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 38451
Read Matthew 21:18–22
Questions from the Scripture text: What was Jesus doing in the morning (v18)? What issue arose? What did He see (v19)? What did He find on it? What did He say to it? What happened to it? Who saw it (v20)? What effect did this have upon them? What did they say? Who answered (v21)? What did He say to them they should have? And what should they not do? Then what will they say—not to the fig tree, but to what? And what will happen? What else may they do (v22)? In what manner? And what will happen?
Why would Jesus curse a fig tree? Matthew 21:18–22 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus teaches His apostles that His almighty power is with them in their preaching and their praying.
It was not the season for figs (cf. Mk 11:13), but Jesus spots a tree already in its foliage (v19). It has the appearance of giving Him what He desires in His hunger (v18). When Jesus curses it, it is not the spiteful revenge of a man controlled by his physical appetite. What is on Christ’s mind is the fruit that Israel should have borne unto God (v13, cf. Isa 56:7), but Israel has failed to give the Lord the fruit that His loving care and provision ought to have produced (cf. Isa 5:1–7).
Jesus’s response in v19 is for the disciples’ observation in v20a. Little could they know, at this point, that they were the agents for raising up unto the Lord a fruitful Israel. Nations rage, and they move kingdoms (cf. Ps 46:a), but what can this motley group of unimpressive men do? They are the mouths out of which the voice of God will utter His voice (v6b). God is in the midst of them (v5); YHWH of hosts is with them (v7).
Jesus triggers the response of the disciples’ marveling in v20, in order to exhort them about their own preaching and praying ministry. They are to believe in Him without doubting (v21). They are to believe in the One Whose words can control all creation. And they are to speak as His agents: “if you say.” “This mountain” is not some generic mountain. It is the temple mount, the fruitless tree that is being replaced by the temple of Christ’s own body and His church. And it is the apostolic preaching of the cross, through which Jesus will accomplish this.
Add to this preaching ministry their praying ministry: Jesus is YHWH of hosts with them to give everything necessary for their mission. He will build His church; He will be with His church; He will provide for His church; and, the gates of Hell will not prevail against them!
By this preaching, Christ continues to build His church today. He continues to do almighty work by the preaching of His Word. And He continues to hear the praying of His people and give them everything necessary for pulling down all the powers that oppose His church. He continues to be in the midst of His people, for His praise in His church. Attend upon that preaching. Avail yourself of that praying. Trust in Christ, and see and enjoy His glorious work in the church!
What use do you make of the almighty power of Christ exercised in the preaching of the Word? And what use do you make of the almighty power of Christ exercised in and through prayer? What are you trusting Him to do with His church, and all of their/His enemies?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for being in the midst of us to build Your church by Your power. We believe; help our unbelief. Give us to exercise faith in You, attending upon the preaching of Your Word and being constant in prayer for all that is needed for the building of Your church. Exercise Your almighty power among us, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP46 “God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength” or TPH244 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
Read Deuteronomy 5:22–33
Questions from the Scripture text: To whom did YHWH speak these words (v22)? Where? From the midst of what three things? With what sort of voice? What did He add? What else did He do with these words? To whom did He give the tablets? What had the people heard (v23)? From the midst of what? While what was happening? To whom did they come near in response? Who, specifically, came near? What did they say that YHWH had shown them (v24)? What did they hear? What did they see could happen, with what results for man? But what were they still afraid of happening (v25)? If what continued? What rhetorical question do they ask (v26)? With what implied answer? What do they tell Moses to do (v27)? Who heard them say this (v28)? To whom did He answer? What was His assessment of the elders’ statement? What did He desire that they would have in them (v29)? So that what would be the result? What does He tell Moses to tell them (v30)? But where does He tell Moses to go (v31)? What three things will He speak to Moses? And what is Moses to do with them? So that the people may do what, where? What does Moses now tell them to do (v32)? And what not to do? How should they walk (v33)? In order that what may happen?
How does God display His glory? Deuteronomy 5:22–33 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twelve verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God displays His glory especially in His grace.
YHWH made a great revelation of Himself in fire, cloud, darkness, and loud voice (v22, cf. Heb 12:18–19). Israel understand that this is a display of glory and greatness (v24). They are afraid that this glory and greatness will destroy them (v25).
