Persecuted for Messiah

The other day, a woman asked me what book that was on the dash of my truck. It’s in a book cover that says “This Book is Illegal. . .” I said, “The Bible.” She shook her head. “Really! The Bible is illegal in some countries?”

“Yes,” I said, “it is. Not only is the Bible illegal, but sharing the Gospel message is also. Not only that, but simply holding “church” is illegal in many countries.” She continued to shake her head as if to say, it’s hard to believe.

Is it hard to believe? If you haven’t visited www.persecution.com, the web home of Voice of the Martyrs, you’ve most likely not encountered stories of persecution against Christians. The mainstream media doesn’t tell the tale of faithful Christians attempting to fulfill the mandate given us by our Lord Y’shuaJesus just before he ascended into Heaven.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Matthew 28:19,20

And it isn’t only evangelists and pastors that are persecuted, by the government and others: Too many children are injured or murdered each year. Take Weng Goodluck, for instance: (from Voice of the Martyrs bulletin)

“Weng Goodluck Tshua was three weeks old in March 2010 when Fulani Muslims attacked his village of Dogo Nahawa and slaughtered 501 Christians. All nine members of his family, including his father and mother, were killed. He was rescued from his burning house, but not before the fire had consumed his feet. As Weng has grown over the past few years, he has been unable to run around or even walk. But a VOM prosthetics team is helping change that.

“After studying his feet, the prosthetics team fashioned special shoes for both of his misshapen limbs. They returned several months later with specially fitted shoes that can be adjusted as three-year-old Weng continues to grow. Each shoe is made of three layers. As Weng grows, the inner layers can be removed as needed, to allow more room in the shoes. The team plans to provide new shoes for Weng before he grows out of the final layer of these shoes.

“This week VOM received new video of Weng, proudly walking around in is new, custom-made shoes. You can support blessings like this one to Weng and help provide for other Christians in need of medical care due to persecution by giving to support VOMedical.”

You can see the video of Weng Goodluck here.

Pray for the persecuted Church. They pray for us. And someday, we may be the ones suffering so intently simply for our choice of believing and following the Lord Y’shuaJesus.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Farshid Fathi; Imprisoned for Christ

FOXE Voices of the Martyrs (Photo credit: Chris Yarzab)

Farshid Fathi
Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Arrested: December 2010

The following is excerpted from a letter Farshid wrote to the parents of the children killed in Newtown, CT.

I am so sorry and you are in my prayers. I am sure these high walls cannot stop my prayers for you. Before this tragedy happened, I was thinking about my suffering that I’m going through because of my Lord Jesus Christ, especially being far from my lovely kids… But when I imagine how hard your pain is I forget my sufferings. Because I know by God’s grace I will see my kids at the latest in 2017 when I come out from prison. But unfortunately you have to wait a bit longer. I believe we will have enough time in heaven with our lovely children forever.

You can find more information on Farshid Fathi and other prisoners at:

Voice of the Martyrs

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2013 Prayer Calendar (pastorappreciationblog.com)

A Song of Praise

A Song of Praise. Of David. I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

Psalm 145:1-5

“Those who, under troubles and temptations, abound in fervent prayer, shall in due season abound in grateful praise, which is the true language of holy joy. Especially we should speak of God’s wondrous work of redemption, while we declare his greatness. For no deliverance of the Israelites, nor the punishment of sinners, so clearly proclaims the justice of God, as the cross of Christ exhibits it to the enlightened mind. It may be truly said of our Lord Jesus Christ, that his words are words of goodness and grace; his works are works of goodness and grace. He is full of compassion; hence he came into the world to save sinners. When on earth, he showed his compassion both to the bodies and souls of men, by healing the one, and making wise the other. He is of great mercy, a merciful High Priest, through whom God is merciful to sinners.” (Matthew Henry, from his concise commentary)

In Mr. Henry’s comments, I find that the reward for “fervent prayer” during trials and temptations will be that some day I’ll “abound in grateful praise. I shant disagree with Mr. Henry; certainly there are always rewards at future times for today’s righteous acts. I will add, however, to Mr. Henry’s comment. David sang to his Lord, our Lord, “I will extol you, my G-d and King, and bless your name forever and ever.” When David sang this, he could not help but be elevated into the joyful realm of G-d’s Heavenly Kingdom, if only for a minute, even an instant. And one minute, even one instant, of Heaven is enough to change one’s heart for the day of troubles that follow.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Hadassah (continued)

“. . . Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. . .” Esther 3:5

The dissent of Mordecai is a passive, non-violent form. It is a refusal to obey edicts or laws contrary to Scripture. He did not protest openly an edict, or law. In Iran, today, a pastor is in jail for openly protesting a law. According to Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), (see article here) “Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school.”

Recently, VOM contacts told VOM “the chief justice in Gilan province told Youcef’s lawyers last week (Jan. 16, 2012) that if Youcef repents, he will be released. Youcef told his attorneys repenting means leaving Christianity to return to Islam. He said it was impossible for him to “return” to Islam, since he was never Muslim.

“Our contacts write, “Because of your prayers and concerns, the regime is afraid to issue a negative verdict, and yet they do not want to release him…”

“Please continue to surround Youcef with your prayers. Pray that the chief justice will have a change of heart.”

Pastor Youcef objected to a law. He protested that law. That’s different from not obeying a law, right? Perhaps he could have just let things go along quietly. Perhaps. But what of Mordecai? All he did was to disobey, and that got him in trouble with Hamman. Had G-d not intervened, Mordecai and most of G-d’s people would have been executed. And G-d’s intervention included active work by Mordecai. More thoughts on that later.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

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