Beyond Cultural Christianity – Walking The Uncompromised Faith

0:00 Amen. Бог подарил мне мою любимую жену. Есть пять детей и три внука, двенадцать внуков и три правнука. И все не любят Господа и служат Богу. Это просто особая милость неба. Today I experience a great mercy and blessing of the Lord to have my wife with me, my children, my grandchildren, and I also have three great-grandchildren. God bless them. They have their families, their wives and their wives. They are wonderful. They are all together with me and there and here to serve the faithful God. And it's the biggest gift of the Lord that God blessed all of my children with great spouses, wonderful families that love the Lord.

1:00 And as we did in that country and in here, we serve the Lord in ministry together for years. That's my joy. And it is my privilege to serve the Lord together with my family.

1:22 my dear daughter, the Holy Spirit spoke to each heart himself personally. And I pray today that through the voice or mouth of my daughter Vera, the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart that she will be able to convey the message. Because I know that the Lord wants to say something to my heart first and also to each one of you today. And today the Lord has given me the very well-known text from the scriptures and I would love to share with you and it is from Matthew 16, 24.

2:18 Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Jesus, as if looking at his disciples, said very simple, but radical words for each heart. Follow me. Jesus, looking into the eyes of his disciples, said just very simple two words, but they are radical words. Follow me.

3:08 And I believe the Holy Spirit is telling each one of us today, follow me. And in these simple words, I believe there is so much depth that is our walk with Christ is reflected how we respond.

3:47 And Jesus was so able to convey the meaning of his simple words in depth and give it to each one of our hearts. He invites us to action. Because he is calling each one of us to act upon it. He says take the first step. come out of this crowd and follow me and he is calling each one of us to follow a narrow path American bolognese Edwin Tozer said these words follow Christ and you will see it And then the theologian Tozer said the following.

4:49 Follow Jesus and you will find that the path is steep, but the view is magnificent. I see three important moments in these words. And I see three things from these simple words of Jesus that he wants to emphasize for us today. First is the path of repentance. The path of rejection of his I.

5:27 It's a deep path of God. of repentance and it is the way with Christ. It's a blessed, interesting, different life in Jesus Christ with Jesus Christ. This is a very adventurous journey with Jesus Christ. Here the Lord marks that there are two paths. One path is life and victory. God gives us a choice of two paths. Here he has first path that is leading to life and victory.

6:18 And the second road or path is destruction and death. Do you hear that? There he is. Jesus is explaining to us that there is no other way. There is just two ways that we choose.

6:48 And everybody has to make a choice and be responsible for this choice that you make today. I am the path, the truth and the life. And the disciples accepted this truth and followed in life. And Jesus' disciples received the truth, and they acted upon this truth.

7:29 And they answered yes to the calling of Jesus. For example, Peter and Andrew, they left their nets, and they followed Jesus.

7:54 and James and John's Abedis they left their business and followed Jesus their income their good stuff and Levi Alpheus says that he left big money and his status and he followed Jesus And this was also Noah who was obedient to the voice of God to build an ark for the salvation of his family.

8:41 And in my own life, I heard this voice of Christ. And I have become the most, the happiest person living on this earth. I was 17 years of age.

9:04 And I had many friends and they were calling me to different directions. And I remember that one spring, it was beautiful, everything was blooming. and I went to a backyard and I heard the voice of Christ in my heart that Holy Spirit talked to me saying follow me and right there I fell to my knees and I prayed and I asked for forgiveness I repented and I prayed Lord help me be holy in my youth for my devotion to you and I said Lord wherever you want to lead me I am available for you I am here send me whatever you think it's right.

10:13 And I clearly heard the Lord wanted me and my calling was to minister for the young people. And I said, Lord, yes, I'm coming, send me. Because Jesus tells each one of you individually to make this decision for him.

11:11 And as the Lord spoke so vividly to my heart, and he gave me this burning desire to love and to minister and to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth, I know he can do the same today for you. He doesn't say, smart, rich, talented, go for me. No, he doesn't say, And Jesus doesn't say, you who are rich, who are so courageous, who are gifted, follow me. No, he says, you follow me. And I believe Jesus calls the faithful ones and make them able to accomplish his purposes that he has for each one of them on this earth.

12:28 And often times people tell me, well, you know, you are bold, you are strong, but we cannot do like you do. We can't. And I'm not a hero, friends. and I was not always so bold and there were moments in my life where I was afraid and sometimes I felt shaky hands and my knees but the foundation that I stood upon is a rock When you love Jesus... When you love Jesus, then you will find this power, this joy, and this heavenly blessings in your personal life.

