When it was recorded in the August of 1967, "By The Time I Get To Phoenix"
was a big hit for the legendary country singer Glen Campbell. Next to
"Gentle On My Mind" this ballad of love and loss is one of his most
beautiful songs. It always makes me tear up a bit whenever I hear it.
In the northern European nation of Finland, a prominent Christian woman
is currently on trial for simply questioning her church's sponsorship
of a "Pride" event and for sharing her biblical worldview
via Twitter and on national radio.
According to the Alliance Defending Freedom, Paivi Rasanen, a Finnish medical
doctor, who is an active member of Parliament, and former Minister of the Interior,
a mother, and a grandmother, has been charged with the crime of "ethnic
agitation" which falls under the "war crimes and crimes against humanity"
sections of that nation's criminal code.
The Finnish government is overreacting to Paivi's strong Christian faith,
which they have deemed as "hateful and criminal". In other words,
the outraged, self-righteous "powers-that-be" are actually unnerved
by this woman's unshakable defense of the sin crushing,
soul-redeeming, eternal truth found within the Word of God.
As Hebrews 4:4 attests: "For the Word that God speaks is alive
and full of power; it is sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life, the soul,
and the immortal spirit, and of joints and marrow, the
deepest part of our nature, exposing and sifting and
analyzing and judging the very thoughts and
purposes of the heart."
According to an email I received from Alliance Defending Freedom,
"If someone like Paivi can be targeted and pursued by the government...
interrogated for more than a dozen hours...endure an onerous trial and
countless lies spread about her by the media...then it can happen to any one of us."
Although Dr. Rasanen was successfully acquitted once, the unlawful
harassment by her own government and the news media continues.
She recently had to appear in court a second time to face more
charges of "hate speech" after she dared to post Bible verses about
sexuality on social media which the prosecution contends is hate
speech targeting the LGBTQ community in Finland.
However, this strong Christian sister sees the attack on her faith
as a sure victory for the Lord Jesus Christ and the message
of the Gospel in Finland.
In a recent interview with the newspaper, Hungary Today, in
which she thanked the Christians in that nation for rallying to
her defense, and for their prayers and support, Paivi said:
"I trust that the entire process is in God's hands and that this all
has a purpose. I pray that this process would still open chances
to testify about Jesus and the message of the gospel in public.
There were several live broadcasts and press conferences from
the courthouse to Finnish homes and I had many chances to tell
what the solution to the problem of sin in the word of God is.
And now I pray that also tomorrow I would get a chance to tell
about the gospel to the public."
Please pray for this courageous sister in the Lord.
In many nations around the world today, Christians are treated as second
class citizens, daily threatened with persecution, being thrown into prison,
or executed for their faith. The Bible is forbidden in many places
in the world, and yet, in some of the most restricted countries like
Iran and China, the underground church continues to flourish,
regardless of the threats, for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, in the United States of America, where citizens have
always had the right to freedom of speech and expression, as well
as the right to exercise their faith as guaranteed by our Constitution,
our God-given rights are being undermine by forces of both
spiritual and human wickedness in high places of power.
We are witnessing an increase of government-initiated persecution,
targeting evangelicals, or Bible-believing Christians, true political
conservatives, and those involved in the pro-life movement.
The Biden Administration has been shameless in its improper
use of federal agencies in order to intimidate and harass
patriotic, law-abiding American citizens of faith.
Many state governments are no better.
Not so long ago, a pro-life father of seven children was arrested
before his family after a federal raid on his Pennsylvania home,
charged with violating the FACE Act after a 2021 altercation
with a volunteer outside a PA abortion clinic.
Signed into law by former President Bill Clinton, the federal
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act or FACE, prohibits
the following three things: (1) the use of physical force, threat of
physical force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure,
intimidate, interfere with or attempt to injure, or intimidate,
or interfere with any person who is obtaining an abortion;
(2) the use of physical force, threat of physical force, or
physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate,
interfere with or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere
with any person who is exercising or trying to exercise their
First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of
religious worship; (3) the intentional damage or destruction
of a reproductive healthcare facility or a place of worship."
Although Catholic pro-life activist Mark Houck readily admitted
that he shoved 72 year old clinic escort Bruce Love to the ground,
he claimed he was merely acting in defense of his 12 year old son
after Love continually blocked the boy's space and yelled at him.
