New Hope Reformed Church

Today's passage from John 5 centers us on the truths that Jesus is truly divine and truly our sovereign King.

The book of Ruth is set during the time of Israel's judges and is a character study of three people living in those perilous and interesting times. This sermon focuses on a fourth 'character', the primary focus of the book, God Himself. The question arises, what does the book of Ruth tell us about who God is and how He interacts in the lives and circumstances of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. in 4 short chapters there are 11 direct references to the Lord that show His action and providence in building and forwarding His covenant plan.

Our Lord, in His time on earth, not only commanded us to evangelize the world, showed us how by example. In John 4, we see several points that can inspire and aid us as we seek to follow Christ's example. 1. Opportunities for evangelism come via divine appointment. 2. God foreshadowed His message throughout covenant history. 3. Evangelism puts out the fires of Balkanization. 4. Evangelism is strictly about Jesus Christ. 5. The lost may know they have a need but they do not know what they need. 6. The gospel is like cool refreshing water for tired souls crawling through the desert. 7. When God gives water to the lost, it lasts forever. 8. God cares about doctrine. 9. The stinger of the evangelistic message is Christ saying, "I am He". 10. Evangelism is the Lord using His servants to reveal Himself.

Today we celebrated Christ's Incarnation and celebrated Christmas In July. Matthew's gospel presents 3 kings (not just the 3 Magi depicted in the famous carol) but three kings, 2 earthly, human and spiritual and 1 divine, holy and true. Only one of these Kings is the Lord of Lords, the true King of all kings. Matthew calls us to see the power and humanity of the world and to follow our one true King. Christ is King! Revelation 11:15-18 hen the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms[fn] of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: ​ ​​"We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, ​​The One who is and who was and who is to come,[fn] ​​Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 ​​The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, ​​And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, ​

Psalm 116 presents the life of a simple man (one who willingly and rebelliously lives apart from God in ignorance: "I know I don't know and I don't want to know"). This simple man was led into despair and need and called on God in his desperation. The Psalm illustrates how God's graciousness and righteousness co-mingle and create mercy. That mercy, shown to the simple saves and brings godly effects: 1. The no longer simple man loves the Lord with his whole heart. 2. He will seek God and depend on Him always. 3. He will fulfill His vows-he will do the good works that God has predestined and prepared for him to walk in 4. Even death will be transformed by God's mercy 5. The no longer simple man will have freedom from fear both in this life and for eternity. Psalm 116:5-7 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; ​​Yes, our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; ​​I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, ​​For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

Augustine spoke, "I believe that I may understand", a truth that can be drawn from Psalm 131. The Psalmist describes those whose wills have risen before understanding but have had their will broken. Not broken by cruelty or negligent. Instead, the will has been broken by care and love and promised of better and greater sustenance. As believers, we are like a weaned child, calm and quiet, who has come to trust their parent and will come to understand. In that trust we can obey the Psalmist who says "Hope in the Lord!" Hope looks forward on the basis of faith knowing what has already happened and been promised. Faith is the beginning of real, knowledgeable life.

What is the essence of substitutionary atonement? Christ is the wrath of God for the world but the grace of God for those who have been given faith.

Psalm 148 commands and calls, Let EVERYTHING glorify God and enjoy Him forever. God will glorify Himself. He will establish the horn of Israel. The Psalmist calls upon all creation to glorify Him. Separation of church and state? Maybe, but there's no separation of Christ and state. No separation of Christ and culture. No separation of Christ and school. No separation of Christ and politeness. No separation of Christ from any aspect of creation. He made it all and the person who knows he's called to glorify God and enjoy Him forever can't rest until ALL creation is praising Him.

Absalom's story of usurping power includes offering to be the savior of his nation. It serves as a reminder that no -ism or -ocracy can save. Our salvation comes from God alone.

Psalm 147: 8-9 God reigns over the nations; ​​God sits on His holy throne. ​​The princes of the people have gathered together, ​​The people of the God of Abraham. ​​For the shields of the earth belong to God; ​​He is greatly exalted.

From the account of the cleansing of the temple recorded in John 2, we learn several lessons: 1. God's worship is to come only from God's plans. 2. God desires worship from a converted heart, not from pretty aesthetics. 3. God sees and knows the difference-what is in a man, his motivations, reasons and reasoning. God HATES hypocrisy. 4. True religion is about the true temple-Jesus.

Christ's engagement at the wedding in Cana provides us some interesting truths: 1. an understanding of covenants and sacraments 2. how Christians can participate in societal joy 3. what constitutes a miracle, a sign and a wonder-what they are and how they relate to each other 4. What the message and true significance of Christ's first sign is

Today's commenting on our Old Testament reading reminds of our own failures, weaknesses and moral evil. It also reminds us of God's faithful working of His own plan, despite and even through our sins.

Over the centuries the eras of the Church have been defined by essential questions. The early church wrestled with the question, "Who and what is God?" They answered that in the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasius Creeds. The church of the Middle Ages entering the modern world asked, "What is salvation." and the creeds and confessions of the Reformation framed those answers. Today's church wrestles with the basic question, "By what authority do we do speak?" or "Who or what is our final authority." Today's text, Psalm 110:1, answers that question telling us who our Overseer, our Bishop, our Elder is and how he governs us.