“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep.” Acts 13:36.

I will try, for just a minute or two, to answer this question: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO US WHEN OUR SAVIOR IS DONE? “David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep.” The day’s work is done; the worker is weary; he falls on sleep: what can he do better? It was all “by the will of God.: To what part of the sentence do you think that clause belongs? Did David serve his generation by the will of God; or did he fall asleep by the will of God? Both. Guided by the will of God, he did his work on earth; and calmly resigned to the will of God, he prepared to die. Even when passing away, he served his generation by giving Solomon some last charges concerning the kingdom, saying, “I go the way of the earth; be thou strong, and show thyself a man.” Over both his life and his death may be written the words, “By the will of God.” Oh, that we may all so live, that even in death we may serve our generation; may it be true of us that “whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord’s”! Thus, “the will of God” shall be done both in our service and in our sleep.
David is an example of what will befall those who know Christ, at the end of their service. He did not go to sleep until his work was done. “David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep.” Do not want to die till you have done your work. When brethren say, “Oh, I wish I could go to heaven! Oh, when shall I get home?” they remind me of a man who, when he begins work on Monday, says, “I wish it was Saturday night.” We do not want servants like that, nor does God either. Be willing to live for two hundred and fifty years, if God wills it. Be willing to live until strength fails you, if God wills it; you can still bear your dying testimony to the Lord’s faithful and unchanging love. Do not be in a hurry to go home to heaven. Do not want to go to sleep till you also have served your generation well. When David had served his generation, he fell on sleep. We are told that, in the early days of Christianity, when believers were falling asleep in Jesus, their friends did not bid them “good-bye,” but “good-night.” So we say, in the words of that beautiful hymn—

“Sleep on beloved, sleep, and take thy rest;
Lay down thy head upon thy Savior’s breast:
We love thee well; but Jesus loves thee best—

Good-night!

 

Only ‘good-night,’ beloved-not ‘farewell!’
A little while, and all his saints shall dwell
In hallowed union, indivisible—
Good-night!

 

Until we meet again before his throne,
Clothed in the spotless robe he gives his own,
Until we know even as we are known—
Good-night!”                      C.H. Spurgeon

• There will be a shower for Susanna Boot (James Barnard’s fiancée) Kim (Roelofs) Boerkoel and Hope Gommesen (Thomas Heikoop’s fiancée) on Thursday, November 19. The donation box and cards to sign are on the table downstairs.
• The mission collection for October is for Bonisa Mission. Bonisa Mission is an interdenominational Reformed organization focused on supporting Chinese Christian Ministries in embracing and spreading the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in China to the glory of the Triune God and the salvation of sinners. Its vision is to be a compassionate and consistent experiential Reformed Christian witness in China based on God’s holy and infallible Word.

Service Information Sunday Morning, 9:15am: student Chris Mourik

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11
Psalter 176:1-2
Psalter 136:1, 2, 4
Psalter 65
Psalter 427:1, 2, 5, 6
Doxology

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Service Information Sunday Evening, 6pm: student Chris Mourik

Scripture: Psalm 146
Psalter 222:1-5
Psalter 247:1-3
Psalter 400:1-3
Psalter 400:4-7
Doxology 195:3.4
Benediction

 

• Please pray for the family of Robert Kennedy since he passed away from cancer last Thursday morning. The burial will take place this Tuesday at 2 pm at Greenwood Cemetery, 1401 Leonard NW.
• Please pray for those who cannot worship with us today due to old age or illness. Pray for widows and widowers and others that are traveling life’s pathway with loneliness.
• The mission collection for October is for Bonisa Mission. Bonisa Mission is an interdenominational Reformed organization focused on supporting Chinese Christian Ministries in embracing and spreading the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in China to the glory of the Triune God and the salvation of sinners. Its vision is to be a compassionate and consistent experiential Reformed Christian witness in China based on God’s holy and infallible Word.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Gal. 2:21.

