschalk: Medieval Confessor of God’s Absolute Sovereignty.” On Thursday, 6 November, he will give the same lecture in S. Wales.
PRC News: Faith PRC called Rev. Spronk. Rev. Griess was called to work in the Philippines. First PRC’s new trio is Revs. Van Overloop, Huizenga and Mahtani. Pastor-elect J. Engelsma sustained his classical exam on Wednesday, and is to be ordained and installed as Doon’s new pastor on 3 October.
Wisdom and Discretion
Brian D. Dykstra
Proverbs 3:21: “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion.”
In this verse, Solomon teaches his son the need for sound wisdom and discretion. Sound wisdom has some substance to it. It is wisdom which is not subject to passing trends and fashion. It is not the wisdom of the job market, the investment market or the business world. It is not the wisdom of the athletic competition or the social mill. Solomon is concerned about something greater than his son’s obtaining and maintaining a place in the world. Wisdom which is based on God’s truth is the only wisdom which will endure and is timeless. The wisdom of God and His Word is spiritual and gives direction to His people in every age. With the wisdom of God’s Word, there is lasting guidance for the soul.
Discretion is the ability to recognize the difference between good and evil. This is a spiritual ability. It is far more important than the ability to tell a good deal from a bad deal or a good labour contract from a bad one. A godly walk of gratitude depends on the ability to recognize good and evil. When God’s people walk with discretion, the wicked will not have an occasion to speak evilly of God or His Christ or His church.
It is this kind of wisdom and discretion which Solomon tells his son, “let not them depart from thine eyes.” Our souls are connected to physical reality through our senses. Our eyes are an important bridge to the world. We have heard of the lust of the eyes. Satan knows what an influence our eyes can have on our souls. The Devil pointed out to Eve that the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil had a pleasant appearance and looked desirable. Satan knew he was well on his way to achieving his goal when he realized that Eve saw that the forbidden fruit was pleasing to the eye. Jealousy can arise when we see that others have more or better than we have. Our eyes can lead our hearts to covet the possessions of the neighbour.
Solomon tells his son that he must always have sound wisdom and discretion before his eyes. What would happen if the son were to look at the world without the optical filters of wisdom and discretion? The sinful things of the world would have a great appeal for him. Satan has learned what tempts God’s children. It is when we put aside wisdom and discretion that we begin to fall into the ways of sin. If we keep before our eyes God’s standard of right and wrong, and the beauty of His kingdom, the temptations of the world lose their allure. What is the value of the passing passion of the pleasure of sin compared to the lasting value of the beauty of God and a place in His eternal kingdom, through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?
We know of the lives of some who live without sound wisdom and discretion. I did some work last summer in downtown Grand Rapids near the Mel Trotter mission. There one can see displayed on the sidewalks lives ruined and lost to drugs and alcohol. Ragged, rumpled, baggy-eyed individuals have a hand out while the other hand holds a brown paper bag filled with empty promises and the inability to forget one’s woes. Is there much of a difference between the wrinkled, worn brown paper bag and the skin of the man who will try to fill the void in his soul with the contents of the bottle? Families are decayed and family fellowship made bitter because of adultery, abuse and the downward spiral of lives which continue in sin.
Such misery is not limited to the downtrodden or poor. There are prosperous fools who lack sound wisdom and discretion. They live in luxury and ease and have more than heart could wish. Yet, their lives contain nothing of lasting value. How many of the much beloved celebrities whose lives glitter with fame and fortune have checked into substance abuse rehabilitation centres? It’s become fashionable. Is one’s life regarded as being fast enough and hard enough without the required stint or two in rehab? An arrest now and then is also beneficial to maintain a place for one’s name on the supermarket tabloid’s cover. Beauty, social standing, public adulation and limited talent do not fill the soul. The celebrated life in the fast lane is devoid of sound wisdom and discretion.
What about us? Solomon tells us to keep sound wisdom and discretion before our eyes. We do not need to be told to do something which we would do if left to ourselves. Take away the enlivening power of God’s Spirit from our hearts and what would we do? Oh, we might not physically be on the bum’s sidewalk or in the celebrity’s penthouse, but, spiritually, where would we be? Would we be begging for the fruit of the tree of life or would we eagerly be making our selection from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Do we sometimes wish we could participate in the pleasures of sin if only we could get away with it? Doesn’t our flesh view God’s law as a list of prohibitions preventing us from having a good time? We all have our own desire of the flesh which we would satisfy.
Pray that our faithful Father will place His wisdom and discretion in our hearts. May we point His children to Him as the only source of wisdom which will guide us and them along their path.