Although he was later acquitted of the assault charge against him,
not long after this incident, Mark Houck's home was unexpectedly
raided by federal agents and Pennsylvania state police early
on a Friday morning in September, 2021.
As his wife, Ryan-Marie recalled, "A SWAT team of about 25 came
to my house with about 15 vehicles and started pounding on our door.
They said they were going to break in if he (Mark) didn't open it.
And then, they had about five guns pointed at my husband,
myself, and basically at my kids."
This unprecedented incident conducted by agents of the US
federal government backed up by state police reminds me of a
raid by the Gestapo during WWII, or one conducted by the members
of the Russian militia, which use to drag away from their homes in
the middle of the night those accused of treason against the State
in the time of the former Soviet Union.
Mark Houck described the tactics used by the government
that day as "recklessness and an act of terror". He is right.
Of course, the FBI had their own version of the event
which took place on that morning almost three years ago.
According to a statement later released by the agency:
"While it's the FBI's standard practice not to discuss such operational
specifics, we can say that the number of personnel and vehicles
widely reported as being on scene Friday is an overstatement,
and the tactics used by FBI personnel were professional,
in line with standard practices, and intended to ensure the
safety of everyone present in and outside the residence."
This still does not explain why a man with no previous criminal
record was treated so harshly and later placed in handcuffs and
shackles like a convicted felon inside the federal building in
Philadelphia on the day of his arrest.
At the time of this incident, an attorney for Mark Houck accused
the Department of Justice of targeting the pro-life activist, "solely
to intimidate people of faith and pro-life Americans."
I tend to agree with this statement. Under the tutelage of current
Attorney General Merrick Garland, the FBI has been used to
specifically target law-abiding citizens of this country for
merely exercising their rights under the Constitution.
If this is not true, as Merrick has claimed, then why have FBI
agents been known to show up unexpectedly on the front
doorsteps of concerned parents, to interrogate
bewildered fathers and mothers who have openly
challenged their local school districts over the
immoral curriculum being forced on
their children in the classroom?
In an interview with Fox News, Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) stated:
"Who would have ever thought that you would have an American president
make a decision to leave Americans behind in Afghanistan now directing
the DOJ to try to silence parents and actually separate parents from
what their children can do inside schools?"
Although this is my own speculation, I think Mark Houck's troubles began
when he rightly stepped in and defended his son from this agitating stranger
at the peaceful demonstration being held outside the city abortion clinic.
Bruce Love initially pressed assault charges against Mark Houck,
however, when the case came up in court, the plaintiff never even
bothered to show up. Why? Could it be that the whole incident was
planned in advance in order to set the stage for the dramatic raid
on Houck's residence and subsequent arrest by the FBI?
Today Mark Houck and his family are thankful to God
and the jury, which deliberated for less than an hour,
before acquitting him of all federal charges.
Mark is now running for Congress to represent the people
of Pennsylvania's First District. If elected to public office,
he hopes to be able to join the committee formed by
Representative Jim Jordan which focuses on the
abuse and mismanagement of federal agencies
which have been and are being utilized in order
to fulfill the political agenda of the radical Left.
It seems to me that the tyrannical overreach of
one of the most sordid and corrupt administrations
in the history of the United States of America shares
the stinging rebuke within the Declaration of Independence,
in regards to the indictment against the despotic King of England.
It reads as follows. See if you agree:
"He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing
his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure
of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
And especially...
"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms
of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance."
If there was ever a time for intercessory prayer warriors
willing to stand in the gap for the soul of America,
that time is now.
May God continue to shed His grace on this nation and our people.
Will The Real Betty Crocker Please Stand Up?
Chef Max Miller tells the true story behind this American baking icon
while showing how to make her classic Pineapple Upside Down Cake!
"U.F.O.'s are real...burgeoning...and not going away!"
Christian researcher and film maker L.A. Marzulli reports on how
Hollywood is propagating a false narrative about "friendly little ET's"...
The month of August is ending with a grand finale tonight, with
the rising of the biggest and brightest "Super Moon" of the year.
The second full moon of the month is also a Blue Moon, and will rise tonight
around 9:36 pm (Eastern Time). In all her celestial glory, lovely Luna
will be accompanied by the dazzling planet Saturn in her orbit.