And not only so, but every believer hath venturing or trusting thoughts on this righteousness of Christ: the man not only thinks highly of it, but he builds upon it, and betakes himself to it. The righteousness of Christ is like a curious ark or ship, whereby all that are embarked in it, shall be safely landed in heaven. Now it signifies nothing for a poor man to stand upon the shore, and to commend the ship, and say it is a splendid vessel; he must get into it; if ever he hath a mind to escape the destruction of the world, he must get into the ark, Christ. The apostle hath an elegant similitude, “By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark, to the saving of his house by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith,” (Heb. 11:7). Pray observe, the state of Noah and every man’s state by nature are alike. God tells Noah, “An hundred and twenty years hence I will drown this whole world; and not a man, nor beast, nor fowl of heaven shall escape.” Sirs, it is not so long, by one half almost, to that time when we shall all be in eternity! An hundred and twenty years was but a small time to them, who lived seven or eight hundred years. We are just in the same case: warning is given us by the course of nature, and by the word, that in a few years more we may be all turned out of this world; and our dying is of equal importance, as to our eternal state, with Christ’s coming: what difference is there if you would die this week, or if Christ should come to judge the world this week? Your eternal state is equally concerned in both. Now, God tells Noah, “I have provided an ark for you: I will drown the whole world; but I will provide an ark for you.” But after the man had built it, he must get into it, or he could not be saved by it. Now, here comes in the tidings of the gospel; we are not bid to prepare an ark, but we are told that God hath already prepared an ark, his own Son, who was hewed and framed by the justice of God, that he might be made a fit lodging for poor sinners. Now, the work of all them that would be saved, is to get into Jesus Christ, and to betake themselves to this righteousness, and when they have done so, to rest quietly there. But yet this righteousness of Christ, as much as it is, and should be, spoken of in the preaching of the word, yet multitudes of professors never once thought of it; they often think we must be holy, and that Muslims understand as well as you; but pray, how do you think to come by your boldness? Without righteousness? Never man shall be holy without the reckoning of Christ’s righteousness to him; without which you can never partake of Christ’s Spirit to sanctify you. This seeking, and studying, and framing a holiness, without employing Christ, doth these two things:— it dishonors Christ utterly;— and it renders holiness altogether impossible. It is utterly impossible there should be a spark of true holiness in that heart that is a stranger to faith in Christ Jesus. Morality and Pagan civility there may be; but true gospel holiness is a blessed consequence of faith in Jesus Christ. Robert Traill

“My times are in Thy hand.” Psalm 31:15

Do you wish to know what is going to happen to you in a short time? Would you look between the folded leaves of the future? You can buy a penny newspaper which will tell you the fate of nations this very year. You may be well-nigh sure that nothing will happen which is thus predicted; and thus it may be of some little use to you. Be you content with the prophecies of Scripture, but follow not every interpreter of them. Many people would pay largely to have the future made known to them. If they were wise, they would rather desire to have it concealed. Do not want to know; such knowledge would answer no useful purpose. The future is intended to be a sealed book. The present is all we need to have before us. Do thy day’s work in its day, and leave tomorrow with thy God. If there were ways of reading the future, it would be wise to decline to use them. The knowledge would create responsibility, arouse fear, and diminish present enjoyment; why seek after it? Famish idle curiosity, and give your strength to believing obedience. Of this you may be quite sure, that there is nothing in the book of the future which should cause distrust to a believer. Your times are in God’s hand; and this secures them.

The very word “times” supposes change for you; but as there are no changes with God, all is well. Things will happen which you cannot foresee; but your Lord has foreseen all, and provided for all. Nothing can occur without his divine allowance, and he will not permit that which would be for your real or permanent injury. “I should like to know”, says one, “whether I shall die soon.” Have no desire in that direction: your time will come when it should. The best way to live above all fear of death is to die every morning before you leave your bedroom. The apostle Paul said, “I die daily.” When you have got into the holy habit of daily dying, it will come easy to you to die for the last time. It is greatly wise to be familiar with our last hours. As you take off your garments at night, rehearse the solemn scene when you shall lay aside your robe of flesh. When you put on your garments in the morning, anticipate the being clothed upon with your house which is from heaven in the day of resurrection. To be fearful of death is often the height of folly. A great prophet once ran away many miles to escape from death by an imperious queen. He was one of the bravest of the brave, and yet he hurried into solitude to escape a woman’s threat. When he had finished his weary walk, he sat down, and actually prayed, “Let me die.” It was a singular thing to do, to run for his life, and then to cry, “Let me die.” That man never did die; for we speak of Elijah, who rode to heaven in a chariot of fire. God does not answer all his people’s prayers, for he has better things for them than they ask. Do not tremble about what may never happen. Even we may never die, for it is written, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” Some of us may be alive and remain at the coming of the Lord. Who knows? Behold, he comes quickly. At any rate, do not let us worry about death, for it is in his hands. C H Spurgeon

• Baptism will be administered during the evening service to the following children:

Claire Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Schipper.

Desmond Donald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Walma.

• Please pray for Neal Boerkoel and Kim Roelofs as they plan to be united in marriage this Thursday.

Dear Church Family, We would like to warmly welcome everyone to our wedding ceremony on Thursday, October 15th. The ceremony will be held at Heritage Reformed Church at 4:30 pm. Neal and Kim

• Please pray for Mr. Chris Engelsma as he travels to Pittsburgh, PA on Friday, the Lord willing. He will be ordained to the ministry by the Evangelical Church Alliance. The Great Lakes City classis of the RCA will accept this in lieu of a fitness of ministry certificate. This will bring Mr. Engelsma a step closer to being a candidate for the ministry in the RCA.

