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Covenant Reformed News - January 2024
- Published in Covenant PRC Ballymena, Northern Ireland
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Today, January 14, is the second Lord's Day of this new year of our Lord 2024. Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news. It is our hope that these reports not only inform you but also give you opportunity to pray for the needs of these churches and mission fields throughout the world.
If you are new to this website and the PRCA, we invite you to join us in worship today or on any of the Sunday's of this year at one of our local congregations near you, or listen online.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. ..Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. ...Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good. ~ Psalm 122:1-4,6,9
Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Prof. C. Griess and Rev. C. Haak in Georgetown PRC; Rev. J. Engelsma (2nd week) in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Rev. E. Guichelaar in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. M. DeBoer (2nd week) in Loveland PRC; Rev. S. Regnerus (2nd week) led in Lynden PRC; Rev. W. Bruinsma (emeritus) in Pittsburgh PRC. May we count it a blessing of our church federation that we can help one another in these needs. Let us remember to pray for the men who supply these pulpits and for the vacant congregations. And may we continue to pray for men to hear the call to serve as pastors and missionaries!
Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:
See FMC note below about a delegation to San Luis Potosi, Mexico this week
PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS
Prof. R. Dykstra teaching his 2024 Interim course this past week at PRTS.
PRC Seminary Notices:
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!
What do the Protestant Reformed Churches believe and practice? What makes her distinctive in the world of Christian and Reformed denominations? Read and study this resource to learn more about her.
"The text [Rev.21:3-5] has something about that blessed new estate: God will dwell with them. You are very particular whom you invite into the intimate circle of your family. Not just anyone occupies a chair in the parlor, the sitting room, the front room.
"So is God particular. He does not invite just anyone. He invites only His own whom He saw in the palms of His hands from all eternity. And their image in that palm was beautiful.
"And God works with and in His people, until they are as beautiful as His Christ whose image is in the very center of that palm of God. We call that process, that operation: sanctification.
"And that process begins on earth.
"The beauty of the Godhead is given when you are born anew. It is brought to your consciousness in conversion.
"He even gives us a place where we may practice how to behave in the House of God in heaven.
"And that place is the church on the Sabbath.
"It is a bad sign when they must drag you to church. Then you have not tasted that the Lord is gracious. Church is the most beautiful thing on earth. It is the anticipation of God's tabernacle in the New World."
~ Taken from the Standard Bearer meditation "A Year of Eternal Beauty" by Gerrit Vos
News from the Reformed Witness Hour
January 2024
Help Us Get the Word Out!
This month we have four Christ-centered, gospel-themed messages to share!
In January we will complete Rev. W. Bruinsma’s series and begin a new series on the 10 commandments by a new radio pastor, Professor Douglas Kuiper of the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary.
January 7, 2024
The Lord Revealed from Heaven
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
January 14, 2024
Ehud: Deliverer of the Covenant
Judges 3:12-30
January 21, 2024
Learning Contentment
Philippians 4:11
January 28 - Prof. D. Kuiper
An Overview of the Law
Matthew 5:17-20
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The delegates of the nineteen churches of Classis East of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America met at Hope Protestant Reformed Church in Walker, MI on January 10, 2024. Rev. David Noorman (Southwest PRC), chairman of the September 2023 meeting, led opening devotions by reading 1Thessalonians 5 and opening with prayer. After all of the delegates were seated, Rev. Justin Smidstra (First PRC of Holland, MI) presided as chairman for the rest of the meeting.
Morning Session
After Rev. Smidstra assumed the chair, three elders, who served for the first time at classis, signed the Formula of Subscription. The transcription of the minutes of the September 23, 2023 meeting was approved. The questions of Article 41 of the Church Order were asked and answered. Approval was given to the work of the Stated Clerk, the Classical Committee, and the Church Visitors after they read their reports.
In closed session classis treated a request from a consistory for advice regarding the discipline of a baptized member of their congregation. Classis advised the consistory to erase the baptized member who, not heeding the repeated admonitions of the elders, continues walking in sin.
The chairman appointed five committees of pre-advice and then declared that classis was in recess so that the committees could get to work.
The Hope kitchen committee provided lunch for the delegates.
Afternoon Session
Elder Brad Dykstra (Unity PRC) began the afternoon session by reading Psalm 25:1-5 and opening with prayer.
