Christians Overcoming and Serving » persecution

Suddenly…Persecution…India 2008

John Havener — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:31:12 +0000

God Will Help Us in the Morning
By Surendra M.

Recently the persecution against Christians has been severe in my state (Orissa). During that time I have been telling the Bible stories to encourage the people of my village.

On the 18th of August (2008), I returned with my family to our village. It was on the 23rd of that month that the persecution started — they cut off all the roads by felling trees across them and all transportation was stopped. Even the towers for our cell phones had been cut off on those days. And so with all of this, when all these things happened, there was no way to escape or even call for help.

During this time I told our people, “Something is going to happen — let us go somewhere.” All our village men got ready. Near our village there is a big forest with lots of stones and a big mountain there. So all of our villagers went together into the forest to hide.

The first night passed and nothing happened. There were children with us and we had to cook and eat there, and two people were really sick in those days. So we carried them with us into the forest. There was a big stone cliff and under that was a small cave, so we hid in the cave. Again the second night nothing happened. Nobody came to our village.

During that time, for those two nights, on the first night and on the second night, I was telling the story of Jacob’s life; how Jacob was facing death at the hands of his brother who was coming with 400 armed men, and how the Lord wrestled, the wrestling between God and Jacob. That story I shared on the first day. And on the second day also I told the same story.

Then in the middle of the third night, at 11:30 PM, they came to attack our village. As soon as they entered they destroyed the church; they demolished it and everything in it. Then they went to all our houses, and one by one all the houses were destroyed. We were watching everything from the forest and we were crying from the forest.

But just like I was sharing the stories about Jacob’s life, how he was wrestling with the angel of God and in the morning, God delivered him, in the same way, on that same morning, some of us were able to make our way together six kilometers to the police thana where we registered a FIR [an official complaint with the police, called a First Information Report].

In response, the local forces, police and army went to our village. In the night, I had shared this story that surely the Lord will help us in the morning. In the same way, all the officials came with force, with their arms and all. We got up into their vehicles and they took us all to a relief camp. [In other villages, instead of helping the Christians, often the police were afraid to move against the mobs or even sided with the Hindu terrorists against the Christians].

At present we are there in the relief camp, my wife, my children, my mother, we are there. We started prayer meetings there and I have been sharing a story with the people in that camp, how Moses had helped deliver people from the bondage of the Egyptians. There was a Red Sea and the Egyptian people were there:
“Like the Israelites, we are also worried about our lives. But surely the Lord will help us to cross this Red Sea. Surely the Lord will help us to reach the promised land.”

From that day onwards, we forgot all our houses and everything. Nobody has remembered their houses. Everybody is rejoicing in the Lord. Yesterday also I called them again and they are all telling me, “We are all happy. And we are fine.” We have other testimonies, but I will tell you those later.

[As Surendra told this account, he was overcome by sobbing for several minutes. The other storytellers were also silently crying and wiping tears from their eyes].

* * * * * * *

During a few horrific weeks in August and September, the church in Orissa suffered terribly. Fourteen (out of 30) districts were affected by the violence. Three hundred villages were damaged, 4,300 houses burned, 50,000 believers became homeless, and 57 people were killed including at least 2 pastors. Eighteen thousand men, women, children were injured, including 10 priests/pastors/nuns. Two women were gang-raped, 149 churches were completely destroyed, and 13 schools and colleges were severely damaged. Some attacks are continuing but the worst aftermath of the violence is that Hindu extremists are refusing to allow the Christians to move back to their homes, fields or businesses unless they convert to Hinduism first. Many of these believers are illiterate and so have no real knowledge of the Bible to help them stand. Biblical storytelling is a God-sent remedy at this crucial time in the life of the church.

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“You can run, but you cannot hide” (part 2)

John Havener — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:55:34 +0000

While serving with a FEMA subcontractor after Hurricanes Gustov and Ike, I visited homes of those affected by those storms. My job was to collect and verify data for FEMA and pass it up to them thru my company. They give us notebook computers with aircards, which means detailed info can and is sent both ways from anywhere where there are cell phone towers. Amazing how much someone can learn about you from a computer download! But can someone find you? YES, if you have a 911 address! Between what one can get from Google and modern GPS navigation systems, total strangers can find their way to you, almost anywhere and with relative ease. If you ever want to “hide,” you will have to been away from a 911 address and use nothing electronic, including credit cards/ ATMs. Best place to “hide” is in Jesus Christ!

