0:00 [music] going to hear about a story about a man named Basil Malof. Let me show you a picture of brother Basil Malof. All right, here's let's listen to the 0:19 story of this man. Basel Malof was actually born named William Fetler and at some point he changed his name I think during his time of working in Russia. He was born in Latvia which is a country in Eastern Europe in 1883. The 0:38 son of a godly Baptist preacher. He was converted when he was 15 years old during a meeting in his own home kind of like we are here. uh and during one of those meetings in his own home uh he was converted at the age of 15 because 0:56 Christian believers were in danger of imprisonment and worse persecutions. Basil and a group of other converts were baptized at midnight in a quiet spot in a nearby river. From that time he was a he was fearless in his witness for 1:12 Christ. At the age of 18, while he was working in the office of a machine factory in the city of Ria in Latvia, he stepped to a window overlooking the busy street. As he watched the passing crowd, his thoughts were interrupted by a gentle 1:29 voice calling, "Basil Malof." He turned to see who was speaking and again heard his name, but he saw no one. Immediately he realized that he had heard God's voice and even though he couldn't have explained it, he knew the 1:47 exact message. He replied, "No Lord, I cannot be an evangelist because I don't have the gift of preaching because God had been working on his heart that he was calling him to be an evangelist. Don't you see the thousands 2:01 of Russians who don't know my gospel of salvation?" God asked him. Sure, they are religious people, but they don't know how to be delivered from sin. You have experienced the power of the cross, and you must devote all of your energy 2:16 to reaching your countrymen with the good news of salvation. And so God called him to what would be 54 years of serving among the Slavic people all over the world. He soon realized that to fulfill God's call, as he should, he had to go through a little 2:32 bit more education. There was no Christian university for young people anywhere in the Russian Empire, but he had heard of Charles Spurgeon's college in London. Using an English dictionary, he wrote a letter to the school, and he 2:46 was overjoyed when he received a reply from Thomas Spurgeon, the son of Charles Spurgeon, saying, "A hearty welcome awaits you at our college. Come as soon as possible." When he told his parents about his plan, his mother wrote to him, 3:00 "It's hard to give you up, dear son, because we're getting old." As he read the letter, he could see in his mind the image of the prayerful life of his aging father and the constant hard work of his mother as she went about her household 3:15 tasks. He was facing the price of the cross. So uncontrollably, he prayed, "Oh father, speak to me through thy word. I must obey you at any cost. You've brought me to the crossroads of my life. You know, I love my parents, but I love 3:33 you first. In answer to his plea, he received the words of our Lord that stand in front of all who would completely follow him. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. That's Matthew 10:37. 3:52 So Basil resigned from his job and went home to say goodbye to his family. It was painful but his father laid trembling hands on his head and blessed him and his mother kissed him saying, "God bless you and make you a mighty man 4:05 of God." So the young Russian began an unknown future in a strange land but having a strong sense of God's approval. Basel was not only a hardworking student but also intensely eager to know more about what it means to follow Jesus. His 4:23 teachers recognized his potential for future service and painstakingly and prayerfully counseledled him both in his schoolwork and in spiritual matters. He loved going to the college library to read the stories and writings of David 4:37 Brainard and Charles Finny, Charles Spurgeon, John Knox, etc. Basil was especially challenged by the life of John Knox and he reread many times the intercessory prayers of that godly godly man. He thought if John Knox could claim all of Scotland John Knox is 4:57 famous for saying I claim all of Scotland and God used him mightily to bring a revival in Scotland. And so Basil thought if John Knox could claim all of Scotland, can't I claim all of Russia? And the increasing cry of his 5:10 heart became, "Oh God, give me Russia or I die." That was John Knox's famous phrase, "Give me Scotland or I die." And so he took it, made it personal. He said, "Give me Russia or I die." Early in his time in college, he decided to 5:25 devote two hours a day to spend time in communion with his heavenly father. This is another one thing that struck me here is that it wasn't just a burden within his heart. wasn't just thinking, "Oh, I wish I could save so many people. Lord, 5:41 save the unconverted." He was willing to make sacrifices. He was willing to take maybe give up some pleasures, give up some things that he would have liked to do, give up a little bit of extra sleep to spend time in prayer. So, he decided 5:55 to spend two hours a day early in the morning in communion with his heavenly father. This and this is while he was studying in school. So, he had a busy life. He had classes to take and all of that, but he still made time. The secret 6:08 of his effectiveness as a soul winner through all the following years was in his im emphasis on the importance of prayer. That's what we see in many of these stories is that God was able to use them because they had a continual 6:22 prayer life. And