Thursday, April 17, 2025

The Prevailing of Persecuted Preaching [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 11:1–14]

What is the story of the age during which demonic hordes have been permitted to wreak havoc upon the earth? Revelation 11:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the story of this age has not been so much those things that warn about the wrath, but the power of the gospel that urges us to flee the wrath to come.
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2025.04.17 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 11:1–14

Read Revelation 11:1–14

Questions from the Scripture text: What was John given (Revelation 11:1)? To measure what three things? What was he to leave out (Revelation 11:2)? Why? What would the nations do? For how long? To whom would the Angel give His power (Revelation 11:3)? What would they do? For how many days? In what attire? As what are the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:4? Before Whom do they especially stand? Over what is He called “Lord” here? What proceeds from their mouth (Revelation 11:5)? What does it do to their enemies who want to harm them? How sure is this to happen? What powers do they have by their prophesying (Revelation 11:6)? When are these preachers permitted to be killed (Revelation 11:7)? How? Who will gloat over them (Revelation 11:9-10)? Why? According to whose example (Revelation 11:8)? For how long? But what will happen then (Revelation 11:11)? With what effect upon those who see them? What do the prophets hear in Revelation 11:12? From where? What does it say? What do they do? Who sees this? What happens at that time on earth (Revelation 11:13)? And what falls? With what effect on how many? And what effect on the rest? What do they finally do? What does this conclude (Revelation 11:14)? What is now coming quickly? 

What is the story of the age during which demonic hordes have been permitted to wreak havoc upon the earth? Revelation 11:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the story of this age has not been so much those things that warn about the wrath, but the power of the gospel that urges us to flee the wrath to come.

In the face of the demonic hordes of the fifth and sixth trumpets, chapter 10 gave us a heavenly perspective on the power of Christ to reign, and His assignment to His servants to preach. Now, in Revelation 11:1–14, John sees the same thing from the vantage point of the earth. 

There is an emphasis upon measurement here (Revelation 11:1). Everywhere in the New Testament, the new temple of God is the church. By the time that the early church unanimously tells us that Revelation was written, God had used Rome to destroy Herod’s temple. Is God’s establishment on earth destroyed? Not at all! It’s measure is far greater than it had ever been before Christ. This is just as we would expect under the gospel.

God knows the “measurements” of the nations as well (Revelation 11:2), but they are not the focus of the history between the two comings of Christ. They tread God’s holy city—not, now, the earthly Jerusalem of Revelation 11:8, but the true Jerusalem, the church, which the Spirit also calls the Israel of God (cf. Galatians 6:16). The full Israel, including the fullness of the spared remnant and the ingrafting of the remnant from the nations. The time between Christ’s comings is focused upon the gathering in of the fullness of this remnant (cf. Revelation 6:11), not so much upon those who hate them and reject their witness.

The number “two” is very important here. Just as it is used for completeness by the idea of “doubling” in Hosea 10:10 (of the completeness of Israel’s sin) and Isaiah 40:2 (of the completeness of Christ’s atonement), so also it is used here of the completeness of the church’s preaching. Note that the preaching of John (cf. John 10:11) and other specifically sent servants (cf. Romans 10:14–15) is testimony. They are called “witnesses.” This is not witness or testimony about their experience. It is bearing witness to Jesus Christ Himself (cf. 1 John 1:1–3). 

The number “two” is also important here by way of halving. Forty-two months, and on thousand two hundred and sixty days, are both half of seven years. The Lord often highlights how He is shortening days of hardship and grief (cf. Matthew 24:22). In this case, what is being shortened is the church’s persecution (Revelation 11:2), as well as her grief in preaching the gospel to a world in desperate need of repentance (Revelation 11:3). It is useful for gospel-preachers to learn here that, though the mode of our evangelism with respect to Jesus is joy over Him, the mode of our evangelism with respect to the spiritually dead is with grief over them. Warning the dead to flee the wrath to come is something to be done “in sackcloth.” 

The Lord also shortens the days in which the world appears to have defeated the church and her preaching of the gospel. Each preacher is assigned by God  specific length of life, and only when his work is done, is the enemy permitted to send him to glory (Revelation 11:7). This is also true of periods of revival and reformation, which have had a specific length of time, before the world arises in the spirit of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8) and rejoices (Revelation 11:9-10) over what they think is the demise of the church, and the true faith (what we would call the Reformed faith, since the use of that word in connection with the 16th century revival). But, they are terrified, again, when gospel preaching is revived (Revelation 11:11-12). The Lord shortens the days of darkness that come between these revivals. The time between the comings of Christ centers upon His sovereign work in saving through the preaching of the gospel.

