Podcasts about iranian muslims

In this episode, we explore the incredible work of Transform Iran, a group dedicated to bringing freedom and hope to the people of Iran. Despite strict government rules that make it illegal to leave Islam or own a Bible, the church in Iran is growing fast. Over a million Iranian Muslims have given their lives to Christ in the past 45 years. Lana Silk, from Transform Iran, shares how the ministry focuses on three main areas: spreading the Gospel, helping new believers grow in their faith, and bringing positive change to communities. She discusses the importance of sacrifice, trusting God, and the need for ongoing discipleship in our Christian lives.  Tune in to hear how the Gospel is transforming lives in one of the most oppressed nations in the world. Show Notes: Follow us on: PRAY.COM Connect with EEM: EEM WebsiteEEM Facebook EEM LinkedIn EEM Instagram EEM Media

It's Monday, August 19th, A.D. 2024. This is The World View in 5 Minutes written by Yours truly and heard at www.TheWorldView.com. Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin. Religious Liberty Violations in Ukraine Reported on Christiantoday.com Christians are suffering serious religious liberty violations in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine.  Release International warned that the scaled of the hostility is resulting in imprisonment, torture and murder. In Ukraine, a Christian leader has been jailed over public opposition to the war and other churches that share this view are at risk of having their buildings demolished or are receiving other forms of intimidation. International Religious Freedom released a report saying ‘In Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine de facto authorities banned religious groups, raided houses of worship and many religious leaders were taken.'   To date several of the priest's whereabouts are still unknown. In Russia a Pastor, Eduard Charov, who runs a homeless shelter is due to stand trial this month for a social media post that said ‘Would Jesus Christ have gone to kill in Ukraine?' Pastor Charov told a media outlet ‘I already have a suitcase packed at home.  My wife will look after the shelter in the meantime.  And I will continue to help people in prison.  There are people in need everywhere' The 53 year old could face a prison sentence of up to 7 years and a fine of up to one million roubles. Pray for those who are currently facing intense persecution in Ukraine and Russia. Psalm 3:1-3 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Survey Proves Ignorance Among Modern Church Goers CBN News reports that LifeWay Research released a new survey that shows that 1 in 10 (that's 11%) of Protestant church goers accidentally offer New Testament stories when asked to share their favorite Old Testament stories, proving ignorance among modern church goers.  Seven percent offer no story at all and 3 percent simply don't know. Scott McConnell who is the executive director of Lifeway Research said, ‘While church goers may open a Bible at church, at least 1 in 5 may not be familiar with how it's organized and what distinguishes the New Testament from the Old Testament.' The study logically concludes that confidence in accurately retelling Bible stories is generally highest among those with evangelical beliefs and for those who attend church services on a regular basis.  The study also showed the 3 most popular Old Testament stories among church goers are 3) The Book of Genesis at 10% 2) The story of Noah at 11% and number 1) The story of Moses and the Exodus at 13%. Proverbs 2:6 says, For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. One Million Iranian Muslims Convert to Christianity On a positive, very encouraging note it has been reported that around 1 million Muslims have accepted Jesus Christ in the country of Iran as well as tens of thousands of mosques closing their doors.  In fact a senior cleric in Iran revealed that 50,000 of the nation's 75,000 mosques have closed because of plummeting numbers of people who attend.  So what is the response of the country of Iran to such a massive movement within the people?  Todd Nettleton with Voice of Martyrs told CBN News this concerning Iran. NETTLETON: “It is not something that is making the regime happy, and really, in many ways, they are seeking to solidify their power and to crush any kind of dissent.  They certainly see the growth of the church.  They certainly see Christian evangelism as a form of dissent.  We've heard multiple stories, this year, of a Bible study, a home church, being raided.  Everyone there is photographed.  Everyone there is questioned, but then the leader of meeting is held on to.  They are arrested.  They are detained.  They are put in prison.”  But this movement for Christ is not slowing down!  Don Shenk who has a radio ministry called Tide Ministry had this to say. SHENK: “We get responses from listeners who say, ‘You know, now I understand that God loves me.  I always thought that God wanted to punish me.'  And I think that there's an awakening, as I said, that's taking place, across the Muslim world. Pray that God continues this mighty revival in the Middle East! Ezekiel 34:11 reminds us about the words of God Himself.  Behold I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. Electric Vehicles Lose Value at a Faster Rate Than Gas Powered Vehicles Have an electric car?  While you might not be spending as much money on gas as you were before, but you are losing when it comes to the value of that vehicle.   Straight Arrow News reports that Electric vehicles are losing their value at a faster rate than their gas powered counterparts.  The normal depreciation rate for gas powered cars is about 10 to 15 percent.  However, EV models from automakers like Tesla, Ford and even Porsche have seen their values drop by as much as 50 percent within just 12 months.  That translates to a loss of nearly $600 per day!   But if you are looking to purchase an electric vehicle this is a good time to buy as you can expect to pay around 8% less on an EV than on a gas powered used vehicle And that's The World View on this Monday, August 19th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. Or get the Generations app throug h Google Play or The App Store. Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Family history, mystery, music, immigration, and more. That's what this trailer drop is all about. We're hitting play on "The Nightingale of Iran," a limited-run, six-episode series from sisters Danielle and Galeet Dardashti.On each episode of TPP, we select a trailer, hit play on it, and then bring you an analysis of that short audio teaser.Here's a bit about the show:It was a golden age for Jews in Iran. In the 1950s, a religious Jew – Younes Dardashti – became a national celebrity, singing at the Shah's palace and on the radio. In the 1960s, his son Farid became a teen idol on TV. They were beloved by Iranian Muslims. But at the height of their fame, they left the country.It has always been a mystery to our host Danielle Dardashti and her sister Galeet – Why did their family leave Iran? Now, in a documentary podcast series, the sisters reveal painful secrets unspoken for generations. The Nightingale of Iran is a story that will resonate with outsiders everywhere.About TPP:Trailer Park: The Podcast Trailer Podcast is hosted by Tim Villegas and Arielle Nissenblatt. We share trailers for podcasts of shows that have been long-running, never made it out of pre-production, were made just for fun, or anything in between. Our goal is to help creators make better short-form audio and to help listeners find their next favorite listen.TranscriptSeason 2 of TPP is sponsored by:AushaFanlistLinks mentioned:Our websiteOur instagramEmail us: hello@trailerparkpod.comConnect with Arielle Connect with Tim Leave us a rating/review on Apple Credits:Written and produced by Tim Villegas and Arielle NissenblattEdited by Arielle NissenblattMixed and mastered by Tim VillegasCover art by Caio Slikta

