Worship service 02/01/26.
Greetings and call to worship.
Greetings and good morning, saints and brethren, grace, mercy and peace be multiplied to you by the love of God and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Moreover, he has given us another Sabbath day for His own praise and honor and glory. Blessed be His glorious name forever and ever. Ephesians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath blessed us, with all spiritual blessing in heavenly things in Christ, As he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love…” Inasmuch as God hath called us freely, and graciously and according to a most solemn and holy calling, let us live before Him in love, eschewing the world and all evil, and following after that which is true and noble and just. A Puritan minister writes, God punishes Sabbath-breaking by sudden visible judgements on men for this sin. He punishes them in their estates and in their persons. While a certain man was carrying corn into his barn on the Lord’s-day, both house and corn were consumed with fire from heaven. The Lord threatened the Jews, that if they would not hallow the Sabbath-day, he would kindle a fire in their gates. Jer 17: 27. The dreadful fire which broke out in London began on the Sabbath-day; as if God would tell us from heaven he was then punishing us for our Sabbath profanation. Nor does he punish it only in this life with death, but hereafter with damnation. Let such as break God’s Sabbath see if they can break those chains of darkness in which they and the devils shall be held.”
Prayer unto the public reading of the Holy Scripture:
Our holy and righteous Father,
Full of all glory, justice, and righteousness,
Merciful and faithful—The Covenant God who will by no means clear the guilty, taking vengeance on them that follow after other gods, yet showing mercy to thousands that love thee with the whole heart and keep thy commandments:
We come before thee solemnly and sincerely, as those whom thou hast elected from before the creation of all worlds and purchased by the precious blood of thy Son, called out of darkness and brought into the fellowship of the gospel and the kingdom of Jesus Christ. We bow in all reverence before thy throne, knowing the severity of thy law, the holy requirements of the gospel, as well as our own vileness and unworthiness to draw so near unto thee.
We freely confess, O Lord, that apart from the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are denied access to the covenant promises, are under the wrath and curse of God, and must be cast from thy presence as an abominable thing. Moreover, we confess that without faith in the Mediator, consent to sound doctrine and a repentant heart, endeavouring to walk evenly and zealously for thee, which is the gracious work of the Spirit, we have no evidence of fellowship with thee. For we are by nature guilty and polluted, unable of ourselves to repent or return, and altogether unfit to render thee any service that is not defiled by sin. Therefore, do we confess our utter dependence on the Father’s love for our election, the Son’s righteousness for our justification and the Spirit’s work in our hearts for our sanctification. We believe that thou art our God, and the rewarder of them that diligently seek thy face. Therefore, inasmuch as we are convinced of our sin in Adam and the redemption in Jesus Christ alone, we cry out to thee for mercy: For pardoning mercy to cover our iniquities, And sanctifying mercy to make us meet for thy presence. Hear our prayers, deliver us from all trouble, cleanse us by the blood of Christ and the washing of the Spirit by the word. Sanctify us by the truth of thy word. Defend us from all evil, Strengthen our faith, subdue the lusts of the flesh that swell within us, And enable us to perform this holy service, Not in our own strength, But in the virtue which thou dost supply of thine own free goodness. And now, O Lord, as we come to the reading of thy holy word, we pray for a special blessing upon this portion of Scripture, that it may be effectual to build up thy holy church, which thou hast called thy special possession, and thy little flock. Open our hearts to receive it with meekness; Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and cause us by thy grace to live by it; And may the same Spirit who breathed life into the church in all ages; the fathers, apostles and prophets, the reformers and Puritans, so guide our whole lives, That we may grow up in Him in all things, even He who is the Bridegroom and Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, our Prophet, Priest and King. All this we ask in his most worthy name, Amen.
Devotional and doctrinal exposition on the Psalms:
Psalm 27 [16] (Verse 8): 1 David maketh this Psalm being delivered from great perils, as appeareth by the praises and thanksgiving annexed: 6 Wherein we may see the constant faith of David against the assaults of all his enemies. 7 And also the end wherefore he desireth to live and to be delivered, only to worship God in his Congregation.
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I request; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, seek ye my face; my heart answered unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not therefore thy face from me; nor cast thy servant away in displeasure: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 Though my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a right path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as speak cruelly.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Exposition:
We saw previously the change of tone in David’s song of praise. For he begins with confidence, and descends to a desperate plea for the mercy of God to answer him. And we must remember that although the tone is distinct, the message is the same, and the faith and confidence are ever present. For we must bear in mind that the attitude of prayer and the petitions add nothing to God, neither are they meritorious to purchase that which we seek, but are the natural and spiritual effects of faith and the means to receiving benefit from His hands, and there are many elements to prayer, as faith, hope, desperation, devotion, vehemency, and such like that are the colors and odors of prayer and make them all the more pleasing to God who grants them to us by His Spirit and answers them according to His will. One Puritan minister writes, “When God has a purpose to give, He stirs up the heart to seek, and this stirring up of the heart to seek is an evidence that He has a purpose to bestow. He loves to bestow His mercy in a way of seeking, that we may be encouraged to come to Him, and to regard our blessings as the fruits of prayer and the performance by God of His promises to us.” Therefore, does David return again to the mercy of God to remind us from whom our benefits come. And we should note closely the next verse, for David is attentive to the manner in which God distributes His gifts, as He does not give once or twice and forbear, but when He gives, He gives abundantly, and that continually. As when they say, when it rains it pours, so we may say when God sprinkles blessing upon us like the fresh dew on the grass of the morning, He also so showers us with His love so that we have not the knowledge or capacity to comprehend it. Therefore David does not fret, saying, woe is me, for I shall not receive any more mercy at his hand, but encouraging himself in the promise, says, “When thou saidst, seek ye my face; my heart answered unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” which is both an encouragement in prayer and a general statement of piety.
As an encouragement in prayer, David is bringing before the Lord reasons why he should be answered, because inasmuch as God is merciful and stirred him up to seek Him, study Him and pray to Him according to His mercy, so He is faithful and bountiful to bestow upon us all that we ask or think and more also, provided it is according to His will and we ask in faith with no doubting. As the apostle says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and reproacheth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed with the wind. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
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We saw previously the change of tone in David’s song of praise. He begins with confidence, and then descends into a desperate plea for the mercy of God to answer him. Yet we must remember that though the tone is altered, the substance is unchanged. The faith is the same, confidence is fortified, and the ground of hope remains fixed. For prayer adds nothing to God, nor are its petitions meritorious to purchase what we seek. Rather, prayer is the natural and spiritual effect of faith, and the appointed means by which we receive benefit from His hand.
For we must bear in mind that prayer itself is not bare asking, by which we mumble words and expect God’s favor for its own sake, but indeed, it is a holy composition of the graces of the Spirit —faith, hope, devotion, vehemency, humility—these are the colors and odors of prayer, making it acceptable and pleasing unto God, who Himself grants these motions freely and graciously, and answers them according to His will. As one Puritan minister wrote:
“When God has a purpose to give, He stirs up the heart to seek; and this stirring up of the heart to seek is an evidence that He has a purpose to bestow. He loves to bestow His mercy in a way of seeking, that we may be encouraged to come to Him, and to regard our blessings as the fruits of prayer and the performance by God of His promises to us.”
Thus David returns again to the mercy of God, to remind us from whom all our benefits proceed. And we should mark well what follows, for David is attentive to the manner in which God distributes His gifts. God does not give once or twice and then withhold; when He gives, He gives abundantly, and He gives continually. As men say, when it rains, it pours, so we may say that when God sprinkles blessing upon His people—like the dew upon the morning grass—He also showers them with such fullness of love that our capacity cannot contain it, nor our understanding comprehend it, but the seeds he has planted shall assuredly grow up into blooming buds, and enduring cedars.
Therefore David does not fret, saying, Woe is me, for I shall receive no more mercy from His hand,nor does he say, I have prayed, therefore I will receive it, neither does he pray the rosary or any such vain superstition. Rather, he encourages himself in the promise of God, and says:
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”
This is at once an encouragement to prayer and a general confession of piety.
As an encouragement to prayer, David pleads before the Lord the case not of his own worthiness, but God’s own grace and compassion. As it is written, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. Inasmuch, therefore, as God is merciful, and hath stirred his servant up to seek Him, to inquire after Him, and to pray according to His promise, so He is faithful and bountiful to bestow that which He hath moved His servant to ask, and to rest content if He does not immediately answer. For God doth not awaken spiritual desire where He intends denial. He does not invite His people to seek His face, only to turn them away unheard.
