Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Years ago, we were studying through the book of Isaiah on Sundays. It is a stark reminder for us who follow Jesus to rely on God and not the methods or politics of man. It’s also a great encouragement that God is for us, always paying attention, and always willing to work on our behalf when we call out to Him.

Today, Sunday November 2 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It’s an important and personal day for our church family because being a follower of Jesus in these places comes with great risks, places like China, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and many more. Hundreds of people who once believed in a different god come to faith in Christ and are discipled. Yet, many times the local people will not even consider hearing a reading from the Bible. This all raises an important question “In these spiritually dry lands, how can they minister effectively without the written Word?” 

Jesus provides the answer to this question in the Gospel of John: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,  

even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17) 

In Biblical times, the scrolls containing God’s Word were owned by a select few as they were very expensive and not widely available. Most all the people were illiterate. When Jesus sent out The Twelve and the Seventy-Two in His power and authority- the first short-term mission trips- they went out in obedience, and God blessed them. The ministry of the Lord prevailed and the number of believers grew to epic proportions. This is due to the obedience of the believers who went out in their neighborhoods, towns, and all over the world, proclaiming Jesus and doing exactly what God told them to do.  Despite their lack of access to the Word, they did not go out unprepared. They carried God Himself, the Holy Spirit, the very Author of the Scriptures, who lived within them and supernaturally empowered them for the work of the ministry. Today, our family in Asia goes out in the same manner- in obedience to God and in the power of His Holy Spirit. God is not limited by man’s need or shortcomings! In fact, He is glorified through them.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
 and streams on the dry ground;
 I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
 and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:3)

The Book of Acts records the Sanhedrin were amazed by the courage of Peter and John because they were unschooled but realized they had been with Jesus. What a testimony where God got the glory! The Apostle Paul states we are not lacking in any spiritual gifts as we await Jesus’ return (1 Corinthians 1:7). The Holy Spirit is a person not a power, so we can ask Him for what we need. When we travel overseas to serve, if we don’t know what to do, we seek God and ask, and He gives us wisdom in the moment (James 1:5). This includes God’s Holy Spirit bringing Scripture to mind exactly when we need it. We’ve seen this time and time again, both His direction and His protection. Our God is incredible!

Other Christians in spiritually parched places of great risk are under great scrutiny. There are times the authorities step in, and even though this is troubling, they move forward with confidence in God. How many times they must have this Scripture come to mind: 

“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12)

Today, I ask you to commit to pray for the persecuted church! They need us- and we need them! They help keep our hearts focused on the eternal things of God. In our brave, new world, our thirsty and spiritually dry land, we too minister in difficult times. We need God to give us strength, wisdom, and to work through us as we obey His commands to love our neighbors and share the Gospel message of hope, love, and salvation with them. Just like believers of old and our family on the other side of the world, He will give us what we need as we step out in faith! Yes, His love stretches to the ends of the end- and He loves the people of the U.S.A. and beyond as well!

The Challenge for Those Who Call Themselves Followers of Jesus

Imagine being one who follows Jesus Christ and has agreed to live for him and his purposes. Now, imagine being one of these Christ followers in Afghanistan under the wicked and brutal rule of the Taliban. There's a mark on your life, a call to die. 

Makes me think a lot about what it really means to be a Christian. God doesn't change his personality or character or commands based on what culture we in live or what the politics of the day proclaim. It has to mean the same thing to follow Jesus everywhere- a call to self-sacrifice and a call to live as He commands. All in exchange for eternal life instead of a life separated from God in a very real Hell.

So what does it mean to be a Christian as God defines it? 

Believing that God sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins. Believing Jesus died and was resurrected proving He is God. Not a created being, not a man, but God in the flesh. For our lives, it means to turn away from what God defines as sin and to turn toward Him. This new life means bringing God glory, worshiping Him, and walking away from our old life and choosing His priorities as citizens of a heavenly kingdom. All by the power of His Holy Spirit who lives inside of every true believer.

Say goodbye to the pursuit of endless pleasures, of the love of money, power, position, and sex without boundaries. Still interested in calling yourself by the name His Name? 

We Christians are called to be like a grain of wheat. Jesus' own words to His followers are these:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

John 12:24

This dying to self means a deep joy however! As we give up worldly pursuits and pleasures and trust in man's ways and thinking and embrace God's thoughts and his laws as defined by a divinely inspired, unchanging Bible, He transforms us continually into Christlikeness. The Bible is His Word given to all. But it gives us direction and hope. And we live with this hope for our future and the joy that comes from the freedom we have and our obedience to God.

Are you ready for the call? Really ready? It means dying to our desires and plans. It means living as He determines and doing the work of His Kingdom: Proclaiming the Truth of Jesus Christ to those who don't know him, living a life of grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, and purity while we serve others, and choosing to be faithful until the end of our lives. 

"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Jesus in Luke 23

What must we give up to follow Jesus? Everything.

What do we gain in exchange? Eternity!

Help Afghani Citizens

With the Taliban taking over Kabul, Afghanistan, the country's citizens are under great duress as lives, homes, and businesses, and all have been conquered. Through a special humanitarian agency, YOU can help feed kids and their families and provide shelter.

Go here.

The next photo comes with a warning! It's from the LA Times photographer and show the "new, gentler" Taliban- a woman and a child shot dead. Don't believe for a moment they have changed their ways! (Scroll down if you dare.)

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Beyond World of Color

Beyond the fun and games, it's a serious world out there!

The Afghanistan Parliament has called for the execution of Christians.

See for yourself here. (And see today's planned article below.)