Faithful, Powerful God of Grace [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 33:1–49]

What does the Lord emphasize, when giving us Israel’s itinerary through the wilderness? Numbers 33:1–49 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these forty-nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord emphasized His own faithfulness and power, which would come to a climax for His people in Christ, even as He reviewed Israel’s itinerary through the wilderness. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.01.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Numbers 33:1–49

Read Numbers 33:1–49

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Numbers 33:1 begin to summarize? How did these journeys begin? Who wrote them down (Numbers 33:2)? When had they departed (Numbers 33:3)? In what manner? Why were they able to do this (Numbers 33:4)? Upon whom had YHWH executed judgments? What movements do Numbers 33:5-9 cover? What did they have at Elim? What movements do Numbers 33:10-14 cover? What didn’t they have at Rephidim? What movements do Numbers 33:15-37 cover? What happened at Mount Hor (Numbers 33:38)? In what year, month, and day of their exodus? How old was Aaron (Numbers 33:39)? To what event does Numbers 33:40 refer (cf. Numbers 21:1–3)? What movements do Numbers 33:41-49 cover? What is special about the last location in Numbers 33:47 (cf. Deuteronomy 34:1–8)? 

What does the Lord emphasize, when giving us Israel’s itinerary through the wilderness? Numbers 33:1–49 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these forty-nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord emphasized His own faithfulness and power, which would come to a climax for His people in Christ, even as He reviewed Israel’s itinerary through the wilderness.

Zooming out to see the Lord’s faithfulness. When we are zoomed-in to the history found in these verses, as we do in the rest of the book, we are overwhelmed by the sin of Israel throughout the wilderness. And the passage reminds us of this, ever so gently, by the reference to the water at Elim and the lack of it at Rephidim. Although the goodness of God never changes, it comes in varying providence. And because His people are not only finite, but sinners, their conduct often varies with His providence. But when we zoom out, what we see is the power and providence of God, faithfully taking Israel through all of these journeys. The story of the “numbers” of the book of Numbers is that, despite all opposition in creation and from men, and even/especially their own provoking the wrath of God… despite all of this, the Lord has completely replaced the first generation, and brought them into the land. His perfect faithfulness is the story of all of history. 

Zooming in to see the Lord’s power. We’ve already noted the extra details about Elim and Rephidim. In a chapter in which very few details are given, the ones that are included are magnified. And we have especially details about Egypt (Numbers 33:3-4), which is expected, and then about the king of Arad (Numbers 33:40), which is surprising, considering how little text was spent on that incident even in the main narrative of the book (cf. Numbers 21:1–3). By drawing our attention back to that passage, we are reminded not only of the Lord’s hearing the voice of His people (cf. Numbers 21:3), and enabling them to destroy this king whose domain included many cities, but also the vow between Israel and the Lord (Numbers 33:2) that anticipates what they must now do, when they enter the land. The Lord had not just judged and defeated the Canaanite king (Numbers 33:40), and even Egypt itself (Numbers 33:4a), but even Egypt’s gods (verse 4b). In every instance, as He established His visible church in the earth, the Lord exercised almighty power over the kingdoms and idolatries of men.

Looking forward for the Lord to use servants. There are a couple more details that stand out against the rest of the chapter. The language of v1 is interesting, when it says “by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” Clearly, it was ultimately by the hand of the Lord. But the point is that He is a Lord Who uses servants. And the details in Numbers 33:38-39 and Numbers 33:47 bring us back to that idea. The servants by which the Lord leads His people die, and must be replaced. Aaron was 123 years old, when He died, so there is an emphasis here on the Lord miraculously upholding him. This is also the case with the off-hand mention of Nebo, one of the names for the location at which Moses died. But in connection with this name, the Holy Spirit would give us Deuteronomy 34:1–9, where Numbers 33:7 also emphasizes the age and upholding of the Lord’s servant, “Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.” 

One day, the Lord Himself would come as a Servant, Who has life in Himself (cf. John 5:26). He is not prevented by death from continuing forever in His priesthood (cf. Hebrews 7:23–25). Not only is the Lord faithful and powerful, but the Lord Himself has come as the Servant by Whose hand He leads His people. In times of plenty and want, facing enemies of whatsoever difficulty, even facing our own sin: we may rest in Him, and follow Him, with all confidence. 

