Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 21 October, 2018
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering ...”
(Col. 3:12)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM
Jesus Is Our Lord
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:9-29
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 13
I. The Profound Meaning
II. The Rival Claimants
III. The Difficult Calling
Psalms: 62:5-10; 86:13-17; 8:1-9; 12:1-8
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
Running the Race Set Before Us
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:30-12:17
Text: Hebrews 12:1-2
I. The Meaning
II. The Manner
III. The Incentive
Psalms: 34:1-6, 18-19; 87:1-7; 22:6-10; 119:25-32
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
John Owen on Hebrews 12:1: “[The witnesses] all jointly testify unto these things:—that it is best for us to believe and obey God, whatever may befall us in our so doing; that faith, where it is true and sincere, will engage those in whom it is to venture on the greatest hazards, dangers, and miseries in the world, rather than to forego their profession; and that it will safely carry us through them all. Those that testify these things are important witnesses in this cause. For when, upon the approaches of danger and trouble, it may be death itself, we are brought to contest things in our own minds, and to dispute what is best for us to do,—wherein Satan will not be wanting to increase our fears and disorders by his fiery darts,—it cannot but be an unspeakable advantage and encouragement to have all these holy and blessed persons stand about us, testifying unto the folly of our fears, the falseness of all the suggestions of unbelief, and the fraud of Satan’s temptations; as also unto the excellency of the duties whereunto we are called, and the certainty of our success in them through believing.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
We welcome Daniel DeVries, Keith VanOverloop and Brian Key to our worship services.
The 2018 Acts of the PRC Synod are available on the back table.
Monday catechism classes:
5:00 PM - Josh & Taylor (Juniors OT)
6:30 PM - Bradley & Samuel (Seniors OT)
7:15 PM - Alex, Jacob & Nathan (Essentials)
Tuesday Bible Study at 11 AM will consider the ritual of the sin offering.
Belgic Confession Class will not meet this Wednesday at 7:45 PM due to the lecture on Friday but will meet next week Wednesday to begin a discussion on Article 35 on the Lord’s Supper.
CPRC Reformation Day Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak on “Two Men From Trier: Karl Marx (and Communism) and Caspar Olevianus (and the Heidelberg Catechism)” on Friday, 26 October, at 7:30 PM. If you are willing to help distribute flyers, please talk to Pastor Stewart.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled “The Scripture: God’s Word” (II Pet. 1:20-21).
Offerings: General Fund: £865.55.
S. Wales Lecture: Rev. Stewart will speak on “Two Men From Trier: Karl Marx (and Communism) and Caspar Olevianus (and the Heidelberg Catechism)” in Margam Community Centre on Thursday, 22 November at 7:15 PM.
Translations: 4 Hungarian and 3 Spanish.
On 26 and 27 October, Prof. Engelsma will be participating in a conference hosted by Reforming America Ministries. This year’s conference will develop the theme “The Doctrine of Justification defined and defended against heresies taught by John Piper, the Federal Vision and the New Perspective on Paul.” The event, held in a suburb of Nashville, TN, will be livestreamed on Reforming America Ministries’ Facebook page. Prof. Engelsma will be speaking this Friday at 6 PM and this Saturday at 3:30PM (Central Time - 6 hours behind us).
PRC News: Rev. N. Langerak has declined the call to Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB). Grandville PRC called Rev. W. Langerak (Southeast PRC) to serve as minister-on-loan to the CERC of Singapore. Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI) has formed a trio of Revs. J. Engelsma, B. Huizinga and W. Langerak. We rejoice with Rev. W. Bruinsma and Rev. M. DeVries as they commemorate 40 years in the ministry. Rev. Bruinsma was ordained in Faith PRC and Rev. DeVries in Southwest PRC in October of 1978.
Much Increase With the Ox (1)
Brian D. Dykstra
Proverbs 14:4: “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.”
Proverbs is a book of wisdom. God blessed the author of Proverbs, Solomon, with more wisdom than He had given to any other man. Proverbs is not a short book. The instruction Solomon gives us covers many topics. Where did Solomon get his many ideas for writing Proverbs? Of course, God inspired Solomon but that does not mean that Solomon wrote Proverbs as though he were unconscious or a robot. God uses means.