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Battle of the Bulge??? See Dutch Sheets below

John Havener — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:06:41 +0000

In the urgent prayer request from Dutch Sheets posted on this site, he likens our present situation to the battle of the Bulge in late 1944/ early 1945 (European Theater, WW11). IF this imagery used by brother Sheets is correct, the church in the USA could be in for an extremely difficult time in the very near future… here is why: The Battle of the Bulge was a MASSIVE, surprise counter attack by the Nazis that caught the US and British TOTALLY UNPREPARED. The Atmospherics strongly favored the German’s: freezing cold, snow, fog and overcast skies. Our troops were not properly clothed and had light supplies of weapons and ammunition. Many of our troops had no or next to no combat experience and faced seasoned German veteran of over six years of warfare… The Nazis easily sliced through Allied lines, took over 8000 prisoners, and surrounded the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne, Belgium. The 101st held heroically until General Patton’s 3rd Army and others cut through the opposition to rescue them. The courage of the 101st is legendary, but the US casualties were terrific: over 19,000 dead in 6 weeks and over 80,000 wounded. Eventually the Nazis were pushed back and would collapse and surrender in 4 or 5 months…but it was dangerous and costly. General Patton was said to have remarked at the beginning of the Nazi offensive, “Gentlemen, we could still loose this war.” We won’t loose the “war” because Jesus Christ is our commanding General, but unprepared Christians, not ready for persecution or really tough times, could become quick casualties in the battle. God’s people need to sober up and toughen up, especially if Dutch Sheet’s imagery involves more than the social gains made in the past few years. Pastors, work at building your people into overcomers, for a major enemy offensive may be headed your way!

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Kenya, East Africa, illustrates sudden persecution

John Havener — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:15:51 +0000

Tonight I received an email from a Kenyan friend and pastor. I met this beautiful man not long ago in Nairobi, in happier times. The collapse of goodwill and respect for others is chillingly illustrated in his brief communication:

“Praise be to God, Hope Pastor you are well and blessed in the Lord.

My family and I are okay, the Lord has taken care of us despite the disaster taking place in our country.

We thank God because in Ngong-the area i live in which is in the rift valley , has continued to have peace when the entire rift valley is in turmoil. God has given us peace and protection and we do not take it forgranted.

Indeed, we have never seen such things before in the history of this country. To imagine that people can just wake up and start killing their fellow brothers and sisters, burn property, rape and do all the kind of evil you can imagine.

The worst of it all was the burning of churches all over the country. Some of the churches in my ministry were burnt down. But we thank God because all the Pastors of these churches and there families managed to escape the wrath of the people in those areas and are now safe.

However we are all praying for Peace and Justice to prevail once more in our nation and that people will respect the alters of God once more.

I request you pastor to please pray with us and give this request to as many of your friends as possible.

Let me end here and may God bless you and your family.

Yours

Pastor David

If we believe this cannot happen in the US, we need to think again (JH)

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The Rise of militant atheism…the spirit of Antichrist blossoms

John Havener — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:24:39 +0000

In “The Forum” of the Monday, April 16, 2007 USA TODAY there was an interesting article called “Atheism isn’t the final word” which begins “Oh, for the days when one could safely stroll into a bookstore without tripping over the latest atheist title…Books making the case against God seem to be multiplying, becoming more strident and absolute with each turned page.” Thankfully the author, Don Feder, concludes by writing,” Atheists are free to disbelieve and propagate their disbelief in books and other intellectual forums. But saying the debate is over doesn’t make it so. A bit of humility might make their case more convincing. Then again, humility itself is a religious concept.” My point is to draw attention to the antiGod wave headed our way, not to argue against atheism…although there are powerful arguments against it…

