International Day of Prayer For The Persecuted Church 2017

Sunday, November 5th is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. As Christians, we are called to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews 13:3 (NLT)
Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Christian Freedom International has found that more than 200 million followers are facing persecution in 105 countries. This makes Christianity the most persecuted religion in the world.
https://www.christiantoday.com/article/one.christian.is.martyred.every.five.minutes.persecution.watchdog.reports/65368.htm

We are called One Body, under Christ, and when one part of the body suffers we all suffer. According to Voice of the Martyrs website, the most common request from those who are suffering for their faith is “Pray for us.”  Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have against the dark forces of evil that are persecuting God’s people. United in prayer, God moves heaven and earth to unleash His miracle power. He ushers His Angel Army to work miracles, just like the chains were broken and prison doors opened when the saints prayed while Paul and Silas were in prison (Acts 16:26) and an angel of the LORD opened the prison doors when the apostles had been arrested (Acts 5:19).

When we pray, as one body, in Jesus Name:
Chains of bondage are broken.
Prison doors are opened.
Family and friends are reunited,
And, the hardened hearts of jailers are softened, changed by the witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being lived out.

Proverbs 24:11-12 (NIV)
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

The Apostle Paul warned Believers, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)
Jesus warned Believers, “You will be hated for My sake.” (Matthew 10:22)
So, today we pray for our brothers and sisters being persecuted and tomorrow they may be praying for us.
Those who have been martyred for their faith are in heaven looking down on earth and on us. What will they see us doing?
Revelation 6:9-11
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O LORD, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

I don’t want to offer God excuses, “I didn’t know about this?”
God weighs my heart and I want to have God’s heart for the persecuted church.
So, join me in praying for the Persecuted Church not only Sunday but everyday.
Love,
Yolanda

I’d like to end with a beautiful poem written by a friend in honor and dedicated to the 21 Coptic Christian martyrs and those persecuted for their faith in Jesus around the world.

The Color of Courage

Was it a man or a woman

Garbed in a rob of black

That issued the jumpsuit of terror

And quickly turned their back?

People of the Cross decided

To stand firm in their faith that day

Eyes fixed on Jesus, their Savior,

They followed Him all the way.

He knew the path they were taking.

He had been down that road before.

He knew it would lead to glory

On a far and distant shore.

Pray that the blood of these martyrs

Will bring people to Him,

Knowing that Christ has the victory

And over evil will win.

Orange is the “Color of Courage”

Issued only to people who stand,

In faith, completely devoted

Trusting His all-knowing Hand.

So wear proudly the “Color of Courage”

While evil has its way,

And pray for our brothers and sisters

Who are dying in faith everyday.

Written by Darla J.  Short-Lewis