Last time, we talked about where we shouldn’t go this New Year. Today, I’d like to share a little more about the importance of our example and service to others, especially our children.
In the book of Exodus, we read a remarkable story of God’s salvation:
“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Choose and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and kill the Passover. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the flask, and put some of the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts.’ But no one of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. Then the Lord will go to smite Egypt and see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts. Then the Lord will pass over the door and will not suffer the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you. ‘You shall keep this for a statute for yourselves and for your children forever.'” When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall keep this service.” (Exodus 12:21-25)
There is one very important exhortation in this passage of scripture: “Keep this service.” Therefore, the first revelation I see in this passage of scripture is: “Live and serve God in such a way that your children will ask you, ‘What is this service?'”
It is very important to have answers to these questions: Why do you serve God? What benefit does it give you? Why should I serve God and follow Him?
I’d like to tell you a story:
The famous English preacher Roland Gill was once preaching in one of England’s major cities. People had gathered from all over to hear him. Halfway through his sermon, a car pulled up, and Mrs. Anna Erskine, a woman renowned throughout the city for her wealth and beauty, emerged. She was a welcome guest at all balls, concerts, and theaters, but a rare visitor to church. She had heard a lot about Roland Gill and wanted to listen to his sermon for her own pleasure.
She wasn’t used to being inconspicuous among people, so Roland Gill, who knew her, noticed this lady’s arrival. A thought immediately struck him:
“Here’s a special opportunity for you to minister to another lost soul.”
Suddenly interrupting his sermon and extending his hand forward, he said in a loud voice:
“Here comes Mrs. Anna Erskine, welcome!”
The lady’s surprise was indescribable. And when all eyes turned to her, she felt as if the ground would swallow her. But she could no longer retreat. The preacher loudly asked the assembled:
“Who wishes to buy Mrs. Erskine’s soul?”
After a brief silence, he continued:
“I see many buyers, each wanting to possess her. World, what do you give?”
“I will give all the splendor I possess, fame, respect, and many good days.”
“Nothing else? And eternal life?”
“But I don’t have that myself!”
“Then your price is too low for me. You, world, will not have it!” What good will it do our lady if she gains the whole world but loses her soul? Well, Satan, what are you giving us?
“I will give her a life of great wealth. She will be able to fulfill all her desires, act according to her own will, and live as she pleases.”
“And what do you demand for this?”
“Her soul. It must become my complete property.”
“Your price is too high, devil. You will not have it either, for you are a murderer from the beginning, a deceiver, and the father of lies! And now, Jesus Christ, what are you giving?”
“I gave my life for this lady. I shed my blood for her on the cross and paid the ransom for all humanity. I want to give her soul a peace and rest that surpasses all understanding. I want to give her a joy that the world can neither give nor take. And when she completes her journey of faith, I promise to take her to Myself, for where I am, there will My servant be also.”
“And what do You demand in exchange for all these gifts?”
“Her sins, her guilty conscience, everything that weighs and burdens her, I demand of her.”
“You will have her, Jesus; she is Yours and must be Yours forever. Mrs. Erskine, are you satisfied?”
“Yes!” she answered in a loud and firm voice.
And Anna Erskine kept her word. She completely changed her views, her thinking, and her life. She developed such zeal for God’s work that she dedicated the rest of her life to the One who, without sparing Himself, died for us all and thereby snatched us from the pit of destruction and sin.
The Lord very clearly reveals to us what we receive when we accept Him as our Savior. He gives us not only salvation from sin and death, He gives our souls peace and joy that no one else can give.
Scripture also tells us that parents rejoice when their children know why they should serve the Lord:
“The father of a righteous son will rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will be glad over him. Let your father rejoice, and let your mother rejoice who bore you. My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways…” (Proverbs 23:24-26)
First, children observe their parents’ ways, and then they themselves follow in those ways, and their parents rejoice.
