Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2013 22:20:30 GMT -5
“..So pray and seek God that He would use you and direct you in the pressures and difficulties of your lives.
There are those who are enemies of the Living Bible and do not want to hear. They are trying to put me under such horrific pressures (that are sometimes unbearable) so that they can show me that my faith is empty and not real. And after all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ. But they will never get this from me. This is why the Bible is Truth and they are in the way of destruction.
There is another group who does not know the Gospel of Truth. Instead of truly listening and meditating on God’s Word, they are just waiting to see how I react to all of their pressures and persecution. What will come out of me during these intense times? But again, this is another golden opportunity for me to shine the light of Christ in this dark world and to let God use me.
…
See your golden opportunities in pressures and difficulties.
See the Shining Morning Star in the dark times of your life.
I love Him! He is Gracious, Merciful and Righteous to me. I now know that I have not ben forgotten and that we are together in this path. God gives me Grace.”
-Pastor Saeed Abedini
Video of whole letter by Pastor Abedini:
---
It was hard for me to believe that this man, a pastor, is locked up in one of, if not the world’s worst, harshest, torturing prison.
I beg all of you to watch this video. I plead that you pray for Pastor Abedini. Go to the website (http://beheardproject.com/saeed), and sign the petition to free him (it is quick and free).
This man is being punished, tortured and having unspeakable things done to him. Not because he is a criminal, but because he refuses to deny Christ.
Those who think that Christians lead perfect, easy lives are mistaken.
Yes, we have utter joy in the fact that Jesus is The Christ, our Lord and Savior. We rejoice in the fact that we get to spend eternity worshipping Him. He is our Rest, our Peace, our Provider, our Healer and our Strength.
Yet how could a loving God let one of His followers be tortured in unspeakable ways in a prison?
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, Who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him and He will rescue us… We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not of our own human wisdom.” – 2 Corinthians 1:8-12
The author of 2 Corinthians sounds strangely like Pastor Abedini.
Paul. He was a murderer, yet He was called out for a special purpose. He was a preacher. He was a prisoner, yet He gave all glory to God – and ended up writing some of the most powerful books of the Bible (though they are all powerful).
Paul is a true follower of Jesus Christ. A person who took up his cross and followed until he was killed. Yet, even still, he praised his Lord.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His eternal comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” -2 Cor 1:3-7
When does our comfort come? One day, Jesus will return and take us home. Yet, He gives us glimpses of our future home.
He shows us His glory through a beautiful sunset or sunrise. In the laughter of a loved one, a bride on her wedding day, the birth of a baby…
Yet none of it compares to the glory that will be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).
Yet this world is not easy.
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33
He has overcome. This world is not our home. Heaven is. Worshipping Jesus is.
You know those times when you go to church, and you are surrounded by people singing praises to God – and feel so amazed? That is what it will be like in Heaven…but so much better that it is indescribable.
We can have happiness on this earth. Yet we might have times of suffering, times of sadness and sorrow. When we are going through those periods – we need to look up.
Pastor Saeed, by God’s grace, could be released. No matter what happens though – when he, and all who have Christ Jesus, draw our last breath - we will get to see Jesus. And we will praise Him!
Yet how should we live while here on this earth?
“We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working within us. We use weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, yet we have everything.” – 2 Corinthians 6: 4-10
Paul goes on to say,
“Christ is not weak when He deals with you; He is powerful among you. Although He was crucified in weakness, He now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with Him and will have God’s power. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you, if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” -2 Cor 13:3-5
Friends, life here on earth wasn’t made to be easy.
While there is no way that we could ever measure up to Christ and be worthy enough to be saved, He gave us the precious gift of grace.
Some think that it might be easy to just accept Him and live however we want.
Jesus has given us the greatest gift ever. EVER. Shouldn’t we thank Him and glorify Him by pointing to Him in every situation? By striving to live righteously? To be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16)?
It isn’t easy. But Jesus makes it worth it. And, because of that, we can rejoice.
Even now, He is here.
(This was taken from my blog, 2Timothy222.com)
>>> I invite all of you to share your comments and thoughts about this video. Did you feel God speaking to you? Did you sign the petition? Do you have more verses that you would like to add? A testimony about God's grace?
I'd love to hear from everyone!!!
