Call to Worship
Opening Hymn: Psalm 1A “That Man is Blest”
Confession of Sin
Almighty God, Who are rich in mercy to all those who call upon You; Hear us as we humbly come to You confessing our sins; And imploring Your mercy and forgiveness. We have broken Your holy laws by our deeds and by our words; And by the sinful affections of our hearts. We confess before You our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and willfulness; And all our failures and shortcomings toward You and toward fellow men. Have mercy upon us, Most merciful Father; And of Your great goodness grant that we may hereafter serve and please You in newness of life; Through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Deuteronomy 4:29-31
Psalm of Preparation: Psalm 3 “O LORD, How Many Are My Foes”
Old Covenant Reading: Daniel 11:20-39
New Covenant Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Sermon: Not Yet
Hymn of Response: Hymn 277 “Before the Throne of God Above”
Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism Q/A 1 (p. 872)
Pastoral Prayer
Closing Hymn: 511 “Take Up Your Cross”
Suggested Preparations
Monday (6/21) Read and discuss 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ESV)
Commenting on verses 6 through 8, John Stott writes:
Paul does not specify what form the rebellion will take. But the word he uses for it, apostasia, meant in classical Greek either a military revolt or a political defection, whereas in the Septuagint [the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament] it applied to religious apostasy, namely Israel’s rebellion against God. Presumably Antichrist’s revolt, therefore, being directed against God and Law, will even infiltrate and engulf the nominal church.
Not yet, however. For the rebellion will not take place until the chief revel has emerged. And, Paul adds, you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. Paul’s preoccupation here is with the time of the rebellion. He uses a series of time references, in order that the Thessalonians may grasp the order of events: ‘Now you know what is restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For already the mystery of lawlessness is at work secretly; but the one who now restrains it will continue to do so until he is removed. And then the lawless one will be revealed. Two processes are now already going on simultaneously. On the one hand the secret power of lawlessness is … at work surreptitiously and subversively. On the other hand, the restraining influence is also at work, preventing the secret rebelliousness from breaking out into open rebellion. Only when this control is lifted will first the revolt and then the Parousia take place.
The nature of what is holding him back, which is later personalized as the one who now holds it back, has caused commentators many headaches. Once again we stand at an initial disadvantage, because Paul’s Thessalonian readers knew what the restraining influence was, since he had regularly taught them about these things, whereas we have not the benefit of the Apostle’s initial instruction. It is not altogether surprising, then, that even the great Augustine, reacting against unprofitable conjectures, declared, ‘I frankly confess I do not know what he means.”
MEMORY WORK
Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.
Tuesday (6/22) Read and discuss Philippians 3:1-11
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)
Catechisms can give us short memorable definitions that we can hang our theological hats on. Those who look down upon such formulations as simplistic fail to grasp how helpful such clear and memorable definitions can be in living to the glory of God. Sometimes we find such clear and pithy definitions right in the Scriptures themselves. For example, in verse 3, Paul provides a remarkably concise and helpful definition of a Christian. What is a Christian?
1. Christians are the true people of God (“the circumcision”).
2. Christians worship by the Spirit of God.
3. Christians glory in the Christ Jesus.
4. Christians put no confidence in the flesh.
While these four identity markers fit together, it is the last marker that Christians are most frequently tempted to abandon. Our culture both cries out and subtly entices us to have confidence in our own ability to do good – apart from the Spirit of God. We begin teaching the power of positive thinking early. What is the most memorable line from The Little Engine that Could? “I think I can! I think I can! …” To the degree that this children’s story is simply teaching the importance of perseverance – that is for the good. But very easily this message crosses over into putting confidence in the flesh. When this idea grows up it takes a form like that of William Henley’s famous poem Invictus:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
This language is stirring but it is also damning. It would be difficult to find a better definition of the flesh than the assertion that my soul is unconquerable and that “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” What does Paul say about this sort of attitude? Paul says that Christians are those who put no confidence in the flesh … none at all.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 63. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Wednesday (6/23) Read and discuss Daniel 11:20-39.
“Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom. But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle. In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers’ fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed. And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.
“At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.
“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. (ESV)
Iain Duguid writes:
Why did Daniel need to hear about this history in his situation? The goal was to put the difficulties that the Jews were facing in 536 B.C. in perspective. There was nothing unique about the trials and tribulations that faced them. The court intrigues that delayed the building work on the Temple in Jerusalem and the opposition from powerful enemies that they encountered were not merely a temporary hiccup but would be an ongoing feature of life in this world. Their experience should therefore not surprise them, as if something unexpected and out of control were happening to them. God was in control of these machinations as well. Nor should they seek to take matters into their own hands, as if by rising up against the authorities they could bring about the establishment of God’s kingdom more swiftly. Patient endurance would continue to be the order of the day until God intervened to set up His kingdom.
This is an important lesson for us also to learn from this history. The kingdoms of this world often seem overwhelming in their power to accomplish great things, a power that can easily either cow Christians into a state of depressed submission or, alternatively, seduce them into trying to use the world’s power to do God’s work. Some Christians seem to believe that they can hasten the coming of God’s kingdom by achieving certain political goals. Yet at the end of the story, and for all their vaunted power, the kingdoms of this world can neither destroy God’s work nor establish it. They are merely tools in the hand of a sovereign God who is able to declare the end from the beginning because he alone ultimately controls the affairs of men and nations.
This truth is of great practical value in each of our lives. We all experience times when our existence seems caught up in a larger conflict that is completely out of control. Perhaps our job is threatened when a manufacturing plant is closed by corporate authorities located thousands of miles away. Perhaps political decisions or terrorist acts that are beyond our power to influence threaten our freedoms and lifestyle. Our health, or the health of someone we love, may be threatened by a disease against which we have no ability to guard. We live in a great big world and we are ever so small.
In such times of personal uncertainty, we need to cling firmly onto the knowledge that all of world events, from the greatest to the least, are not only known ahead of time to God but are under His sovereign power to control. Even those action that are initiated by godless men and women in pursuit of their own wicked purposes will ultimately achieve the Lord’s holy purposes (see Acts 4:27-28). He is the first and the last; apart from Him there is no God. He alone can foretell what the future holds because He holds it in His sovereign hand (see Isaiah 44:6-7).
MEMORY WORK
Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors or equals.
Thursday (6/17) Read and discuss Philippians 3:12-21
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)
“The athletics match had reached a critical stage. One of the final races had to be run: the 440 yards (the old version today’s 400 meters). The athletes were bunched together as they came to the first bend, and one of them was pushed over and fell right off the track. Quick as a flash he was back on his feet, and as though electrically charged by the incident, caught the other runners with a few paces to go and overtook them to win on the line. It was a famous victory, which features now in the move Chariots of Fire. What would you have done? Most of us, I suspect, would have accepted from the moment we fell over that we were out of the race, with no hope left. We might have been angry, but there would be nothing we could do about it. What had in fact just happened would keep us enslaved, with no hope of going on to what might have happened. With the athlete in question – the famous Eric Liddell – it was just the opposite. It was as though he had been reading this passage of Paul: forget what’s behind, strain every nerve to go after what’s ahead, and chase on towards the finishing post.” Paul is using an athletic metaphor to talk about the reality of the Christian life. Sometimes it is challenging. Sometimes we get knocked down. Sometimes we knock ourselves down. What are we to do when that happens? We all know the answer – we are to get up and press on. But how do we do that? There are two related answers. In retelling the story of Eric Liddell Bishop Wright left out one of the most moving parts of the movie. When Liddell’s main event had been rescheduled to Sunday – Eric Liddell refused to run because it was the Sabbath day. Because of his religious convictions, Liddell was widely mocked and accused of letting his team and his country down. Right before he began his most famous race – someone came up to Liddell and handed him a small folded piece of paper. When he opened it, he read these words from 1 Samuel 2:30 “… those who honor Me, I will honor.” It is important for us to remember that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).” Paul wants us to recognize this and then to set our eyes on the prize (Phil 3:14, 21). The language of this passage reminds us that no-one simply drifts into becoming a mature and productive Christian. It takes consistent dedication. Yet Paul reminds us – that it is entirely worth it.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.
