JUNE 2015 EDITION VOLUME 62 Number 6 the OFFICIAL
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VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6 JUNE 2015 EDITION THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FREE REFORMED CHURCHES OF NORTH AMERICA JUNE 2015 1 THE MESSENGER JUNE 2015 • VOLUME 62 NUMBER 6 Life for a EDITOR: Rev. Cornelis (Neil) Pronk 655 Park Road North, Unit 29 Brantford, ON N3R 0A2 CANADA Tel/Fax: 519.751.4470 • E: [email protected] The Editor reports to the Synodical Publications Committee. Unsigned articles are by the Editor Spiritual Graveyard ASSIStaNT EDITOR Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes • E: [email protected] COMMITTEE MEMBERS Rev. David H. Kranendonk, Secretary 593089 Oxford Road 13, R.R.1, Norwich, ON N0J 1P0 Tel/Fax: 519 468-4070 • E: [email protected] • Dr. Lawrence W. Bilkes • Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes • Rev. Joel Overduin • Mr. Hans VanDoodewaard • Rev. Jerrold Lewis • Mr. Herman DenHollander • Rev. Robert VanDoodewaard • Mr. Herman DenHollander SUBSCRIPTION RATE Canada & U.S.A. - $31.00 annually for individually mailed subscriptions. The Messenger is published 11 times per year (July & August issues are combined). SUBSCRIPTIONS/REMITTANCES Requests for subscriptions, all payments and inquiries regarding rates, invoices, and all remittances should be MEDITATION addressed to: THE MESSENGER c/o Janey Slingerland, Administrator 18 Chapala Crescent S.E., Calgary, AB T2X 3M4 Tel. 403 254-6591• E: [email protected] he hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, ANNOUNCEMENTS/NOTICES All notices for family announcements, obituaries, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones. And caused me anniversaries, and non-commercial advertisements for the July/August 2015 issue should reach the copy editor to pass by them round about: and behold, there were very many in the open valley; no later than Tuesday, June 18, and should be sent to: and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me: Son of man, can these bones live? THE MESSENGER 655 Park Road North, Unit 29, TAnd I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest…” and what follows in Ezekiel 37:1-14. Brantford, ON N3R 0A2 CANADA Tel/Fax: 519.751.4470 • E: [email protected] FOREIGN MISSIONS Living for a Spiritual Graveyard Departmental Editor: Rev. Timothy Bergsma 10 Ellwood Avenue, Chatham, ON N7M 3K3 We meet Ezekiel, the prophet, in the valley of dry bones. The hand of the Lord has brought Tel. 519.354.3100 • E: [email protected] Keep in contact with your missionaries online: him there and set him down in the midst of this valley of death. A battle has obviously taken www.frcmissions.org place here, but the results are not just physical death, but spiritual death. And the picture is OUTREACH Departmental Editor: Rev. Joel Overduin not just one of a mass grave that Ezekiel views from a distance, but the Lord puts him right in 60 Carmine Crescent, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3M5 Tel. 905.327.3844 • E: [email protected] the middle of this valley (v. 1) to walk among the bones (v. 2). He must be impressed with the Financial support for Foreign Missions and the various Outreach causes should be directed as follows: sad condition. FOREIGN MISSIONS Mr. William F. Laman, Treasurer. All funds should be remitted to: Peter Luth, Financial Administrator. Why is This So Sad? R.R.7, Dresden, ON N0P 1M0 CANADA Tel. 519.683.2243 • E: [email protected] For one thing, the scene is so sad because it is so different from what it used to be. When RADIO EVANGELISM God made man in the beginning, He made man good and there was no physical death and no Banner of Truth Radio Broadcast Mr. John denDekker, Treasurer spiritual death. Adam was made a living soul (1 Cor. 15:45). He was alive to God. He communed 16726 – 80th Ave. Surrey, BC V4N 0G8 CANADA Tel. 604.576.8935; E: [email protected] with God. He loved God. But by the fall into sin, man died to God and became spiritually dead. HOME MISSIONS Secondly, because it is a far-reaching condition. Ezekiel sees not just a few dry bones but Mr. Bert Marskamp, Treasurer 78 Windsor Dr., P.O. Box 126 “very many” (v. 2). Spiritual death has come to all. “As by one man sin entered into the world St. George, ON N0E 1N0 CANADA Tel. 519.448.1763 • E: [email protected] and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12). We REFUGEE FUND live in a worldwide valley of spiritually dead bones, in our towns and cities, in our schools and James Van der Zwan, Treasurer 26829 – 33B Ave., Aldergrove, BC V4W 3G8 CANADA homes, and even in our churches. “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel” (v. Tel. 604.818.3423 • E: [email protected] CHRISTIAN MINISTRY TO ISRAEL 11). We cannot say: “Well, at least children of the covenant are not as spiritually lifeless as Mr. John Wilbrink. Treasurer others.” No, we and our children need to be born again. 