tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64453027465947457242024-03-19T07:22:15.365-05:00Welcome to Hopewell!Hopewell ARP Church is a Biblical, Reformed, Presbyterian church, serving the Lord in Culleoka, TN, since 1820. Lord's Day Morning, set your gps to arrive by 11a.m. at 3886 Hopewell Road, Culleoka, TN 38451JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.comBlogger3968125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-66734939437624337522024-03-19T00:00:00.002-05:002024-03-19T07:21:40.664-05:002024.03.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 115:9–18<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+115%3A9%E2%80%9318&version=NKJV;WLC;YLT;NASB">Psalm 115:9–18</a></b></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Questions from the from the Scripture text:</b> Whom does <b>Psalm 115:9</b>a call upon? To trust in Whom? What two things is He to them (verse 9b)? Whom does </i><i><b>Psalm 115:10</b></i><i>a call upon? To trust in Whom? What two things is He to them (verse 10b)? Whom does </i><i><b>Psalm 115:11</b></i><i>a call upon? To trust in Whom? Whom is He to them (verse 11b)? Who has remembered (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:12</b></i><i>a)? Whom will He bless (verse 12b)? Whom else (verse 12c)? Whom else (verse 12d)? Whom else (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:13</b></i><i>a)? Which ones of them (verse 13b)? What blessing does </i><i><b>Psalm 115:14</b></i><i>a pronounce? Upon whom (verse 14b)? By Whom (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:15</b></i><i>a)? What else has He done (verse 15b)? What does He reserve to Himself (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:16</b></i><i>a)? But over what has He given oversight, to whom (verse 16b)? But who do not praise Him there (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:17</b></i><i>)? And who will bless Him (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:18</b></i><i>a)? For how long (verse 18b)? With what command does the Psalm conclude (verse 18c)?</i> </blockquote><p></p><p><b>What has God saved us for?</b> <b>Psalm 115:9–18</b> prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>God has saved us in order to help us, protect us, and multiply us unto praising Him all this life long and forever.</b> </p><p><b>Trust in the One Who is an actual help and shield</b> (<b>Psalm 115:9-11</b>)! The first half of the psalm closed by warning about the result of trusting in an impotent idol. Everyone who trusts them will be like them (<b>Psalm 115:8</b>). But there can be no neutrality; we must place our trust somewhere. Merely trusting in oneself is the source of all idolatry (cf. <b>Psalm 115:4</b>b). Now, <b>Psalm 115:9-11</b> give us a triply emphasized command for where to put our trust: in YHWH. <b>Psalm 115:9</b> addresses Israel, the covenant people. <b>Psalm 115:10</b> addresses the house of Aaron, an anointed people. <b>Psalm 115:11</b> addresses “you who fear YHWH,” a godly people. A Christian is all of these: covenanted, anointed (e.g., the priesthood of all believers), and godly. He has a triple reason to trust in YHWH and a triple promise that YHWH is his help and shield.</p><p><b>The God Who remembers to bless</b> (<b>Psalm 115:12-15</b>). <b>Psalm 115:12</b>a is just two words in the Hebrew. YHWH (has)remembered. God Who gathers us to Himself, anoints us in His service, and sanctifies us by His grace… He will remember. He will bless us (verse 12b)! That first declaration is repeated by another triplet, this time of blessing (<b>Psalm 115:12-13</b>a). No one will be left out. There is not much distinction between small or great by comparison to YHWH, and He stoops down equally to bless each one of them (<b>Psalm 115:13</b>b). </p><p>In <b>Psalm 115:14-15</b>, the psalmist becomes the mouth of the blessing prophesied in <b>Psalm 115:12-13</b>. Implied here are all the blessings of creation and covenant for those whom the Lord is saving. Being fruitful and multiplying is a creation command/blessing, and “you and your children” is especially a covenantal way of speaking (and idea with corresponding multiplication, cf. <b>Genesis 13:16</b>, <b>Genesis 15:5</b>, <b>Genesis 22:17</b>, etc.). The blessings of creation and covenant continue in Psalm 115. God remembers! And now He has brought all of that blessing in Christ (cf. <b>2 Corinthians 1:20</b>). </p><p><b>The people who must remember to praise</b> (<b>Psalm 115:16-18</b>). In the heavenlies, YHWH has established His own display of His glory, and praise (<b>Psalm 115:16</b>a). But verse 16b reminds us that the Lord has commissioned man as His agent in the earth. For those who are in their sin, they miss the only chance that they had to praise (<b>Psalm 115:17</b>). But for those who are His Israel, His anointed priests, His godly ones… they not only bless YHWH now (<b>Psalm 115:18</b>a) but forever (verse 18b). </p><p>Dear reader, what is it that you’re concerned not to miss out on in life? Move the praise of the Lord to the top of that list! Praising Him in this life, in this world, is a limited time opportunity. If you do not take it now, in dependence upon grace, you will miss out both on a lifetime of praise now and an eternity of praise later. So, heed the command that sums up this entire psalm: Praise YHWH (<b>Psalm 115:18</b>c)!</p><p></p><blockquote><i>What opportunities do you take for stirring up trust in the Lord? For praising Him? What opportunities does your household have? If you are its head, how easily do you let them be deprived of these opportunities? What opportunities do you have for praise with your congregation? Which ones are you not taking?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b><i>Sample prayer: O Lord, we trust in You! You remember us and bless us. And You have promised to multiply, more and more, us and our children. Now, bless us to be able to praise You on earth as they do in heaven. Make us to bless You our whole life long and forever, we ask through Christ, AMEN!</i></b></p><p> Suggested songs: ARP115A “Not unto Us, LORD” or TPH115A “Not to Us, LORD, Not to Us”</p>Re3verzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944111489209655444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-67596705597807264202024-03-18T20:49:00.001-05:002024-03-18T20:49:44.071-05:002024.03.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 12:1–8<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1%E2%80%938&version=NKJV;TR1894;YLT;NASB">Romans 12:1–8</a></b></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Questions from the Scripture text:</b> What does the apostle now do to his readers (<b>Romans 12:1</b>)? By what? What does he call them? What are they to present? As what? What sort of sacrifice? Acceptable to Whom? What would this sacrifice be? To what are they not to be conformed (</i><i><b>Romans 12:2</b></i><i>)? What should be done to them instead? How? In order to prove what three things about God’s will? Through what does the apostle now speak (</i><i><b>Romans 12:3</b></i><i>)? To whom? What is each one not to think? How is each one to think? According to what? What do each of us have (</i><i><b>Romans 12:4</b></i><i>)? What don’t these many members of our body have? What are we believers (</i><i><b>Romans 12:5</b></i><i>)? In Whom? Of what/whom else are we members? What do we have that differ (</i><i><b>Romans 12:6</b></i><i>)? According to what? What should one do if he is assigned to prophesy (verse 6)? If he is assigned to minister (</i><i><b>Romans 12:7</b></i><i>)? If he is assigned to teach? If he is assigned to exhort/preach (</i><i><b>Romans 12:8</b></i><i>)? If he is assigned to give? If he is assigned to lead? If he is assigned to show mercy?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b>How do we fit into God’s plan of redemption?</b> <b>Romans 12:1–8</b> prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>God has given each one that He redeems special service in His church.</b> </p><p><b>Entrusting Ourselves to the Wisdom of the Perfectly Wise God.</b> The “therefore” in <b>Romans 12:1</b> ties us back to the doxology with which ch11 concluded. God has wisely determined how to justify and glorify His elect. And God has wisely assigned the role that each one will have in the history of how God applies that redemption. So, since God is so merciful, we are to give up our own will to Him and offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him.</p><p>God is the One Who has measured out to each of us our faith (<b>Romans 12:3</b>). Just as God’s “grace” to Paul was to make him an apostle who writes Scripture (verse 3a), so God’s “grace” given to each member is to give them for the sake of the church, Christ’s body (<b>Romans 12:6</b>a). God is the One Who has providentially assigned to each of us the function that we have in His body (<b>Romans 12:6-8</b>). So, we must not think that our function in the church is for ourselves, but instead remember that the gift is for the body (<b>Romans 12:3</b>b). For, we are not only members of Christ, but of one another. </p><p>The worldly mind serves itself, but the new mind is determined to serve the church. This renewed mind looks at His will in things like what He’s doing with the Jews in chapter 11, and says, “that is good, and acceptable, and perfect”! This renewed mind looks at God’s will in what He’s doing in our own congregation, and in our part in it, and says, “that is good, and acceptable, and perfect”! The perfectly wise God has determined how to use each of us in His work in each of the rest of us. And we must trust Him with that. It is only reasonable to serve Him in this way; it is only logical to offer a life of worship to Him in this way.</p><p><b>Engaging Ourselves in Diligent Service of His Church.