that's I hope um something that will challenge us, dear brothers and sisters and children. Uh I was just reflecting this morning actually and thinking about this meeting on when we started going through these 6:37 biographies a few years ago now. I think probably seven eight years ago since we did the first one and the burden on my heart personally and I think shared it with the other elders and we all agreed that that was uh the right direction to 6:51 take but we uh sensed a a burden that all of us would come to a more consistent prayer life not something that was just praying before a meal or praying on a Sunday morning or periodically before you go to bed that sort of thing that's Great. But that 7:09 through these meetings and increasingly being devoted to prayer, we would as a church really embrace prayer and make that a part of our life. Prayer should be like breathing where it's just continual. And um along with that, the need to be 7:27 filled with the Holy Spirit as we say in many of these stories that when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they experienced a genuine filling of the Holy Spirit. It transformed their life. what was an ordinary just making it type 7:39 of Christian life. They weren't satisfied with that. They were gripped that God had something better for them, something where he would be they would be useful in the kingdom, not just let their time fly by. And they sought the 7:52 Lord to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They received the anointing of the Holy Spirit and that transformed their life. So like we sang last week, little is much when God is in it. It's not the big things that we do. It's not going out 8:04 and doing something famous. None of us may ever have a biography written about us. That doesn't matter. But in the little things that we do where we seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit and say, "Lord, I want in some way you have 8:15 planned for my life and the calling you have given me to be meaningful in eternity." Not just that I lived a good life, made a lot of money, provided for my family, set them up to be married and go their way and died in a h, you know, 8:31 good long life. That's not our calling. that everything we do on this earth, not big or small in the ears in the world's eyes, but whatever we do on this earth, whatever God calls us to do, it will be meaningful in eternity. And for that, we 8:45 must seek to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. I just wanted to mention that because that was on my heart all day today as I thought about even this prayer meeting and how the Lord has brought us on an amazing 8:56 journey and uh I praise the Lord that he's made us a praying church, but I believe he wants to do even more. carry uh and and make us a real powerful witness and a light in the in the community here in northern Colorado 9:11 because we are taking up this mantle of prayer. So let's continue on that. We see that even in Basil Malof's life. He loved to sing and he often in the meetings he conducted he would lead large congregations in a burst of song 9:26 that seemed to almost lift the roof and reach into the heavenlies. He especially loved to lift his faith and the faith of others by singing his favorite hymn. These lines, "Thou art coming to a king. Large petitions with thee bring for his 9:44 grace and power are such none can ever ask too much." I've never heard this hymn. I'm going to go um so don't be surprised if we're singing it in a couple days. I'm going to go investigate this hymn. What wonderful lines. Let's 9:56 let me read it again. You're coming to a king, not just some ordinary person. Thou art coming to a king. Large petitions with thee bring. Bring the largest thing you can ask for spiritually and bring it to him because he's a king. For his grace and power are 10:16 such none can ever ask too much. Later he translated these lines into the many different languages of the Russian Empire. And wherever they were sung, it brought about a faith in God among the people which filled the atmosphere with 10:32 God's presence. In 1904, I think many of you will remember that year. We hear about it often. Was the year of the Welsh revival uh with Evan Roberts. One of the greatest revivals of modern times happened in Wales. Malof went there to 10:47 see the outpouring of God's grace. This produced an intense desire for a similar working of the Holy Spirit among his own people. In one meeting, he stood up and said, "Pray for me that I will have the baptism of power." What honesty as the 11:03 leader to get up and say, "Pray for me that I will have the baptism of power. Oh, pray that I will be a chosen instrument for dark Russia." Soon a mighty change came over young Basil. He could no longer hold church meetings along ordinary organized lines 11:19 to end at a specific time. And this is that moment when he started to experience the filling of the Holy Spirit in response to his thirst. And look at what it says that when he conducted church meetings, he couldn't just do it according to the ordinary 11:33 organized lines to end at a specific time and fit everybody's convenience. The Holy Spirit had to be in charge of every meeting and his guidance carefully followed. Those attending never knew how long the meetings would last. I feel a 11:49 little bit like that where when visitors come on Sunday mornings, they if they don't know, they don't know much about us, they probably sit there thinking, man, how long is this going to go on for? Are we going to be here all day? 11:59 And that's a little bit of what it was like for him. And even those who attended regularly didn't know how long the Holy Spirit was going to lead that meeting. Now, we don't want to be super spiritual and say, "Okay, let's just 12:10 have a 24-hour meeting or anything like that." But we want everything we do to be led by the Holy Spirit, guided by him, not fit some pattern that we already have in mind. Often in Eastern Europe, they could go on for 3 to six 12:23 hours. It was in the Welsh revival that the this chosen servant of God learned in an intimate way to recognize the Holy Spirit as a person. I believe that's why the Lord used that Welsh revival so amazingly and influenced so many other 12:37 revivals around the world because the Holy Spirit became real to them. He was a person as real as Jesus. And then they realize that we're called to walk through this life, this Christian life here with a person who's with us, the 12:50 Holy Spirit. To fully appreciate Basil's life and work, we must remember that he had a passion for God and for his holiness. He knew his God. He continued to know him through a deeply sacrificial life of communion and constant hunger 13:05 after righteousness. Here's something he wrote when he was visiting the United States. Life without holiness is death. And I read that line in this book. It just I had to stop there. What a powerful statement. Life without holiness is 13:22 death. We may not realize it because we continue to remain alive physically, but spiritually life without holiness is death. In the heart of every born again child of God, there is the constant cry not to sin. Not to sin. This is always 13:38 my cry day and night. Oh, to be holy and pleasing to God in everything. I have prayed many times in Europe and here in America, any price for holiness, no price too great just to become holy. I repeat, this is my greatest longing cost 13:55 what it may. Cause me, oh Lord, to be truly holy. Let everything and everyone go if you alone remain, oh love that wilt not let me go. Enoch walk with God. You walk with your friend, but do you walk with God? Husbands walk with their 14:13 wives, and children walk with their mothers, but do you walk with God? To walk in the light means to walk in holiness. I love how simply he put it that when it says he walk with God, it's kind of like a child walking with their 14:26 dad or mom. Just as simply and inviting us to that kind of an ordinary simple walk with God. Picture God walking with you through when you're walking down the street or driving in the car or going somewhere. That's what the Holy Spirit 14:41 will do for us. Make Jesus personal to us. To walk in the light means to walk in holiness. We can't have fellowship with God only if our life is holy and blameless. All fellowship with others, listen to this carefully. We've preached 14:55 about this often. All fellowship with others which is not based on walking in the light is sinful. He actually calls it sinful. All fellowship with others which is not based on walking in the light is sinful 15:11 because whatever is not light is sin. The coming of the Holy Spirit is a mark that everything has been put right between God and man. For where sin moves out, God moves in. Remember that, children. Where sin moves out, God moves 15:28 in. Recently, and that's why it's we teach you to confess, apologize, forgive, set things right. Because the moment that sin, you confess it, it's gone out of your heart, God can come in there. Where sin moves out, God moves 15:43 in. Recently I was able to spend uh Basil Malof's continuing to write I was able to spend a good part of a day alone with himself to seek his face a new to find him as my gracious father and trusted friend. As I was meditating and turning my heart 16:00 toward God suddenly I was reminded of my conversion hymn from long ago. It's one we have sung if I remember correctly on a Wednesday night. Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on his gentle breast. There by his love overshadowed or shaded, 16:17 sweetly my soul shall rest. Then I knew that when tribulations come, everything will be all right. Now I am placing myself again in his mercy and at his complete disposal. He knows my heart and deepest longings. In 1907, Ba Basil 16:35 graduated from the college. But the evidence of his baptism in the Holy Spirit was so clear that Thomas Spurgeon, who was the president of the college, Charles Spurgeon's son, later wrote, "If the pastor's college has done 16:47 nothing else since my father's death than train a man like brother Malof, it has been worth it. There was a man sent from God whose na name was Basil." That's what Thomas Spurgeon said. During the latter part of Basil's time at 17:03 college, the Russian Emperor Nicholas II surprisingly issued a manifesto of religious liberty. Russian believers were no longer persecuted because of their opposition to the beliefs and practices of the Greek Orthodox Church 17:18 and were free to worship according to their conscience. Before that, they were persecuted. If you didn't believe what the Orthodox Church taught, then you were considered a heretic and persecuted. But Emperor Nicholas II 17:30 removed that and gave everybody the freedom to believe according to their conscience. Um, Malof was excited about this and after much prayer was sure that God was calling him to go to the great city of St. Petersburg which was then called 17:44 Lenengrad. God had a loving plan for his lost children of Russia and that was seen clearly at this time in England. the president of the pioneer mission, a man named Reverend EA Carter, had been praying for 20 