Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth for the mute,
And the rights of the unfortunate.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.
Hebrews 13:3
Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them and those who are ill treated since you yourselves also are in the body.
1 Corinthians 12:26
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.
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I was on a prayer call earlier today in which concerted prayer went up for Israel. Many words of encouragement were prayed over the Jewish nation. The intercessors were praying protection over Israel in light that Iran will go and develope nuclear weapons. No doubt use them against Israel.
There are perhaps a half dozen and probably more prayer calls that go up for Israel. I am certainly in agreement with praying for the peace of Jerusalem. But one thing I notice. The persecuted saints, those who are martyred and spill their blood for Jesus are forgotten. Indeed few of their brethren in the West will remember them in prayer. When all the persecuted ask is we pray for them.
So why does Israel garner more prayer. Perhaps it may be a sincere love to pray for the Jewish people. At least I hope so. But in what may be interpreted as a statement of judgement. Could it be people pray for Israel to see America blessed? For America to continue her affluent lifestyle? I have beard people say that the reason we are on the verge if economic collapse is we are not siding with Israel. God did say He would bless those who bless Israel. But that would be another thread.
But we have no such promise given to pray for the persecuted. There is no promise of physical blessing given to pray for precious saints martyred for Christ. There may be an ultimate eternal reward. But if anything to pray for persecuted believers may be an invite to crucify our own flesh and to take up our own cross to follow Christ.
I would certainly hope that our prayers for Israel, the persecuted, the unborn, etc are flowing out of loving hearts for Christ and not motivated by desires of selfish blessing. But I would pray our prayers be flowing out of hearts of selfless love.
All the persecuted ask is we pray for them. As far as I know Persecution Watch is the only prayer call in N. America dedicated praying for the persecuted. Some would say Blaine you are bragging with that arrogant statement. Saints I wish it were not true. I would love to see other prayer calls arise that pray for the oersecuted. I would gladly partner with them. But in Google searches I have found no other teleconference calls that do what Persecution Watch does. And I would shout for joy to see another con call arise to lift up the persecuted.
It is far easier to pray for Israel than to pray for the persecuted believers around the world. Saints this is not an anti semetic statement but true. We do call out for Israel on Persecution Watch. But we call out for the remnant faith people who will recieve Christ as their Savior.
To pray for the persecuted is unpopular. It is unglamorous. It us gruesome. It requires a special selfless person who will have a loving heart to cry out justice for His believing saints who spill their blood for Jesus. My questiion. Will you be such a person to cry out justice for the persecuted who cannot cry out for themselves.
Persecution Watch calls are often posted on tbis forum. Calls are open to all who love Jesus and the persechted church. But let me warn you. Praying for the oersecuted us very unpopular.
Blaine Scogin
Persecution Watch