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1. Realize God is in Charge. (Psalm 73:26; 125:2; John 14:21)
2. Realize this is a potential prophetic event. (Luke 21:5-38)
3. Pray for the People of Ukraine: (Psalm 46:10; Psalm 22:8)

* Wisdom

* Courage

* Provision

* Peace

* Safety

4. Pray for the Church in Ukraine: (Eph. 1:15-22)

* Stay true to the Faith found in the Scriptures.

* Preach and witness of Christ.

* Comfort the hurting.

* Prayer to be ignited among the nation.

* Miracles and Signs/Wonders be displayed.

5. Pray for the Church around the world: (Psalm 85:6; Isaiah 57:15; Acts 1:8)

* Stay true to the Faith found in the Scriptures.

* Preach and witness of Christ.

* Comfort the hurting (refugees).

* Prayer to be “Ignited” in the Church.

* Repentance from Dead Works.

* Revival in the Church around the world.

* Return to the “Mission of Jesus Christ.”

6. Pray for Evil to be exposed and to be overcome: (Job 12:23; Psalm 46:10)

* Pray for confusion and mayhem to break-out among those who have planned evil.

* Pray for people around the world to protest against Putin’s evil plans.

* Pray for the revelation of Jesus Christ and His love to be revealed to evil hearts.

7. Pray for the Ukraine military and citizens who are fighting the Russian Invaders.

* To receive the weapons needed to repel the invaders.

* To have strategies that deter the invaders.

* To see supernatural intervention from God in their fight against the invaders. (Luke 18:27)

8. Examine your own Spiritual walk with Christ: (Colossians 1:6-7)

* Have you received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?

* Are you pleasing God or Men?

* Repent and get rid of habits of sin.

* Find Freedom in Christ.

* Connect with other Believers

* Live Purposely and Serve Others.

9. Pray for Victory Church to stay on point with Jesus and His Mission to the World:

* Know God

* Find Freedom

* Discover Our Purpose

* Make a Difference

10. Rejoice…

Jesus is Coming Soon!!

Luke 21:25-28

Victory Family and Friends,
I am presenting this article from Jimmy Evans, author of the book, Tipping Point. This article is for your consideration as we are watching the invasion of Ukraine. We want to remain informed both biblically and geo-politically as events around the world unfold, including in America. Remember… God is in charge; let’s trust him, pray for peace and more than ever, stay connected with your church family.

Pastor Mike

Russia Has Invaded Ukraine

Western nations have aligned against Russia. But is China allied with Putin?

By Jimmy Evans – Author of the book Tipping Point

As of last night, Vladimir Putin has declared a “special military operation” in Ukraine and Russia’s invasion of that country—which experts have been predicting for weeks now—is underway.
Typically today is when I would write and publish a “Quick Hits” article for Tipping Point, but I believe it’s important to inform you about what is happening right now.
I saw news beginning to break before I went to sleep last night and woke up to reports that a Ukrainian presidential advisor had told western media countries that a “full-fledged large-scale war has begun in Europe.” This official added, “Russia is attacking not just Ukraine, but all the rules of normal life in the modern world. What will be left of the security system on the continent? Zero.”

The assault began before dawn in Eastern Europe with missile attacks against the capital, Kyiv, and long-range artillery against the city of Kharkiv. This happened around the time diplomats at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting had gathered in a last-ditch effort for peace.
Explosions have now been heard across Ukraine, and videos show military vehicles streaming into the country. Russia forces are apparently now attacking from three sides as the rest of the world reacts.

• French President Emmanuel Macron called the Russian aggression “the most serious
attack on peace, on stability in Europe for decades.”

• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Great Britain and allies would “hobble the Russian
economy” with massive economic sanctions.
• President Joe Biden condemned Putin and said “the world will hold Russia accountable.”

As of this morning, the State Department has suspended consular operations in Ukraine. Biden is set to address the nation later today.
In a public address last night, Putin justified the invasion with false claims about genocide against ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine and said he would “demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.” He sees Ukraine’s pursuit of democracy and NATO membership as a threat to his own rule.
But what is most noteworthy is that China has not yet criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

China Supports the Invasion
As of this morning, China refuses to condemn the attack on Ukraine and instead is asking both nations, Russia and Ukraine, to “exercise restraint.” Meanwhile, China has accused the United States of “fueling fire” and allowing the situation to get out of control.
Instead of sanctioning Russia for violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity, China announced it had begun importing Russian wheat. This helps Russia. It could somewhat ease the impact of western sanctions against Russia:
The two countries had announced an agreement earlier this month for China to import Russian wheat during Putin's visit to Beijing to meet with President Xi and attend the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Beijing is navigating a complex position as it attempts to balance deepening ties with Moscow with its practiced foreign policy of staunchly defending state sovereignty.
Those “deepening ties” worry me. The Russia-China alliance is very troubling. Both countries are expansionary—they are trying to grow their borders, Russia with Ukraine and China with Taiwan. Both are also anti-West and anti-democracy.
I believe China has a role to play in Bible prophecy, just as I know Russia is extremely important in the events of the end times.
Currently both nations are defying the world. Russia is taking action, and China seems to support them.