8 Weneil Drive, Freelton, ON L0R 1K0 CANADA Tel. 905.659.7413 • E: [email protected] Thirdly, it is sad because it is clearly hopeless from man’s side. It is not as if those in the THE YOUTH MESSENGER The semi-annual publication for youth is under the valley have just died and perhaps someone can perform CPR or ambulance attendants can direction of the Youth & Education Committee of the Free Reformed Churches of North America. shock the heart back to life again. No, Ezekiel does not see dead bodies with the flesh still EDITORS: Derek and Frances Baars on them. He sees dry bones. Man, by nature, is without hope in this world (Eph. 2:12). For 4995 Governors Rd., R.R. #2, Lynden, ON L0R 1T0 Tel. 519.647.0769 • E: [email protected] example, what hope did Zaccheus have having lived so long without God and without spiritual ASSISTANT EDITOR: Rev. Timothy Bergsma breath? There is no hope from our side (v. 11). Have you come to see this? 10 Ellwood Ave., Chatham, ON N7M 3K3 Tel. 519.354.3100 • E: [email protected] Lastly, it is sad because it is a picture of disarray. The prophet does not see perfectly ordered Read The Messenger on the Free Reformed website: skeletons. No, the bones are scattered all over. It is as if a hurricane wind has scattered the www.frcna.org bones. Here is a leg bone, there is a hand bone, and there is a rib bone. Sin leaves disarray; it 2 JUNE 2015 Life for a Spiritual Graveyard CONTENTS 02 Meditation: Life for a Spiritual Graveyard 05 Church News By Rev. L.J. Bilkes 06 Editorial: leaves a mess behind. How many broken lives are there not because of sin? “One sinner destroyeth much Relationship good” (Eccl. 9:18). With The HRC Can These Bones Live? While walking among the dry bones, the spiritual need is impressed upon Ezekiel. Has God ever done 10 that with you? Have you seen the many dry bones of those who live without God and without Christ and A Goodly Heritage (19) without hope in this world, in your neighbourhood and in your workplace? Or as a Christian father or mother who sees their child come to church and catechism classes, but it means nothing to him like his sports and entertainment do. Or maybe you think of a sibling, or a father or a mother who are still dead 14 in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Can these dry bones live? The Lord asks this question of Ezekiel (v. 3). Studies in John (5) What would you answer? If you found an animal carcass in the woods and your friend asked: “Can A Place of Mercy these bones live?” you might say, “What are you thinking?! Of course not!” But it is not a mere man who asks this question. The Lord is asking this question, and Ezekiel does not say: “Lord, it is impossible. It is too late!” That is sometimes how we feel about a family member or friend—it seems hopeless. But neither 18 does Ezekiel say: “Lord, their condition is not that bad.” Sometimes we try to cover up man’s deadness Gleanings from the and have a more optimistic view of man than the Bible does. No, Ezekiel says neither “no” nor “of course, Churches for what is impossible with men is possible with God.” Why? Has Ezekiel lost hope? Or is it that the prophet knows not only that God is almighty, but that He is also sovereign? God is not obliged to give life; He is free. Therefore Ezekiel says: “O Lord God, thou knowest” (v. 3). 19 Book Review: God’s Battle Plan A Surprising Process For the Mind A surprising duty is given to Ezekiel. Imagine a preacher going to a cemetery and setting up a pulpit in the cemetery, not in order to speak to the living, as we do at a funeral, but in order to speak to the dead. Ezekiel must speak to the dead bones (v. 4) words of precept (“Hear the word of the LORD”) and words of promise (“I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live”). He is called to preach. It is the same 20 Outreach News: task that the Lord Jesus gave later to His disciples (Matt. 28:19). They must go into the world, which is Update on Asian a mass grave full of spiritually dead sinners, and call them to repent and believe, to hear the word of the Ministry Lord.