YOU and GOD

“The present hour is an hour of crisis worldwide. I think these are the most critical days that we as a nation have ever faced, and since we are citizens of the United States of America, we must not turn our backs upon our beloved Motherland in her most critical hour. I do not think I have ever stood before a group of people when the urgency was greater than it is right now.”

With those words, I began my message on October 26, 1980—some 46 years ago. America did survive that present hour and many such since, but only by the grace of God. There will be critical hours yet to come. Gideon, 1,250 years before Christ, faced such an hour when God called him to lead his nation to victory—against all odds of winning. What Gideon learned about facing crises, we—and all the nations of the world—would do well to remember now and in the days ahead. Here is what Gideon learned, and every nation under God needs to know:

• There was—and is—a cause. In Gideon’s day, there was spiritual dearth, Judges 6:1; there was physical drought, 6:6, and there was national despair, 6:13. Like Israel of old, we are living in troubled times and dire days. Henry Blackaby put it this way: “If you put the U.S. up against the Scriptures, we’re in trouble. I think we’re very close to the judgment of God.” (Quoted at a Billy Graham Training Center Conference, May 22, 1999)

• There was a call, Judges 6:11, 12. It was a call from God to a man—not a prophet, but a courageous young man threshing wheat by the winepress because he was not willing to give what little bit of wheat he had left to the enemy. “If our call is from God, we do not have to bother ourselves currying to the favor of man.”

• There was a confirmation, Judges 6:21—through the fire (v. 21) and through the fleece (vss. 36-40). A lot of what is done today in the name of a “fleece” is just foolishness. God generally doesn’t consume sacrifices with fire from heaven today; He does, however, lead us by His Holy Spirit.

• There was a conflict, Judges 7:2ff. It required preparation, vss. 2-8,  disqualification because of fear and the flesh—the arm of the flesh will fail you. There was also a promise, vss. 9-14, by God’s word and for God’s work (I Cor. 15:57). Finally, there was a plan, vss. 16ff. It was to be through God-ordained leadership. Nothing is inconsequential; there is a right way and a wrong way. Basic rules are universal—and little things are big things.

• There was a conquest, 7:19: It was without carnal weapons but through obedience, faith, prayer, and dedication. It was a divine/human effort. God could have chosen angels or prophets, or He could have enlisted nature to His service. But God chose to use a man and a few faithful soldiers.

“When God plucks a soul from the jaws of hell, he uses a soul-winner; when He plants a church that will bring glory to Him, he sends a missionary; when He builds a home that will reflect His love, peace and harmony in a world disjointed by sin, He uses a man and a woman; When He leads a church to spiritual maturity and productive growth, He raises up a man of God to be its leader, a pastor; when God brings a child from infancy to independent adulthood, He has done it by a parent or parents. ‘God has always brought about His will upon this earth through His sovereign power in accord with His sovereign purposes and in conjunction with the instrument of a surrendered person or persons.’” (copied)

God give us men. God give us some 21^st century Gideons!

What makes a nation great, whether in 1250 B.C. or 2026 A.D.?

“Not serried ranks with flags unfurled, not armored ships that gird the world; not hoarded wealth nor busy mills, not cattle on a thousand hills, not sages wise, nor schools nor laws, not boasted deed in freedom’s cause—All these may be, and yet the state in the eye of God be far from great.

That land is great which knows the Lord, whose songs are guided by His Word; where justice rules ‘twixt man and man, where love controls in art and plan; where, breathing in his native air, each soul finds joy in praise and prayer—thus may our country, good and great, be God’s delight—man’s best estate.” (Alexander Blackburn, 1844–1921, “What Makes a Nation Great?”)

“Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)

For 20-plus years, a group of men have been meeting to discuss the content, character, and Christian caliber of whatever book we have chosen to read together. We have been blessed beyond measure for many reasons: coffee, donuts, camaraderie and, above all, learning and loving the heart of the main characters of the books and what they taught us by their lives, labors, and often their last days upon this planet. The book that we just finished is like no other book we have ever read. The title is The Insanity of God, and the author is Nik Ripken (a pseudonym, for reasons that will become obvious).

