Category: Life in Christ

Morning Reading: Luke 11:29-32 NLT – turn or burn

Reading: Luke 11:29-32 NLT

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Jonah waiting for Nineveh’s Destruction

As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.

“The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.

“The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – you made us a little lower than the angels and gave us freedom to love you – totally, completely, with abandon. But we have gone our own way – looking for love in all the wrong places. Still, you haven’t abandoned us, and desire that none should perish – no, not one. Lord Jesus –  sent from the Father to show us true Love – you suffered cruel torture and death so that we might be set free from our captivity to sin and death – once again, to live and love you with abandon. Holy Spirit – you set before us today life and death, heaven and hell – and, once again, you call us to cry out to Jesus and “choose life.” Forgive us and set us free – truly free – to love you with all our heart soul mind and strength. In Jesus’ name I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “There is No Other Name” – Robin Mark (YouTube)

There is no other name / By which man can be saved / There is no other Name under Heaven / There is rest for my soul And the wounded made whole / And the captives set free and Forgiven

There is no other name / By which man can be saved / There is no other Name
Under Heaven / There is rest for my soul And the wounded made whole / And the captives set free and Forgiven

Such love as I’ve never known / I’ve found in the grace that Flowed to me / In my unrighteousness / This is why my heart and soul / And tongue confess

UPDATE: Iran Jails Two Christian Converts As Part Of Crackdown – Re-blog

Iran Jails Two Christian Converts As Part Of Crackdown

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service

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Two Christian converts among the latest believers to be imprisoned in Iran.

TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)– Two Christian converts are already over 50 days in Tehran’s feared Evin prison as part of a crackdown on spreading Christianity in heavily Islamic Iran and it remains unclear when they will be released, BosNewsLife learned Monday, March 4.

Shahrzad Y., a 25-year-old woman, and a man named as Sam S. 27, were both detained on January 9 after security forces raided their homes in western Tehran, Iranian Christians said.

The two university students were reportedly charged with the “formation and promotion of house churches and holding gatherings intended for committing crimes.”

Iranian police also confiscated personal belongings including laptops, Christian books and notes, Christian song Compact Disks and cameras, reported Mohabat News, a news agency of Iranian Christians and activists.

Their arrests came shortly after some 50 other Christians were reportedly detained on similar charges, though it remained unclear how many of them remained behind bars Monday, March 4.
Continue reading “UPDATE: Iran Jails Two Christian Converts As Part Of Crackdown – Re-blog” →

Morning Reading: Luke 11:14-28 NLT – Kingdom signs

Reading: Luke 11:14-28 NLT

One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

Kingdom-of-GodHe knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the heart… mind… authority… and power of Kingdom citizenship. May I live in the reality of your rule and reign in this present evil age… even as I look forward to the totality of your rule and reign in the glorious age to come. Help me to be a doer of your Word… and not a hearer only. For your name’s sake. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Let Your Kingdom Come” (Hillsong YouTube)

Joy of my days, You are my strength / Here I am sheltered in Your hand / Light of the dawn, power of the sea / Deep in Your heart, You carry me

Song of my heart, breath of my soul / You are my reason and my all / Lord of the earth, fire of the stars / Jesus my life is where You are

May our worship be Your throne / For the praise of Your glory forever / In this holy place / Let Your will be done

May Your praise be lifted up / Let us join with the praises of heaven / To the ends of the earth / Let Your kingdom come

Shut up! – Muslim cleric at Al-Azhar warns: “The new pope must not attack Islam” – Re-blog Jihad Watch

Peanut Gallery: The Muslim “Vatican” is firing a warning shot over the upcoming Papal Conclave in Rome – Shut up about Muslim persecution of Christians, particularly Coptic Christians in Egypt. “Stay quiet and you’ll be OK.” Really…

Muslim persecution of the Egyptian Christians is widespread and increasing, but Al Azhar was infuriated not with that persecution, but with the Pope’s daring to notice it. He should have heeded the advice Muhammad Atta gave to the passengers on the plane he hijacked on September 11, 2001: “Stay quiet and you’ll be OK.” Except they weren’t.

Muslim/Christian dialogue typically goes like this: Christians tell the Muslims what they like about Islam. And then Muslims tell the Christians what they like about Islam.

Robert Spencer unmasks the sham in the following article – well worth the read.
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Muslim cleric at Al-Azhar warns: “The new pope must not attack Islam” 
posted by Robert Spencer at Jihad Watch

Cairo - Islamic district - Al Azhar Mosque
Cairo – Islamic district – Al Azhar Mosque

In other words, the new pope must not speak the truth about jihad and Islamic supremacism — or else. The papacy of Benedict XVI offered numerous illustrations of this. “Muslims Seek Dialogue With Next Pope,” by Harvey Morris for the New York Times, March 1:

LONDON — As the Catholic Church’s cardinal electors gather at the Vatican to choose a new pope, Muslim leaders are urging a revival of the often troubled dialogue between the two faiths.

During the papacy of Benedict XVI, relations between the world’s two largest religions were overshadowed by remarks he made in 2006 that were widely condemned as an attack on Islam.

Not by rampant, worldwide Muslim persecution of Christians. No, that didn’t hurt relations at all. Only Benedict’s remarks were at fault. Continue reading “Shut up! – Muslim cleric at Al-Azhar warns: “The new pope must not attack Islam” – Re-blog Jihad Watch” →

Please pray for Christians in Iran – 2013 World Watch List #8

Persecuted Church: Iran – 2013 World Watch List #8

iranian-women-resized-600Leader: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Population: 75.6 million (450,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Islamic republic 
World Watch List Rank: 8
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism/ Dictatorial paranoia

Fearful of the increasing numbers of Christians, particularly in house churches, the authorities closely monitor Christian activities, particularly churches that reach out to Muslims. Evangelism, Bible training and publishing Scriptures in Farsi are illegal. Detentions of Christians are common. Several persecuted Christians were forced to leave their homes or flee the country. Muslim-background believers face most pressure – any Muslim who leaves Islam faces the death penalty. In September 2012 Pastor Nadarkhani was released after three years in prison on charges of apostasy.

Please Pray:

  • For Pastor Nadharkani and his family as he adjusts to life after prison
  • For justice for Christian prisoners and lawyers who try to defend them.
  • Many disillusioned Iranian Muslims are becoming curious about Christianity. Pray that they will find hope in Jesus.

 

Persecution Dynamics: 

Islam is the official religion and all laws must be consistent with the official interpretation of Islamic law. Of all types of Christianity, believers from a Muslim background face most persecution, as well as Protestant evangelicals. There is relatively less pressure on the historical ethnic Armenian and Assyrian Christian minority, as long as they do not evangelise Muslims.

Ethnic Persians are by definition Muslim, according to the state. Evangelism, Bible training and publishing Scriptures in Farsi are all illegal, yet this has only fuelled the flames of church growth.

Any Muslim who leaves Islam faces the death penalty. The regime’s focus is on those reaching out to converts and even well-established Christian denominations are not safe from harassment. Church activities are closely monitored, members identified and taken note of. In addition, Christians were physically harmed, a number while in jail. The Iranian authorities’ fear of increasing numbers of Christians, particularly in house churches, is based on fact with many disillusioned Iranian Muslims becoming curious about Christianity.