The Gospel in Four Minutes

As We Celebrate Our Liberty, An Iranian Pastor Faces Death

By David French  National Review

On this holiday weekend an Iranian pastor’s life hangs in the balance. On June 28, the Iranian Supreme Court upheld a death sentence against Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. His crimes? Apostasy and evangelism. Pastor Nadarkhani had publicly opposed an Iranian practice requiring that all children, regardless of faith, receive Islamic instruction. In spite of alleged religious-freedom guarantees under the Iranian constitution, he now faces death — a sentence that could literally be carried out at any time.

Time is of the essence, and at the ACLJ we’re doing all we can. Yesterday we sent letters to the State Department and to the Iranian Mission of the United Nations. These letters outline Iran’s obligations not only under its own constitution but also under international agreements it has voluntarily agreed to uphold. While the nature and character of the Iranian regime is well-known, as the saying goes, where there is life; there is hope.

And as of today, Pastor Nadarkhani is alive.


 

My, how easily we forget.

Jesus told the disciples EXACTLY what was about to happen to him. And yet, they either forgot His words, thought He was lying or that He meant well but lacked the power to follow through. Actually, Mark 9:32 says that the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying. But how could it be any clearer?

for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.". Mark 9:31

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31

And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised
on the third day.". Matthew 20:17-19

There was no formula then and there is none now. It's all Him. All we can do is believe.

Love What You Have?

Most of us give lip service to the truth that we should not put our possessions above God or other human beings. Here's a good test for you. Estimate what percentage of your awake life has been devoted to money and possessions. Remember to include investing, managing, maintaining, using, researching and purchasing them. Then add the time spent working to obtain them.

Have you been that dedicated to anything else in your life?

How to Take up Your Cross

Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily...but what does that mean? It is often mischaracterized as meaning that each Christian will have his or her own unique burden to bear. Further, this line of argument seems to usually imply some sort of physical malady (thorn in our side) that we have to endure for the sake of Christ.


However, a careful reading shows this as a misinterpretation. The text does not say this and the context does not imply it.


Instead, it is Jesus teaching us how to live the LIFE He promised us while we are still on this earth. It is so simple that it is difficult for us to comprehend. It seems too easy.


The WHOLE key to living is this: Everyday, decide to trust Him instead of following the desires of the flesh. That's it. It's not about trying harder to do better or to do more. It's about trusting Him.


Warning: Your flesh will rebel against that notion and The Adversary will whisper lies about this saying "surely you must do.". Satan may even quote Scripture to you, "faith without works is dead."


Yes. But your job is the faith (which comes first). God's job is the works. Trust God first and the result will always be good and perfect works. Works not preceded by trust in God is nothing more than us striving to do it on our own. That is called religion.


Everyday, before anything else, trust Him to work through your life. Everyday. Before your family, friends, ambition, insecurities, plans - first take up your cross that was borne by Him and simply trust Him. Deny self and everything and everyone else and trust Him first and only.
Matthew 16, Matthew 10, Luke 14

Christian Terms in a Post-Christian Culture

There is a not-so-obvious disconnect between those who have grown up in the Church and the culture at-large.  That disconnect revolves around our language - the terms we use and the meaning behind those terms.  Most Christians, as part of our everyday vocabulary, use words that we assume are universally understood.  But, I have found that most everyone else has no idea what we're talking about.  

That has not always been so.  It used to be that when a "Christian word" was used, even lost people would have a sense of what the word means.  But, it was also true that the larger culture was radically influenced by Christianity.  So, "Christian words" were the culture's words.  No more.  

Now, I'm not talking about words like sanctification or propitiation.  True, the lost world doesn't have clue what these words mean.  But, neither do many Christians.  I'm talking about the little, common words that are the most basic and essential words in the Christian's vocabulary.  

I'm talking about words like sin and grace and faith.  We use these words all the time without ever wondering if the lost world has a clue what the words mean.  Even worse, the lost world can often have a false understanding about what their meaning.

So, if we really want lost people to know the truth, we have to explain what we mean when we use words like sin, grace, faith, hell, repent, etc.  We must remain extraordinarily careful not to remove these words from our vocabulary.  For, they are the very words of life to the dying. However, they are useless and even harmful if we don't ensure that their meaning is clear.

Make sense?

 

Was This Written Yesterday? -Part 2

More on that verse in Psalms:

Some trust in chariots
Some trust in horses
We trust in the name of the Lord our God

Some trust in the works they do
But by His grace all the work is through
We trust in the name of the Lord our God

Some trust in the wealth of things
We trust the Name worth more than anything
We trust in the name of the Lord our God

His love never fails
His name will always prevail 

We trust in the name of the Lord our God

by Steve Green

Was This Written Yesterday?

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” - 1Timothy 6:17

This doesn't apply to you, right?  

