A Burmese (Myanmar) Christian man reads his Bible.

 

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2 Timothy 3:12-13 — English Standard Version

 

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 2:10 — English Standard Version

 

The article below from Christian Today, located in the U.K. asks for all Christians in the U.K. to pray for the saints suffering trials and persecutions in Burma — Myanmar. Their persecutions are many and increasing. I am asking all believers reading this wherever you may be to pray for the fellow brothers and sisters in the faith in Burma — Myanmar.

Pray daily, continually for the persecuted believers in Burma and around this troubled, in darkness collapsed and a sin-filled world where the agents of Satan are feverishly, methodically at work in an attempt to remove God, remove Jesus, remove the Holy Spirit, remove the Bible and remove those who believe from the face of the earth so that Satan and his evil and all those enslaved to him can prevail.

This will not happen. I read the only book of pure, total, accurate truth and I know the ending. And evil loses. But that does not mean we are lax, otherwise occupied, self-indulgent, only can see a wee bit further than the ends of our own noses. We need in fact to remove ourselves from ourselves. Focus less on ourselves, worry and fret much less about ourselves, our immediate world and begin to think about, pray about, meditate on those in other places we do not know and may never in likelihood ever meet here on earth in the flesh — but they are brothers and sisters in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am of the mind and convinced if more of us thoughtless about our daily lives, our so-called predicaments, ailments, situations, and the like and we thought about, prayer much more about others? Especially those being persecuted for Jesus’ sake? Those facing true trials, sufferings, and persecutions?

I imagine it would then truly be a better world, and us better ambassadors of Christ. True Christians.

Try it. See what happens.

Less thought and time spent on how the 401k is doing, what your daughter’s soccer schedule is, should you have a meatless Monday and continue Taco Tuesdays? And does this shade of nail polish look good on me? Should I shave my head since I’m going bald, or dye what’s left? Is that less expensive detergent really worth the price since my clothes aren’t coming out as clean? Should I get that new Smartphone, the one everyone is talking about?

Let’s leave what we imagine is so vital aside for a bit and discover what truly is vital.

Leave the temporal, the quickly passing away proving not as important as we imagined, leave the inane, the banal — including what passes for daily world news — and dive deeply into the word, into fervent, large, brave enormous vital prayer. For others. About others.

And see what happens…

 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 8:35 — King James Version

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:10-12 — English Standard Version

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 — English Standard Version

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Galatians 4:29 — King James Version

 

Ken Pullen

Wednesday, May 12th, 2021

ACP — A Crooked Path

 

Calls for prayer to support beleaguered Christian minority in Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar)

 

12 May 2021

By Staff Writer

Reprinted from Christian Today (in the U.K.)

 

Christians in Burma (Myanmar) are asking fellow believers in the U.K. to join in prayer for their nation following the military takeover in February.

Churches have been raided in the wake of the coup, which has been followed by a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy supporters and protesters.

Many Christians have also lost their livelihoods, Open Doors U.K. and Ireland reports.

Brother Lwin, an Open Doors partner living in Burma (Myanmar) whose name has been changed for security reasons, says the situation in Myanmar has become “much worse” since the coup.

“There has been unimaginable bloodshed,” he said.

“Churches have been raided more than once, and for many, grief, loss, and uncertainty persist.”

Pastors have been doubly hard hit by the pandemic because Covid-19 has prevented Christians from going to church, meaning the pastors are unable to collect the tithes that pay their livelihoods and building rent.

Christians in Myanmar have told Open Doors of their fears of night raids on their homes by security forces.

Another described “living in fear” on a daily basis.

“Police and soldiers try to scare people in the daytime and at night,” said Brother Ko Tun Tun – not his real name.

“One night, I saw seven soldiers with guns pointing around and walking on the street in front of our house. They made some noises to scare people and moved slowly.

“If they fired real bullets in our community, our wooden houses would not be able to protect us from the bullets and keep us safe. I was scared and could not sleep well for several nights.”

Brother Ko Tun Tun said the military were checking phones at random, especially those of the young, and arresting people if they find an anti-military photo or news item.

The cost of food and basic necessities has doubled in the crisis, with many Christian families going without enough food to eat and being unable to go to work for fear of their safety.

Dr. David Landrum, Director of Advocacy and Media at Open Doors U.K. and Ireland, said, “We hear the call from Myanmar’s Christians to pray for them and not to forget about them at this desperate time.

“We join in prayers for safety and economic security of the nation, for pastors and their congregations to find strength and encouragement until peace is established.”