Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 11 June, 2017
“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
The Healing of the Lame Beggar (2)
Peter’s Evangelistic Sermon at Solomon’s Porch
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Acts 3
Text: Acts 3:11-19
I. The Humble Explanation of the Healing
II. The Chief Sin of the Israelites
III. The Clear Call of the Gospel
Psalms: 66:1-7; 39:7-13; 115:1-11; 51:1-7
Evening Service - 6:00 PM
The Healing of the Lame Beggar (3)
Peter’s Periodization of Biblical Prophecy
[download]
[youtube]
Scripture Reading: Acts 3:11-26
Text: Acts 3:18-26
I. The Suffering of the Messiah
II. The Times of Refreshing
III. The Times of Restitution
Psalms: 110:1-6; 40:1-5; 72:1-8; 102:19-28 (AOS)
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
Albert Barnes on Acts 3:12: “It may be remarked that here was ample opportunity for [Peter and John] to establish a reputation of their own. The people were disposed to pay them honor; they might at once have laid claim to vast authority over them; but they refused all such personal honor, and ascribed all to the Lord Jesus. Whatever success may attend the ministers of the gospel, or however much the world may be disposed to do them honor, they should disclaim all power in themselves, and ascribe it to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not by the talents or personal holiness of ministers, valuable as these are, that people are saved; it is only by the power of God, designed to honor his Son.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
A letter from the Limerick Reformed Fellowship is on the back table.
A new CPRC address/phone list is on the back table. Please check your details and correct or add to them if necessary. If your details are correct, please place a tick next to your name so that we know you have checked them.
The Tuesday Bible Study meets at 11 AM to consider further the dividing up the promised land in Joshua 14ff.
The PRC Synod begins this week in Hudsonville, Michigan. Remember this assembly and Elder Crossett, our representative, in your prayers.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Haak is “God’s Rule of Conduct for Marriage” (Col. 3:12-13).
Everyone is invited to the manse for a barbecue on Friday, 23 June at 6:30 PM or as soon as you can come thereafter. In order to know how much food we need, please let Pastor or Mary know if you are coming.
Family visitation:
Wednesday, 21 June, 7 PM - Timothy & Hilary Spence (Reid/Rev. Stewart)
Monday, 26 June, 6 PM - Rev. McGeown (Crossett/Rev. Stewart)
Monday, 26 June, 7:30 PM - Annual General Meeting
Jennifer Hanko (TBA)
Ivan Reid’s term as elder and Julian Kennedy’s term as deacon end in August/September. Church Order 22 advises that members be given “an opportunity to direct attention to suitable persons,” so if you have anyone you believe should be nominated for this office, please speak with Rev. Stewart or an elder.
Offerings: General Fund: £582.80. Building Fund: £281.00. Donation: £300 (Scotland).
PRC News: Southwest PRC called Rev. Decker (Trinity, MI). Zion PRC’s new trio is Revs. Decker, Griess (Calvary, IA) and R. Kleyn (Spokane, WA).
Eight Facts Regarding Biblical Healings
Rev. Angus Stewart
Here are 5 simple facts regarding miraculous healing as it occurred in the Bible, in contrast to typical healing meetings today:
All the people who came to be cured by Christ or the prophets or the apostles were always healed (Matt. 4:23-24; 8:16; 9:35; 12:15; 14:36; 15:30-31; 21:14; Mark 6:56; Luke 4:40; 6:17-19; 9:11; Acts 5:16; 28:8-10). In Scripture, no one ever left unhealed for there was a 100% success rate. This is very different from healing meetings today.
