Covenant Protestant Reformed Fellowship
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 13 March, 2005
"Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye
of all his wondrous works" (Psalm 105:2)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM
Abraham, Father of the Faithful (7)
The Birth of Ishmael
Genesis 16
I. The Foolish "Marriage"
II. The Domestic Strife
III. The Angel’s Message
Psalms: 107:1-9; 132:10-18; 37:3-9; 139:1-10
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Guarding Ourselves Against Idolatry
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 35, I John 5:18-21
I. By Knowing the Truth About Christ
II. By Knowing the Truth About the World
III. By Knowing the Truth About Ourselves
Psalms: 115:1-11; 133:1-3; 14:1-7; 45:2-7 (AOS)
For audio cassettes of the worship services, contact the bookstore.
CPRF website: www.cprf.co.uk
Quotes to Consider:
A. W. Pink: "First, his faith had to overcome the ties of nature; God’s call was for him to leave his country and his kindred. Then, shortly after he had actually arrived in Canaan, his faith was tried by stress of circumstances—there was a famine in the land. Next, he had to meet a trial respecting a brother; Abram feared that the friction between his herdsmen and the herdsmen of his nephew might lead to ‘strife’ between brethren ... Later, there was a testing of Abram’s courage, as well as his love for his nephew. Lot had been captured by a powerful warrior, but Abram hastens to his rescue and delivers him. Subsequently, there was a testing of his cupidity. The King of Sodom offered to ‘reward’ him for overcoming Chedorlaomer. And now he is tested by a suggestion from his wife."
Iain Duguid: "Like Adam, Abram capitulated readily to a temptation that might not have deceived him if it had come from a different source. The parallel between the two experiences is underlined in the original Hebrew by the use of the same idiom: Adam and Abram both ‘hearkened to the voice of’ their wives (Gen. 3:17; 16:2). What is more, in both cases the woman ‘took’ and ‘gave’ to her husband (Gen. 3:6; 16:2). There was an inversion of the proper spiritual leadership structure in the home, and the result in each case was disaster. Of course, listening to your wife is not necessarily wrong! In Genesis 21:12, God specifically commands Abraham to listen to his wife because in this instance she is right. But we need to be aware that the very person intended to be a blessing to us may also be the one through whom we are led astray. The only protection is for us to be so thoroughly attuned to God’s Word that we are able to recognize and resist temptation from whatever source it comes. Obedience must be more precious than even the closest of human relationships (Matt. 10:37)."
John Calvin on Genesis 16:8: "If the flight of Hagar was prohibited by the command of God, much less will he bear with the licentiousness of a people, who rebel against their prince; or with the contumacy of children, who withdraw themselves from obedience to their parents."
Announcements (subject to God’s will):
Catechism classes: Monday at the manse at 7 PM with the Campbells and Thursday at the Hamills at 7 PM.
Midweek Bible Study will be held on Wednesday at 8 PM at the manse. We will continue our study of Pentecostalism by looking at "the gift of tongues."
The Reformed Witness Hour next Lord’s Day, 20 March (8:30-9:00 AM, on Gospel 846MW) is "The Rending of the Veil" (Mark 15:38).
Upcoming Lectures:
Limerick, Wednesday, 23 March, 7:30 PM, on Total Depravity
Ballymena, Friday, 8 April, 8 PM, on The 1000 Years of Revelation 20.
Last Week’s Offerings: £540.73. Donations: £200.