1/24/10

Political Correctness Will Destroy Us!

by Perry Stone Jr.
http://www.voe.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=230

Several years ago during a Holy Land tour, I interviewed a noted Israeli leader who today is serving in one of the highest positions in the Israeli government. I have not aired the program yet, but may in the near future place it on the Stone Report. The interview occurred about fourteen months after the September 11 attacks, and at the time, America's war on terror was in full swing. This brilliant and well-spoken Israeli gave a warning to the United States that, today, almost seems prophetic.

He said, "The danger to America in the future will be that America's (terrorist) enemies that live within will use your own freedoms against you." He also observed that America is so concerned with being "politically correct" and wanting everyone to like to like them, that they will not profile the very people that could eventually bring a dirty nuke or a bio-weapon onto America's shores."

Israel is surrounded by people who would rejoice to see the death and destruction of both the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. These radicals are studying, researching, and doing all in their power to obtain information and materials they can use to bring some form of destruction to the people they hate the most: the Jews.

Israel, despite criticism from the U.S. administration and the liberals in Europe, is not hesitant to be "politically incorrect," and listen in on terrorist's conversations, intercept communications, and profile anyone and everyone they deem a danger to national security. For them, it is a matter of future survival.

Since January 1, 2009, if you have been paying any attention, you will notice there have been numerous planned attacks from Islamic fanatics, from North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Texas just to name a few. I asked a person who lives in one of the largest Islamic nations on earth why there has been such a surge in activity the past ten months. This was his observation:

"First, during the years following 9-11, the U.S. government made it clear that they would hunt down any terror groups on their own soil - without the permission of the United Nations, or the country where the fanatics were hiding. This caused hesitancy among some radical groups to organize attacks, as they knew they would be sought out and destroyed."

He said, "Now consider the changes that have occurred. In January 2009, the administration told the government departments not to use the word "Islamic terrorists" anymore. They have also planned to send many of the men at Guantanamo back to their own countries, close the base, and give the twelve meanest fanatics in the world a trial in New York with lawyers, instead of a military tribunal. Then, after the attacks on the military base in Texas, the administration did not mention the man's Islamic connection, and treated it like a domestic incident. The bottom line is, the fanatics are no longer afraid of America, or the new leadership, and they feel the leadership will not go after them and certainly will not initiate a war with an Islamic nation. They have been publicly told there will be no wars against Islamic nations."

When I was in Israel I spent time with several friends who have many relatives throughout the Middle East who work in positions of significance. A Muslim friend I have known for many years made an interesting comment. He said, "When your President comes to Egypt and Turkey and makes speeches, he emphasizes his Islamic roots and the people over here who are Muslims love him for that. However, it has the opposite effect among the fanatics, who believe he is using this as a trick to gain influence and eventually spread western customs and ideas in the Islamic world. He will never have the support of the fanatics and America will see more things happen because these crazy people are set on destroying the United States."

When the recent attack on the airliner failed on Christmas day, we were very blessed not to have had a plane blown out of the sky, killing people both in the air and on the ground. However, a recent report from the Gulf States said that there are 300 men prepared to carry out attacks, and in Britain there are 25 men trained to initiate various types of attacks. So if we think that by treating these individuals with respect and political correctness that we can change their hearts, then we are either stupid or deceived.

Not all Muslims are radicals. I know many Muslims living in Israel that are personal friends and are some of the friendliest people I have met anywhere in the world. Being a minister, they have great respect for me as a "man of God." My bus driver gave me his shoes when I left on this trip, because I said they were the coolest shoes I had ever seen. I tried to tell him I would not take them and he said, "You will insult me if you don't!"

The answer to our national security is not to be so concerned about offending someone, that we become passive and blind in the process. The day our enemies can have personal security for their trial (costing the American taxpayer about $75 million), have personal lawyers paid for by tax money, and make a circus of our justice system in the city where terrorists attacked and killed nearly 3,000 people, then we need Americans to rise up and speak up, because obviously too many people are passively going blind and deaf in D.C.

