Many of you prayed for the release of Brother Yousef Nadarkhani and as God would have it, he was released on bail September 8, 2012. We shared the joy here.
He has been re-arrested on Christmas Day and taken back to prison to serve the remaining 45 days of a three-year sentence for evangelizing Moslems. Over the years, the Iranian Government has charged him with many things including apostasy, banditry and extortion, and later acquitted him of all the charges. Remember his wife was once arrested in 2010 in their bid to put pressure on him to recant his faith but was later released.
Foxnews reports that since Nadarkhani's release, his attorney, Mohammed Ali Dadkhan has been imprisoned and remains in Iran's notoriously brutal Evin Prison where his health is rapidly deteriorating and is being denied proper dental care, according to his family. He has been incarcerated for advocating Nadarkhani's case and other human rights cases.
It's like the Iranian Government is just determined to hurt Brother Yousef. Please pray for him and his family that the plans of their persecutors shall not prosper. Also, pray that the Iranian government does not decide to bring additional charges against him and keep him in prison for additional time.
For more information, please go here.
This blog is an attempt to gather people of like minds to study the Word of God - The Bible. We will dedicate ourselves to Research, Bible Study, Reports, Sharing Prayer Issues and Answering Questions from people from around the world. Troubled souls can equally receive counsel.
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Monday, 24 December 2012
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2013!
We want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year as the year 2012 draws to an end.
Why do we share these stories? The reason is simple: we are to share the burden of those brethren around the world who are suffering for their faith. We do not share them so as to make us afraid or discourage us. No! We want to see how we can stir ourselves up unto obeying the injunction: "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Heb 13:3 NIV.
As I was listening to Celine Dion's song here on "So this is Christmas", I remembered some Christians I read about this morning and prayed for, who are being persecuted as we speak. Some are still in prison and do not know when they will be freed. Example is our brother Behnam, an Iranian Pastor, who has been in Iranian prison since May 2011. We had shared his story before, asking brethren to pray for him. The concern now is that his health has deteriorated and he is denied medical treatment. However, if you exercise patience and read his recent Christmas Letter from prison, you will see resilience and faith expressed in the midst of difficult circumstances. Continue to pray for him.
In Indonesia, a church of about 600 members, pastored by the Rev Palti Panjaitan, Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP) Filadelfia in Bekasi, has been worshiping on the streets because the authorities refused them using their church building. This church is not alone, the GKI Yasmin congregation in Bogor also faces a similar challenge. In Uzbekistan, we thank God that the eviction verdict placed on Pastor Vyacheslav Goncharenko and his church, the New Life Church was evoked just a few days ago. They can for now continue to use their property for worship services.
Finally, in Somalia, Mursal Isse Siad, 55 was recently shot and killed because he repented and left Islam. Time will not permit us to share all the stories of the persecuted church who serve God today at the risk of their freedom, comfort and even their lives.
Why do we share these stories? The reason is simple: we are to share the burden of those brethren around the world who are suffering for their faith. We do not share them so as to make us afraid or discourage us. No! We want to see how we can stir ourselves up unto obeying the injunction: "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Heb 13:3 NIV.
The issue is that as you celebrate this Christmas, remember that there are many who are depending on your prayers to survive and live. Their crime is nothing but the fact that they confess Christ. One said “The best helping hand you can give us is to have praying hands”.
One of these days, we will all meet together in heaven with these brethren. Play your part in love.
One of these days, we will all meet together in heaven with these brethren. Play your part in love.
Pray!...pray!!...pray!!!.
Once again, Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2013!
Once again, Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2013!
Sunday, 14 October 2012
Whatever happened to our ‘bowels of mercy’!
Whatever happened
to our ‘bowels of mercy’!
“But whoso hath this
world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of
compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John 3:17 KJV.
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” Col 3:12 KJV.
Greater part of the year, 2012 has
seen a lot of Christians being attacked, killed, dispossessed and displaced
especially in the Northern Nigeria. The persecutions have not abated as on the 1st
October, about 30 Christian students were murdered at Federal Polytechnic, Mubi
as reported here.
A close look at the reports from the
Anglican Diocese of Jos website
shows the mayhem that has been meted on Christians by irate Muslims who want to
Islamize them by all means. What disturbs my heart is not just that our
brethren are being killed and displaced, but I do not seem to see a
mobilization and concerted efforts from the ‘free’ churches to reach out to
these Christians who are passing through difficult times. It seems as if
Christian leaders behave like every other political leader who will just come
out after every incident and condemn the ‘murderous attack’ and then ‘to your tents O, Israel’, we all go
back to business as usual. We criticize efforts that are solely denominational
both in nature and commitment, that is, efforts that concentrate only within
the denominational boundaries, but even that is rare these days. Our self-centeredness
is very obvious and manifest in our indifference and inaction.
Currently, floods are ravaging several
parts of the country. Homes and properties are destroyed; people are missing and
being displaced; churches and mission fields are closed down. What are the ‘free’
churches doing? What has happened to our bowels of mercies? “How dwelleth the
love of God in (us)”?
I was in a church today and the best
that was done was to pray for those who were affected by the floods to take
heart and be consoled by God. Meanwhile an emphasis was made on people paying
endowment fund which nobody has been able to explain what the purpose is. What is
the endowment fund for? Is it going to be used for investment? Will they draw
money from it to build hospitals or for evangelism and missions? Is it to be
used to build something befitting for the General Overseer or fund accumulated for
him to have easy access for his travels and so on? The questions can go on and
on. However, no matter how noble the idea may be, the issue is that the church
is insensitive to the plight of those suffering the effects of the current
disaster – floods. Some members around where I was seated murmured asking why
they were talking about endowment fund while nothing was being done about those
whose lives have been changed forever. Some are sleeping in open classrooms
while others are under trees.
For most of the victims, life will
never remain the same for good. It reminded me of a brother whose life was changed
forever when one of the markets in the city of Port Harcourt got burnt down
about ten years ago. His church where he was very committed in service could
not help him to stand back on his feet because the pastor was afraid not to set‘precedence’.
I believe that social work can be used
as a means of evangelism. I believe that social concerns can be used by the
church to show the world the heart of a loving God. I believe that social
concerns can open up door ways for the salvation of souls. If these things are
true, why is the church not taking this opportunity? There are many things
churches can do:
1. Set up a
committee who will work out modalities on how your church can be involved
2. Collect offerings
like was done in 1 Cor.16:1-4; Acts 11:29-30 and send to the affected churches.
3. Concerned
families can come together and contribute clothes, medicines and food stuffs
and send to the affected areas.
4. Churches can
send artisans to help in reconstructing some destroyed houses.
5. You can
persuade your organizations to do something as part of cooperate social
responsibility.
There are so many things we can do if we
have God’s kind of heart. When we see the sufferings of our fellow men and look
the other way like the Priest and Levite in Luke 10, or remain indifferent as
most of us are doing today, one can really ask, “What happened to our bowels of
mercies?”
In case you are having problems who to
contact, call 08033160938 (Bishop Angar Nyanabo whose whole Diocese is
submerged and he is squatting somewhere in Yanagoa) or 08036705262 (Rev. Can.
Somiari whose missionary churches are affected in Bayelsa) or any other church
leader you may know. Just do something! God bless you!
Believed but too late!
Believed
but too late!
"He
answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn
them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham
replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
"'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to
them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses
and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the
dead.'" Luke 16:27-31 NIV
That was a discussion between the rich
man that dressed in purple and lived in luxury while he was alive and father Abraham.
The man was speaking from hell while Abraham was answering him from the abode
of the saints. You can read the whole story from Luke 16: 19-end.
Most likely, when the man was on
earth, he had no time for spiritual things. He did not have time for God. He
just carried on in life as if he would live forever here on earth. But life on
earth is not permanent. We are all passers-by, strangers and sojourners who
start the journey towards our death the first day we are born.