years. See, that's 17:59 another thing I saw here that this man silently somewhere in England had been praying for 20 years specifically for the people of Russia and didn't seem to see anything. I don't know if I prayed for something for 20 years. And then at 18:13 the right time, God brought along Basil Malof and he was the man God used through this man EA Carter's prayers. He had been praying for 20 years for a door for the gospel into Russia and he contacted Malof as soon as he heard 18:27 about the emperor's manifesto. He and a well-known businessman from London named Mr. Charles Phillips asked Basil if he would represent the mission in Russia. Mr. Phillips had been carrying a God-given burden for the salvation of 18:40 the Slavic people during his long life of over 80 years. Wow. God at a he was a young man, young boy. God laid a hold of him and said, "Pray for Russia." And he carried that burden. And here he was in his late 80s or older. And finally, God 18:57 brings along the man whom he's going to use. It shows us that we never should give up praying no matter how long it takes. So these two men supported Malof by their prayers and generous financial help. When Basil reached St. Petersburg, 19:10 he rented a hall near the university there. Around 300 students attended the meetings before the midnight service. They had services at midnight. After school's over, you finish your homework, get something to eat, and come for the 19:22 meeting at midnight. But before the midnight service, they had a prayer meeting at 10:30 p.m. And then the members went around throughout the city with tracks and invitations to the meeting. So here were these, they're going out into the town, the Russian 19:36 people have worked hard all day and they maybe they had their dinner and then they have a meeting at midnight. Princess Leven had graciously helped Dr. Frederick Baker in distributing the scriptures in Russian prisons and was 19:50 also a personal friend of Mrs. Jesse Pen Lewis. You may remember her from a few months ago when we heard about her. She offered Malof the use of her beautiful palace and from this center they sent gospel literature to all parts of 20:03 Russia. During the first two years of Basil's stay in St. Petersburg. Many of the royal class were part of this ministry including the prime minister's wife and countest Toltoy and the queen of Greece. So a lot of people in the 20:19 nobility were also a part of his ministry and supported him. The spiritual transformation among the working people was so radical that the rich upper class would started to only hire Christian cooks and chambermaids and coachmen and other kinds of 20:37 employees because they saw the revival happening and these ordinary people were getting converted and they were becoming men and women of integrity and now they wanted to hire only them. Malof encouraged the brothers and sisters to 20:50 accept these jobs, always witnessing for the Lord. As a result, many of the rich upperass people were converted and became supporters of Malof in his ministry. Soon there were around 50 preachers in St. Petersburg proclaiming 21:05 the message of salvation. And this is important to understand because this is in the context of the Russian Orthodox Church or the Greek Orthodox Church at that time that that was the only church that was the established church. And if 21:17 you wanted to know Christianity, you went there. But that was dead. Those churches were dead. It was dead religion. And God used Basil Malof to bring evangelical truth, the truth about salvation, the assurance of salvation, 21:30 and being filled with the Holy Spirit and being freed from sin through him. On December 25th, 1911, the largest church building in Russia at that time was completed, able to seat more than 2,000 people. It was called the Dom Evangelia 21:45 which means gospel house. The Holy Spirit came down in unusual power during the meetings held there resulting in hundreds of people being converted. In 1913, Malof married Barbara Kovalevski who had been converted through his 21:59 ministry. She was a deeply spiritual wife completely in harmony with her husband's devotion to the Lord. They had 10 sons and three daughters. big family who are all also wholehearted disciples of Jesus. I loved reading that that here 22:15 was a man who was busy in the ministry but he never lost sight of his calling to be a father. He and his wife with all their ministry raised 13 godly children in uh along with the ministry that they did. So that it goes to show that when 22:30 we put God first, seek his kingdom, and follow him and follow his example, we will be able to raise godly families and still be still fulfill our calling outside of the walls of our homes and church building. If you looked at 22:43 Basil's busy schedule, you would think that his prayer life would suffer as a result because he didn't have time to pray. It was actually the opposite. He slept only as much as was necessary, always keeping prayer as fundamental. 22:56 And here's what he wrote. 1:00 a.m. He's writing in his journal. 1:00 a.m. I am alone in my room. I've begun to talk to my own heart and to God. I feel very lonely and he's away from his family. He's traveling somewhere. He feel very 23:10 lonely in my separation from my loved ones in this strange place. And yet, I am very glad that I can speak to God. Took this verse as an encouragement and promise. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. What a wonderful verse 23:26 to go into a dark place. That's Romans 5:20. You know, sometimes we go into places maybe in a workplace or you're around people who are full of sin. Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. Uh and then he goes on to write, 23:41 "Thought tenderly of the holy family and prayed for each one, not the holy family, the whole family. Uh his family back home." 1:00 a.m. Another day, he writes, "Oh heavenly father, at last I am alone with you. Now I ask for the 23:55 help of your Holy Spirit to pray through me in mighty intercession for my beloved Russia and the Slavic people. Let there be mighty movings of the hol of the spirit in my heart during this prayer season. For several days my mind has 24:09 been occupied with deep spiritual matters. I have realized the everinccreasing importance of prayer. Christ said without me you can do nothing. That's John 15:5. Absolutely nothing. We often try to do some Christian work as if we can do God's 24:27 work without his help and blessing. James 4:2 says, "You have not because you ask not." The disciples worked hard the whole night but caught nothing because they tried to fish without Christ. That was the I've never heard it put 24:43 that way. The reason they didn't catch anything is because they were doing it without Christ. And the moment Christ showed up on the beach, they caught the fish. After a brief fellowship with Christ in the morning, they caught 153 24:56 large fish. Think about that in whatever you're doing. Are you doing something? It might seem good. You're working hard in your job or you're doing this, you're doing that, but is have you doing it with Christ? Is he there? Have you 25:08 received his command? Then you will bear the fruit. Then you will receive the fruit. Otherwise, it'll be as pointless as those disciples fishing all night. I met God, he goes on to write again tonight. Praise his holy name. I was 25:20 meditating on Philippians chapter 2. The phrase, "Let this mind be in you," came to me with great force. Oh, to be spiritually minded. A spiritual mind is automatically closed to any evil and open to the good and holy work of God. 25:38 Another day he writes 1:00 a.m. again. Now therefore, I the least of all Christ's servants relying upon the grace and help of the Lord would like to begin a season of earnest praying. Not earnest doing or earnest serving, earnest 25:53 praying and fasting to humble myself a new before God. Here was a man on the mission field trying to serve people and he says, "Lord, I really need to pray and fast that I might humble myself a new before you." And that's why his life 26:08 was so useful. Malof was then led to go to the great city of Moscow which had around 1,600 Greek Orthodox churches. He rented a large hall in which he started having meetings. Soon a small group of believers came together and their 26:22 influence began to be felt among the city's 2 million population. Malof soon realized, however, that the offense of the cross never ceases. He knew that trouble was coming. When he arrived back in Moscow for a preaching 26:36 visit, because he was still living in St. Petersburg, someone handed him a newspaper. On the front page of it was printed in bold type and framed in black the words. This is in the newspaper, the city newspaper. The city of Moscow is 26:50 being attacked by the arch heretic chief of demons, Basil Malof. Chief of Demons. What an honor to be called that. Then an order was made forbidding members of the National Orthodox Church to attend meetings conducted by Malof. The black 27:07 bordered notice was a subtle way of saying that Malof was already dead. It was somewhat of a shock to Malof, but also a desperate challenge. And how did Malof decide to meet this challenge? With a day of prayer. That night when he 27:22 went to the hall for the planned meeting. After that day of prayer, he expected that hardly anyone would show up, if at all. When he opened the door, he was greatly surprised to see that the auditorium was packed. Despite the 27:35 warning in the newspaper, people were so curious to see this arch heretic that they ignored the church's order. Many out of fear were holding on to icons. In the Orthodox church, they have icons which they say protect them from evil, 27:50 which is like pictures, photographs of saints or paintings of saints. So many had brought those icons with them in case this arch heretic was really some kind of evil person and were making the sign of the cross to protect themselves 28:02 from any evil. Still they listened attentively as Malof preached from 1 Corinthians 1 22 and 23. For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto 28:20 the Greeks foolishness. At the end of the meeting when Malof invited people to come and be cleansed in the fountain open for sin and uncleanness, men and women throughout the hall broke out into weeping and hundreds fell to their knees under the 28:34 power of the Holy Spirit's conviction. At least 60 people were converted that evening and a mighty revival came into the city. This resulted in the first Baptist church of Moscow being founded and its impact was felt throughout the 28:47 Russian Empire as Christians responded to the same plea that once came from Macedonia. Come and help us. The experiences of these loyal disciples of Jesus was much like those of the disciples in the first century who went 29:03 everywhere with the gospel. What does that look like? the bitter cold of Siberia, being locked up in horrible prisons, and the fact that they could be killed at any time. None of that stopped these bold converts from their purpose 29:16 in bringing the light of heaven to a land covered in spiritual night. It wasn't long before the National Orthodox