So the apostle instructs us plainly:
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and reproacheth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5–8)
Calvin,
The change of person in the verbs has occasioned a variety of interpretations of this verse. But whoever closely examines David’s design will perceive that the text runs perfectly well. As it becomes us not rashly to rush into the presence of God, until he first calls us, David first tells us, that he carefully considered how gently and sweetly God prevents his people, by spontaneously inviting them to seek his face; and then, recovering his cheerfulness, he declares he would come wheresoever God may call him. The sense of the Hebrew word לך, leka, is somewhat ambiguous. It may mean the same thing as tibi, to thee, in Latin. But as the Hebrew letter ל, lamed, is often used for the preposition of, or concerning, it may properly enough be translated, my heart hath said of thee; an exposition to which the majority of interpreters incline. More probably, however, in my opinion, it denotes a mutual conversation between God and the prophet. I have just said, that no one can believingly rise to seek God until the way is first opened by God’s invitation, as I have elsewhere shown from the prophet’s declaration,
“I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God,” (Zechariah 13:9.)
David accordingly says, that in this way the door was opened for him to seek God: he brings forward this promise, and thus responds, as it were, to God. And, certainly, if this symphony does not precede, no man will conduct aright the chorus of the invitation. As soon, therefore, as we hear God presenting himself to us, let us cordially reply, Amen; and let us think with ourselves of his promises, as if they were familiarly addressed to us. Thus true believers have no need to seek any subtle artifice or tedious circuits to introduce themselves into God’s favor, since this preface prepares so easy a way for them, “However unworthy we are to be received by thee, O Lord, yet thy commandment, by which thou enjoinest upon us to come to thee, is sufficient encouragement to us.” The voice of God, therefore, ought to resound in our hearts, like an echo in hollow places, that from this mutual concord there may spring confidence to call upon him.
The term, face, is commonly explained to mean help or succor; as if it had been said, Seek me. But I am persuaded that the allusion here is also to the sanctuary, and that David refers to the mode of manifestation in which God was wont to render himself in some degree visible. No doubt, it is unlawful to form any gross or carnal idea of him, but as he appointed the ark of the covenant to be a token of his presence, it is, without any impropriety, every where denominated his face. It is indeed true, that we are far from God so long as we abide in this world, because faith is far removed from sight; but it is equally true, that we now see God as in a mirror, and darkly, (1 Corinthians 13:12,) until he shall openly show himself to us at the last day. Under this word, therefore, I am persuaded, are represented to us those helps by which God raises us to his presence, descending from his inconceivable glory to us, and furnishing us on earth with a vision of his heavenly glory. But as it is according to his own sovereign pleasure that God vouchsafes us to look upon him, (as he does in Word and sacraments,) it becomes us steadily to fix our eyes on this view, that it may not be with us as with the Papists, who, by means of the wildest inventions, wickedly transform God into whatever shapes please their fancy, or their brains have conceived.
Opening Prayer.
Our gracious and merciful Father in heaven,
thou who art all-just, all-righteous,
and abundant in lovingkindness and grace.
We thy people come before thee
as those whom thou hast richly blessed
and who have tasted of thy mercy.
The nations and peoples around us have not tasted, O Lord;
they have drunk deeply of the waters of corruption
and have fattened themselves upon iniquity.
They have fallen prey to destructive temptations
and have had no regard for thy law,
neither in nature nor in thy holy word.
They walk in ignorance as blind men,
leading others with them into the same darkness and ruin.
But be thou a light unto us, O Lord;
lead us and guide us by thy truth
into thy holy city,
for it is a city of truth.
Conform us to thine image
and mould us according to thy word.
Cleanse us and wash us from our sins
for thine own name’s sake.
Then shall we walk in peace and holy joy
under the light of thy favor,
when thou art pleased with us.
Accept our sacrifices, we pray thee,
and put it within our hearts
to deny ourselves and forsake this present world
for the sake of thy kingdom and thy glory.
For thine, O Lord, is all glory and power
for ever and ever,
through Jesus Christ,
the King of glory.
Amen.
Lesson 69. [1.2.43.] The Contents of Holy Scripture: The Prophets. Daniel. The Sure and Upright Way of the Righteous. Prov. 10:9
Westminster Confession of Faith 1.2.
