• Please pray for Pastor Vanden Berg in traveling home from the Netherlands, and for clear direction in the pastoral call he received.
• Mission collection for February is Come Over and Help. As we saw in the presentation regarding the ministry and work in the Reformed Church in Lithuania, there is a large field of labor and a great need for financial support.
• Dear Church Family, Thank you seems small for all the care you have shown us. The cards, visits, meals, Titus 2 gift basket, and your prayers have all been appreciated. ”In everything gives thanks.” I Thes. 5:18.

Elizabeth Rozeboom.

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith.” Matt. 15:28.

Great boldness in the faith, argues great faith. There be three things in faith, in this notion: (1.) An agony and a wrestling of faith, which is a heavenly violence in believing: (2.) To be carried with a great measure of persuasion and conviction, with full and hoisted-up sails in believing, There is a rich assurance of faith. Not that only, but in the abstract, there is the riches of assurance. There is all riches of assurance; all riches of the full assurance of faith. So strong prevailing light, produces a strong faith: alas! it is but twilight of evidence that we have. (3.) To be bold, and to put on a heavenly stoutness and daring, in venturing with familiarity unto the throne of grace, is a strong faith, (Heb. 4:16). We are to come with liberty, and holy boldness to the throne, as children to their father: so the church, with heavenly familiarity, and the daring of grace and faith, prays, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.” (Cant. 1:2.) John’s leaning on Christ’s bosom, is not familiarity of love only, but of faith also: “In whom we have boldness and access,

A humble faith, such as was in this woman, is a great faith. The more sins that are pardoned, as it infers the more love to Christ, (Luke 7:47) so the unworthier a soul is in itself to believe pardon in Christ, argues the greater faith. It must be a great faith to believe the pardon of ten thousand talents, than to believe the forgiveness of five hundred pence. Christ esteems it the greatest faith in Israel, that the centurion abases himself, as one unworthy to come under one roof with him; and that he exalts Christ in his omnipotency, to believe that he can command all diseases at his nod, (Matt. 8:8-10).

A strong desire of a communion with Christ, is an argument of a strong faith. “Surely, I come quickly;” (Rev. 22:20). Faith answers with a hearty desire, “Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus,” and, 2 Pet. 3:12.³⁵ Faith desires an union with Christ, and a marriage union. The reason is, strong faith comes from strong love; and strong coals of desiring to be dis-solved, and to be with Christ, (Phil. 1:23,) burns in at heaven’s door; love-sickness for glory goes as high, as the lowest step of the throne that the Lamb Christ sits on; and it is faith and love together, that desires Christ to mend his pace, and saith, “Make haste, my beloved, and be as a roe or young hart upon the mountains of spices.” (Cant. 8:14). The fervour of love challenges time, and the slow-moving wheels of years and months, and reckons an hour for a day, and a day for a year, “Oh, when wilt thou come to me?” (Psalm 101:2). Faith with love cannot endure to wait until tomorrow; faith puts Christ to posting, and “leaping over mountains, and skipping over hills,” (Cant. 2:8😉 and adds wings to him, to flee more quickly. Yet is there a caution here most considerable: Faith both walks leisurely, and with leaden feet, and moves swiftly with eagle’s wings. Faith, in regard of love, and desire of union with God, is swift, and hath strong motions for a union; yea, a love-sickness to be at the top of the mount, to be satiated with a feast of Christ’s enjoyed face; but, in regard of a wise assurance, that God’s time is fittest, it makes no haste. So, to wait on, and to haste, may stand together, (2 Pet. 3:10). Samuel Rutherford

