In 1992,  Behnam Irani was touched and moved by the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he accepted Him as his Lord and Savior. Ten years after accepting  Christ, he became a pastor. Of course, both his acceptance of Christ, and his wanting to serve Jesus as a pastor meant that he became an enemy of the authorities in his country Iran. As all of you know, Iran is a country ruled by a corrupted totalitarian and oppressive regime. In Iran, Christians are hated and persecuted by the government.

Because of his service to Jesus Christ, Behnam Irani is considered an enemy of the state, and back in April 14,2010 officers from the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security (MOIS) unjustly raided Irani’s house church, and after assaulting him, they took him into custody. A couple of months after his arrest, Pastor Irani was released on bail, and later he received a one year prison sentence for his alleged crimes. After he began to serve his one year prison sentence, Pastor Irani received the news that he will have to serve five years now, for similar charges from the past.

At the start of his sentence, our brother Irani was placed in solitary confinement, he was later moved to an over crowded cell were prisoners did not have enough room to lie down and sleep. Our brother in Jesus, Pastor Irani has been moved to a normal cell, but there are reports that he is called out of the cell daily to be tortured and beaten daily. As a result, his health is very poor and he needs our prayers.

Let us pray for our brother in Christ. That the Holy Spirit of God will give him strength to continue moving forward. That his heart will be so filled with joy and compassion, that those who beat him daily will wonder and inquire what it is that helps him endure such brutal treatment. In that way, they too may also be converted to Christ. Also, that when he is tortured in order to make him recant, that God’s Holy Angels will come and minister to him, and that he may remain strong in his faith. We also pray that his family and those who attended his church will be filled with hope and a great faith, so that they may not lose heart, and so that they may continue to pray for Pastor Irani with great confidence.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on your servant Irani, set him free from the hands of those who torment him daily, and allow his love for you to bring about a revival and conversion amongst the people of Iran. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on Irani and his family. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Christ Our Passover

On December 15, 1418 after having eluded church authorities for years, John Oldcastle was taken to Smithfield in London, and there he was hung by the middle in chains until he was consumed alive in the fire. Witness testimony say that while he hung there he praised the name of God until he died.

Obviously he was prepared to die for Christ and the Gospel. This makes me wonder, how prepared am I to die for the Gospel? Have I prepared those to whom I ministered to to die for Christ? Reflecting on this moment certainly brings me closer to facing the reality of my baptismal calling. After all, when I accepted Christ,  I accepted the cross and with the cross comes sacrifice.

This also makes me think of my brothers and sisters who are being persecuted in many parts of the world. They face this reality daily. I am tempted to say that I am blessed for not having to endure what they endure, but am I really better off? I mean, they suffer greatly, but their focus is completely on Christ. I do not suffer as they do, but my eyes are more than often all over the place.

Merciful Jesus, have mercy on our persecuted brethren. Fill their hearts with complete joy and courage, and more importantly with perfect love for you and those who persecute them. Build and prepare us who have never had to endure as they do, that when the time comes, we will be able to withstand and accept whatever the suffering may be, for the glory and honor of your name. Sacred Heart of Jesus, convert our hearts into the image of our hearts. In your name we pray Lord Christ. Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray that you will end the war in Afghanistan, and that our troops and the troops of every country may return home soon. We pray this in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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