HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-09-20, Page 14By Pastor John KuperusBlyth Christian ReformedChurchOur neigbour to the church put a
new roof on their house. The old
roof was getting tired and in time it
would leak. Now I feel as if our
neighbours are well protected from
the elements again.
If homes do not receive the
attention needed, rot and decay sets
in. It does not happen in an instant,
but over time a leak develops and
when it rains or snows there might
be a drip in the house. The water
finds its way through the roof and
then to the ceilings of one of the
rooms. The water stains the ceiling
and if it is not caught, it will fall on
the floor and then on to the
basement.
The house suffers when it is
not cared for. Our homes need
renewal.
In the same way spiritually, our
lives can fall into a state of decay.
Our relationship with God becomes
distant. A sign of spiritual decay in
our lives is that we do not worship
God in a house of worship.
Churches close because God is not
sought after.
Prayer happens only when we are
in deep trouble.
Another sign is that God’s word is
not held in honour in our lives. We
do what is right in our own eyes.
When we do that it is like children
doing whatever they want. Children
need guidance and discipline to
keep on the right path.
Adults too need accountability
and guidance to stay on the right
path. Just as a decaying roof needs
attention before too much is
destroyed, spiritually our lives need
attention too.
One of the frightening things that
happens when we do not hear from
God is spelled out in Deuteronomy
28. It says, when we listen to God’s
word and obey him, blessings flow.
On the other hand, this text says
when we do not listen to God or
obey him, curses follow.
Life is hard enough to live
without having to live under a curse.
In God’s word obedience and
disobedience has a great impact on
our lives. Refusal to listen and hear
God’s voice can be summed up in
one word, rebellion.
The fruit of a curse is spelled
out in Derek Prince’s book
called Blessing and Curse. He
gives seven indications of a
curse that he has drawn
from Deuteronomy 28: mental
and/or emotional breakdown,
repeated or chronic sicknesses,
barrenness, a tendency to mis-
carry or related female
problems, breakdown of marriage
and family alienation, continuing
financial insufficiency, being
accident-prone and a history of
suicides and unnatural or untimelydeaths.God is clear with us about the road to renewal in our relationship
with him. In II Chronicles 7: 14 he
says: “If my people, who are called
by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my
face and turn from their wicked
ways, then will I hear from heaven
and will forgive their sin and will
heal their land.”
Renewal with God begins
by humbling ourselves before
the Lord. At the heart of humb-
ling ourselves means that we
recognize and acknowledge we are
dependent on God. We are not
independent and masters of our own
universe, but are dependent on God.
We acknowledge our dependence
on God when we pray and read our
Bible and worship him with other
believers.
A model for renewal is recorded
in Judges 6. “Again the Israelites
did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and
for seven years he gave them into
the hands of the Midianites.
Because the power of Midian was
so oppressive, the Israelites
prepared shelters for themselves in
mountain clefts, caves and
strongholds.”
As a result of this oppression, the
Israelites cried out to the Lord and
God called Gideon to lead the
Israelites to break the oppression.
The pattern was that they turned
their backs on the Lord and
experienced oppression. When
they turned back to the Lord, the
Lord brought deliverance to his
people.
Do we need spiritual renewal in
our day? Walter C. Kaiser Jr. in his
book Revive Us Again describes
revival this way. “A revival is a time
when believers witness an
extraordinary work of Godenlivening, strengthening andelevating the spiritual life andvitality already possessed, but
which life is now in a state of
decline and is feeble, mediocre, and
dull in its out workings. Revivals
come as “times of refreshing from
the Lord” (Acts 3:19) or, in the
case of Israel, it was a time when
God restored the fortunes of
Israel.”
Are we in need of a time of
refreshing from the Lord? Are we
experiencing injustice and growth
of evil that there does not seem to
be any force that can stop or change
the situation?
In Zechariah 1:3 God says,
“Return to me, declares the Lord
Almighty, and I will return to you.”
The apostle Peter has the same
message in Acts 3:19 when he says,
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so
that your sins may be wiped out,
that times of refreshing may come
from the Lord.”
Just as our neighbour decided the
decaying roof needed to be
addressed, we have to make a
decision to address spiritual decay
in our lives. Our neighbour decided
to hire someone to repair the roof
and there was a cost involved.
Addressing spiritual decay involves
a cost too and it involves humbling
ourselves, praying, seeking God’s
face and turning from our wicked
ways.
Changing our ways is hard and
letting go of our pride is not easy.
Just as a fixed roof has the benefit of
no leaks and protecting your
precious possessions, a repaired
relationship with God results in him
hearing our prayer, forgiving our
sins and healing our land.
The benefits are definitely worth
it.
PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007.From the Minister’s StudyPastor discusses spiritual decay, renewal
The God Rocks!®cartoon characters and
universe is based on Luke 19:40,
“If the people fall silent,
the stones will cry out.”
Fun rock characters, including
main character Chip Livingstone, live in the
imaginary town of Rocky Ridge,
where they live to sing and praise God
- just in case the people fall silent!
Beginning on Monday, October 15
Living Water Christian Fellowship will be offering children
aged 4-6 (JK-Grade 1) an opportunity to become energized with
the Good News. This program will be held at Blyth Public School from
5:00 - 5:45 pm. Overview:“Because God Created Me, I Am Special”
• I Will Worship God • I Will Trust God • I Will Be Kind
• I Will Forgive People • I Will Encourage People.
For more information about the God Rocks!Program in Blyth,
contact Angela at 519-523-4800 or email redcastle1@ezlink.ca
For general information visit the website www.godrocks.ca or watch
an episode on Saturday mornings at 8:00 am on the CTS network.
Using high quality animation, original music, books and other
creative resources,God Rocks! was designed to teach kids
important lessons from the Bible in a fun way.
308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n ity Church of God
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
N
,
I
N
D
I
A
N
A
“The Church
is not a building,
it is people
touching people
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
- Christian Education
for all ages
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Mid-week Bible Studies
See you
Sunday!
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Worship Service 11 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Tom Dunbar
Sunday, September 23
All Welcome
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
Knox Belgrave Anniversary Service
September 23rd ~ 7:30 pm
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, September 23
Ethel United Church
Worship Service - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service
Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - Adult Bible Study
Something for everyone!
Call the church for current Youth events
HURON CHAPEL
EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 519-526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Sunday, Sept. 23
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
“Making Time
for God”
Speaker Gary Lisle
Christ-centred, Bible-believing,
Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
1st & 3rd Mondays - Prayer Warriors
Tuesdays - Wingham Small Group
Youth: Mondays - Senior
- Fridays - Junior