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Saturday, July 9, 2011

"Reject Christian Faith or Die" (Yes, It is Still Going On)

Iranian Pastor Faces Brutal Choice: Reject Christian Faith or Die
Thursday, 07 Jul 2011 09:27 AM
By Mike Tighe
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A U.S. State Department official expressed outrage and pressed Iran to reverse a court decision that gives an Iranian pastor an outrageous, and suicidal, choice: Reject his Christian faith, or die.

The 32-year-old pastor, Yosef Nadarkhani, was arrested in October 2009 for apostasy because he objected to the teaching of Islam to Christian children at Iranian schools. He was sentenced to death by hanging late last year, a verdict that he appealed to Iran's Supreme Court.

Late last month, the appeal appeared to have been granted, as his lawyer indicated to a news agency on July 3. But an Iranian human rights agency now says the ruling actually imposes the recant-or-die choice, according to CNSNews.com.

A U.S. State Department official issued a statement Wednesday expressing dismay at the prospect.

"While Iran's leaders hypocritically claim to promote tolerance, they continue to detain, imprison, harass, and abuse those who simply wish to worship the faith of their choosing," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

"We join the international community in continuing to call on the Iranian government to respect the fundamental rights of all its citizens and uphold its international commitments to protect them."

The indictment against Nadarkhani, a father and evangelical pastor who became a Christian at age 19, accused him of organizing evangelistic meetings, sharing his faith, inviting others to convert, running a house church, and "denying Islamic values," CNSNews reports.

After his death sentence, his appeal appeared to win a reversal of the fate of hanging.

But the victory was not as clear-cut as it seemed, and Nadarkhani now has been told that he may face new charges or the case could be returned to the original sentencing court in northern Iran's Gilan province, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, an association that Iranian human rights advocates established in 2009.

Now, it appears that the Gilan court will "question the defendant again in order to determine whether he believes in Islam or not. If he is a Muslim, Yosef Nadarkhani must be released. If it is determined that he is a Christian, he may repent from his faith. Otherwise, if he insists on his beliefs, the death penalty must be carried out," CNSNews quotes the agency as saying.

And the advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide said, that, despite reports that the death sentence had been reversed, "in reality the Supreme Court appears to have added a precondition requiring him to renounce his faith, or face execution."

Although Nadarkhani didn't practice any faith before he became a Christian at 19, he was born to Muslim parents and Islamic law dictates that a child of Muslim parents is considered to be a Muslim.
Although apostasy is not an offense in the Iranian penal code, CNSNews reports that Iran's constitution includes a clause demanding that, if a basis for a judicial ruling does not exist in the law, judges must turn to "reliable Islamic sources or a valid fatwa."

The most recent execution of a Christian in Iran for his faith took place 21 years ago, when Assemblies of God Pastor Hussein Sodmand was hanged after refusing to recant, according to CNSNews.

© Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Oh, How I Need and Want This

"For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, Amplified Bible)

Did you really read this, or did you just think, "Oh no, he's at it again?"  The Word of God is, "active, operative, energizing, and effective."  Got that?  The Word of God deals with, as no one and nothing else can, "the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging...thoughts and purposes...."  Could this be the main reason that the majority of professing Christians avoid the, "God-Breathed," Word?  Who really wants, "exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes...."?   

Yet consider again for just a moment the powerful reality in the Word of God---
"active, operative, energizing, and effect,..exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging...thoughts and purposes...."  I can think of no greater work of Jesus Christ in my life.  I can think of nothing I need more daily, moment by moment than Jesus Christ in me, "active, operative, energizing, and effective," working in, "the deepest parts of [my] nature, exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes [my] heart."  Furthermore, can you see today the great gift of the Holy Spirit here?  What equipping of a servant of Jesus Christ.  You may not be as those whom you admire, gifted, ability to speak well, etc.  But if you have our text working in you, you are sufficient for life. 
 
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for this great gift of the Spirit.  Amen.
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New Article at:      apf327.blogspot

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Devotional Addendum

Preacher occupational hazard--- I got so caught up in the beauty of the various textual references that I forgot to emphasize that since Hebrews 4:12 is the truth, it is an accurate description of a people absolutely committed to the Bible, those who are, "according to Christ."

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

ALERT!"

"....that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ...." (Colossians 2:2)

"....the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ...."  Blessed, "mystery."  I may not fully understand, but I do fully embrace.

When I worked in the underground seminary program in Eastern Europe during the communist era, we had a course referred to as "Colossians 2:7."  It is fundamental theology from which if one strays, they are subject to the threat described in yesterday's text, Colossians 2:8, "deceit,..tradition of men,..the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ."  If anyone or anything is, "not according to Christ"------------RUN!  Jesus Christ alone is central, fundamental, foundational, "Alpha and Omega."  There is nothing before, "Alpha," and nothing after, "Omega."  Anyone or any idea which attempts to offer anything or anyone, "not according to Christ," is offering a nonentity, fool hearty, "deceit--tradition--basic principle[]....For in Him (Jesus Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." !!