There are two major events in our
lives that draw people around us, if we are privileged, without our awareness –
our birth and our death. As many of us as are reading this piece right now are
waiting for the next big event that will gather people around us, our death which
we have no control over. For our entrance, our birth, we had no preparation for
it but for our exit, our death, we have to prepare for it. When a man gets so
distracted by the fashions of this world that he forgets that he is a pilgrim
here and begins to live like a land owner, he is the most deceived and the most
to be pitied. That was the kind of life the rich man in our passage lived.
One truth is clear from this story of
Jesus: the soul of man does not die when the body dies. We continue to live
even after we are buried here on earth. Whether we are rich or poor does not
affect the fact that we will all be conscious after death. Notice that Lazarus’s
burial or funeral was not mentioned but the rich man was buried. That is why it
does not matter the “chariot of your departure”. It does not matter the way we
die or whether a superb funeral is organized after we are gone. It does not
matter how many priests and pastors that attend our burial. Notice also that
the rich man was still full of his feelings. He was hurting, thirsty and
tormented in the flames of hell. Death is not total extermination of our
conscious being.
A few questions keep coming to my mind,
how is it that someone who is a child of Abraham can go to hell? How is it that
even in hell, he was still calling Abraham, “father Abraham” and neither
Abraham nor God could rebuke him for doing so? It means that he was not lying.
But why is it that he is spending his eternity in hell, lost forever? He wasted
his opportunities and the privileges he had. He lived as a child of Abraham by
birth and association but did not serve the God of Abraham. Hence even by his
addressing Abraham as ‘father’ did not bring him out of hell. For generations
to come, he will remain in hell forever in regret for missing the salvation of
God.
This picture tells me that there are
many in hell today who will be calling on God to save them. There are many in
hell today who will be receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior numerous times.
It tells me that there are many people in hell today who are crying and praying
prayer of repentance. The issue is that nobody will stop them from praying but
surely no such prayers will be answered.
It’s amazing to see this man that
could not give Lazarus little crumbs from his sumptuous table asking for a drop
of water. He remembered all the messages preached to him by teachers of the Law
and suddenly developed a heart of compassion for his equally lost brothers. He
became an intercessor immediately and was asking that a preacher be sent from
the dead to warn his brothers.
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to
them.' … 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be
convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" Luke 16:29-31 NIV. It
means that if they do not listen to the Gospel that is preached all around
them, they will not listen even if something spectacular happens, like the dead
coming back to life to preach.
One life to live! We have the
opportunity to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him. The time to make
decision for eternity is in this life and not hereafter. There is no purgatory
or a go-between life and your eternal destination. It is possible that there
are some in hell right now who are praying for you not to come there, probably
thinking that if you go to heaven, you will help out. Many will believe in
Jesus only when they have entered hell but they will have believed too late.
Please as we come close to the end of this Year, make sure you take the right
decision. Do not join the statistics. Do not waste your opportunities and
privileges. God bless!
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Global Rise in Christian Persecutions in the coming days.
“Every five minutes a Christian dies for his faith.” That was a statement made by Massimo Introvigne, the Commissioner for Religious Freedom of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as reported Canada Free Press.
These are not easy days especially for those Christians who live side by side with Muslims as neighbours. These are perilous times.
As we approach the close of this age, there is going to be a tremendous increase in the persecution of Christians worldwide. What we are seeing is only the beginning of 'birth pangs'. Many may think it is going to be limited to the lands where Muslims are dominant. No! It will equally take place in the so called developed countries. It is not dependent on how wise we are, it is dependent on what the Word of God says.
If you look at the events that led to the Holocaust, part of the sentiment was that the Jews were responsible for the economic woes of Germany and the Great Depression and that the Jews plan to dominate the world as recorded in a fraudulent book called "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" There was widespread antisemitism all over Germany and greater part of Europe. Hitler exploited this when he came to power in 1933 and began to implement his plans which he outlined in Mein Kampf published in 1924. When he began the massive extermination of the Jewish population, much of the populace did not see it as an issue, even Christians. The best many did was to be indifferent. Today, we live with the history of one of the worst genocides ever committed against a people group - the Holocaust.