Now we need to introduce committee one. The chairman appointed Rev. Noorman (Southwest), Rev. J. Holstege (First, Grand Rapids), Rev. Maatman (Southeast) and elders Jon Lubbers (Byron Center), Murray Geertsma (Wingham), and Josh Hoekstra (Hudsonville) to the committee. He tasked the committee with preparing advice in response to seven protests. To read these protests login to the bulletin page on prca.org and open the Classis East file.
The first task of the committee was to provide classis with advice on whether the protests were legally before classis. The committee recommended that classis declare the protests legal. Classis approved the recommendation of the committee. One part of one of the protests regarding how the Stated Clerk made decisions public after the September 2023 meeting was declared not legal. If the protests were declared illegal, committee one’s work would have been concluded. However, since classis declared the protests legal, committee one’s mandate is to provide classis with advice on around 200 pages of material appearing in the agenda!
Before breaking so that committee one could get to work, classis treated advice from committee two regarding an appeal. Serving classis on committee 2 were the Revs. Lee (Kalamazoo), McGeown (Providence), and Decker (Grandville), and Elders Pete VanderSchaaf (Faith), Titus Mahtani (Pittsburgh), and Don Kuiper (Southeast). Committee two was tasked with providing classis with advice regarding a sexual abuse case. Deliberations on the appeal took place in closed session. The appeal asked classis to judge that a consistory erred in judging that the sins of sexual abuse committed in this case were private. The appeal asked that classis judge that the sins “are a public matter.” Committee two recommended that the appeal be declared legal, and classis adopted the recommendation. Therefore, committee two, along with committee one, had more work to do in preparing advice on whether or not classis should sustain the appeal.
Revs. Langerak (Trinity) and Daniel Holstege (Wingham) and Elders Ed Tolsma (Pittsburgh) and Mark Vanden Berg (First, Holland) were appointed to committee three. They were tasked with proposing a schedule appointing the ministers of Classis East to preach for the vacant congregations in the classis—Georgetown, Hudsonville, and Pittsburgh. Classis adopted the schedule they presented and then recessed the rest of the afternoon so the committees could continue to work.
The Hope kitchen committee provided supper for the delegates.
Evening Session
Elder Randy Dykstra (Zion) opened the evening session with prayer.
Committee two recommended that classis sustain the appeal which asked classis to judge that the sins of sexual abuse that were reported “are a public matter.” Classis made a significant decision, that took into account previous decisions of Classis East and West, judging that “the nature of the sin” makes it necessary for “the name of the abuser and the sin” to “be made public to the congregation.” This decision reminds us to pray for victims and survivors of sexual abuse—may they be properly cared for by the church of Jesus Christ; for abusers to be stopped in their way of sin and called to broken-hearted repentance; and for consistories that God grant them His wisdom and strength in responding to abuse.
Committee four was tasked with providing advice on the subsidy requests of needy churches. Revs. Eriks (Unity) and Mahtani (Hope, Walker) and Elders Randy Dykstra (Zion) and Dowie VanderShcaaf (Providence) served on committee four. Classis approved subsidy for Kalamazoo in the amount of $50,000, Pittsburgh in the amount of $37,200 (without a pastor) and $89,700 (with a pastor), and Providence in the amount of $51,000 for 2025. These
decisions will be forwarded to Synod 2024 for its approval.
Election Results
Synodical Delegates for Synod 2024: Primi elders: Rick Gritters (Trinity), Josh Hoekstra (Hudsonville), Steve Kuiper (Southwest), Jon Lubbers (Byron Center), John VanBaren (Hudsonville). Secundi elders: Brad Bruinsma (Grandville), Terry Dykstra (Trinity), Ken Engelsma (Hope), Dave Langerak (Byron Center), Dave Rau (Southwest). Primi Ministers: Revs. Decker, Eriks, Langerak, Mahtani, Spronk. Secundi Ministers: Prof. Dykstra, Revs. D. Holstege, Lee, Noorman, Smidstra.
Synodical Deputies from the east (three-year term): Primi: Rev. Lee; Secundi: Rev. McGeown.
Classical Committee (three-year term): Rev. Lee
Church Visitors for 2024: Prof. Dykstra and Rev. Eriks with the alternates of Revs. Decker, Langerak, and Mahtani.