</b> So, what are we supposed to do? Well, we are all supposed to serve (<b>Romans 12:7</b>a, NKJ translates “ministry”), give (<b>Romans 12:8</b>b), and show mercy (verse 8d). These are generally commanded to all Christians. So, when we come to do any of those things, we do not come as if it is optional, or as if it is our idea. We do those things as assignments from God and essential gifts from Him to His church. As such, we do it all with eagerness and zeal. The giving should be generous (“liberality”). The mercy should be cheerful. </p><p>Then, there are others who had words from the Lord, but even these were to make sure only to prophesy that which was consistent with the faith (end of <b>Romans 12:6</b>; otherwise, he may be sure that he prophesies falsely). And there are those in whom God has done a gracious work that identifies them as teachers (<b>Romans 12:7</b>b), preachers (v8a, NKJ “exhorts”), and overseers (<b>Romans 12:8</b>c) in His church. These may be identified by the qualifications in Ephesians 4, 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, James 3, 1 Peter 5, etc. Thus, we see that it is God Who determines what the qualifications are, God Who works those qualities by grace, and therefore God Who assigns elders by His Word and providence. They must receive this calling as a grace from God and a gift for the church and fulfill their office with diligence. So, too, every man who is married or has children, as God has put him in a position of teaching, exhorting, and leading in his home.</p><p>From God, and through God, and to God are all things. From God, and through God, and to God is your own life: your role in your home, your role in the church. To Him be the glory in everything that you do! This is what it looks like to be shaped by the new mind that He has given us. And we may rejoice that He will use our service to fulfill His perfect plan for His glory in the salvation and glory of His church!</p><p></p><blockquote><i>What role do you have in your family? What role do you have in your church? Who gave you these roles? For whose good do they exist? For Whose glory? How are you able to do each part? In what manner ought you to do each part?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b><i>Sample prayer: Our gracious God, all things are from You and through You and to You. To You is all the glory forever. We thank You that You have given to each of us our part in Your plan. Grant unto us to serve in our household, and in the body of Christ, with all zeal, diligence, and cheerfulness, we ask through Christ, AMEN!</i></b></p><p>Suggested songs: ARP24 “The Earth and the Riches” or TPH256 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”</p>Re3verzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944111489209655444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-30421175728112894932024-03-17T06:00:00.001-05:002024-03-17T06:00:00.243-05:002024.03.17 Lord's Day Live Streams (live at 10:10a, 11a, 3p)<div style="text-align: center;">Click below for the:</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<div><a href="https://hpwl.org/240317" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">March 17 Lord's Day Worship Booklet</span></b></a><br />
<div><a href="https://hpwl.org/240317ms" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Matthew 6:16–18 sermon outline</span></a><br />
<div><a href="https://hpwl.org/240317es" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: normal;">p.m. Song Selections & Numbers 5 sermon</span></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="height: 0px; padding-bottom: 56.25%; position: relative; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/l/hopewellarp/" style="left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://bit.ly/vchurchviral" target="_blank"><b>We urge you to assemble physically</b></a>, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.</div><span face="" style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div>
<b>Each week we <a href="https://hpwl.org/live"><span style="color: red;">LIVESTREAM</span></a> the Lord's Day</b> (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and <b>Midweek Meeting</b> (sermon and prayer). <span style="color: red;"><b>For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live</b></span>, install the <span><b>CHURCHONE APP</b> </span>on your [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/apple" target="_blank">Apple</a></b>], [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/android" target="_blank">Android</a></b>], or [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/kindle" target="_blank">Kindle</a></b>] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcasterJNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-65866586247824665122024-03-16T10:20:00.002-05:002024-03-16T10:20:26.762-05:00Fasting That Delights God (and Delights in Him) [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 6:16–18]<i><b>What is Christian fasting?</b> Matthew 6:16–18 prepares us for the morning sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>Christian fasting is a period of not eating in order to enjoy God as all of our delight and the One upon Whom we entirely depend</b>.</i><iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/3162415296999/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/3162415296999/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-69517139302063247252024-03-16T00:00:00.001-05:002024-03-16T00:00:00.337-05:002024.03.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Matthew 6:16–18<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A16%E2%80%9318&version=NKJV;TR1894;YLT;NASB">Matthew 6:16–18</a></b></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Questions from the Scripture text: </b>To what religious exercise does <b>Matthew 6:16</b> now refer? Whom are they not to be like? What do the hypocrites do when they fast? For what purpose? What do they already have? Who is to be a contrast to them (</i><i><b>Matthew 6:17</b></i><i>)? What are they to do instead? In order to prevent what (</i><i><b>Matthew 6:18</b></i><i>)? Who is their target audience instead? Where is He? Where does He see? How will He reward them?</i> </blockquote><p></p><p><b>What is Christian fasting?</b> <b>Matthew 6:16–18</b> prepares us for the morning sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>Christian fasting is a period of not eating in order to enjoy God as all of our delight and the One upon Whom we entirely depend.</b></p><p><b>Christians fast.</b> Jesus assumes His disciples will fast (<b>Matthew 6:16</b>), even as on another occasion, He says plainly that they will do so (cf. <b>Luke 5:33</b>). A life without fasting isn’t a Christian life any more than a life without prayer (cf. <b>Matthew 6:5-14</b>) or a life without works of mercy (cf. <b>Matthew 6:1-4</b>). What is fasting? At the most basic level, it is abstaining from food. But, obviously, Christian fasting is more than that. Indeed, as the Lord Jesus is now teaching, it is more and better than any other nutritional or religious fasting.</p><p><b>Christians enjoy fasting.</b> It is the hypocrites who fast with a sad face (<b>Matthew 6:16</b>). They even make their faces look artificially sad so that everyone can see how sad they are! They are like their spiritual fathers, in Isaiah 58, who thought the more miserable they were, the happier God should be (cf. <b>Isaiah 58:3–5</b>). This was a great mistake. Time set apart to God should be a joy, not a pain, as the conclusion to that chapter taught about the Sabbath (cf. <b>Isaiah 58:11–14</b>). It is true that fasting is joined to humiliation and repentance and great pleading with God, throughout Scripture. But, as the Lord Jesus has been teaching us in this sermon, the proper complement to mourning and humiliation about ourselves is rejoicing and exultation over the Lord (cf. <b>Matthew 5:3–8</b>). </p><p><b>Christians enjoy fasting for God (and God in their fasting)</b>. One reason that you might not know that mature Christians are fasting is that they don’t tell you about it! The Lord even directs extra care with our morning routine so that others will not know that we are in a mourning routine (<b>Matthew 6:17</b>)! Like works of mercy and prayer, our fasting is to be kept between us and the Lord. Our Father sees the secret place in the heart (<b>Matthew 6:18</b>). Here, it is most clear that this “secret” place is not necessarily the closet (though we do have Him there, when we sneak away to be alone with Him, cf. <b>Matthew 6:6</b>). For the Christian, the secret place is a place that he can take with him wherever he goes. It is the communion—the shared life—between his soul and his heavenly Father.</p><p>So Christian fasting is not just enjoying God more than food or needing God more than food. It is that—and more. Christian fasting is a fitting conclusion to this section of the sermon on the mount, because its essence is to find God as our great reward. It is enjoying God more than all created things and needing God more than life itself. It finds Him to be marrow and fatness for the soul (cf. <b>Psalm 63:3–5</b>)!</p><p></p><blockquote><i>What are you most susceptible to enjoying more than (or apart from) the Lord? What are you susceptible to depending upon instead of Him? When have you fasted? When you do fast, what is your plan for keeping it between you and the Lord? What is your plan for enjoying Him in it?</i> </blockquote><p></p><p><b><i>Sample prayer: O God, You are our God; early we will seek You. Our souls thirst for You; our flesh longs for You, as in a dry and thirsty land, where there is no water. And with this longing, we have sought You in the holy place, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your covenant love is better than life, our lips shall praise You. Thus, we will bless You while we live; we will lift up our hands in Your Name. Our souls shall be satisfied with marrow and fatness, while our mouths praise You with joyful lips, through Jesus Christ, AMEN!