https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Injured Christian in Bangladesh refused help Friends, 29-year-old Ruhul Amin, a new Christian convert from Islam, was in an accident last month and broke his right hand and leg. When his neighbors heard about the accident, they started to curse him and his family saying, “This is the curse of Allah for your conversion and rejecting Islam. You still have time to repent and return [to Islam].” They are refusing to help the family and encouraging other villagers to do the same. He was released from the hospital after several days because there were no doctors available to treat him due to the coronavirus pandemic. A doctor told his family, “[Ruhul] will be OK, but he may need several operations.” Ruhul’s father, a pastor and Open Doors partner, was able to borrow some money to send Ruhul for surgery in another hospital. However, his father shares the cost for the surgery is more than the amount he could borrow: “It is very expensive and we cannot afford to pay.” Thanks to your prayers and support, Open Doors local partners have since been able to provide Ruhul with some financial support. Please join us in praying for God to provide the finances needed for Ruhul’s continued treatment. Pray for other believers to come alongside Ruhul and his family and support them in their needs. Pray for Ruhul’s full recovery, both physically and emotionally, and that he will be able to start work to support his family soon. Pray for the family to have a strong faith in Christ during this crisis. Pray the villagers’ mocking and defaming will not affect Ruhul and his family’s faith in Him and that the villagers would come to know Christ themselves. If God moves you to become more involved in supporting believers facing persecution, we encourage you to tap here to explore our Frontline Partner Program. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
Tag Archives: believe
Scripture of the Day
James 3
5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Christians minister to flood victims in Uzbekistan
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Christians minister to flood victims in Uzbekistan Friends, in early May, a dam in Uzbekistan burst, due to heavy rain and strong winds. The destruction meant more than 70,000 people needed to be evacuated from flood areas. There are several illegal churches—churches not registered with the State—and secret home churches for deaf Christians in these flooded areas. Many people, Christians included, lost their houses, food, crops, clothing and important documents in the flooding. Christians from the neighboring towns and cities are accepting evacuees, giving them what little they may have. One Christian man who hosted two families (12 people) in his house shared with Open Doors, “Even though we [don’t have] enough food for our children because I can’t work in quarantine, we accepted those who are in much worse position—they lost everything. I can’t give a lot, but I want to share what I have and share God’s love with them—this is what I can do for them.” Some Christians accepted up to five families in their homes without any promise of help from the government. Unfortunately, the government does not guarantee any kind of financial support to those who have lost everything. Please pray the rain and wind die down quickly. Pray the government of Uzbekistan gives financial compensation to flood victims. Pray that Christians find their hope in Christ and share this hope with others who have suffered losses. Pray for provision for Christian families from neighboring areas who invite flood victims in to live with them. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
Pray with a former North Korean prisoner
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Pray with a former North Korean prisoner http://y2u.be/T5KpuM_aZyw Tap the “Watch video” button to hear the prayer request. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
Praise: Falsely accused pastor home in Kazakhstan Friends, recently we asked you to join us in praying for Pastor Jakim
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Praise: Falsely accused pastor home in Kazakhstan Friends, recently we asked you to join us in praying for Pastor Jakim*, who was arrested for missionary activity during Kazakhstan’s coronavirus quarantine. Local Christians believe the whole incident was a setup, intended to provide an excuse to arrest Jakim. Thankfully, we just received word that Jakim had his court hearing and only received a small fine, which he was able to pay. He is now back at home with his family! Thank God for delivering Pastor Jakim! Pray Jakim will be bold in sharing the gospel and spreading the love of Christ during the coronavirus pandemic. Pray what was meant to harm Jakim would instead bring glory to Christ! *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
Nigeria: Miraculous outcomes in violent attack Friends, Pastor Bayo Famonure
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Nigeria: Miraculous outcomes in violent attack Friends, Pastor Bayo Famonure and his family were violently attacked by militant Fulani herdsman on May 5 in Nigeria. Bayo is well-known for his missionary and evangelical work throughout Africa. We thank the Lord for His miraculous protection of this family as the outcome of this attack could have been much worse. Bayo was shot in the head and feet, though the shots did not penetrate his skull or damage any bones in his feet. His wife Naomi was shot in the back, yet the bullet did not reach her spinal cord. The doctor said if the bullet had penetrated just a fraction more, Naomi would have been paralyzed. Their sons, Adua and Victor, also sustained gunshot wounds that were not very serious. In a message Bayo sent, he shared “It’s a miracle … Just praise God.” Bayo is stable and recovering with his sons. Naomi underwent successful surgery to remove the bullet from her back. She is currently in a stable condition and recovering. Please join us in thanking God for his protection, as this attack could have ended very differently. Pray this story would serve as a powerful testimony of the Lord’s protection. Pray for a quick and full recover for Bayo, Naomi, Adua and Victor, both physically and emotionally. Pictured: Pastor Bayo Famonure
Scripture of the Day
Second Corinthians 2
14. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16. To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17. For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Scripture of the Day
Galatians 3
26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Scripture of the Day
Galatians 2
17. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Scripture of the Day
Psalms 87
A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.
