… ‘Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; if
they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. John 15:20
Last Thursday I was driving to Boise again for another appointment. As is habit I surfed the radio stations to keep my mind from meandering off road. A bit of news caught my attention. A radio personality gave an “just now” update on that morning’s National Prayer Breakfast held earlier in Washington, which takes place each year on the first Thursday of February. It has been going on since 1953 and has been attended by every United States President since that time. This year was no exception, but President Obama’s remarks have since generated a furor of controversy. It’s not my intent to enter that distressing fray right now.
It was reported that the President had specifically mentioned the imprisonment of Pastor Saed Abedini who has been held for almost three years in an infamous Iranian prison and has suffered cruelly for preaching the Gospel in Iran. President Obama indicated in his address that he had visited Pastor Saed’s family during his January 21st visit to Boise and “that we’re doing everything we can to bring him home. “ What that means politically in light of the Iranean nuclear arms discussions is unclear, but at the very least it means that Pastor Saed and his family are not forgotten.
One of my friends, Shannon, has been in contact with Pastor Saed’s family for some time because she has great compassion for Naghmeh and her two young children. She told me that recently Naghmeh had called for a three -week fast and prayer for her husband whose health is deteriorating because of the beatings he’s received from his captors. Shannon is on an update e-mail list for Pastor Saed and joined in the fast. I called her when I heard the encouraging news . Of great interest, and not reported in any media, is this fact. The President of the United States came to Boise and to the Abedini family right after the days of fasting and prayer. Mrs. Abedini was not officially informed of the presidential visit until shortly before. Is there a connection? Of course there is – especially for everyone who prayed.
During his speech at the Prayer Breakfast President Obama read from a letter which Pastor Abedini wrote from prison and which according to the President, he received after his Boise trip. He quotes Saed from his letter.
“Nothing is more valuable to the Body of Christ than to see how the Lord is in control, and moves ahead of countries and leadership through united prayer.” And he closed his letter by describing himself as “prisoner for Christ, who is proud to be part of this great nation of the United States of America that cares for religious freedom around the world.” (Applause.)
The prophetic fulfillment of Pastor Saed’s very words about the Lord being in control and moving ahead of earthly leaders through prayer strike the heart. Surely the words written by Saed, “a prisoner for Christ” also recall Daniel’s words after he prayed to God for revelation:
Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.… Daniel 2:20-22
I might even view President Obama’s implied reference to Daniel’s prophecy as spiritual irony, which seemed lost on him in its context. It recalls Jonathan Cahn, speaker at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast when he warned about the harbingers and how Isaiah’s warning prophecies were unwittingly spoken by those in power.
The fuss over President Obama’s very questionable remarks earlier in the speech will die away and cease being newsworthy as soon as the next media hungry event occurs, but as Christians who truly are Jesus’ servants, we cannot forget those who are His “servants in chains.” Jesus had a great deal to say about servants and masters in John 3:16, Matt 10:24, John 15:20, Luke 6:40 and Acts 17:11. In each case the Lord tried to teach his disciples that in their relationship they would also be servants as He was Servant. But then in John 15:20 comes the difficult news: As Jesus suffered, so would His disciples. As He was persecuted, so would they be persecuted. As it was, each one of the apostles as well as Paul was martyred. Pastor Saed understands relationship to his Lord very well as a prisoner for Christ.
Jesus’ words are difficult to hear. We are not persecuted for our faith. In fact, the present age of Christian persecution leaves many of us bewildered. How did this happen? How is it that in the modern, civilized 21st century barbaric acts against believing Christians are spinning out of control? If we are honest, human fear makes us ask ourselves. Could I suffer for Christ as does Pastor Abedini? Am I afraid of what I might be called to endure?
Jesus spoke of the Last Days and warned what would happen to those who believed in Him during that time. But it is Jesus who calms all our fear of persecution because we have something the rest of the unmoored and anchorless world does not. Or rather we have Someone, in the person of a Savior who promised to be with us in every trial, in every fiery time and season. We have the promise of a loving, just and righteous God that He and only “He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings… and light dwells with Him” even in the darkness . Jesus will provided everything that is needed at the time it is needed. Through faith in Christ alone who overcame death and the grave, I will not fear any rattling of the saber nor chains of persecution.
As we await whatever will happen, Mountain Life Church can pray for those imprisoned for the Gospel. Specifically, shall we not join to pray for Pastor Saed and all of his family? Shall we not pray for our President that he responds what was promised through the very words he spoke on Thursday? God who heard Naghmeh’s prayers in January hears, will respond to our united prayer on his servant’s behalf.
For more information and a petition to release Pastor Saed:
http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign
For the full text of the President’s talk, here is a link:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-national-prayer-breakfast
EAG
From The Sheep Pen 