While the nations rage, and reject God and Christ, and rejoice whenever the gospel seems silenced and the church seems dead, they are not the true power of the age. The preaching of the gospel comes with the same power now as in the days of Elijah (Revelation 11:6a) and Moses (verse 6b). It is the preaching of the gospel that shakes the earth (Revelation 11:13a—and heaven, too, cf. Hebrews 12:25–27) and either kills or gives life (Revelation 11:13b).

The first two woes, the fifth and sixth trumpets, have highlighted demonic activity on the earth as a reminder that God’s wrath, Christ’s wrath, is coming. But the interlude in chapters 10–11 have reminded us that the story of this time period is not the activity of those demons, but the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the conquering ministry of the gospel throughout that period (cf. Revelation 6:2)! 

Dear reader, there is a temptation to think that the story of our life and our day is what the powers of hell are doing, or what the powers of the world are doing. But, the story of your life and our day is especially what Christ Himself is doing through His powerful gospel, and how you are responding to it. This ought to bring comfort and conviction, and enable you to “overcome.” This has been the primary applicational response throughout Revelation. Overcome! Overcome in the way that we will especially read about when we come to Revelation 12:11. Overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony. And, when the days of your witness in this world are completed, overcome by loving not your life, even unto death.

When you think of “witnessing,” about Whom are you giving witness? How do the numbers in this chapter help you think more correctly, believingly, and healthily, when the days of suffering or spiritual decline seem to you to be too long? How do the last several chapters help you think about the primary story of your life, and of the world in this age?

Sample prayer:  Lord, we see how very much Your Word teaches us to focus upon Your church, and her witness to Christ, in this age. Forgive us for how we have failed to have the same focus! And forgive us, for when our hearts have not had the grief of sackcloth over the woe of an unbelieving world under the wrath of God. Grant that we would have confidence in Your exercise of Your own power through the preaching of the gospel. Forgive us for when we have been fearful and anxious and unbelieving before the world. Grant that we would overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony, and that we would love not our lives, even unto death, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear?” 

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

2025.04.16 Midweek Meeting Live Stream (live at 6:30p)

Click below for the:
April 16 Prayer Meeting Folder
Proverbs 13:20–25 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.

Made to Plow for Repentance [Family Worship lesson in Hosea 10:3–15]

How does the church respond to judgment? Hosea 10:3–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that some in the church respond to God’s judgment in a way that just brings more of it, but His focus is especially upon the others, whom He causes to respond to His judgment with repentance that is met by His mercy.
(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2025.04.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Hosea 10:3–15

Read Hosea 10:3–15

Questions from the Scripture text: How will Israel respond to their punishment (Hosea 10:3a–c)? But why would they have wanted a king (verse 3d)? What have they done to the Lord (Hosea 10:4a–b)? With what consequence (verse 4c)? How will the residents of the capital respond (Hosea 10:5a)? What is Bethel called instead in verse 5b? What will happen to its calf (Hosea 10:5-6)? With what effect upon Ephraim/Israel (Hosea 10:6c–d)? What will happen to their king (Hosea 10:7)? What will happen to their worship places (Hosea 10:8a–c)? What will they hope to be covered by (verse 8d–e)? How long has Israel been so wicked (Hosea 10:9a–b, cf. Judges 19–20)? But what hadn’t the Lord yet done (Hosea 10:9c–d)? When will He (Hosea 10:10)? What would Ephraim had liked, metaphorically, to do (Hosea 10:11a–b)? What will the Lord chasten her to do instead (verse 11c–d)? To whom else will He do this (verse 11e–f)? What will they be “digging up” (Hosea 10:12)? What have they “worked at” before (Hosea 10:13a–c)? Especially by doing what (verse 13d–e)? What is coming upon them, as a result (Hosea 10:14-15)? 

How does the church respond to judgment? Hosea 10:3–15 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that some in the church respond to God’s judgment in a way that just brings more of it, but His focus is especially upon the others, whom He causes to respond to His judgment with repentance that is met by His mercy. 