13:37 And when you fall in love with Jesus wholeheartedly, you will know the joy and you will know the strength of God in you. you will experience that. For example, look at my daughter Vera. She grew up very timid and very shy girl.

14:17 and today the Lord has changed her and today she is ready and willing to speak of God's goodness and his miraculous works in her life to any auditorium. And sometimes he says, my father says, it's hard to stop me. I don't know.

14:40 He says, He says, Don't stop to stop me. I'm going to get out of the sky. And it's not time to do. He says, Well, often times I say, So please don't interrupt me. I need to finish my thought. Because I have it. I've received it from the Lord. So I'm preaching sometimes. When we give it to the Holy Spirit to walk through us and in us we will be only amazed what he can do and what he can accomplish.

15:33 Remember in the book of Acts it says that you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and you will be able to accomplish God's purposes. Всегда, всегда помните, что Бог наша сила and He is in us. For God Himself in us and through us says, sometimes you have to think and worry. God does it. When we live with Christ, He speaks with the Holy Spirit through us. And often times we don't even have to think. He gives us the words that He wants to convey and He is our strength.

16:31 Let's say second, in the calling of Jesus, there is a calling to discipleship.

17:01 And this calling and discipleship is for every single day. It's not just randomly. It's not just once. But every day your commitment to follow Christ and his words, what he says in his word. Billy Graham once said that salvation is given for us free, but discipleship will cost you everything you have. But this is your personal choice.

17:48 And this is your everyday choice when your friends do not approve of you, when you are being mocked by your colleagues, but then you experience not comfortable situations standing for truth. It's for every single day.

18:11 And sometimes it's easier even to be silent and not to say a word. Maybe that's more comfortable for you and that will fly too. Какие обстоятельства в жизни не сложилось у тебя? And each one of us encounter troubles, difficulties, temptations. and each day we face it but despite all of it my charge to you today do not leave the race of discipleship.

19:04 I followed for Jesus when I had to make a choice I stood before me. When I started following Jesus there were choices that I had to make still. or a diploma to get in the university and a high career in the ministry. And I was given a choice as a young man studying at the university, whether I would choose my diploma, my career, and very good future, or just to be stripped off everything because of Christ. When in my university I was witnessing for Christ and when it became known to the KGB, to deacons and professors and especially KGB that they were furious about me spreading the gospel around my university.

20:10 And I was given an ultimatum from the deacon, from, sorry, KGB, that said that you have to choose between God and your diploma. And we will get all of the students and you need to make a choice. And I understood very clearly that from my decision, that decision would make a difference in my future.

20:50 It was very difficult for me. Because I grew up in a very common, quite poor family. And I lived in a small village. But I started in the city of Odessa. and I remember when I was going to the university my father took everything that he had to give it to me so I could go and my parents were dreaming that I would go and study at this university of the Navy and I will get a diploma and I had a dream also to become a ship captain that it will come to pass And all night I was in prayer asking the Lord what should I do.

21:46 And I remember that night when I prayed and I knelt before my Lord. And I said, it is difficult, Lord, this is my dream. And maybe I'm not as courageous or bold as you want me to be. Because I have some fears in me, Lord. You know that.

22:08 And how my parents are going to be disappointed. But I heard the voice of the Lord. And in those moments, I heard the voice of the Lord. Joseph, trust in me and follow me. And next morning, before the thousands of students that were gathered in the auditorium, I was able to say these blessed words. I choose my beloved Jesus and I want to serve him all of my life faithfully.

23:10 and I remember how students responded differently somebody was sad because they liked me somebody was laughing and mocking me and somebody said you're crazy but my heart rejoiced because I saw Christ's victory in my heart. I felt the presence of Christ in me as never before. I knew that he gave me this boldness, not myself.

23:56 And of course, after this joy of making this choice, I was expelled from the university. I was not given the diploma. But I have never, never regretted my decision in my life. Ever. But I knew that this was just little test of my faith, but more was yet to come. So God sent me to 10 years of Soviet gulags.

24:49 And also on top of that, I was on the KGB's most wanted list. For three years, they were looking for me and I was as a fugitive. And first imprisonment was really difficult for me as a young man. And first imprisonment I have was tortured probably the most. My biggest crime was that I dared to teach young people and children the word of God. And I pointed them to Jesus. For that, I was the biggest criminal for that. And this was the most that the government, that the state went after people who dared to teach different than their ideology.

25:53 I was 25 years of age. I was a young pastor at the time. And I remember when I was at my first trial as I was walking after my sentencing. And I was in handcuffs, was led out of the courthouse and I was walking.

