“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come…” According to the Jewish way of reckoning days a new day starts at sundown. But that is the night part; the day is fully come in the morning. By the way, what morning was it? “pentecost” means “feast of the fiftieth (day).” Counting from the Passover, 7 sabbaths are “completed” and then on the next morning (read: Leviticus 23:15-16). That was the day when the Hebrews (Jews) celebrated the full harvest.” So the Lord had it planned that He would shower His Church with the abundantharvest of the Holy Spirit’s gifts and graces as a fruit of Jesus’death (Passover) and resurrection (Easter) on that special first day of the week, Pentecost. And what were the conditions in that congregation as they anticipated this equipping and reviving work of the Holy Spirit? They were “all with one accord in one place.” (Acts 2:1) You can be sure that Thomas was in church that Sunday! (cf. Heb.10:25). Furthermore, they were “in one accord,” they were of one mind, in harmony with each other. There was an agreement in the faith, a uniting love, and they were all in prayer for the blessed presence of the Lord through the promised gift of His Spirit. (cf. Acts 1:14). When a congregation is together with that kind of unity and harmony in one place, in the name of the Lord, inprayer, on the Lord’s Day,....may we not expect something special?
"But from there." (Deut.4:29) Moses speaks here of the Israelites living far away from their God and from their own country. He is saying, if they do not obey the Lord, and keep His Covenant of Grace, but they serve idols, then God will drive them out of the promised land of Canaan. They will there become like the pagans of that foreign country. "But." even then, not all hope is lost for them. If "from there," as far away from the Lord as they may feel in that strange land -- if they will seek the Lord. with all their heart and soul, then they will find Him.
What about us? Left to ourselves we actually do not seek the Lord, do we? "There is none that seeks after God." (Rom.3:11) By nature we would go along with the pagan world, adoring its idols (money, rock stars, popularity, pleasure.). For rejecting God, we deserve to be abandoned far away from God.
But to us also God says something wondrous here. He does not simply say, "IF you seek me." He says it as a promise. "You WILL seek the LORD your God, and you WILL find Him.." There will be those whom He has chosen to save. He will work in their heart by His Sovereign grace so that they WILL seek Him. (Jer.29:10-14). They will seek Him with all their heart. How gracious the Lord is! He works by His Spirit so that His people DO seek Him whole-heartedly.
What is your desire as you come to church? Is it only custom? Or are you sincerely SEEK the Lord? The promise also is addressed to you: "You will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul."
“I will worship toward Your holy temple,…” The worship of Old Testament believers was closely connected with the Tabernacle, or (after Solomon) the Temple of Jerusalem. There the Lord had chosen to dwell in the midst of His people Israel, above the Ark of the Covenant, between the golden cherubim. (Ex.25:22, 16:2). Israel worshipped in the Temple, since God was pleased to assure them of His presence by appearing to them there, receiving their sacrifices there, and speaking to them there (Lev.1:3, 17:1-9, cf. Ezek. 43:7). Even from a far away country (where no sacrifices could be made) they worshipped toward the Temple (I Kg.8:30), as Daniel did (Dan. 6:10). Yet, they knew that God was in heaven (1 Kg. 8:30, 43, Is.63:15). But the Priestly sacrifice for sin was made there, and God had called them to worship in such a way as to be mindful of their need of this mediatorial sacrifice, as the publican did when he pleaded for forgiving mercy. In the New Testament, the Gospel has spread throughout the world. Jesus prepared us to expect that worship would no longer be limited to one place (John 4:21). Yet we are still called to worship “toward God’s temple,” where the perfect High Priest has entered as the Lamb of God, having given Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin (Heb.9:11). There Jesus is preparing the Temple of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 3:12, 11:19, 15:5, 21:2). From there Christ is also preparing His Church as His Bride. How appropriate then that our worship be heaven-directed! May our mind, heart and affections be lifted up “toward heaven,” “seeking those things which are above, where Christ is.” (Col.3:1,2).
