American Pastor ‘Black and Blue’ After Beating in Iranian Prison

I continue to pray for the release of this brother in Christ, and for grace & peace for his wife & children.
Please join me.
Hebrews 13:3
American pastor ‘black and blue’ after beating in Iranian prison

The Importance of Prayer in Evangelism

One great thing about reaching out to the people around you with the hope of the gospel, is that you meet a lot of people that you probably would never have met under normal circumstances. These are people made in the image of God, eternal souls that God desires to redeem through repentance & faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we meet & share with those around us, Mary & I try to get their names, and we jot these down on our little prayer chalkboard in our kitchen. I try to note the date and location, and it really helps me to remember to lift these dear ones up in prayer before our Father God.

Our Prayer Board

I don't pray for God to save them, because I know it is not God's desire that they perish (2 Peter 3:9), and I want to pray according to His will. Instead, I pray that they would read the Bibles or gospel tracts we gave them, or watch the DVD, or whatever, and that they would understand the gospel, repent towards God & trust Jesus as Savior. I pray God will direct other believers to them to water the seed planted, encourage them or challenge them, or whatever is needed (1 Corinthians 3:6). I pray the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin & a recognition of their need for a righteousness they can never produce, and comprehend that this righteousness is a gift from God to those who will believe (Romans 3:23).

Anyway, it is vital we be praying for those who we are trying to reach, and this old chalkboard is a helpful tool that works for us. If you have another idea, I'd like to hear about it. Send me a picture & your story, and I'll share it on the website.

Two things about prayer: we are taught to bring our requests to God with a thankful heart (Philippians 4:6-7), and the Lord Jesus gives us the example of desiring God's will to be done, because:

• God is all powerful - nothing is impossible with Him
• God is all knowing - He fully understands and is aware of the issue I am praying about
• God's love is so great, I can trust Him & His will for this circumstance

When I take this attitude & approach, I am never frustrated or wonder if God is hearing my prayers or cares about what I am praying about. Dave Hunt taught me this through one of his teachings, and it has been a tremendous blessing and help to me, so I hope it helps you as well.

Hope you are reaching your little corner of the world for the Lord Jesus Christ, living out this Christian life in a real & powerful way, out of thankfulness for what God has done for you in Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:6-7 
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Luke 22:41-42 
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Remebering Pastor Saeed Abedini

This brother continues to suffer in Iran's notorious Evin prison.

His crime: preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Saeed: I never met you, and I don't know you, but I love you brother!

 

From the Internet....

RECENT PRISONER UPDATE
IRAN: Pastor Saeed’s Faith Remains Strong Despite Inhumane Treatment
Source: The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ)

American Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is serving an eight-year prison term in Iran because of his Christian faith, has been suffering from internal bleeding for months. The injuries, which are causing him frequent fainting spells, are the result of repeated beatings in prison. Sources state that the physical abuse and psychological torture are intensifying…an inhumane and gross violation of Iran’s
international obligations. These troubling developments are of grave concern to Pastor Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, who lives with their two young children in the United States. Prison officials want one thing: Pastor Saeed to recant his faith in Christ. And while they continue to try, his faith remains strong; a faith that is clearly sustaining him in his time of great need. For more about his story, check

http://www.persecution.net/ir-2013-03-21a.htm

Please continue to uphold Pastor Saeed and his very concerned family in prayer. Plead the blood of Jesus over his life, as well as the lives of other believers and human rights defenders there in Evin
Prison. May the Lord send His angels to minister ongoing strength and encouragement to them. And in cases such as Pastor Saeed’s, where required medical help is not being provided, may the Great Physician personally and supernaturally bring healing to their every wound.

The Persecution & Prayer Alert is a ministry of:
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, P.O. Box 608, Streetsville, Ontario, L5M 2C1
Tel. (905) 670.9721. Website: http://www.persecution.net

Pray for Persecuted Christians in 2013

Please pray for our brothers and sisters who suffer for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a list (below) of the top 50 countries as of 2013 that persecute our Christian brethren, and comes from a You Tube video from Mark (ProclaimHisWord) - see Mark's video embedded at the bottom of this post....

Please leave a comment if you will join with us in praying for your persecuted brothers & sisters in these countries, and for those who are doing the persecuting, that they may come to Jesus Christ.

2013Top 50 Countries Persecuting Christians

May the power of Almighty God and the love of Jesus Christ be magnified in the lives of these suffering believers who live out their faith through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
 

Hebrews 13:3 
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1 Peter 4:12-16 
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

2 Timothy 3:12 
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanks for the video, Mark!