"Remember": The International Day Of Prayer For The Persecuted Church

Yes, I have no doubt that as Paul was writing about how persecution can advance the Gospel in places otherwise restricted he had these converts and friends in mind. And the church hearing the words probably shared a tear with that jailer and his family as they thought about God’s grace too.

1) We can rejoice when we remember their chains because those chains advance the Gospel in places otherwise restricted.

2) WE CAN BE ENERGIZED WHEN WE REMEMBER THEIR CHAINS BECAUSE THEIR CHAINS MAKE US BOLDER TO SHARE CHRIST.

In the same letter, in fact it is the very next verse; Paul wrote “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (Philippians 1:14)

A brother in Russia proved this, when he said: “The persecuted Church has more fire and energy to evangelize. It is now open in Russia to share the Gospel. But I led more people to become followers of Jesus Christ during my 18 years in the ‘underground’ church than I have in the subsequent years of ‘freedom’.”

Seeing what others will endure out of love for Christ should stir us to share Christ’s love as well.

1) We can rejoice when we remember their chains because those chains advance the Gospel in places otherwise restricted.

2) We can be energized when we remember their chains because their chains make us bolder to share Christ.

3) WE SHOULD PRAY WHEN WE REMEMBER THEIR CHAINS BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING UNSPEAKABLE SUFFERING AND HORRORS.

Dana Cury and Heather Mercer were two of the Shelter Now staff members who were captured in Kabul. After their release from 105 days in a Taliban prison in Afghanistan they said, “We strongly believe God had us in prison in Afghanistan to help remind Christians around the world to pray fervently for Afghanistan. Please do not stop praying for Afghanistan because we have been freed. God wants to bring hope and love through Jesus Christ to the people of Afghanistan…keep praying.” (Queensway Cathedral Toronto, February 28, 2002).

I am wearing a bracelet that was given to me by Carol *. It is soft plastic but its designed to look like barbed wire. It is a memento given by the Voice of the Martyrs and is intended to remind those wearing it to pray for the persecuted church. I do not always wear it, but I do have keep it in a place I see every day and it always reminds me to pray for my brothers & sisters in chains.

The persecuted church, you see, is a regular part of my prayer life. I believe it is a calling for me to pray for my suffering brothers and sisters.

In addition, every Saturday evening, in our Saturday night worship service, we pray for the persecute church. I want to encourage you to pray for them regularly too.

1) We can rejoice when we remember their chains because those chains advance the Gospel in places otherwise restricted.

2) We can be energized when we remember their chains because their chains make us bolder to share Christ.