</i></b></p><p>Suggested songs: ARP63 “O God, You Are My God” or TPH63A “O God, You Are My God, Alone”</p>Re3verzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944111489209655444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-49935385885429443792024-03-15T01:23:00.002-05:002024-03-15T01:23:34.874-05:00Conscientiously Maintaining God's Dwelling Place [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 5]<i><b>How do the instructions in this chapter fit together?</b> Numbers 5 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these thirty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, <b>as those among whom God dwells, Christians must conscientiously maintain their holiness, relationships, and hearts</b>. </i><iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/3142423282602/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/3142423282602/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-15221297276749076652024-03-15T00:00:00.000-05:002024-03-16T19:53:32.518-05:002024.03.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Numbers 5<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+5&version=NKJV;WLC;YLT;NASB">Numbers 5</a></b></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Questions from the Scripture text:</b> Who spoke to whom in <b>Numbers 5:1</b>? Whom was he to command (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:2</b></i><i>)? What were they to do to what three kinds of people (cf. Leviticus 11–15)? Which ones (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:3</b></i><i>)? In order that they would not do what to the camps? Because Who dwells there? How does Israel respond to this command (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:4</b></i><i>)? Who speaks to whom in </i><i><b>Numbers 5:5</b></i><i>? To whom is he supposed to speak (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:6</b></i><i>)? What might a person do? Against Whom? What does that make that person? What must the sinner say to God (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:7</b></i><i>)? What must he do to what persons? And Whom does he pay, if neither that person, nor their kinsman redeemer, is available to pay that restitution (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:8</b></i><i>)? Whose rights (to what particular property) do </i><i><b>Numbers 5:9-10</b></i><i> protect? Who speaks to whom in </i><i><b>Numbers 5:11</b></i><i>? To whom is he to speak (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:12</b></i><i>)? About what situation? What do she and the adulterer do (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:13</b></i><i>)? But then what happens with the husband (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:14</b></i><i>)? When might he also be suspicious and jealous? To whom is he to bring her in either case (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:15</b></i><i>)? And what is he to bring for the priest on her behalf? What is not to be put upon this offering? Why? What is this drawing near (“offering,” NKJ) supposed to accomplish? To Whom does the priest then bring her near and set her (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:16</b></i><i>)? What is he to combine in what (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:17</b></i><i>)? Where does the priest stand her (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:18</b></i><i>)? What does he uncover? What does he put in her hands? And what does he have in his own hands? What does he say, when he makes her to swear (“puts her under oath) in </i><i><b>Numbers 5:19-20</b></i><i>? What curse does the priest warn against the woman in (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:21-22</b></i><i>)? And what does the woman swear (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:22</b></i><i>)? What does the priest do with the curses (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:23</b></i><i>)? Then what does he do with the ink? And what does he do with the water (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:24</b></i><i>)? Then what does the priest take (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:25</b></i><i>)? Where does he bring it? What does he take from it (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:26</b></i><i>)? And what does he do with that handful? What will the result be, with the woman, in which case (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:27</b></i><i>)? And what will the result be in the other case (</i><i><b>Numbers 5:28</b></i><i>)? What cases do </i><i><b>Numbers 5:29-30</b></i><i> cover? What does </i><i><b>Numbers 5:31</b></i><i>a imply about a husband who feels jealous but doesn’t deal with it? What does verse 31b ensure about a wife who has been unfaithful?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b>How do the instructions in this chapter fit together?</b> Numbers 5 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these thirty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, <b>as those among whom God dwells, Christians must conscientiously maintain their holiness, relationships, and hearts. </b></p><p><b>A Holy People</b>, <b>Numbers 5:1–4</b>. One of the main features of the last several chapters has been the Levites’ functioning as a holy buffer between the tabernacle and the rest of the camp. But God’s dwelling among His people requires that the entire camp be holy: “that they may not defile their camps in the midst of which I dwell” (<b>Numbers 5:3</b>).</p><p>The uncleannesses referred to in <b>Numbers 5:2</b> are representative of the whole of Leviticus 11–15. Those who were ritually defiled had to be put out of the camp. Both they and the ritually clean would be reminded that God looks upon the heart. The one who approaches the Lord must have a pure heart (cf. Psalm 15, <b>Psalm 24:3–4</b>). This they knew already from the atonements and offerings by which they had to come near. But it was driven home all the more by the enforcement of the cleanliness code. </p><p>How happy the expelled person would be when they were clean again and were able to follow the regulations for reentry! It would be plain to them that this was a reentry into the camp where God Himself had made His glory to dwell. And it was a reminder that, even after we have been redeemed by God, we must be made perfectly holy if we are to enter His eternal rest (cf. <b>Matthew 5:8</b>, <b>Hebrews 9:14</b>). </p><p><b>No Unresolved Sin Against One Another</b>, <b>Numbers 5:5-10</b>. Again, we have something that was covered in Leviticus 5–6, but in this context it is important for us to notice the reason for restitution. Sin against others is, first and foremost, “committing unfaithfulness against YHWH” (<b>Numbers 5:6</b>, cf. <b>Psalm 51:4</b>)! This was why they still had to make restitution even if they couldn’t pay back the one who was wronged, or even find a near relative to pay back. Part of maintaining holiness as those who are gathered to God for His worship is to keep short accounts and not allow sin against one another to go unresolved.</p><p><b>No Harboring Jealousy</b>, <b>Numbers 5:11-31</b>. The third, and longest, section is one that we might easily misunderstand, if we don’t catch the implication in the first half of <b>Numbers 5:31</b>: “then the man shall be free from iniquity.” God was forbidding the man to live with a jealous heart. Instead, the husband was taught by this procedure to give up any jealous suspicions to God, and let Him deal with it. While the ceremonial law has passed, the principle remains. Those among whom God dwells, and who come to Him for worship, must not live with a jealous heart.</p><p>The dreadfulness of the ordeal would both serve to encourage a wife to make every effort not to give reason for jealousy, as well as encouraging the husband to come to the Lord to be released of the jealousy of in his spirit. In both of their cases, the prospective curse on childbearing was a reminder that their marriage wasn’t only for themselves. It was first and foremost for the Lord, for honoring Him both in their own generation, and in raising up godly seed unto Him (cf. <b>Malachi 2:15</b>).</p><p>But the primary point here is the jealousy of the heart. Those who are gathered unto God in His church, and who gather to Him to worship Him, must be careful of the inner life of the heart before Him!</p><p></p><blockquote><i>What hope do you have that you will have that holiness that is necessary to see the Lord? What application are you making of that principle in living a holy life now, as someone who comes weekly to worship Him? Against whom have you committed unresolved sin? How are you going to resolve it ASAP, and before you come to worship? How are you exercising care over the inner life of your heart?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b><i>Sample prayer: Lord, we are amazed that You have been pleased to tabernacle among us and to take us as Your temple. Grant that we would be holy, that we would conduct ourselves in a holy manner with one another, and that we would be careful of the inner life of our hearts. For, we ask it through Christ, AMEN!</i></b></p><p>Suggested songs: ARP15 “Within Your Tent Who Will Reside?” or TPH24B “The Earth and Its Riches”</p>Re3verzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944111489209655444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-65405928046978242502024-03-14T17:16:00.000-05:002024-03-14T17:16:06.307-05:00A “Truly Reformed” Life [2024.03.13 Midweek Sermon in Romans 11:33–36]<div style="position:relative;width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="100%" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/v/314242016273903/" style="position:absolute;left:0;top:0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><br /><b>Being truly Reformed means overflowing with praise about and unto God with the lip and the life.