Which of the types of things that Israel faced in the wilderness do you most need the faithfulness and power of the Lord to overcome? What is an example of each type of challenge that the church faces today? How does baptism, as a sign that the church now has Jesus as her Prophet, Priest, and King, encourage you about both what will come of the church and what will come of you yourself?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You for Your faithfulness and power in which You have always led Your people. It is You Who overcome all of the challenges in our weakness, our circumstances, our enemies, and even the guilt of our sin and the power of our sin. And, we are all the more confident of this, for You have given us to have Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King. By His intercession, through the power of His resurrection life, save us to the uttermost, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP46 “God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength” or TPH246 “Though Troubles Assail Us” 

A Church That's Truly Alive [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 3:1–6]

What could be so wrong with a church that has a reputation for being spiritually alive? Revelation 3:1–6 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a church that has a reputation for being spiritually alive may yet be almost dead and on the verge of having Christ come upon them in judgment.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.01.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 3:1–6

Read Revelation 3:1–6

Questions from the Scripture text: To which church’s messenger (NKJ “angel”) is this letter addressed (Revelation 3:1)? By what two parts of His description does the Lord Jesus describe Himself? What, of theirs, does He know? Why is this bad news? What was their reputation among men? What does He command them to do (Revelation 3:2)? What would they strengthen in this watchfulness? Why do those things need to be strengthened? In order to be watchful, what three things must they do (Revelation 3:3)? But what will the Lord do if they do not watch? What won’t they know? But, even in this case, what is the case for a few of them (Revelation 3:4)? What will the overcomer receive (Revelation 3:5)? What won’t Christ do? And what will He do? Whom does Revelation 3:6 address? What is this person to do?

What could be so wrong with a church that has a reputation for being spiritually alive? Revelation 3:1–6 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that a church that has a reputation for being spiritually alive may yet be almost dead and on the verge of having Christ come upon them in judgment.

The Lord Who is the solution. The Lord Jesus now addresses the preacher of the church in Sardis. They are going to need to return to receiving and hearing the Word (Revelation 3:3) as they did at first. And Christ identifies Himself to them as the One from Whom this receiving and hearing comes. The sevenfold Spirit that is before the throne (Revelation 3:1, cf. Revelation 1:4) proceeds from Him as the One Who gives right receiving of the Word. And the seven stars that are in His hand (cf. Revelation 1:16, Revelation 1:20) are the preachers whom He uses to bring His effective Word to His people. When a church is spiritually dying, it needs Christ to be “He Who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.”

The complacency that is the problem. In Sardis’s case, it was not comforting, but alarming, that Christ knew their works. Others thought they knew Sardis’s works. They had a reputation for being alive (Revelation 3:1), but the reality was that they were not receiving, hearing, holding fast to, and repenting at the Word of Christ (Revelation 3:3). What does it matter if the rest of the churches and the world think we are alive, if Christ thinks that we are on spiritual life support (Revelation 3:2)? 

The fact of the matter was that their standard was not that which is full (more literal than NKJ’s “perfect”) before God, but that which fluffed their reputation before men. What a temptation this constantly is! We become spiritually complacent, so long as men think well of us. So, let us remember that the Lord knows our works. This will keep us watchful (Revelation 3:2). Just as Jesus always sees us, so we must keep watch over ourselves. “Receive, hear, hold fast, and repent” is not a one-time thing at the beginning of the Christian life. It is the how we are to live along our entire way through this world. 

They did not know how long it was until the window of opportunity for repentance closed (Revelation 3:3b), and neither do we. The Lord does not tell us the hour, so that we will not indulge in deadly, spiritual procrastination.

Whom the Lord will use. As churches become spiritually dead, despite having a reputation for being spiritually alive, the godly among them become marginalized. The implication in Revelation 3:4 was that the Sardis church knew whom Jesus meant by these “few names.” Indubitably, the rest of the church considered them too pietistic, for responding to the Word in the way Revelation 3:3 describes, and too scrupulous for caring so much about holiness in the way Revelation 3:4 describes. But Jesus walks in holiness, and if you are to walk with Him, you will have to walk in that holiness too. The Lord had spared to Sardis a few spiritually alive church members, and now the rest of the congregation needed to make good use of these gifts to their church and come back to walking with them who walked with Jesus.