Church turned its hatred toward Malof. He was called by the archbishop, who first tried to offer him a rich position 29:31 as bishop to get him to stop preaching the gospel. The devil will try that first. See if I can buy him out. I'll give you a position. You can have a big church. You will call you a bishop. Malof smiled and replied, "Your 29:43 excellency, excellency, even if you made me a pope, I would not consider accepting. The archbishop wasn't smiling, however, as he ordered, leave my presence, but know that you will pay for this decision." Within a few days, 29:59 while Malof was leading a prayer meeting in the dorm Evangelia, someone came up to him and told him that he was wanted by the police. His young wife accompanied him as he reported to the police. And he was handed a document 30:11 that stated, "By order of the military police of Petrorad, Pastor Malof is to be immediately arrested, arrested, and sent to prison in Siberia." When he asked for a few hours to prepare, the authorities replied gruffly, "Well, we'll give you just 10 30:28 minutes." Telling Barbara, that's his wife, to pack just bare necessities, Malof followed the officer to the prison. There, he said goodbye to his wife, deeply anguished that this could be the last time he would see her. When he 30:45 asked where he was supposed to sleep, he was shown a dark, gloomy room in which three extremely filthy looking men were lying on CS in silence and despair. "You can share a cot with one of them," the officer commanded. For a few moments, 31:01 Malof thought that there was no way he could do this. Then he remembered the Savior who had been crucified between two thieves and thought to himself, "Surely I can sleep between two." The church earnestly sought the Lord in 31:15 prayer for their beloved leader and God heard. They decided to give him three days to prepare for his long-term imprisonment in Siberia if he paid for his own expenses to Siberia and he agreed. The pastor of Spurgeon's tabernacle in London had heard about 31:32 this and called for a night of intercession for Malof. Amazingly, within two days, Thesar's cabinet, Zsar was the ruler of Russia, issued a special decree cancelling his sentence to Siberia and instead telling him that he would be banished from the country. 31:48 He would never not be allowed to come back. It turns out that the prime minister, whose wife had been attending Malof's meetings, kindly granted him 10 days to prepare to leave. Malof used that time to do what? to hold revival meetings during which many were 32:05 converted. He had 10 more days. He's like, I'm going to get 10 days out of this. See who else would be converted. What a man. Then with his wife and three-month-old son, he left Russia for Sweden where he was warmly received. 32:18 Prince Bernadok, the king's brother, was a believer and used his influence to grant Malof's family asylum there in Sweden. This opened another door of usefulness to God's kingdom. Suddenly, while World War I was raging in Europe, 32:32 the news reported that German Field Marshall Hindenburg had captured 100,000 Russian soldiers. So, here was Malof kicked out of Russia. And then he hears the news that 100,000 Russian soldiers have been captured by the Germans and 32:46 are going to be brought to Europe. God reminded Malof, even though you were driven away from congregations in your country, I am bringing a congregation to you out of Russia. The soldier prisoners represented the worst of the Russian 33:03 Empire, but also a tremendous spiritual opportunity which demanded immediate attention. Amazing how God works, isn't it? In April 1915, Malof sailed for the United States where many were moved by his passion for the prisoners of war in 33:18 Germany. Many contributed freely to the cause as a result of which more literature in Russian was printed. Tracks and gospel portions were distributed to the prisoners resulting in many of them being converted. When the war ended, they returned to their 33:34 homes as evangelists. See how that seed that was planted bore fruit, multiplying fruit. By now, Russia was now was under was now communist. Yet around 800 new Christian evangelical churches were established. Revival sweep 33:52 swept through the land and within 10 years the communist commisar of education under Lenon said that since the Bolshevik revolution the number of evangelical Christians had increased from 10,000 to 6 million. That means that during that time of 34:11 persecution when communism was being established and ruling with an iron fist in Russia, the Christians multiplied from 10,000 to 6 million. Wow. It is quite likely that Malof's efforts on behalf of the prisoners of war. See, 34:28 Malof himself couldn't go to Russia, but he saw the fact that these Russian soldiers had come to Germany and that he could invest in them. See how God used that to send those prisoners back after the war ended. and they were pastor they were min 34:42 missionaries themselves. It's quite likely that God that Malof's efforts on behalf of the prisoners of war advanced God's kingdom among the Russian people more than any of his other achievements. During his time in America, Malof was 34:55 grieved by the condition of the evangelical churches there. And I've read this as I read often. For example, Richard Wormbbrand from Romania and others in the Romanian churches when American pastors came to visit them or 35:09 when they came and saw the condition of American churches um because they they had been through persecution they suffered a lot and they were grieved when they saw how moneyloving and worldloving so many