Saturday, September 29, 2018

Christ Witness In An Iranian Court

Philippians l 4:12,13  
"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." 


    My Friends, in the last four Devotions, we have talked about being chosen to be His Friends and Called to Be His Witness. We have read the sacrifice's that the Hero's of the Bible have suffered, and the greatest sacrifice of all; "Jesus Christ Our Savior."  Today I want to share with you a sacrifice that  started in 1984 and ended on the 21st of Dec, 1993.
    Mehdi Dibaj had committed an unpardonable offense: He had rejected Islam and turned to Jesus Christ in his country of Iran. In 1984, Mehdi was arrested and held without trail. After serving nine years in prison, and part of it was in solitary confinement, He was convicted of apostasy. Then on Dec, 21 1993, an Islamic court sentenced him to death. I want to share with you, Mehdi's  defense letter that he wrote and sent to the Sari court of justice. In the following excerpt from his defense Mehdi boldly shares the gospel with the court:

      I am a Christian. And a sinner, I believe Jesus has died for my sins on the cross and by His resurrection and victory over death has made me righteous in the presence of the Holy God. The true God speaks about this fact in His Holy Word. 
      In response to this kindness, He has ask me to deny myself and be His fully surrendered follower, and to fear people even if they kill my body, but rather rely on the Creator of life who has crowned me with the crown of mercy and compassion.
      I would rather have the whole world against me, but know that the almighty God is with me. I wold rather be called an apostate, but know that I have the approval of the God of glory, because man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. For Him who is God for all eternity, nothing is impossible. All power in heaven and on earth is in his hands.
      To know Him means to know eternal life. Life for me is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is  an opportunity to be with Christ. Therefore, I am not only satisfied to be in prison for  the honor of His Holy Name, but am ready to give my life for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Lord. 
      On Jan,16 1994 Mehdi's death sentence was overturned and he was released from prison. Then five months later Mehdi was abducted and murdered. My friends, Mehdi Dibaj was ready to give his life for the sake of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. His example still inspires Christians in Iran and around the world to live with that same commitment and boldness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray this excerpt from Mehdi Dibaj's defense documents will inspire all that read this, both  Christians and Non Christians around the world today.
Amen!!

Ref: The Voice of The Martyrs
        Iran: From The Persecuted       


May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry

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