Category: Persecution

For Such A Time As This

No storm can prevail
against a person or a nation
whose King is Jesus!

Lone Cross atop a mountain in east central California, hope of a sunny day breaking through.

An ordinary woman, strategically placed before an extraordinary time in the history of a nation, finds her life’s purpose in a small, courageous act. A nation is saved from extinction.

Selected to compete in a beauty contest, Esther was pampered and prepared for some time. Esther won! Her prize was to marry a King. Life, indeed, was good! Until it wasn’t.

Esther’s story has it all. Good guys. Bad guys. Heroes and Villains.

One of my favorite lines in this story is when this sheltered queen is told to risk her life to save her people.

“Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13,14)

The celebration of the events in the Book of Esther begin at sundown March 6, 2023, The Feast of Purim.

Links to more about the Book of Esther and the Feast of Purim

Pastor Alistair Begg’s series on Esther
“God is never mentioned by name in the book of Esther—but that doesn’t mean He isn’t present! The unlikely selection of a young Jewish woman to become Persia’s queen and gain influence with a powerful king is one of many improbable turns in a story that now, over two thousand years later, is still memorialized by the Jewish people. And behind that story’s every movement, if we look closely, we can discern the invisible God faithfully at work.

“In this series, Alistair Begg walks us through Esther’s engrossing narrative, introducing us to its vibrant cast of characters and moving step by step through its surprising and dramatic twists and turns. Along the way, we’re challenged to trust in God’s guiding hand over the details of our everyday lives and to rest safely in His providence. For the unseen God, no circumstance is too insignificant to go unnoticed, and no situation is beyond His sovereign power.” (from Truth for Life)

Previously posted on JonahzSong

Hadassah

Purim at Sundown

Purim

Priestly Blessing
Priestly Blessing

Peace, Prosperity, and the Gospel

Today I listened to a sermon by Pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones—The Destruction of the World.

The summary from the MLJ website states:

A Sermon on Matthew 24:3-14
Signs of the End of the Age As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (ESV)

The Christian Gospel : is it relevant today? why the Gospel will never ‘change’ the world; saved from the coming destruction.

In the sermon, Pastor MLJ says that humankind believes philosophers, scientists, and evolutionists and thinks it can build a perfect world. But the humankind is in rebellion to G-D, and has been since the perfect Garden was tainted by wanting to be like G-D.

Pastor MLJ goes on to say that a misunderstanding of the Gospel has even led preachers to think Yeshua meant for us to build a perfect Earth. But the Gospel has been preached for two thousand years and we are at war, we suffer calamities, famine, and plague. Yeshua foretold those things. The Gospel offered eternal salvation to those called by G-D.

Will there ever be peace and prosperity? Yes. Yeshua will return. And will bring judgement and peace; judgement will be for those in rebellion, peace for those who’ve overcome the world, been born again into a new person in Yeshua Messiah.

With this plague that has come, let us look only to our Master, our King, our Savior—Yeshua. Philosophy won’t save us. Science won’t save us. Evolution won’t save us. Yeshua is The Way, The Truth, The Life.

Priestly Blessing
Priestly Blessing

Do Not Keep Silent

My uncle, Ivor, was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, South Wales. Tenby is a walled city. I am told the English built it for a place to live, and walled it to keep the fierce Celts out. It still has walls, and several gates that are just wide enough to allow cars and small trucks to come and go.

Another walled city, more widely known, is Jerusalem. In Biblical times, it was sealed off hoping to prevent intrusion. The Old City of Jerusalem still has walls. The walls have come down. The walls have been rebuilt. More than once.

Many of the Psalms tell us that G-D is our refuge, our shelter. The walls we erect to protect us work only if we abide in G-D, if He is our G-D. It doesn’t take long for our walls to be vulnerable if we refuse to put G-D first.

A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.

Here Asapf cries for G-D’s assistance when a multi-nation force is about to come against Israel. When the army went out to fight against the foe, it found G-D had already been there, had taken care of the enemy.

When I think about our modern enemies, and our modern walls we erect, I immediately think of the distractions offered by the”world” to keep me from G-D,  and the walls I create around my heart to keep the “world” out. The wall around my heart can be too solid, and it hardens me. It can be too porous and let’s the in the World’s virus. The Spirit of our L-RD balances my heart’s walls when I look to Him. And to Him alone.

Irish Blessing
(Found on Pinterest at
http://www.catholicprayercards.org/catalog/item/4235164/8619893.htm)

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Asia Bibi Left Pakistan; Now in Canada

“Asia Bibi has left Pakistan and reached Canada. She has reunited with her family,” Saif Ul Malook, Ms. Bibi’s Lawyer, confirmed the news to The Guardian. (as reported in Christianity Today.)