of the churches in 35:22 the western world were and uh that was Malof's grief as well. The condition of the evangelical churches here in America where there was freedom, where they weren't persecuted, was worse than it was there in Europe. He had a dream to 35:37 establish a fundamental training school in the United States for young men who could eventually carry the gospel to Russia. See, he had a passion that he would train young men and women to be to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to know 35:50 God's word, and to have a passion for the for the lost and send them out. He knew that he couldn't do it all on his own. And so he did more by investing in people who then carried the gospel. He had the opportunity to speak at a 36:03 summer conference at DL Moody's Northfield School in Massachusetts. And soon after that, he was able to purchase a building in the city of Philadelphia for this fundamental training school. After completing a three-year course, 23 36:17 missionaries sailed with Malof for Eastern Europe at the beginning of 1920. By this time, the Soris government had been overthrown. The power of the Greek Orthodox Church had been broken, and a communist Soviet state had been created. 36:32 The new Soviet government was completely opposed to evangelical Christians, and an authorized harsh persecution of all Christians. Many Christians were killed and others fled from their native land. Malof was not able to enter Russia 36:47 himself but was able to go to Finland and Estonia and Latvia and Lithuania and Poland which were independent because of treaties they had made after World War I. These countries along with Czechoslovakia and Romania were what 37:01 were known as the Russian border states and that allowed him to infiltrate Russia by being close by. All of these states were open to the gospel and the headquarters of the evangel evangelizing party known as the Russian missionary 37:14 society was established in Warsaw in Poland. A great interest in reaching the Slavic races grew during this time with offices of the society established in large cities throughout the world. Some workers were even able to be smuggled 37:29 into Russia itself. Brother Malof printed 60,000 Russian Bibles, the largest edition up to that time. Magazines in Russian, even included sermons of men like Spurgeon and DL Moody, which had been translated. A Bible institute with 40 to 50 students 37:46 was opened in Ria. To further fulfill the demand for preparation of the workers, Malof was able to get schools in Great Britain to accept Slavic youth for training. Many churches were established throughout Latafia, including two large ones in Ria, where a 38:04 split a spirit of revival flamed throughout a spirit of revival flamed almost constantly. When the Russian army entered Latvia in 1939, the freedom they had come they had came to an abrupt end. The freedom that they had had before came to 38:23 an abrupt end when the Russian army entered Latvia. Many Christians were killed for their faith, including Malof's brother, Robert, who suffered an agonizing death in Siberia. Malof himself was in America at the time of 38:35 the invasion. Even though he was brokenhearted at the news, he still used every means possible to build hope in his countrymen. In Washington, DC, he organized the Russian Bible Society. The Bible printed a 200page guide explaining 38:51 the origin of the scriptures and how they were preserved over time as well as commentaries on Christian doctrine. 75 hymns with both words and music were also included in this Bible publication. Only God knows the wealth of blessing 39:09 that these Bibles brought to believers as the storms of atheism and communist persecution swept around them, threatening the foundations of their faith. He then worked relentlessly among the Slavic people in Canada. And in 39:23 August 1957, at the age of 74, Malof suffered a heart attack while he was in Berkeley, California, and finally heard the words from his heavenly captain, "Well done, good and faithful servant." you know, his life came to an ordinary 39:38 end. Had a heart attack and died at the age of 74. Um, nothing spectacular, but the work he had done lasted and had such uh an amazing effect. I want to read uh some quotes that I found from Basil M about quotes of his. Uh, as we close 39:57 here, listen carefully. These are quotes, quotations by Basel Malof. What does it mean to be a true disciple of Christ? Simply to believe? No, more than that. Faith in Christ, yes, but more than that, we are saved by grace and not 40:12 of works. But to be just saved and to be a disciple are two different things. The true Christian life is one of self-denial, of forsaking all personal interests and delivering oneself from all worldly entanglements. If there ever was a saint, Daniel was 40:32 one, he says. And yet he confessed his sins. His was not an easygoing, comfortable faith. See, at one point, God commends Daniel to Ezekiel. And Daniel was still alive at that time. God says, you want, you want me to think of an example of a 40:48 holy man? Daniel's one of them. And yet Daniel confessed his sins. We read and Malof points that out. Daniel's was not an easygoing, comfortable faith. We have made the evangelical life very easy here in America proclaiming just 41:03 believe and you are a Christian. But that friend but but dear friend faith is a disturbing faith. I love that faith true faith is a disturbing thing. It will wreak havoc in your heart and in your flesh. It will bring conviction. It 41:20 won't let you remain lazy in your Christian life if you have true faith. Faith is a disturbing thing. Faith revolutionizes the life. The standards of Christ are high. The requirements of Christ are almost forgotten in the 41:35 present day church. The evangelical message heard in North America of do nothing only believe has produced a weak, easygoing, effeminite kind of Christianity without depth or height. It is a butterfly picnicking kind of faith. 