But Israel don’t see that the greatest revelation of Himself here isn’t fire, blackness, darkness, and tempest. The greatest revelation of Himself is in His grace.
That grace is already on display in the fact that they are not yet dead (end of v24). The rhetorical question in v26 should drive this home to them. When has this ever happened? It hasn’t! God has done an amazing, gracious thing.
That grace is also plain in the desire of YHWH that they would have a heart that fears Him (v29a) and gives complete obedience: always obeying all His commandments (v29b).
That grace is explicit in the further purpose of this right-heartedness, “that it might be well with them and with their children forever” (v29c).
But that grace is supremely evident in His provision of a Mediator. In the short-term, He provides Moses. God has given the moral law with His own voice and His own writing in stone (v22). But the ceremonial and civil law, He will now give through the mediator of this administration of the covenant of grace (v31). The mediator urges obedience upon them (v32–33a) for the same gracious purpose that the Lord Himself has already stated, “that you may live and that I may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess” (v33b).
As mediator, Moses is a type of Christ. It is Christ’s intercession that is the greatest display of God’s grace, the greatest display of God’s glory. How wonderful, dear reader, that in our administration of the covenant of grace, we hear all God’s Word from God’s Son, Who loved us and gave Himself for us! When we worship God, we even come with Him, and through Him, into the glorious presence of God Himself (cf. Heb 12:22–29). God has chosen to display His glory especially by His grace, and that, especially in His Son, our Mediator!
What place does God’s wrath and power have in your thoughts about His greatness? What place does His grace have in your thoughts about His greatness? What place does Jesus, the Mediator, have in your thoughts about God’s greatness?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for displaying the greatness of Your glory especially by Your great grace. And thank You for doing this, especially in Christ, through Whom we thank and praise You, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH266 “Thou Art the Way”
Read Revelation 19:11–21
Questions from the Scripture text: What did John see opened? What did he see there? What was its rider called? What two things does He do in righteousness? What are His eyes like (v12)? What is on His head? What was written, and who knew it? What was his clothing dipped in (v13)? What was His Name called? Who follow Him (v14)? Dressed in what? Riding on what? What went out of His mouth (v15)? Whom does He strike with it? What else does He do to them? What does He tread? What name does He have written in what two places (v16)? Whom does John see in v17? Standing where? To whom does he cry loudly? Telling them to come to what? In order to eat what (v18)? What three entities does John see in v19? What are they gathered to do? Against Whom? Who were captured in v20? Where were they cast? What happened to the kings of the earth and their armies (v21)? What do the birds do?
What happens in the final battle? Revelation 19:11–21 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in the final battle, Jesus Himself destroys all of His and our enemies.
vv1–10 had ended with the great marriage feast of the lamb. Now this passage proceeds to another, very different feast. There is a great war with a great King, and the outcome is so sure that the birds are invited to it as to a great feast (v17–18).
The identity of the King. The outcome is sure because of Who the King is. He is called Faithful and True (v11, cf. 3:14). In righteousness He judges and makes war (cf. v2). His eyes are as flames of fire (v12, cf. 1:14). On His head are many crowns, indicating that He is the King of kings (cf. v16). The blood on His robe (v13) is that of those who are under His wrath (cf. Isa 63:1–6). He is God, the Word (cf. Jn 1:1–14). He is the King of kings and Lord of Lords (v16, cf. Dt 10:17, Dan 2:47, Php 2:11).
The vengeance of the King. He strikes with the rod/sword of His mouth (v15, cf. Is 11:4, Rev 1:16). He rules with a rod of iron (cf. Ps 2:8–9). He treads the winepress of God’s own wrath (cf. 14:20, Is 63:1–6). He casts two members of the faux trinity alive into the lake of fire (v20) and kills the rest with the sword from His mouth. He leads the holy, heavenly armies of v14, but He Himself accomplishes the entire victory.
Will you be part of the bride in the first feast, or the destroyed in the other feast? When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, the saints will enjoy their rest, glorify Him, and admire Him (cf. 2Th 1:7, 10). But on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, He will take vengeance in flaming fire and punish them with everlasting destruction from His presence and from the glory of His power (cf. 2Th 1:8–9). Obey the gospel! Turn, from sin and self, unto the Lord Jesus!