The end is here, and the end is sad, Hosea 10:1-8. We have heard the final verdict and the sentence (Hosea 10:2). Now, we see the results. They know that their kingdom has fallen because of their sin (Hosea 10:3a–c), but their interest in a king was purely selfish: “what would he do for us?” (verse 3d). They are insincere in their covenant bond to the Lord (Hosea 10:4a–b), so their response to judgment breeds even more judgment, like weeds (verse 4c). In an age in which people do not realize that their church membership is a solemn covenant with God Himself, we grieve to think how appropriately verse 4 could be written about so many in the visible church. 

The Lord cuts off their false worship, concentrated in the golden calf at Bethel (and its sister in Dan). They are so proud of it, it is considered their “glory” (Hosea 10:5e), and people and “priests” weep and wail for it (verse 5c–d). They thought they worshiped YHWH by it at “Beth El” (house of God), but the Lord has called the place “Beth Aven” (house of iniquity). When their idol is presented to the Assyrian king, the Lord will have humiliated their purported glory (Hosea 10:6).

The Lord cuts off their false government, concentrated in the king in Samaria. Rather than have the weight of honor to make an impact for them, he will be as weightless and helpless as a twig in a river (Hosea 10:7).

The Lord cuts off their false religion. As He destroys the worship in which they falsely hoped, they will turn to mountains and hills to hide them from God, but their iniquity (“Aven”) will continue to be exposed before God (Hosea 10:8). Just as nettles and thorns inherit their wealth (cf. Hosea 9:6), thorns and thistles will inherit their worship (Hosea 10:8c).

The end is like the beginning, which hints at the only hope, Hosea 10:9-15. “Gibeah” in Hosea 10:9 takes us back to Judges 19–20. How did things “get so bad” in Israel? From the beginning, their hearts were as Sodom and Gomorrah, and so were their actions, when unrestrained! One reason that their sin demands such a response is because it is the genuine expression of what is in them. This is true of us, too, dear reader.

And yet, just as the Lord had shown what that sin deserved in the battle of Gibeah (Hosea 10:9c, cf. Judges 20), He had also patiently borne with them for many generations. The word “two” in Hosea 10:10 has the sense of “double”; in His longsuffering, the Lord has waited until they filled up a double measure of their before bringing this chastening upon them. This has happened by their sin and what it has provoked, but it has happened even more so at His pleasure (“When I desire,” verse 10a). 

Their will would have been threshing-floor duty, where they can eat while they do light work (cf. Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:9–10; 1 Timothy 5:18). But He will give them, instead, field duty, where they have to do the hard work of pulling a plow to break up clods of dirt (Hosea 10:11). Indeed, this is designed primarily toward those whom He is bringing to repentance through this. They have been happy enough to work hard at sin (Hosea 10:13); now he will bring them to work hard in repentance, which is met with finding the Lord and His mercy and His righteousness (Hosea 10:12). For the purpose of doing such work in those whom He is saving, the Lord is fully willing to bring just and painful judgment upon the visible church (Hosea 10:14-15).

From where does your sin come, demanding God’s response? How do you respond when He brings chastening into your life?

Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for we have taken lightly our covenant with You. And in our church membership and worship, we have been in it primarily for ourselves. Whenever we have worshiped according to our own desires, we have thought of the house of our iniquity as if it were the house of God. Thus, we have gloried, spiritually, in that of which we should have been ashamed. But, You have given Your Son, our Lord Jesus, Who has been forsaken as entirely as we have deserved to be. For His sake, and by His grace, we pray that You would give us repentance. Take away the easy threshing that we would prefer, and give us whatever hard work is necessary until we sow righteousness, reap mercy, and seek You until You come and rain righteousness upon us in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP51AB “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Evening Prayer in Distress [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 141]

How should we pray when we are in danger of sinning? Psalm 141 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should pray against our sin as those who come to God smelling like the worthiness of Christ, confident that He will finish the work of making us to be like Christ.
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2025.04.15 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 141