In yesterday's exegesis of Col. 2:8, I used a "novel" approach to the very familiar passage in Hebrews 4.  I wondered, Did I cross the line?  The more I have mused on it, the more I believe it to be an accurate Biblical Theology.  If this is true, "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating of the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart" (Amplified)---------- then I must be a person full of, "The Word of God," Who is Jesus Christ, and, "the Words of God," that which, "proceeds out of the mouth of God"-- that which, according to surveys, most "Christians" rarely read--- if I am going to, "be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Have you ever heard or said, "That person can really read people?"  The implication is that no one could ever pull anything over on such a person.  Do not believe that for a second.  The American 2008 Presidential Election was just one example of church-goer deception.  There is no one who is absolutely foolproof.  The deception in these last days will be so sophisticated that, "even the elect," will be in a battle for Truth.  "Therefore if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world," make your priority in life the reading of and obedience to the Scriptures, the, "God-Breathed," Word.  Whatever follows can only be God. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to see the battlefield today.  Amen.
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Read of the Latest "Flotilla" Attempts at:    apf327.blogspot

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Do You Want to Be "Living and Powerful?"

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

Man's, "philosophy and empty deceit,..the tradition of men,..the basic principles of the world," are, "not according to Christ."  So, the Holy Spirit says, "Beware."  This is a daily warning, which is why a Follower of Jesus Christ must be in the Bible daily if he is to keep his, "Beware," active and "alive."

It happens every day, through the media, water cooler talk, family gatherings, even church meetings, the latter being more dangerous than all.  But a person who has a regular Bible reading schedule, yes, you read correctly, Bible reading schedule, will be alert, "living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Hey, wait a minute, someone may say, That's speaking of, "The Word of God"------------------------------------------ Bingo.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have none of this without You in the power of Your Word.  Amen. 
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News, Commentary: apf327.blogspot


When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The Number One Qualification of a "Leader"

"Then He said to them, 'Follow Me....'" (Matthew 4:19a)

This is how it all begins, one could even say before conversion, the New Birth, the sinner's prayer------- "Follow Me."  To become a child of God, to be, "born again," to, "be saved," one must obey certain commands, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ," and, "To as many as received Him," and, "If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,"------ This is the language of following, which is, by the way, the language of obedience.  

The call of a disciple of Jesus Christ is to follow, not lead.  The number one priority in leadership qualification is following.  The "best" leader is the best follower.  I have written before that whenever people refer to someone as a "follower," it is never good, "Oh, he/she is a follower."  Yet Jesus said, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me, and where I am there will my servant be also."  We could say, "Where I am, there will my servant be also," because he "followed" Me "there." 

Today I examine what I am about in life.  Am I "there" because of, "Follow Me"?  If so, I am in the perfect center of Jesus Christ's will. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me in the, "Follow Me," check today.  Amen.
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See "word" of Prime Minister Netanyahu to young Jews in the USA:     afp327.blogspot

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Monday, July 4, 2011

The Independence of Dependence

"For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall." (Psalm 18:29)  

This is David's war cry.  Notice the, "by You," and, "by my God," language. Numbers 21 speaks of, "The Book of The Wars of the LORD."  Some authorities say that it is a reference to "one of several non-canonical books," which have been lost completely.  "Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: 'Waheb in Suphah, the brooks of the Arnon, and the slope of the brooks that reaches to the dwelling of Ar, and lies on the border of Moab.'"  This is a description of a battlefield.  This is Bible, the Book of books which describes the cosmic struggle unleashed in the Garden. 

The thing that most people forget about the American Fourth of July celebration is that the "Declaration of Independence" came after the thirteen colonies were already at war with Great Britain, and was only a beginning, a beginning of a long and difficult struggle for survival.  We may declare a "new day," e.g., "sinner's prayer," prophetic declarations, but enemies are usually not impressed with our "declarations."  They can be, and usually are, followed by protracted war.

Today, however, not only Americans, but every Redeemed Child of the Living Triune God, can celebrate the Great "Declaration of Independence" of the Cross--------- "It is finished!"  This is the declaration of a, "finished," a completed battle which Jesus Christ won, though the wrestling, "against principalities and powers," goes on.  It is a declaration of Independence from Satan to absolute dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the independence of dependence, the freedom to be under the Absolute Rule, the Absolute Monarchy of Jesus, the Christ.
"Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate!"

Father, in Jesus' Name, I do!!  Amen.
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News, Commentary:       apf327.blogspot

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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