Why do I draw this historical lesson? There is a growing sentiment against Christians all over the world and the drum is being beaten very loudly by the media. It is as if Christians are the cause of the problems and violence perpetrated all over the globe. In Communist countries, they are seen as spies who cooperate with 'foreign elements' to undermine the powers of the state. In the Islamic countries, they are not just seen as spies but also they are seen as 'infidels' who should be subjugated or killed before they corrupt the 'holy' Muslims. All the recent persecutions, killings and sufferings of Christians all over the world attest to this. In the Western countries, Christians are seen as the only obstacles against for example legalized abortion, homosexuality and 'freedom' which at best can be described as license to live in sin. Starting from the media to the movie industries, from Civil Rights to the Academia, there seems to be a commitment to destroy Judeo-Christian culture and principles. The world do not want to have defined absolutes. Very soon, Christians will begin to go to jail for some evangelism activities in these countries. It is as if the world will know peace if only Christians will keep silence and stop insisting that Jesus Christ if the only Way to God. Life will become difficult for committed Christians in the coming days. There are many situations that will lead to all these, both circumstantial and planned. It is already happening like Massimo's comment shows above.
Never assume "it will never get to me". Get involved now in the ministry towards the persecuted. Train yourself now in holy and righteous living. Take the tough decisions now to please God in all that you do.
The challenge is, is your faith strong enough to carry you through evil days and to the end? Is your anchor strong on Christ alone? It is true that many churches prepare and motivate their members on how to become rich and wealthy; I wonder how many equally prepare them on how to stand strong in the days of trials and turmoil that are about to come? The Bible is correct when it says, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" 2 Tim 3:12. NIV. Better be prepared now and make sure you are standing on the Solid Rock.
Remain rapturable!
These are not easy days especially for those Christians who live side by side with Muslims as neighbours. These are perilous times.
As we approach the close of this age, there is going to be a tremendous increase in the persecution of Christians worldwide. What we are seeing is only the beginning of 'birth pangs'. Many may think it is going to be limited to the lands where Muslims are dominant. No! It will equally take place in the so called developed countries. It is not dependent on how wise we are, it is dependent on what the Word of God says.
If you look at the events that led to the Holocaust, part of the sentiment was that the Jews were responsible for the economic woes of Germany and the Great Depression and that the Jews plan to dominate the world as recorded in a fraudulent book called "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" There was widespread antisemitism all over Germany and greater part of Europe. Hitler exploited this when he came to power in 1933 and began to implement his plans which he outlined in Mein Kampf published in 1924. When he began the massive extermination of the Jewish population, much of the populace did not see it as an issue, even Christians. The best many did was to be indifferent. Today, we live with the history of one of the worst genocides ever committed against a people group - the Holocaust.
Why do I draw this historical lesson? There is a growing sentiment against Christians all over the world and the drum is being beaten very loudly by the media. It is as if Christians are the cause of the problems and violence perpetrated all over the globe. In Communist countries, they are seen as spies who cooperate with 'foreign elements' to undermine the powers of the state. In the Islamic countries, they are not just seen as spies but also they are seen as 'infidels' who should be subjugated or killed before they corrupt the 'holy' Muslims. All the recent persecutions, killings and sufferings of Christians all over the world attest to this. In the Western countries, Christians are seen as the only obstacles against for example legalized abortion, homosexuality and 'freedom' which at best can be described as license to live in sin. Starting from the media to the movie industries, from Civil Rights to the Academia, there seems to be a commitment to destroy Judeo-Christian culture and principles. The world do not want to have defined absolutes. Very soon, Christians will begin to go to jail for some evangelism activities in these countries. It is as if the world will know peace if only Christians will keep silence and stop insisting that Jesus Christ if the only Way to God. Life will become difficult for committed Christians in the coming days. There are many situations that will lead to all these, both circumstantial and planned. It is already happening like Massimo's comment shows above.
Never assume "it will never get to me". Get involved now in the ministry towards the persecuted. Train yourself now in holy and righteous living. Take the tough decisions now to please God in all that you do.
The challenge is, is your faith strong enough to carry you through evil days and to the end? Is your anchor strong on Christ alone? It is true that many churches prepare and motivate their members on how to become rich and wealthy; I wonder how many equally prepare them on how to stand strong in the days of trials and turmoil that are about to come? The Bible is correct when it says, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" 2 Tim 3:12. NIV. Better be prepared now and make sure you are standing on the Solid Rock.