According to the folks at the Old Farmer's Almanac, a Blue Moon has
nothing to do with the color of the moon. It refers to two full moon
cycles in a single month. A Blue Moon and a Super Moon occurring
in the same month is a rare event.
The next Blue-Super Moon cycle will not happen again until 2037.
This phenomenon will cause ocean tides to be higher than usual tonight.
Those living along the southeastern coastline of the United States should take
this into serious consideration as Hurricane Idalia moves north from Florida.
We have partly cloudy skies today, however, I hope they'll clear off tonight!
Hope the skies are clear where you're at, fellow sky watchers!
🌝 Here's a little "Blue Moon" music....Enjoy! 🌝
Around 7:45 am (EST) this morning Category Four Hurricane Idalia
made landfall in Florida's Big Bend area near Keaton Beach
with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph.
She has since been downgraded to a Category One hurricane,
however, this is still a very dangerous storm.
My heart and prayers are with the people affected by this storm today, and with
those who will be seeing tropical storm conditions tomorrow as Idalia heads north.
May the good Lord bless and protect you always!
PSALM 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Host Erick Stakelbeck reports on the latest news from the Middle East.
As a kid back in the 1970's I never missed an episode of the weekly television program,
"In Search Of...." I clearly recall the episode on Bigfoot, the elusive hairy creature said
to inhabit the forested wilderness areas of northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Was this most famous clip of the creature known as "Sasquatch" by the American
Indian tribes actually real, or was this just some dude strutting before
the camera in a gorilla costume?
Since that time, I have seen more evidence of the possible existence of
these mysterious creatures. Could they actually be descendants of the
biblical Nephilim as the late researcher Scott Carpenter believed?
"Earnestly remember the former things, which I did of old;
for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there
is none like me.
Declaring the end and the result from the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand and I will do all
My pleasure and purpose."
(Isaiah 46:9-10)
"But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting
to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him,
and His righteousness is to the children's children.
(Psalm 103: 17)
"Take heed that no one deceives you..." Matthew 24:4
A power sermon from Pastor Jack Hibbs concerning the challenge
believers face in defending the truth of God's Word against the deceptive,
satanic-influenced narratives influencing our culture and the world today.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is deepest with me, bless His holy name!"
(Psalm 103:1)
Oh, bless the Lord, my soul,
As the Friend who died for thee;
And bless Him for the saving grace,
That is so full and free.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
Bless the Lord, my soul;
And all that is within me,
Bless His holy name.
Oh, bless the Lord, my soul,
As the Rock in which we hide;
And bless Him for the sense of peace,
Amid the surging tide.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
Bless the Lord, my soul;
And all that is within me,
Bless His holy name.
Oh, bless the Lord, my soul,
As the Hope so sure and sweet;
And bless Him for the loving call
To worship at His feet.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
Bless the Lord, my soul;
And all that is within me,
Bless His holy name.
Oh, bless the Lord, my soul,
As the Guide in days to come;
And bless Him for the crown of life
In thy eternal home.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
Bless the Lord, my soul;
And all that is within me,
Bless His holy name.
"Bless The Lord My Soul"
(1893)
Edward Albert Barnes
( January 24, 1842-
A lifelong resident of Chicago, Mr. Barnes was an American
Christian hymnist, a writer of religious and romantic poetry,
temperance songs, and active within the Temperance Movement.
UFO's are real...burgeoning...and not going away...
Christian researcher and film maker L.A. Marzulli presents
another close encounter filmed by an eleven year old boy!
"For He spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood fast."
(Psalm 33:9)
An inspiring weekend message from brother Zev Porat in Israel.
An interesting report from Christian researcher L.A. Marzulli
on a recently unearthed grave...of a giant!
As we enter the peak season for hurricanes in the mid-Atlantic region,
I pray God will steer any storm headed for the East Coast out to sea.
I also pray that if a hurricane forms and comes close enough to
affect the United States, the impact will be minimal.
"O Lord God of hosts, who is a mighty one like unto You, O Lord?
And Your faithfulness is round about You, an essential part of
You at all times. You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves
arise, You still them. The heavens are Yours, the earth also is
Yours; the world and all that is in it, You have founded them."
( Psalm 89:8, 9, 11)
The heart of Wahabbist Islam taking control of Israel's most holy site?
Will Israel actually allow this to happen "in the interests of peace"?