I was turned off by the title when I first saw it on a list of recommended reading compiled by a person whose judgement I respect. The Insanity of God? Sounds a bit sacrilegious, I thought. In spite of those reservations, I ordered the book for our group and would later conclude it is indeed one of the most unusual books I have ever read.

The author grew up on a farm in Kentucky and was saved as a teenager. He was called to preach, studied for the ministry (Bible college and seminary), and pastored for a few years before acknowledging that God wanted him to take the gospel to some place where it had never been, or to a place that would be difficult to do any evangelization. When he applied for missionary status, the board asked him why he felt called to be a missionary. He responded that he had read in Matthew 28 that Jesus said, “Go,” and he was willing to go. Well, after considerable deliberation, the august board did appoint Nik to “Go.”  Someone suggested to him that Somalia would be a difficult place to evangelize, so Nik moved his family to Kenya, from whence he would go back and forth to Somalia in his missionary ministry.

Fast forward from the early 1990s to the present day. Nik and his wife Ruth have ministered in about 60 different nations—places that we would label as restricted or closed to missionary work. In the course of those years, Nik met with and listened to the testimonies of hundreds of believers who had been persecuted for Christ’s sake. He carefully recorded, in his memory bank, the incredible stories that the men and women, meeting in secret, shared about God’s grace in the face of the most unrelenting persecution. Of the many countries in which he met with these 20^th century heroes of the faith, Nik said that his time spent in China had impacted him the most. He learned that there were 100 million Christians in China, cut off so completely from the rest of civilization that they were unaware of the fact that Christians existed in other nations, by the millions, worldwide. This revelation staggered the Chinese believers when they learned of it, causing them to shout, cry, and give thanks to God for His marvelous grace.

But, I want to relate a story that Nik says came out of Russia. It is a story about a man who was sentenced to 17 years in a Russian prison, separated from his wife and children, and imprisoned with 1,500 hardened criminals. The believer, Dimitri, was thrown into a cell just barely big enough to turn around in. The unbelievers, learning of Dimitri’s faith, did all they could possibly do to make life miserable for this fellow prisoner, who had a song in his heart that he would sing every night, a “Heart Song,” prompting the prison population to curse him, throw trash and feces at him, and do any other wicked thing they could think of. Dimitri never wavered though. Night after night, for 17 years, he would end the day facing the east, with arms stretched out toward heaven, singing his “Heart Song” to God.

This continued until the day of Dimitri’s release from prison. As he was marched toward the exit, a most unusual incident occurred: 1,500 criminals stood at attention, raising their arms toward heaven, singing the “Heart Song” that they had heard Dimitri sing for 17 years. A Read You Won’t Forget

For 20-plus years, a group of men have been meeting to discuss the content, character, and Christian caliber of whatever book we have chosen to read together. We have been blessed beyond measure for many reasons: coffee, donuts, camaraderie and, above all, learning and loving the heart of the main characters of the books and what they taught us by their lives, labors, and often their last days upon this planet. The book that we just finished is like no other book we have ever read. The title is The Insanity of God, and the author is Nik Ripken (a pseudonym, for reasons that will become obvious).

I was turned off by the title when I first saw it on a list of recommended reading compiled by a person whose judgement I respect. The Insanity of God? Sounds a bit sacrilegious, I thought. In spite of those reservations, I ordered the book for our group and would later conclude it is indeed one of the most unusual books I have ever read.

The author grew up on a farm in Kentucky and was saved as a teenager. He was called to preach, studied for the ministry (Bible college and seminary), and pastored for a few years before acknowledging that God wanted him to take the gospel to some place where it had never been, or to a place that would be difficult to do any evangelization. When he applied for missionary status, the board asked him why he felt called to be a missionary. He responded that he had read in Matthew 28 that Jesus said, “Go,” and he was willing to go. Well, after considerable deliberation, the august board did appoint Nik to “Go.”  Someone suggested to him that Somalia would be a difficult place to evangelize, so Nik moved his family to Kenya, from whence he would go back and forth to Somalia in his missionary ministry.

Fast forward from the early 1990s to the present day. Nik and his wife Ruth have ministered in about 60 different nations—places that we would label as restricted or closed to missionary work. In the course of those years, Nik met with and listened to the testimonies of hundreds of believers who had been persecuted for Christ’s sake. He carefully recorded, in his memory bank, the incredible stories that the men and women, meeting in secret, shared about God’s grace in the face of the most unrelenting persecution. Of the many countries in which he met with these 20^th century heroes of the faith, Nik said that his time spent in China had impacted him the most. He learned that there were 100 million Christians in China, cut off so completely from the rest of civilization that they were unaware of the fact that Christians existed in other nations, by the millions, worldwide. This revelation staggered the Chinese believers when they learned of it, causing them to shout, cry, and give thanks to God for His marvelous grace.

But, I want to relate a story that Nik says came out of Russia. It is a story about a man who was sentenced to 17 years in a Russian prison, separated from his wife and children, and imprisoned with 1,500 hardened criminals. The believer, Dimitri, was thrown into a cell just barely big enough to turn around in. The unbelievers, learning of Dimitri’s faith, did all they could possibly do to make life miserable for this fellow prisoner, who had a song in his heart that he would sing every night, a “Heart Song,” prompting the prison population to curse him, throw trash and feces at him, and do any other wicked thing they could think of. Dimitri never wavered though. Night after night, for 17 years, he would end the day facing the east, with arms stretched out toward heaven, singing his “Heart Song” to God.

This continued until the day of Dimitri’s release from prison. As he was marched toward the exit, a most unusual incident occurred: 1,500 criminals stood at attention, raising their arms toward heaven, singing the “Heart Song” that they had heard Dimitri sing for 17 years.“ The guards were so taken aback by this, they asked Dimitri who he was, and his answer startled them even more when the soon to be released prisoner said ‘I am a son of the Living God, and Jesus is His name!’”

Well, you may be wondering why I said this is such an unusual book. To borrow a line from the late radio broadcaster Paul Harvey: You will have to read it to “know the rest of the story.” I am pretty sure you will understand why I said it is one of the most unusual books I have ever read. I commend it to you highly—title and all.
 

“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:46, 47)

You no doubt have pondered those familiar lines, “We are the only Bible the careless world will read. We are the sinner’s gospel. We are the scoffer’s creed. We are the Lord’s last message, given in deed and word. What if the type is crooked, what if the print is blurred?”

Paul exhorted his protégé, Timothy, that he should let no man despise his youth: “But be thou an example (a stamp, pattern, print) of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (I Tim. 4:12)

What a challenge that is! To be a type—a model for imitation—that others can follow. Paul, in another epistle, said that believers should be followers of him, even as he also was of Christ. (I Cor. 11:1) Could you encourage your friends to follow yourself just as you were following Christ?

Notice the categories:

• A model of speech. James, half-brother of Jesus, said a lot about the tongue and about our speech. His main thesis is stated in James 1:19: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Our speech should be tasteful—words fitly spoken—”like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Prov. 25:11). Our words should truthful as in “speaking the truth in love.” (Eph. 4:15) The tongue “defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature.” (James 3:6)

• A model of behavior (conversation)—which should be holy (I Pet. 1:15); honest (I Pet. 2:12); and winsome (I Pet. 3 :12).

Written by a young adult: “When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and immediately I wanted to paint another; When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals; When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life; When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in God. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who is sick, and I learned that we have to help and take care of one another; When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t; When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel well, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grew up; When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt and that it’s all right to cry. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, ‘Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.’” (author unknown)

• A model of love: without dissimulation (Rom.12:9); in deed, not just in word (I John 4:8) and in serving (Gal.5:13).

• A model in spirit—in the spirit of wisdom (Ex. 28:3), in a contrite spirit (Ps. 34:18), in a right spirit (Ps. 51:10), and in a broken spirit (Ps. 51:17).

Here is one example of the wrong kind of model in spirit: An organization had more than 500 employees, of whom 29 had been accused of spousal abuse; 7 had been arrested for fraud; 19 had been accused of writing bad checks; 117 had bankrupted at least two businesses; 3 had been arrested for assault; 71 could not get a credit card due to bad credit; 14 had been arrested for drug-related charges and 8 for shop-lifting; in one year alone, 84 were stopped for DWI. Can you imagine which organization this was? It was the United States Congress, the same people who crank out hundreds of new laws designed to keep the rest of us in line. (Indianapolis Star, 1/4/00)

• A model in faith—faith that is grounded, growing, and guarded. (Col. 2:6,7; Luke 17:5; I Tim. 6:12)

• A model in purity: blameless, clean, chaste.

Caution: Be wise about choosing a model to follow, and use common sense in following any model, or you may be embarrassed—as were some people from President Coolidge’s hometown who were invited to dinner at the White House. “They were unfamiliar with eating in such a place, so they agreed they would follow their model, President Coolidge. The time came for serving coffee. The President poured his coffee into a saucer. As soon as the home folk saw it, they did the same. The next step for the President was to pour some milk and add a little sugar to the coffee in the saucer. The home folk did the same. They thought for sure that the next step would be for the President to take the saucer with the coffee and begin sipping it. But the President didn’t do so. He leaned over, placed the saucer on the floor, and called the cat. Were they not all embarrassed? He may have been the President, but no one should have followed him blindly. There is One, however, who is absolutely trustworthy to follow, and that is Christ.” (copied)

We are the only Bible a careless world will read.

“Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the believer, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (I Tim. 4:12)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24:35)

Most of us are aware of the current discussions about AI and the fear that, at the breakneck speed it is reportedly progressing, the intelligence that is artificial may soon usurp control of the human race, with the capacity to wipe out our civilization completely. Reasonable people who hold responsible positions in the AI industry have lent credence to these alarming possibilities. So, is this how the world is going to end?

NEWSFLASH: The world, the universe, the human race—none of these will end because of AI! But, yes, the world as we know it now will one day end and be destroyed by fire before a “new heaven and new earth” will come down from God out of the heavens. (Rev. 21:1ff) Everyone ought to be aware of what God has revealed will happen when time as we know it shall be no more—and, of course, every wise person will want to be prepared for the worldwide cataclysmic events about which the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles warned in God’s holy writ.

In this brief post, I will only mention the most salient points. Take note. Take heed.

• In answer to the disciples’ question about signs concerning the end of the world, Jesus revealed several general signs that would precede His world-changing second coming. (Matt. 24) He said that after these signs there would be great tribulation, followed by some dreadful signs and wonders in the heavens, just before He would return to earth in power and great glory to judge the nations. Jesus repeatedly exhorted, “Watch and be ready.” (Matt. 24, 25) Thus, AI will not have destroyed the world that Jesus will come again to reign over for a thousand years. (Rev. 20:1ff.)

• Jesus, in this same passage, made two crucial predictions: (1) The gospel would be preached to all nations before the end would come. (Matt. 24:14) Again, AI will not have destroyed the world because there would be some who were alive still (“But he that endures to the end shall be saved,” Matt. 24:13) at the end of what Jesus referred to as “Great Tribulation,” just before His second coming.

• The New Testament church in Thessalonica thought that the Lord had already come and that they had missed His return. (II Thess.2:1ff.)  No doubt they had read the multitudinous passages in the Old Testament depicting the “Day of the Lord,” a time of deep darkness, unspeakable tribulation and world-wide catastrophes—a period that Jesus would identify as the “Great Tribulation,” just before His second coming. Evidently, what Paul and John described as the last time (I John 2:18) and perilous times (II Tim. 3:1) the Thessalonian church concluded were what they were living in. It was indeed a world that had not been destroyed by AI.

• Paul corrected the eschatology of the Thessalonicans by positing that before the great and terrible “Day of the Lord” would come, there had to be a “falling away” first—a great apostacy. How does that fit with the AI fears of a worldwide extinction?

• Paul also said that a “man of sin” would first be revealed before Jesus would return (II Thess. 2:3) This man of sin is generally identified as “the Antichrist.” (see Rev. 13:1ff.) None of these things could happen if AI had, at some point, wiped out the human race.

• Then, He instructs that “He who now letteth will, let”—a reference to the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the world today—a ministry that will continue until Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church, at which time the Holy Spirit’s indwelling ministry will conclude. (I Thess. 2:6,7) AI will not have destroyed the world and all that is therein, for the Holy Spirit will remain active in the world until Christ comes back for His Bride, the church.

• Paul also states that God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation. (I Thess. 5:9; II Th.2:13) Having been wiped out by some artificial intelligence does not square with the promises of God’s deliverance from the machinations of the wicked one, the Antichrist.

• After seven years of world-wide tribulation (the last half of the period Jesus called “Great Tribulation”—Matt. 24) Jesus will return in power and great glory to establish His millennial kingdom of 1,000 years, followed by the “Great White Throne Judgment” when unbelievers of all ages will be judged and, because their names will not be found in the “Lamb’s book of Life,” will be cast into the Lake of Fire, their eternal abode. (Rev. 20:11-15)

So, there is a brief outline of history that is still yet future; but all of this is from God’s Revelation, His holy Word—our only rule for faith and practice—and the sum and substance of it mandates—with no “wiggle room”—that AI will not destroy humankind. Rather, God will destroy the heavens and the earth by fire at His second coming (II Pet. 3:10ff.) before He ushers in eternity with a “new heaven” and a “new earth.” (Rev 21:1ff.)

Class dismissed. But, as you leave, ponder with your whole mind and spirit the words of Jesus: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matt. 25:42)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24:35)

Ed. note: This is a reprint of a post that originally appeared in You and God in March 2022.

Like yours, my heart is breaking over the travesty and tragic turn of events that the wonderful people of Ukraine are now suffering through. It is unspeakable and, as millions of God’s people worldwide, we are praying that God, who holds the hearts of kings in His hands, in ways known and knowable only to Him, will turn the table upon the mass murderer’s own head and deliver these precious people from what appears to be certain death or bondage.

I have in my mind memories that are flooding my soul of a trip, led by Natasha Vins, daughter of Georgi Vins, a Russian pastor who spent many years in a Siberian prison for his faith. Before being exiled to the United States in 1979 when then President Jimmy Carter swapped some Russian spies who were being held here for five “dissidents” that the Russians were holding captive, one of which was Georgi Vins. He was flown from his prison cell in Siberia and given a chance to remain in Russia if he would renounce Christ; Vins could never do that of course.  Read the rest of his compelling story for blessings that will stir your soul. The year that Evangelist Ed Nelson and I and a few laymen made our trip to Russia (Ukraine was then considered Russia) was just as the “Iron Curtain” was falling, thanks to the strength of President Ronald Reagan’s leadership and his influence on the then Premier of Russia, Mikhail Gorbachev. The year was 1989. We were among the first of a future host of westerners who made the trip to the soon to be former Soviet Union states.  Among the cities we worshipped with Russian believers in were Moscow, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Rostov on Don and Leningrad (St. Petersburg). It was, for this 47-year-old pastor who had grown up in Ottumwa, Iowa, a dream come true as I had prayed for the release of Georgi Vins for some time and was now on a trip to Russia with his daughter as our interpreter/guide.

 I am going to just quote from notes that I have saved which I jotted down in a journal day by day when on this trip. It was in early June of 1989 and the weather was beautiful and what I remember of Ukraine especially was that the people were friendly (more than in Moscow) and we enjoyed very much giving them gospel literature on the streets and interacting with them.  They were much more receptive to receiving our tracts than the people in most any major U.S. city would have been at that time.

