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"Pastor Saeed's Test of Faith, and Ours - For God’s Glory" - By: John Stonestreet| Breakpoint.org: September 30, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/26155?spMailingID=9558482&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=382290557&spReportId=MzgyMjkwNTU3S0
How should we respond when our faith is tested? We can look to an American pastor jailed in Iran as a model.
At some point in our lives, our faith will be tested. It might be illness, financial disaster, the suffering of loved ones, or even—as is currently the case for many of our brothers and sisters around the world—outright persecution for our faith in Jesus Christ. What does the Lord ask of us? Please keep that question in mind as I share the latest news about Saeed Abedini.
Last week, to mark the second anniversary of Pastor Saeed’s arrest and imprisonment in Iran, hundreds of people joined Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, and Franklin Graham in front of the White House for a vigil, to pray for his health and swift release, and for persecuted Christians around the world. It was the first of many hundreds of vigils held across the U.S. and the world, organized by the BeHeard Project.
Pastor Saeed, a native Iranian, emigrated to the U.S. in 2005 and became a U.S. citizen in 2010, but he never severed ties to his homeland. In 2012, while organizing the construction of an orphanage, he was arrested by Iranian authorities for “creating a network of Christian house churches” and, therefore, “attempting to sway Iranian youth away from Islam.” In all, Saeed has been forcibly separated from his family for well over two years. He’s missed birthdays and anniversaries, and many of those landmark moments that we treasure in our kids’ lives.His prison sentence is eight years, in a prison from which many do not return. According to the American Center for Law and Justice, he has endured beatings and has received death threats from ISIS militants imprisoned with him in the same prison ward.
How is Pastor Saeed responding? Last week, ACLJ released a letter from Pastor Saeed to his daughter for her birthday. After wishing her happy birthday and telling her how much he wants to see her, he wrote the following:
"I know that you question why you have prayed so many times for my return and yet I am not home yet. Now there is a big why in your mind that you are asking: why Jesus isn’t answering your prayers and the prayers of all of the people around the world praying for my release and for me to be home with you and our family."
"The answer to the why is who. Who is in control? Lord Jesus Christ is in control. . ."God is in control of the whole world and everything that is happening in it is for His good purpose, for His glory, and will be worked out for our good…"People die and suffer for their Christian faith all over the world and some may wonder why. But you should know the answer of why is who. It is for Jesus…"…my dear beloved daughter Rebekka Grace, I pray God will bring me back home soon. But if not, we will still sing ogether…'Hallelujah,' either separated by prison walls or together at home."So, let Daddy hear you sing a loud 'Hallelujah' that I can hear all the way here in the prison! "Kisses and Blessings,"Daddy"
It’s hard to get through that letter. My heart breaks for Pastor Saeed and Naghmeh. I wonder if I could handle that type of separation from my wife and my daughters, and if my faith could be so strong.
But then again, Pastor Saeed’s faith inspires me because it is God giving him the strength, and that gives me hope that when the time comes for me to face hardship, that Jesus will strengthen my faith as He has Pastor Saeed’s.
Please come to BreakPoint.org, click on this commentary and we’ll link you to the full text of Pastor Saeed’s letter. And would you recommit to pray for and even sign a petition for Saeed’s release? We’ll link you to all the latest news on Pastor Saeed when you come to BreakPoint.org.
And because his words are worth hearing again: God is in control of the whole world and everything that is happening in it is for His good purpose, for His glory, and will be worked out for our good… Hallelujah.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
RESOURCES -Continue to pray for Pastor Saeed Abedini and his family, and sign the petition calling for his immediate release.
"White House prayer vigil marks pastor's 2 years in jail" - American Center for Law and Justice - http://aclj.org/Iran
"U.S. Pastor Remains Behind Bars In Iran Two Years After Being Jailed Because Of His Christian Faith" - American Center for Law and Justice | September 18, 2014; http://aclj.org/iran/us-pastor-remains-behind-bars-in-iran-two-years-after-being-jailed-because-of-his-christian-faith
BreakPoint This Week: An American in Iran - John Stonestreet | BreakPoint.org | February 7, 2013; http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/discourse/entry/15/21439
BreakPoint This Week: Update on Pastor Saeed - John Stonestreet | BreakPoint.org | March 24, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/discourse/entry/15/24841
Petition to release Pastor Saeed Abedini - Be Heard Project; http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign
Pastor Saeed’s letter to his daughter - http://media.aclj.org/pdf/pastor-saeed-letter-rebekka-her-8th-birthday.pdf
PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Friday, Sept. 26th - Two Year Anniversary of Pastor Saeed Abedini's Imprisonment in Iran! - [NOTE TODAY'S POST!]