</b><br /><br /><iframe tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="60" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/314242016273903/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/314242016273903/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-59137204829484539922024-03-14T00:30:00.002-05:002024-03-14T17:13:24.021-05:00Walking in Cleansing Fellowship with God [Family Worship lesson in 1John 1:5–2:2]<i><b>What difference does fellowship God make in our daily living?</b> 1John 1:5–2:2 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>when we have fellowship with God, we walk in His light as those being cleansed by Christ</b>.</i><iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/31324203631842/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/31324203631842/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-2200007399610662362024-03-14T00:00:00.028-05:002024-03-14T00:00:00.241-05:002024.03.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 John 1:5–2:2<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A5%E2%80%932%3A2&version=NKJV;TR1894;YLT;NASB">1 John 1:5–2:2</a></b></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Questions from the Scripture text:</b> To what does the apostle now shift in <b>1 John 1:5</b>? How does his experience of the message match the experience of he living Word (cf. </i><i><b>1 John 1:1</b></i><i>)? What is the message? What have some claimed (</i><i><b>1 John 1:6</b></i><i>)? While walking in what way? What does this prove about their claim? What are they not doing (“practicing,” NKJ)? What must we walk in, instead (</i><i><b>1 John 1:7</b></i><i>)? Of Whom does this make us an imitation? With whom does this give us fellowship? What happens to those who have this fellowship? What if we say that we don’t need this cleansing from sin—what are we doing to ourselves (</i><i><b>1 John 1:8</b></i><i>)? What isn’t in us? What must we do with our sins instead (</i><i><b>1 John 1:9</b></i><i>)? Upon what attribute of His must we depend? What two things does God do in that faithfulness? What if we say that we don’t even need the forgiveness—what are we making God out to be (</i><i><b>1 John 1:10</b></i><i>)? And what isn’t in us? What is the apostle’s goal in making these points (<b>1 John 2:1</b>)? What does he assure those who are trying not to sin but stumble—what do they have? With Whom? Who is this advocate? What is He in Himself? And what is He for us (</i><i><b>1 John 2:2</b></i><i>)? And what is His capacity for propitiation?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b>What difference does fellowship God make in our daily living?</b> <b>1 John 1:5–2:2</b> prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>when we have fellowship with God, we walk in His light as those being cleansed by Christ.</b></p><p><b>Fellowship with God means walking in the light.</b> In <b>1 John 1:1-4</b>, the apostle commended his message in the strongest possible terms: it is the means by which we are brought into a shared life with the Triune God, through the Son, the Word, in Whom is eternal life. This message, this gospel, is how we are brought into the enjoyment of God Himself. </p><p>So, in a real sense, God Himself is the gospel. Now, <b>1 John 1:5-7</b> tells us more about Him, and therefore more about what it means to have a shared life with Him. More about Him: He is light and in Him is no darkness at all. More about a shared life with Him: this fellowship with Him means walking in the light. </p><p>From the word picture, we can understand what walking in the light means, externally. It means that the rule of our life is not from ourselves, which would be darkness, but from Him Who is light. That is to say that He is the rule of our life. He, through His Word, is the standard and the guide for what we do, what we desire, and what we delight in. </p><p>But this idea of the shared life helps us understand another part of walking in the light. Christians have His life in us and His light in us. We have a new birth, a new nature. So, we walk in the light not only when we learn from the Bible what our desires should be, but when we find that as we read the Bible, His Spirit within us actually makes those things our desires.</p><p>If we are walking in darkness, however, we must not think that we have fellowship with God. v6 calls the one who thinks that it is ok for Christians to sin a liar who does not practice the truth. Christians must never take our sin lightly.</p><p><b>Fellowship with God means guaranteed cleansing from sin.</b> Now, a Christian might well be alarmed when he learns that if we are not walking in the light, then we have no fellowship with God. For, every Christian in this life still has sin. So, the sentence in <b>1 John 1:7</b> doesn’t even finish without assuring us that there is cleansing from this remaining sin. </p><p>The one who walks according to the rule of God’s light externally, and with a desire formed by God’s light internally, does so only by that shared life with Jesus Christ. And this Jesus Christ, though a Man, is also God the Son. If we have Him, then we have His blood, and that blood is the most effectual cleanser of what is unclean and consecrator of that which is common. His blood is cleansing believers from their sin, even now already in this life.</p><p>Now, in <b>1 John 1:8</b>, we learn that there is something even worse than the “Christian” who says that it is ok for him to sin. Yes, the one who treats sin as if it is ok is a liar. But the one who says that he has no sin is worse than a liar. He is someone who calls God a liar (<b>1 John 1:10</b>)! </p><p>But, praise God, the gospel is a great helper to us to confess our sin. For, if we have Jesus Christ His Son, the truthfulness and faithfulness of God is not against us but for us. Without Jesus Christ, God would be faithful and just to punish us fully for our sins and to leave us to ourselves forever in our unrighteousness. But if we have Jesus Christ, then God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (justification) and to cleanse us from all that remaining unrighteousness (sanctification).</p><p>So, the Christian is able to look at his sin with eyes wide open. He hates it, because it is darkness that is at war with God. But he feels free to admit it, because God is on his side and will surely win that war. This is why the apostle is writing to teach his readers about the gospel. They are like dear, little children to him (<b>1 John 2:1</b>), and he wants to arm them with the truths about God and Christ that will enable them not to sin. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin”!</p><p>How can the faithful and just God do this? How can He forgive and cleanse us? Because our advocate with the Father is Jesus Christ the Righteous! The Father so loved us that He gave His Son, Who knew no sin, to be sin in our place, so that we could be the righteousness of God in Him (cf. <b>2 Corinthians 5:21</b>). The Father lovingly secured for us the greatest Advocate there can be! And He is our propitiation. He has endured in Himself the fullness of the wrath of God, so that God is entirely propitious (favorable) toward us! </p><p>How rich is this propitiation? It will never be exhausted. He didn’t just propitiate for the disciples who believed. He propitiated for an entire world of believers—an entire cosmos, including not just every place, but every time! Don’t worry, dear believer, the justifying and cleansing blood of Jesus has not lost a bit of its power since the apostle first wrote this. Face your sin. Hate your sin. Rejoice in Jesus that God forgives you and shall surely finish cleansing you. And walk against that sin in and by the light of God!</p><p></p><blockquote><i>What sins have you been shrinking from admitting that you commit, or perhaps neglecting to admit that you commit? Why are they a big deal? How can we see if we are treating them as no big deal? Why mustn’t you do that? What would it look like to treat them as a big deal? How can you be sure that you will be cleansed from them?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b><i>Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how much darkness there is in our walking, even though we have fellowship with You and walk in the light. We are ashamed that we have often treated our sin as if it were a small thing, and are in danger of being liars about our profession of faith. And even worse, Lord, we have rationalized our sin so that we did not even call it sinful. So we have even been in danger of calling You a liar. We have been faithful, but You are faithful. We have been unrighteous, but You are just. Now by that blood of Jesus Christ, which has propitiated for all who believe in Him from the entire cosmos, forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, we ask in His Name, AMEN!