What the Lord will give. It was not too late for those who repented to have white garments (Revelation 3:5) like those few names who had not backslidden. Jesus Himself was ready to clothe them, ready to fit them with holy character and conduct to suit them for glory. He was ready to show their names written in the Book of Life after all, and to confess their names before His Father. Do you see how ready Christ is to complete your redemption and bring you all the way to glory?! Be watchful! Remember! Receive! Hear! Hold fast! Repent! He continues to give ears to hear by His sevenfold Spirit. And His Spirit uses what He says to the churches by the mouths of the preacher-stars that are in Jesus’s hand. Come, backslider. Sit under that preaching, in dependence upon the Spirit, and be revived.

Of the four things that the passage says to do with the Word, which needs the most work in your life? Who might be those in your own church whose character and habits you should emulate to come back to walking with the Lord as they do? How are you using time before God’s face to strengthen yourself against putting to much stock in your (and your church’s) good reputation before men?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for being satisfied with a reputation for being spiritually alive, rather than seeking in all things to satisfy You. Grant that we would be watchful, and return to receiving Your Word, hearing Your Word, holding fast to Your Word, and repenting at Your Word. Give us to do this before the opportunity is lost, and You have come in judgment. So, forgive us and sanctify us, we ask in Your own Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP32 “What Blessedness” or TPH504 “Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray”

2025.01.15 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p)

Click below for the:

January 15 Prayer Meeting Folder

Proverbs 9 sermon outline

We urge you to assemble physically, 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.

IF you are unable to get the stream to work, or simply wish to save on data, you can listen in simply by calling 712.432.3410 and entering 70150 at the prompt.

Each week we livestream the Lord's Day (Sabbath School, Morning Public Worship, and p.m. Singing and Sermon) and Midweek Meeting (sermon and prayer). For notifications when Hopewell is streaming live, install the CHURCHONE APP on your [Apple], [Android], or [Kindle] device, and enter hopewellarp for your broadcaster.

Christ's Sure Kingdom [Family Worship lesson in Amos 9:11–15]

What is as sure as the wrath that was about to come upon Israel and Judah? Amos 9:11–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the perfect and eternal blessedness of Christ’s kingdom is as sure as YHWH Himself is sure.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.01.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Read Amos 9:11–15

Read Amos 9:11–15

Questions from the Scripture text: What will the Lord do, to what, on the day in question (Amos 9:11)? What will the tabernacle of David possess (Amos 9:12a)? Whom else, will they possess, and by what will they be called (verse 12b)? Who says this (verse 12c)? What is His relation to this occurrence? What does He say are coming (Amos 9:13a)? Who will overtake whom (verse 13b)? And who, whom else (verse 13c)? What will the mountains and the hills do at this time (verse 13d–e)? What will YHWH do to whom (Amos 9:14a)? What does He call them? What will they build (verse 14b)? And do what with them? What will they plant (verse 14c)? And do what with them? What will they make (verse 14d)? And do what with them? And what will YHWH do to them (Amos 9:15a)? What won’t happen (verse 15b–c)? Says Whom (verse 15d)?

What is as sure as the wrath that was about to come upon Israel and Judah? Amos 9:11–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the perfect and eternal blessedness of Christ’s kingdom is as sure as YHWH Himself is sure.

In the historical moment into which Amos prophesied, there was not just sin but total breach of the covenant that had to be addressed between Israel (and Judah) and the Lord. But the Lord had sworn by Himself when making the gospel promises, including Israel’s part in bringing them about (cf. Hebrews 6:13–18; Genesis 22:15–18). Not even the sin of Israel could stop this from being fulfilled. In fact, it was the sin and failure of Israel to which the Lord responded not only by sending Christ as our propitiation and righteousness, but sending Him as Prophet, Priest, and King of a new covenant, the final and glorious age in the church and the kingdom in this world. So, this little book that has been full of judgment closes with the glories of the coming kingdom of Christ—“that day” not meaning something that must wait for the resurrection, but something that has already begun at Pentecost.