Ramin Parsa, a former Iranian Muslim, became radical for Jesus. When he was deported to America, God said strongly, be careful you don't lose your fire when you get to America.To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.lightsource.com/donate/885/29 To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1489/29

Ramin Parsa, a former Iranian Muslim, became radical for Jesus. When he was deported to America, God said strongly, be careful you don't lose your fire when you get to America. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.lightsource.com/donate/885/29

In this episode, Golsa is sharing her testimony about growing up in Iran in a loving Muslim family but facing a great challenge once she gets older. Practicing Islam for many years caused her to sink deep into depression and question the purpose of life. She was asking God every night, “Who are you? What is your name? How can I have a purpose in my life if I don't know who my Creator is?…”Support the Show.

In this episode, we briefly talk about our background: Being born into a Muslim family in Iran and growing up as devout Muslims, then encountering Jesus! We will share a short version of our testimonies as well as why we were led to start Reaching the Nations Ministries. We dive into the heart of this ministry and history of revival in Iran as the fastest growing church in the world, despite all the persecution and closed borders!Support the Show.

In Episode 137, Ali Malaekeh, Head Coach of the OC Seahorses, FCA College Representative, former college footballer, and Author of Veritas: 7 Truths that Lead to a Purposeful Life, talks with Phil and Paul about his unlikely journey from Iran to working with Fellowship of Christican Athletes and coaching a Christian WPSL soccer team, how his personal “why” led to his book Veritas: 7 Truths That Lead To A Purposeful Life, important life and leadership lessons from his book, his work with FCA and the Seahorses, his defining moment in soccer and how one coach deeply impacted his life, his thoughts on the current state of US Soccer, how he uses an important lesson from soccer in his marriage, and some books (in addition to his great book) that you're definitely going to want to read. Specifically, Ali discusses: ·      His personal story, including how he grew his passion for soccer, leadership, ministry, and coaching, and how an Iranian Muslim ended up on staff with FCA and coaching a Christian soccer team (3:57) ·      His life purpose and how it led him to write Veritas (15:30) ·      How his book is helping people find their purpose and live a purposeful life (18:36) ·      The concept of open-handedness as we pursue our goals (26:36) ·      The Japanese concept of Kintsugi and how it relates to integrity and our relationships (32:29) ·      How we can avoid external landmines in our lives (38:07) ·      His ministry with the OC Seahorses (42:40) ·      His defining moment in his soccer career and what he learned from it (48:25) ·      His most influential coach and how he is using the lessons learned from his coach in his life today (50:55) ·      His thoughts, good and bad, about the current state of US Soccer (53:50) ·      How he is using an important lesson learned from playing soccer in his marriage (59:15) ·      His book recommendations (1:01:14) Resources and Links from this Episode ·      Ali's Website (where you can get a copy of Veritas: 7 Truths that Lead to a Purposeful Life) ·      Video of the Episode ·      HSEL Facebook Group ·      Warrior Way Soccer ·      Providence World (Donations to HSEL Podcast) ·      Coaching the Bigger Game Program ·      Phil's email for DISC Training ·      Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else, Jon Gordon ·      The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team With Positive Energy, Jon Gordon