1. His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
5. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
6. The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
7. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
Scripture of the Day
John 15
1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17. These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your’s also.
21. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
23. He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning
Scripture of the Day
Psalms 61
1. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
4. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
5. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6. Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
7. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
8. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
Scripture of the Day
Leviticus 26
3. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
4. Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
5. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
6. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
7. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
8. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
9. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.
10. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.
11. And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
12. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Although these national blessings are specifically for Israel, I think its safe to say the blessings would be applicable to any nation that openly serves GOD.
GOD exists outside of time as we finite humans understand time. HE exist in time, every moment for GOD is a now. When nations or people choose to sin, in GOD’s time its a now. The conceputalisation of HIS blessings on nations or individuals are based on what we see as foreknowledge, but those blessings are GOD’s now.
Does GOD know the future? Yes because to HIM past, present, & future are now. Nation’s as collective humans and we as individuals live in our now, we all decide to chose right or wrong, good or evil, love or hate. GOD isn’t a puppetmaster pulling the strings, HE may set things in motion by urgings or dreams or insight. HE may guide us with that still small voice in our heart and mind, but HE is always there, watching and experiencing our life with us, not in a pantheistic sort in that HE exist in all things, but as an observer. Our day, our future, our past are all HIS now.
The blessings listed above are those future nows the Father gives to those nations who revere HIM. First applicable to Israel, now applicable to those nations who serve or believe in the Son.
Looking at the world in our day it’s easy to say GOD is judging nations because of their sins as a collective. What most forget or haven’t been taught to discuss by secular government education is problems of wars, disasters, plagues, corruption, etc has existed in every nation throughout history. No nation or people are immune to the vicissitudes of man or nature. All things change in our concept of time. The one thing that doesn’t change is GOD. All of our time, all of our decisions are in HIS now. HIS love for us hasn’t changed nor has HIS anger towards sin.
Wars happen because of our decisions, disasters because of nature corrupted by sin; hate & anger, bitterness & malice, pride & conceit, murder, theft, & lies, all arise and come forth from us, from our heart.
If nations or collective groups of peoples desire the blessings listed above, those same peoples need to look into their own hearts and to repent or turn away from wickedness.
My prayer, for those collectives, is that the Spirit would convict them of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, leading those collectives to repentence and salvation so while here on this earth, those blessings listed above could be experienced in our now. Otherwise those blessings will remain letters in a book.
GOD Bless.
Scripture of the Day
John 15
8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
In verse 10 we read “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love…” & in verse 12 we read “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” The example is written in verse 13, ” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. “
We are told to abide in the love of the Savior, how? By keeping His commandment of loving one another.
Loving others as Christ loved us doesn’t save a soul because salvation isn’t earned. Loving others is an outward expression and reflection of that Love we have and experience in and through Christ. Loving others in Christ is how the world should see our lives, not engrossed in those paltry pleasures that draw the faithful away from the Father.
Persecution as the seed of revival in China
Friends, as the 2020 World Watch List—the ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted most for their faith—has been released, we see that China moved up four spots to number 23.
In China, what’s happened over the last five years seems unthinkable. Children are being stopped from attending church services. Pastors can be arrested if they don’t allow surveillance cameras in their sanctuaries. Authorities are raiding churches, barring the doors and tearing down crosses.
Tap the “watch video” link below to hear a personal account of a Chinese Christian whose house church was raided and shut down by the government.
Persecution in China differs by regions and church context. To learn more about China and what God is doing in and through His Church in China, visit ODUSA.org/China.
A Laymans Discourse 
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