Mr. Feder’s accurate observations about militant atheism were confirmed and illuminated by a frontpage Wall Street Journal from April 12, 2007 titled ” The New Crusaders: As Religious Strife Grows, Europe’s Atheists Seize Pulpit. Islam’s Rise Gives Boost To Militant Unbelievers.” This article focuses on Michel Onfray, whom the WSJ calls a “celebrity philosopher and France’s high priest of militant atheism.” Mr. Onfray, is 48, has published 32 books, and is a very popular lecturer. Consider this quote from the WSJ,
“Mr. Onfray argues that atheism faces a “final battle” against “theological hocus-pocus” and must rally its troops. “We can no longer tolerate neutrality and benevolence,” he writes in “Traite d’atheologie,” or Atheist Manifesto, a best seller in France, Italy and Spain. “The turbulent time we live in suggests that change is at hand and the time has come for a new order.” He recently shared a book by a favorite philosopher with a political opponent…Nietzsche’s “The Anti-Christ.” Should we think this stuff is just European weirdness? The WSJ pointed out the following, “The God Delusion,” a book by Oxford Professor Richard Dawkins, has been on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction best-seller list for 28 weeks.

Scripture describes The ultimate AntiChrist as a Satan possessed human, with formiddible deceptive powers and invincible war-making power, assisted and promoted by a “False Prophet” who will be world’s ultimate propagandist and architect of genocide. Behind them, a system which only the return of Christ will shutdown. Part of the mystery regarding the ultimate evils is this question: which comes first, The inspiring, inclusive antichrist worldview, the system which will execute its leader’s will, the False Prophet or the ultimate Antichrist himself? Regardless, here is the final outcome:

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Rev.19.19)

I am not alleging that Mr. Onfray is the Ultimate A/C or false prophet…but be sure of this: Europe is very far gone into apostasy and strong currents are swirling that may give rise to this ultimate human/ satanic evil. Perhaps, more disturbingly, is the possiblity that the antichrist spirits which are trying to consolidate and bring forth these supreme evils will be able in the meantime to bring forth violent antichristian persecution here and soon. I was grieved by a situation that occured recently. In New Jersey, in a place called New Burlington Township, school officials and “publical safety/ emergency management officials” held a first responder drill based on a senario which envisioned their High School being terrorized by fundamentalist Christian killers. This senario was a terrible case of implausible lies, bigotry, fear-mongering and stereotyping against fundamental Christians dubbed by the senario as the “New Crusaders.” Blatant prejudice of this sort can fuel an explosive atmosphere where violence is suddenly loosed against God’s people. Who really are the “New Crusaders?” To me the NJ situation is a small but potent example of The Rise of militant atheism…the spirit of Antichrist blossoms.

My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. (Proverbs 3:21-26)

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Serious food for thought and prayer from Tommy James

John Havener — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:23:39 +0000

Preview of 2007

1. Mostly, things will continue as in the last few years with a greater separation occurring between the spiritual church and world systems. The worldly oriented Americans, who call themselves Christians, will continue to trust politics, both domestic and foreign, to make things different, hoping that by human effort, the world will be made a better place. Americans will continue to be content in very small personal circles of family and employment giving not much thought or concern to the role they might play as representatives and citizens of the Kingdom of God. This coming year will be like the days of Noah that the Lord Jesus spoke of. The Christians of America will not be too much different, but there is a remnant, those who follow the Lamb where ever He goes and hunger for the Presence of God, even secretly, and who are poised and ready to do the will of God in overt, power filled ways.

American life will change, but it will change slowly, so as to not alarm too many citizens at once. “We can’t have a rebellion in America!” the world leaders have decreed. Not yet anyway. Personal liberties and ‘civil rights’ will give more ground to government so that we may feel safe from terrorists. The peoples of the world have proven that they will sacrifice personal liberty for the sake of personal security. The rulers of this dark age know this and will continue the squeeze in order to fully control everyone everywhere. The loss of freedom will seem to be an acceptable price to ‘feel’ safe. “Perception is everything” while reality is changing.

