How can we pray over current events? On the Wednesday edition of Live the Promise Craig von Buseck is back for another edition of Grace and Truth, along with Naghmeh Abedini. He helps us think biblically about ISIS, the separation of church and state, and other items in the news.
Pastor Saeed’s imprisonment
Naghmeh shares how God opened doors for her to have a recent meeting with the President.
“For him to have met me was a big door for God to open… I told him as a Christian that I had been praying for him and I told him this meeting was ordained by God. I could see the wall come down. He held my hand and said, ‘I need your prayers.’ All his officials didn’t know how this came about – why would he fly to Boise the day after a big speech… every step was a miracle.” Naghmeh wanted to share many things with the President, but God directed her to minister to him instead, and share the love of Christ. “You could feel the Lord in this room.”
• Pray for the release of Pastor Saeed for the sake of his children and wife
• Pray for more exposure for the persecuted church
• Pray for a removal of fear
ISIS
Craig comments on the recent acts of violence in the news – the burning death of a Jordanian pilot and the execution of a Japanese journalist, Kenji Goto. “This is barbaric; this is not something based on religion in any way. This is evil incarnate. We need to recognize that Satan will inspire evil men and women to cloak things in philosophy, politics, and religion.”
• Pray for boldness
• Pray for miracles
The separation of church and state
Craig points out that this phrase is found nowhere in our Constitution. It was included in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to a group of Baptists who wanted to make sure their freedom was being protected. “The context is not that the federal government steps in and tells us not to worship – the context is, you should have full freedom and the federal government should not prohibit the free exercise of that religion being practiced.”
Key Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:10-13; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Theme Song: Christ is Enough by Hillsong
Grace and truth: ISIS, Pastor Saeed, and the martyrdom of Kenji Goto