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "..An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States must take a strong stand against those violations. "Around the world repressive governments and extremists groups have been crystal clear about what they stand against, so we have to be equally clear about what we must stand for," Kerry said. "We stand for greater freedom, for greater tolerance, greater respect, for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience," he said A key development in the 2013 report is the large number of displaced members of religious communities, including entire Christian communities in Syria and Iraq that have been forced to flee their homes because of persecution."
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
UPDATE: "Second US Doctor Sick with Ebola; Crisis 'Out of Control'" - CBNNews.com, Sept. 02, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2014/September/A-Losing-Battle-Ebola-Going-to-Get-Worse-CDC-Says/ "Another American doctor in Liberia has tested positive for the Ebola virus, according to the international Christian mission organization, SIM. SIM leaders report the American doctor was treating obstetrics patients at the organization's ELWA Hospital in Monrovia and not treating Ebola patients..."The epidemic is going faster than we are," he warned. 'We need to scale up our response. We can hope for new tools and maybe they'll come, but we can't count on them.' So far, the West African outbreak has killed more than 1,500 people in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria."
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
LATEST:"Christians in the Middle East Arm Themselves As Genocide Comes to Their Front Door" - Katie Pavlich | Sep 05, 2014;
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2014/09/05/christians-in-the-middle-east-arm-themselves-as-violence-rages-around-them-n1887849" Earlier this week the BBC and Al Jazeera both reported on armed Iraqi citizen volunteers who helped government forces fight off ISIS in Amerli. Today, the AP is out with a story about Christians in the Middle East who are arming themselves, carrying weapons with them during daily tasks and heading to the hills at night to defend their communities as violence continues to rage around them. Genocide is at their front door and they're doing everything they can to stop it from coming in... So far, the terror army ISIS has slaughtered and tortured thousands of Christians in Iraq and Syria."
/PRAYER ALERT- UKRAINE: As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Friday, Sept. 26th - Two Year Anniversary of Pastor Saeed Abedini's Imprisonment in Iran! - [NOTE TODAY'S POST!]
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
PRAY ALSO : - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- For leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "..An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States must take a strong stand against those violations. "Around the world repressive governments and extremists groups have been crystal clear about what they stand against, so we have to be equally clear about what we must stand for," Kerry said. "We stand for greater freedom, for greater tolerance, greater respect, for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience," he said A key development in the 2013 report is the large number of displaced members of religious communities, including entire Christian communities in Syria and Iraq that have been forced to flee their homes because of persecution."
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
UPDATE: "Second US Doctor Sick with Ebola; Crisis 'Out of Control'" - CBNNews.com, Sept. 02, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2014/September/A-Losing-Battle-Ebola-Going-to-Get-Worse-CDC-Says/ "Another American doctor in Liberia has tested positive for the Ebola virus, according to the international Christian mission organization, SIM. SIM leaders report the American doctor was treating obstetrics patients at the organization's ELWA Hospital in Monrovia and not treating Ebola patients..."The epidemic is going faster than we are," he warned. 'We need to scale up our response. We can hope for new tools and maybe they'll come, but we can't count on them.' So far, the West African outbreak has killed more than 1,500 people in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria."
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
LATEST:"Christians in the Middle East Arm Themselves As Genocide Comes to Their Front Door" - Katie Pavlich | Sep 05, 2014;
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2014/09/05/christians-in-the-middle-east-arm-themselves-as-violence-rages-around-them-n1887849" Earlier this week the BBC and Al Jazeera both reported on armed Iraqi citizen volunteers who helped government forces fight off ISIS in Amerli. Today, the AP is out with a story about Christians in the Middle East who are arming themselves, carrying weapons with them during daily tasks and heading to the hills at night to defend their communities as violence continues to rage around them. Genocide is at their front door and they're doing everything they can to stop it from coming in... So far, the terror army ISIS has slaughtered and tortured thousands of Christians in Iraq and Syria."
