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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-07-15, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1992. From the Minister's Study Bible verse tells supreme truths, says pastor BY PASTOR DON VAIR BELGRAVE In St. John's gospel chapter one verse 10, we have the divinely inspired words: “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” Firstly, while we continue to spend billions on rockets that penetrate deep into outer space - partially in an attempt to discover the origin of our planet, this verse proclaims as it has since A.D. 90 - the supreme fact about our earth, which is that it was made by Jesus Christ. Verse three of John 1 says “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” Only our dear old Bible proclaims this profound truth. All the wisdom of this world will never lead you to this conclusion, should you live to be 1,000 years old. I Corinthians 3: 19 states “For the wisdom this world is foolishness with God.” 2 Timothy 3: 7 talks about “ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” The simplest and humblest believer in Christ understands more about the origin of our world than the most renown, worldly-wise scientist or philosopher. Since only God can bring into being this world and everything in it, we understand from this verse that Jesus, in fact, is God. Secondly, our verse states that He was in the world. What an honour bestowed upon our planet that God should leave His ivory palaces in Heaven and humble Himself to come to our world as a baby - personally; for our sins. No wonder the prophets foretold this event and the angels appeared in the sky to herald His birth. Can you try to imagine how the apostles must have felt when they began to realize that this One whose feet became soiled as He journeyed with them through the towns and villages, was none less than God in the flesh, Emanuel - “God with us” as Isaiah put it? Thirdly, our verse tells us that “the world knew Him not.” Jesus should have been recognized through the many ancient prophesies about His birth, life, death and resurrection. He should have been known by His purity of life and flawless characters, His astounding miracles, His claims to be the Messiah and the Saviour of the world. But tragically, the Jewish nation was sin blinded is a whole and would not see Him for who He was. It is incredible that at the same time the evil spirits He cast out of victims, knew exactly who He was., Luke 4: 41 says “and devils also came out of many, crying out and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak, for they knew who He was.” In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples “Who do men say that I the son of man am? And they said, some say that Thou art John the baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said unto them, but whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Imagine Jesus looking deep into your eyes and asking you “Whom say ye that I sam?” What would be your answer? If you recognize that He is the only Saviour of the world and that He died and shed His blood for your sins personally, have you opened the door of your heart and invited Him to come in to be your Saviour and Lord? My friend, your eternity depends on your response to Christ. Acts 4: 12 says “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among me, whereby we must be saved.” BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH Rev. Cameron McMillan Church Office 887-6259 11:00 a.m. Manse 887-9313 - Joint Summer Worship Service with Melville Presbyterian Church at Brussels United • Ethel Morning Worship Summer days are come again - we lift our song to Him" Dedication Margaret Bernard, extreme right, and members of her family were present at a special service at St. John's Anglican Church in Brussels, Sunday morning to dedicate the new sign in the memory of her husband Tom. Pastor Paul Acton stands in the back row, second from right. Also present in no particular order were: children, Carmen and Mary, Irma and Gordon Pryce, Shirley and Jim Coleman; grandchildren Kevin and Karen Coleman, Cathy and Jim Butson, Steven, Michael and Christopher Bernard; Tom's sisters, Jane McEwing and Mary East and great-granddaughter Sarah Butson. Minister discusses prayer Greeting the congregation at Blyth United Church Sunday, July 12 were Lloyd and Mary Walden. Ushering were John and Agnes Wharton. The service opened with the call to worship followed by prayers of Invocation and Confession. Hymns were: “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. The men's quartet “4 All Ages” consisting of Danny Snell, Garth Walden, John McDowell and Shane Snell favoured the congregation with two beautiful pieces, “The Church in the Wildwood” and “The Last Mile of the Way” accompanied by Phyllis Boak on piano. A large flower arrangement at the front of the church was placed in loving memory of Kirk Dahman who passed away last Monday, July 6 and was buried in Kincardine Cemetery. Sympathy is extended to his friends and relatives. An open house in honour of Cliff and Bev Snell celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary will be held by the family on July 19 from 2-4 p.m. at their home. The sermon was entitled “Our Need to Pray and God's Willingness to Answer Our Prayer”. Rev. Ramirez opened his message by asking the question “Why Do We Pray?” Is it because we feel we should or we must? Rather, Rev. Ramirez stressed, that prayer should arise out of our needs. Many today tend to think that because of what society dictates or because of what's acceptable one should pray - but rather Jesus taught that prayer must come from within us. It must not be regarded as a duty either but rather it must stem from our needs or the needs of someone else. He stressed that prayer is as essential to our existence as water is to fish, as air is to other creations so we need to pray as often as necessary. How do we pray? Jesus tells us to use “The Lord's Prayer” as our guide, when we pray this prayer we must do so with an open heart coming to God in our need and allowing Him to do as he sees fit. Jesus used the example in Luke 11:2 “If a son asks his father for bread, will he give him stone?” Then in verse 13 “If ye, then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? In closing Rev.'Ramirez said, “May we open ourselves to God, and let Him speak to us in our needs”. The service closed with the hymn “Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire”. Mennonites gather for fellowship Lucy Hesse led the congrega­ tional singing on Sunday, July 12 and Kathy Procter played the piano, at Brussels Mennonite Fellowship. Pastor Tom Warner preached from Galations 5, concentrating on verses 15 and 26. Too often pride of accomplishment in spiritual life causes us to become immature as Christians. We display deeds of the flesh and will not face them due to our thinking we are mature, when in fact, we are not. The fruit of the Spirit is the only trustworthy gauge of maturity in Christ. Following the Christian Educa­ tion Hour, the congregation gathered in the gymnasium for a pot-luck meal, and fellowship. Several committees and groups have scheduled meetings for the following week. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA You are welcome this Sunday July 19 - Pentecost 6 Holy Eucharist - BAS Trinity, Blyth St. John's, Brussels 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. The Rev'd E. Paul Acton, 887-9273 HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY CHURCH PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515 10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour 11 a.m. - Morning Service 8 p.m. - Evening Service Wednesday - 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study Friday - 7:30 p.m. - Youth you are. Welcome at the BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD ■ 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults 11 -12:15 - Morning Worship Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Phone 523-4590 McCONNELL ST., BLYTH MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Carolyn McAvoy 11:00 a.m. - Morning Service - Sunday School Joint summer worship service with Brussels United at Brussels United Church We welcome you to come and worship with us. BLYTH UNITED CHURCH Invites you to join them in Worship at 11 a.m. Rev. Lorenzo Ramirez Jr. Phone 523-4224 BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH GUEST SPEAKERS: 10 a.m. - Mr. Henry Exel 7:30 p.m. - Mr. Fred Vander Sterre Sunday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20” Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday Faith 20 5:00 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V. Visitors Welcome Wheelchair accessible