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Message Notes
“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.” —Hebrews 13:3 (NLT)
“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.” —Dietrick Bonhoeffer, 1937
- In Sudan, Christians are enslaved
- In Iran, they are assassinated.
- In China, they are beaten to death.
Facts about the persecuted Church:
In more than 60 countries worldwide, Christians are harassed, abused, arrested, tortured, or executed …
… every 5 minutes a Christian is killed for their faith.
… 105,000 believers are killed each year for simply being a Christian
- … in the past ten years we’ve seen more than 1 million martyrs
The Apostles Death
- Stephen was stoned to death
- James … was beheaded
- Philip was scourged, thrown into prison, and then crucified
- Matthew was slain with an ax
- James … was beaten, stoned, and finally had his brains dashed out
- Matthias was stoned and beheaded
- Andrew was crucified …
- Mark was dragged to pieces
- Peter was crucified, upside down
- Paul gave his neck to the sword
- Jude was crucified
- Bartholomew was cruelly beaten and crucified
- Thomas was thrust through with a spear
- Luke was hanged on an olive tree
- Simon was crucified
… John was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.
Persecution purifies the church.
Persecution unifies the church.
Persecution strengthens the church.
Persecution grows the church.
“How many more Christians will have to suffer and die before we realize that it is our job to try and stop these atrocities? We are often so caught up with our own petty problems that we don’t make time to think about the Christians who are bleeding and dying across the world.” —Luis Palau
“If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.” —1 John 3:17 - 18
“You can choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.” —William Wilberforce
A Prayer from Vernon Brewer’s Prayer Journal
God, you have my attention. Help me to see and feel their suffering so very real in my own life that I cannot forget what I have seen and felt. I can’t even begin to imagine what these dear Christians suffer daily; they are sacrificing so much for you. My faith and commitment pales by comparison. Never let me become complacent and comfortable again. Thank you for refocusing my attention on what is really important in this life and what really matters. —Amen