Let’s continue reading the story in the book of Exodus:
“And when your children say to you, ‘What is this service?’ you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Passover to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he struck the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.’ Then the people bowed their heads and worshiped.” (Exodus 12:26-27)
Therefore, the next revelation is: Explain so that your children understand and want to serve themselves.
I’ll tell you another story:
Academician Pavlov loved to read the Bible on a bench in a city garden or in a park surrounded by nature. This was his best relaxation. One day, some young men passing by remarked:
“So, Grandpa, you probably believe?”
“Yes, I believe,” the scholar replied calmly.
“Oh, it’s dark,” they said, and continued on.
Indeed, it’s not enough to serve God ourselves; it’s important to serve in such a way that our children and grandchildren want to know about the God we serve. Children love to ask questions. Even adults, if they don’t understand something, usually ask and ask for explanations. Therefore, it’s important not only to know why you serve God yourself, but also to be able to clearly explain to your children and those around you why they serve the Lord.
Why do you believe in God? Why do you go to church? Why do you give your money to the Lord? Why do you help others and tell them about Christ? These are good questions, and it’s important to have answers for yourself and for those living among us today.
And finally, let’s read verse 28 from Exodus chapter 12:
“So the children of Israel went and did as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.” (Exodus 12:28)
Therefore, the final revelation I see here is this: It’s not enough to do something once; it’s important to live by it and do it continually.
God’s people didn’t simply listen to Moses; they went and did what the Lord commanded. Our actions speak to what we believe and how we believe. If we only tell our children to do this or that, but they don’t see us doing it, they will have knowledge of God, but they will not serve the Lord. The same is true for our loved ones and relatives. No one will follow our words unless they are backed up by our actions and lives.
I’ll share another story with you:
Preacher R. Haris was once invited to preach to prisoners in a prison camp in Atlanta, Georgia. As the men sat down, some on the grass in the sun, others under the trees in the shade, one of the prisoners stood up to introduce the speaker. He began his address this way:
“Several years ago, two boys lived in a small town in Georgia. They went to school together, played together, and attended Sunday school and church services together. One of them eventually stopped attending Sunday school and church, explaining that he had “outgrown the need for childish play.” The other boy continued attending Sunday school, participating in church activities among young people because he felt it was necessary and spiritually beneficial. The boy who did not leave Sunday school and church will be our preacher this morning, and the one who did, introduces this preacher to you.”
Let us live and serve God in such a way that our children will ask you and me, “What kind of service is this?”
Let us explain the reasons for serving the Lord so that our children and loved ones will understand and desire to serve Him themselves.
And may our lives be an example of constancy and dedication for our children and their descendants.
Former leader of the Latin Syndicate gang and MMA fighter (fighting without rules) Rene Level Martinez, who previously brought fear to the entire state, today serves in prisons, drug dens and baptizes gang leaders in water. Rene spoke about his “meeting with God.”
His gang numbered about 300 members and kept all of Miami in fear. He broke into houses, stole weapons, shot and fought.
“It’s been a really crazy life,” Martinez told CBN News.
“Most of my friends died before my eyes, more than fifty are now in prison. Since 1989, I have been involved in a gangster group until 2011. When his daughter was born, he began to engage in martial arts to provide for his family and become a better father for his daughter. But he was not very successful…
“I’ve been on my deathbed several times,” he shares. “I was in a coma at the age of 14. All my life I was in prison, even outside it, I had so many encounters with death, but I never realized that it was only God protecting me all this time.”
Everything changed when Renee’s mother, who practiced magic, turned to Christ. She began to pray for her son, and in 2016 her prayers were answered – he experienced a supernatural encounter with God.
“God told me, I kept you all this time. But now the time has come to choose: you either come to Me now, or I take My hand away from you.”
And Rene made his choice in favor of God.
Level now visits prisons, criminal centers, and juvenile facilities to share the love of Christ. A documentary film “Level Warrior” was made about his life.
“I participate in projects. I preach to gangsters, prostitutes, drug dealers. I go to places where they throw heroin in front of you, I go into prisons. I also serve in juvenile detention centers. This is what God told me to do. He said: go. Go and make disciples of all nations.”