• Baptism will be administered next Sunday evening, the Lord willing, to the following children:

Claire Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Schipper.

Desmond Donald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Walma.

• and Mrs. Joel Schipper with five children have transferred their membership to Providence Reformed Church.
• Kim Roelofs has transferred her membership to Providence Reformed Church.
• Please pray for Neal Boerkoel and Kim Roelofs as they plan to be united in marriage on Thursday, October 15.
• “Give thanks to God for good is He, To Him all praise and glory be.”Psalm 136.

Sincere appreciation for the prayers and well wishes on my

birthday, Gary Kwekel

• At the Lay Preaching Class this Wednesday, W. Rozeboom will present a second lesson entitled Lessons for Pastors and Flock from Pilgrim’s Progress – Part 2. All are welcome.

Taken from The Life and Diary of David Brainard. 1747.

(Note that these events occurred exactly 273 years ago today.)

“Thursday, Oct. 1. I endeavored again to do something by way of writing, but soon found my powers of body and mind utterly fail. Felt not so sweetly as when I was able to do something that I hoped would do

some good. In the evening was discomposed and wholly delirious; but it was not long before God was pleased to give me some sleep, and fully composed my mind. Oh, blessed be God for his great goodness to me, since I was so low at Mr. Bromfield’s, on Thursday, June 18, last. He has, except those few minutes, given me the clear exercise of my reason, and enabled me to labor much for him, in things both of a public and private nature; and perhaps to do more good than I should have done if I had been well; besides the comfortable influences of his blessed Spirit,with which he has been pleased to refresh my soul. May his name have all the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

“Friday, Oct. 2. My soul was this day, at turns, sweetly set on God: I longed to be with him, that I might behold his glory. I felt sweetly disposed to commit all to him, even my dearest friends, my dearest flock,

my absent brother, and all my concerns for time and eternity. Oh that his kingdom might come in the world; that they might all love and glorify him, for what he is in himself; and that the blessed Redeemer might `see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied!’ `Oh come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Amen.”

The next evening we very much expected his brother John from New Jersey; it being about a week after the time that he proposed for his return, when he went away. And though our expectations were still disappointed; yet Mr. Brainerd seemed to continue unmoved, in the same calm and peaceful frame that he had before manifested; as having resigned all to God, and having done with his friends, and with all things here below.

On the morning of the next day, being Lord’s day, Oct. 4, as my daughter Jerusha (who chiefly attended him) came into the room, he looked on her very pleasantly, and said, “Dear Jerusha, are you willing to part with me? — I am quite willing to part with you: I am willing to part with all my friends: I am willing to part with my dear brother John, although I love him the best of any creature living: I have committed him and all my friends to God, and can leave them with God. Though, if I thought I should not see you and be happy with you in another world, I could not bear to part with you. But we shall spend a happy eternity together!” In the evening, as one came into the room with a Bible in her hand, he expressed himself thus; “Oh that dear book! that lovely book! I shall soon see it opened! the mysteries that are in it, and the mysteries of God’s providence, will be all unfolded!”

On Thursday, Oct. 6, he lay for a considerable time as if he were dying. At which time he was heard to utter, in broken whispers, such expressions as these; “He will come, he will not tarry. — I shall soon be in glory. — I shall soon glorify God with the angels.” — But after some time he revived.

The next day, Wednesday, Oct. 7, his brother John arrived from New Jersey; where he had been detained much longer than he intended, by a mortal sickness prevailing among the Christian Indians, and by some other circumstances that made his stay with them necessary. Mr. Brainerd was affected and refreshed with seeing him, and appeared fully satisfied with the reasons of his delay; seeing the interest of religion and of the souls of his people required it.

Jonathan Edwards

Service Information Sunday Morning, 9:15am: student Chris Engelsma

Sermon: The Second Night Vision: Four Horns, Four Craftsmen
Scripture: Ezra 4
Text: Zech 1:18-21

Introduction
Point 1: four horns
Point 2: four craftsmen
Point 3: fulfillment

Psalter 414
Psalter 127
Psalter 353
Psalter 247

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Service Information Sunday Evening, 6pm: student Chris Engelsma

Sermon: The Fourth Night Vision: A Word for Joshua
Text:  Zech 3

Introduction – the Night Visions
The scene in the Fourth Vision
The Application for Joshua
The Application for Us

Psalter 367
Psalter 124 1-3,7-9
Psalter 144
Psalter 419