I sent this email to my fellowship today…
I subscribed to Voice of the Martyrs newsletter..and there was one article caught my attention…The article is called Persecution: Normal and Expected (http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles.php/1045). It talks about a Biblical view of persecution and how sometimes the Western Church miss the mark.What sadden me is in the article when the interviewer from the West asked the group of pastors and lay leaders who endured decades of persecution in the Soviet Republic:“Why have you cheated us in the West? Why haven’t you written these stories down? Where are the books that chronicles your faith and persecution? These stories are worthy of a movie. These are Bible stories come to life! Why have you not shared these lessons learned?”A father will not show his son where the sun rises is every morning. It is expected to rise in the East. It is normal. To which the reply is that persecution is as common as the sun rising in the East. There is no need to talk about it because it is normal and expected.If this moves you, please take some time and pray about the many nameless brothers and sisters in Christ who is suffering for what they believe in. Pray that they might be hold on to the faith and hope in the risen King which doesn’t fade or perish. That their focus is not on their circumstances but rather the new life they were given. And to find joy among the suffering and they will present the gospel to those persecuting them in all of its glories.Lastly, pray for us, those living where persecution is unheard of. That many brothers and sisters bear the cost of the cross so the gospel be preached and passed on to us. That as Christian, that persecution is not some cool story or a lesson to learn. Rather we will be courageous to bear witness a lasting treasure from the invisible God.Matthew 5:11-12“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Cheers,Cliff