The Power of Christ’s Kingdom. Though the kingly line of David has become like a tent (Amos 9:11), the Lord would raise it up in greater power than it had ever seen. This is now literally true, as the Son of David, according to the flesh, sits upon the throne in glory. He rules over all the earth, and all His enemies are being made a footstool for His feet.

The People of Christ’s Kingdom. It is not surprising that the kingdom would rule over Edomites (Amos 9:12), whose wickedness and punishment are representative of all the nations (cf. Amos 1:11–12). What is surprising is that this possessing of the nations doesn’t come by the dispossessing of the nations, but by bringing them under the banner of the Lord. No longer shall Israel alone be a nation “called by My Name.” It shall come to pass that all the nations will be called by the Name of YHWH. Only He could do such a thing, and He Who would do it is the One Who guaranteed it by His Word.

The Prosperity of Christ’s Kingdom. Israel had forfeited covenantal blessings like those in Deuteronomy 28:1–14, but Amos 9:13 describes something much greater than just a restoration of them. So much harvesting that it can’t be completed before it’s time for tilling again. So much vintage that the grapes can’t finish being trampled into wine before the spring sowing. And vineyards not only in the valleys and other, expected locations, but covering mountains and hills. Indeed, although it is a blessing when the Lord restrains the curse and gives His people plenty even in this age, the very best that we see is still a creation that is groaning in bondage (cf. Romans 8:18–22). The poetry here hints at something beyond the limits of the present creation—richness of material blessing that is appropriate to the Only-Begotten Son, and all of the adopted children of God (cf. Romans 8:23–30). For now, we receive our daily bread with gladness and simplicity of heart (cf. Acts 2:46), knowing that it is a small earnest of that which is yet to come, and that it comes to us in the same love and generosity that has given us God Himself in Christ and His Spirit.

The Peace of Christ’s Kingdom. No longer will others be sent by providence to execute the judgment prophesied in Amos 5:11. The blessed meek in Christ Jesus will inherit the earth (cf. Matthew 5:5). The days are coming when they will enjoy, unmolested, the fruit of all their labor (Amos 9:14, cf. Psalm 128:2). 

The Permanence of Christ’s Kingdom. Finally, they themselves will be the enduring work of YHWH Himself. Just as what they plant will be wonderfully fruitful, it will be they themselves whom YHWH plants (Amos 9:15). This is as sure as He is. And He is YHWH, the God Who is.  And He is the One Who has spoken this (verse 15d, cf. Amos 9:12c). And He is theirs (“your God,” Amos 9:15d). And, dear reader, if you are Christ’s, then He is yours!

What are some of the promises concerning Christ and His kingdom that you wish you more strongly believed and intensely felt? Since they are as sure as the Lord’s Word, what are you doing with His Word, in dependence upon His Spirit, to drive that hope home in your heart? What use do you make of the Word preached? What use do you make of meditation upon the Word? What use do you make of the Word sung?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we thank You for the great and precious promises about the power, people, prosperity, peace, and permanence of Christ’s kingdom. Forgive us for when our hope is small. Truly, that exposes how little credit we give to Your Word, or how little we know it, or how little we esteem Christ and His present kingship. We shrink back from the ugliness of what must be the case. Come near, by Your Spirit, applying Your Word to our hearts, and gladden us in the hope of Your glory. Pour out Your love in our hearts, and make us to rejoice even now, and even in every tribulation. Make us to enjoy every little blessing as just the beginnings of what will be perfected in a New Heavens and a New Earth. And give us to count You Yourself, in Your Son, by Your Spirit, as our great and incomparable blessing, we ask in Jesus’s Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP72C “May Waving Grain on Hilltops Thrive” or TPH257 “Children of the Heavenly Father”

Singing with Grace in the Heart [2025.01.12 Sabbath School in Westminster Confession of Faith 21.5—Hopewell 101]

We continue studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. This week, we continued Westminster Confession chapter 21—continuing in Article 5 with what Scripture says about congregational singing and the manner in which we should do it.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Faith-full Church Members [2025.01.12 Evening Sermon in Numbers 32]

Believers must participate faithfully, before God’s face, by faith, in the life of the church.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Responding to Christ’s Power [2025.01.12 Morning Sermon in Matthew 14:1–12]

We must respond to Christ's resurrection power by acknowledging Him, submitting to Him, committing to Him, and hoping in Him

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)