Russia in Bible Prophecy

From a Bible prophecy standpoint, Ukraine alone is not that important. But Russia definitely appears in Scripture:
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.”—Ezekiel 38:1-4

This passage about the coming Gog-Magog War identifies Russia—”the prince of Rosh”—as one of the leading nations in a northern coalition that rises up as an invading force against Israel.
Could Russia’s invasion of Ukraine be the match that lights up this coalition? We already know Syria and Iran are aligned with Russia against Israel.

Could China become part of this coalition? We will see.
What we do know is that Russia’s actions will have enormous consequences to the world’s economy and geopolitics. Russian stocks have already crashed. Americans will also pay a price, with higher gas prices and inflation. I am writing this before the opening bell, but the U.S. stock market will likely plummet today, and oil prices are already headed higher.
More than anything, Putin’s attack is a challenge to global stability and democracy. Some experts see it as having little to do with Ukraine and everything to do with challenging Washington and the West. That Russia may be aligned in this challenge with another authoritarian state, China, does not bode well for future peace.
Former senior CIA officer Paul Kolbe, an expert on Russia, said this recently:
“This is a conflict that is going to extend over months and years whether the invasion goes well for Putin or not. He is going to change the shape of Europe and is going to set enduring lines of conflict within Ukraine and on the borders of Ukraine with the West.”

If nothing else, it is clear that the world is far less stable now today than it was yesterday. Every time violence erupts on a large-scale basis, I wonder if it will lead to the deceptive peace treaty that will eventually be orchestrated by the man who becomes the Antichrist.

It is Time to Pray
You may feel helpless in a time of war, especially when that war is taking place on the other side of the world. You may also think the violence is inevitable, given that it feels like Bible prophecy is playing out before our eyes.

First, I want you to understand that God is in control. He knew this would happen. He is not surprised by Vladimir Putin. The West may occasionally be caught off guard at Russian aggression, but God knows the future and knew this was coming.

Second, you can pray for the people of Ukraine. Experts have warned that a war in Ukraine could kill as many as 50,000 Ukrainian citizens. I’ve already read reports of families crowding into subway stations to find protection from bombs. It could also introduce a refugee crisis, with more than a million people trying to flee Ukraine to safer places.
The economic sanctions against Russia will further destabilize its people and could have severe outcomes. I am certain Putin’s actions are not always supported by his own people, who end up being innocent victims of his paranoia and desire for control. The Russian people likely do not want this war. Pray for them, too.

Nevertheless, my goal for this site has always been not just to educate and inform you but also to comfort you. While others may be confused or frightened, you can be calm and comforted because you know what the Bible says, and you are able to contextualize the events happening in the world with what is predicted in Scripture.
If this is the start of the Gog-Magog War or if it will someday lead to the events of the Tribulation, take comfort in knowing that we will not be here when those things happen. We will be rescued from the judgments mentioned in Bible prophecy. Jesus will be returning to take us to be with Him forever.

The news may be grim today. Take a deep breath, trust in Jesus, pray for peace, and remember that God is in control.

On Sunday, July 25^th, I finished preaching the series, Taking a Kingdom Risk. In this series we learned that Kingdom Risk Taking is a necessary component of true discipleship and is a Kingdom protocol (code of conduct) for following Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us to risk, to obey and step out in faith for His glory and to the fullest potential for the kingdom of God realized. Every great risk in Jesus’ Name begins with confidence in the goodness and trustworthiness of God. That He who calls us to “step out in faith” means to trust the One who supplies us with whatever we need to fulfill plans and purposes in and through us.

Kingdom Risk Taking has 6 Characteristics that helps us recognize and understand what is required in in this endeavor. The first five characteristics I have preached about and they are described on the podcast at our website (wordofvictory.org). Here is a synopsis of the last and sixth characteristic:

1. Kingdom Risk Taking Is Rooted in Identity.
2. Kingdom Risk Taking Is Calculated.
3. Kingdom Risk Taking Is Rooted in Faith, Not Fear.
4. Kingdom Risk Taking Invites Uncertainty.
5. Kingdom Risk Taking Requires Persistence.
6. Kingdom Risk Taking Ensures Growth.

Psalm 92:12-14

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green…

Godly risk taking is different than the risk tied to immediate gratification, which is plentiful in our culture.

• Immediate gratification is often self-serving and short sighted.
• Kingdom Risk Taking is God-driven with long range

The latter can take you some place different, some place better!

Obeying God and stepping out of our comfort zone to trust Him and to walk by faith not only has positive repercussions for us and others around us today, but also for generations to come in the future (see Gen. 26:24).

Because it requires discipline, tempering the uncertainty (characteristic #4) and persistence (characteristic #5)… however, Godly Risk Taking is less common among many Christians.