1/23/10

VOM–USA Prayer Update for January 22, 2010

The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com
“Work without prayer is atheism; and prayer without work is presumption.” R W Dale
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

MALAYSIA — Churches Firebombed — The Associated Press

Psalm 91:4
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

Seven churches have been attacked in Malaysia following a court decision that allows Christians to use “Allah” when referring to God, according to The Associated Press (AP). The attacks began on Jan. 8 and 9, when four churches were hit with firebombs. On Sunday, Jan. 10, three churches were firebombed. Despite the attacks, thousands of Christians attended services and prayed for unity and an end to the attacks. The attacks followed a Dec. 31 High Court decision overturning a government ban prohibiting non-Muslims from using the word “Allah” in prayers and literature. The court had ruled on a petition by Malaysia's Roman Catholic Church, whose main publication, the Herald, uses the word “Allah” in its Malay-language edition. The government has appealed the verdict. Pray that believers will show grace and love toward the attackers and that their testimonies will draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Christ.

ALGERIA — UPDATE: Church Burned — VOM Contacts

Acts 4:29–31
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

On Jan. 10, Muslim extremists set fire to Tafath church in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria, damaging church property, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The Tafath church has been threatened since December, when extremists disrupted a Christmas celebration. “As Christians continued to come for worship to this church despite the increasing intimidation, the Muslim extremists decided to burn the church,” VOM contacts said. A few days before the attack, extremists broke into the church and stole valuable electronic equipment. On Dec. 26, about 20 Muslim extremists tried to prevent members of Tafath church from holding a service. Extremists confronted believers and barred them from entering the building. “This land is the land of Islam! Go pray somewhere else,” some of the protestors reportedly said. The Voice of the Martyrs encourages you to pray for this congregation and especially their pastor, Mustafa Krierch, and his family. Pray that God will protect these Algerian believers and that their courageous testimony will draw nonbelievers to Christ.

IRAQ — Elderly Christian Killed — VOM Canada / Asia News

Romans 8:34–36
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “ For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

On Jan. 11, Hikmat Sleiman, a 75-year-old Christian man, was shot to death by unknown assailants in Mosul, Iraq, according to VOM Canada and Asia News. Sleiman had just returned home from closing his grocery shop when a group of assailants opened fire, killing him instantly. Local Christians see his murder and a string of other recent attacks against believers as evidence of “ethnic cleansing” designed to force Christians from the area. Some believe Muslim extremists are targeting shopkeepers in an effort to wipe out the Christian community’s economic activity and drive believers from the area. Pray for comfort for those mourning the loss of Hikmat Sleiman. Pray that his attackers will come to know the Lord as their Savior. Pray that Christians in Mosul will be filled with Christ’s peace during in these difficult times.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Winning Your Battles Through Prayer

Bible Study: Battling In Prayer
Sermon: Fight Your Battles On Your Knees

By Charles F. Stanley

What would you do if someone began to push against you, attempting to throw you off a position that is rightfully yours? How would you respond? Most people would lean into the weight and push back. That’s a posture of resistance. And as believers, we must know when it’s time to lean with all our might against evil. But how?

Prayer is the believer's great privilege and powerful weapon against Satan and his plans. The apostle Peter wrote, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Pet. 5:9). James echoed this teaching:

“Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (vv. 4:7-8).

Both of these godly men admonished believers to oppose evil. And we do that by persevering in prayer. On the surface, this form of resistance may appear to be passive. But in practice, it is always active, intentional, and powerful.

Resistance begins with a decision to join the struggle against evil through prayer, rather than retreat. Such godly opposition takes strength and courage. It also requires patience and perseverance.

Peter and James point to two key words at the heart of our ability to resist the devil through our prayers: faith in God and submission to His will.

Submission

Submission to God means acknowledging that we can’t but He can. In our prayers, we might tell the Lord, “I can’t defeat the Enemy on my own. But with You, I can.” By taking this position, we join the apostle Paul in saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV).

James taught that submission occurs when we seek a closer relationship with God. As we spend time in His Word and His presence, we get to know the Lord better. We also discover how He wants us to overcome evil and experience blessing in our lives. By setting aside time solely to listen and wait upon the Lord for direction and guidance, we grow closer to Him. Periodically hiding ourselves away from all other influences and distractions is vital if we want to grow in knowledge of our God. The better we know Him, the more we see His power, experience His love, and grow in faith and wisdom.