“Release International CEO Paul Robinson questioned why it had taken so long for her to be able to leave the country.

“We are overjoyed that Asia is finally free. But why has it taken so long for this innocent woman to be allowed to leave?” he said.”

There is a reason it took so long. We may not know it precisely. What we do know is what Apostle Paul, writing to Christians persecuted in Rome, taught: “. . .we know that all things work together for good to them that love G-d, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Roman 8:28)

Thank G-D for Ms. Bibi’s release.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

 

Sri Lanka Easter Attacks: 270 Murdered; 450 Injured

Hundreds of people were injured while many others killed in six bomb explosions in at least three churches across the country and several hotels in Colombo today. (From Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror)

 

“At least six explosions were reported this morning at three churches in Kochchikade, Katana, and Batticaloa and three five-star hotels in Colombo, police said.

“Explosions were reported at St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Kotahena and St.Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Katana.

“Explosions were also reported at three five-star hotels, the Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury in Colombo.

“Police said another explosion was reported at a church in Batticaloa.

“Several casualties including foreign tourists have been reported.” —Daily Mirror

Two short sidebar articles, Daily Mirror reports: The Pope condemned the attacks and offered condolences; President Trump condemned the attacks and offered assistance.

Interestingly, “The [Sri Lankan] government has decided to temporarily block social media sites including Facebook and Instagram. Presidential Secretariat said in a statement that the decision to block social media was taken as false news reports were spreading through social media.” —Daily Mirror

And, “Police curfew has been imposed with immediate effect across the island by the IGP until further notice.”—Daily Mirror

Pray for the injured, pray for the families of the murdered, pray for the terrorists to be captured, pray for peace in Sri Lanka.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Will She Make It Out Of Pakistan Alive?

THE DAUGHTERS of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who has been persecuted by Pakistan’s extremist far-right religious Islamic laws in a country dominated by mobs that preach hate. (photo credit: REUTERS)

“Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who last year was saved from death row after being accused of blasphemy against Islam, will soon leave Pakistan to be reunited with her family.”—The Jerusalem Post.

According to the article, Ms. Bibi’s documentation is now ready, and she is set to leave the country. This came from an undisclosed source within the Pakistani government. This contradicts Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal. He stated “Asia was free following the court’s decision.”

“To the best of my knowledge, Asia Bibi is still in Pakistan. She is a free woman. Only she can decide whether to live in Pakistan or move abroad,” Faisal said.

 

King David, in psalm 13, “despite the singular, first-person form employed throughout this chapter, does not speak here of his own tribulations and need for salvation.  Rather, he composed this Psalm as a prayer” for G-D’s people. “. . .we have looked—and continue to look—to the Almighty and beg, ‘illuminate my eyes’ (verse 4), that He grant us the wisdom and foresight we need to overcome the hurdles we face living among hostile nations.  We look forward to the time when we can fulfill David’s promise in the closing verse of this chapter, ‘I shall sing to G-D, for He has dealt kindly with me!’ “—Daily Tehillim.

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 13—Bible Hub

I can only imagine the agony, the despair, that Ms. Bibi has endured. The agony and constantly nagging despair that continues to plague her as long as she is threatened by evil men that want nothing more than her head—literally. Her youngest child was nine when she was taken away to be held in isolation pending death. Her youngest child is now 18 years old. I can hope that throughout the ordeal, that even now as there is a ray of hope for an end to this utter nonsense, that Ms. Bibi, like King David, has been able to trust in the steadfast love of the One True Master and Savior, YeshuaJesus. I hope that Ms. Bibi, like King David, has seen a future in which she will be able to sing “I will sing to L-RD because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

Paraphrasing the prayer of King David, psalm 71:13:

May the accusers of Asia Bibi be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek her hurt.

Will Ms. Bibi make it out of Pakistan alive? It’s a cliff hanger. May G-D’s will be done.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

 

Persecution of Christians in China and India

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
1 Peter 4:12-14

The following is reported by Renewal Ministries Fellowship:

“Remember to keep our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world in our prayers. The two most populous nations in the world, China and India, have both been suffering increasing persecution in recent years.

“The repression of Christianity in China is now at its worst since the Cultural Revolution. About 20 million people faced persecution last year in China and an estimated 50 million are expected to experience repression this year as the ruling Communist Party continues a severe crackdown on religion which has included closing and demolishing churches, removing crosses from churches, imprisoning pastors and church members under false allegations, exiling Christians from their community and putting others under surveillance. Chinese police are staking out churches, noting who attends, then appearing at their homes for “inspections”, causing fearful worshippers to stay away from church. Increasing numbers of employers are requiring that workers sign “no-faith” commitments or else be at risk of losing their jobs and livelihood. In December a 1,500 member church in Beijing was banned because its pastor refused to install CCTV to enable the Communist party to monitor those who attended.

