Vol 81 Issue 17

Rev. Eriks is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Loveland, Colorado.

Rev. Cammenga is pastor of Faith Protestant Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan. God’s house is a house of prayer (Matt. 21:13). All our public worship is to be “prayerful” worship, that is, worship consciously given in the presence of God. This is what prayer is. Prayer is coming into the very presence of God. Since God’s house is a house of prayer, one of the most important aspects of public worship is the congregational prayer. Just as prayer is the chief part of thankfulness for the believer individually, so it must be regarded as the chief part of the thankful...

Rev. Kortering is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. With eagerness I take this opportunity to motivate you to pray more often and with greater diligence.   What Is Personal Prayer?   Personal prayer is to be distinguished from public prayer or prayer time spent with others. It takes us into our “inner closet” or moves us to spend time alone with God. It is communion, one to one, with God. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up” (Ps. 5:3). The...

God’s glorious salvation is a multifaceted wonder! God has seen to every aspect of that salvation, from the election of the church in Christ and the redemption in His cross, to the full working out of salvation by the Spirit. The goal and culmination of this salvation is life within the everlasting covenant of grace in the new heavens and earth. Thus, those whom God saves are not only delivered from sin and death, they are also incorporated into the covenant. That covenant life is blessed, intimate fellowship with God. God draws near to His people by His Word, revealing...

Herman Hoeksema was the first editor of the Standard Bearer. This meditation is taken from the November 15, 1946 issue of the Standard Bearer. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15, 16 All important exhortation! Let us come boldly, that is, with perfect confidence that we shall be received, to the...

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Minister Activities   The Theological School Committee is presenting to Synod 2005 the following trio to replace Prof. D. Engelsma, who will be retiring as Professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament: Rev. R. Cammenga (Faith, Jenison, MI), Rev. S. Key (Hull, IA), and Rev. K. Koole (Grandville, MI). Rev. J. Mahtani, our churches’ eastern home missionary who has labored in Pittsburgh, PA since 1998, has accepted the call to serve as the next pastor of Bethel PRC in Roselle, IL. Rev. S. Houck declined the call from...

Rev. Kleyn is pastor of First Protestant Reformed Church in Edgerton, Minnesota. rayer occupies a large place, not only in private and family life, but also in church life. Especially is that true in the worship services. But prayer also has an important place in Bible studies, lectures, and other meetings. In all these instances, the people of God are privileged to draw near to and speak with their almighty and loving heavenly Father. In addition to this, however, provision is also made in the life of the church to have special days of prayer. This is mentioned in Article...

Rev. Hanko is pastor in the Protestant Reformed Church of Lynden, Washington. Introduction Since other articles in this special issue will be focusing on the nature and necessity of prayer, we will be focusing in this article on the relation between fasting and prayer. But because fasting is such a universally neglected Christian duty, we will have to show briefly the biblical warrant for fasting and the biblical information concerning fasting. We, then, echo Calvin in his Institutes who says: Let me say something about fasting: because many, for want of knowing its usefulness, undervalue its necessity, and some reject...

Rev. Overway is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Doon, Iowa. Prayer changes things. Perhaps you’ve seen this phrase inscribed on some plaque in a Christian bookstore or in someone’s dining room. Perhaps you’ve seen it on a greeting card or on a piece of stationery. Though it’s a fairly popular expression, we note that it is an ambiguous one. It can be understood as setting out either a correct idea or an incorrect one. There is a certain sense in which it is correct. From a certain point of view, prayer does change things. But many understand it...

Mrs. Lubbers is a wife and mother in Grandville Protestant Reformed Church of Grandville, Michigan. “Suffer the little children to come unto me….” Mark 10:14 If a woman doesn’t know much about fine needlework, it is probably best that she not give lessons in crocheting. If a man has never ventured out on the high seas, it is undoubtedly the better part of wisdom to let someone else give pointers on the techniques of sailing. So it is with teaching children to pray—one must himself be instant in prayer, a man or woman in close communion with God, and a...