"And there was given Him, the Messiah, dominion and glory and kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion
is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom
is one which shall not be destroyed."
(Daniel 7:14)
"Look at the proud; their souls are not straight and right within them,
but the just and righteous shall live by their faith and in their faithfulness."
(Habakkuk 2:4)
"The Father loves the Son and has given everything into His hand. And they
who believe in the Son now possesses eternal life. But whoever disobeys,
is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to the Son,
will never experience life but instead the wrath of God abides on them.
God's displeasure remains on them; His indignation hangs over them."
(John 3: 35-26)
"For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed,
both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the
way of faith that arouses to more faith. As it is written, they who
through faith are just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."
(Romans 1:17)
"And I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under
the earth in Hades, the place of departed spirits, and on the sea and
all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne
and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty
and the power forever and ever, through the eternities of the eternities!"
(Revelation 5:13)
"Coat Of Many Colors, Lord Of All"
"According to the Word of God, Jesus was born into the Jewish race.
Jesus Christ is now the Risen Lord. We can have no concept of how
He actually looks, therefore I have not clearly indicated His features
in "Coat Of Many Colors, Lord Of All."
Because He is Lord, He represents all the people of the world. On His coat
are flags of the nations and fabrics of the cultures of the world. All the colors
on the coat represent the sin that He took on Himself on our behalf.
The white robe under the coat represents His pureness. His totally being
without sin. The golden sash is referred to in Scripture as being worn by royalty.
He is truly Lord of All!"
-Thomas Blackshear II
"And I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
And they shall know from personal experience that I am the Lord
their God, Who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt,
that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God."
(Exodus 29:45-46)
"For you shall go out from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil
into the homeland with joy and be led forth by your Leader, the Lord Himself,
and His word with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before
you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the
brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name
of renown, for an everlasting sign of jubilant exaltation and memorial
to His praise which shall not be cut off."
(Isaiah 55:12-13)
PSALM 114
A Poem of The Exodus
When Israel came forth out of Egypt,
the house of Jacob,
from a people of strange language,
Judah became God's sanctuary,
the Holy Place of His habitation,
and Israel His dominion.
The Red Sea looked and fled;
the Jordan River was turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams,
the little hills like lambs.
What ails you, O Red Sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
You mountains, that you skip like rams,
and you little hills, like lambs?
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob.
Who turned the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a fountain of waters.
"Let us acknowledge God's power and goodness in what He did for Israel,
applying it to that much greater work of wonder, our redemption by Christ;
and encourage ourselves and others to trust in God in the greatest straits.
When Christ comes for the salvation of His people, He redeems them from the
power of sin and Satan, separates them from an ungodly world, forms them
to be His people, and becomes their King. There is no sea, no Jordan, so deep,
so broad, but, when God's time is come, it shall be divided and driven back.
Apply this to the planting of the Christian church in the world. What ailed
Satan and his idolatries, that they trembled as they did? But especially apply
it to the work of grace in the heart. What turns the stream in a regenerate soul?
What affects the lusts and corruptions, that they fly back; that prejudices are
removed, and the whole man becomes new?
It is the presence of God's Spirit.
At the presence of the Lord, not only mountains, but the earth itself
may well tremble, since it has lain under a curse for man's sins.
As the Israelites were protected, so they were provided for by miracles,
such was that fountain of waters into which the flinty rock was turned...
and that Rock was Christ.
The Son of God, the Rock of Ages, gave Himself to death, to open a
fountain to wash away sins, and to supply believers with waters of
life and consolation; and they need not fear that any blessing
is too great to expect from His love.
But let sinners fear before their just and holy Judge.
Let us now prepare to meet our God, that we may have
boldness before Him at His coming."
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Watchman host Erick Stakelbeck reports on an exciting new
archaeological discovery of the oldest gate ever found in Israel.
Also, Danny "The Digger" Herman reveals an another ancient
gate linked to the Biblical patriarch Abraham.
"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them
out of all their distresses and troubles. The Lord is close to those who
are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for
sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent. Many evils confront
the consistently righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
(Psalm 34:17-19)
Hurricane Hillary made landfall yesterday in Mexico. She is now
heading north as a post tropical storm, bringing high winds, heavy
rains, and catastrophic flooding in her wake. Please pray for the
people who are caught in the path of this dangerous storm.