“God sent me back to where I came from,” he said.
The fruit of his ministry is obvious.
“The Spirit of God attracts people. It’s amazing what God does. You see people throw away their guns and just go into that water to be baptized and come out crying out to Jesus. It’s amazing,” he says.
We all want to have an understanding from God of where we should go this year, what we should do, and what ministry the Lord sees us in. There are several very important aspects that will help us understand exactly what God’s plans are for our lives. In the book of Genesis we read a wonderful story about Abraham. Wonderful, because in it we can see what plans the Lord had for Abraham’s life and how Abraham himself realized them.
“And the LORD said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee; and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing; I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. And Abram went as the Lordtold him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. And Abram took with him Sarah his wife, Lot his brother’s son, and all the property that they had acquired, and all the people that they had in Haran; and they went out to go into the land of Canaan; and they came to the land of Canaan. And Abram walked through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak grove of Moreh. The Canaanites [lived] in this land at that time. And the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And [he] built there an altar to the Lord, who appeared to him.” (Gen.12:1-7)
God’s vision can be very broad, but it always includes specific details that are important for us to fulfill.
God didn’t just call Abraham, He showed him specific steps to achieve the vision that the Lord had for his life.
Abraham needed to leave his homeland, his father’s house, and go to the land that God told him about. Always, if you and I want to fulfill a vision from the Lord, we will need to leave something in our lives. It is very difficult to leave what is familiar and familiar, so many people prefer to stay where they are now. Do you want God to bless you? If yes. Then leave what you are holding on to today, but you understand that this is already a passed stage in life and you need to move on.
I want to show you one picture that very clearly depicts the fact that in order to follow Christ we will more than once have to give up our plans and goals – this is the picture “When You Are Coming.”
Despite its modest size, this painting invariably makes a deep impression on viewers and is rightfully considered one of Annibale Carracci’s masterpieces. The artist drew the plot for the work from early Christian apocrypha, which was subsequently retold more than once in the medieval “Lives” of saints. The Apostle Peter spent the last years of his life in Rome. When persecution of Christians began there, he decided to flee the city. On the Appian Way he met Christ. Peter asked him: “Lord, when are you coming?” (“Lord, where are you going?”). The Savior answered his disciple that he was going to Rome to be crucified again. Then Peter was ashamed of his flight and regarded the words of Christ as a command to return to the city and suffer martyrdom there.
Let’s think about what do I need to leave behind today and where is God calling me to go in this new year? What ministry does God see me in and what should I start doing for this? God will not bless us in our comfort zone. Sometimes the Lord is limited by our disobedience, and it is because of this that many of God’s promises never come to fruition in our lives.
For God’s blessings to become a reality in our lives, sometimes we have to be like one snail:
It was a cold, windy day in late spring. A snail was slowly crawling up the cherry tree. The sparrows on a nearby tree had a lot of fun looking at her. Then one of them flew up to her and asked:
– Hey, you dumbass, can’t you see that there are no cherries on this tree?
Without interrupting her path, the little one calmly answered:
– They will be when I get there. What to do if God has called you, but what the Lord promised you is not yet happening in your life? It is important to be faithful to the vision from God, otherwise we may become like Abraham.
In Genesis 16 we read: “But Sarai Abram’s wife bore him no child. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, Behold, the Lord hath shut up my womb, that I should not bear; Go in to my maid; perhaps I will have children by her. Abram listened to Sarai’s words. And Sarah, Abram’s wife, took her maidservant, Hagar the Egyptian, after Abram’s sojourn in the land of Canaan was ten years, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife. He went in to Hagar and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, she began to despise her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram: You are guilty of my offense; I have given my maidservant into your bosom; and she, seeing that she had conceived, began to despise me; Let the Lord be the judge between me and you.” (Gen.16:1-5) Therefore, the next revelation is this: if you do not fulfill God’s vision for your life, you will fulfill someone else’s vision.
