Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
Ballymena
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 8 January, 2012
"Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God" (Ps. 92:13)
Morning Service - 11:00 AM
God’s Glorious Perfections (10)
The Omnipotence of God [download] [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Job 25-26
Text: Job 26:14
I. In Himself
II. Outside Himself
III. In Our Consciousnesses
Psalms: 144:1-8; 119:33-40; 93:1-5; 62:6-11
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
The Profit of Believing [download] [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Malachi 3
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 23
I. Righteous in Jesus Christ!
II. Heir of Eternal Life!
Psalms: 61:1-6; 119:41-48; 103:12-18; 73:23-28
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart
CPRC website: www.cprc.co.uk
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Ballymena-United-Kingdom/Covenant-Protestant-Reformed-Church-N-Ireland/337347932331
Quote to Consider:
Augustine: "For if it were not a good that evil should exist, its existence would not be permitted by the omnipotent God, who without doubt can as easily refuse to permit what He does not wish, as bring about what He does wish. And if we do not believe this, the very first sentence of our creed is endangered, wherein we profess to believe in God the Father Almighty. For He is not truly called Almighty if He cannot do whatsoever He pleases, or if the power of His almighty will is hindered by the will of any creature whatsoever" (Enchiridion, xcvi).
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Back table: Two Standard Bearers (15 Dec., 1 Jan.) are available today. Free PRTJs are also available. This is a special issue on the AV/KJV.
Sunday Catechism: 10 AM - O.T. Juniors
Monday Catechism: 6 PM - O.T. Beginners (Alex & Nathan) 6:45 PM - O.T. Juniors (Jacob & Joseph) 7:30 PM - Heidelberg (Timothy, Zoe, Amy & Lea)
The Council meets tomorrow night at 8:15 PM.
Our Tuesday morning Bible study meets at 11 AM. We will study Revelation 17:1ff. on the relationship between the beast and the whore.
Belgic Confession Class meets Wednesday at 7:45 PM. Continuing Article 12, we will consider the fall of the demons (2).
The Ladies’ Discussion Group will continue their study of the book Lies Women Believe, meeting this Friday, 13 January, at 10 am to discuss chapter 5, part 1.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) will be "The Conversion of Ruth" (Ruth 1:7-18) by Rev. R. Kleyn.
On Wednesday, 25 January, Rev. Bill Langerak will give a lecture here entitled, "The Bible’s Identification of the Antichrist." Plan to attend and invite friends.
Reserve Friday, 27 January, for our congregational dinner at the Adair Arms. A sign-up sheet is available on the back table.
Offerings: General Fund: £543.12. Building Fund: £302. Donations: £150, £200 (CDs), £50 (DVDs), £25 (DVDs), £10 (CR News).
Beginning tomorrow, the audio (MP3 format) of Prof. Cammenga’s PR Seminary Interim course on "Contemporary Roman Catholic Theology" will be available on-line. Each day’s lecture and discussion will be found on the Seminary’s "Faculty" page through the PRC website.
PRC News: Edgerton PRC will call from a new trio of Revs. R. Kleyn, Marcus, and Spronk.
The Omnipotence of God
by Rev. H. Veldman,
(an excerpt from an article in the Standard Bearer, vol. 26, pp. 57-59)
That the Lord is truly omnipotent, almighty, is already implied in the names which the Scriptures ascribe to Him. He is El and Elohim, the mighty God and the God Who is alone worthy to be feared and to receive all adoration and praise. Scripture also speaks of Him as El Shaddai, the Almighty One, Who is not merely the mightiest but the almighty, the alone strong and mighty One. Or, we read of Him as Adonai (Lord); this name implies that the Lord, as the Creator and Possessor of all the earth, has the sole right to command, and man has none other calling but to obey. Hence, this name also signifies that the Lord is surely able to enforce His demands and execute His will. And, familiar, I am sure, to most of us is the name, El Tsebaoth (Lord of hosts), unto Whom are subject all the hosts of heaven and earth, also the hosts of angels and the starry heavens, and who is therefore exalted over all.
In Jeremiah 32:18 we read of the Lord as the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, "Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children, after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is His name"; Job declares of Him in Job 9:4: "He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against Him, and hath prospered?"; in Deuteronomy 7:21 Moses comforts Israel with the words: "Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible."; in Isaiah 1:24 we read: "Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease Me of Mine adversaries, and avenge Me of mine enemies:"; in Job 36:4 the writer declares: "Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength and wisdom."; in Psalm 24:7-10 occur the well-known words: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah."; in Matthew 11:25 our Lord Jesus Christ speaks of the Lord as "Father, Lord of heaven and earth."; and in Revelation 1:8 we read: "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, Which is , and Which was, and Which is to come, the Almighty." All of Holy Writ speaks of the Lord as the King of kings and Lord of lords, the great King, the Lord Almighty, the blessed and only Potentate, Who alone possesses authority and supreme majesty, Who alone rules and does all things according to the counsel of His will ...
As the Omnipotent One the Lord has absolute control of all things, also the powers of evil. He renders dumb and enables one ot speak, kills and makes alive, redeems and destroys. This is the teaching of the Word of God, e.g., in Exodus 4:11: "And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?"—in Deuteronomy 32:39: "See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand."—I Samuel 2:6: "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up."—in II Kings 5:7: "And it came to pass when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me."—in Exodus 15,—in Deut. 26:8, 29:2, 32:12 ... in Matt. 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."—and in Luke 12:20: "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou has provided?"
Also, nothing can resist the Lord. This, too, is verified by Holy Writ, as, e.g., in the Psalms 8, 18, 19, 29, 33, 104, Job 1, 2, 5:9-27, and in Rom. 9:19-21: "Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the things formed say to him that formed it, Why hast Thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"
Again, nothing is too wonderful for Him, all things are possible for and by Him. Also this truth is everywhere taught in the Scriptures, as, e.g., in Genesis 19:14: "Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."—in Jeremiah 32:27: "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me?"—in Zechariah 8:6: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts"—in Matthew 19:26: "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."—Luke 1:37: "For with God nothing shall be impossible." And according to Isaiah 45:8 the Lord created the day and the night, the light and the darkness, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things."
The Lord also does all His good pleasure. This, too, is taught throughout Scripture, as e.g., in Psalm 115:2: "But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased."—in Isaiah 14:24: "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." ...