Friday (6/18) Read and discuss Philippians 4:10-20
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)
Sometimes we view relationships in a reciprocal manner. We are nice to people who are nice to us and kind to those who can directly benefit our lives. Yet, as Christians who support the spread of the gospel we are not looking to find missionaries who can somehow pay us back or whose fame and prestige will somehow rub off on us if we are numbered among his supporters. Our goal is to spread the gospel and not to receive anything back. Nevertheless, as verses 18-20 make clear, the LORD does reward those who open their hands and hearts to support the spread of the gospel. Gordon Fee writes:
The mention of God at the end of verse 18 leads directly to Paul’s great master stroke – verse 19. The reciprocity of friendship is now back in Paul’s court. But he is in prison and cannot reciprocate directly. So he does an even better thing: Since their gift had the effect of being a sweet-smelling sacrifice, pleasing to God, Paul assures them that God, whom he deliberately designates as my God, will assume responsibility for reciprocity. Thus, picking up the language of “my need” from verse 16 and “fill to the full” from verse 18, he promises them that “my God will fill up every need of yours.”
From his point of view, they obviously have the better of it! First, he promises that god’s reciprocation will cover “every need of yours,” especially their material needs, as the context demands – but also every other kind of need, as the language demands. One cannot imagine a more fitting way for this letter to conclude, in terms of Paul’s final word to them personally, In the midst of their “poverty,” God will richly supply their material needs. In their present suffering in the face of opposition, God will richly supply what is needed (steadfastness, joy, encouragement). In their need to advance in faith with one mindset, God will richly supply the grace and humility necessary for it. In the place of both “grumbling” (2:14) and “anxiety” (4:6) God will be present with them as the “God of peace.” My God, Paul says, will act for me on your behalf by “filling to the full” all your needs.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.
Saturday (6/19) Read and discuss 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ESV)
Commenting on verses 9 through 12, John Stott writes:
The rebellion will take place, according to Paul, publicly and visibly on the stage of history. It will be seen in worldwide breakdown of the rule of law, of the administration of justice and of the practice of true religion. But Paul also introduces us to its invisible dynamics, to what is going on behind the scenes. He writes of the two major protagonists – Satan and God, and uses the word energeia (‘working,’ ‘operation’) in relation to both. Both God and Satan are at work in relation to the coming Antichrist.
Paul begins with the devil, asserting that the coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work [energeia] of Satan. It would be an exaggeration to say that Antichrist will be an incarnation of Satan, as Christ is the incarnation of God. It would be more accurate to think of the coming of Antichrist as a deliberate and unscrupulous parody of the second coming of Christ. Paul shows this by using the same vocabulary of both. ‘The systematic and … calculated adoption by Antichrist of the attributes of Christ is the most appalling feature in the whole presentation (Findley).’ Thus, in verses 1 and 8 we read of the parousia, the personal and official coming of Jesus Christ; but at the beginning of verse 9 we read of the parousia of the lawless one, in direct juxtaposition to Christ’s parousia at the end of the previous verse. Next, in 1:7 the Lord Jesus is going to be ‘revealed’ from heaven, whereas three times in chapter 2 (verses 3, 6, and 8) it is the lawless one who is going to be ‘revealed.’ Again, Christ is coming in power and glory, and in splendor, while the coming of the man of lawlessness will be accompanied by all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders. Just as the ministry of Jesus was accredited by ‘miracles, wonders and signs,’ and also the ministry of the apostle Paul, so the ministry of Antichrist will be accompanied by (though not authenticated by) miracles. For his will be counterfeit miracles, probably not in the sense that they will be fakes, but in the sense that they will deceive rather than enlighten.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.