Remain rapturable!
Monday, 10 September 2012
Brother Youcef Nadarkhani acquitted and released.
"He said, "Thank you to everyone that has supported me with your prayers." He is now home with his family."
Many of you responded to our call to prayer and really prayed. It is worthy that you equally share in this good news.
"Please continue to keep Youcef in prayer. Another prisoner with apostasy charges, Pastor Mehdi Dibaj, was realeased and then murdered shortly thereafter. Let's pray for safety and protection for our brother, as well as everyone involved in his case."
Please make sure you continue to pray for him and all the persecuted brethren from around the world. God bless you!
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Break that chain!
Break that chain!
“For sin shall not have dominion over you” Rom 6:14 KJV.
This is a true saying and nothing but the truth. Sin shall no longer have dominion over you. You do not have to continue to live a defeated life under the dominion of sin.
When sin comes, it looks as if it is alone, but far from it. Sin comes with a chain of other sins. It comes with a chain of bondage, not just to itself but also to other sins that you never bargained for.
For example, there are many people today who have committed murder through abortion. Not because they set out to commit murder, but the sin of lust and immorality had it attached to their chain, but the victim never saw it. Let’s look at David; the day he saw Bathsheba taking his bath, he never planned to eliminate her husband so as to have her. One thing led to another and at the end of the day, David’s lust brought adultery and in a bid to cover it up, he conspired against Uriah, betrayed his young army officer, set him up and he was murdered. I suspect that if there was any confidant around David after the whole drama, he would confess to him, “I never intended or planned to murder an innocent blood in my life. I avoided killing King Saul even when I had the opportunity. I don’t know how I entered into this mess”.
The jealousy and hatred of the brothers of Joseph had in its baggage, betrayal, murder and lies. The day they were asking Joseph to shut up in the house after he told one of his dreams was not the day they set out to kill him. However, that sin of hatred had a chain that was dragging lies, conspiracy, and murder from behind. They did not see them until the time when circumstances arranged themselves. Indeed, sin comes with a chain. One sin leads to another and to another and to another. If the chain is not broken early, it leads to other bondages. Our prisons today are filled with many people who have the remaining part of their lives wondering what made them do what they did. There are a lot of people whose lives are broken because of some things they have done and they are wondering how they got to the point they are today. Some will even look at their childhood pictures and are wondering what happened that the innocent face in the picture has put his hands into sins he never dreamed. It just started with one innocent-looking enticement to sin and then the chain entangles.
The last person we will look at is Judas Iscariot who kept stealing money from the money box he was keeping for years, parleying with some wrong people in power and never knew that all these would create insensitivity towards sin in his heart, so strong that he would conspire to betray and sell his Master. The day the Lord Jesus called Judas, he did not set out that he would end up committing suicide. He followed like every other person. However, one opened door to sin led to another and the chain continued until he lost all sensitivity towards sin.
Child of God, never you underestimate any sin. It is not alone. It has a chain no matter how simple and innocent-looking it may seem. If you are already trapped, you do not have to continue in the slippery road; you will only end up sliding down even into things you never bargained for in your life. Snap that chain! Sin shall not have dominion over you. That is the truth.
Now one may ask, how can I break the chain?
Godly sorrow: breaking the chain of sin starts with godly sorrow. The prodigal son came back to his senses, asked himself sincere and personal questions which people around him possibly did not know about. He changed his mind and decided to snap the chain of his sinful living. He humbled himself and was even ready to accept becoming a servant in his father’s house.
You must stand before God as somebody who has no arguments in defense. Accept His verdict and tell Him you are sorry. Ask for mercy.
