Thursday, January 23, 2025

2025.01.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 3:7–13

Read Revelation 3:7–13

Questions from the Scripture text: To the messenger/preacher (NKJ ‘angel’) of which church is this letter addressed (v7)? In what four ways does Jesus describe Himself? What does He know (v8, cf. 2:2, 2:9, 2:13, 2:19, 3:1)? What has He set before them? What can no one do? Of what does this church have only a little? But what have they kept? And what haven’t they denied? What does He call the people to whom He refers in v9? What do they call themselves? What does Jesus call this statement? What will He make them to do? What will He make them to know? Which command have the Philadelphians kept (v10)? From what will He keep them? Upon whom will it come? To do what? What is Jesus doing (v11)? At what pace (cf. 1:1)? To what are they to hold fast? Why? What does v12 call this “holding fast”? What will Jesus make such a person? Where? What will not happen to him? What three names will He write upon Him? For whose benefit, especially, is this letter written (v13)? What are they to do with it? Who is speaking this letter, and its subsequent preaching in Philadelphia?

What does Jesus do for faithful believers? Revelation 3:7–13 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus rewards faithful believers, not on a principle of merit, but on a principle of grace upon grace.

In this letter, the Lord gives just the one command: “Hold fast what you have” (v11). The letter is full of promises.

Jesus has the right to give what He promises because He is holy (v7). He can be relied upon to give what He promises because He is true (v7). And He is able to give what He promises because He is the almighty, forever King Who had been promised from the line of David (v7, cf. 2Sam 7).

He promises an open door (v8)—New Testament language for fruitful evangelism (cf. Ac 14:27, 1Co 16:9, 2Co 2:12–13, Col 4:2–3). He promises to give it through the littleness of their strength. Open doors don’t come through great strength but through Christ’s Word (which we are to keep) and Christ’s Name (to which we are to maintain our allegiance). Faithfulness, conviction, and devotion are how evangelism bears fruit, because it is the Lord Himself Who gives that fruit.

He promises vindication in the present (v9). Jesus’s assessment of the Jewish church is that it was no longer God’s Israel (cp. Gal 6:16) but a synagogue of Satan. Now, the Lord promises to put them on their faces before the Philadelphian Christians. This, too, is an evangelistic promise, as 1Cor 14:25 bears out. Their great conclusion is that the best there can be is to be loved by Jesus, as these Christians are. 

He promises vindication in the future (v10–11). They have kept the word of His patience, and He will keep them. Here is a promise to do what He has taught us to pray “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” He has given His Word for that purpose, and they have kept it, and now He Himself will keep them. It is impossible that they would stumble so as to fall. They are commanded to “hold fast,” and this holding fast is guaranteed to succeed. No one will take their crown.

He promises to use them and to identify with them (v12). He Himself has guaranteed their overcoming, and now He promises to reward the overcoming that He has guaranteed. How great is the generosity of our Savior! Specifically, He promises that they will be as a pillar in the temple (i.e. Himself, and His church). What has happened to the Jews will not happen to them; they will “go out no more.” Instead, the Lord will identify Himself with them, as He indicates by these three names that He puts upon them: the Name of His God, the name of the New Jerusalem, and His own Name. The Lord Jesus identifies those elect believers, who overcome, as those who belong to God as God’s own city in Jesus Christ. 

Finally, we have the same application in v13 as has ended the other letters. In each one of these letters, those who have Spirit-given ears are to take the letter personally. Yes, it is written to a church, and to all churches. But, it has specific application to each of our lives. Jesus knows our works, and He delights to reward to grace-given faithfulness with an avalanche of additional, glorious gifts. So, be humble about your little strength, keep His Word, stick to His Name, and hold fast to what you have! Thus must each church do corporately, but thus also must each believer do personally.

With whom are you seeking an open door for evangelism? What have you learned from this passage are some things to which the Lord responds by giving such an open door?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for Your grace, which grants unto us to keep Your Word and not deny Your Name. Forgive us for when, instead of depending upon Your grace, we relied upon our own strength, as if it were not little. Grant that our hope would be in Your keeping us, and not in our keeping ourselves. Thus, make us to hold fast what we have so that we would not lose our crown, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP46 “God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength” or TPH435 “Not What My Hands Have Done”


Wednesday, January 22, 2025

2025.01.22 Midweek Meeting Livestream (live at 6:30p central)

Click below for the:
January 22 Prayer Meeting Folder
Proverbs 10:1–5 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.