And please pray for the devastated citizens of the Hawaiian island of Maui,
where wildfires have so far claimed 114 lives while many others are still missing.
When I was a little girl I remember hurrying up to get my bath and into my
pajamas just in time to watch, "The Wonderful World of Disney" on Sunday nights.
"Zippity-Doo-Dah" was the theme from Disney's 1946 live-action,
animated musical film, "Song Of The South" featuring the tales of the wily
Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear as told by the lovable Uncle Remus.
The song won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Song.
Wonderful memories of a far different time in America.
"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance."
(John 10:10)
I could not do without Thee,
O Saviour of the lost,
Whose precious blood redeemed me
At such a tremendous cost
Thy righteousness, Thy pardon,
Thy precious blood, must be
My only hope and comfort,
My glory and my plea.
I could not do without Thee;
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
No wisdom of my own;
But Thou, beloved Saviour,
Art all in all to me,
And weakness will be power,
If leaning hard on Thee.
I could not do without Thee;
No other friend can read,
The spirit's strange deep longings,
Interpreting its need;
No human heart could enter
Each dim recess of mine,
And soothe, and hush, and calm it,
O blessed Lord but Thine.
I could not do without Thee,
For years are fleeting fast,
And soon in solemn loneness,
The river must be passed;
But Thou wilt never leave me,
And though the waves roll high,
I know Thou wilt be near me,
And whisper, "It is I."
"I Could Not Do Without Thee"
(1873)
Frances Ridley Havergal
(1836-1879)
English hymn writer and poetess
A beautiful song from the legendary Man In Black and the Love of his life.
When June Carter Cash died suddenly in May, 2003, her husband Johnny Cash
was soon to join her on those far side banks of the Jordan only five months later.
May they rest there together in eternal peace.
Come and I will show you what is beautiful.
It is a rose fully blown.
See how she sits upon her mossy stem,
the queen of flowers.
Shabbat Shalom Eretz Israel!
🕊 Sabbath Blessings & God's Peace To All 🕊
An inspirational message from brother Zev Porat in Israel.
This classic country tune about a truck driver named Charlie "hangin' it up"
after 30 years of driving was released in 1987, but stayed on the record
charts through the summer of 1988. The beautiful vocals of Kathy Mattea
bring this ballad to life. "Eighteen Wheels And a Dozen Roses" always
reminds me of my Dad who loved driving those Big Rigs!
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons,
one by the bondmaid and one by the free woman.
But whereas the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh
and had an ordinary birth, the son of the free woman was born in
the fulfillment of the promise.
Now all of this is an allegory: these two women represent two covenants.
One covenant originated from Mount Sinai where the Law was given
and bears children destined for slavery: this is Hagar.
Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to
and belongs in the same category with the present Jerusalem,
for she is in bondage together with her children.
But the Jerusalem above, the Messianic kingdom of Christ, is free,
and she is our mother.
For it was written in the Scriptures, Rejoice, O barren woman,
who has not given birth to children; break forth into a joyful shout,
you who are not feeling birth pangs, for the desolate woman
has many more children than she who has a husband.
Be we, brethren, are children not by physical descent, as was
Ishmael, but like Isaac, born in virtue of promise.
Yet just as at that time the child of ordinary birth born according
to the flesh despised and persecuted him who was born remarkably
according to the promise and the working of the Holy Spirit,
so it is now also.
What does the Scripture say? Cast out and send away the slave
woman and her son, for never shall the son of a slave woman be heir
and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.
So, brethren, we who are born again are not children of a slave woman,
the natural, but of the free, the supernatural.
In this freedom Christ made us free and completely liberated us;
stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit
again to a yoke of slavery which you have once put off.
(Galatians 4:22-31, 5:1)
Corresponding OT Scriptures:
(Genesis 16:15, 21:2,9 10)
(Isaiah 54:1)
"The Two Women-Hagar and Sarah. It is said that they are the types of
the two covenants; and before we start we must not forget to tell you
what the covenants are. The first covenant for which Hagar stands, is
the covenant of works, which is this: "
"There is My law, O man, if thou on thy side wilt engage to keep it,
I on my side will engage that thou shall live by keeping it.
If thou wilt promise to obey my commands perfectly, wholly, fully,
without a single flaw, I will carry thee to heaven. But mark me, if thou
violatest one command, if thou dost rebel against a single ordinance,
I will destroy thee forever."
