crist / Sermons

Alexander Prokopchuk

Our secret lives

I think you would agree with me that we split our lives into two parts. Life in public—the life everybody sees. This side we show those people who are around us: our neighbors, those we work with, our family, and our friends. But we also have another side. I call this our secret life. This is what we do when no one sees us; it is what we think and nobody knows our thoughts. This life is within our hearts. And so we can say that we have two lives—the one we show to others and the one nobody sees except for God.

I am very glad to meet with you again. You are watching the TV program, Church of Christ, with Alexander Prokopchuk. I invite you to take a walk with me through downtown. Let’s talk seriously about life.

What life do we pay more attention to? Is it the life we open to the public or the life no one else sees? Jesus teaches us in the New Testament that the life which we keep in secret is more important for God and for ourselves than the life we show others.

Let’s open the Gospel of Matthew, chapter six. Jesus brings us very important lessons—very useful lessons we can use today and apply to our lives. Let’s read verses two to four. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” And further Jesus says that we often show others what we do. He talks about times when we give, when we pray, and when we fast. He gave us three small examples from our lives. If we look carefully, each of us is always trying to show others our better side to those who are around us.

Jesus, like a best friend, tries to help us see ourselves in reality. We have a temptation to announce our good deeds with trumpets. And he wants to help us change our lives and help us receive rewards not from people but from God. He wants that we receive great rewards from God. Let’s read again what Jesus said, “Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

This is very important and we need to pay attention… Our secret life is essential and we should attempt to change this part of our life. What do we do during the times when no one is watching? What do we think about? What is within our hearts? These things are important. And God pays attention to and sees what is in our hearts and minds. If we open Psalm 44:21, we read, “…he knows the secrets of the heart.” God gives us an evaluation for what we do when we are alone. He gives this not based on what we show to our friends but based on what is in our hearts. What are we in reality? It is also written that God looks not at the outside appearance of a person but at the heart.

A very good example is in the book 1 Samuel 16. Let’s read it together. I don’t have time to read all of it, but listen closely and I encourage you to read this story on your own. God sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem to pick a king. Jesse had many sons and Samuel was to choose one of them. But God did not tell him a name or anything specific about this person who he was to select. “When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.’” Even the prophet had a mistake. He looked at the outside—he looked at his appearance, his height, and what people see. God stopped him and said to not look this way. “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

We all try to look good for other people and have them think that we have it all together. They come up with characteristic assumptions and evaluations about us. For example: he is dynamic or he is a good worker. But it is very important how God sees us—what He sees within our hearts. Sometimes we watch the news and hear about murder. They tell about what happened and go on to show pictures and report in further detail about the murderer. They also interview parents, neighbors, and friends to hear what they think and have to say about him. They often answer, “He was always calm and quiet. We didn’t see anything bad. He did everything right. He even helped others.” But at one moment, this person did a terrible act. You see what happened; It is clear: we have two lives. Our lives are split into two parts: life in public and life in secret that nobody sees. God wants to help us see our lives clearly. What we think, what we do, and what we dream in secret because it is the part He sees.

Jesus not only teaches us about how we are to live our secret lives, it’s importance and how God will reward us based on this life but Jesus himself lived this way. Many times in the New Testament we see this. For example, if you open the Gospel of Matthew chapter 9 we find a story of how Jesus healed two blind men. Matthew 9:29-30 “Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you’; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, ‘See that no one knows about this.’” This is not the only one story like this. Where he, for example, healed and helped people then asked them to keep it quiet. I understand one reason why he instructed people this way was because he didn’t want to advertise himself. He didn’t want to receive attention and complements from people because he teaches us when we do something good we should do it in secret. We will then receive rewards from God. Let’s not make artificial, good images for ourselves because God knows what is real.

Let’s sum up what we have right now and find for ourselves a good lesson. We all have a time when we decide we need to change our lives—to have a new life living in a new way. We have these moments when we decide to change our lives perhaps one time, two times, three times and sometimes many, many times. But it just doesn’t work out. Why? Because we try to change our life which we show to people; we try to change something on the outside. We do this because we think it is important. We try to appear different in the eyes of people. But Jesus teaches us that we need to change our secret life. This life no one can see; it is life within our hearts. This life is within our thoughts and minds. Therefore, we change the world which is inside us. And Jesus reaches out his hand to help us. He understands that our own strength is not enough to do this. That is why he went to the cross and died upon the hill of Golgotha so we would be given a chance to change ourselves inside. And like the Bible said, to have a new heart. So that we could be clean from sin and be given pure conscience. Thus, Jesus teaches us to believe, repent, and be baptized and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God gave us himself and the Holy Spirit helps us to become new people. God is able to change our habits and our character and all the things that trouble us and He is able to make us happy. HE helps us love Christ and people.