</i></b></p>Re3verzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944111489209655444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-31569500974498805372024-03-13T17:54:00.004-05:002024-03-13T17:54:39.677-05:002024.03.13 Midweek Meeting Live Stream (live at 6:30p)<div style="text-align: center;">Click below for the:</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Each week we <a href="https://hpwl.org/live"><span style="color: red;">LIVESTREAM</span></a> the Lord's Day</b> (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and <b>Midweek Meeting</b> (sermon and prayer). <span style="color: red;"><b>For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live</b></span>, install the <span><b>CHURCHONE APP</b> </span>on your [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/apple" target="_blank">Apple</a></b>], [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/android" target="_blank">Android</a></b>], or [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/kindle" target="_blank">Kindle</a></b>] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcasterJNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-36312465965734500752024-03-13T11:29:00.004-05:002024-03-13T11:29:28.223-05:00The Greatness of the Priestly Work [2024.03.10 Evening Sermon in Numbers 4]<div style="position:relative;width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="100%" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/v/311241942351950/" style="position:absolute;left:0;top:0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><br /><b>The Levites had a great priestly work to do, which points us to the greater-ness of Christ's priestly work, and even a greater-ness in our own priesthood.</b><br /><br /><iframe tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="60" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/311241942351950/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/311241942351950/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-6102737640354842582024-03-13T11:25:00.002-05:002024-03-13T11:25:40.922-05:00Prayer as a Means of Grace [2024.03.10 Morning Sermon in Matthew 6:7–15]<div style="position:relative;width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="100%" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/v/310241852146243/" style="position:absolute;left:0;top:0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><br /><b>Prayer is a means of God's grace by which He gives us to embrace His will in submission, and to learn His will as we pray according to Scripture.</b><br /><br /><iframe tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="60" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/310241852146243/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/310241852146243/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-66842308538123809492024-03-13T11:20:00.007-05:002024-03-13T11:20:59.707-05:00The Spirit's Work in Perseverance [Sabbath School lesson in WCF 17.2.c—Hopewell 101]This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free will, but upon [...] the abiding of the Spirit and of the seed of God within them [...]<iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/31224124534827/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/31224124534827/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-83731852190363714322024-03-13T00:30:00.001-05:002024-03-13T00:30:00.128-05:00The LORD Who Saves Sinners for His Name's Sake [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 47–48]What makes the difference between the fate of sinful Babylon and sinful Israel? Isaiah 47–48 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these thirty-seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that for the sake of His Name and praise, which the Lord has invested in them, the Lord delivers Israel. <iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/3132444763964/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/3132444763964/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-16301886806222477882024-03-13T00:00:00.000-05:002024-03-13T09:20:30.433-05:002024.03.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Isaiah 47–48<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+47%E2%80%9348&version=NKJV;WLC;YLT;NASB">Isaiah 47–48</a></b></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Questions from the Scripture text: </b>Who is going to be humiliated (<b>Isaiah 47:1</b>)? How does </i><i><b>Isaiah 47:2</b></i><i> describe their slavery and exile? How do </i><i><b>Isaiah 47:3</b></i><i>a–b describe their humiliation? What will God do? What won’t He let man do? Who retrieves Israel from such a fate (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:4</b></i><i>)? Into what will God send Babylon (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:5</b></i><i>)? Why had the Lord given them power (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:6</b></i><i>a–c)? But what did Babylon do with it (verse 6d–e)? And what did they think of themselves (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:7-8</b></i><i>)? Why was this such a grave error (verse 7b–c, </i><i><b>Isaiah 47:9</b></i><i>)? In what did they trust (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:10</b></i><i>)? How will this end for them (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:11</b></i><i>)? To what had Babylon credited their rise (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:12-13</b></i><i>)? But how will these things fare toward preventing their fall (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:14</b></i><i>)? Who else have they trusted, that will fail them (</i><i><b>Isaiah 47:15</b></i><i>)? Whom now does <b>Isaiah 48:1</b>a address? What new name had God given them (verse 1b)? What had He established as their new fountain of life (verse 1c)? By what Name had He given them to swear (verse 1d)? And what covenant relationship to identify (verse 1e)? But what was wrong with their religion (verse 1f)? What did that religion look like on the surface (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:2</b></i><i>)? When did the Lord declare everything that would happen (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:3</b></i><i>a–b)? What does He do in the moment (verse 3c)? What does this fulfillment of prophecy work against (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:4</b></i><i>)? What would sinful Israel have credited for their deliverance, if the Lord did not pre-prophesy it (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:5</b></i><i>)? Now, what does the Lord insist they do with the knowledge they have of Him (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:6</b></i><i>)? Why does the Lord save for Himself some of the details of what He will do (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:7</b></i><i>)? What about them required this careful dealing from the Lord (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:8</b></i><i>)? Why doesn’t He just destroy them (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:9</b></i><i>)? What will He keep doing instead (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:10-11</b></i><i>)? What does the Lord call His people in </i><i><b>Isaiah 48:12</b></i><i>a–b? What does He again announce to them (verse 12c–d)? To what act of His does He again refer (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:13</b></i><i>)? And out of what, toward Israel, has He both created the world and planned His actions with regard to Babylon (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:14-15</b></i><i>)? Whom else is sent in that same love (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:16</b></i><i>)? By Whom? What five things does YHWH say about His relation to Israel in </i><i><b>Isaiah 48:17</b></i><i>? What did He desire (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:18</b></i><i>a)? What would have been the result for His people (verse 18b–</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:19</b></i><i>)? What new commandment is now given in </i><i><b>Isaiah 48:20</b></i><i>? To what does He compare His care for their return from Babylon (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:21</b></i><i>)? Who can never have this peace (</i><i><b>Isaiah 48:22</b></i><i>)?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b>What makes the difference between the fate of sinful Babylon and sinful Israel?</b> Isaiah 47–48 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these thirty-seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>for the sake of His Name and praise, which the Lord has invested in them, the Lord delivers Israel. </b></p><p><b>Overview. </b>In these two chapters, the Lord addresses first Babylon (chapter 47) and then Israel (chapter 48) in the wake of the fall of Babylon. Both are condemned for their sin, but Babylon are destroyed, while Israel are delivered. What makes the difference between them? In Israel’s case, the Lord has put His Name upon them, and for the sake of His Name and His praise (<b>Isaiah 48:9–11</b>), He restrains His anger. So, they have YHWH Himself as near-kin who takes up their cause (“Redeemer”; <b>Isaiah 47:4</b>, <b>Isaiah 48:17</b>a). But what is true for Israel corporately is only true of individuals if they have life and faith and righteousness from the Lord. There is no peace, says YHWH, for the wicked (<b>Isaiah 48:22</b>). Israel’s deliverances from Egypt (<b>Isaiah 48:21</b>) and Babylon (<b>Isaiah 48:20</b>) are invitations to all sinners to trust in the God of Jacob and receive the greater, everlasting deliverance.</p><p><b>Babylon.</b> Babylon were conceited (<b>Isaiah 47:1</b>, <b>Isaiah 47:5</b>), so they will be brought low and humiliated (<b>Isaiah 47:2-3</b>). Apparently, they trusted in their political prowess, but that will do them no good against the Lord (<b>Isaiah 47:3</b>c–d). Babylon were cruel (<b>Isaiah 47:6</b>), self-assured (<b>Isaiah 47:7</b>, <b>Isaiah 47:8</b>b–e), self-indulgent (verse 8a). So the Lord will suddenly bring them all the way down (<b>Isaiah 47:9</b>a–d). They put a great deal of faith in their scientists, but the Lord calls faith-in-science, apart from Him, “sorcery and enchantment” (<b>Isaiah 47:9</b>, <b>Isaiah 47:12</b>, <b>Isaiah 47:13</b>). </p><p>Trying to have knowledge without God gives the illusion of no accountability (<b>Isaiah 47:10</b>), and plunges a people into wickedness, as modern man has so skillfully demonstrated! But his knowledge will fail him, when the Lord arises to punish (<b>Isaiah 47:12-14</b>). Not even their trade partners will be able to intervene (<b>Isaiah 47:15</b>).