What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me? He now exclaims with devout admiration, that the multitude of God’s benefits was greater than he could find language to give expression to the grateful emotions of his heart. The question is emphatic, What shall I render? and imports, that it was not the desire, but the means, of which he was destitute, to enable him to render thanks to God. Acknowledging his inability, he adopts the only means in his power, by extolling the grace of God as highly as he could. “I am exceedingly wishful to discharge my duty, but when I look around me, I find nothing which will prove an adequate recompense.” Some understand the phrase, upon me, to intimate, that David had the recollection of all the benefits which God bestowed on him deeply engraved upon his mind. Others, supply the particle for, What shall I render unto Jehovah for all his benefits towards me? But it is much better to make the first clause of the verse a complete sentence, by putting a period after Jehovah. Because, after confessing his incompetency, or rather his having nothing to offer to God as a sufficient compensation for his benefits, he at the same time adds in confirmation of it, that he was laid under such obligations, not by one series of benefits only, but by a variety of innumerable benefits. “There is no benefit on account of which God has not made me a debtor to him, how should I have means of repaying him for them?” All recompense failing him, he has recourse to an expression of thanksgiving as the only return which he knows will be acceptable to God. David’s example in this instance teaches us not to treat God’s benefits lightly or carelessly, for if we estimate them according to their value, the very thought of them ought to fill us with admiration. There is not one of us who has not God’s benefits heaped upon us. But our pride, which carries us away into extravagant theories, causes us to forget this very doctrine, which ought nevertheless to engage our unremitting attention. And God’s bounty towards us merits the more praise, that he expects no recompense from us, nor can receive any, for he stands in need of nothing, and we are poor and destitute of all things.

The cup of salvation He refers to a custom which was prevalent under the Law. For when they rendered solemn thanks to God, a feast was also appointed, at which they poured out a holy drink offering. This being a symbol of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, is for that reason here called the cup of salvation . The term to call upon, signifies to celebrate the name of God; and this he expresses more plainly, subsequently, by saying that he would pay his vows in the assembly of the faithful. The amount is, that the faithful need not be greatly perplexed about the way of performing their duties, God not demanding from them a return which he knows they are unable to give, but being satisfied with a bare and simple acknowledgment. The proper return is to own our obligation to him for everything. If God deal so kindly and mercifully with us, and we fail in giving to him the tribute of praise for our deliverance which he claims, then our inactivity becomes the more base. And certainly they are unworthy of the enjoyment, I say not of the riches of the world, but of the light of the sun and the air by which we breathe and live, who would rob the Author of them of the small return which so legitimately belongs to him. The Mosaic ritual has indeed been abrogated, and along with it the external libation referred to by David, yet the spiritual service, as we found in Psalm 50:23, “The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me,” is still in force. Let us, however, bear in mind, that God is lawfully praised by us, when we offer in sacrifice not only our tongues, but also ourselves, and all that we possess. And this not because God derives any profit from it, but because it is reasonable that our gratitude should manifest itself in this way.

John Calvin

• Give thanks that the hip replacement surgery for Mrs. Elizabeth Rozeboom went well and she is recuperating at home. What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me? Ps. 116:12.
• Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for everything I received for my birthday, cards, emails, gifts, good wishes and your presence at the potluck. We appreciate your warm love and support. It is our sincere prayer that the Lord will bless you all with his saving grace and presence.   –Pastor Vanden Berg

Sunday Morning Worship: 9:15am

Theme: The LORD fighting for his people
1. The ark compassing the city
2. The people shouting
3. Destruction and salvation
Psalter 112:1-4
Joshua 6:6-27 (16)
Psalter 242:1-4
Psalter 20:1-6
Psalter 420:1-2

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Sunday Evening Worship: 6pm

Theme: A humble and needy prayer of faith
Psalter 163:1-3
2 Chronicles 20:1-19 (12) HC LD45 qa117
Psalter 356:1-3
Psalter 152:1-5
Psalter 439:1-2

 

 

Service at 7pm

Theme: How to behave in affliction
1. Praying to God
2. Warning enemies
3. Encouraging friends
Psalter 52:1-4
Psalm 4:1-8 (5)
Psalter 6:1-6
Psalter 415:8-10

Sunday Morning Worship: 9:15am

In what glory is our delight?
1. Approaching the king
2. The desire of Esther
3. The desire of Haman
Psalter 91:1-5
Esther 5:1-14 (11)
Psalter 416:5-7
Psalter 155:1-4
Psalter 71:1-5

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Sunday Evening Worship: 6pm

Why is prayer necessary?
Psalter 391:1-4
Psalm 50:1-23 (14-15) HC LD45 qa116
Psalter 139:1-6
Psalter 301:1-4
Psalter 439:3-4

• Please pray for Mrs. Elizabeth Rozeboom who is scheduled to undergo a hip replacement surgery on Tuesday morning.
• The collections for January 2019 are as follows:

General $ 6,868.45

Building $ 5,550.00

CEF $ 1,365.00

Benevolent $    261.26

Prison Book Ministry $ 1,375.00

• Save the date: Prayer Day services held on March 13.