Faith

Faith can be summed up in the statement “God, I believe You will.” In our efforts to overcome the Evil One, we might pray this way: “I believe You will defeat the Enemy and cause him to flee from me as I resist him and put my trust in You.” Again and again, David made this declaration of faith to the Lord: “O my God, I trust in You” (See Ps. 25:2; also 31:6; 55:23; 56:3; 143:8).

We grow in faith by exercising it—trusting God in every circumstance and relationship. Over time, we develop a personal history with God as He demonstrates His faithfulness and loving care for us. The result is an ever-deepening relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Ultimately, it’s impossible to resist the Devil for long if you don’t believe that Jesus Christ can and will thwart Satan’s attempts to harm you. Remaining strong in faith requires total submission to God in all areas of your life—no exceptions. When you decide that you don’t need God’s help in one area, that’s precisely where the Enemy will strike.

The good news is that God has given each of us a measure of faith to nurture within our hearts. And by His grace, we are capable of submitting to His will. In whatever you do, remember the words of James: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.5760255/k.61E0/Winning_Your_Battles_through_Prayer.htm

1/2/10

VOM–USA Prayer Update for January 1, 2010

The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com

“There is nothing more profitable, more priceless you can ask for us than that in spite of physical weariness, of frequent infirmities and the care of multiplying converts, we may be enabled to remain on our knees.” Veteran Missionary
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:18

IRAN — Authorities Arrest Two Christians at Christmas Gathering — Farsi Christian News

Psalm 23:1-5
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

On Dec. 17, security police and undercover officers attacked a Christmas gathering of more than 70 newly converted Christians in the city of Karaj, Iran, according to Farsi Christian News. Officers photographed and videotaped the believers and also confiscated Bibles, Christian books and a computer. Christians were told they must be available during the period leading up to formal and legal interrogations and that they must appear before prosecutors when ordered. Two of the leaders of the group, Kambiz Saghaee and Ali Keshvar-Doost, were arrested. At last report, Saghaee and Keshvar-Doost remained in detention at an undisclosed location, and their families had neither been able to contact them nor received confirmation from police of their whereabouts. Pray that Saghaee and Keshvar-Doost will be released. Pray that the new converts who attended this meeting will grow stronger in their faith in Christ. Pray for the safety of Iranian believers celebrating the birth of Jesus and the beginning of a new blessed year, as many must gather in secret to avoid attention from authorities.

INDONESIA — Militant Muslims Destroy Church Building — VOM Canada

Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

On Dec. 17, a mob of nearly 1,000 Muslims attacked a church building under construction in Bekasi Regency, near Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, according to VOM Canada. At midnight, Muslims arrived on bikes and on foot at the Church of Saint Albert. They stormed into the building, carrying banners and tanks of kerosene. One witness reported hearing them shout, “Destroy! Destroy it! Replace the church with mosque!” Muslims damaged bricks, broke lights, uprooted newly planted trees and set the building on fire. Praise God, no one was injured in the attack, but damage amounted to about 60 million rupees (approximately $ 6,235). Local Christians were planning to use the nearly completed building for a Christmas service. Following the attack, a leader of the church’s construction committee said, “Even though our chapel was attacked, we are not afraid. We will continue the construction of this chapel until its completion.” Pray that these believers will not be discouraged but will continue to rest in the joy and provision of Christ. Pray that Indonesian Christians will be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to share the truth of the Lord.

IRAQ — More Bomb Attacks on Churches in Mosul — VOM Canada/Agence France Presse/Asia News

Psalm 91:1–6
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a] And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

On Dec. 23, two separate bombs struck churches in Mosul, Iraq, according to VOM Canada and Agence France Presse. One bomb was detonated near the Syrian Orthodox church of St. Thomas. Elsewhere in the city, three people were killed — one Christian and two Muslims — when a bomb hidden in a cart of vegetables exploded outside the Chaldean church of St. George. These attacks are the latest in a series of bombings in the city in recent months. These recent bombings have intensified fears among Mosul’s Christian community, but many Iraqi believers remain unshaken in their commitment to serve Christ. Pray for those who have lost loved ones in these attacks. Pray for healing of those injured. Pray that the presence and peace of Jesus will sustain Iraqi believers and compel them to share God’s truth with their Muslim neighbors.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.