/PRAYER ALERT- UKRAINE: As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Pastor Saeed's Test of Faith, and Ours - For God’s Glory" - By: John Stonestreet| Breakpoint.org: September 30, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/13/26155?spMailingID=9558482&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=382290557&spReportId=MzgyMjkwNTU3S0
How should we respond when our faith is tested? We can look to an American pastor jailed in Iran as a model.
At some point in our lives, our faith will be tested. It might be illness, financial disaster, the suffering of loved ones, or even—as is currently the case for many of our brothers and sisters around the world—outright persecution for our faith in Jesus Christ. What does the Lord ask of us? Please keep that question in mind as I share the latest news about Saeed Abedini.
Last week, to mark the second anniversary of Pastor Saeed’s arrest and imprisonment in Iran, hundreds of people joined Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh, and Franklin Graham in front of the White House for a vigil, to pray for his health and swift release, and for persecuted Christians around the world. It was the first of many hundreds of vigils held across the U.S. and the world, organized by the BeHeard Project.
Pastor Saeed, a native Iranian, emigrated to the U.S. in 2005 and became a U.S. citizen in 2010, but he never severed ties to his homeland. In 2012, while organizing the construction of an orphanage, he was arrested by Iranian authorities for “creating a network of Christian house churches” and, therefore, “attempting to sway Iranian youth away from Islam.” In all, Saeed has been forcibly separated from his family for well over two years. He’s missed birthdays and anniversaries, and many of those landmark moments that we treasure in our kids’ lives.His prison sentence is eight years, in a prison from which many do not return. According to the American Center for Law and Justice, he has endured beatings and has received death threats from ISIS militants imprisoned with him in the same prison ward.
How is Pastor Saeed responding? Last week, ACLJ released a letter from Pastor Saeed to his daughter for her birthday. After wishing her happy birthday and telling her how much he wants to see her, he wrote the following:
"I know that you question why you have prayed so many times for my return and yet I am not home yet. Now there is a big why in your mind that you are asking: why Jesus isn’t answering your prayers and the prayers of all of the people around the world praying for my release and for me to be home with you and our family."
"The answer to the why is who. Who is in control? Lord Jesus Christ is in control. . ."God is in control of the whole world and everything that is happening in it is for His good purpose, for His glory, and will be worked out for our good…"People die and suffer for their Christian faith all over the world and some may wonder why. But you should know the answer of why is who. It is for Jesus…"…my dear beloved daughter Rebekka Grace, I pray God will bring me back home soon. But if not, we will still sing ogether…'Hallelujah,' either separated by prison walls or together at home."So, let Daddy hear you sing a loud 'Hallelujah' that I can hear all the way here in the prison! "Kisses and Blessings,"Daddy"
It’s hard to get through that letter. My heart breaks for Pastor Saeed and Naghmeh. I wonder if I could handle that type of separation from my wife and my daughters, and if my faith could be so strong.
But then again, Pastor Saeed’s faith inspires me because it is God giving him the strength, and that gives me hope that when the time comes for me to face hardship, that Jesus will strengthen my faith as He has Pastor Saeed’s.
Please come to BreakPoint.org, click on this commentary and we’ll link you to the full text of Pastor Saeed’s letter. And would you recommit to pray for and even sign a petition for Saeed’s release? We’ll link you to all the latest news on Pastor Saeed when you come to BreakPoint.org.
And because his words are worth hearing again: God is in control of the whole world and everything that is happening in it is for His good purpose, for His glory, and will be worked out for our good… Hallelujah.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
RESOURCES -Continue to pray for Pastor Saeed Abedini and his family, and sign the petition calling for his immediate release.
"White House prayer vigil marks pastor's 2 years in jail" - American Center for Law and Justice - http://aclj.org/Iran
"U.S. Pastor Remains Behind Bars In Iran Two Years After Being Jailed Because Of His Christian Faith" - American Center for Law and Justice | September 18, 2014; http://aclj.org/iran/us-pastor-remains-behind-bars-in-iran-two-years-after-being-jailed-because-of-his-christian-faith
BreakPoint This Week: An American in Iran - John Stonestreet | BreakPoint.org | February 7, 2013; http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/discourse/entry/15/21439
BreakPoint This Week: Update on Pastor Saeed - John Stonestreet | BreakPoint.org | March 24, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/discourse/entry/15/24841
Petition to release Pastor Saeed Abedini - Be Heard Project; http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign
Pastor Saeed’s letter to his daughter - http://media.aclj.org/pdf/pastor-saeed-letter-rebekka-her-8th-birthday.pdf
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