Russian Report...

By Mark Stumbo
St. Petersburg, Russia

It is a very sensitive situation right now for Americans living in St. Petersburg, Russia.  A gap has widened in U.S. and Russian relations more than I have ever seen. The recent conflict in the Ukraine has the potential to directly or indirectly affect us and the work of the Lord in Russia and our contacts in the Ukraine. Not only are the Russians starting to feel the impact of sanctions, but since we live among the people we feel them as well. Prices for food and travel have already started to rise. In the future, I am sure items and services will be limited. We hear rumors from time to time that it will be harder for Americans who wish to life in the country to get visa documents, and that Master Card and American Express will stop doing business in Russia. Already, some 70 billion dollars' worth of investment has left the nation as the world has lost confidence in Mr. Putin, confidence which took him around fifteen years to build.

Right now, there is a tense calm. We are praying for God to give us direction and divine protection as we are unsure what will unfold in the future. Some of our Russian neighbors do not look at us in the same way they did before. We see a storm across the bow of the ship.

Nevertheless, we are still determined to step across the railing and out into the sea of humanity; not to sink in the storm around us, but to keep our eyes on Jesus. We know that if we look at the ominous clouds of uncertainty, we will sink in doubt and self-pity. If we look at the crashing waves around us, we will be drowned by the opinions and feelings of others. But if we look at Jesus -- He shows us the way.

As I write this report, this upcoming Sunday will see three young children from the Sunday School Department being baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the 25th of May, we are planning a city-wide outreach,expecting people to come and break through in the Spirit. This summer we are planning to host a special event reaching out to children through English Evangelism. So, let kingdoms rise up against kingdoms, nations against nations, but as long as the Lord gives us the ability we want to labor in His Kingdom. We are not blind to the struggles around us, but are praying for revival, praying for the expansion of the church, praying and planning for God to do great things!

Editorial Note: Bro. Mark Stumbo and his family are ALJC missionaries home-based in St. Petersburg, Russia, with outreach in numerous places around the nation. They solicit your prayers that revival and a Holy Ghost outpouring will saturate the Russian people, filling them and empowering them to be witnesses any and every where all over this enormous nation. Hearts are hungry, God is willing, laborers are needed, prayer is vital! 

Thirst!

By Melvin Butler

Text:  John 4

I Corinthians 10:4 says Israel drank from a spiritual rock, "and that rock was Christ."

Moses' faith was continually tested...

• The promise was, "I will deliver you from Egypt." The reality was that they were stuck between the Red Sea and the baddest army in the world! But God parted the Red Sea and delivered them from their enemy.
• The promise was, "I will take you to the Promised Land." The reality was that they were thirsty and there was no water in the desert! But God brought them water from a rock (which was Christ).

The Samaritan woman was trying to fill the hunger in her soul, (fill the void,) but nothing and no one else could meet her need. The void in each of us can only be filled by Jesus. He touched her at the core of her need. Her response? "I gotta tell somebody!"

Psalm 61:1-5 says, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."

• From the ends of the earth - Drink!
• When my heart is overwhelmed - Drink!
• If you're thirsty - Drink!

Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37b-39)

If the water source was on the outside, maybe the world could get to it. But because it's on the inside, the world cannot give it to you, nor can it take it away. Our job is that of a "water bearer!" Our message is - Drink! and you'll never thirst again!

Editor's Note: Bro. Melvin Butler pastors an independent Apostolic church in Detroit. He is a long time friend of Pastor Ken Foreman.

Tell Them to Come!

By Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Luke 14:16-24

"Tell them to come that My house may be filled." The master in this parable was depending on his servants to take care of his feast - and those who were bidden to come to his feast.

Our job - Sow the seed! (Invite them!)

Food in the Scripture is usually associated with victory, celebration, gathering, and fellowship. Supper is the last meal of the day. Evening is suppertime - night is coming.

It is the evening time of the church age! Contrary to popular opinion - God does want His house to be full! (verse 23)

Come! - The master sent out the invitations, then followed up with a servant on the day of the feast. (Matthew 11:23)

Come! - "All things are now ready!" But the invited guests began to make excuses. Seems they were all on the same page.

