Tag: Christians

Morning Reading: Luke 24.35-49 NLT – joy and wonder

Reading: Luke 24:35-49 NLT

Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.

And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

“Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?  Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”

As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder.

Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”  They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.

"Forgiven" by Thomas Blackshear
“Forgiven”
by Thomas Blackshear

Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’  You are witnesses of all these things.

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I join all your followers down through the ages in joy and wonder at your amazing love. While we were yet sinners, you died for us. Fill us with the power and authority of your Spirit to tell the whole world, ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are my King. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Amazing Love” – Newsboys

Please pray for Christians in Turkmenistan – World Watch List #19

PERSECUTED CHURCH in TURKMENISTAN – World Watch List #19 (Open Doors)

Turkmenistan "Caucasus and Central Asia"
Turkmenistan
“Caucasus and Central Asia”

Population: 5.2 million (95,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: One-party state
Source of Persecution: Dictatorial paranoia/Organised corruption

The state exerts strict control in order to avoid the emergence of any independent economic, social or cultural groups – which includes churches. All unregistered religious activity is illegal and the government uses the ‘Council on Religious Affairs’, police and the secret services to keep the church under surveillance. The frequency of raids, even on registered churches, has increased and obtaining registration is nearly impossible. Formal religious education is almost totally banned, as are all religious publications.

Turkmen woman and childPLEASE PRAY:

  • For Muslim-background believers who face more problems than other Christians, including physical attacks
  • That government officials will be willing to register churches
  • Give thanks that Pastor Ilmurad was released from prison in 2012; he must now report to the police each week.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS

Delegates attend a session of Turkmenistan's Halk Maslakhaty (People's Assembly) to decide who will succeed late President Saparmurat Niyazov in Ashgabat December 26, 2006.
Delegates attend a session of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslakhaty (People’s Assembly) to decide who will succeed late President Saparmurat Niyazov in Ashgabat December 26, 2006.

Turkmenistan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. It is very rich, mainly due to large gas fields, but the riches only benefit a small minority. Muslim-background believers face pressure from both their families and the community. All Christians are treated with mistrust yet Muslim-background believers face significantly more problems in this regard, including being physically harmed.

All unregistered religious activity is strictly illegal and registering a church is nearly impossible. The Russian Orthodox Church faces less problems in this regard. Formal religious education is almost totally banned and all religious publications are forbidden. Former President Niyazov’s book ‘Ruhnama’, which links Turkmen identity with Islam, continues to have an influence and is reportedly still used in school and university curricula. Arbitrary treatment, raids, fines and court charges will go on as long as the ruling elite perceives every group it cannot control as a threat to their absolute power.

ANECDOTAL REPORT – Begjan Shirmedov

turkmenistan-manA group of about six officials – two of them in police uniforms – raided Begjan Shirmedov’s home in Dashoguz in the North of Turkmenistan on Sunday 23 September. They arrived during a house meeting of his Baptist congregation, Path of Faith Church, attended by about 15 church members.

The officials told them that religious activity without state registration is illegal. The believers replied that they have been attempting to obtain registration in vain since 2004.

Police searched every room in the house and confiscated all Christian literature and CDs. When they asked where the literature had come from, family members insisted they had collected the books over many years as they have been Christians since the mid-1990s.

About 15 church members, women and children included, were taken away to be questioned. According to a Forum 18 report “Begjan Shirmedov was dragged out of the house by his collar”. Begjan is 77 years old, an elderly man who according to the Turkmen tradition should be treated with more respect. “They treated an elderly man like a tramp in front of his wife, his children, church members and neighbours without fear of having to answer for their actions.”

Meanwhile the other church members were fingerprinted and questioned about their religious activity. Later that day they were released.

Morning Reading: Luke 24:13-34 NLT – burning hearts

Reading: Luke 24:13-34 NLT

That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened.

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On the Road to Emmaus by Ira Thomas

As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

“What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.  Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 

Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them.

As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Help me to slow down long enough to simply walk with you… and listen to you. Fill me with a longing to be with you… and learn from you. I love you Lord. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Open Our Eyes Lord” – Robert Cull

Morning Reading: Luke 24. 1-12 NLT – risen

Reading: Luke 24:1-12 NLT

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.

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Women Arriving at the Tomb by He Qi

As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground.

Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.

However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – You’re alive… and your Spirit has been poured out on all of us. Give us the courage and boldness to tell everyone what we have seen and heard – whether people believe it or not. And may you receive all the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “Easter Song” – Annie Herring

Pentecost Sunday: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 NLT – same Spirit, Lord, God

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 NLT

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this….

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I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice ; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.  The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit!

Spiritual Song: “Veni Sancte Spiritus” – Taize

Come holy Spirit, from heaven shine forth with your glorious light – Veni Sancte Spiritus

Come from the four winds, O Spirit, come breath of God; disperse the shadows over us renew and strengthen your people.

You are our only comforter, Peace of the soul. In the heat you shade us; in our labor you refresh us, and in trouble you are our strength.

Kindle in our hearts the flame of your love that in the darkness of the world it may glow and reach to all forever.