All the people who were cured in the Bible were undeniably healed, having both ailments and cures that were verifiable (I Kings 13:6; II Kings 5:14; Isa. 35:5-6; Matt. 8:4, 14-15; 9:6-8, 29-31, 33; 11:4-5; 19:2; Mark 3:5-6; Luke 7:22; 13:10-17; 14:1-6; 17:14; John 2:23; 3:2; 4:45; 5:5-16; 6:2; 7:31; 9:1-34; 11:39-48; 12:1, 9-11, 17-19, 37; Acts 2:22; 3:7-12; 4:14-16; 5:12-16; 6:8; 8:6-8, 13; 9:33-35, 36-42; 14:3-4). That is, they had something obviously wrong with them (e.g., paralysis, withered hand, leprosy, fever) and then they were clearly healed (e.g., the lame walked, the blind saw). There are no scriptural healings of unverifiable ailments with unverifiable cures (e.g., headache or back pain). In this, too, biblical healing is very different from healing meetings today.
All the people who were cured in the Bible were completely healed (I Kings 13:6; Matt. 12:13, 22-23; 14:36; 15:28; Mark 1:30-31; 3:5; 5:26, 34; 6:56; 8:25; Luke 7:10; 8:35, 48; 11:14; 13:11-13; 17:14; 22:51; John 5:8-9; 7:23; 9:6-7; Acts 3:2, 7-9, 16; 4:9-10; 9:33-34; 14:8-10). No one was ever partially healed in Scripture, needing later rehabilitation or medical care. In this, too, biblical healing is very different from healing meetings today.
All the people who were cured in the Bible were immediately healed when they were with Christ or the apostles or the prophets (Matt. 8:3; 15:28; 20:34; Mark 1:31, 42; 2:11-12; 5:29, 42; 7:35; 10:52; Luke 13:13; Acts 3:7; 9:17-18, 34; 16:18; 22:13) or when God's extraordinary office-bearers spoke the Word regarding those needing healing who were not present bodily (Matt. 8:6, 13; 15:28; John 4:50-53) or when they performed the prescribed action (II Kings 5:10-14; Luke 17:14; John 9:7). In Scripture, no one was ever miraculously healed over a period of days or weeks or months. In this, too, biblical healing differs markedly from healing meetings today.
The people who were cured in the Bible were healed of various and serious afflictions, with some even being raised from the dead (I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:32-37; Matt. 4:23-24; 9:35; 10:1, 8; 11:5; 15:30-31; Mark 1:32-34; 16:17-18; Luke 4:40; 7:11-17, 22; Acts 5:15-16; 8:7; 20:9-12). There is no record of anyone in Scripture being cured of relatively minor ailments (e.g., the cold) or of miraculous healers only being able to cure people with certain types of illnesses but not others. In this, too, biblical healing differs from healing meetings today.
A close consideration of the many recorded healings in the Bible will also reveal that they happened "without" the following 3 things, in contrast to typical healing meetings today:
All the people who were cured in the Bible were healed without relapses a few minutes or hours or days or weeks or months later. No one was ever merely temporarily healed in Scripture. In this, too, biblical healing is very different from healing meetings today.
All the people who were cured in the Bible were healed without anything designed to whip up the crowd or play on their emotions. In no instance of healing in Scripture is it performed in connection with fanfare, singing, music, dancing, drama or anything akin to the techniques of hypnosis or auto-suggestion. In this, too, biblical healing is radically different from healing meetings today.
All the people who were cured in the Bible were healed without any sort of remuneration for the healer. In fact, in Scripture it is sinful to give or receive money or goods for miraculous healing (I Kings 13:7-8; II Kings 5:15-16, 20-27; cf. Acts 8:18f.). What about this factor in healing meetings today?
In short, in God's Word, those who sought to be cured by Jehovah's true messengers were always, undeniably, completely and immediately healed of various and serious afflictions, without relapse or remuneration or anything designed to play on people's emotions. How many of these 8 biblical characteristics are evident at the healing meetings of the various healers of whom you are aware? 0/8, 1/8, 2/8, 3/8, 4/8, 5/8, 6/8, 7/8 or 8/8? Biblical healings have all 8 of these traits, unlike modern claims of miraculous healing today. Remember, anything short of all 8 traits indicates that these things are not of God!