Page 32 - Living Epistles

throughout Russia about the things to come in the future. The Lord said by the
Holy Ghost, "My children there will be a great starvation coming to this land.
And after that there will be a great bloodshed and much suffering in this
country. My children, whosoever will believe my voice and obey Me, I'll lead
you out into another country and I want to deliver you and save you from the
great sufferings which are coming upon this land."

That was the voice of the Lord coming independently throughout the whole
Russian area. Many, many people have heard the same message about the
days to come. That message came through and of course at that time people
were still living very freely, even though it was during communist regime.

It took communists about 16 years to get in power and in strength. From 1917
to about 1933, they left the people very untouched and there was freedom and
relative freedom of movement and preaching of the Gospel. There was not
much persecution at that time. They really clamped down from '33 and on.
Then it was a ruthless time of persecution and trouble for Russia. Before that
time there was relative freedom for the Gospel there. People lived very freely.
They had their own houses. They had their own cattle. Mostly they were
farmers so they had their own farms. They were quite well off. But there was
a cost!

The Lord was speaking that He wanted to deliver them from future suffering.
So the Lord saved, set a condition, "whosoever believeth My voice and obeys
Me, I'll lead them out."

It's not enough to be saved. It's not enough to be, empowered by the Holy
Ghost. It's not enough to have miracles. That's all nice and well and it's in the
Scriptures and it must be part of the church's life. Yes! It's for the New
Testament believers. There will come a time when people have to pay the cost
of obedience. Forsaking all for the sake of fulfilling the Lord's will and leave
whatever, and go wherever the Lord will lead.

Out of those thousands and thousands of Christians who were used by God in
Russia to proclaim the Gospel and to spread the message of the Living God,
just a few hundred believed.

The Lord said to them, "My children pray and seek my face and I'll direct you."

Eventually around 1930, probably by 1931, the Lord's message came, "My