Please pray for American believers

Peanut Gallery: Yesterday I watched the film – “Last Ounce of Courage.” I would describe it as a B Movie with an A+ message… it received a standing ovation from the dozen or so people at the early afternoon showing.

It’s the message that prompts me to ask you to pray for American believers: American believers have been, and are now, undergoing a “soft” – but systematic – persecution that has gradually eroded our First Amendment “free exercise of religion” rights.

“Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.” Galatians 5.1 MSG

Consider, for example, the Christmas celebrations and displays of 25-30 years ago – in schools, parks, market places, on TV and other public spaces – with those of today’s non-descript “Winter” Celebrations. We have become so brainwashed that a simple “Merry Christmas” in the grocery store feels like some major act of civil disobedience. What has happened to us?

Religion in America: The majority of Americans (76-80%) identify themselves as Christians… 36% say that they attend worship services every week or more… and a majority of Americans report that religion plays a “very important” role in their lives, a proportion unique among developed nations (see Wikipedia “Religion in America”).

The text of the First Amendment to the country’s Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” It guarantees the free exercise of religion while also preventing the government from establishing a state religion. The Supreme Court has also interpreted this as preventing the government from having any authority in religion.

Please pray that American believers:

would have the courage of our convictions,
would speak up for God’s Truth as we see it,
would be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in us;
and would do so kindly, gently and clearly.

Morning Reaading: John 12.42-43 NIV

“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” John 12.42-43 NIV

Voting with an Informed Conscience

This works for every believer in Jesus Christ… if we don’t vote our values, we are lost.

Biltrix

There are just 8 Mondays left (including this one) before the general election on November 6.

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Morning Prayer: Stand for What is Right

STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT – Open Doors

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Matthew 5:10-11)

Jesus assures his followers there is blessing in suffering for what is right. This blessing may take the form of inner peace and joy. This is the meaning of the word translated “blessed” or “happy” in Jesus’ teaching called the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12).

The New Testament writer, James, indicates that pressures are blessings in disguise and should be responded to with joyfulness (James 1:2-3). The Message paraphrase translates the verses this way, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.”

Helen Berhane was severely persecuted in Eritrea’s prison system because she would not deny her faith. No matter what they did, she refused to give in.

She explains, “I told the chief, ‘I cannot abandon my faith. If you puncture a sack of grain, the only thing that pours out is the type of grain that was in the sack. It is the same with me. I can only say what is inside me; everything that is in my heart must come out of my mouth…The more you punish me, the stronger I will be. If you keep hammering on a nail’s head it just becomes harder to pull out of the wall…’

I could not understand how they expected me to stop believing; it was impossible for me. In fact, the guards were making their own situation worse, because people began to ask what was so special about this religion that Christians refused to give it up, and they also believed. Our suffering became a glory for our faith…I am convinced that the number of Christians has doubled or tripled since they closed the churches. So perhaps God is using this terrible situation for his glory.”

RESPONSE – Today I will stand for what is right, because I know Jesus will be glorified, and I will receive a blessing.

PRAYER – God give strength and courage to me and to those around the world being pressured to deny their faith today. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen

ERITREA (Open Doors) – All evangelical churches were closed following the government’s ban on all religious groups other than Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran or Islamic in 2002. Anyone discovered to be an evangelical is tortured and forced to revert to the registered denominations. If they don’t, they are held in military camps without trial. Around 1500 are believed to be imprisoned; at least five died in 2011. Others were released so they wouldn’t die in custody. In 2011 there was a renewed crackdown on house churches; at least 23 believers were imprisoned.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS) A daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks