Hi JY's, A very powerful testimony. Sanju is right we have to face the world and tell the world about the Good News - Jesus Christ, the only Saviour and not be scared of the persecution cause Christ has gained a victory for us already. As Christians, He has placed a special mission on us to win souls for Him.
Infact though I get a lot of opportunity in witnessing about Christ's love, it is this fear that most of the time creates a block for me. I know that it is the will of Christ for all of us to proclaim the Good news in our feild of work and activities. And denying this will of God is denying God Himself. We need to read a lot about the life of saints & ask for their intercessions who will definitely inspire us and encourage us to be more courageous specially when Christians are being persecuted world over. I always make this prayer everyday "Christ make me Your instrument" cause I feel that our worth is only if we are useful for Him otherwise our life is worthless. Also I would like to refer here the mail of Bensi Chacko - "Pala achayan's Son". Today as I was just pondering over something what one of my friend said about me (it was a compliment) and as I was thinking suddenly a thought occurred to me which I would like to share with you all - "Lord, I am only dust but when Your hand is upon me then I am transformed into a Precious Stone". By ourselves we are nothing but when Christ is with us then we become like a strong mountain who will never get defeated by any storm, lightening, thunder or any adversity. This is the promise of the Lord "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the rest shall be given to you". We need not worry what we will eat or drink or what will happen or when this problem will stop or when our lives will be peaceful because these things will be taken care by the Lord, they are for God to worry. What we have to worry is how can we be an instrument of God. We should seek more opportunities where we can witness Christ's love to those who don't know about the saving grace of the Lord and who have become slaves to the evil one because of their weaknesses. We have to tell them the Good news that Christ has come to deliver them and then pray for them but only praying is not enough, we have to evangelize. If we are are ashamed of Christ then He shall be ashamed of us too. Let us pray to the Lord to bless us with immemse courage to witness Christ in every area of our lives. Amen Love & Prayers Jennifer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sanju Joseph" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 1:56 PM Subject: [JOYnet] Faith in adversities. > Dear Bros and Sisters, > > An essential ingredient for making our faith to become > complete is adversity and overwhelming problems. In > other words faith tested in the furnace of > adversities; becomes a powerful shield for us > shielding us from the fiery arrows shot towards us by > the evil one. We need to ask ourselves will I raise up > for God no matter what the situation and the > circumstance that challenges me. Let me share a true > incident narrated by my brother and friend who works > in the North India among hardcore Hindus and Muslims > in Ajmer. This incident came in when we were > discussing about the religious persecution in North > India. I am sharing this to you bcos this had really > boosted my faith and put a serious question - will I > proclaim Jesus when my head is on the Guillotine ? I > am praying God for this grace. Once we get the answer > rightly we will become like those poor suicide bombers > who has been so convinced(by the devil) about their > cause to give their life. One main difference however > in our case will be that we will give our life for the > Kingdom of Lord Jesus Christ. St. Paul teaches that > "death is gain" because it brings us into Christ's > presence and unites us with Christ. "For to me to live > is Christ, and to die is gain." ( Phil 1 : 21). > > There was this person called Sunil Dutt; who could not > sleep for 8 years.Someone suggested him to try boozing > so as to get proper sleep. So in another one year he > became a total alchoholic and a drug addict. It was at > this time he was directed by someone to the church in > which my friend works. It seems by the first day of > prayer itself there was a major deliverance > from that person and he could sleep peacefully from > 9.30 pm to morning 6.30 ; the first time in 9 years . > He wakes up the next day and goes to the gate of the > church and loudly proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord > and Savior.From that day on Sunil, his wife and > children decided to follow Jesus; except for his > mother. Now the person belonged to an orthodox Hindu > family from Uttar Pradesh and his mother brings the > entire family to his house bcos he had become as > "Eesai" (Christian). The million dollar question was > put before him - "Be with Christ or Out of the Family > ?". He boldly says that He belongs to Jesus Christ. So > the entire family writes him off. Now after a few > months the mother appears back filled with "love and > compassion" and offers him some money and gets back to > her house. On a right oppurtunity the mother consulted > someone who is into heavy black magic and gave the son > the food tainted with it. So Sunil falls terribly ill > and he was dying in the bed for 3 days. Meanwhile my > preacher friend was in Udaipur all these 3 days. And > afer 3 days he returns to know that Sunil is dying. So > he takes his motor bike and prepares to leave for his > house. Another phone call comes saying that - "You do > not have to come . Sunil has passed away". Now from > his bike this pastor makes a powerful prayer to God at > the end of which He gets a reply from the Holy Spirit. > "Do not worry . Just proceed and do as I direct". Now; > there was an RSS Office right opposite to Sunils > place. And there was a plot to beat up anyone coming > as part of his church and hold him responsible for his > death. So the preacher reaches there; he walks in and > sees Sunil lying on the bed and a Bible placed on his > chest. His wife and children were crying seeing him. > He looks around and saw the old woman(the mother of > Sunil) sitting on a corner. He yelled at her in Hindi > - "Dhokri, Khade Ho Jao".(Old woman stand up). Do you > want your sons life or your mad traditions ". The Lord > used that moment as a powerful testimony of His Power. > So he went ahead and gave a 5 minute speech on the > power of Jesus and about the blindness of Hindu > traditions. And then he told them - Now you will see > the power of Lord Jesus Christ in whom I believe." > This story was narrated at my elder brothers apartment > and the whole place shook up at this preachers > yelling. So I am sure it would have been audible well > enough for the RSS workers who were demanding the > blood of another "Eesai " . He said - " Sunil ; in the > name of Jesus Christ I command you to stand up and > follow me". He jumped up from his bed and came to him. > Bewildered ?? Yes I was also shaken by this. He went > with him on his bike to the church through the crowd > and had his food there. It seems there were 2 sons of > a Rajput woman who is part of the church who attends > the same RSS Shakha. When they discontinued the shakha > after coming to the Lord. It seems the leader of that > RSS center told them - " Do as the preacher says." He > ended the story saying that it is only through > persecution that the church will grow. Please take > some time off to pray for all our Christian brothers > and sisters working in hostile terrains. It is only > when we come out of our soft cushions and face the > harsh world that our faith will remain justified. > Sorry long mail.. > > In Christ > Sanju > Blore, India. > > ________________________________________________________________________ > > ============================================================================ === > This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. > For more info on the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet > To unsubscribe from the list send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To subscribe to the list visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet/join > In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ============================================================================ === =============================================================================== This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. 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