Under the name of holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments,
Genesis—Ezekiel. Daniel
All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
Intro.
To shine as lights in a world of darkness is to maintain sound doctrine and a godly lifestyle.
Dan. 4-6, 12:7-13.
I.
From Daniel, we learn,
- The forgetfulness of the wicked of all God’s goodness. Dan. 4:3, Ps. 77:11, 78:11
- Oft times God speaks with the wicked either through nature, dreams or providence, declaring to them His eternal nature and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, but they like dumb idolators cannot know what these mean though they are abundantly clear. Dan. 4:15
- The only manner of turning away the wrath of God is true repentance, though a carnal repentance often prevents national reprieve of judgment. See 1 Kings 21:25-29
- Our trial and suffering is in the hands of God and lasts only so long as His decree. Dan. 4:31
- The end of reason is religious praise and thanksgiving. Dan. 4:31
- God doeth whatsoever pleases Him. Not even the strongest of men can stay His hand. He raises up and debases whom He will. Dan. 4:32-35, Ps. 75:4-8
- The wicked rejoice in carnal victories, and attribute their temporal success to idols. Dan. 5:3-4
- The foolishness of all worldly philosophy. Dan. 5:8, 1 Cor. 1:18-31
- The importance and necessity of a blameless and godly life. Dan. 6:4 +GNV Footnotes
- That which is set in stone by men and cannot be altered can be overturned and overthrown by God. Dan. 6:8
- The wisdom of kings cannot find a way to reconcile justice, and show mercy at once, as the gospel declares. Dan. 6:14, John 5:17
- The accusers of the brethren shall be destroyed without remedy. Dan. 6:24
Conclusion.
Closing Prayer.
Administration of the Supper.
Exhortation and explanation of the use of the Holy Sacrament.
• To profess the faith and declare openly that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ. Not by endeavors, intentions, effort, merit, works or free will, neither any creature, but by the grace of Jesus Christ alone.
Psalm 115:1 – “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”
Romans 3:24– “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:4-5– “But God which is rich in mercy, through his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead by sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, by whose grace ye are saved,”
Acts 4:12 – “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
• Acknowledgment of our sin and guilt—original and actual.
Psalm 51:5 – “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Lam. 1:18– “The Lord is righteous: for I have rebelled against his commandment.”
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• To give God thanks for the blessed work of redemption.
Ephesians 1:7 – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
Ephesians 2:7 – “That he might show in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace through his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
• To give God thanks that through the work of redemption, all other enterprises are blessed thereby and only thereby.
Romans 8:32 – “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
Romans 8:17 – “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
• Food, shelter, companionship, fruitful seasons, promotion, leisure, rest and recreation are made a curse to us apart from Jesus Christ.
Haggai 1:6 – “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.”
Mal. 2-3 “If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart…Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out such a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
• To give God thanks for the means of grace, the word and sacraments, which are denied millions of others.
Isa. 53:1– “Who will believe our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?”
Psalm 147:19-20 – “He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.”
Deut 9:4– “Speak not thou in thine heart (after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out before thee) saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in, to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations, the Lord hath cast them out before thee.”
• To bring fresh into our memory the suffering of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:26 – “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”
Isa. 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions: he was broken for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes are we healed.”
• To increase grace in us and call us to purity and virtue—the mortification of sin.
Romans 5:18–19–“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
John 6:53–56– “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life…
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”
Romans 6:11 – “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• To express unity with the saints and love for the brethren who partake with us.
1 Corinthians 10:17 – “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
• To remind us of the evil of sin, that God spared not His own Son in punishing it.
Isaiah 53:10 – “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief…”
• Give thanks to God for sending His Son for our salvation.
Isa. 9:6-7– “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Matt. 1:21– “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loveth the world, that he hath given his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Rom. 5:8-10– “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
• Warning to those who would partake in ignorance or scandalous sin.
1 Corinthians 11:27–29 – “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord… For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself…”
Scripture verse to meditate upon:
Ezekiel 37:26-28–”Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them: it shall be an everlasting covenant with them, and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Thus the heathen shall know, that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my Sanctuary shall be among them forevermore.”
• 1 Cor. 11:23-32 “This is my body.
Prayer.
Benediction.
Fearless Puritan: 