Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.
There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”
He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.
He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.
“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father – Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. Thy will be done… in me. In Jesus’ name, I ask it. Amen.
LIBYA (Wikipedia) – Population: 6.5 million (35,000 Christians) Main Religion: Islam Government: Transitional government Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism
During Gaddafi’s reign, the main source of persecution was the government and its secret services. Today opposition comes from the family, community and fanatical armed groups. But it is still forbidden to import Arabic Scriptures or to evangelise. There is no central government and the rule of law is absent, so Islamist extremist movements like the Salafists are able to perpetrate violence upon believers. Because of the civil unrest, 75 per cent of expat Christians have left the country.
PLEASE PRAY:
For strength for secret Christians; they are forbidden from meeting together
For a stable government that rules wisely and with justice
Give thanks that Christian programmes on TV, radio and the internet are generating growing interest in the Christian faith.
PERSECUTION DYNAMICS
Libyan Arab
Under Gaddafi’s rule, conditions for Christians were extremely harsh and Libya did not even have a real constitution. The feared and omnipresent secret police made sure restrictions on church activities and distribution of literature were enforced and evangelism criminalised. Muslim background believers were always at risk from their families and most Libyan Christians were afraid to meet as any kind of religious gathering was forbidden. Expats were allowed churches but Libyans were not allowed to attend.
The Libyan revolution has not brought Christians protection and freedom
The revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia gave Libyans the courage to fight Gaddafi, but despite this leading to Gaddafi’s death, it is feared that the future will be worse. Because of the unrest, an estimated 75 per cent of expat Christians have left the country. The National Transitional Council, who took over after Gaddafi, have repeatedly announced their intent to implement a ‘democracy according to Sharia’ in Libya, in which all citizens are already considered Sunni Muslim by law.
The main sources of persecution today are family, community, fanatical armed groups and, to a lesser extent, the government. To import Arabic Scriptures remains strictly forbidden and proselytising and missionary activity is officially prohibited. Many Libyan Christians are fleeing their homeland. It is unlikely that the situation will change, even with a new constitution.
ANECDOTAL REPORT / REQUEST FOR PRAYER:
Sherif is Egyptian, running a bookshop in Benghazi, in the East of Libya. He was arrested on February 10th and has been detained since then. During his detainment he has been physically abused, while there is no official charge against him, nor has he appeared before court.
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?”
“No,” they replied.
“But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”
“Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.”
“That’s enough,” he said.
Prayer: Lord Jesus – I understand packing and getting ready to travel. And I understand the counter-culture threat your followers pose to prevailing societal norms. But I don’t understand arming myself… except with the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” So give me both wisdom and and innocence… that I might be a faithful bearer of your Good News – fully clothed in your heavenly armor… and prepared to go when you call. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 