Wednesday, May 31:  Arrived in Moscow and took taxi from Airport to the hotel and saw a huge billboard that read “In God We Trust.” Visited one of Moscow’s finest super markets and viewed our surroundings and concluded that a NYU professor that we met there and visited briefly with was spot on when he said, “Things here are 20-30 years behind what we have in America.”

Wednesday, May 31: our 1^st church service in an apartment where 40-50 people were packed into a small living room; service began at 7:00 p.m. and concluded at 10:00 p.m.

Thursday afternoon, June 1, had another meeting with 30-40 believers and enjoyed a meal of sausage, cheese, salad and some Russian candy.

Friday, June 2, to Kyiv where we found the folk on the street more friendly to what some have called “Ugly Americans.” We met about 20 minutes out of Kyiv in a pole barn with 2×6 benches; 100 were present, began at 7 p.m. and done at 10:00 p.m. Children, quiet and well mannered, sat in the front; we sang, with the Kyiv Christians, “What a Friend,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” There was lots of music, but notably, most was sung in a “minor” key. We had a Saturday morning meeting with 8-10 preacher boys and Dr. Ed Nelson spoke on “Interpreting Scripture,” and “Sermon Preparation.” We were asked questions on the Charismatic Movement and on what kind of music we have.  In a Saturday p.m. service, we met with 150 in attendance and Sunday, June 4, our service began at 11:00 a.m. and concluded at 3:30 p.m. Some of the town authorities were in attendance at this meeting. One woman, a cousin of Pastor Vins, publicly confessed Christ as Savior. We participated in a communion service with these Ukrainian believers; there was one common cup and I am not sure what the fruit of the vine was that went down my throat as I drank “in remembrance of Him,” but I can attest that it “burned” all the way down!

Sunday p.m., June 4:  We met at the edge of a forest with believers and had a question-and-answer session with them; they asked about the “New Age” movement and also about how our churches practice “church discipline.” We all sang, “God Be with You till We Meet Again,” the pastor read I Thess. 3:7-10 and asked us to take this back to our churches. It was a meeting where logs served as benches and where people walked to get to the meeting place; one of those moments melded into the memory of one’s mind; unforgettable.

Monday p.m., June 5 we were taken to the train station to depart for Kharkiv; about 100 people had gathered there to see us off, giving to each of us a beautiful bouquet of flowers and singing “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.” It was a tearful farewell and I later would journal “As I lay in a bunk thinking of Kyiv, I know I want to return. We gave out hundreds of tracts on the streets where people were more receptive to receiving Gospel literature than we had experienced anywhere in our own beloved country.”

Tuesday, June 6, Kharkiv: We met with 350 people in a pole barn outside of the city; a choir of about 30 people sang beautifully; three women professed Christ publicly as their Savior; here I experienced for the first time that in their services men do literally greet men with a holy kiss, and that not on the cheeks, but lips to lips. I prayed for special grace!

Wednesday, June 7 we met with 7 or 8 pastors, most of whom had served time in prison for their faith, including one dear man of God who had been imprisoned for 34 years; deep furrows of hardship and suffering had been plowed onto the faces of these 20^th century heroes of the faith and never has a pastor felt more unworthy to stand alongside of these stalwarts than this preacher did that beautiful day in Kharkiv. We had an afternoon meeting with 200 people gathered in a back yard under a shade tree; a brass ensemble played 2 or 3 hymns and a choir sang and Pastor Nelson spoke; then that evening we departed by train for Rostov, but not before saying goodbye to about 200-300 people who had gathered there to bid us farewell again with beautiful bouquets of flowers. Never has one felt so humbled; so undeserving as we were treated like celebrities by people who had suffered in prison for their love of Christ.

