Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
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Covenant Protestant Reformed Church

83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 18 February, 2018

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind ...” (Rom. 12:2)

Morning Service - 11:00 AM

Earnestly Contending for the Faith (1)
Jude’s Distinctive Epistolary Greeting  [download]  [youtube]

Scripture Reading: Jude
Text: Jude 1-2

I. The Intriguing Penman
II. The Spiritual Recipients
III. The Unique Benediction
Psalms: 107:1-9; 68:19-24; 69:4-9; 125:1-5

Evening Service - 6:00 PM

Giving Glory Where It Is Due  [download]  [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 115
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 47

I. To Whom?
II. From Whom?
III. Why?
Psalms: 145:1-8; 68:25-30; 29:1-6; 115:1-11

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.cprf.co.uk/live.html
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC

Quote to Consider

William Jenkyn on Jude 1: “The soul of a sin-subduer fights against sin with the cross of Chirst, and makes the death of Christ the death of sin ... The soul labours to kill sin by fruitful enjoyment of ordinances. It never goes to pray, but it desires sin may have some wound, and points by prayer (like the sick child) to the place where it is most pained ... It thus also improves baptism; it looks upon it as a seal to God’s promise, that sin shall die; we being buried with Christ in baptism, that the Egyptians shall be drowned in the sea. It never hears a sermon, but (as Joab dealt with Uriah) it labours to set its strongest corruption in the forefront of the battle, that when Christ shoots his arrows, and draws his sword in the preaching of the word, sin may be hit. An unsanctified person is angry with such preaching, and cannot endure that the wind of a sermon should blow upon a lust” (An Exposition Upon the Epistle of Jude, p. 9).

Announcements (subject to God’s will)

Monday catechism classes:
5:45 PM - Corey & Katelyn (Beginners OT, Book 1)
6:30 PM - Angelica, Bradley, Josh, Samuel & Taylor (Juniors NT)
7:15 PM - Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Heidelberg Catechism, Book 1)

Tuesday Bible Study meets this week at 11 AM to study the history of the Feast of Tabernacles in post-exilic days.

Belgic Confession Class meets on Wednesday at 7:45 PM to continue our consideration of article 34 on the meaning of baptism.

S. Wales Lecture: Rev. McGeown will speak on “The Covenant of God” at Margam Community Centre this Thursday, 22 February, at 7:15 PM.

Ladies’ Bible Study meets this Friday at 10:30 AM at church to discuss chapter 4 on “Peace” in The Fruit of the Spirit of Jesus Christ by Rev. R. Smit.

Men’s Bible Study meets this Saturday at 8 PM at the Kennedys to look at Acts 1:9-14 using Studies in Acts by Mark Hoeksema.

The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. R. Kleyn is “The First Meeting of Boaz and Ruth” (Ruth 2:1-17).

Offerings: General Fund: £721.

Translation Additions: 4 Greek.

PRC News: Rev. Huizinga (Redlands, CA) declined the call to Calvary PRC. Internships have been arranged for third-year seminarians Matt Kortus and Jacob Maatman. Matt Kortus will be interning at Trinity PRC under Rev. Decker, and Jacob Maatman will intern at Hudsonville PRC under Rev. Eriks. The internship program runs from July 1 to December 31.


An Ornament and Crown

Brian D. Dykstra

 

Proverbs 4:9: “She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”

So far in Proverbs 4, Solomon has addressed his listeners as children and referred to himself as their father. He wrote of the goodness of his doctrine and that his children are not to forsake his law. He reminded them that the instruction he is giving them is the same as that which he received when he was a child.

Solomon then spoke of wisdom and understanding. In an interesting shift, Solomon then began to speak of wisdom as a woman who is not to be forsaken because she is far too valuable. Those who exalt and embrace her, she will promote and honour.

In this verse, God gives us a promise. The King James uses the word “shall” two times in this verse. Years ago more people understood there was a difference in meaning between “will” and “shall.” “Will” was used to express something which you hoped. If you said you “will” do something, you admitted that, life being what it is, what you said you would do, you might not be able to do after all. “Shall” was used to express the coming of something certain. We will do this or that, but unforeseen circumstances could change that. However, the sun shall set in the west. We are certain that’s going to happen.

Wisdom has two things she shall give and deliver to us: an ornament of grace and a crown of glory. Ornaments and crowns are not numbered among the necessities of life. We’d be interested in the gold, perhaps. Maybe you’ve heard radio ads talking about how gold is a great investment and a way to protect yourself from some coming social or financial upheaval. Yet, when disasters strike, who is in great demand? The people with the gold? Is that where the long lines form? People have a great need for gold in emergencies? No, it’s the people who have generators, gasoline for the generators, water and storable food who are in demand.

The value of the ornament and the crown is in what they represent. What is this ornament for the head? Could it be a necklace, earrings or, which was part of the culture in those days, a nose ring? This ornament is a decoration but the word has a verb as its root. The verb refers to twisting or twining things together in order to make them one object. This suggests that this ornament is a wreath. People make wreaths by twisting plant material together.

Wreaths were the rewards of victory. Victors in athletic contests were given wreaths. Did the Jews in biblical times have the same use for wreaths? Athletes earn their victories through careful preparation and exercise. They work hard to earn the victories they achieve. Yes, sometimes victory comes by way of a break along the way but they were ready to take advantage of the break. The athlete had won the contest and could now display the symbol of his achievement.

Wisdom gives us this ornament of grace. It’s a wreath of victory but we had better not forget this is not an ornament of works. Wisdom does not reward us for our work. We have the victory but the victory is ours by grace alone. Wisdom gives us this ornament as a gift. We aren’t given this ornament because we have striven for it. It’s not ours because we have expressed more interest in it than have others. It is of grace alone.

Wisdom also delivers us a crown. Deliver often means to be snatched away from trouble. Here it means to hand something over safely. Someone had the task of bringing an item to someone else and he has done so. Again, we didn’t do any work for this crown. Wisdom delivers to us this crown as a gift of grace. We will not, as a popular hymn states, “Cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.” What! The last great step of salvation is something I do myself? I am just at the threshold of heaven and now there is something I must do? To obtain this crown of glory must I perform an act, an exchange? Salvation’s final step, obtaining the crown of glory, comes down to my work of making a change? No, wisdom safely and graciously delivers the crown of glory to us, God’s elect.

Kings and queens wear crowns. Royalty rule over earthly kingdoms, often in great, yet transient, splendour. However, we, the poor in spirit, shall rule! By wisdom, we do not have our hearts set on some earthly kingdom. We know how long this earth will last. All of this creation will pass away, perhaps soon. When the chess game is done, the exalted king and queen, and the lowly pawns are all returned to the same box together. What good is a crown in the grave? Possessing the true wisdom of God’s Word, we look forward to the kingship of all believers. All the elect will wear crowns of glory as we rule with Christ in His perfect, heavenly kingdom. This crown is not vain but has true, enduring value.

That is the wisdom we hope God uses our churches, homes and schools to give to our children.