Archive for the ‘God is Able’ Category

God’s Just in time Provision

Friday, April 8th, 2011

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

In the summer of 1985, Alexei and his son Viktor needed to go to a village called Novova Selevka, about 130 kilometers from Zaporozhe to lead the Saturday night church service.

However, at that time in the Soviet Union there was a severe shortage of gasoline. Alexei got on the telephone, seeking someone who could take them there in a car. No one had any gas. There weren’t any trains or buses that would get them there on time. As he always did when there was a problem, Alexei got on his knees and prayed. “Lord, give favor to your servants so that someone would come and give the gasoline.”

While Alexei was praying, the telephone rang. It was Yakov Vassilievich, one of the church members. “I’ve got about fifteen liters of gasoline,” he said. “Enough for us to get to Novova Selevka, but not back.”

Alexei said, “Viktor, get ready, we’re going. God will see about the gasoline.”

When they arrived in Novova Selevka, the pastor remarked, “It’s so good that you came. Last week my son was here, and he brought a canister of gasoline in case there would be a need for it, even though I don’t have a car. I thought that if you came, I would give it to you to get home.”

Tears filled Viktor’s eyes. God heard his father’s simple prayer, “God, You see our need; please send gasoline.” They didn’t even have time to say any more, but God had already responded. So many times God helped them, but when hard times came Viktor struggled with doubts.

Alexei’s eyes glistened with tears. Even he, who had seen God’s power so many times, had moments of wavering, wondering if God was really so powerful that He could help in all things. The trials they faced every day were like unrelenting storms that threatened to drown them. Sometimes they’d even feel they were sinking into a pit, and that God could help them, but didn’t want to. But every time He showed how faithful He was, and that He would provide or help in just the right time. His time, not theirs.

Lord, help me to trust in You to provide in just the right time.

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Most Powerful of All

Friday, April 1st, 2011

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

Psalm 118:9

Every night Alexei’s mother set a small bag next to the front door, a bag that contained a change of clothes and some dried bread. Then she and her husband would stand by the window, watching. Alexei could see his parents silhouetted against the window as they listened for the sound of the police car.

It was the late 1930s, during the years of Stalin’s Great Terror, when the police cars drove at night, taking people away, some never to be seen again. When the police car drove past Alexei’s house, his parents would get on their knees and thank God that they had been given one more day.

Thousands and thousands of others living the Soviet Union were not passed by. Many who were taken were shot immediately, others did hard time in prison camps. Stalin used terror to destroy any opposition to his regime and to himself. Rounding up anyone who was a leader in a church was his strategy for ending the worship of God.

Ten, fifteen years went by. Men were returning from Siberia, having finished their prison sentences. Alexei drank in their stories of life in the camps like a thirsty man guzzles water.

What fascinated Alexei was that these men were rejoicing. “When the war started, we were grateful we didn’t have to go to the front, because we wouldn’t have to kill anyone. But then we started to see more of God’s work.”

Many believers shared their faith in the camps, and many people came to know the Lord. Then many of these believers settled in villages surrounding the camps, once they were released. As a result of their witness, churches were planted all over Siberia.

“Stalin thought he was going to eliminate the church,” one said. “Instead, all he was doing was sending out a missionary force to expand the Kingdom of God.”

Stalin’s power seemed to be absolute. But he could not prevail over the King of the Universe, the All-Mighty God. This is a great reminder to me, when I wonder about the governments that are rising and falling in our troubled world.

Lord, help me to remember that you are more powerful than any king or government.

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