“There were more than 12,000 reported violent attacks against Christians in India in 2018, while increasing numbers of persecution acts in this nation are going unreported. Increasing numbers of Christians are killed for their faith each year and the number of churches attacked increased from 34 last year to 98 this year. Christian NGOs are also being targeted by various government departments in attempts to accuse them of “anti-national” activities, especially concerning conversions to Christ. Hindu nationalist politicians are increasingly being elected to power and the government is systematically misusing the anti-conversion laws, religious laws, administration and police to deprive freedom to Christians while turning a blind eye to the brutal violence inflicted on Christians by Hindu extremists. Christian converts from a Hindu background face the worst of the persecution with daily harassment and constant pressure to return to Hinduism including societal pressure from family, friends and community members and local Hindu priests, beatings, hospitalizations and even death. On 9th January 2019 Hindu extremists tore down a church building in Narnepadu village, Muppalla Mandal, Guntur District, in Andhra Pradesh state, claiming that it violated Hindu principles of placement ad positioning. Earlier in neighbouring Telangana state radical Hindus stopped a Christian group’s van, beat a 51yo father of three and burned over 350 Bibles they were carrying for distribution. In a suburb of Hyderabad a group of Christian youths cleaning up their church grounds in preparation for the even service after a neighbour had dumped a large amount of trash on the site were set upon by a mob of over 40 Hindu extremists, the pastor who tried to come to their rescue and his father were also physically assaulted, but when the battered men went to the police station the police refused to take their complaint and the next day fabricated a charge of “voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons” against the pastor and his father. On 23rd October 2018 Pastor John Lakra was taking his 18 month old baby to hospital for emergency treatment in Odisha (Orissa) state when hundreds of Hindu extremists surrounded his car, began hurling stones at them and hitting the windows with rods and shouting curses at them. Soon they pulled him out of the car, slapped and beat him black and blue, ripped off his cloths, kicked him then forced him onto a motorcycle to take him to a Durga idol and forced him to kneel before it even as they continued beating him, poured a gallon of petrol on him and shouted that he should be given as a live sacrifice to the goddess. God miraculously saved him and this time the police did act against the perpetrators, but after pressure from the RSS and BJP the Sundargarh police released them and booked the pastor for “deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings”, “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion” and “criminal intimidation”, the judge rejected his plea for bail and he spent 10 days in jail. The co-pastor of one of our Affiliates in Odisha was falsely charged by police on 28th July 2018 and is still in prison and his family are struggling. On 11th February 2019 a father of five, Anant Ram Gand, who had converted to Christ nine months earlier and recently been baptised with his family members in Raigarh Tehsil village was dragged out of his home by three men and beheaded in front of his 6yo son. His wife, Sukbati, is fearful about their future and terrified what the Hindu extremists might do to her and her five children. “But I am sure I will not forsake Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord,” she said. “Please remember us in your prayers so that we stand strong in faith and all our daily needs are met. God bless.” “

No News is. . .

. . . not always good news.

Nothing to report on Ms.Asia Bibi. And this only means that she’s still imprisoned behind four walls. The only difference from before her acquittal, and rescue from the death sentence wrongfully imposed upon her, is that now the door to her jail is wide open—is she dares to walk through it. Her “freedom” is elusive. Walking through the open door means certain death.

While the Pakistani government made some good decisions, after making some very bad decisions, it has not continued in the proper direction. That direction would be to overturn its blasphemy laws entirely AND ensure that Ms. Bibi is given safe passage out of Pakistan.

Here’s a link to a set of articles by BBC News covering Ms. Bibi’s ordeal:

Asia Bibi’s Blasphemy Case—BBC News

Please pray for Ms. Bibi.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine . . .

Persecution Update

“Dear friends,
do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering,
as though something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Messiah,
so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.
If you are insulted because of the name of Messiah,
you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of G-d rests on you.”
1 Peter 4:12-14

The following Report is from Renewal Ministry Fellowship:

Remember to keep our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world in our prayers. The two most populous nations in the world, China and India, have both been suffering increasing persecution in recent years.