Because Abraham was not completely faithful to God’s promise, he was easily led astray by the words of his wife. Can Sarah be blamed for tempting her husband to compromise by inviting him to help God fulfill his promise? I think not. It was to Abraham that God made the promise, and it was he who was responsible to be faithful to God’s word.
We often fail to fulfill God’s vision for our lives because we try to please our family and friends. We try to be convenient for them, but as a result we fulfill not God’s plans for our lives, but the plans of our family and friends. Is this bad? I think so. Abraham not only quarreled with his wife over Hagar, he himself unknowingly gave birth to an entire people who are at enmity with Israel and Christians to this day.
We can give birth to faith, or we can give birth to resentment and bitterness. We can be the cause of salvation, or we can be the cause of disappointment and unbelief.
I’ll tell you one story:
Once upon a time, an enlightened atheist researcher visited a tribe of savages in central Africa. Talking with the natives, he spoke with mockery of faith in Christ as a prejudice of backward people. To this his interlocutor answered him: “If you had come to us ten years ago, we would have killed you, roasted you on the fire and eaten you. And if now you can leave here in good health, it’s only because a missionary came here before you, who told about God and made civilized people out of cannibals. We accepted faith in Christ and His teachings of truth and love, so we let you go.”
It’s good to ask yourself a question today: whose plans and goals am I embodying in my life today? Why should I implement these plans? How do my goals for this year fulfill God’s vision for me personally and for my church? It’s easy to test yourself by answering a few questions. What am I doing for God today? How do I serve my brothers and sisters in my home group? What do I plan to do to minister to the unbelievers I know?
I believe that there are no useless members in the church. Jesus tells us that every member is called to be useful in the Body of Christ, which is the church. Everyone can help the group leader in the ministry, everyone can visit their brother or sister, everyone can show attention and care – call, pray for the need and help as best they can. “Abram was ninety-nine years old, and the Lord appeared to Abramand said to him: I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless; And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly, greatly. And Abram fell on his face. God continued to speak to him and said: This is my covenant with you: you will be the father of many nations, and you will no longer be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations; and I will make you very, very fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you; And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and between your descendants after you throughout their generations, an everlasting covenant, that I will be your God and your descendants after you; And I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you wander, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Gen.17:1-8) Is it easy to believe God’s promises? No it’s not easy. It’s hard to believe when what God promises doesn’t happen for many years. A little later in this chapter we read:
“And God said to Abraham: Do not call your wife Sarai, but let her name be Sarah; I will bless her and give you a son by her; I will bless her, and nations will come from her, and kings of nations will come from hers. And Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said to himself, “Shall there be a son from a hundred years old?” and Sarah, ninety years old, will she really give birth? And Abraham said to God: Oh, that Ishmael were alive before You! God said: Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you will call his name Isaac; And I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant [and] to his descendants after him.” (Gen.17:15-19)
Looking at Abraham, we can say: “It was easy for him to believe, because God Himself spoke to him.” And I will say that Abraham had a hard time believing because God’s promises for many years were just good promises. Therefore the next revelation is:
God is always faithful to His promises, the question is whether we will wait for their implementation. In the last century, missionary and traveler David Livingston made a second journey across Africa. 300 blacks followed him. Livingston’s money was running out. He gave the last of his belongings to a tribal leader from Zambia, asking him to care for and feed until his return from England the 300 people who had accompanied him on his exploration of Africa. The leader agreed. David promised the Africans, having completed his business in England, to return to Africa and take them by ship to their homeland.
As soon as David Livingston left the continent, local residents began to mock the blacks accompanying the missionary. They were asked:
“When and where have you seen a white man care about black people? And don’t think that he will ever return!” But 300 Africans from the Makololo tribe were waiting; We waited 1 year, we waited for the 2nd year. They laughed at them more and more. But they answered:
“You don’t know our father (that’s what they called David Livingston), he will not deceive, he will definitely return. And he will return us to our homeland.”
They continued to wait with faith and steadfastness, although during their wait some of them died of illness.