“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”(Job 33:4) How patient and submissive Job was! Even in the midst of his deep troubles and suffering (cf. Job 1 & 2), he continued to fear God and retained a high respect for life. It is the sovereign right of God alone to give it and take it (cf. Job 1:21). While in the midst of his agony, his wife suggested that he “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). Job rebukes his wife for speaking foolishly (Job 2:10). Such God-defying suggestions are exactly what the Devil wants us to hear as we are on our death bed or in suffering (Job 1:11, 2:6). Such is the suggestion of our ungodly society: “If you are suffering, just give up on God and the belief in an eternity, and just end it all!” They call it “Euthanasia” − literally, “good-death.” But it is the worst death anyone could experience… and much worse suffering awaits those who in a state of hardened unbelief commit such a suicidal act (or help others, a la “assisted suicide”). We ought to be alarmed at such suggestions, and also about the legal action which is now before our parliament in the form of Bill 384. I am encouraging all, especially the young people (who want to “Do Hard Things”) to attend the ARPA meeting to find out what we can do to defend of life at all stages.
“E pluribus unum” is a phrase taken from an ancient Latin poem. (It was adopted as a motto for the Seal of the United States and is found embossed on US currency.) Its original author (possibly, Virgil) used it to describe the colors of light: many different colors make up white light, which then separate through a prizm or a cloud to make up the rainbow. White light is “out of many, one;” it is unity and diversity.
So also is the human body. This also is what the church is and is called to be: unified diversity. Paul says: “Many members in one body” (Romans 12:5; I Cor.12:12).
Furthermore, the marvel of the universal Church is that Christ by the Gospel gathers people out of many nations together into the unity of one confession of faith. In a congregation there is such diversity: different faces, personalities, gifts, strengths, weaknesses, natural ages, spiritual maturity, insights, etc.
The miracle of this unity comes to its sharpest focus when we experience a local congregation of such different, sin-burdened people “in harmony, in one place, in prayer” (Acts 1:14, 2:1) “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph.4:4-6)
May we all worship the Lord in the experience of that harmony and oneness to which we are called, willing to live in fellowship and love with one another. What a miracle church harmony is! Out of so many different people one gathering, united by one faith, one baptism, one Lord -- worshipping in the union of prayer, sacrament, and song! Let us value it as precious and handle it carefully since it is fragile. Let us “endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph.4:3).
FROM THE PASTOR “Faithful Mercies” As we reflect on the year past and enter a new year, we can certainly say with the Jeremiah, “It is of the Lord’s mercies...” It has indeed been a year of struggles and trials, but also a year which evidenced the faithful care of the Lord, providing for us as individuals, as families and as congregation. All praise to the Lord: “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” (see Lam.3:22,23). May the great faithfulness of our Covenant God be experienced and acknowledged by us all as we humbly thank Him for the mercies of the past year. Throughout 2012, as we daily come to the Lord to express our need for the blessing of His forgiving and renewing grace, may we also go on to praise Him with resolute “thanks-living” as we experience
There is a difference between religious ritualism and worship. Religious ritualism is a performance of certain religious actions, words or ceremonies without any heart-rooted belief in God or communion with Him. Indeed there are so many of the world’s religions whose members can do nothing but perform rituals. They are to be pitied. The one whose name they call on as their “god” is not really there, so how can he hear them or answer?! (I Kings 18:29). Or they are bowing to a mere carved image or wood or stone. A dead thing! They are left longing for religious satisfaction but always walk away thirsty.
But not only pagans fall into the vanity of unsatisfying ritualism. There are professing Christians who also do so. They come to church with their heart still bound by the Covenant of Works. They are trying to earn God’s favour by their religious works, words, and ceremonies. Without knowing God or the Gospel they merely go through the motions. They have to admit that their prayers are but “vain repetitions” (Mat.6:7), their tithes are “vain oblations” (Is.1:13), and their Sabbath rest is not a delight to themselves and so how could their worship be pleasing to God? (Is.1:13-15, 58:13).
But that is also the kind of worship that the people were left with in Jerusalem – with the externalizing of the Temple worship and of the law of God that was taught there by Jerusalem’s religious leaders. They went to Jerusalem on the Feast of the Tabernacles and did not find any “living water.” (Jer.2:13) All their worship was like going for water to a broken cistern. It left them feeling dead, unsatisfied and even more thirsty. Until Jesus came and said: “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” (John 7:37). He still says, “Come.”
