Our church recently entered a season of prayer and fasting. We are humbling ourselves and seeking the Lord and asking Him for an authentic, Christ-exalting revival, not only in our church, but in churches across the country. We are praying for an awakening. We recognize our profound need for Christ to reign supreme in our lives individually and in the life of our church and all churches. We also recognize that apart from God's mercy, our nation is in trouble. We have, as a culture, rejected God, His Word, His authority and design for almost everything. 

We are also seeking Christ and asking Him to build His church, understanding that the church is His, not ours, and we desire His will, His plans and purposes, not ours, understanding that 'unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.'-Psalm 127:1.

Prayer guides are available weekly at our church. We are asking people to get on their knees individually, as a family, and to join us in our corporate prayer times.  We desperately need Jesus. This nation desperately needs Christ. This world, desperately needs Jesus.

Soon after our time of prayer and fasting began, Russia invaded Ukraine.  In the short time since Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine, we have seen horrific things. President Putin clearly has no moral problem bombing civilian centers and leveling cities, killing women and children and the elderly. Before he invaded, he threatened the West to stay out, hinting at a nuclear response. Since the invasion began, Putin has hinted at this threat more than once. As I write this post, the Russian army attacked the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe, located in Zaporihya, Ukraine. The potential for a serious disaster that would dwarf Chernobyl is a real concern. Fire fighters are being allowed to to in to put out the fire, and the news is stating that there should be no radiation danger, but as of this writing, there is no certainty.

I cannot help but think of my friend and brother in Christ, Vadym Kulyenchekno and his family who are in Ukraine, serving refugees in the church where he pastors, helping people find shelter, and in some cases, transporting some people at great risk to be with loved ones. Vadym is staying. He is a gospel presence in the heart of darkness, as are many other Ukrainian pastors and churches. In the midst of great darkness, there is a light that is shining and we would do well to learn from our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are running the race so well in horrific conditions.

This war is different for the world because an autocrat with an evil heart (and we must pray for Putin), also has a very, very large nuclear arsenal, and, has demonstrated time and time again, whether it be Syria or now, Ukraine, he has little regard for human life.

This war is 'different' because of the nuclear saber rattling. This war is different because it is taking place so near NATO countries. It is different because in an instant, the Cold War was re-ignited, and, if there is a misstep or two by either side, well, Russia is not the only nation with a large nuclear arsenal. People around the world are uneasily asking the question no one ever wanted to ask: 'is this the beginning of World War 3?' 

If so, there would be no World War 4. 

People have questions. People have concerns. Christians are asking interesting questions, such as: 'Is this setting the stage for the end of days and Christ's return?' and 'what can we do? The suffering is so immense?' 'How can we help?' 'How should we pray?' (I've heard this one a lot). 'How do I talk to my kids about the days we live in?' 

I am not God, so I do not know how all of this will unfold. However, I do know that He is Sovereign and over all nations and that we need Him. He alone is our hope. I know that Christ reigns and that He is coming again, not as a Suffering Servant, but as the Conquering King. I do not know the 'when' of these things of course, only the Lord does.

So, in this season of prayer and fasting, how should we pray? How should we live? Let me make a few suggestions:

1) Examine yourself to see if you really are in the faith. This is Paul's admonition in 2 Corinthians 13:5. I am convinced that there are many unconverted people in evangelical churches all across this country. They may know the language of the faith. They may intellectually affirm the gospel. They might be religious to a degree, and they might well go to church, but there is no personal relationship because there has been no repentance and coming to saving faith in Christ.  We can profess Christ, but our lives (the fruit we bear or do not bear), tells the true condition of our souls. I would encourage every person to seriously examine where they stand with Christ. Cultural Christianity or 'churchmanship' won't save you.

2) We must pray. Seriously pray. Take a break from wasting time on social media or binge watching news and get on your knees and pray. Pray for revival in your heart. Pray for an undivided heart. Confess sin in your life. Stop excusing the spiritual trash that accumulates. 1 John 1:9 was written to Christians. Confess, get the heart right and walk humbly with God and others.

3) Pray for the church, for your lost friends and family and acquaintances. Pray for your communities and for this city and nation. Pray for God's mercy on our culture. Pray for a gospel movement to take place in our days, that once more He would renew His work in our time (Habakkuk 3:1,2).

4) Pray for Ukraine. The Lord is able to bring beauty out of ashes. Pray that these faithful ministers of the gospel would shine the light of the gospel and not grow weary. Christian news agencies stated that right before Russia invaded Ukraine, more Ukrainians downloaded Bible apps and ways to study Scripture than ever before. Pray that the gospel would advance in Ukraine. 

5) Pray for Putin. Pray that the Lord either leads him to repentance and to withdraw, or, that the Lord removes him from his position. 

6) Pray for our nation's leaders (yes, even the ones you didn't vote for), that they would make wise and virtuous decisions. Pray that they would come to saving faith in Christ. 

7) Pray for the people of Russia as well. There are Christian brothers and sisters there who are shining brightly and standing against this atrocitiy. It is costing some of them already. Pray that the gospel advances in Russia.

Some of you might think 'oh...so just pray...I knew you'd say that.' I humbly counter with 'if that is your view of prayer you have a very low view of God and do not understand the power of prayer and the power of our King.' Yes, humbly seek Him. 

8) Run this race well. I don't know what tomorrow brings. Only God does. I do know that we have been given today and we are to be faithful with the day He has given us. Don't waste your life, don't waste the day. Love your neighbor as yourself, serve people, proclaim the Truth in love and be about the business of prayerfully engaging people around you with the gospel. 

9) As a church: we must be focused on the main things. These are serious times. What we do in this life matters. We do not shrink back, we do not live in fear, we do withdraw and focus on ourselves and self-preservation--we focus on Him and His kingdom work. 

10) Give generously. We always want to be generous givers to the ministry of the church, and a part of our season of praying  and fasting is seeking God for what He wants for us to do with 'Phase 2' of building, and, with ministries in the months ahead. Let's give joyfully and generously and sacrificially toward the general fund and the building fund, and, let's also look for ways to continue to be on mission globally. I am thankful that last year our church gave 16.5% of our receipts to missions. I'm praying we give even more. Let's be about investing in eternal things.

11) Give joyfully above and beyond to help people in Ukraine and refugees from Ukraine. You will see more information on this in the days ahead.

12) Gather with God's people to worship our King. We need Him, and we need one another. When we are saved, we are saved into community and each of us as a part of the body has a role or roles to play, a role in serving. Pray about where the Lord wants you to serve and determine that you will be a God-honoring (and brother and sister honoring) church member who will build up others in Christ. 

Yes, these are serious times, but our God reigns. We have a race to run. Let's be about that. 

Grace to You,

Pastor Kevin