“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10. It takes the grace of God to stand on this word “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness”. How can someone be hurting and yet hears they are blessed? How can someone be killed for doing the right thing and yet someone called them blessed? How can someone’s wife, child, mother, and friend be raped right in front of their face, and one call it blessed? How can people’s homes be burnt down for preaching Christ and called blessed? It goes on and on about what the persecuted church suffers. It is one thing to be hated for a day of a few weeks but when that becomes a lifestyle, that can really be problematic for the person living through that. In life we all want to be cherished, loved, and cared for, however, this is not the reality of some believers around the world.
“And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Acts 8:1. In the days of the Apostles, although the power of God was at work, the devil did not stop rather continued to threaten the church leading to recorded deaths. Today the story has not changed.“They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.” Hebrew 11:37. In different parts of the world persecution of different types is still being recorded leading to the loss of lives and properties, separation of families, imprisonment of loved ones, rape, ousted from families and communities, all because of their identity in Christ. Therefore, as intercessors, the need to pray is now as stated in Hebrew 13:3 “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”.
Prayer Points
Pray that the persecuted church will be always remaindered by this word that in the midst of the torture they go through, God has not given them the spirit of fear: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Pray that the Lord will visit the persecuted church and reward them for their unfailing love and commitment to the work of God: “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30
Pray that God will deliver them from the hands of the enemy: “My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.” Psalm 31:15
Pray for the grace to stand on this word of God knowing that his rod and staff are comforting them in the midst of the hate that surrounds them. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
Pray for the grace to continue standing with the persecuted church ever after today in prayer: Hebrew 13:3 “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
Turn this bible verse into a prayer: “19 And pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation], 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly and courageously, as I should.” Ephesians 6:19-20
Join us each night on our prayer-line 9 PM EST (Monday, November 29th, 2021 through Sunday, December 19th, 2021)
Prayer line information: Dial-in using your phone:
United States: 339-209-4113
No access code needed for US callers
International Dial-In Numbers
Germany +49 221 98258738
UK +44 333 015 4197
Cameroon +237 2 42 24 10 42
Nigeria +234 1 227 9424
Kenya +254 205231012
Access code for international numbers:
5564526 #