2. The Spirit is saying expressly that this is a time to focus on covenant relationships. Covenants exist in all relationships whether they are written, spoken, assumed, agreed to, or not. Covenants, in simplicity, define the operating rules and boundaries, the benefits and responsibilities for relationships. All covenants should be of holy purpose, be equitable for all parties, and be conducted with righteous behavior.

We each have covenants with the ruling spirits of this world through submission and obedience of our ancestors and through that of our own lives. There are many ‘stealth’ covenants that exist between God’s people and unclean spirits. The Spirit of God says that we have a fresh opportunity to review all covenants with the world lords, to renounce them, and to ask the Father, the Judge of all the earth, to issue a divorce decree for the unholy alliances. These ideas promise a new and very great level of existence and fulfillment for the people of God. Few of us know that we are bound, in some measure, by bad covenantal relationship, but we are.

Once again the cry goes out, “Come out from the midst of them my people, be separated from them, and I will receive you to Myself! I will be your God and you will my people!” In this process there will those that will be ‘marked’ as the property of the Lord. A parallel phenomenon to Ezekiel 9:4 where the angel marked a remnant with the Hebrew letter Tav, the form of a cross, so that they would carry the brand of God in secret. Christians should seek God to be marked and identifiable to spirits. This mark carries with it authority, protection and power to work supernatural feats for the Lord. Those that bear the mark of God will have no fear of the loss of security and many will be beheaded, without fear or pain, at the hands of the servants of the false christs.

All covenants with other people should be reviewed and perhaps renegotiated. Some covenants are to be abandoned, some are to be strengthened and new ones are to be formed. Every covenant that restricts us in an ungodly way should be brought before the Judge for judgment and removal. See Psalm 103: 6.

3. The Spirit showed me an aerial picture of a church building. The roof was gone and the camera zoomed in to reveal a blast crater in the center of the meeting room. There was no one there. The floor, remaining fixtures and the crater were all black with soot as from a very powerful and destructive explosion. I have no further understanding at this point, but would instruct the reader to ask God if this vision has any significance at all for their local situation. This was a frightening scene for me to behold.

4. The school for Overcomers will intensify. (let the reader see Rev:2&3) and the day of unveiling comes closer but is not for this year. There is a promise to the potential members of this elect class in each of the seven churches of Revelation. Therefore there are candidates within each local church to answer the call of the Spirit to follow the Lamb. The tuition for this school is high. It will cost the candidate all that he owns and all that he holds dear. All that interests him in the natural will be taken so as to learn of all that is hidden in the spirit. Galatians 2:20, 6:14-15 will give a view to what is being worked out in real time, in real life; a transformation.

Beyond all other ideas that have been given my by the Spirit lately, the most pressing and persistent is this: Prepare for the coming of the Lord. Understanding that there are as many scenarios of how the ‘parousia’ will work out, the focus to me has been on the first ‘out resurrection’ of the dead and glory to be shown in those who are worthy to be included. Preparations to be found worthy, would include 1. Seeking to understand and harmonize with the Spirit of God who is our School Master. (We buy the oil for our lamps from Him. Matt

25:1) 2. Crucifixion of the old nature so as to be found ‘In Him’. 3. Giving complete allegiance and obedience to the Lord Jesus. 4. Completing the training exercises as they unfold out of the spirit into the natural. 5. Becoming more and more teachable.

5. Local Churches: There are many ‘Spirit filled’ congregations that linger in the realm of seeking God for Him to ‘do something’. But the Spirit specifically says that it is time for these congregations to seek God for individual marching orders and to begin to be the agents of God’s Kingdom rather than the seeking Him for hand outs.

The Word of the Lord is for all the churches that are stuck in a First Corinthians level of maturity, to transition, grow and mature into being like the Ephesians, ‘seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus’. The Corinthian church was a boot camp for post-Acts assemblies and instruction in many areas from church justice to recognizing the difference between the natural and the spiritual to prophetic protocols. Learners, full of mistakes and overemphasis’s, but teachable.

The Ephesians, by contrast, had matured in spiritual life and were proficient in spiritual warfare. These were called by the apostle to be “In” Christ in all things and in him to recognize and function in the authority and responsibilities of sons, (huios) rather than petitioners.

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