26:22 And guards were next to me. And I remember how many people were coming and running next, just right into my face, spitting and screaming, people like that should be killed. I have experienced the separation from my family, from my friends, from the loved ones, and oftentimes and freezingly cold, solitary confinements and even without light or food or fresh air, Clopies, crissies, they ate their legs. And often times my flesh was eaten by rats or bed bugs as well. But the joy that I experienced in me was great.

27:18 Who was already in this camera and there was one of the one of the And I remember one prison cell where I knew there was another believer in it before me because there was some writing on the wall.

27:40 And the writing was written, kneel before the Lord. And even when I was looking, when I experienced near-death experiences, I was still kneeling before the Lord because His presence and the heaven were in my heart. Jesus was in my heart. I wanted to say, Jesus, I don't ask You to release me, to give me freedom. And I was asking the Lord, give me strength, give me your power to walk this journey that you set before me unashamedly of you and the gospel. And oftentimes in those solitary confinements, there was complete silence, not even a noise.

28:58 And at times even this little spider in the cell became your friend because you could speak to a living creature. My dear brothers and sisters, and yet then I had a choice.

29:19 Would I leave Jesus and discipleship? Or I would continue joyfully following my Savior? after each of imprisonment God gave me incredible power and desire to follow him fearlessly and to follow Jesus without any compromise despite all of the dangers that I faced. And I believe God sent me to prisons to have this mission filled that I could share the gospel and the good news with those who would never hear the word of God.

30:25 And I said, Lord, maybe even I wanted to go for the fourth time so somebody can preach to them. But the Lord says that's enough. But then he said the Lord told me, now you're going to preach in America. And I say, Lord, well, what I'm seeing right now in America, I'm seeing another type of regime that is coming up.

31:14 I had one of the favorite Bible passages since I was a child, pretty much. And it says, Philippians 1.20, that according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. and these words were my words in my heart that helped me follow the path with Jesus wherever he sent me and I remember one of those critical moments and these were many in my life believe me but these were moments that God showed himself in a most powerful, magnificent way and miraculous ways as well.

32:27 And as Apostle Paul says, I would have loved to share them with you but they were countless. And I remember once in my second imprisonment, I had a group of inmates that actually became Christians. These hardcore criminals became Christians. And the prison warden decided that now they need to punish me for that and they will transfer me. And they would send me to a prison where they do forcefully all types of medical experiments on you. And everybody knew that once you are transferred to that prison you will never come back a normal person.

33:30 All inmates knew that. And I started crying out to the Lord, Lord, I just ask you please have mercy on me I want to be sane I want to have memory be with me and your grace may be sufficient for me Lord please do not allow them to do this evil to me and just in the middle of this transfer from prison to prison.

34:08 We were given again a search for some reason. We don't know. And then there was a little note on my folder that they carried with them. And it just said return back to previous prison.

34:34 I just knelt before the Lord right there. And I said, Lord, this is your hand. This is your hand that wrote this note. Because this is your mighty power. And you are mighty power. You work powers through every circumstance. You saved me, Lord, and their evil deeds are not completed. and the Lord crossed out their plans.

35:13 I have no idea what happened. That does not happen, friends. That does not happen. But I know the prayer, the power of prayer. And I believe not only me, but many believers prayed for me that day and God answered most powerfully. And today, I stand before you as a witness of God's grace because I was promised both me and my family to be destroyed. But today, I'm almost 90 years old. I just want to correct. He's going to be 90 in December.

36:12 In 65 years of my life, I lived in a socialistic regime and country. I survived Stalin, Khrushchev and other six leaders of the Communist Party. And believe me, I know exactly what socialism and communism is. I lived it.

37:05 And Satan through the system did not come up or create anything new. It's all the same. And the devil uses the same approach as he used in that country. He's using it today in America. When Satan was around the world and found Russia, there was Satan's death. Today he turned his actions to America. And as it was with Russia years ago, that the socialism and communism came to the country and destroyed generations of people and millions of lives today the same agenda is for America he wants to destroy America and the biggest purpose for the socialism for the Marxist is to destroy faith in God and also to destroy Jewish people and to destroy God's church.

38:15 And they did it exactly beginning from the kindergarten and then from schools and universities through media, through films. And the indoctrination started from early age in the communist country and they told children, they told children, there is no God.

38:42 And also the teachers were, you know, pinning students against those who believed in God. And my children experience big difficulties going to school. They experience bullying. They experience ostracization. They experienced mockery.

39:06 And they deprived my children with anything they could. So my children had a hard time going to school. Because every single day, they were mocking my children. And they tried to destroy their faith in God. But I know that the Lord was with us in that situation. Oftentimes I'm being asked, how was it possible for you and your wife to bring up your children Christian? That godless society.