But – no matter what you do ceremoniously, no matter what you say or sing, no matter whether you attend the table or not – you will go away thirsty if you have not come to Him in the way of repentance and faith. Union is by faith. Communion with Christ is by faith alone. By faith alone we truly “drink in” the water of life; and only by faith can we “live out” the life of this spiritual water. Without faith we are left with mere ritual. We are left spiritually thirsty. Come to Christ (again), drink and truly worship.
Basing our DOCTRINE, PREACHING and WORSHIP on the BIBLE, the Vineland Free Reformed Church will compare (in the spectrum of churches)as OTHODOX in teaching, APPLICATORY in its preaching, and TRADITIONAL in its worship style.
We believe that the Bible is rightly called, the “holy scriptures” because its writings are the divinely inspired record of God’s own Word. No other writing is like it. The Bible is the only, infallible and sufficient standard for our faith and life.
As believers our conscience is bound only to the Bible as the Word of God. The Bible reveals the truth about GOD THE FATHER Himself and all about His being, glory and work that we are called to believe.
In the Bible Jesus Christ, the SON OF GOD is revealed. We believe that the Bible teaches that Jesus is truly God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, that He took on human nature (the Incarnation), that after His Death (as an atoning sacrifice) upon the Cross, He was buried, and after His Resurrection, Ascension was enthroned in Heaven at the Father’s right hand. The Bible teaches (Acts) how the Apostles preached the Gospel of Jesus as the only Saviour for the world. The Bible also teaches us about the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, who makes the Gospel call to salvation — the call to repent from sin and believe in Jesus — effective. We affirm the doctrines of grace (known as the “Five Points of Calvinism”) - because the Bible teaches that salvation is all of grace. The Bible also reveals how believers are sanctified and directs them how to live by faith and to love their neighbor to show their gratitude to God for saving them.
As members of a federation of churches (the FREE REFORMED CHURCHES OF NORTH AMERICA) we unite by confessing and fully subscribing to the three historic Reformed confessions (the CREEDS commonly known as the "Three Forms of Unity"): The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, The Canons of Dordt. Through these confessions we also reach out to fellowship with other denominations, even beyond those which share our continental Reformed heritage. With other Reformed and Presbyterian believers we share a high interest in the writings of the Calvinistic preachers and teachers of Dutch and English Puritanism. Among other things this common interest includes the promotion of preaching that is characterized by a close application of God's Word to the conscience of the hearer, an application that is convicting, discerning and experiential.
We very much appreciate the service of SERMON AUDIO. In a time in which worship is placing more emphasis on entertainment or upon visual (“seeing”) we welcome their motto: “faith cometh by hearing” (Rom.10:17). (As Bunyan taught, Prince Immanuel comes into the City of Man’s Soul by the Ear Gate.) A living God offers a living Saviour to needy sinners by means of the Gospel — the preached Word. That is a matter that calls for a living, realistic, urgent, anointed preaching. How can we expect the Holy Spirit to produce faith without aiming as churches to provide such preaching of the Word! Lord of the harvest send forth reapers!
We appreciate any feedback that you may have. Feel free to contact us and let us know if you have enjoyed this service.
Please tune in to our worship services Sundays at 9:30am and 3:30pm EST. We appreciate any feedback that you may have. Feel free to contact us and let us know if you have enjoyed this service. Basing our DOCTRINE, PREACHING and WORSHIP on the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Thurs/Fri, April 10-11 – 7:30pm. The Awake to Praise Easter Concert held at our church. The same concert will be held on two evenings to accommodate all who wish to attend, also featuring strings and trumpets. Join us in song remembering the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Thurs/Fri, April 10-11 – 7:30pm. The Awake to Praise Easter Concert held at our church. The same concert will be held on two evenings to accommodate all who wish to attend, also featuring strings and trumpets. Join us in song remembering the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Baptism ServicePastor Joel Overduin Text: John 3: 5 & HC Q&A 6,7,8,9Theme: We Need a Miracle Now1. The reality that describes us by nature2. The history that explains what happened3. The glory that alone makes all the difference
Elder B. DeJong Scripture : John 11 : 1 - 45 Text : John 11 : 25 - 26 Jesus Declares Himself to be the Source and Fountain of Life He Has the Life He Gives the Life
Rev. P. VanderMeyden Scripture : 1 Corinthians 15 : 1 - 23 Text : 1 Corinthians 15 : 7a Jesus’ Gracious Appearance to James Who was this James? How was he converted? What was...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