Read Psalm 141

Questions from the Scripture text: Whose psalm was this (superscript)? To Whom is it addressed (Psalm 141:1a)? What is David doing? What does he ask God to do (verse 1b–c)? As/like what does he ask for his prayer to be received (Psalm 141:2a)? As/like what else (verse 2b)? What does he ask YHWH to do to his speech in Psalm 141:3? In what two ways? What does he ask Him to do to his thoughts in Psalm 141:4a? What will this prevent (verse 4b)? Under what pressure (verse 4c)? And what temptation (verse 4d)? What providence helps against wicked words, thoughts, and actions (Psalm 141:5a, c)? Whom does the Lord use to do it? How should the godly view it (verse 5b, d)? How should he respond to it (verse 5e)? Against what does he pray (verse 5f)? What will happen to wicked judges (Psalm 141:6a)? And whose words will they hear in that day (verse 6b)? But what is the current circumstance (Psalm 141:7)? So, what is David doing in such a circumstance (Psalm 141:8a–b)? What does He ask YHWH not to do (verse 8c)? And, positively, to do to him (Psalm 141:9Psalm 141:10b)? And to the wicked (verse 10a)?

How should we pray when we are in danger of sinning? Psalm 141 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should pray against our sin as those who come to God smelling like the worthiness of Christ, confident that He will finish the work of making us to be like Christ.   

Evening prayers. This psalm forms a pair with Psalm 5, bringing home to us the essential application of the morning (cf. Psalm 5:3) and evening (Psalm 141:2) sacrifices. The Lord has built into our daily habits oases of prayer. Never are they more necessary than in that Psalm, and this, when under the pressure of the aggression of the wicked. And David doesn’t just take from this instruction in what to do in the evenings, but encouragement in how his prayers are received by God. What a mercy, to know that the Lord is receiving our prayer as sweet incense (verse 2a)—all the more so, when we know that the Lord Jesus Himself is adding His incense to our prayers (cf. Revelation 8:3–4). This same Lord Jesus is answering our prayers for vindication with His powerful responses against the wicked in the earth (cf. Revelation 8:5).

Our greatest threat. Even though the wicked are attacking him (Psalm 141:7) and laying snares for him (Psalm 141:9-10a), David has identified a greater threat: his own words (Psalm 141:3), thoughts (Psalm 141:4a), and works (verse 4b). When we pray to be “delivered from the evil” (cf. Matthew 6:13, Luke 11:4), it is not specifically the evil “one” as our English translation has it, but especially that evil which remains in us. While Scripture teaches us that this is our responsibility (cf. Philippians 2:12), yet the biblical man knows that only by God’s grace is it a possibility (cf. Philippians 2:13). So David asks YHWH Himself to guard his mouth (Psalm 141:3), and to incline his heart properly (Psalm 141:4a–b). This grace is needful not only because of our inherent sinfulness, but because of the pressure to join the wicked (verse 4c), and the temptation to desire what they enjoy (verse 4d). 

Blessed blows. The wicked are not the only ones in the earth. The Lord has those who are His, and it is a very different matter to be “struck” by them (Psalm 141:5). Not every wound is harmful. Some are kindness and excellent oil (verse 5). We should welcome the rebuke of the righteous, just as much as we shrink from the friendship of the wicked. 

Confident about completion. All of this is prayed in the urgency of the evil and danger of sin, but not in the despair or anxiety of uncertainty. As David prays against both his and others (Psalm 141:5f) evil deeds, he does so knowing that even though the wicked have power and include judges (Psalm 141:6a), when they are overthrown, they will be hearing David’s sweetly righteous words (verse 6b). YHWH will not forsake our soul (Psalm 141:8). He will, indeed, deliver us from both the evil within us, and those who would see us fall into it (Psalm 141:9-10). He will complete what He has begun (cf. Philippians 1:6) and perfect that which concerns us (cf. Psalm 138:8). 

What are your morning prayers like? What are your evening prayers like? What effect does it have on you to grasp Christ’s intercession “sweetening” your prayers unto God? How have you been treating your own sin as your greatest threat? What righteous have loved you with rebuke? How have you received it? What would it look/feel like in your heart to be praying for your sanctification with more confidence?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank you for giving us to cry out to You evening and morning, with Your Son, our Lord Jesus, Himself, offering incense with our prayers. Receive us, in Him, as sweet-smelling sacrifice. And work in us, by the means of Your grace, to guard our mouths, and incline our hearts, and form our works according to the character of Christ. By Your Spirit’s applying Christ to us, bring us safely to You in our worship here, until You have brought us safely, in Him, all the way home to You, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP141B “When Just Men Strike Me in Reproof” or TPH141 “O LORD, to You I Call” 