There are those who are enemies of the Living Bible and do not want to hear. They are trying to put me under such horrific pressures (that are sometimes unbearable) so that they can show me that my faith is empty and not real. And after all of these pressures, after all of the nails they have pressed against my hands and feet, they are only waiting for one thing…for me to deny Christ. But they will never get this from me. This is why the Bible is Truth and they are in the way of destruction.
There is another group who does not know the Gospel of Truth. Instead of truly listening and meditating on God’s Word, they are just waiting to see how I react to all of their pressures and persecution. What will come out of me during these intense times? But again, this is another golden opportunity for me to shine the light of Christ in this dark world and to let God use me.
…
See your golden opportunities in pressures and difficulties.
See the Shining Morning Star in the dark times of your life.
I love Him! He is Gracious, Merciful and Righteous to me. I now know that I have not ben forgotten and that we are together in this path. God gives me Grace.”
-Pastor Saeed Abedini
Video of whole letter by Pastor Abedini:
---
It was hard for me to believe that this man, a pastor, is locked up in one of, if not the world’s worst, harshest, torturing prison.
I beg all of you to watch this video. I plead that you pray for Pastor Abedini. Go to the website (http://beheardproject.com/saeed), and sign the petition to free him (it is quick and free).
This man is being punished, tortured and having unspeakable things done to him. Not because he is a criminal, but because he refuses to deny Christ.
Those who think that Christians lead perfect, easy lives are mistaken.
Yes, we have utter joy in the fact that Jesus is The Christ, our Lord and Savior. We rejoice in the fact that we get to spend eternity worshipping Him. He is our Rest, our Peace, our Provider, our Healer and our Strength.
Yet how could a loving God let one of His followers be tortured in unspeakable ways in a prison?
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, Who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him and He will rescue us… We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not of our own human wisdom.” – 2 Corinthians 1:8-12
The author of 2 Corinthians sounds strangely like Pastor Abedini.
Paul. He was a murderer, yet He was called out for a special purpose. He was a preacher. He was a prisoner, yet He gave all glory to God – and ended up writing some of the most powerful books of the Bible (though they are all powerful).
Paul is a true follower of Jesus Christ. A person who took up his cross and followed until he was killed. Yet, even still, he praised his Lord.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His eternal comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.” -2 Cor 1:3-7
When does our comfort come? One day, Jesus will return and take us home. Yet, He gives us glimpses of our future home.
He shows us His glory through a beautiful sunset or sunrise. In the laughter of a loved one, a bride on her wedding day, the birth of a baby…
Yet none of it compares to the glory that will be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).
Yet this world is not easy.
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33
He has overcome. This world is not our home. Heaven is. Worshipping Jesus is.
You know those times when you go to church, and you are surrounded by people singing praises to God – and feel so amazed? That is what it will be like in Heaven…but so much better that it is indescribable.
We can have happiness on this earth. Yet we might have times of suffering, times of sadness and sorrow. When we are going through those periods – we need to look up.
Pastor Saeed, by God’s grace, could be released. No matter what happens though – when he, and all who have Christ Jesus, draw our last breath - we will get to see Jesus. And we will praise Him!
Yet how should we live while here on this earth?
“We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working within us. We use weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, yet we have everything.” – 2 Corinthians 6: 4-10
Paul goes on to say,
“Christ is not weak when He deals with you; He is powerful among you. Although He was crucified in weakness, He now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with Him and will have God’s power. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you, if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” -2 Cor 13:3-5
Friends, life here on earth wasn’t made to be easy.
While there is no way that we could ever measure up to Christ and be worthy enough to be saved, He gave us the precious gift of grace.
Some think that it might be easy to just accept Him and live however we want.
Jesus has given us the greatest gift ever. EVER. Shouldn’t we thank Him and glorify Him by pointing to Him in every situation? By striving to live righteously? To be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16)?
It isn’t easy. But Jesus makes it worth it. And, because of that, we can rejoice.
Even now, He is here.
(This was taken from my blog, 2Timothy222.com)
>>> I invite all of you to share your comments and thoughts about this video. Did you feel God speaking to you? Did you sign the petition? Do you have more verses that you would like to add? A testimony about God's grace?
I'd love to hear from everyone!!!