Finally, in the third year, the population of the tribe suddenly heard a noise from the ocean. People ran to the shore, where they saw a huge steamer approaching. A loud and unanimous cry rang out in the air: “Our father! Our father!
Negroes from the Makololo tribe rushed into the waves of the ocean and swam to the ship. Climbing over the side onto the deck, they threw themselves on Livingston’s chest with the words:
“We knew you would come back!”
If a person knows how to be faithful only because he is taught by Christ, then will not Christ Himself keep His promise?
At the very beginning of the Bible we read: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and emptyand darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2)
What God created at the very beginning was gray and unattractive at first glance. The Lord Himself tells us about this: “The earth was formless and voidand darkness was upon the face of the deep…” You can look at your affairs today and they may look exactly like this to you.
Blessing of Bishop Philip Savochka: for God’s protection of family, health, ministry.
Blessing of the pastor and church ministers (children’s ministry, teenagers, groups), for service in Pustovarovka: God’s protection of families, health, ministry.
For the 2020 reform:
for leaders and home groups;
for serving every member of the church;
for pastors of all levels.
For the blessing of our people, the new authorities and the achievement of peace in Ukraine.
Church needs: For the acquisition of own premises or land for the construction of a church building. For the 16-week Evangelistic School in our church. For the return of the fallen and the salvation of family and friends.
“But God has revealed these things to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God”(1 Cor 2:10)
Merry Christmas — We are pleased to congratulate you on this wonderful holiday of Christmas!
We invite you to celebrate the great event with us on December 25 at 5:00 PM at: 44 Mykhaylo Drai-Khmari Street(1st floor, entrance on the right side of the building).
Blessing of Bishop Philip Savochka: for God’s protection of family, health, ministry.
Blessing of the pastor and church ministers (children’s ministry, teenagers, groups), for service in Pustovarovka: God’s protection of families, health, ministry.
For wisdom and balance in our lives:
in the material sphere;
in relationships with each other;
in the time that God has given us.
For wisdom for the authorities in Kyiv and the region: road repairs, lack of congestion, stable operation of public transport and parking arrangements.
For the blessing of our people, the new authorities and the achievement of peace in Ukraine.
Church needs: For the acquisition of own premises or land for the construction of a church building. For the 16-week Evangelistic School in our church. For the return of the fallen and the salvation of family and friends.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth are knowledge and understanding”(Proverbs 2:6)
Blessing of Bishop Philip Savochka: for God’s protection of family, health, ministry.
Blessing of the pastor and church ministers (children’s ministry, teenagers, groups), for service in Pustovarovka: God’s protection of families, health, ministry.
For healing:
For incurable and chronic diseases;
From diseases that I, my family or relatives suffer from.
For establishing order in Kyiv and the region: road repairs, absence of congestion, stable operation of public transport and parking facilities.
For the blessing of our people, the new authorities and the achievement of peace in Ukraine.
Church needs: For the acquisition of own premises or land for the construction of a church building. For the 16-week Evangelistic School in our church. For the return of the fallen and the salvation of family and friends.
“And a great multitude followed him, and he healed them all” (Matt. 12:15)
“And take care of the welfare of the city where I have removed you, and pray to the Lord for it; for in his prosperity there will be peace for you too”(Jer.29:7)
Blessing of Bishop Philip Savochka: for God’s protection of family, health, ministry.
Blessing of the pastor and church ministers (children’s ministry, teenagers, groups), for service in Pustovarovka: God’s protection of families, health, ministry.
Gratitude and blessing:
Gratitude for all material blessings this year;
Gratitude for parents, church, ministers, Ukraine;
For blessing in resolving issues of housing, work, debts;
For the blessing of all businessmen of the church and the opening of new businesses;
For blessing the Evangelistic Leadership School at the end of October and the 16-week school in our church.
For stabilization of the economic and political situation in Ukraine.
Church needs: for the acquisition of own premises or land for the construction of a church building. For the return of the fallen and the salvation of family and friends.
“The Lord will send you blessings in your barns and in all the work of your hands…” (Deut.28:8)
