Courage lives deeply in the hearts of people who pay a price for their faith. The confidence in their countenance reveals inner strength, and the gentle firmness of their words leaves no room for doubt. The clarity of their actions displays the certainty of their trust in God.
Courage to Follow Jesus
Like most people in Iran, Muhammad Reza Omidi entered life in a Muslim family. After discovering Jesus Christ, he helped found a house church in Rasht. Iranian intelligence officers arrested him on May 13, 2016. Though the Iranian constitution gives Christians many rights, Muslim converts cannot attend the state church. In fact, they experience high levels of arrests, detention, surveillance, and harassment. Authorities tried Omidi on charges of “acting against national security” and “promoting Zionist Christianity.” They sentenced him to ten years in prison, then two years in exile for his church work.
Authorities shortened his sentence during the COVID outbreak in Iranian prisons. They sent him to Borazjan, 1000 kilometers from his home, for exile. Thirteen days after he arrived, the authorities demanded that he provide his transportation back to his home to receive 80 lashes with a leather whip for drinking a sip of wine during communion. (Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol.) Consider the courage Omidi exhibited as he traveled to take the punishing lashes witnessing to his faith.
A Cup Renewing Commitment
How many times have I taken communion or the Lord’s Supper without a thought of consequences? As a young boy, I took the elements—bread and drink—on my knees at an altar. Over time, I have taken part in communion services with broken bread and a small cup of grape juice around the world. Unforgettable memories of holding a wooden cup near the empty tomb in Jerusalem form a unique connection to my understanding of this memorial. Years later, in Hong Kong, I used bread distributed by Christians in a closed country as part of Christmas Eve Communion services. As we held the bread, we prayed for the persecuted believers in that country.
When Believing Requires Courage
We don’t always know the impact of our prayers on those who experience persecution. When I mentioned that Christians in many parts of the world had remembered Christians in Myanmar the previous Sunday, I heard an audible response. Later, several people asked if Christians really prayed for people suffering persecution in Myanmar. I assured them we have. They didn’t realize anyone knew the oppression they faced in some parts of their country. When asked how we could pray for them, they requested we pray they would have courage.
The 2020 World Watch List produced by Open Doors shows eight Christians die every day because of their faith. Every week, at least 182 churches or buildings used for Christian ministries experience attacks. And every month, courts imprison 309 Christians because they follow Jesus. Open Doors estimate 260 million Christians are suffering significant levels of persecution.
Praying for the Persecuted
On November 1, 2020, Christians around the world will pray for the persecuted church. Those we are praying for are people just like we are. However, they are living in difficult situations because they follow Jesus Christ. They need hope and courage. They live in the love of Jesus Christ. Yet, they often face rejection by family and friends because of their commitment. They need the wisdom to choose the right words in their suffering. And all need confidence in the sufficiency of God’s grace. Regardless of what they face, pray their witness will draw the hearts of those who hurt them.
November 1 will come and go. Why not choose at least one day a week to pray for people facing persecution for their faith? And when observing communion, concentrate on the promises of the service. Jesus died for our sins, arose forecasting our new life through faith in him, and promising to return. Let the Holy Spirit awaken your soul to these truths. Then pause for a moment to pray for those who risk everything to drink from the same cup you drink from without fear.
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Praying for Courage to Drink the Cup of Faith
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Posted: October 31, 2020 by Harry Lucenay
Courage lives deeply in the hearts of people who pay a price for their faith. The confidence in their countenance reveals inner strength, and the gentle firmness of their words leaves no room for doubt. The clarity of their actions displays the certainty of their trust in God.
Courage to Follow Jesus
Like most people in Iran, Muhammad Reza Omidi entered life in a Muslim family. After discovering Jesus Christ, he helped found a house church in Rasht. Iranian intelligence officers arrested him on May 13, 2016. Though the Iranian constitution gives Christians many rights, Muslim converts cannot attend the state church. In fact, they experience high levels of arrests, detention, surveillance, and harassment. Authorities tried Omidi on charges of “acting against national security” and “promoting Zionist Christianity.” They sentenced him to ten years in prison, then two years in exile for his church work.
Authorities shortened his sentence during the COVID outbreak in Iranian prisons. They sent him to Borazjan, 1000 kilometers from his home, for exile. Thirteen days after he arrived, the authorities demanded that he provide his transportation back to his home to receive 80 lashes with a leather whip for drinking a sip of wine during communion. (Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol.) Consider the courage Omidi exhibited as he traveled to take the punishing lashes witnessing to his faith.
A Cup Renewing Commitment
How many times have I taken communion or the Lord’s Supper without a thought of consequences? As a young boy, I took the elements—bread and drink—on my knees at an altar. Over time, I have taken part in communion services with broken bread and a small cup of grape juice around the world. Unforgettable memories of holding a wooden cup near the empty tomb in Jerusalem form a unique connection to my understanding of this memorial. Years later, in Hong Kong, I used bread distributed by Christians in a closed country as part of Christmas Eve Communion services. As we held the bread, we prayed for the persecuted believers in that country.
When Believing Requires Courage
We don’t always know the impact of our prayers on those who experience persecution. When I mentioned that Christians in many parts of the world had remembered Christians in Myanmar the previous Sunday, I heard an audible response. Later, several people asked if Christians really prayed for people suffering persecution in Myanmar. I assured them we have. They didn’t realize anyone knew the oppression they faced in some parts of their country. When asked how we could pray for them, they requested we pray they would have courage.
The 2020 World Watch List produced by Open Doors shows eight Christians die every day because of their faith. Every week, at least 182 churches or buildings used for Christian ministries experience attacks. And every month, courts imprison 309 Christians because they follow Jesus. Open Doors estimate 260 million Christians are suffering significant levels of persecution.
Praying for the Persecuted
On November 1, 2020, Christians around the world will pray for the persecuted church. Those we are praying for are people just like we are. However, they are living in difficult situations because they follow Jesus Christ. They need hope and courage. They live in the love of Jesus Christ. Yet, they often face rejection by family and friends because of their commitment. They need the wisdom to choose the right words in their suffering. And all need confidence in the sufficiency of God’s grace. Regardless of what they face, pray their witness will draw the hearts of those who hurt them.
November 1 will come and go. Why not choose at least one day a week to pray for people facing persecution for their faith? And when observing communion, concentrate on the promises of the service. Jesus died for our sins, arose forecasting our new life through faith in him, and promising to return. Let the Holy Spirit awaken your soul to these truths. Then pause for a moment to pray for those who risk everything to drink from the same cup you drink from without fear.
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Category: Prayer Tags: Communion, courage, cup, Lord's Supper, persecution, prayer, witness