How does one come to be part of the bride of Christ? Have you done this? What awaits you in the last day?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for being forgetful of the glory of Jesus Christ, and the day of His great wrath that is coming soon. We deserve that wrath, so we hide ourselves in Him as our hope of being members of His bride in the last day. Grant that it would be so, and give us to glorify and admire Him in that great day, we sk in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage?” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear”
Read Micah 4:1–5
Questions from the Scripture text: When will the following come to pass (v1a)? How is YHWH’s house described in v1b? Where/how will it be established (v1c–d)? What will happen then (v1e)? Who will come, doing what (v2a)? What will they say (v2b)? To where, specifically, will they come (v2c)? For Him to do what (v2d)? So that they can do what (v2e)? What will go out of Zion/Jerusalem at that time (v2f–g)? What will He do for whom (v3a)? And what will He do to whom else (v3b)? With what results among the nations (v3c–f)? Who will be able to do what (v4a)? What will not be done to them (v4b)? How sure is this (v4c)? What are people currently doing (v5a)? But what will YHWH’s true people do (v5b)? For how long (v5c)?
What does the future hold for devastated Zion? Micah 4:1–5 looks forward to the morning sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the future of God’s church is guaranteed by God’s grace.
This little passage assures us of many wonderful impossibilities. Because of the Israelites themselves, Zion/Jerusalem was soon to be plowed to the ground (cf. 3:12). But at the end of the days, because of YHWH, Zion/Jerusalem would be made to stand—and not just stand, but above all other mountains/powers. This is the wonderful logic of God’s grace; precisely in the face of what is happening with this generation, He affirms the glorious good that He will surely bring to pass at last and forever.
The peoples in v1 are described as a stream. But there is something impossible about this stream. It flows uphill! Both with respect to individual grace, and with respect to the missionary spread of the kingdom, this is a wonderful picture of God’s accomplishing the impossible. Water doesn’t flow uphill. Gentiles don’t stream into Zion. Sinners don’t come to God for Himself and His Word. But what is impossible with men is possible with God!
These people from many nations will exhibit resolve (“Come, and let us go up,” v2b), relish (a hunger/ desire for His Word, v2d), and repentance (living according to that Word, v2e). How will this happen? How will it come to be that they come to Zion for the Word? The Word itself accomplishes this work by first going out from Zion. “For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the Word of YHWH from Jerusalem,” (v2f–g).
Ultimately whatever peoples are not participating in this revival will be eliminated. For the earth at the end of the days will be such a safe place that there will be no need for weapons or even military training (v3). This isn’t just a general blessedness, but each and every individual will enjoy his part in the blessedness (4a).
In an age of wickedness and certain, dreadful, imminent judgment, how can they dare to hope that this will be the case? Indeed, not only can they dare to hope, but they must be completely assured, for the mouth of YHWH of hosts as spoken this (v4c)!
Now, what are you to do, in light of this glorious end, if you are living in an age of wickedness and judgment? Opt out of living in the manner of your age! Micah observes the nearly universal, wayward idolatry of the people of his day (v5a). Then, in v5b, he speaks not only for himself but others: “but we.” The implication is that the word of YHWH is going to be used to produce others like him, others who will walk in the name of YHWH their God. And those who do so now, by grace, will do so forever (v5c)!
Behold the wonderful, impossible grace of God that recovers sinners and gathers a glorious church from all the nations, and brings them into a secure, godly blessedness forever!
Why don’t you have to despair in an age of unfaithfulness of the church? What should you do in such an age?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us, for if what came of the church depended upon us, surely it would be utterly destroyed. But, You gorify Your almighty grace by granting repentance to a remnant. Make us to be that remnant who love to come to You, be taught by You, and walk in Your paths. Give us peace and faithfulness, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the LORD” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”
Read Ecclesiastes 2:1–11
Questions from the Scripture text: With what did Solomon decide to test his heart (v1)? With what conclusion? What did he think of laughter and mirth (v2)? With what other things does he try to satisfy himself (v3)? Trying to figure out what? What building projects did he attempt (v4–6)? What possessions did he acquire (v7–8)? How does he assess his efforts in v9? What is his poetic summary of what he did (v10)? And what was his poetic analysis of it all (v11)? What did he try next (v12a)? What was the problem with trying new things (v12b–c)? But what was decidedly better (v13)? Why (v14a–b)? But what ultimately neutralizes this advantage (v14c–d)? What, then, does Solomon tell himself (v15)? What even happens to both after death (v16)? How does this affect Solomon (v17)? What does he conclude about his labor (v18a)? Why, what must he do with it all (v18b)? And what might be the case with the successor (v19)? How does he summarize this in broader application (v20–23)? But what is actually good (v24a)? Why (v24b)? What question does v25 ask? What answer does v26 give? To whom does God give this knowledge and joy? What does He give to the sinner?