Monday, April 14, 2025

The Chief End of Children [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 13:20–25]

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever.
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2025.04.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 13:20–25

Read Proverbs 13:20–25

Questions from the Scripture text: With whom does the one in Proverbs 13:20a walk? What happens to him? Whose companion is he one in verse 20b? What happens to him? What pursues sinners (Proverbs 13:21a)? What shall be repaid to the righteous (verse 21b)? What does the good man leave to whom (Proverbs 13:22a)? What happens to whom else’s wealth (verse 22b)? How much food is where (Proverbs 13:23a)? What does lack of justice cause (verse 23b)? What is he man in Proverbs 13:24a failing to do? What sort of action is this toward his son? What does the man who loves his son do (verse 24b)? What does the righteous get out of eating (Proverbs 13:25a)? How about the wicked (verse 25b)? 

To what end should we aim our parenting? Proverbs 13:20–25 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live and parent as those who wish to be satisfied upon the Lord, forever.  

In this little section, Proverbs 13:20-21 establishes the theme, and Proverbs 13:22-25 applies it, especially to what we do with our children, and especially through he image of hunger. One preliminary step to humbling ourselves under the wisdom of others is spending time with those who are wise (Proverbs 13:20), and the needfulness of receiving this instruction is immediately seen in Proverbs 13:21. Just as goodness and covenant love  are hot on the heels of the believer in Psalm 23:6, the same verb tells us that evil is hot on the heels of sinners in Proverbs 13:21a. How very much we need wisdom! It is the difference between having an evil end and a good end (verse 21b).

And there are those whose end we have been especially assigned, by God’s providence, to care for: our children and our children’s children. Proverbs 13:22 teaches not so much a principle (that the good should try to leave an inheritance to children’s children) as a generalized fact (that, ordinarily, godliness is met with multi-generational blessing). Of course, this wealth is especially spiritual—as we remember, from earlier in the chapter, that God Himself (and the righteousness necessary for right relationship with Him) is true riches. This should be the godly’s aim, and hope, for his children and children’s children.

This is why the godly will not leave his children to themselves, or to other children. If, indeed, rod-demanding folly is bound up in their hearts (Proverbs 13:24, cf. Proverbs 22:15), then two things are true. First, the godly ought not to seek “peer groups” for their children and youth. This is to consign them to the fate of the companion of fools: destruction. Let parents instead be their children’s companions, and let them seek for their children other mature believers to be companions. In such good, multigenerational company, children of parents who are pursuing the same biblical wisdom for them may grow safely together in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and with men. Second, the godly must not only employ the rod, but do so instantly. Like their child’s life depends upon it (Proverbs 13:20, cf. Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 23:13–14). This is what love does, when so much is at stake (Proverbs 13:24b)! 

In the alternating verses (Proverbs 13:23Proverbs 13:25), the reality and metaphor of hunger is used to illustrate the whole of godliness from the part of diligence. Those poor in Proverbs 13:23 are poor because neither have they been diligent to work their ground (verse 23a), nor have they been good stewards of what it produced (verse 23b). Untrained children exhibit this exact laziness and wastefulness. And, the parent sees in it a glimpse of what their children may be. Notice the imbalance in the contrast in Proverbs 13:25. The difference between the righteous and the wicked can be seen even in their area of focus. For the righteous, it is his soul that he seeks to see satisfied—and it will be (verse 25a)! For the wicked, his stomach is his focus (cf. Philippians 3:19), but even that will always feel like it is needing more (Proverbs 13:25b). The godly desire, for themselves and for their children and children’s children, to have everlastingly satisfied souls!

Who are your companions? Who are your children’s companions? What might change in your disciplining (or your being disciplined), if it was done like your life depends on it? How diligent are you in satisfying your stomach? How diligent are you in satisfying your soul?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for being our good Father, Who gives us both the instruction that we need and the discipline that we need. Grant that we might walk with those wise, with whom we too will become wise, and have our souls satisfied in You, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH119B “How Shall the Young Direct Their Way?”

The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust [Children's Catechism 141—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 141—especially explaining how there is a bodily resurrection coming both for believers do enjoy the fullness of their blessedness, and for unbelievers to endure the fullness of their accursedness.

Q141. Will the bodies of the dead be raised to life again? Yes; "The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised."
(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)