Well, uh, yes it does.  In fact, you are precisely who it was written for.  You don't think of yourself as one who has riches. However, it is not a stretch to say that you are in the top 5% of the richest people who has ever lived.  I'm not exaggerating.  Our conceit comes from neither knowing that nor appreciating it.   

But, Paul is not talking about just the riches that we already have.  He's talking about our pursuit of more.  We pursue because we think that it will get us something or somewhere. That equates to me trying to get something for me. That is a works doctrine.  

What about the riches that we already have?  A lot of people accumulated a lot and now it is gone.  What seemed like a lot that was gathered over decades is gone in a snap.  You can see what that got them?   

Think about this.  The wisdom of this verse has lasted WAY longer than the riches of any man. What does that say about the wisdom of the Timeless One who inspired Paul to write it?

Remember, God's not telling you this to ruin your fun.  He's telling you this because He doesn't want you to be hurt.  So, with that in mind, ask yourself this question.  During all the bad economics news, have your thoughts dwelled on any thing(s) that you have lost, could lose or can't get now?  

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” - Psalms 20:7

    

Prescription for Right Now

Cast all your anxiety upon Him, for He cares for you.

- 1 Peter 5:7

I'm not sure who wrote this, but it fits right into my last blog on Peace:  

It is natural to be anxious when we are ill; but it is just as natural for the one who has love for God in his heart to turn all anxiety over to Him.  Let God do your worrying.  Even more than an earthly father loves his child, God cares for you.  Cast your anxiety on Him!  His shoulders are broad.

Prayer:  Father, if there is anxiety in my heart, out of Thy great love take it into Thine own heart and give to me that peace which passes all understanding, in the name of Thy Son.  Amen.

Need for Peace

Peace, I just need some peace. If I have to I'll do anything. Don't need your love or your sympathy. But, I cannot go on living without peace.
- The Isaacs

Peace. It is difficult to imagine a better gift. But, that is precisely what God has given the Christ-follower.

Above all, [put on] love—the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. - Colosians 3:15-17

Paul & Peter, in the New Testament letters, repeatedly greet other Christ-followers with "peace". It is though they understand the need for it in the hearts of believers. Everyone needs it, but, it is only given to those who love Him.

Too often, we don't realize we have God's gifts. Or, maybe we don't understand what they are. Or, perhaps we don't really see how totally powerful they are in our lives. All this is especially true of peace.

This world we live in is cold, evil and most difficult. Let's face it, the burdens of living "down here" are overwhelmingly harsh. That will change for the Christ-follower - when we finally reach our destination. Our Father is leading us out but, for a short time we're still here.

Many well-meaning teachers claim that God will get us out of the pain and heartaches of this world. They claim that, by faith, we can talk Him into removing our problems. We just have to have enough faith and it will be done. When this is taught, it takes the focus away from one of His greatest miracles - peace for right now. Peace for our souls, peace in our hearts and peace through any trial. I mean any trial.

Peace is a miracle. The Bible says that the Messiah Himself is our Peace. It gives a picture of The Man walking beside us through the valleys and through the trials. Through the depressing moments and sad years. This kind of miracle is what He means when He says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." I'll submit to you that what we really desire is peace. God says that we already have it. We just have to trust Him when He says we do.

To me, that is a bigger miracle than a financial blessing or a physical healing or anything else man can promise. And, I can't think of anything I desire more. What about you?

Couldn't Then - Can't Now

The requirement for salvation is the same requirement for living as a Christian.   

In Galatians 1 & 2, Paul admonishes Galatian Christians and some of his own close friends to stop falling back into living by the law.  He calls this action "another gospel."  The point is clear.  A Christian cannot live by the law now any more than he could back before he trusted Jesus.  

But, that is exactly what we try to do.  We start believing that our own works gain us favor and better standing with God.  Not true at all.  Not true then and not true now.

Sure enough, God calls us to do things.  By trusting Him, we'll be able to.  We've got to get back to where we were when it was just us and Jesus - forsaking all else.  Because, just like Paul said, 

For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God.....

Galatians 2:19

Be & Trust

Be Sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world. Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. 1 Peter 5:8-10

Notice what Peter did not say. He did not say "do." Through temptation and tragedy the most evil of all will approach you. He'll either whisper lies in your ear or he'll try to destroy you by whispering lies in the ears of others. It will happen many, many times tomorrow...and the next day...and the next.

Stand firm in your belief and trust in God and wait it out. That is the answer. That is always the answer. Our tendency is to either give up or flee to religion thinking that doing more good stuff will save us. It will not.

One day the believer will no longer have to endure it. For now, until that day, we just have to be aware of Evil's scheme's, trust God and wait.

I'm tired of all this. But, that is the cost for the Christ-follower. And, just like Peter suggested, it helps to know that my brothers and sisters are enduring it too.