The remainder of the 10- or 11-day trip was pretty much the same.  Most every pastor we met on this tour said that they believed the freedoms that they were then enjoying would be short lived. Of course, they have been proven to be correct in that assessment. Evangelist Neil Cadwell made a similar trip to Ukraine about a year after we were there and he simply fell in love with the people, came home and founded the Slavic Baptist Institute making hundreds of trips to Ukraine, training pastors and Christian workers, both men and women, for ministry. Block courses were taught by pastors from the states who would teach subjects designed to fill a deep vacuum of specialized ministry training that these believers had been denied. Hundreds of pastors and teachers were sent out to start churches all over Ukraine, Belarus and other surrounding nations.  Bro. Rick Arrowood is the President of Slavic Baptist Mission now (rickarrowood@slavicbaptistmission.org). The bunk bed prayer that I had prayed 15 years earlier wishing to one day return to the beautiful country of Ukraine was answered when it was my privilege to assist Bro. Cadwell in two trips back to contribute in the teaching of his Bible Institute sessions; again, a life changing experience for which I will ever be grateful.

Perhaps the greatest compliment ever paid a group of believers was the one recorded in Acts 4:13: “And they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.”

When you are in the presence of a person whom you dearly love and/or deeply respect, it affects you definitely, and sometimes even dramatically. So it was with these early church disciples who had been with Jesus. So powerful was His love for them—and their love for Him—that they were changed dramatically. The unbelieving world around them could see the change; so definite was it that non-believing men and women took note of the fact that they had been with Jesus. What did unbelievers see in this early church that caused them to take such note of His followers?

First, I believe it was their power with God, which was conspicuous. Peter and John (Acts 3:1ff.) were going to the temple to pray when a man lame from birth (45 years) asked them for alms—a hand-out for some temporal help. Peter, in response, fixed his eyes on the lame man and replied: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I unto thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” The man not only stood up, he leaped—and, walking into the temple with Peter and John, he was praising God. It was a public demonstration of the power of God, a miracle that was undeniable. (Acts 4:14: “And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”) The undeniable miracle spawned a message that was unquenchable (4:17). Threatened and sternly warned not to teach in the name of Jesus, Peter replied, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (4:19,20)

Second, their obedience to God was compelling. The council commanded them to not teach in the name of Jesus, but the commitment of these first-century followers of Christ was set in a holy boldness: “And he spake boldly in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:29) “Long time therefore abode they (Paul and Barnabas) speaking boldly in the Lord.” (Acts 14:3) “And he (Apollos) began to speak boldly in the synagogue, being fervent in the Spirit.” (Acts 18:26) “And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months.” (Acts 19:8) “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold.” (Acts 13:46) “We were bold to speak unto you the gospel of our God with much contention.” (I Th. 2:2) The church today lacks this holy boldness, by and large, yet desperately needs it in the present evil age: “The righteous are bold as a lion.” (Provs. 28:1)

Third, I note their unimpeded praise to God, praise that was constraining. (Acts 14:23-30) They praised God for His power (vss. 24-27) and for His wisdom (v. 28).

And, finally, their prayer was consequential. The place was “shaken!” (Acts 14:31) The body of believers were all filled with the Holy Spirit; they spake God’s Word boldly: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness.”

What was the outcome of this witness in the first-century world? “And believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women.” (Acts 5:14)

Most who will read this post live in the “Western world,” where we are neither commanded nor threatened by the authorities to not teach in the name of Jesus. But our “corner” of the world is a rather small part of the bigger world at large, including Asia, Africa, the Middle East—places where believers are indeed both commanded and compelled by the most hostile means of persecution. Studies done by daring observers of contemporary history have revealed that in the past few decades, believers in such places as China have experienced, albeit in an “underground” fashion, a revival of (house) churches and a multiplication (100 million) of Christians that has exceeded the phenomenal growth of this church in the book of Acts, where “believers were the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and women.”

If that is indeed the case, we can only rejoice; but let us spiritually steel ourselves for when the authorities may well one day command us to not teach or preach or evangelize in name of Jesus. God grant to us, should that day come, a “holy boldness” such as we read of in these accounts of what happened to believers who were all “filled” with the Holy Spirit. May we have power that is conspicuous (for His glory); obedience that is compelling; praise that is constraining; and prayer that is consequential. Amen.

“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

Recently, I read a story about a person who found a baby in an open field, a newly born infant, abandoned and helpless, still covered with birth-blood, unwashed and unclothed.