Recess
Committee one recommended that classis recess until 8:00am on February 8, 2024 so that it could have more time to formulate advice in response to the seven protests. Classis adopted the recommendation, and Rev. Smidstra closed the meeting with prayer. May God be with the members of committee one as they work on advice to present on February 8.
Rev. Clayton Spronk
Stated Clerk, Classis East
Note: For a pdf of this report, use this link.
Today, January 7, is the first Lord's Day of this new year of our Lord 2024. Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news. It is our hope that these reports not only inform you but also give you opportunity to pray for the needs of these churches and mission fields throughout the world.
If you are new to this website and the PRCA, we invite you to join us in worship today or on any of the Sunday's of this year at one of our local congregations near you, or listen online.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. ~ Psalm 121:1-5
Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Prof. C. Griess and Rev. W. Langerak in Georgetown PRC; Rev. J. Engelsma (1st week) in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Prof. C. Griess in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. M. DeBoer (1st week) in Loveland PRC; Rev. S. Regnerus (1st week) led in Lynden PRC. May we count it a blessing of our church federation that we can help one another in these needs. Let us remember to pray for the men who supply these pulpits and for the vacant congregations. And may we continue to pray for men to hear the call to serve as pastors and missionaries!
Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:
PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS
PRC Seminary Notices:
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!
What do the Protestant Reformed Churches believe and practice? What makes her distinctive in the world of Christian and Reformed denominations? Read and study this resource to learn more about her.
"This God, Who is eternal and forever, is our God! He created us in Adam in the beginning and He recreated us in Christ Jesus, redeeming us from our sin and delivering us from our death. God made us living members of the church, chosen in Christ to life and glory, and gathered by the Son of God out of the whole human race by His Word and Spirit.
"This God is our God! He established His covenant of friendship and fellowship with us and our children. God maintains and realizes that covenant! This God causes all to work for our good and salvation. And this God, our God, does all, of this according to His counsel and by the power of His sovereign, particular grace!
"This eternal God will be our guide even unto death. The text, correctly translated, reads, "He will shepherd us." This means God will nourish and feed us. No man does this. Our eternal God does this by His grace and Holy Spirit through those whom He calls. God does this chiefly by means of the preaching of His inspired, infallible Word and by the use of the sacraments. That God shepherds us means as well that He rules us by His grace so that we willingly serve Him in love. God protects us from all our enemies, preserves and sustains us through every trial, every suffering, and through all of our sorrows. God gives us grace sufficient for our every need and guides us every step along our way, the way which He in His wisdom and love has determined for each of us.
"Our eternal God will shepherd us even unto death. This means simply that from the moment of our birth to the moment of our death God will shepherd us. He never leaves or forsakes us, not for a split second. God cares for us to the very end.
"And because this is true, nothing can be against us, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. All things are for us!"
~ Taken from the Standard Bearer article "The Eternal God: Our Guide" by Robert D. Decker
Today, December 31, the fifty-second Lord's Day of 2023, we stand at the end of this year of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are reminded of the changing and fleeting nature of our lives here in this world, but also of the unchanging and enduring nature of our sovereign God. In faithfulness once more He has led us, cared for us, and guided us closer to our eternal home. May we trust Him and walk with Him as we embark on a new year tomorrow.
Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news. It is our hope that these reports not only inform you but also give you opportunity to pray for the needs of these churches and mission fields throughout the world.
If you are new to this website and the PRCA, we invite you to join us in worship today or on any of the Sunday's of this year at one of our local congregations near you, or listen online.
New Year's Day Services will be held in the PRC congregations Monday morning, January 1. You are cordially invited to join us in worship of our faithful God and Father, bringing Him our gifts of thanks and praise for His true and fulfilling covenant promises.
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. ...The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. ~ Psalm 90:1-2; 10-12
New Officebearer Resources: As many new officebearers are installed in this time of the year, we make you aware of a special resource page for elders and deacons (and pastors) on the PRC website. Here you will find sermons, elder and deacon seminar speeches, and recommended books and seminary syllabi on subjects related to your work.
Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Prof. C. Griess and Rev. G. Eriks in Georgetown PRC; Prof. B. Huizinga (2nd week plus New Year's) in Hope PRC-Redlands; Sem. A. Van Dyke and Rev. D. Noorman in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. S. Key (and New Year's) in Loveland PRC; Elder led in Lynden PRC. May we count it a blessing of our church federation that we can help one another in these needs. Let us remember to pray for the men who supply these pulpits and for the vacant congregations. And may we continue to pray for men to hear the call to serve as pastors and missionaries!
Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:
PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS
PRC Seminary under the last full moon of 2023 this past week
PRC Seminary Notices:
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!
Facing trials and afflictions at present? Do you have fears facing the new year? Read this resource for peace and comfort and hope in Jesus Christ!
"And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage." ~ Gen.47:8,9
How old are you?
Embarrassing question, you say!
Perhaps it is for some! Maybe you prefer not to answer it!
But such a question can prove to be very salutary! Especially is this so when one considers it wisely. It suggests, among other things, the fleetness of life; and it calls for retrospection, the careful taking of inventory of one's life.
Such was the question wherewith Pharaoh, king of Egypt, confronted Jacob. This third of a triumvirate of saints had lately come to Egypt at the invitation of his son Joseph, whom God had exalted so highly that he sat next to Pharaoh. And at the behest of Joseph, Jacob is brought before the monarch who is greeted by the venerable old saint with the salutation such dignitaries deserve; and where the grey-haired old gentleman is immediately asked the question: How old art thou?
That question evoked not only the answer as to the number of the years the saint had lived; but it caused all the years to pass in retrospect before his consciousness, so that he could properly assess them!
As this year draws to its close, another year of our lives is ended. Not only has the plan of God for the history of the world reached another milepost in its approach to its culmination, a fact in itself serious enough for earnest consideration. For though a thousand years with God are as one day, and vice versa, we know that the world's history is reckoned by years. Each successive year brings that history to its consummation. And from that point of view the end of this year is indicative of the fact that God is realizing His counsel for the ages. But our lives also have made an approach to their end! The foolish, of course, will fail to take this into consideration. He thinks he shall live forever. And with eating and drinking, with merrymaking, the blowing of whistles and the ringing of bells, he will attempt to drown out the thought concerning the fastly approaching end. But the saint, the child of God, will very seriously consider the passing of his years! Not so much to complain of their rapid passing, but to consider his calling as it must be fitted into a space of life which compared with that of others may appear to be very short, but which when considered in the line of duty may recall the trials and the testings, the joys and the evils to be experienced as one treads out the path on which his pilgrimage takes him!
~ Taken from a Standard Bearer Meditation by Rev. M. Schipper, "A Saint Recounting His Life"
Standing by faith and hope in our Lord Jesus on this last day of the year, December 31, 2023, we once again remember those PRC members who died and were received into glory by their Savior, including little ones not numbered here but known to their Savior.
We are also aware that many of our members lost other family members who were believers in Jesus and who have entered into their everlasting reward through Him - grandparents, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, and friends. These all now make up the church triumphant in our Father's house of many mansions.
Today, while the remembrance of these loved ones causes us sorrow, we rejoice to know that our faithful Father, our merciful Shepherd, and our abiding Comforter were present with us and ministering to us - through the Word and through pastors, fellow saints, and friends. In God's abounding grace He remained with us and with our loved ones, also in their dying moments. In His irresistible power He broke through all the darkness of death with the light of the gospel and comforted our loved ones and us. And by His merciful hand He delivered them out of this vale of tears and into His presence of endless joy! All praise be to our great and good God! May we humble ourselves before Him as we remember His work in the life and death of these precious saints of His, and may we prepare ourselves to die in the Lord with gospel peace.
Here, then, is the list of those PRC members who passed from this life into the life hereafter in this past year. I have counted 35 members who departed the church militant for the church triumphant in 2023. I have not knowingly or intentionally left anyone out. If you see someone that was missed, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
In Memoriam: PRC members who died in the Lord in 2023 (by month and date, with ages and church affiliation)
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
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I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:8-11)
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world (John 11:25-27).
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3)
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For 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. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. (Romans 14:7-9)
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:19-21).
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 6:18-20).
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (Revelation 14:13).
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).
Today, December 24 - Christmas Eve - is the fifty-first Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2023. Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news. It is our hope that these reports not only inform you but also give you opportunity to pray for the needs of these churches and mission fields throughout the world.
If you are new to this website and the PRCA, we invite you to join us in worship today or on any of the Sunday's of this year at one of our local congregations near you, or listen online.
