We will be praying for the persecuted church this Sunday night at prayer meeting. Hebrews 11:36-38 reminds us that Christians have
"suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."
God commands us to "remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body" (Heb. 13:3). To remember them involves praying for them - how could we remember a part of our body suffering and not pray for it?
Here are five things you can pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters
Five Prayers for the Persecuted Church
1. Know
the love God has for them and not be tempted to believe that suffering is an
indication that they are not right with God.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is
the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of
God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As
it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are
regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans
8:34-37)
2. Honor Christ by only suffering for doing good
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you
will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in
your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a
defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do
it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a
good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your
good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it
is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for
doing evil. (1 Peter 3:14-17)
3. A willingness to lose all knowing that Christ will never leave or forsake
them
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be
content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor
forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The
Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)
4. Love for those who persecute them
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to
you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so
that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the
unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what
reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And
if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do
not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You
therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew
5:43-48)
5. An open door to proclaim the gospel and clarity as they share it
"At the same time, pray also for us, that God
may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of
Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I
may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:3-4)