God gives us His living word not to criticize us, to tell us what we do wrong, or point out our offenses, but He gave us His word in order to help us see ourselves through His eyes. He gives us His helping hand so that we can change situations in our lives. With pleasure, I invite you to continue studying the Bible. To everyone we offer a Bible correspondence course so please write to us and don’t forget to write your exact address. This way we will be able to send you materials. Also, if you would like, we can send you spiritual literature. Study the Bible and know that if you want to change your life, God can help you. May God bless you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Alexander Prokopchuk

To whom shall we go?

Imagine you are walking on the road, pondering the troubles and issues you have in your life. In your head are many thoughts passing coming and going. There are many questions though little answers. After having made numerous plans for your life and future, you have met discouragement and disappointment countless times. Suddenly, your eye catches a large group of people in the distance. They are all listening and paying close attention to one person. Out of curiosity, you go to them and become part of what is going on. You find yourself enticed with the words of this man. Turning to your neighbor, you ask, “Who is this teacher?”

“This is Jesus of Nazareth, who heals the sick and who resurrects people from the dead! Yesterday he fed thousands people with just five loafs of bread and two fish! Everyone ate, was filled, and had plenty left over.”

From this moment on, you are completely focused and concentrated on what this man, Jesus Christ, has to say. His words are so appealing and he is unlike any other teachers you have heard before.

“But wait, what is he saying?”

“For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.” John 6:55-56

I have heard many words but these are more than strange and out of the ordinary. You come to a conclusion and continue on your way. With a glance, you look behind to the horizon and see Jesus and the others. You are not alone in making the decision to walk away. Many others who have listened to this teacher disperse one by one, leaving him and his words behind. You all seek to find something which seems to be less strange and more pleasing.

The Apostle John was around people who chose to not follow the way of Christ yet he made a decision to stay with Jesus regardless of others. “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’” John 6:60

Here we find a very good lesson for ourselves. In reading the Bible or visiting church, we can also hear strange words and hard teachings. Our minds are sometimes unable to understand these things. Questions come about and we wonder what actions we will take. Still today we have situations like John wrote about: many people come to listen to Jesus while many others come and quickly leave him; people always coming and leaving, coming and leaving.

We must recognize and be aware that Satan will tempt us. He will tell us to do as others do. He will teach us that if we do not understand the Bible at times, it is best for us to just leave.

Imagine you are in Jesus’ situation: there are people very close to you who are always around and who understand you. You try to always take care of them. Once they left and never came back. What would your reaction be? What would your feelings be? Perhaps you would feel offended, angry, irritated, or discouraged. What did Jesus do in this situation?

Christ does not try to stop people who leave him or tell them how foolish they are to because of doing so. He will not be angry and will not complain. He lets them go—giving all people the liberty and choice to come and go. Because above all is love. This is God’s love to all people. Perfect love never dictates, forces, or controls us and what we are to do. Love always gives and allows us to have choice.

We choose how to spend our time each day—with whom we will be friends, what we need to eat, what we are to drink, for how long we will watch television, when we spread gossip, go to the market, when we pray, read the Bible, or go to church. We have these choices simply because God loves us. We will see and understand this very valuable lesson. If we want to grow in love, we will not force it upon anyone. This love we see in Jesus.

Let us think about the Twelve who stayed with Jesus Christ and did not leave him. Why did they stay? Because they saw and understood all his words clearly? From the Scripture we see that they often did not understand Christ’s words or actions. For example, “Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field’” (Matthew 13:36).

Christ’s love and revelations from God outweighed the apostle’s option to leave him. Peter understood that no one had ever loved him more than Christ did. Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68).

Satan will try to take us away from God. He will use many ways to do this and lure us farther from the One who shows us true love. In the moment when Satan does this, I will also say to Christ, “To whom will I go? You have the words of eternal life.” Who can love me more than Christ? Who will understand me more than he does? Who can intercede between me and God? Only Christ can.

Everybody hears people say, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” These are nothing more than words, words, words. But love is action—not just words. Jesus Christ doesn’t shout to us these words or simply speak pretty words about what love us but he showed us in action. He died for us. His actions are much louder than any words.

Yes, in the Bible I find some strange and hard teachings, but I have a life not because I understand things on the earth but rather because God loves me. I tell my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom I will go…

Alexander Prokopchuk

Prayer

Today I want to talk with you about prayer. We will use the Bible, look at the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the words of the Apostles. Let’s also talk about how to pray. Our prayers are not merely about our words. There is power in prayer. God can hear us when we call upon Him. In Luke 11, one of Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” This was a good request. The apostles witnessed how Jesus prayed often. Of course, we can imagine that perhaps they prayed in their homes and with other people before meeting Jesus Christ. When they witnessed Christ praying they saw results from God.

