ERITREA: CHRISTIAN DIES IN MILITARY JAIL

Many have died and yet more are suffering because of their faith. This is a story from here Rev 7:14 14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (KJV)
	Torture, illness claim life of believer denied medical treatment unless he recanted. LOS ANGELES, February 22 (Compass Direct News) – An Eritrean Christian died in prison last week, four and a half years after the Eritrean regime jailed him for worshipping in a banned Protestant church. From the southern port city of Assab, local Christians confirmed the death of Magos Solomon Semere on Thursday (February 15) at the Adi-Nefase Military Confinement facility just outside Assab. According to one source, Semere, 30, died “due to physical torture and persistent pneumonia, for which he was forbidden proper medical treatment.” He had reportedly endured a long period of severe illness in the months prior to his death.
Read it all and keep praying for the persecuted saints around the world.

Joseph: Humanly forgotten but divinely remembered.

This is part of a series of studies we will do on the life of Joseph. Joseph indeed is a challenge both to the young and the old today. He is a model to servants and those who are going through difficult times in their lives. We hope that it is going to be a blessing to you.

Gen 40:8-22 “And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph…And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon…And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand… Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.” (KJV) Here we see Joseph interpret a dream to Pharaoh’s Butler who was in the prison with him at that point in time and had a dream. According to Joseph’s interpretation of his dream, the Butler would soon be restored to service in the presence of Pharaoh and again be close to the corridors of power. What is moving is the request he made to the Butler: “But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon” For the first time we saw Joseph’s emotion poured out. He was feeling abandoned. He was in anguish. He felt injustice and oppression. Like Job, he felt he was being treated unfairly. So he saw the moment with the Butler an opportunity. He asked the Butler to remember him before Pharaoh. However, the Butler forgot and abandoned him in the prison. “Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.” How many times have you felt abandoned in this life because friends and those you trust so much have failed you? You may be struggling right now with a feeling of shattered dreams, wondering what happened that you have found yourself in the present condition you are in. you may have suffered tragedy in your life, standing bewildered in the middle of a broken, you don’t know what to do. You are asking the question, what went wrong? Why is it that all the people you felt would be of help to you, all forgot you at the time you trusted them? Not just that these were friends, you have done them good at one time or the other and even aided in their being to the position were they are today. Unfortunately, all they could do to you is to forget you in your troubles. You may even have more questions than these. No matter your questions, you may not have answers to any of them. However, there is good news for your situation. Thank God the Butler didn’t remember Joseph. Thank God he forgot Joseph. If he had remembered him and pressed his case well, perhaps Pharaoh would have released Joseph but he would have remained a servant forever. The disappointments you are seeing today will come to an end. Thank God for all that have happened to you. They will all work together for your good. And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans. Rom 8:28(TLB) God had a plan for Joseph’s life. He wanted to come out of his troubles anyhow, but God said, ‘I have a better plan for your life though it would mean your staying in prison longer. Though the Butler abandoned you, I knew about it and I’ve been in control all this while so as to bring to pass my plan for your life. I’ve not abandoned you in spite of your feelings’. Joseph continued to trust God and He restored him in due time. Friends and people may forget you but God has not abandoned you.

Bible Study -Prayer

Topic: Prayer

Text: 1Tim.2: 1-4, 8

Memory Verse: "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." 1 Tim.2:8.

Introduction:

Most a times when we mention prayer, people’s minds go to the stereotyped ways we have developed over time and the rituals we engage ourselves in, in our denominations. Actually, prayer is an expression of our relationship with God which includes calling upon Him, intercession, confession and thanksgiving. Because it is born out of relationship, there is no particular posture or mode that is holier than the other. Prayer can be made anywhere and anytime. The aim of this study is to encourage us to pray because God still answers prayer.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is prayer?
2. What promises do we have from these passages concerning our prayers? Jer.33:2,3; Mat.7:7-11; John 14:13-14; Rom.10:13.
3. How can these affect our prayers as individuals, families and a church? Love/Hatred, Unity/Division/Strife, Forgiveness/Un-forgiveness, Compassion/Indifference/Self-centeredness? Mat.18:18-19; 1Pet.3:7, Jas.4:2-3; Mat.5:7; 6:14-15; 1 Tim.2:8.
4. When prayers are delayed, what should be our attitude? Hab.3: 17-19; Lk.18: 1,7-8.
5. Read Acts 14: 3-5. What can we learn as a church from this passage?

Conclusion

God still answers prayers. His promises still hold true today. He is committedly involved in the things that concern you. He rules in the affairs of men. Call upon Him, keep calling upon Him and He will answer you.

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