1. Bought a piece of ground - gotta check it out
2. Bought five yoke of oxen - gotta prove them
3. Married a wife - I cannot come

Note: All these had received their invitations, had R.S.V.P.'d, yet waited til the last minute to let their host know they weren't coming.

Come! The master says, "Go quickly to the lanes and streets of the city and bring in the halt, maimed, blind, and poor."

It was done, and the servant said, "There is still room!"

Come! The master says, "Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in!"

1. When someone refuses you, don't take it personal, they're not rejecting you. (I Samuel 8:7)
2. Seek the Master for additional instructions
3. There will be a full house. The supper was a sure thing; it was going to happen!
4. Let the celebration begin - with whosoever will! (Revelation 22:17)

Two Laws of Revival

By Tes Stewart

Text: Ezekiel 37:1-10

The devil is already defeated - there's nothing he can do to change that fact. Still, there is a great need for personal revival.

David said, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me." His personal testimony confirms this. He knew what he was talking about; otherwise, it would have been David, the adulterer... David, the murderer.

Samson had greater victory after personal failure than in all the time before.

Jonah, the runaway preacher, had the greatest revival on the other side of his personal failure.

Corporate revival is well and good and needed. But corporate revival is built on individual, personal revival.

We're in a battle, a spiritual war! The entire spirit man may be killed. Other things can also be killed in battle; joy, peace, confidence, passion, enthusiasm, burden, love, etc.

God breathes new life into every area of your life. If you lose your peace in battle, you can pray until your peace is restored. Like a starfish, you can regrow what the enemy has destroyed. "I am the LORD that healeth thee!"

God showed Ezekiel how bad it was - a valley full of dry bones, and they were very dry! He asked Ezekiel, "Can these bones live?" 

• Law #1 - If it lived once, it can live again!
• It doesn't matter how dead, dry, withered, or how long dead...
• For the widow of Nain - Jesus said, "Stop the funeral!"
• Lazarus - dead for three days, "stinketh" - they had given up and entertained Jesus where they were (in the house)
• Jesus said, "Take Me to where Lazarus is."
• Remember - "The promises of God are yea and amen!"
• We need audacious faith - God said...!
• Speak to the bones!
• Miracles: the bones came together
• Bone to his bone...
• sinews and muscles cover the bones...
• skin covers the whole
• Still no breath! - just a body back together again but no life
• New command - "Speak to the wind!"
• Law #2 - It's not revival til it lives again!
• Too often we settle for the "miracles" when we desperately need "New Life!"
• Go back to your first love - if you were a Sunday School teacher before, you can be a Sunday School teacher again.

Those bones went into that valley as an exceeding great army. In the valley they lost their life. They came out of the valley an exceeding great army.

In true revival, God restores everything. They came out with everything restored - plus a testimony!
That revived soldier was a testimony - a living epistle!

Settling for the miracles without the life being restored makes for a lifeless cycle. The miracle is subject to decay and will revert to being dry bones again.

Ezekiel was told to prophesy to the wind. It came and brought life to the dead bones waiting there in the valley. On the Day of Pentecost, that wind blew again, bringing life to waiting hearts and birthing the church. We need that revival wind to blow again today. These dry, dead bones need the life giving power of the Holy Ghost to raise us to live in His sight and to fulfill His purpose in and for us.

Editor's Note: Tes Stewart is the son of Bro. & Sis. Albert Stewart, UPCI missionaries to Liberia, Africa. Currently serving as an evangelist, based in Houston, Texas, these are sermon notes from a message preached here at New Life recently. His ministry was a blessing to us all. Many souls filled the altars and one made her decision to be baptized in Jesus' Name!

Revival Prayer

Revival Prayer

By Charles R. Grisham

Oh cleansing fire burn in me,

Purge my soul and set me free,

Remove each stain of sinfulness,

That I may in Thy presence rest.

Cast far away my vain desires,

Refresh my soul in revival fires,

Come again, Thy wonders reveal,

Oh bless me now is my appeal.

Prepare each heart to look above,

A world that's lost and void of love,

Give us a burden, a vision too,

Oh how we long to be with You!

What joy awaits the faithful ones,

The Master's smile, the words, "Well done,"

A crown of life, a race complete,

What bliss awaits at His dear feet.