There are times while reading Proverbs when I think Solomon travelled through different parts of his kingdom, and observed the people and the land around him. Because God gave Solomon wisdom, Solomon was able to see things an ordinary person simply passed over. Many would see things but not understand them. Solomon could observe the world and the people around him and understand spiritual truth. This is an aspect of the creation around us. When we view creation with the eyes of faith, we can learn about God and His truth. Creation teaches us about its Creator.
Many Israelites in Solomon’s day were farmers. The king had the opportunity to see many farms during his life. Solomon could tell which farms were fruitful and well run, and which farms were not. We also can walk through our neighbourhoods and pick out the houses which are maintained better than others. Perhaps there are houses in your neighbourhood which have nobody living in them. After a while, you can tell that the house is vacant and nobody is there to take care of the property. The lawn doesn’t look nice. The plants in the landscaping look overgrown. The property would benefit from some cleaning, raking or painting. Solomon could notice the same things about farms. Solomon could notice which farms were more productive than others.
When Solomon tells us, “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox,” he is using a visible fact to teach us a spiritual truth. Let’s notice some things about the farm Solomon observed.
Solomon saw a farm with a clean crib. Most of us are of Dutch heritage, so we can certainly appreciate something that is clean. A crib in a farmyard is not something a baby sleeps in. A crib is a container for the farm animals’ food. Cribs could come in different sizes depending on the number and size of the animals which needed to be fed. Most often the crib would be filled with straw or grain. When the farmer noticed that the crib was growing empty, he would fill it with more food for his animals.
A crib filled with animal feed could appear messy. It isn’t clean. There might be straw sticking out of it at some crazy angles. Little piles of loose grain would be littered around on the ground as the animals pulled at it with their mouths. Animals would visit the crib often. Animals that feed by grazing, such as oxen, spend much of their day eating. Farm animals are not neat and tidy. We would notice droppings in the area of the crib which would be somewhat unpleasant to the eye and even more unpleasant for the nose. A crib on a busy, fruitful farm would not be clean.
However, Solomon saw a crib which was clean. There wasn’t any feed in it. There weren’t stray clumps of straw littering the ground. The area around the crib was not messy looking or bad smelling. It was clean.
Solomon continued to observe this farm until he understood why the crib was clean. He realized this farm had no oxen on it. Oxen were very important for the farmers of biblical days. They used oxen for many of the same purposes today’s farmers use tractors. Just as it is difficult for us to imagine a modern farmer without a tractor, farmers of long ago had oxen. Farmers ploughed their fields using oxen as they prepared to sow their seed. Oxen pulled wagons or carried heavy things as the farmers cleaned and maintained their fields. When it was time for harvest, the oxen would tread the grain.
Solomon saw a farmer who believed his life would be easier without oxen. He wouldn’t have the hassle of constantly seeing to it that the crib had feed in it. Having no oxen meant so unpleasant smell insulted his nose. He wouldn’t have to devote a certain portion of his grain to feed oxen. Whatever grain he harvested could be used solely for himself and his family. This “ox-less” farmer would find his chores decreased and experience an easier life. This farmer did not have the burden of taking care of oxen.
At least that is what this farmer thought. Solomon, however, being blessed with wisdom, realized something else. A farmer with no oxen to tend might have an easier life but, as Solomon instructs us, “much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Having oxen increases the farmer’s work but the oxen pay him back with an increased harvest. An increased harvest meant more food on the family table or, if there were enough crops left over, extra cash brought in because of increased sales of the surplus. Yes, part of the harvest would have to go to feeding the oxen but the strength of the oxen provided a much larger harvest. Oxen were worth it.
Who can plough and use more land for raising crops, the farmer with a hoe in his hands or the farmer with a plough and a team of oxen? Who could clean up more rocks and other debris from the field, a farmer with his own two hands and a small basket or a farmer with oxen which could pull a large, loaded wagon? Who would have a larger harvest, the farmer who would have to roll the ears of grain in his own hands or the farmer who used oxen and a threshing floor? to be continued ...