</p><p><b>Israel. </b>In chapter 48 the Lord now addresses Jacob (<b>Isaiah 48:1</b>a), who got that name by being a sinner from the womb (<b>Isaiah 48:8</b>). Though they make a display of true religion, it is just a façade (<b>Isaiah 48:1-2</b>). They are stubborn in their rebellion (<b>Isaiah 48:4</b>) and quicker to credit idols than to credit the Lord (<b>Isaiah 48:5</b>). Even the tellings and timings of the Lord’s deliverance (<b>Isaiah 48:3</b>, <b>Isaiah 48:5</b>, <b>Isaiah 48:6</b>, <b>Isaiah 48:7</b>) were calculated to make it unmistakable that it was He alone Who did it. Now, it is Israel’s duty to give Him the credit (<b>Isaiah 48:6</b>c), but they are so rebellious that they can’t even see it (<b>Isaiah 48:8</b>).</p><p>What gave Israel hundreds more years before being exiled, and a reprieve even then? The Lord had invested His Name and His praise in them (<b>Isaiah 48:9</b>, <b>Isaiah 48:11</b>)! Even their chastening affliction was for the sake of refining those upon whom He had set His love (<b>Isaiah 48:10</b>). It is in the same sovereignty that He created the heavens and earth (<b>Isaiah 48:12-13</b>) that He takes Cyrus as His chosen one to bring upon Babylon what He has declared (<b>Isaiah 48:14-15</b>). </p><p>But this deliverance by Cyrus gives way to something and someone greater in <b>Isaiah 48:16</b>. Of Cyrus, the Lord had spoken late (<b>Isaiah 48:6</b>d–e). But of this greater Servant to come, He insists that He has been speaking of Him since the beginning (<b>Isaiah 48:16</b>a–b). The Servant Himself takes up the case in verse 16c. He is the One Who is from the beginning, and now the Lord YHWH and His Spirit have sent Him (verse 16d–e). In the wake of Christ’s coming, this verse is clearly teaching that the triune God sends one Person of the Godhead into the world as a man. </p><p>So <b>Isaiah 48:16</b> is the key to unraveling the mystery of YHWH the Redeemer! The word behind “Redeemer” is much more than a deliverer. Its emphasis is on nearness of kin. He is the One Who steps in when you are without help because He has both the means/ability to do so and the nearness of relationship to claim the role for Himself. But how is it that God has become our near kin? The second Person of the Godhead became man, added humanity to Himself, to be our Redeemer!</p><p>Thus far, Israel have gone their own way and reaped the consequences. But the Lord assures them that the obedient one (<b>Isaiah 48:18</b>a), who learns from the God who has saved him (<b>Isaiah 48:17</b>c–e), will enjoy the full blessedness of the covenant God and His promises (<b>Isaiah 48:18-19</b>). So, He urges them to make a new start of it now. Just as they ought to have done after the Exodus (<b>Isaiah 48:21</b>), so now, let them come out of Babylon, declaring to all the nations that their Redeemer is the one, true, and living God (<b>Isaiah 48:20</b>)!</p><p>But let them learn the lesson that God’s salvation is not a mere set of words to confess out loud (<b>Isaiah 48:1-2</b>). It is a redemption that brings the person into fellowship with and submission to the Lord. For those righteous by faith in Him and belonging to Him, their peace is like a river (<b>Isaiah 48:18</b>b). But there is no peace for the wicked. Sadly, how many Israelites to this day have not heeded this warning. My dear reader, have you heeded it?</p><p></p><blockquote><i>Why is pride so dangerous? In what situations are you most proud? What does the Lord expect you to conclude about all of your deliverances, large and small? What does He expect you to do with this conclusion (hint: <b>Isaiah 48:6</b>c)? With whom do you do so regularly? With whom else will you do so?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b><i>Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for setting Your Name upon us and investing Your praise in redeeming us. And we thank You that God the Son has become man in order to be our Kinsman Redeemer. Forgive us for how we have continued to walk in our own ways. And forgive us for failing to declare that You are our Redeemer, and the only true and living God. Grant that, instead, we would walk with You and find that our peace is like a river and our righteousness like the ocean. For the sake of Your Name and Your Praise, grow us by the grace and knowledge of Christ our Redeemer, which we ask in His Name, AMEN!</i></b></p><p>Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH438 “I Love to Tell the Story” </p>Re3verzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944111489209655444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-22491053203156669932024-03-12T00:30:00.001-05:002024-03-12T00:30:00.130-05:00The Only Living, True, Seeing, Strong, Sovereign God [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 115:1–8]<i><b>Why are believers brought low?</b> Psalm 115:1–8 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>when believers are brought low, it is for the glory of God</b>. </i><iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/31224145126525/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/31224145126525/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-36167475298243519922024-03-12T00:00:00.023-05:002024-03-12T00:00:00.136-05:002024.03.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 115:1–8<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+115%3A1%E2%80%938&version=NKJV;WLC;YLT;NASB">Psalm 115:1–8</a></b></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Questions from the from the Scripture text: </b>How does <b>Psalm 115:1</b>a emphasize the point that it’s making? To what does the psalmist desire that the glory would go instead (verse 1b)? For what two attributes of His (verse 1c–d)? What are the nations currently saying—to which this glory would put a stop (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:2</b></i><i>)? Why are they wrong to say this—where is God (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:3</b></i><i>a)? What does He do (verse 3b)? How do their trust and hope and purpose compare (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:4</b></i><i>)? By what basic inabilities do </i><i><b>Psalm 115:4-7</b></i><i> make this point? Who are just as bad off as these idols (</i><i><b>Psalm 115:8</b></i><i>)?</i> </blockquote><p></p><p><b>Why are believers brought low?</b> <b>Psalm 115:1–8</b> prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>when believers are brought low, it is for the glory of God.</b> </p><p>The occasion for this psalm is that God’s people have been brought low enough that the nations are saying, “where is their God?” (<b>Psalm 115:2</b>). What a happy question this is! Whether it is others asking it, or even doubt creeping into our own hearts and asking it, the answer snaps us right back to ultimate reality: “Our God is in heaven” (<b>Psalm 115:3</b>a)! And verse 3b goes on to ask the next question: then what is He doing, in the midst of our low times? Answer: “whatever He pleases!” He is good and wise, so He is doing that good and wise thing that pleases Him. </p><p>Men then (and now!) tended to think that what you could see and hear and smell and touch is more real than the invisible and spiritual. But nothing could be further than the truth. The nations could see their idols, but that just meant that their idols were creatures—and utterly powerless ones at that. The sing-songy nature of <b>Psalm 115:4-7</b> rightly mocks them. And <b>Psalm 115:8</b> puts the nail in the coffin: those who do not perceive the living God are just as pointless in their knowledge and powerless in their actions as their idols are. The Creator, Who is the original knower and communicator and actor, is invisible! Visible things only have these characteristics because He has given them to us. </p><p>So, when the God Who has bound Himself to us in covenant love (<b>Psalm 115:1</b>c) and covenant faithfulness (verse 1d) brings us low, let us remember why: it is for His glory. He will surely glorify Himself by helping us and blessing us (<b>Psalm 115:9-18</b>, next week). So when we are brought low, let our minds be conformed to His in Psalm 115. And, in the same spirit as the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, let our hearts cry out in prayer and song, “Not unto us, O YHWH, not unto us, but to Your Name give glory”!</p><p></p><blockquote><i>What (Who!) is most real? Who is the most powerful? Whom must all knowledge “know” and all actions serve?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b><i>Sample prayer: Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your Name give glory. Glorify Your covenant love! Glorify Your covenant faithfulness! We praise You, O God of heaven, Who do whatever You please. You are good and wise and righteous. Whatever You are pleased to do is good and wise and right. You know all things, see all things, and hear all things. You uphold all things by Your almighty hand. There is no true knowledge apart from You. There is no true ability except in dependence upon You. So, come and help us in our worshiping You, and be glorified in that worship, we ask, through Christ, AMEN!</i></b></p><p> Suggested songs: ARP115A “Not unto Us, LORD” or TPH115A “Not to Us, LORD, Not to Us”</p>Re3verzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944111489209655444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-60935148458785936642024-03-11T21:55:00.000-05:002024-03-11T21:55:39.447-05:00The Weightiness of God's Name [Children's Catechism 84—Theology Simply Explained]Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 84—especially explaining how the placement of the third commandment teaches us that God’s Name is infinitely weighty. <br /><br />
Q84. What is the third commandment? The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.
<iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/31224223565890/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/31224223565890/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-82109040131087058692024-03-11T20:32:00.005-05:002024-03-11T20:32:32.629-05:00Our Anointed Redeemer [Westminster Shorter Catechism 23—Theology Simply Explained]Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 23—especially explaining how Christ redeems us by executing particular offices. <br /><br />
Q23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation.<iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/3122403030827/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/3122403030827/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>
JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-55768277477096540032024-03-11T00:30:00.011-05:002024-03-11T00:30:00.131-05:00A Truly Reformed Response to Sovereign Grace [Family Worship lesson in Romans 11:33–36]How should we respond to the doctrine of God’s sovereign grace? Romans 11:33–36 prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should respond to the doctrine of God’s sovereign grace with wonder, worship, and humility. <iframe frameborder="0" height="60" scrolling="no" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/39242023131126/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" tabindex="-1" width="100%"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/39242023131126/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> mp3/pdf files of this lesson)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-80408284991699583332024-03-11T00:00:00.048-05:002024-03-11T00:00:00.139-05:002024.03.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 11:33–36<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+11%3A33%E2%80%9336&version=NKJV;TR1894;YLT;NASB">Romans 11:33–36</a></b></p><p></p><blockquote><i><b>Questions from the Scripture text:</b> How does the beginning of <b>Romans 11:33</b> express astonishment? At what is the apostle astonished? What is it that is so astonishingly deep? Of what are these riches? Whose wisdom and knowledge? What can’t be done to His judgments? What can’t be done to His ways? What is the expected answer of the rhetorical question in </i><i><b>Romans 11:34</b></i><i>? In </i><i><b>Romans 11:35</b></i><i>? What two different things can man never do with respect to God? Why can’t man either inform or indebt God (</i><i><b>Romans 11:36</b></i><i>)? For what, then, does man exist?</i></blockquote><p></p><p><b>How should we respond to the doctrine of God’s sovereign grace?</b> <b>Romans 11:33–36</b> prepares us for the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that <b>we should respond to the doctrine of God’s sovereign grace with wonder, worship, and humility. </b></p><p>This passage concludes chapter 11’s explanation of God’s redemptive plan and Israel’s place in it. It also concludes chapters 9–11 and their explanation of election and reprobation. It also concludes chapters 1–11 and their explanation of how all of salvation is all by God’s grace. So this is a key passage for teaching us how to respond to these things. There will be no “offering our bodies as a living sacrifice” (<b>Romans 12:1</b>) unless we are compelled by the mercies of God. So, how are we to respond to that mercy? Wonder, humility, and worship.</p><p><b>Wonder,</b> <b>Romans 11:33</b>. It is appropriate that <b>Romans 11:34</b> quotes Isaiah 40 and <b>Romans 11:35</b> quotes Job 41. In each of those books, God’s sovereign grace brings His saint to his knees in wonder and adoration. </p><p>In Isaiah, God announces His plan to save through the Christ, which includes in the near term a plan to restore Israel from exile by means of Cyrus. Some of His people are offended at this, but in <b>Isaiah 45:15</b>, when He has just explained that this is a means by which He will save even elect from among the nations, the response is to be amazed at the God of salvation. </p><p>And Job discovers that, ultimately, God was doing him good all along—bringing him to such a knowledge of God through affliction that his prior knowledge of God was like a whisper or a rumor by comparison. As God asks the question about indebting God, He is bringing Job to put his hand over his mouth, to repent, and to worship.</p><p>This is how we, too, ought to respond to God’s sovereign grace. What He has taught us in Romans doesn’t give us to “have it all figured out.” But as much as He does tell us rings true and beautiful, and it gives us just a glimpse of God’s glory in His sovereign grace. It is a glimpse into “the depth.” We see the depths, even though we cannot see to the bottom. And the depth makes us to cry out in praise.</p><p>He shows the riches of His glory in mercy (cf. <b>Romans 9:23</b>), and He shows the riches of His glory in the perfection of His plan for applying that mercy (cf. <b>Romans 11:30–32</b>). If we have begun to see the depth of those riches, let our hearts cry out with the apostle’s in wonder and worship!</p><p><b>Humility,</b> <b>Romans 11:34-35</b>. There is a gross creature that I have seen from time to time, even in the mirror for much of a season of my life: someone who takes a posture of superiority as a result of knowledge and conviction about the truth of sovereign grace. What a sad, sinful contradiction! It is that very doctrine that should have brought us to our knees and put us onto our faces! </p><p>The answer to each of the rhetorical questions in this series is, “no one!” When we believe the marvelous truth that the Lord has taught us, that we could not have known any other way, the proper response is not pride but humiliation. Here is something that was entirely beyond my reach, and there is nothing more than this that I can reach, because I can only know about it whatever God is pleased to tell me! This is the point of the worship in <b>Romans 11:34</b>.</p><p>If I am to be humble with respect to my knowledge, how much more with respect to my actions. Have I ever done one thing that would put God into my debt? Even if I do all that is required, and properly say that I am a servant who has done as I should and have not profited God by it (cf. <b>Luke 17:10</b>), I must still also admit that everything that I have done has depended upon His grace! </p><p>No, the essence of true, Christian humility is gratitude. God has always done me nothing but good. And He will always do me nothing but good. And there is nothing that I have ever done that earned a particle of this goodness. It was never debt, but always grace (c.f. <b>Romans 4:2–4</b>, <b>Romans 11:6</b>). And this is the point of the worship in <b>Romans 11:35</b>.</p><p><b>Worship,</b> <b>Romans 11:36</b>. And so, what are we to do? We're to give him glory. Because He's the one who created all things at the beginning. And the only way we know about the beginning is by whatever He tells us. For, “of Him are all things.”</p><p>To give him glory because we are depending upon Him in every moment, now. If He was not sustaining us, helping us by his grace, we wouldn't have anything, understand anything, or be able to do anything. He's the one who upholds, all things by the word of His power. “Through him are all things.” </p><p>We give Him glory because, He’s the One who created all and upholds all and gives to all their good. And whatever glory there is in whatever happens, that glory belongs to Him. “To Him are all things.” </p><p>And so the apostle concludes, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Whom be glory forever. Amen.” Worship is the proper response to the mercy of God—both stated worship times, and also that worship that we will be thinking about in <b>Romans 12:1</b>, offering our bodies as a living sacrifice.</p><p></p><blockquote><i>When was the last time that you were so taken with the wisdom of God’s plan of sovereign grace that you just marveled at the depth of the riches of that wisdom? How often do you dwell upon that wisdom and that salvation so as to wonder at the depths? In what circumstances are you most given to pride about theological knowledge or the good that grace has produced in you? In what circumstances are you least given to that pride? As you attend upon God by way of His means, what would it look like for humility to penetrate into those formerly proud times?</i> </blockquote><p></p><p><b><i>Sample prayer: O the depth of the riches, both of Your wisdom and knowledge, O God! How unsearchable are Your judgments and Your ways past finding out! No one has known Your mind, O Lord. No one could be Your counselor. You are the giver of every good gift and every perfect gift, and none can add to You. From You, and through You, and to You are all things. To You be the glory forever in Jesus Christ, AMEN!</i></b></p><p>Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the LORD” or TPH226 “O The Deep, Unbounded Riches”</p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Re3verzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01944111489209655444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-16572092477054117522024-03-10T06:00:00.003-05:002024-03-10T09:37:32.928-05:002024.03.10 Lord's Day Live Streams (live at 10:10a, 11a, 3p)<div style="text-align: center;">Click below for the:</div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://bit.ly/vchurchviral" target="_blank"><b>We urge you to assemble physically</b></a>, if possible, with a true congregation of Christ's church. For those of our own congregation who may be providentially hindered, we are grateful to be able to provide this service.</div><span face="" style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div>
<b>Each week we <a href="https://hpwl.org/live"><span style="color: red;">LIVESTREAM</span></a> the Lord's Day</b> (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and <b>Midweek Meeting</b> (sermon and prayer). <span style="color: red;"><b>For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live</b></span>, install the <span><b>CHURCHONE APP</b> </span>on your [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/apple" target="_blank">Apple</a></b>], [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/android" target="_blank">Android</a></b>], or [<b><a href="https://hpwl.org/kindle" target="_blank">Kindle</a></b>] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcasterJNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-50048836718457421912024-03-09T20:28:00.007-06:002024-03-09T22:38:28.211-06:00How Jesus Prays for the Elect [2024.03.10 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a name="OLE_LINK18"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hopewell
Herald – March 9, 2024</span></u></b></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear
Congregation,</span></a></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">One of the things that we have seen recently in Romans and in Isaiah is
that <b>in addition to God electing particular individuals to eternal salvation,
He has also elected individuals for their place in His plan</b> for bringing that
salvation about.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">So, for instance, Israel were elected as a church, to whom the Lord gave
the promises, Scriptures, worship, etc. And though there are many individuals
who have not been cut out, yet as a corporate people, they have been cut out of the
Root (Who is Christ).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">And despite all of this, though as a corporate people they are enemies of
God now, their gift and calling of the place that they had in redemptive
history cannot be taken away. After all, Christ Himself still is, and always
will be, an Israelite. They are still previous to us, and we may hope that
there will be a general repentance in which they confess Christ as King.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>So there is this “election,” corporately applied to the visible church and
its members, with reference to their part in God's plan. And then, there is that electing love, set upon individuals before
the world began, that determines that those individuals will be saved</b>. The
former sort of election is visible and tangible, and it helps us perceive and
understand the latter sort of election.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">So also with Cyrus in Isaiah, who is not necessarily elect with regard to
his salvation (we are not given confirmation from the text that he is saved),
but who is very much the elect of God for the work of God. God has determined
to use him, known him from before birth, and nothing can change that.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">In John 17, from last week’s Sabbath School lesson, we saw Jesus
referring to both sorts of election: that election to be in the church and to
be used in His salvation, and that election which is unto the glory of being
with Him and beholding the love with which the Father has loved Him since
before the world began. There is an 11/12ths overlap among these disciples, with
Judas having been elected to church membership and office, but not unto
salvation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">The conduct of God and Christ toward them, even with reference to their
role in the visible church, helps us understand the conduct of God and Christ
toward those who are elect with reference toward their everlasting salvation. So
Jesus’s praying in Jn 17:6–15 mirrors what He has said in Jn 10:25–30 about all
those who are elected unto salvation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>And we may be sure that, just as He explicitly prays for millennia of
Christians in Jn 17:20–26 (that we would be one, that we would know Him, that we would be with Him and see His glory), so also He prays for us (and not just the apostles)
the things inv13–19. Jesus has left this world, but He prays for His joy to be
fulfilled in us (v13), for us to be kept from the evil one (v15), and for us to
