Are You a Victim Of Or A Victor Over Your Circumstances?

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” – Psalm 11:3

“Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.” – Psalm 31:21

Today the people of Ukraine are asking for more Bibles.

In an article titled “‘We Need More Bibles’ Ukrainian Church Says War is Driving A Passionate Hunger for the Word of God” Elizabeth Johnson wrote:

Writing for Christianity Today, Briggs explained that he has been in close contact with his counterpart in Ukraine, Anatoliy Raychynets, the general secretary of the Ukrainian Bible Society, who says that as the terror and grief of war have encroached upon the Eastern European nation over the last several weeks, he has seen a passionate pursuit of comfort in the pages of Scripture increase.

Praise God.

“As people grapple with unknown, many are experiencing the Bible’s message for the first time ever. According to Anatoliy, priests and pastors over the past weeks have been flocking to the Bible Society store in Kyiv to buy Bibles. Demand is so high that they’ve run out of copies,” he writes (emphasis ours.)

The biggest crisis faced by the Ukrainian church?

“We need more Bibles,” Anatoliy says.

This past Sunday at the First Sarasota Baptist Church, in Florida Pastor John Cross began the sermon with two testimonies. The first testimony was from a Sarasota family that emigrated from the Ukraine and started a bakery on Main Street. The second testimony, via phone, was from a Pastor in Ukraine.

Watch their powerful testimonies (NOTE: the first testimony begins at the 17:00 minute mark followed by the phone call with the Pastor in the Ukraine)

Why are people turning to God now?

When times get tough, the tough start praying. This is what we are seeing today in the world. Christians and Jews are praying for the people of the Ukraine and for peace.

But is prayer enough?

The Shepard Leading People to Follow Jesus church in Arizona published an article titled “Miracles in the Bible” which may explain why people around the world are reaching for their Bibles. People in great times of distress look for God’s intervention, not only in their lives, but in the world.

According to Miracles in the Bible:

God revealed himself through many miracles in the Bible. The first miracle recorded in the Bible was the creation of the universe and earth itself. The author of Hebrews writes, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command” (Heb. 11:3). Creation continues to reveal God’s miraculous work to mankind.

Many miracles in the Old Testament involve God revealing himself by working through one particular person. God sent messengers to Abraham, Jacob, and Gideon. He spoke directly to his people through prophets like Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha.

Miracles in the Old Testament also involved nature. God caused a worldwide flood event during the time of Noah. Many of the miracles God showed Pharaoh during Israelite captivity in Egypt involved the manipulation of nature. God caused the Red Sea to part to the Israelites could walk through on dry ground. He caused the sun to stand still during the time of Joshua. There are many other examples throughout the Old Testament involving supernatural fire, rain, drought, sickness, death, and healing.

In each case, it was clear the miracle was from God and for a purpose. God revealed himself and his power through miracles.

The miracle of the birth of Jesus

Christians in the Ukraine and beyond look to Jesus, the Son of God, as their Lord, Savior and Redeemer. John 3:16 tells us:

“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

The Ukrainian people want to live. But the people of Ukraine, who are now under siege by Russian forces, understand that their lives are truly in the hand of God.

According to Miracles in the Bible:

Jesus’ first miracles was being born to the virgin Mary. Mary was with child by God’s spirit before she was married to Joseph. This made Jesus the son of God.

The first public miracle of Jesus was turning water into wine during a wedding. He and his mother were attending a wedding. Mary asked Jesus to help after the wedding ran out of wine. Some servants filled large jars with water and Jesus turned them into wine. This is considered the first miracle of his public ministry.

Jesus Healed Many People

• Healing the royal official’s son (John 4:46-54)
• Healing the Capernaum demoniac (Mark 1:21-28)
• Peter’s mother-in-law was healed (Matt. 8:14-15)
• Jesus healed a leper (Mark 8:1-4)
• He healed a paralyzed man (Matt. 9:1-8)
• Healing a woman who suffered with bleeding (Luke 8:43-48)
• A mute demon-possessed man was healed by Jesus (Matt. 9:32-33)
• A girl possessed by a demon (Mark 7:24-30)
• Healing a man born blind (John 9:1-41)
• Jesus healed a demon-possessed boy (Luke 9:37-43)
• Healing 10 lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
• Healing a severed ear (Luke 22:45-54)
• Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (Luke 11:1-44) This was one of Jesus’ more famous miracles.

Miraculous Fish-Catching

Peter, James, and John were fishermen before following Jesus. One day Jesus challenged them to throw their nets in the water after a long night of catching no fish. They brought up so many fish their boat began to sink (Luke 5:3-10).

Jesus Calmed the Storm

One night a furious storm battered the boat Jesus and the disciples were taking across the sea of Galilee. Jesus was sleeping, but woke up long enough to demand the storm stop. The disciples stood in awe of Jesus’ power (Mark 4:35-41).

Feeding 5,000 Men and Their Families

Jesus multiplied a few loaves and fishes from a young boy in order to feed a large crowd. In the end he gathered a dozen baskets of leftover food (Mark 6:35-44).

The Resurrection of Jesus

Finally, the greatest and most important miracle of Jesus’ ministry was his own resurrection from the dead. Jesus had been gone three days after dying on a cross. His disciples were all in mourning for his death. Suddenly, the tomb where Jesus lay was open and his body had disappeared. People wondering “what miracles did Jesus perform” should know this was the most important miracle of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus pointed to God’s power over everything ,even death. It was also the final evidence Jesus gave that he truly was the son of the living God (John 20).

Can God and His Son save the Ukrainian people and the 360 million Christians who were persecuted in 2021?

The answer for the true believer is yes!

For you see it is not this life that Christians love but rather the life everlasting promised to each of them, and you if you choose to believe.

We here are praying for a miracle that the evil in the world is conquered by those who believe in God the almighty.

Today you have two choices: 1. be a victim or 2. be a victor by embracing God and His Son.

It’s your choice.

©Dr. Rich Swier. All rights reserved.

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