What is the point of life? Ecclesiastes 2 looks forward to the hearing of Scripture, publicly read, in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these twenty-six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the point of life is to receive it as from God, and to live it as for God.
Solomon tried joy (v1–3), not merely pleasure, but the best pleasures, tempered with wisdom (v3). Solomon tried productivity (v4–6). Solomon tried possessions (v7–8). And he did this better than anyone else had done (v9a); he even specifies that all of this was done in a wise manner (v9b).
But when the joy of the labor was the reward for his labor (v10), he concluded that this too was as fleeting as vapor and wind, without lasting benefit, because it was under the sun (v11).
So, if joy in all of these good things could not suffice as an end in itself, what about wisdom. Could wisdom be the purpose and profit of things (v12a)? After all, joy in accomplishments would never be ultimately unique (v12b–c). And while it was true that wisdom enabled one to live with eyes wide open (v13–14b), yet even wisdom was subject to the great equalizers.
Death is a great equalizer (v14c–d), equally occurring unto the wise and to the fool (v15a–d). So, under the sun, even wisdom is as fleeting as vapor (v15e–f).
Lack of remembrance is a great equalizer. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away (v16c–d); they fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day (v16b). This forgetting happens to the wise and to the fool alike (v16a).
Successors are a great equalizer. All of man’s labor must be left to those who come after (v18), but there is no way to ensure the wisdom of that man (v19a), so that whatever is left to the succeeding generation is as fleeting as a vapor (v19b). So long as all of this is done merely under the sun, there is no amount or quality of labor or success that will keep it from being s fleeing as vapor (v20–23).
Is the answer despair? Absolutely not! The answer is conscientiously to receive all good—and, additionally, the enjoyment itself of that good—as actively given by the hand of God (v24)! Only when it is not viewed primarily as our achievement (v25), but rather known as a gift of grace even in the effort itself (v26a) are fruitfulness and enjoyment substantial and lasting! The sinner’s labor is also assigned by God (v26b), so that his godlessness may expose all of his aims and efforts to be as fleeting as vapor (v26c).
Dear reader, you are surrounded by people who say things that have an appearance of wisdom; things like “as long as it gives you joy” and “the point is the journey” and “as long as you do things the right way.” But these only have the appearance of wisdom, and apart from the knowledge of God in Christ, they are neutralized by death, remembrance, and successors, so that they are fleeting as vapor.
God grant unto you, instead, to receive your life, the living of it, the fruitfulness of it, and the enjoyment of it, as so many different gifts directly from His hand—and all for the sake of Christ. Then, there will be nothing better for you than that you should eat and drink, and that your soul should enjoy good from His hand in all your labor!
What are the tasks that God has assigned to you? What is the ability in which you are depending upon Him to sustain you? What is the productivity for which you are depending on Him to produce? How is your heart taking joy in Him and His goodness in each of these good gifts of His? How and why have you been brought into such a wonderful life with Him? How are you responding to that?
Sample prayer: Lord, all of our joys, all of our efforts, and even all of our wisdom are pointless apart from You. Soon, we shall die, be forgotten, and our productivity under the sun eventually squandered by a fool. But You, Lord, give us to enjoy even our daily food and drink and labor. These are gifts from You, and the enjoyment of them an additional gift from You. Now, as we come to worship You, grant that we would only do so as a gift from You. Give us to know the worship as a gift from You, and our ability to do it as a gift from You, and the edifying produce of it as a gift from You, and our joy in all of this as an additional, super-added gift from You in Christ. So, help us to worship You, by Your Spirit, we ask in and through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH222 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”