This kind person stopped, took up the baby, washed it and clothed and cared for it, and over the course of years nourished, fed, and reared it with lovingkindness.

Then, a most unusual thing happened. The once helpless, abandoned baby grew up to be a beautiful woman, and the man who had brought it from the field to flourishing took her to be his very own wife. He lavished upon her love and tender affection so that she lacked nothing.

Yet an even more unusual twist of events occurred. The young wife, lifted up with pride because of her beauty, became unfaithful to her husband, committed adultery with not one but many lovers, and finally became nothing more than a tramp. She was not the typical harlot, though. Instead of hiring her body out to men, she hired men to commit adultery with her!

Few people have fallen into deeper depths of sin than this wretched woman! What was the outcome of it all?

Well, the woman finally became so miserable that her illicit lovers despised her. In her outcast state, rejected by her former companions in sin, she went back to her husband. Her lover, remembering the covenant that he had entered into with his sin-wrecked wife, received her back with compassion and care that was beyond what she naturally could have ever been hoped for. What was a tragic story, in many respects, turned out to have an impossibly unpredictable end!

Have you heard this story before? If you have read Ezekiel 16, you have. It’s a parable told by God about His dealings with the nation of Israel. In many ways, it has striking applications to we who are called the Bride of Christ, members of His body, the Church.

In the Ezekiel account of Israel’s apostasy, we read of her genealogy in verse 3. Her (Israel’s) birth in the land of Canaan, to an Amorite and Hittite, non-Semitic pagans. Then, in the following verses, the account of her discovery as an abandoned infant is related: she was found unwashed, uncovered, helpless, and hopeless.

Taken up by a loving benefactor, she was cleansed, covered, and cared for and nourished and in time betrothed as a beautiful, washed (v.9), clothed (10), and adorned (11-14) bride. Then, Ezekiel’s parable relates how that, in pride, the once abandoned baby betrayed the One with whom she had covenanted in marriage, and she became an adulteress. The cause, course, consequence, and character (fornication) of her betrayal are all enumerated in verses 15-30. Then, in a picture that defies words, her brokenness is portrayed as a harlot scorned by her former lovers. (vss. 35-52) Her sins had finally come down upon her head. In this pathetic state, she—once beautiful and cherished but now broken and despised, brought low by pride and its attendant sins—returns to her long-suffering benefactor, who remembers the covenant between them (v. 61) and receives her back and reinstates her to a privileged status. What grace! What mercy! What love!

That is the parable of the Abandoned Baby and the interpretation of it. Now, some obvious applications for us in this church-age. We, the Church, have been “espoused to one Husband.” (Christ, II Cor. 11:2) God found us when we were without strength, without hope. We were still in the mess of our natural birth—unclean and covered with sins and transgressions. The Devil was our father, and we were children of darkness and could not boast about our genealogy.

But God’s grace found us! He washed us in His own blood. He made us clean, white as snow; He clothed us in a garment of white linen, a robe of His righteousness. He put a ring upon our finger, the shoes of the gospel upon our feet, and we took on His likeness and beauty!

But, in pride, we began to leave our first love. More and more, the friendship of the world allured us. We began to love the world and, before long, we began to commit adultery with the world…not with one friend, but with many: our lovers were pleasure, leisure, entertainment, sports, sex, gambling, and many others. 

James says that we, friends of the world, become adulterers and adulteresses. (James 4:4) Instead of our lovers hiring us, we began to hire them, paying a dear price for the sin which we enjoy.  After our companions in sin have used us and abused us, we are despised by them.

Going to the very bottom, we remembered that there was one person who really did love us!  We turned back to Him, and He was there to receive us with outstretched arms!  “Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20)

Where are you on this line of love today? Have you been born again? Are you betrothed to Christ? Have you or are you betraying His love? Isn’t it time to remember Him and, yes, even in your state of brokenness, return to your Benefactor? There is mercy in His loving embrace. There is grace that is measureless! Flee to Him in repentance today if you are “out there” abandoned, broken.

“That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:27)