The next Lord’s Supper is planned for April 14.

• We have changed the monthly Lay Preaching class to be held the first Thursdayof every month. Please consider attending this class, even though you may not consider yourself a candidate for lay preaching. Everyone is welcome. Pastor Vanden Berg gives a short lesson on expository preaching, we hear a short practice message delivered by one of the class attendees, and the class discusses the message with constructive advice.

“Because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.” —1 Kings14:13.

I want you first to consider the very singular fact which you cannot understand, that holy children should be often placed in ungodly families. God’s providence has arranged it so, yet the consequences are painful to the young believer. You would think that if God loved a child he would not suffer it to be born unto Jeroboam’s court. Why is this?
Well first they are God’s protest against sin where no other protest would be heard—a tender touching message from God to let the ungodly know that there is something better than the sin in which they wallow. Holy children are as angels and demons, by their innocence rebuking sin. Does not God send children there also to make a display of his divine grace, that we may see that he chooses whom he wills and takes one of a family according to his good pleasure? Does he not also show us that he can keep grace alive in the most unlikely places where all things war against the soul? The grace of God can live where you and I would die. The life of grace can continue under conditions, which threaten death. Some of the brightest and most gracious people have been found where there was nothing to keep them, but everything to hinder them. Does not the Lord permit this to show what his grace can do? and is it not intended to be an encouragement to each of us to be faithful? for if this dear child could be faithful to God with such a father and mother, and in such a court, ought you and I to be afraid? Oh, you big man, let a child shame you—you were afraid to speak out before your work-mates the other day!

Is it not remarkable how God distributes his people, as we scatter salt? He sets one of them down in each den of evil. Saul the king is a great rebel against God; but close at his side is Jonathan: thus the sweetest flower that ever bloomed is found growing near the roughest bramble that could be found. What a sty of filthiness was the court or Ahab! and yet he had for his chamberlain Obadiah, who hid the servants of God by fifties in a cave, and fed them from Jezebel’s table; Nebuchadnezzar must not be left without three holy champions who can go into the fire for God. Look at Belshazzar drinking wine out of the cups of the sanctuary, and yet a Daniel is employed in his court. Even in the court of Ahasuerus, Esther is placed to confront that wicked Haman. Oh, I think there is never an Uz without a Job, nor a Chaldea without an Abraham, nor a Sodom without a Lot, nor an Egypt without a Moses, nor a house of Eli that has gone astray without some little Samuel sent of God to bear his protest. Think over the ways of God to man and admire what you cannot understand. CH Spurgeon

• There are no Christian education classes after the service this morning.
• Save the date: Family camp at Camp Michawana, August 20 and 21.
• Pastor Vanden Berg plans to celebrate his birthday on February 4. We invite you all to remember his birthday with him at our potluck on Friday, February 8. A presentation for Come Over and Help, led by Vaidotas Ickysof Lithuanian, will be held after supper at 7:30 pm.
• The youth group of Springford Reformed Church has invited our young people for a time of topics and activities on February 15 and 16. We would like to leave the church parking lot at 1 pm Friday and plan to return by 8 pm on Saturday. We need to know if you plan to attend by next Saturday, February 2. Contact 616-676-6372 or walter@adavalley.com.
• The Providence Reformed Inmate fund is an account we keep at Reformation Heritage books.  These funds areused to purchase books for inmates who write to the bookstore requesting books.  Chris Engelsma receives these requests and sends books to these men and women which will best help them serve the Lord in their situation.  This ministry has been a great blessing to many behind bars who struggle with issues in theology or have questions that arise in their Bible reading.  If you have further questions, please speak with Chris Engelsma.