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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-03-14, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019. PAGE 17. By Pastor Andrew Versteeg Brussels Community Bible Chapel This morning I was thinking about Iran. I follow the news in the Middle East a bit and today my thoughts were on Iran, especially on the Christians in Iran. I did a Google search and a number of articles came up about the growth of the Evangelical Christian Church in Iran. The church in Iran is growing rapidly, despite the fact that the Islamic Republic forbids converting from Islam to Christianity and often persecutes those who do. One Christian organization, which distributes Christian literature via the internet, reports that on average they receive about 700 enquiries per day from people in Iran who are interested in learning more about Christianity. Open Doors estimates that the church in Iran has grown to approximately 800,000. These numbers are hard to ascertain accurately because the Christians generally function in an “underground” manner. This month, we began a new teaching series at our church based on the book of Titus, found in the Bible. The book of Titus is actually a letter written to Titus by a man named Paul. Paul was directed by the Lord to write to Titus to instruct him to organize the new churches on the island of Crete. When we first met Paul in the Scriptures he was persecuting Christians with a vengeance. He was arresting them, imprisoning them and even putting some to death. But then God intervened in Paul’s life and he did a complete turnabout. Paul found out who Jesus really was, namely the One who came from heaven to earth to offer to us forgiveness of sin from God, a new God-focused life, and eternal life with God forever in heaven. He accomplished this for us through His death on a Roman cross just outside of Jerusalem. 1 Peter 3:18 says, “for Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit.” Paul was given faith and He trusted Jesus to be his Saviour. Everything changed for Paul. He became a proclaimer of Jesus wherever the Lord led him, and he was also a great help for the church. The Christians were amazed at what God had done in Paul’s life. They were saying, “he who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy… and they were glorifying God” (Galatians 1:23-24). Instead of being the one who was doing the persecuting, Paul now became the one who was being persecuted. Paul travelled throughout the Roman Empire proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ. Everywhere he went people believed in Jesus as their Saviour and churches were born. Everywhere he went he, and those who trusted in Jesus, met with persecution and often it was quite intense. But they kept on going and did not give up despite the hardships they faced. How did they do this? How did they persevere under such conditions? How do Christians in Iran persevere under the conditions that they face? What is it that they believe that enables them to press on through the hardship of persecution? In the book of Titus, Paul gives us some answers. He begins by identifying himself as a slave or servant of God. He belonged to God and God had promised to be with him always. So he always had God with Him. He then says that God gave him a job to proclaim Jesus, “for the faith of those chosen of God.” This simply means that God is building His church throughout the world, and as Paul proclaimed Jesus and His death on the cross, God would save people for Himself. This is a truth that gives us, as those who follow the Lord, certainty in our work as well. Jesus said that He “would build His church and nothing could stop that.” God does this as we proclaim Jesus and not even persecution can stop what God is doing. The truth of history teaches us that persecution often causes the message of Christ to spread even faster. You can blow out a fire with a strong wind. But the wind of persecution is not strong enough to put out God’s fire. It only makes it spread. Paul also knew that proclaiming the gospel would result in eternal life for all who believed. In Titus 1:2 it says that even before the world began, God had promised eternal life for those who would receive Jesus as their Savior. It is called here as ‘the hope of eternal life.’ Not a wish but a certainty of eternal life based on the promise of God, “who cannot lie”. This is encouragement for us too here in rural Ontario. God is saving people and giving them eternal life. Wherever he has us, He intends to accomplish this work as we proclaim Jesus Christ. Nothing can stop God’s purposes of building His church. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. And we have a certain hope of eternal life. Romans 8:18 says, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us”. THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com 519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn Sunday March 17 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. Worship Youth and Family minister Rob Campbell preaching Tuesdays 6:30 - 9 p.m. “Way of Jesus” training Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 p.m. HEIRBORN (JK-Gr. 6); 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jr. & Sr. YOUTH (Gr. 7-12) OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday ~ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm blythunited@tcc.on.ca Special Speaker: Trish McGregor Accessible Sunday, March 17 Worship Service at 11:00 am Blyth United Church Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, MARCH 17 Nursery care available 519-887-6687 Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Worship & Sunday School - 9:30 am (*New time) Coffee & Snacks following the service We invite you to join our church family in: Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, March 17 at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. Wednesday Night Kids’ Club 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm (ages 5-12) For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 BRUSSELS United Church Worship and Sunday School Sunday, March 17 at 9:30 am Worship leader, Trish McGregor All are Welcome The Regional Ministry of Hope BLYTH BRUSSELS Trinity St. John’s 9:15 am 11:15 am COME WORSHIP WITH US! Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope St. Paul’s Trinity WINGHAM 11:15 am These Anglican Churches Welcome You From the Minister’s Study Nothing can stop God’s church: Versteeg Drop by our office in Blyth or Brussels and check out our wonderful selection of books. We have books for all ages. 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 413 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792