That is the Hagar covenant-the covenant propounded on Sinai, amidst
tempest, fire and smoke- or rather propounded, first of all, in the garden
of Eden, where God said to Adam,
"In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die."
As long as he did not eat of the tree, but remained spotless and sinless, he was
most assuredly to live. That is the covenant of the law, the Hagar covenant.
The Sarah covenant is the covenant of grace, not made with God and man, but
made with God and Christ Jesus, which covenant is this: "Christ Jesus on His
part engages to bear the penalty of all His people's sins, to die, to pay their
debts, to take their iniquities upon His shoulders: and the Father promises
on His part that all for whom the Son doth die shall most assuredly be
saved; that seeing they have evil hearts, He will put His law in their
hearts, and that they shall not depart from it, and that seeing they have
sins, He will pass by them and not remember them any more forever.
The covenant of works was, "Do this and live, O man!"
But the covenant of grace is, "Do this, O Christ, and thou shall live, O man!"
An excerpt from the sermon,
"The Allegories of Sarah and Hagar"
(March 2, 1856)
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(1834-1892)
English Particular Baptist preacher
Widely known throughout Christianity
as "The Prince of Preachers"
The African nation of Nigeria is the most violent
place for Christians in the world today.
According to a report published in May 2023 from the
nondenominational mission organization Open Doors,
as many as 5,000 Nigerian believers have been killed
for their faith in Jesus Christ over the course of one year.
Christians in Nigeria are not only being mercilessly hunted down and slaughtered by
Islamic extremists operating within that nation, but are also routinely abducted,
beaten, raped, and tortured for their faith. Many Christians in Nigeria have been
forced to flee their homes and go into hiding from those sworn to kill them.
And yet, despite this terrible persecution, the church in Nigeria, and in
many places across sub-Saharan Africa continues to flourish with witnessing
the good news of the Gospel. In the wake of such shocking evil, the brave
Christians of Africa continue to place their hope and faith in Jesus alone.
As I sit here writing this post today in a still relatively free America,
I am shocked and horrified by the continual persecution that my brothers
and sisters in the Lord are experiencing nearly every single day in
Nigeria and in many other nations around the world. I remember reading
a story about five pastors in Tanzania, whose most fervent prayer was
that even if they had to die for their faith, the message of the
Gospel and salvation through Christ alone, would continue to
spread across their nation and the continent.
Their devotion in serving the Lord made me cry. Their selflessness
and courage has always been an inspiration to me in my own
walk of faith, and yet, I think sometimes, would I be as
brave as they are if I had to die for my faith?
I would like to ask everyone reading this post to please pray for
the Nigerian Christians, and all our brothers and sisters in the Lord
throughout the world who are facing persecution on a daily basis.
"So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities,
insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities, and distresses; for when I am
weak in human strength, then I am truly strong, able, powerful in divine strength."
(II Corinthians 12:10)
Thank God for the faithfulness of front-line workers, who often risk their lives
to bring the salvation message of the Gospel and smuggle Bibles to those who
want them in nations where Christianity is forbidden.
"For God is my witness, Whom I serve with my whole spirit, in preaching
the Gospel and telling the good news of His son..."
(Romans 1:9)
Pray that those forced to flee their homes will find refuge in God's love and mercy.
"Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth
will I cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and fainting; lead me
to the rock that is higher than I, yes, a rock that is too high for me.
For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, a strong tower
against the adversary. I will dwell in Your tabernacle forever;
let me find refuge and trust in the shelter of Your wings.
Selah, pause and calmly think of that!"
(Psalm 61:1-4)
Pray that like the young Nigerian man whose father was murdered by
Islamic extremists for refusing to deny his faith in Christ, those facing
persecution will choose to love and forgive their persecutors.
"You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and
hate your enemy. But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you."
(Matthew 5:43-44)
Pray that those who persecute Christians will repent
and surrender at the foot of the cross.
"For I through the Law, under the operation of the curse of the Law,
have in Christ's death for me, myself died to the Law, and all the
Law's demands upon me, so that I may henceforth live to and for God.
I have been crucified with Christ, in Him I have shared His crucifixion,
it is no longer I who live, but Christ the Messiah lives in me; and the life
I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
(Galatians 2:19-20)
Maranatha!