The repression of Christianity in China is now at its worst since the Cultural Revolution. About 20 million people faced persecution last year in China and an estimated 50 million are expected to experience repression this year as the ruling Communist Party continues a severe crackdown on religion which has included closing and demolishing churches, removing crosses from churches, imprisoning pastors and church members under false allegations, exiling Christians from their community and putting others under surveillance. Chinese police are staking out churches, noting who attends, then appearing at their homes for “inspections”, causing fearful worshippers to stay away from church. Increasing numbers of employers are requiring that workers sign “no-faith” commitments or else be at risk of losing their jobs and livelihood. In December a 1,500 member church in Beijing was banned because its pastor refused to install CCTV to enable the Communist party to monitor those who attended.

There were more than 12,000 reported violent attacks against Christians in India in 2018, while increasing numbers of persecution acts in this nation are going unreported. Increasing numbers of Christians are killed for their faith each year and the number of churches attacked increased from 34 last year to 98 this year. Christian NGOs are also being targeted by various government departments in attempts to accuse them of “anti-national” activities, especially concerning conversions to Christ. Hindu nationalist politicians are increasingly being elected to power and the government is systematically misusing the anti-conversion laws, religious laws, administration and police to deprive freedom to Christians while turning a blind eye to the brutal violence inflicted on Christians by Hindu extremists. Christian converts from a Hindu background face the worst of the persecution with daily harassment and constant pressure to return to Hinduism including societal pressure from family, friends and community members and local Hindu priests, beatings, hospitalizations and even death. On 9th January 2019 Hindu extremists tore down a church building in Narnepadu village, Muppalla Mandal, Guntur District, in Andhra Pradesh state, claiming that it violated Hindu principles of placement ad positioning. Earlier in neighbouring Telangana state radical Hindus stopped a Christian group’s van, beat a 51yo father of three and burned over 350 Bibles they were carrying for distribution. In a suburb of Hyderabad a group of Christian youths cleaning up their church grounds in preparation for the even service after a neighbour had dumped a large amount of trash on the site were set upon by a mob of over 40 Hindu extremists, the pastor who tried to come to their rescue and his father were also physically assaulted, but when the battered men went to the police station the police refused to take their complaint and the next day fabricated a charge of “voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons” against the pastor and his father. On 23rd October 2018 Pastor John Lakra was taking his 18 month old baby to hospital for emergency treatment in Odisha (Orissa) state when hundreds of Hindu extremists surrounded his car, began hurling stones at them and hitting the windows with rods and shouting curses at them. Soon they pulled him out of the car, slapped and beat him black and blue, ripped off his cloths, kicked him then forced him onto a motorcycle to take him to a Durga idol and forced him to kneel before it even as they continued beating him, poured a gallon of petrol on him and shouted that he should be given as a live sacrifice to the goddess. God miraculously saved him and this time the police did act against the perpetrators, but after pressure from the RSS and BJP the Sundargarh police released them and booked the pastor for “deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings”, “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion” and “criminal intimidation”, the judge rejected his plea for bail and he spent 10 days in jail. The co-pastor of one of our Affiliates in Odisha was falsely charged by police on 28th July 2018 and is still in prison and his family are struggling. On 11th February 2019 a father of five, Anant Ram Gand, who had converted to Christ nine months earlier and recently been baptised with his family members in Raigarh Tehsil village was dragged out of his home by three men and beheaded in front of his 6yo son. His wife, Sukbati, is fearful about their future and terrified what the Hindu extremists might do to her and her five children. “But I am sure I will not forsake Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord,” she said. “Please remember us in your prayers so that we stand strong in faith and all our daily needs are met. God bless.”

Where is Asia Bibi?

Somewhere. Hopefully in Canada. Several reports have been made of her exodus from Pakistan, her reuniting with her children, her safety in Canada, albeit hidden away. But those reports aren’t conclusive, and may only be wishful thinking.

In the meantime, the incredible case of Ms. Bibi has, according to Mohammad Zaheer of the Independent, has changed the way Pakistan approaches extremism. The following is the concluding part of his article:

“In Pakistan, however, just the fact that she was released is seen as a silver lining. Forget rightful compensation, not succumbing to extremist pressure and merely letting her leave the country would be considered quite the feat.

“My heart prays that the reports of her safely reuniting with her family in Canada are true. She deserves nothing less than a happy ending.

“In compelling the state to re-evaluate its long-held toxic policy of appeasement of religious extremists, she leaves behind a nation that might not be appreciative today, but owes her a significant debt of gratitude nonetheless.”

L-RD grant Ms. Bibi safe passage to her children, hide her beneath Your Wings, continue Your care for her and her family, and those who offered her help. Forgive the rest of us for turing away in her time of need. AMEIN.

L-RD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .