Friday, January 05, 2007
Keeping The Unknown Martyrs In Our Prayers
Thanks and praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This is going out to the martyrs that we do not know about, for there are many. Even as far back as in Biblical times there were those not written about. It was said that Isaiah was sawed in half by a wood saw, in some books. This is not specified in the Bible. It only states that some where sawn asunder in Hebrews 11:37 "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;". In this verse of the Bible we can see that there must have been many. But with this in mind, I do not think that we could even begin to imagine the true number of Christians that have been martyrs for there faith in Jesus Christ. Only God knows each and every one of them and their names. Vengeance will come upon those on earth when the number of martyrs have been fulfilled as written in Revelation 6:9 "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11: And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled".
Here is part of an article listed below out of Ethiopia posted on The Anuak Justice Council site.
The Anuak are a river people whose villages are scattered along the banks and rivers of southeastern Sudan and western Ethiopia, in the region of Gambela.
Witnesses Report [EPRDF] Military behind Religious Violence.
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, is the ruling political party of Ethiopia.
In early October, at about 6:30 AM, a witness, whose name is being withheld out of fear of retaliation, went to an Orthodox church for worship. Men were seen approaching the church. They were holding machetes, clubs and sticks. "All of us could see them." He continues, "Behind them, they were followed by men in military uniform. We could hear the soldiers telling them to shout, '"Allahu akbar!'" or "'God is great!'" The militia then entered the church and started hitting the men with machetes in the head. The men fell down and people started screaming and ran out of the church.
Read the full story Here
There are many reports like this. But many do not even get the names of the Christians for the articles. The Voice of the Martyrs has a news and prayer update that one can subscribe to to help us see some of what is going on around the world to Christians. The e-mails are pretty specific and they give good details on the Christians they are reporting on. Below is the latest one I have received.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."(Matthew 6:19-20)
This is going out to the martyrs that we do not know about, for there are many. Even as far back as in Biblical times there were those not written about. It was said that Isaiah was sawed in half by a wood saw, in some books. This is not specified in the Bible. It only states that some where sawn asunder in Hebrews 11:37 "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;". In this verse of the Bible we can see that there must have been many. But with this in mind, I do not think that we could even begin to imagine the true number of Christians that have been martyrs for there faith in Jesus Christ. Only God knows each and every one of them and their names. Vengeance will come upon those on earth when the number of martyrs have been fulfilled as written in Revelation 6:9 "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11: And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled".
Here is part of an article listed below out of Ethiopia posted on The Anuak Justice Council site.
The Anuak are a river people whose villages are scattered along the banks and rivers of southeastern Sudan and western Ethiopia, in the region of Gambela.
Witnesses Report [EPRDF] Military behind Religious Violence.
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, is the ruling political party of Ethiopia.
In early October, at about 6:30 AM, a witness, whose name is being withheld out of fear of retaliation, went to an Orthodox church for worship. Men were seen approaching the church. They were holding machetes, clubs and sticks. "All of us could see them." He continues, "Behind them, they were followed by men in military uniform. We could hear the soldiers telling them to shout, '"Allahu akbar!'" or "'God is great!'" The militia then entered the church and started hitting the men with machetes in the head. The men fell down and people started screaming and ran out of the church.
Read the full story Here
There are many reports like this. But many do not even get the names of the Christians for the articles. The Voice of the Martyrs has a news and prayer update that one can subscribe to to help us see some of what is going on around the world to Christians. The e-mails are pretty specific and they give good details on the Christians they are reporting on. Below is the latest one I have received.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."(Matthew 6:19-20)
| Prayers for January 2, 2007 From The Voice of the Martyrs |  |
 EGYPT  Police Raid Shop, Arrest Christian Shop Owner - VOM SourcesOn December 26, 2006, police raided a shop owned by Magdy Guirgis Fam, an active member in the Egyptian Christian Youth Union (ECYU), who works under the Coptic Orthodox Church. The police destroyed his shop, beat him and arrested him. Magdy's ministry is following up with girls that Muslims kidnap or try to forcibly convert. This ministry has protected, rescued hundreds of Christian girls who have been threatened with kidnapping or forced conversion. The secret police have threatened other members of the ECYU. Pray God's protection and restoration for this brother, and his release from jail. Ask God to prompt Christians worldwide to lift up the country of Egypt before His throne. Psalm 32:7  IRAN Christian Couple Flee Persecution in North Iran - VOM sourcesA Christian couple who led more than 200 church members in a Northern city in Iran have had to flee to a bigger city in order to continue their ministry. After becoming Christians they led their friends and family to the Lord and started a Bible study. Within a year it had grown to a church of 50 people and in two years they had 200 believers. The church spread to more than 10 cities and they started training 24 others to evangelize and continue building up the Body of Christ. "It was during this time that my wife and I noticed the government had found out about us and was pursuing us. We were in constant danger and threat of being arrested," the pastor said. Pray God protects and opens doors for this Christian couple to continue preaching and reaching Iran for Christ. Proverbs 2:8  CUBA Cuban Pastor Acquitted, but Convicted on New Charge - Compass DirectA Cuban court acquitted Rev. Carlos Lamelas of human trafficking, but convicted him on previously announced charges of falsification of documents. The judges imposed a fine of 1,000 pesos ($45) for the new charges. "Even though this (sentence) is favorable, we are not satisfied. If a crime of falsification truly had been committed, that would make me an accomplice of trafficking in humans, and I would not have been acquitted. How can it be that I am innocent of the original crime and nevertheless guilty of the one they later invented," Lamelas said. Pray the Lord will give Rev Lamelas peace and protection. Psalm 29:11  INDIA Indian Church Burnt; Christians Arrested - Compass DirectOn December 23, 2006, Hindu extremists burned down a church and disrupted services in several Indian states. They continued their harassment and arrested carol singers on Christmas Eve. In a separate event, a pastor and 10 other missionaries were beaten and arrested for singing carols. They were later released. In another incident, Hindu extremist group, Bajrang Dal, attacked 20 Christians gathered in a church. "They stormed into the church, beat some of the Christians and destroyed hymnbooks and Bibles. Five Christians were injured in the attack, three suffered hearing loss due to a blow to the head, and a Bible a school student's hand was fractured," Compass Direct News reported. Pray God heals those that were injured and protects them, giving them boldness to continue their Christian walk. Acts 4:29, 30  www.persecution.com | |
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Just think of how many Christians could have went through similar experiences since the time that Christ was here on the earth. We should continue to pray for those persecuted by name but we should also pray for the many that we do not know by name. The ones that are only known to God and His angels above. Putting it before God in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:26-39
26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36: As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39: 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.
Just think of how many Christians could have went through similar experiences since the time that Christ was here on the earth. We should continue to pray for those persecuted by name but we should also pray for the many that we do not know by name. The ones that are only known to God and His angels above. Putting it before God in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:26-39
26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30: Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36: As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39: 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.
Labels: Christ, Christian, persecuted, persecuted church, prayer, prayers, Romans 8, VOM
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