How do we think about prayer today? Perhaps some people think of it as more of a ritual, or just as something their parents or grandparents did. I remember when I was a child and I would hear my grandmother whispering prayers as she went to sleep. I thought prayer was mostly for the weak or elderly people. Later, when I began to read the Bible, my understanding of this completely changed. I realized it was about my personal relationship with God. Without prayer, you are cutting yourself off from a wonderful relationship with God; you are losing a great opportunity.

God uses the Bible to help direct us in how we need to pray. Let’s open our Bibles to James 1:5-6 and read, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” These words teach us how we can pray. When we pray we need to have faith and believe. For example: In one family, a husband does not have work. The wife begins to pray that the Lord provide him with a job. At the same time, she is doubtful that it will happen. Her prayers didn’t work. James tells us that if we do not fully believe when we request something then we will not receive results from the Lord.

Next, we know that in our lives there we experience sorrow, suffering, and hard times. During these times, it is natural for us to be tempted to complain and become discouraged. James teaches us that we should begin to pray during these times like any other. “Is anyone of you in trouble, he should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise” (James 5:13). The following verse directs us in what we should do if we are ill. “Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). What is normally our first reaction when we become sick? Most of us tend to go straight to the pharmacy but we should keep in mind we can and should be in prayer to our Father first and foremost. In verse 16, James says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” During the times when Satan has attacked us, we need to pray with others and call on the Lord to lift our burdens. We do not need to complicate, hide our problems from others, or try to keep them from God. James also provides us with the example of Elijah. He was just a man but he prayed and believed with great faith. He knew there was immense power through prayer. In turn, the Lord provided results. But our best example is Christ and his prayer life. We can look in the four Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). We can even read a prayer of Christ in the entire chapter of John 17. The words recorded about Jesus and prayer are not few and they are very important.

What are our prayers like today? It is very easy to pray about our own dreams, what we want, or people we like. But Jesus taught us and asks us to pray above these things. Let’s open our Bibles to Luke 6:28 and read, “…bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” It is very interesting to think that praying for our enemies is one of the basic things we must do as Christians. This is a starting point for our spiritual lives. We often think things must be so much greater and complex—more spiritual. We think about the gifts of the Holy Spirit or theological understandings but prayer and doing it on behalf of our enemies is key and a foundational part of our spiritual lives. Of course it is difficult to pray for those who cause us troubles. I know this and have done this in my own life. I have already seen God blessing me significantly through doing this and obeying Him.

I am thankful to God for those who pray for me and I also try to always remember my brothers and sisters in Christ in my own prayers. Prayer is a very large and crucial topic. It is not to be covered in a simple article but I encourage you to read the Bible for yourself and see what it teaches you about prayer. Look to Jesus Christ to guide you in what to do and grow in your own prayer life. God bless you.

Alexander Prokopchuk

Your best time

Jesus can make any time better!

Everyone can probably remember when they have waited for a better time to come. Where is my best time—close or far away?

Perhaps right now you dream about how you will soon take a step into your best time. Or maybe you are imagining yourself on a boat sailing down life’s river. You anticipate it drifting to the bank where happiness, joy, and successes wait for you.

Some people look to their past with regret thinking their better times in life have come and gone. I will never be able to have this…I will never be able to do that…etc.

Read the Gospel of John 2:1-10 and pay close attention.

In this passage, we see how Christ received an invitation to a wedding. His mother and the Apostles were there also. At the beginning, everything at the wedding went very well and was enjoyable. After some time, the wine was gone.

We can be sure that the parents of the bride and groom worked hard to make good preparations for this event. They brought the best they could for the young couple. They tried to provide the best quality for their guests. Just think, when Jesus turned the water into wine, it was the best of the best wine; better than anything they could have prepared.

Let’s think about and understand this situation spiritually. Christ turned water—a liquid with no smell or color—into wine which has a great taste and it was better than the wine any man could make.

“And the master of the banquet taster the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, ‘Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now” (John 2:9-10).

We have a lesson here: When Jesus is present, something better, interesting, and amazing can always happen. This wedding had the best wine because Jesus was there.

Many people go throughout their days and live without color; they see nothing but gray. If you invite Christ into your life and ask him to be present with you each day, bright colors and new things can be seen. You will not live a life seeing nothing but grey; rather, you will experience great things. He can provide you with a life full of happiness, joy, and optimism.

Our best times are when we are with Christ—when we begin to understand his great love and forgiveness. Jesus Christ went to the cross and died for us to turn us from unclean to clean. He converts us from a sinner to a new person. He wants only to give us the best of the best.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Revelation 21:5).