MArch 2, 2006

Believers under Fire in Israel and Gaza

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:11, 12

Believers are under fire in Israel and Gaza.    

In Gaza, militants recently threatened to blow up the Palestine Bible Society, which has operated in the Gaza Strip since 1999.  The militant group (not affiliated with Hamas) sent the Christian ministry a letter demanding they shut down their offices or they would blow up their building by March 1.  Thankfully, the threat has not been carried out, but believers in Gaza are taking the threat very seriously.  A pipe bomb exploded outside the Bible society early in February.  Their situation reflects the chaos and unruly atmosphere within Gaza.  Since the threat, the Bible society closed its doors and they’re asking for prayer from the church around the world.  One believer said Christians in Gaza need prayer for protection, wisdom, and God’s favor during this very difficult and uncertain time. 

About an hour and a half drive to the east of Gaza, believers in the Israeli town of Arad are under the threat of persecution as well.  For two years, a Messianic congregation has endured verbal abuse, fire bombs, arson, and death threats from a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews.  The ultra-Orthodox are trying to get the Messianics – Jews who believe that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah – to leave the city.  These believers, too, are asking for prayer from believers around the world for them to stand strong and to be physically protected in the midst of their persecution.  

 And reflecting the crisis in the world today, a group of Christian leaders is asking for prayer and fasting.  It’s called “Facedown 40” and the leaders are asking believers worldwide to pray and fast for the 40 days between March 1 and April 9.  In their appeal they state: “The earth stands in a pivotal, but precarious, moment in history.  All around the globe, the earth seems to be convulsing with natural disasters, lawlessness, wars and rumors of wars.”  But despite these tumultuous times, they boldly declare, “Yet, there is an answer to this crisis:  the praying and fasting Body of Christ.”

As James said, “The fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man (or woman) avails much.” (James 5:16)  We can have a great impact on situations, whether it concerns the worldwide crisis we’re in or believers on the front lines of the Gospel.  They need and deserve our prayers. 

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