The Accidental Evangelist [Family Worship lesson in Jonah 1:1–16]

What is the book of Jonah about? Jonah 1:1–16 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the book of Jonah is about the sovereign Savior of sinners from all nations.
(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.01.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ Jonah 1:1–16

Read Jonah 1:1–16

Questions from the Scripture text: What came to whom in Jonah 1:1? Where did He tell him to go (Jonah 1:2)? To do what? Why? But where did Jonah intend to do instead (Jonah 1:3)? From where? How did he begin to make his way there? To flee from what/where? Who did what in Jonah 1:4? To what effect? Who responded how (Jonah 1:5)? To whom did each man cry? What measures did they take? But what was Jonah doing? Who confronts him (Jonah 1:6)? What does he tell him to do? What idea do the sailors come up with in Jonah 1:7? To whom does the lot fall? What do thy ask him (Jonah 1:8)? How does he answer (Jonah 1:9)? What effect does hearing about the nature of YHWH have upon them (Jonah 1:10)? What had he previously told them? What do they now want to know (Jonah 1:11)? Why? What does he say (Jonah 1:12)? What does he know? What do the men try to do instead (Jonah 1:13)? To whom do they now cry (Jonah 1:14)? For what do thy ask forgiveness? What do they do (Jonah 1:15)? With what result? How do the men now respond (Jonah 1:16)? 

Who is the book of Jonah about? Jonah 1:1–16 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the book of Jonah is about the sovereign Savior of sinners from all nations.

The atheistic evangelistJonah 1:1-4. The Lord is taking two (innumerably more than that, actually) birds with one stone here. He is going to confront the capital city of Assyria directly with His Word. But He also exposes His prophet’s foolish atheism with that same Word. It is not that Jonah thinks that God does not exist. Rather, he is treating God as if He is not God. “from the presence of YHWH” is emphasized in Jonah 1:3 by its repetition. But Jonah 1:4 makes it clear that Jonah is not making any progress in his plan. He is no farther from YHWH’s presence than when he started! 

The accidental evangelistJonah 1:5-16. It is difficult to imagine, although true (Jonah 1:10b), that Jonah had told the sailors that he was running from YHWH. Then, when the storm is raging, Jonah is so at peace that he can sleep in the bottom of the ship (Jonah 1:4b). Let no one ever think that they are righteous in their choices because “they have a peace about their decision”!! The sailors must have thought rather little of Jonah’s God at that point—must be one of the lesser gods, if he can be run away from.

But as the Lord ruled over wind and sea (Jonah 1:4), and even overruled the superstitions of men (Jonah 1:7), He Himself began to declare Himself to the sailors. Then, when they ask for more info about all of this (Jonah 1:8), Jonah divulges that YHWH is God of heaven, who made not only the dry land, but even the sea (Jonah 1:9). The sailors draw the right conclusion: anyone who knew that about God, and still fled from Him, must be out of his mind (Jonah 1:10)!

Jonah mistakenly thinks that his death is now what YHWH desires (though YHWH has other plans, cf. Jonah 1:17–2:10), and explains so. The sailors try to avoid this by rowing hard to land (Jonah 1:13a), but the Lord does not permit this (verse 13b). They are forced to ask Him to hold them innocent in their action (Jonah 1:14a), and instead receive it as a committing of Jonah’s case into the Lord’s own hand (verse 14b). The Lord promptly answers by ending the storm (Jonah 1:15b), and these men, who had just been zealous worshipers of false gods from all sorts of nations (Jonah 1:5a), come to be intense worshipers of YHWH, Who has both forgiven and saved them (Jonah 1:16).

What an amazing result! The Hebrew versification rightly ends the chapter here. Before the Lord ever brought Jonah to Nineveh, He had used him to bring a ship full of sailors to “fear YHWH exceedingly, and offer a sacrifice to YHWH, taking vows to Him” (Jonah 1:16). Truly, He is the Lord of creation and providence, but even more so, the Lord Who saves sinners at His sovereign pleasure. How sad that Jonah had to be an unwilling, resistant participant in this. Indeed, he knew that the Lord is like this (cf. Jonah 3:10–4:2), but so rebelled in his heart as to be this accidental evangelist. God keep it from being so with you, dear reader.