Radical action of turning: breaking the chain of sin involves taking some radical steps no matter whose ox is gored. Whose life is being ruined? Yours! Whose life is entangled? It’s yours! Hence, who will take the radical turn? You! Again, the prodigal son dammed the shame and headed home to face the father he disappointed through his riotous living. He did not stop on the way. He did not branch into bypass. He headed home to face his father, elder brother, relatives and servants. His chain was snapped the day he turned, parked his bags and headed home, not the day he cried over his life of suffering. There are people who may need to move from where they are now to another location if their chains must be broken. Others may take some costly decisions. But in all, make sure that you break that chain. Sin shall not rule over you!
Thursday, 30 August 2012
The exorbitant price of sexual sin - My list. Make yours!
Make a list of what can be the possible consequences of your sexual sin if you fall into it.
Whenever I think about sexual temptation, I find it helpful to review what effects my ungodly action could have:
1. Bringing dishonor to my Lord and Savior who has brought me this far.
2. Deeply hurting my wife and children. She may never trust me again in life.
3. Wasting years of ministry experience for a long time, maybe permanently.
4. Bringing great pleasure to Satan, the enemy of God and all that is good.
5. As a ‘wanted man’ anything can happen to me.
6. Being the firstborn in my family, transferring battles to my next generation which ordinarily would have ended in my generation.
7. Undermining the faithful example and hard work of other Christians in our community.
8. Possibly bearing the physical consequences of such diseases as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, herpes, and AIDS; perhaps infecting my wife or, in the case of AIDS, even causing her death. I always remember Sis A who died of AIDS with all her prophetic gifts.
9. Creating problems for my younger brother who is a pastor and has looked up to me for years. In his challenges, I know that he has been watching me.
10. Heaping judgment and endless difficulty on the person with whom I committed adultery.
11. Possibly causing pregnancy, with the personal and financial implications.
12. Bringing shame and hurt to my ministry partners and elders who have trusted me over the years: (list names)
13. Bringing shame and hurt on all that will hear it from far and near who have been blessed through my ministry.
14. Causing shame and hurt to friends, especially those I’ve led to Christ and discipled: (list names)
15. Invoking shame and lifelong embarrassment upon Myself.
16. Getting entangled in a sin-chain that may be very difficult for me to break till I die.
17. The Lord coming and meeting me in sin.
I will continue to update this list as days/years roll by!
Try making your own list. When you weigh the consequences of sexual sin in advance it’s a frightening prospect! May God help all of us! Amen.
Adapted from Randy Alcorn’s article THE REAL AND UNTOLD COST - The exorbitant price of sexual sin. See Randy's list here.
Whenever I think about sexual temptation, I find it helpful to review what effects my ungodly action could have:
1. Bringing dishonor to my Lord and Savior who has brought me this far.
2. Deeply hurting my wife and children. She may never trust me again in life.
3. Wasting years of ministry experience for a long time, maybe permanently.
4. Bringing great pleasure to Satan, the enemy of God and all that is good.
5. As a ‘wanted man’ anything can happen to me.
6. Being the firstborn in my family, transferring battles to my next generation which ordinarily would have ended in my generation.
7. Undermining the faithful example and hard work of other Christians in our community.
8. Possibly bearing the physical consequences of such diseases as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, herpes, and AIDS; perhaps infecting my wife or, in the case of AIDS, even causing her death. I always remember Sis A who died of AIDS with all her prophetic gifts.
9. Creating problems for my younger brother who is a pastor and has looked up to me for years. In his challenges, I know that he has been watching me.
10. Heaping judgment and endless difficulty on the person with whom I committed adultery.
11. Possibly causing pregnancy, with the personal and financial implications.
12. Bringing shame and hurt to my ministry partners and elders who have trusted me over the years: (list names)
13. Bringing shame and hurt on all that will hear it from far and near who have been blessed through my ministry.
14. Causing shame and hurt to friends, especially those I’ve led to Christ and discipled: (list names)
15. Invoking shame and lifelong embarrassment upon Myself.
16. Getting entangled in a sin-chain that may be very difficult for me to break till I die.
17. The Lord coming and meeting me in sin.
I will continue to update this list as days/years roll by!
Try making your own list. When you weigh the consequences of sexual sin in advance it’s a frightening prospect! May God help all of us! Amen.
Adapted from Randy Alcorn’s article THE REAL AND UNTOLD COST - The exorbitant price of sexual sin. See Randy's list here.
