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not wish to be delivered from the
persecution, but rather ask us to pray that
they would be able to overcome the trials
that they are facing in a way that is
honoring to God.
5. Extreme hurt requires extreme
forgiveness.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
them; for they know not what
they do. And they parted
his raiment, and cast lots
(Luke 23:34).
A Christian widow from Iran said:
“I only had hatred in my heart for my
enemies who had murdered my husband.
But one day a miracle happened. God
taught me how I could love my
enemies… I had been praying for this,
even though on the deepest level I didn't
want it to happen. Gradually, through a
process of ups and downs, God answered
this prayer." The only way we can get
through extreme hurt is by forgiving
people as Christ did.
6. Prayer is the ultimate fellowship.
Remember them that are in bonds, as
bound with them; and them which suffer
adversity, as being yourselves also in the
body
(Hebrews 13:3).
Many persecuted Christians often feel
isolated and alone, since they are unable
to fellowship with other believers.
However, prayers from Christians half a
world away have brought the same
amount of encouragement that fellowship
would have for these persecuted
Christians. Prayer is vital—not only as a
direct line to God, but as a way to
encourage our persecuted brothers and
sisters around the world.
1 Corinthians 12:26 tells us that we are
one body—when one member suffers, we
all suffer. When one member is lifted up,
we all rejoice. Persecuted Christians and
Christians in the free world are not two
separate entities, but rather are one body.
The persecuted church needs the
free church to support them,
and most importantly, to
lift them up in prayer. The
church in the free world
learns
lessons
from
the
persecuted who have stood strong in the
face of persecution. Christ is the head of
the body and uses the church (both free
and persecuted) in unique and powerful
ways.
The article was adapted and used with permission
from Open Doors, a ministry that helps persecuted
Christians around the world.
Persecution, continued
The Plumb Line of Judgment
—Rich Carmichael
A
Bible
prophecy
teacher
whom
I
greatly
respect
recently
wrote: “The
America I
grew up in
is gone. It is
dead. And
there is no
hope of its resurrection.” Do you agree with
that statement? Is there any hope for the
U.S.?
I understand the pessimism (or realism)
concerning the U.S. Without any doubt, this
nation is in open rebellion against the Lord
and His ways. Not only is our society
marked by the love of money, the love of
self, the love of pleasure, and other sins such
as immorality, impurity, anger, pride, and
disobedience, but we are guilty of the
innocent blood of over 57 million unborn
babies through legalized abortion and also
guilty of violating the sacred institution of
marriage by legalizing same-sex marriage.
While all sin is terrible and of great
consequence, these latter two sins are
especially disconcerting as both are in direct
violation of the very essence of God’s
character and of His creative order. In regard
to abortion, children are His gift (Psa. 127:3),
woven together in the mother’s womb by His
hand (Psa. 139:13-16). He is a God of life,
and His call to mankind is to be fruitful and
multiply (Gen. 1:28). As a God of justice
who cares deeply for the vulnerable and
innocent, the shedding of the blood of the
unborn is a sin most grievous to Him.
In regard to the sin of homosexuality and
same-sex marriage, at the very heart of God’s
creative order is the truth that
“God created
man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he
them”
(Gen. 1:27).
He then clearly established marriage as
between one man and one woman (Gen.
2:18-25). These are vital truths echoed by
Jesus Himself (Mark 10:6-9). Because these
truths are so foundational to God’s design
and purposes, whenever mankind deviates
from them, the consequences are
profound. In fact, according to the teaching
of the Apostle Paul, the prevalence of
homosexuality is an ominous marker that a
culture is openly rejecting the Lord and is
under His wrath (Rom. 1:18-32).
God’s Judgment
The U.S. and every nation that defies the
Lord should be humbled by the truth that the
Lord makes nations great and He destroys
them (Job 12:23). He does not allow a nation
to go on indefinitely in sin. Even His own
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