When have you acted as if you could flee from the Lord’s presence? How are you living in the awareness that the Lord is the God Who is pleased to save sinners in sovereign power? Whom are you intentionally praying and laboring to see saved? Or, if the Lord is using you and your life to save someone, will it certainly be an accident?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for how we have acted as if we could actually flee from Your presence. And forgive us for being so nonchalant about You, and even about disobeying You, that unbelievers would conclude that our God must not be so glorious and great after all. Forgive us, and make us those whose actions display that our God is, indeed, the Lord of heaven, the Creator of the seas and dry land, and the hearer and forgiver of sinners who call upon Him through faith in His Word. Indeed, be that God unto us, in Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH98A “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” 

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Lifted to the LORD, Our Lord [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 130]

Who is the Lord? Psalm 130 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord is the merciful God Who hears and forgives us.
(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.01.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 130

Read Psalm 130

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of song is this (superscript)? Where has the psalmist been (Psalm 130:1)? To Whom did he cry? What was his first, great request (Psalm 130:2)? What circumstance makes it so urgent that he be heard (Psalm 130:3)? What hope does he have in this guilt (Psalm 130:4a)? Unto what end (verse 4b)? So, for What (Whom!) does he wait (Psalm 130:5), and how intensely? How can he be sure of the outcome, despite the delay (verse 5b)? Whom else does he tell to do this (Psalm 130:7a)? Why—what does YHWH have/offer (verse 7b)? How much of it (verse 7c)? And what will He do (Psalm 130:8a)? How much (verse 8b)? 

Who is the Lord? Psalm 130 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord is the merciful God Who hears and forgives us.   

The Hearer of prayer. There is no height greater than God’s glory, and therefore there is no depth lower (Psalm 130:1) than knowing one’s guilt against God and His glory. But, even from such a low depth, the Scripture has taught the believer that he may hope (Psalm 130:5b) to have his cries heard by the living God (Psalm 130:2). What a generous gift and privilege is “heard prayer”! And the believer knows that God is glorified as the Hearer of prayer (cf. Psalm 65:1–2), and Forgiver of iniquities (Psalm 130:3-4). 

The Forgiver of sin. The great test of this faith is when relief does not immediately come. Are we so sure that God is this Forgiver that He says He is—that He has given His Son to be our atonement and our righteousness—that, even when our conscience is not finding this comfort (cf. 1 John 3:20), we continue to wait for Him as our only hope (Psalm 130:5-6)? We must wait only upon Him for this relief, for however long He takes.

The Receiver of praise. Once we have this relief, however, we are renewed in our desire that everyone would bring Him glory for the marvelous blessing of forgiveness. We cannot wait to come into the public worship, where we are gathered as “Israel” (Psalm 130:7), stirring up one another’s faith in the Lord for redemption, and praise to Him for that redemption. It is abundant; there is more than enough for all of His Israel to be redeemed from all of His iniquities (Psalm 130:8)! How great is the glory of this Hearer of our prayer, Forgiver of our iniquities, and Receiver of our worship!

When have you felt your guilt to the point that it brought you into the depths? When have you had to wait upon the Lord for His forgiveness to come home to your conscience? What should you do with your voice and your heart in this waiting? How does personal redemption fuel your desire for corporate worship?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we praise You for glorifying Yourself by hearing us and forgiving us. Truly, with You there is steadfast love and abundant redemption! Be glorified by Your Israel, who wait upon You for this mercy, through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP130 “Lord, from the Depths to You I Cried” or TPH130A “Lord, from the Depths”

Monday, January 20, 2025

A History of Faithfulness [2025.01.19 Evening Sermon in Numbers 33:1–49]


The church's story is the story of her Lord's faithfulness

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

Our Curse-Conqueror [2025.01.19 Morning Sermon in Matthew 14:13–21]


Jesus is the Lord over creation, Who conquers the curse and gives Himself to His covenant people

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Sacraments as Corporate Worship [2025.01.19 Sabbath School Lesson in WCF 21.5—Hopewell 101]

We continued studying through the Scriptural doctrine that our congregation confesses. We continued Westminster Confession chapter 21, Article 5 this week with what Scripture says about the sacraments as covenantal signs and seals in the public worship (corporate worship) of Christ’s visible church.
(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

From Scoffer to Saint by the Work of the Word [2024.01.15 Midweek Sermon in Proverbs 9]


The wisdom that created all things is the wisdom that redeems

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