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Continue to pray for Brother Youcef - Charge against him changed to "banditry and extortion".
Our brother, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been charged with new offences - "banditry and extortion" according to a recent update from International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. They seem to have replaced the old charge of apostasy which has drawn much international condemnation with these new charges, just to make sure our brother is punished and suffers for being a Christian.
For those who may be new to this story, Pastor Youcef was a pastor of a church in Rasht which had a congregation of about 400 members. He was arrested for converting to Christianity after being a Christian for more than 10 years. He has been languishing in prison with other Iranian brethren. The good news is that his faith is intact. In fact we shared one of his letters he wrote from prison here. What an encouragement!
Look at what the Bible says: Rom 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" NIV.
Please continue to pray for him and the other brethren in Iranian prisons. Pray that their faith will remain strong. Pray that they will finish strong. Also pray that their testimony will bring conviction to all the people around them. May they released from prison soon. May these spurious charges against Youcef be struck out. Pray for their families.
God bless you as you participate in this ministry towards the persecuted.
For more information, please go to ICHR in Iran.
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Urgent Prayers for Pastor Behnam Irani
We have been updating all our friends and viewers on the persecuted brethren in Iran and other parts of the world calling us to prayers. It is very easy to relax and become complacent when we live in parts of the world where there is relative peace and you are not being harrassed for your faith.
However, for every peaceful night of sleep you enjoy, know that there are brethren who are spending the same night in prisons without comfort. For every opportunity you have to visit a hospital to treat either your self or loved one, remember that there are thousands of believers who are languishing in prisons around the world who are not granted access to medicare. They are being eaten up by their diseases or sicknesses, seeing their death before them and are helpless about their condition. Except God intervenes, their stories will not be different from that of those who have died.
Please look at this prayer request below and make sure your family, fellowship group, and church participate in praying for Brother Behnam Irani. Equally do not forget that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still awaiting execution, except God intervenes through our prayers.
"We have an urgent prayer request for pastor Behnam Irani of Karaj, Iran. He continues to suffer from bloody stool, and within the last week was so sick that he became unconscious. As a result he was finally allowed to go to the prison hospital. It appears that what he was suffering with was not intestinal, but rather a bleeding ulcer. We are thankful that he has been allowed to see a doctor and is being treated for his illness, but since the situation is so serious, we ask for your prayers for his healing. Jesus said, “If thou canst believe all things are possible,” Mark 9:23. Let’s put our faith together in prayer for our brother who is suffering and believe for his healing. Please pass the prayer request on to your churches, prayer groups, and bible studies."
For further information, please go to http://presenttruthmn.com/
Monday, 25 June 2012
Anointed in the midst of his brethren
“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers,…” 1 Sam 16:13 NIV
It is amazing how the Lord makes His choice!
God asked Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of the sons of Jesse as king to replace Saul. As usual with God, He did not tell Samuel who to anoint specifically. When God calls a man to follow Him, He does not give him all the details. If you are waiting to see everything, hear everything, know everything and have everything before you go on to obey God, you may never obey Him at all. It takes faith to walk with God. No wonder “without faith, it is impossible to please God”.
Samuel went and began to look at the sons of Jesse like every one of us would do. He thought it was Eliab, and then Abinadab and then Shammah but the Lord told him that none of them was His choice. What is worthy of note here is the strong word the Lord used when the first son, Eliab came forward, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him…” Vs 7. What will label a man, “rejected” in God’s programme even though he may have all the qualifications that can appeal to us as humans? The same verse gives us a hint, “…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Now let’s look at God’s choice, David. The first description in verse 12 referred to his physical appearance, “He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.” However, the Lord had found a different heart in him compared to what He saw in Eliab. His spiritual disposition to the Lord was different from that of his elder brothers. Apart from that, look at the six other qualities the servants of Saul mentioned when they were recommending David to King Saul, “…(He) knows how to play the harp (The instrument he was using to praise God in the forest). He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him." 1 Sam 16:18.
