Next week is International Day of Prayer (IDOP). It’s more than just one day of prayer but a week (6th – 13th November 2011) of Christians around the world committing to praying for Persecuted Christians. You can find out more on the IDOP website or on Thirteen Three’s website. We’ve got a report form Open Doors at church this Sunday night and I’m planning on having a spot on Friday night at Soulies for thoughtful prayer and reflection. We’ll also have a blog series on Soulies.net for the week. If you haven’t already, have a think about how you can commit to praying this week at home and in Christian gatherings.

One of the things I’m surprised by as I read of the first persecuted Christians in the Bible and then read of contemporary persecuted Christians (through books like Radical and the VOM newsletter) is that so often persecution is faced with unrelenting joy!

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. (Acts 5:40-42)

The Apostles keep getting told to shut up about Jesus, they don’t. They get beaten up and told to stop, they don’t! Instead they rejoice that they were considered worthy to suffer for Jesus and then keep telling people about Jesus!!

I recently read of Pastor Wong (in the latest Voice of the Martyrs newsletter). He’s from China. Check out this quote:

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Here’s the intro of a 5 part series over at the Thirteen Three blog: “Our generation loves social justice, don’t we!? We genuinely believe that we can make an impact by righting some of the wrongs we see in the world today. As Christians, we are called to work for justice, to care for the poor, the oppressed and the needy [...] You might assume that persecution falls into the poverty/justice category. But persecution is not a social justice issue. Let me tell you why.”

Check out each post… Why Persecution Is Not a Social Justice Issue:

1. Following Jesus is about dying
2. Jesus promises that His followers will be persecuted
3. God grows His church through persecution
4. We are not trying to stop persecution
5. A FINAL WORD: Are we against Social Justice?

It’s a really useful series of posts. It helps the Christian to see that persecution is the normal Christian life. Jesus said to expect it (John 15:20). Many Christians around the world experience it. Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12 that “…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Comfortable, middle-class and persecution-free is not the normal for the Christian.

The normality of persecution helps you respond rightly when it comes. Check out the apostles response to it in Acts 5:41 – “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” They don’t complain that their rights have been denied, rather they rejoice and then in v42 they go on and keep preaching Jesus!

For the past 8 days, Christians have been encouraged to pray for their brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. We were encouraged to pray for our sister Asia Bibi who has recently been sentenced to death in Pakistan (further coverage here and here). I’m encouraged by the perseverance of my persecuted family, and I’m also encouraged by a bunch of Christians 2000 years ago who persevered joyfully in the face of persecution. Read about it in Hebrews 10:

[32]But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, [33]sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. [34]For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. [35]Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. [36]For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (Hebrews 10:32-36)

Here’s how I’m praying from these verses:

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During the week of praying for persecuted Christians, here is some breaking news from Pakistan. Read it, then pray. Copied with permission from Thirteen Three.

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Asia Bibi, a 37-year-old Christian Pakistani woman was sentenced to death on Monday 8 November 2010 for blasphemy. She is the first woman ever to receive the death sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan.

A Voice of the Martyrs spokesperson said, “We have 7 days to appeal this [decision to the High Court], which of course we will. This is very serious!”

No one sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan has yet been executed – but Asia could now spend years in appalling conditions in prison on death row. It may take years before her appeal is heard.

Asia was arrested in June 2009 after Muslims accused her of making derogatory comments against Islam’s prophet, Mohammed. Her trial lasted 16 months and the judge yesterday handed down to Asia the maximum sentence of death for the crime of blasphemy against Islam. Read more of Asia’s story here.

Voice of the Martyrs workers met with Asia last week to encourage and pray for her. During this meeting Asia said,

“It does not matter to me whether I am sentenced or whether the judge will set me free because I know that I am innocent and most of all I know that the Lord is with me. They persecuted Jesus also and the Bible says that they will persecute us as well.”

This is an URGENT call for us to be BOUND WITH THEM, to stand side by side with Asia in prayer, trusting that God can work in this terrible situation. This is what Thirteen Three is all about, mobilizing Australian youth to support Christians like Asia Bibi who are counted worthy of suffering for the Name of Christ.

Will you be BOUND WITH Asia Bibi?

Here are three things I am urging you to do right now to support Asia:

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Next Sunday (14 Nov) is International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians (IDOP). Christians are encouraged to pray during the week 7-14 Nov. Here’s a blurb from Thirteen Three: “Thirteen Three is calling on Australian youth to lift their voices in prayer during the week of IDOP expressing that we are BOUND WITH THEM, that we stand together with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. We’re expecting God to work in BIG ways as we pray for God to strengthen his people to stand firm and endure until the end.”

Watch the video above and then pray for our family in Uzbekistan.

The following is a snippet from an encouraging and sobering new website: “Thirteen Three is a youth initiative of Voice of the Martyrs Australia. Our mission is to empower and mobilise a generation of passionate youth to be bound with their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ through praying, giving, writing, serving and telling others.”

Thirteen Three is inspired by Hebrews 13:3 “Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.”

Check it out. Pray.