41:53 No need for fastings and prayers here. Sorry, lost my space. Yeah, continue reading the philosophy in the chorus. A little talk with Jesus Makes It Right. All right, sums up the beliefs of the average church. 42:13 Our theological students today are initiated into homalytics and dogmatics. But are they are they taught by their professors that only a crucified preacher can preach a crucified Christ? Only a crucified preacher can preach a 42:30 crucified Christ. Now, not all of us are called to preach. But what does that mean? Only a crucified father can teach his children the crucified Christ. Only a crucified mother can teach her children the crucified Christ. 42:46 Only a crucified husband can lead his wife to the crucified Christ. If we're not crucified, then whatever we speak about the gospel is powerless. Yet, yay, modern evangelical Christianity comes under the threatening message of Jehovah and Amos 6:1. Woe to 43:05 them that are at ease in Zion. Yet, think of our redeemer who after a day of strenuous ministry spent the whole night in prayer. Think how he arose very early in the morning and spent hours in communion with the father. And it is 43:20 said of the apostle James that his knees were caramel thick. No, not caramel thick. Camel thick. Okay, there we go. I don't know what caramel thick is, but camel thick. I can imagine what that is. His knees were camel thick [snorts] from 43:34 much prayer while kneeling. I never heard that, but apparently that's tradition, I guess. What a travesty is the standard of discip disciplehip today to that taught and exemplified in the New Testament. What a travesty. Travesty 43:49 means what a shame. What a shame is the standard of disciplehip today to compared to that which is taught and exemplified in the New Testament. God is not interested in man's cleverness. He is interested in his godliness. 44:05 A saint does not criticize persons. He deals with principles. He does not hate the unrighteous people. He hates unrighteousness. When a person ceases to be peculiar, peculiar means odd, a little extreme, too radical. When a person stops being 44:22 peculiar, there is something wrong with his Christianity. One of the fundamental shortcomings of the evangelicals is the attitude I have obtained. I've got it. Things are good. Such an attitude stifles spiritual 44:40 ambition for higher things and greater perfection. A child must grow and grow and grow and grow until he reaches maturity. But having reached maturity, the child now a man or woman must continue to grow and grow and grow in 44:59 mental, moral and spiritual status. If a child at the age of 12 or 14 should say, "I have attained I have come as far as I want to come and somehow by wishful thinking could stop his growth. What a dwarfed product the child would be. Now this is exactly true 45:18 about most Christians today. We have a dwarfed Christianity. They have reached a certain state, have had one or two Christian experiences and then have become smug and complacent. They have now stopped growing. There is no 45:33 stretching out for higher ground, no striving for greater achievements because of this mental level of the church. Nothing extraordinary happens. That's convicting family. Um for me it was to read that and to read about this man who didn't do 45:50 anything really spectacular. I had really not I think I'd heard his name before in some other context but didn't know anything about him till I read the story. But his what he wrote there he really had a perception of the fact that 46:01 he lived in this country. I've been to Berkeley California where he died and he was lived in Philadelphia Washington DC. These are places where we know and he came here and saw the condition of Christendom here and was grieved by it 46:15 and quite likely he stirred a revival here among the people he met and uh I'm challenged by his story. Here we are reading about him uh 70 years later after his death, challenged by it. And may that challenge not be in vain. As we 46:31 go into prayer now, let's pray that we won't settle for a Christianity that is somehow slowed down in his growth. That somehow now we're just waiting for Christ to come and just kind of hanging out and getting by. Let the Lord fill 46:47 our hearts with zeal. You know, we say this often. The the message is not what are you doing? Why aren't you out there? That's not it at all. The message is let's fall to our knees and cry out to truly be filled with the Holy Spirit. So 46:58 that whatever it is God calls us to do is of eternal value. It could be for many of us being at home with our children, raising them, teaching them, feeding them, providing for them, but but doing it full of the Holy Spirit. 47:13 For others, it could be being a witness on to people you meet, handing out a tract or with neighbors and with co-workers or relatives who are unconverted, carrying the burden to pray for them, but doing it not sort of like, 47:27 oh, let's pray for our unconverted relatives. Doing it with a passion, doing it out of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Uh, so I think I'm really blessed by this testimony. I think it's a good preparation for us to now spend 47:38 some time in prayer.