Christmas Day Services will be held in the PRC congregations Monday morning, December 25. You are cordially invited to join us in worship of our Savior Jesus Christ, bringing Him our gifts of thanks and praise for the gracious, unspeakable gift of Himself to us sinners.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ~ Luke 2:7-12
Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Prof. C. Griess and Rev. G. Eriks in Georgetown PRC; Prof. B. Huizinga (1st week) in Hope PRC-Redlands; Rev. C. Haak and Rev. J. Holstege in Hudsonville PRC; Sem. A. Van Dyke in Loveland PRC; Elder led in Lynden PRC; Prof. D. Kuiper in Randolph PRC. May we count it a blessing of our church federation that we can help one another in these needs. Let us remember to pray for the men who supply these pulpits and for the vacant congregations. And may we continue to pray for men to hear the call to serve as pastors and missionaries!
Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:
PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS
This past week was final exam week for the students; here three of them take their Dogmatics exam for Prof. Huizinga's class.
PRC Seminary Notices:
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!
On Sale from the RFPA for December! Born for Our Salvation by Rev. M. McGeown - 50% off this month! Great gift idea!
"Where would we expect an eternal Ruler to be born? Well, Rome, Alexandria, in some great city of the world, some great city even in Judah—Jerusalem. But not in little Bethlehem, insignificant Bethlehem. Not in some little hick town that nobody knows about. You could list off one thousand towns of Judah in Micah’s day, and Bethlehem would not be in the list. The point is that the people of Bethlehem would not say, “Well, of course He’s born here. Look at us! We have a great city here.” No, God has picked the insignificant. God has picked what man would not pick.
"God is free. He is not impressed by any human achievement or worth. He is never constrained by any human greatness, to be in our debt. That is how Paul puts it in I Corinthians 1, where he says that not many mighty after the flesh have been called, but God has chosen the weak and lowly things in order that he that glorieth might glory in the Lord. And that is exactly the point of Micah 5:2. God is doing a thing in every generation that will give Him the glory and shut our mouths in taking the credit for anything. God is choosing a way that is least likely, in order to close our mouths, so that we might find all our boasting in Him and not in our proud accomplishments. God chose a stable, so no innkeeper could boast. God chose a manger, so no carpenter could boast. God put Him in swaddling clothes, so that no seamstress could boast. God saw that He was born in Bethlehem, so that no town, no group of men, could boast and could say to Him, “Well, of course He’s born in Bethlehem. Where would you expect the King of kings to be born but in our town, our great village.” No! Little Bethlehem, insignificant, not mentioned among the thousands of Judah. Insignificant Bethlehem is where God chose His Son to be born.
"He chose freely, as He chose all the elect. That is the deepest meaning. Every aspect of Jesus’ birth drips with God’s pure grace. God did not choose us because of some merit in us. It was not that God said, “Well, after all, they are not like other people. They are pretty good people down there over where you are. Look at their respectability, their accomplishments, their industry, their thrift. Well, of course, I will choose them.” Oh, no! You and I do not receive the blessings of Jesus Christ because we deserved it, earned it, merited it, or made ourselves worthy of it, or are of better stock than anyone else. We do not receive forgiveness and glory and salvation because we have made ourselves squeaky-clean and are better than others. But this is the message of the birth of Jesus Christ: The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared (Titus 2:11). The grace of God appeared in the most unlikely place—in Bethlehem, little among the thousands of Judah.
"But as the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem nullifies all human boasting, it magnifies God. Micah said, “Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” God says, “My Son, born there, is the eternal Ruler, the One in whom I have placed all power and authority, the One through whom I shall glorify Myself.” And again, the contrast is here, the wonder of who He is. That He comes out of Bethlehem, is told us in contrast to the shame-faced judges of Israel being slapped by the Assyrian generals; in contrast to them, a ruler comes who is eternal God—out of little Bethlehem. “Through His birth, cross, resurrection, and ascension He shall come to Me. And He shall be Ruler at My right hand.” Micah is saying, “He is much more than just a king in Israel. He is not a local hero. He is not a Palestinian ruler. He is not a Jewish idol. But He shall be great to the ends of the earth (v. 4). He will be King of kings and Lord of lords.” Don’t let the familiarity of that truth that He is King of kings and Lord of lords be taken away from you in your heart. He is King. He is King of Caesar, over the President, over Iraq, over Antichrist, over every lord—demonic and human."
~ Taken from the radio sermon "Eternal Ruler Out of Little Bethlehem" by Rev. C. Haak
Classis East
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Classis West
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