39:55 And the answer is very simple. for me and my wife Maria the biggest desires of our hearts was for our children to know God to know Jesus personally And we understood the responsibility that God gave us as parents to bring our kids up in the Spirit of God.

40:29 And every single day we tried to teach them God's Word and also show them in our lives and show them the example what Christ looked like. And we try to do it every single day, day and night, as it says in the Deuteronomy. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk to them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.

41:18 It's very saddening to me but I see a tendency here in America that Christian parents actually relinquish their direct responsibility for bringing up their children in God's way to others. And they transfer that to pastors, to school, to youth leaders, and then to universities later on. And as a result today, the last polls are showing that only 52% of people are against communism. And as a result today, the last polls are showing that in America only 52% are against communism. And today, the same Marxist ideology that destroyed millions of people in our country and other countries, today is doing its evil work in America.

42:37 And right now, do not be mistaken that we are in a very dark spiritual warfare. And for me, it is very difficult to even hear that children that grew up in church go to schools, colleges, and universities, and after those universities, they come out atheists and vogue activists. When my two older granddaughters went to university, Christian university, they were completely shocked. And they called me and said, Grandpa, they are not teaching the truth of God's word, they are teaching liberalism.

43:57 And how is this possible, friends? We have so many lectures and seminars and books and people study. But the result is that the heads are so big that the legs are not able to support them. and it's almost like becoming insanity how is it possible people don't know who is a woman and who is a man so today we are to be awakened from this sleep and we have to fight for the principles and ideals of Christ because we are to save our children because they are being brainwashed right now this evil agenda against our youth and me very much and I really love that your pastor Jack neustannu postoyannu napominait zajigait probudait serca ludiei my slishim et i propudii blagadariim i molimsa soba vasha cerkou bela oplotom istyny pravdy i pabedi and we're so thankful for pastor Jack and this church that teaches the whole council of God the truth of God and is on fire for the truth and fight for the freedom in America.

45:49 What time is it? Where is it? Ah, all right, right? Follow me. It's the willingness to fight Christ and bring him to the world. Thirdly, to follow Jesus is to be ready to suffer for Christ and to bear his reproach in this world. Because to pick up the cross is to deny yourself, your desires, your ego. There is no place left in your heart when you follow Jesus for your own self.

46:37 Because it's no longer that I live, but Christ lives in me. I believe the Lord is given such a great example to our country a year ago and I believe a year ago that the enemy was working overtime and Charlie Kirk was killed I'm so blessed to call him friend. We had time together. We prayed. We talked. And it was such a blessing to my heart and to his heart.

47:20 And he was uncompromising man of God. He was fearless. He loved the Lord. And I believe he was so anointed as nobody else. A young man. I've never known a young man like him who was able with God's help to speak to the hearts of young people in this country to engage them in a conversation he was a man of great faith and commitment to Christ and Bible says that people like that they speak after their death their words and their deeds speak after.

48:16 We are citizens of heaven. And as citizens of heaven, we are responsible for our civic duties. And because we have responsibility to vote and to be responsible for what's happening and processes in our country. and especially in social processes in our country and our city.

48:42 And if you don't know who to vote for, please ask Pastor Jack and people that help him. He will tell you exactly. And he is never mistaken. So the question for you today, are you ready to be a disciple of Jesus?

49:05 and know that God is worthy of your love and my love. He's worthy of your and my commitment and devotion to him. Do not be afraid. My charge today, do not be afraid to follow Jesus today and to be rejected by people, rejected by your friends.

49:31 And I will charge you, if you lose everything in this world do not betray Jesus and do not betray him when you are going to be mocked and when you are going to be threatened when you are going to be persecuted do not be afraid be strong be courageous because Jesus says that he I overcame the world and this is the victory It's your faithfulness. It's your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not be timid disciples and be bold and uncompromised. And I never regretted that I made a choice to follow my Savior.

50:29 Thank you. And Jesus is telling you today, follow me.

50:52 And if you hear Jesus' voice today, follow me. May your response be, here am I, Lord. Send me. And if the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart right now, to your heart,

51:17 to your consciousness, to your soul, to your life, if he speaks those words to you, And if you want to say yes, Lord, for the life in Christ, do we have anybody? Can you raise your hand? Thank you, Lord.

51:54 So let us pray. Our precious and dear Lord, Father God, we are so thankful for your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, that you gave to all of us, Lord.

52:28 Lord, touch each one of our hearts and may those words follow me be dissolved in the hearts of people today by faith Lord we bless this church and we bless this city and we bless pastors in this church bless those who worship you bless who give glory to you and may your name be glorified today and forever and be blessed your name Lord Amen God bless you I love you