Blinkov "Follow the Lord"
Andrew Blinkov’s book «The first steps to God» is designed both for unbelievers and new converts. You can order them for $0.5 a piece. (Also you can read it if you can read in Russian).
A.Blinkov "Follow the Lord"
Would you please go with me to the Gospel of John 21:18-22
Who of you would like to receive a word from the Lord concerning your death? For example, the date or circumstances of you death? I don't. Nevertheless right after Jesus' death and resurrection He told Peter about what kind of death he would die to glorify God. Your hands may be stretched out this way and this is the position when they beat people and executed them.
Long ago I remember how one pastor was preaching. He said - I am old enough to retire and spend the rest of my life doing nothing. But I won't do this. I feel like God wants me to go to the mission field and die as a martyr for Christ. I remember how deeply I was touched by his love and commitment to the Lord. And I want you to be touched as well.
All of us like prophecies about the increase of anointing, about God's love and mercy, and Peter probably anticipated something like that from the Resurrected Savior but instead Jesus told him- Peter I want you to be a martyr for Me. May be Peter puzzled for a moment and then Jesus told him- Follow me.
What was Peter's reaction? He turned around! Turned away from the Lord looking at John. This is so typical. What about him, Lord? Let's speak about something else. I don't want to discuss this, I don't want to think about that price. Then Jesus repeated- You Follow me!
Are you ready to follow Jesus no matter what? Even if it is costly. Today we have many preachers who preach easy messages, but in my Bible there is a cost we have to pay. And there is a reward from the Lord according to the price we are ready to pay for the sake of the Gospel.
We have a brother in our church. His name is Igor. Wonderful brother a former drug-addict. He received a call to go to Uzbekistan. He left his work and went there. Just to give you a glimpse of what it is- Uzbekistan is a former republic of the Soviet Union in the middle East. Absolute majority are Muslims. Christian church is underground gathering in small home groups. Economy is extremely bad. Some people are starving. So, he went there and spent almost a year. Than somebody told the police that there is a man preaching the Bible and converting Muslims into Christianity. So they arrested him and put to the prison with criminals, they beat him, knocked away his front teeth and finally put him in a room with criminals. There was nobody whom he may call for help except the Lord. Finally in about two weeks two courageous ladies from the church took a risk and went to the local authorities pleading for his life and finally he was released and sent out of the country.
Well he returned to the church get his teeth fixed and.felt that God wants him back to Uzbekistan. Let me ask you- if God would tell you - sell you house, your business and go and preach in Russia, in China or in Uzbekistan- what would you do? Would you follow the Lord or you would be busy looking for excuses for not doing God's will. Or may be like Peter you would look around to find somebody else who would go.
Brother Igor went back to his mission field. There was no money, but he firmly intended to go. And at the last moment somebody found our Internet site and pledged to support him. Praise God- He is always in control when we follow Him!
We have a ministry for the drug-addicts in our area. When Russia opened in 1990 not only good things came in... And now one of the most serious problems is the drugs. Literally 1000s are dying because of it. So there is young men whose name is Sasha. He used to be a drug-addict for several years, then he called to the Lord and He made him free! Then Sasha felt that he need to leave his business and lay his life to help young people to find a way to freedom in Christ. So he is leading the rehabilitation center now with no salary, no permanent income, with very poor living conditions, but because of this step many young people have already found the way to deliverance. Sasha followed the Lord!
What if you feel that God wants you to be in or support deliverance ministry? Are you ready to do it? Are you ready to lay aside your desires and fulfill God's will for your life?
I feel that the Lord is telling us that the Christian ministry can be very costly and it's not always easy to obey God. It's demanding. Demanding to take you cross and follow Him. I feel God call to everybody- Follow Me, no matter what. Be faithful to Me till the end no matter what.
I decided to follow the Lord. And would like today to renew my commitment. I would like you also to renew your commitment to follow the Lord no matter what may happened to you, your possessions, your spouse, your children...
Will you please bow your heads for prayer...
God bless you!
Andrew Blinkov