be sanctified by the truth (v17, 19) for the fulfillment of our remaining
mission in this world (v18).</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Jn 17:13–26 is how Jesus prays for all who have been elected unto
salvation. And in tomorrow morning’s sermon, we hope to hear more about how
Jesus says for us to pray for ourselves. Building upon last week’s sermon on
prayer as fellowship with God (Who is our reward in secret, which He even/also
gives us publicly), we hope by God’s help to hear about prayer as a means of
God’s gracious work in us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Looking forward to that preaching and praying and singing and supping,
which all are means of His grace in the public worship,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Pastor</span></p><div style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 3.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: wave windowtext 3.0pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
</div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Audio lessons
to help you prepare for the Lord’s Day:</span></u></b></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">▪Theology Simply Explained — CC83, </span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://hpwl.org/saCC83tse"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grace to Worship God Acceptably</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC22, </span><a href="https://hpwl.org/saWSC22tse"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How God the Son Became the God-Man</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> <br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">▪Psalm 114, “</span><a href="https://hpwl.org/sa240305hah"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Praise of His Glory in His Grace</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">” <br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">▪Isaiah 45:9–46:13, “</span><a href="https://hpwl.org/sa240306hah"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The One, Saving God and His One, Worldwide Israel</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">” <br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">▪1John 1:1–4, “</span><a href="https://hpwl.org/sa240307hah"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">True Life, Fellowship, and Joy</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">” <br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">▪Matthew 6:7–15, “</span><a href="https://hpwl.org/sa240309hah"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ-ian Prayer Is a Means of Grace</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">”<br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">▪Numbers 4, “</span><a href="https://hpwl.org/sa240308hah"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Great Work of the Priesthood</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">”<br /></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span>
<div style="background: white; border: 1.5pt solid windowtext; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt 0in 0in;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LORD'S DAY – March 10, 2024</span></u></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9:50
a.m. Breakfast Line Opens</span></u></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10
a.m. Sabbath School<br />
</span></u></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Hopewell
101: WCF 17 <b><i>Of the Perseverance of the Saints</i></b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11
a.m. Public Worship</span></u></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><a name="_Hlk89527891"></a><a name="OLE_LINK11"></a><a name="_Hlk131266967"></a><a name="OLE_LINK32"></a><a name="OLE_LINK5"></a><a name="OLE_LINK21"></a><a name="_Hlk156334763"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">▫</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span></span><a href="https://pricejh.com/ccrc/page.cgi?doc=cc.db&pg=9"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Children’s</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> Catechism</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> for March 10<br />
<a name="_Hlk157782790"></a><a name="_Hlk139973535"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157782790;">Q83. </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk157782790;">What
does the second commandment teach us? </span><b><i>To worship God in a proper
manner, and to avoid idolatry.</i></b><br />
[CC 83 Simply Explained: “</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://hpwl.org/saCC83tse"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Grace to Worship God Acceptably</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">”]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">▫</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.opc.org/sc.html"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Shorter</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> Catechism</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> for March 10<br />
<a name="_Hlk139005330">Q22. </a>How did Christ, being the Son of God, become
man? <b><i>Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to Himself a true body
and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the
womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.</i></b><i><br />
</i>[WSC 22 Simply Explained: “</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://hpwl.org/saWSC22tse"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">How God the Son Became the God-Man</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk156334763;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">”]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK21;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK32;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk131266967;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK11;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk89527891;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
<br />
Songs for March 3 morning service: <br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">▫</span></b><a href="https://hpwl.org/TPH114"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">TPH114</span></b></a><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> “When Jacob’s House from Egypt Came” [</span></b><a href="https://hpwl.org/TPH114mp3"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">mp3</span></b></a><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">]<br /></span></b><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">▫</span></b><a href="https://hpwl.org/ARP118A" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">ARP118A</span></b></a><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> “Because He’s
Good, O Thank the Lord” [</span></b><a href="https://hpwl.org/ARP118Amp3"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">mp3</span></b></a><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">]<br /></span></b><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">▫</span></b><a href="https://hpwl.org/TPH559" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">TPH559</span></b></a><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> “The Lord’s Prayer” [</span></b><a href="https://hpwl.org/TPH559mp3"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">mp3</span></b></a><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">]</span></b></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK28;"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Scripture
Text for first portion of worship service<br /></span></i></span></span></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm114&version=NKJV;WLC;YLT;NASB"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm 114</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Scripture
Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help<br /></span></i></span></span></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isa45.9-46.13&version=NKJV;WLC;YLT;NASB"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Isaiah
45:9–46:13</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1jo1.1-4&version=NKJV;tr1894;YLT;NASB"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1John
1:1–4</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sermon
Scripture text and topic<br /></span></i></span></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">We
will be hearing the sermon from </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mat6.7%E2%80%9315&version=NKJV;tr1894;YLT;NASB"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 6:7–15</span></b></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"> on “<b><i>Prayer as an Embracing of
God’s Will</i></b>”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lord’s Supper! </span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">(Please see the section at the end of
the Worship Booklet on how rightly to</span></i></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> prepare for </span></i></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">and take it)</span></i></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class</span></u></b></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1:30
p.m. Fellowship Lunch<br /></span></u></b></span></span></span><a name="_Hlk159945827"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">▫<b>Memory
Verse</b> for March 10, </span></a><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mat6.13&version=NKJV;tr1894;YLT;NASB"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Matthew 6:13</span></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">,
<b><i>And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For
Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen</i></b></span><b><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">.</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 0in 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3:00
p.m Evening Praise and Preaching<br /></span></u></b></span></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">We
will be singing at least ten Psalm selections and hearing the sermon from </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Num4&version=NKJV;WLC;YLT;NASB"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Numbers 4</span></b></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">
on “<b><i>The Greatness of Priestly Work</i></b>”</span></p>
</div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hopewell
this Month</span></u></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for March<br /></b></span></span></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">Prosperity ARP in Taft, TN</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March Psalm of the Month<br /></span></b></span></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">ARP118A</span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <i>Because He’s Good, O
Thank the <span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord<br /><br /></span></i></b></p>
<div style="background: white; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Upcoming Events<a name="OLE_LINK15"></a><a name="_Hlk103435270"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK15;"></span></a></span></b></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk103435270;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK15;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk103435270;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK15;"><a name="_Hlk142153339"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• </span></a><a name="_Hlk111305498"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk142153339;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wednesday, March 13, <b>Midweek Prayer Meeting</b>.
6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a<b> sermon from Romans 11:33–36 </b>then
pray until </span></span></a><a name="OLE_LINK23"></a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk103435270;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK15;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK23;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk142153339;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8:15 p.m.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK18;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk103435270;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK15;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk142153339;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
• Thursday, March 21, <b>Session Meeting</b>, 6p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">•
Saturday, March 23, </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Men’s (and future men) breakfast</b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;">, 7a in the
Fellowship Hall</span></p></div>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6445302746594745724.post-89550158373448212162024-03-09T13:53:00.002-06:002024-03-09T13:53:13.498-06:00That He Might Have Mercy Upon All (2024.03.06 Midweek Sermon in Romans 11:28–32)God ordains that all whom He is saving would be shut up in disobedience so that He might have mercy upon all.<div style="position:relative;width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="100%" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/v/382422048898/" style="position:absolute;left:0;top:0" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><br /><b>SERMON DESCRIPTION HERE</b><br /><br /><iframe tabindex="-1" width="100%" height="60" src="https://embed.sermonaudio.com/player/a/382422048898/?dark=true&mini=true" style="min-width: 150px;" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><center><b>(<a href="https://sa.hpwl.org/sermons/382422048898/" target="_blank">click here to DOWNLOAD</a> video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)</b></center>JNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01071705574141739175noreply@blogger.com0