But the time Samuel came, as far as their father, Jesse was concerned, David’s name did not qualify to be even mentioned. He was remembered only when every other person had been brought forward and could not make God’s choice. Circumstances turned out to request for him. It is amazing how God’s favour can distinguish a man in spite of the opinions of men. It is amazing how protocols can be overridden when God wants to lift a man. David was not anointed in the forest where he had been working and walking faithfully with the Lord; he was anointed right there in the midst of his brethren. The same place where others felt he was not qualified to be mentioned with the others, he was anointed, lifted and set apart. God’s choice has no query.
Does God still do the same thing today? The answer is “YES”. Our faithful work and walk with the Lord prepares us for His lifting. May God single you out for blessing today! Amen.
God bless!
It is amazing how the Lord makes His choice!
God asked Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of the sons of Jesse as king to replace Saul. As usual with God, He did not tell Samuel who to anoint specifically. When God calls a man to follow Him, He does not give him all the details. If you are waiting to see everything, hear everything, know everything and have everything before you go on to obey God, you may never obey Him at all. It takes faith to walk with God. No wonder “without faith, it is impossible to please God”.
Samuel went and began to look at the sons of Jesse like every one of us would do. He thought it was Eliab, and then Abinadab and then Shammah but the Lord told him that none of them was His choice. What is worthy of note here is the strong word the Lord used when the first son, Eliab came forward, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him…” Vs 7. What will label a man, “rejected” in God’s programme even though he may have all the qualifications that can appeal to us as humans? The same verse gives us a hint, “…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Now let’s look at God’s choice, David. The first description in verse 12 referred to his physical appearance, “He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.” However, the Lord had found a different heart in him compared to what He saw in Eliab. His spiritual disposition to the Lord was different from that of his elder brothers. Apart from that, look at the six other qualities the servants of Saul mentioned when they were recommending David to King Saul, “…(He) knows how to play the harp (The instrument he was using to praise God in the forest). He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him." 1 Sam 16:18.
But the time Samuel came, as far as their father, Jesse was concerned, David’s name did not qualify to be even mentioned. He was remembered only when every other person had been brought forward and could not make God’s choice. Circumstances turned out to request for him. It is amazing how God’s favour can distinguish a man in spite of the opinions of men. It is amazing how protocols can be overridden when God wants to lift a man. David was not anointed in the forest where he had been working and walking faithfully with the Lord; he was anointed right there in the midst of his brethren. The same place where others felt he was not qualified to be mentioned with the others, he was anointed, lifted and set apart. God’s choice has no query.
Does God still do the same thing today? The answer is “YES”. Our faithful work and walk with the Lord prepares us for His lifting. May God single you out for blessing today! Amen.
God bless!
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Youcef Nadarkhani: A Day of Prayer and Fasting for His release.
PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS PRAYER PROJECT.
Pray as a family; pray as a church and as a fellowship; pray as an individual for this brother and all other persecuted brethren around the world! God bless.
Pray as a family; pray as a church and as a fellowship; pray as an individual for this brother and all other persecuted brethren around the world! God bless.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Easter Sunday Car Bomb Explosion kills over 25 persons in Kaduna Nigeria
A car bomb exploded along a busy roadway Sunday morning in a central Nigeria city, killing at least 38 people in the latest attack on a region beset by religious, ethnic and political violence, an official said.
The blast struck Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna state, leaving charred motorcycles and debris strewn across a major road in the city where many gather to eat at informal restaurants and buy black market gasoline. Nearby hotels had their windows blown out of by the force of the powerful explosion, which engulfed a group of motorcycle taximen.
At least 38 people were killed in the blast, said Abubakar Zakari Adamu, a spokesman for the Kaduna state Emergency Management Agency. Others suffered serious injuries and were receiving treatment at local hospitals, Adamu said.
The explosion badly damaged the nearby All Nations Christian Assembly Church as churchgoers worshipped at an Easter service, the possible target of the bomber. Witnesses said it appeared the explosive-laden car attempted to go into the compound of that church before it detonated...
Please continue to pray for the Nigerian Church for a re-awakening. Pray that God may console those who are grieving and cause the perpetrators to repent. Pray that those in leadership positions will have the will to do what is right.
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