It's Monday, November 6th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian Muslims killed 17 Christians in Benue State On Sunday, October 29th, Fulani Muslim herdsmen and other terrorists killed six Christians in Benue State, Nigeria, following the slaughter of 10 others earlier last month, reports Morning Star News. In addition, another Christian in Benue State, 80-year-old Washima Erukaa, was killed after being kidnapped on September 23rd. A relative said, “His captors had demanded that we pay a ransom of $6,340, but we were not able to raise the money.”  So, the Muslim terrorists killed him on October 23rd. Please pray that God would comfort the families who are grieving. Nigeria is the sixth most dangerous nation worldwide for Christians Turkey withdraws ambassador from Israel, breaks off ties As the death toll among Palestinian civilians has soared in the war between Israel and Hamas, the Muslim terrorists, Turkish President Recep Erdoğan said Saturday that he was recalling its ambassador to Israel and breaking off contacts with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in protest at the bloodshed in Gaza, reports AFP. The Muslim leader announced the decisions on the eve of what promises to be a difficult visit to Turkey by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Turkey, a Palestinian ally, had been mending torn relations with Israel until last month's start of the Israel-Hamas war. Iranian Muslims recruiting suicide bombers to hit Israel A hard-line Iranian group has been actively recruiting potential suicide bombers for operations in Israel, reports 24/7 News Around the World. The group responsible for this recruitment drive, Hezbollah, different from the Lebanese militant group with the same name, has initiated a campaign in the southeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, a significant place in Shia Islam. Posters featuring calls for 'martyrdom' have appeared on the streets of Mashhad, imploring residents to submit their personal details for consideration. These posters declare, “It's time for Jihad,” as they seek people to join a “special battalion of martyr seekers for Palestine.” Int'l House of Prayer Founder Mike Bickle accused of sexual abuse The Roys Report revealed that Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri, is facing allegations of clergy sexual abuse “spanning several decades,” according to an October 28th statement from the ministry's leaders. Titus 1:6a declares, “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife.” Stuart Greaves, the Executive Director of the International House of Prayer, read an announcement during the 11 a.m. service at the Forerunner Church in Grandview, Missouri. GREAVES: “We are heartbroken to share that we recently became aware of serious allegations of sexual immorality directed against Mike Bickle. Our leadership team takes these allegations very seriously. And we are laboring for truth, light, redemption and righteousness.” Mike Bickle has led the House of Prayer since 1999. It is a 24/7 charismatic, prayer ministry with about 2,500 full-time staff, students, and interns, which attracts people from around the world. Ohio Catholic churches vandalized over pro-life convictions ahead of Nov. 7th vote Just days ahead of a statewide vote on whether to enshrine abortion into the Ohio Constitution, vandalism is reportedly on the rise against Catholic churches in the Buckeye State because of their outspokenness against the pro-abortion constitutional amendment, reports LifeSiteNews.com. According to the Ohio Attorney General's Office, the Issue 1 amendment would go far beyond even Roe v. Wade.  It would block prohibitions on partial-birth and dismemberment abortions, allow abortionists to target disabled babies, and end parental consent requirements for abortion. Plus, if Issue 1 passes tomorrow in Ohio, it would empower minors to make their own decisions about contraception, sterilization, and so-called “gender transition.” 10-year-old quadruple amputee to climb mountain to raise money And finally, a 10-year-old quadruple amputee is going to attempt to summit a 656-foot mountain to raise money for other children with disabilities, reports Good News Network. The climber, Luke Mortimer, is determined to summit Embsay Crag, in North Yorkshire, England which he can see from his rural home. The kind-hearted youngster has dubbed the peak his ‘Everest,' and is undertaking the challenge as an attempt to “return the favor” to charities which have helped him. Luke was just seven years old when he contracted the severe bacterial infections meningococcal meningitis and septicemia. Although he survived the deadly illnesses, he lost all four of his limbs and needed 23 painful surgeries over a ten-week period to replace missing skin and address his wounds. Charities and fundraisers set up in the wake of Luke's amputations managed $18,000 worth of donations from an army of well-wishers, allowing him to get his prosthetics. During the two-mile journey to the top of the summit, Luke will be wearing a set of shortened knee-length prosthetics called ‘stubbies' for the climb. Here at The Worldview we salute Luke Mortimer and pray that he successfully completes his mountainous journey and that the people of Britain would be generous as they bless other children who face amputations. Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Monday, November 6th in the year of our Lord 2023. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com).  Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

It's Monday, March 20th, A.D. 2023. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. By Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Iranian authorities have killed 500 protestors since last September When the Muslim Iranian revolutionaries, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, seized power back in 1979, they immediately pushed to rid the country of any foreign Christian elements, ending all formal foreign missionary efforts, reports International Christian Concern. Since then, Iranian Muslims have followed Christ through a rapidly growing “house-church” movement. In fact, an independent survey in 2020 revealed that there are one million Christians in Iran today. Most of them are new converts from Islam. In September 2022, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, named Mahsa Amini, visited family members in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. The notorious morality police arrested her under charges of not properly wearing the hijab, the Muslim headscarf. While detained, the morality police brutally tortured Mahsa who fell into a coma and died three days later. This tragic incident sparked a nationwide protest movement with Iranians from all ethnic and religious backgrounds taking to the streets in dozens of Iranian cities. Surprisingly, these recent protests have continued for months. To their shame, Iranian authorities have killed 500 protestors.  Plus, they have held so-called “fast-track” trials which have led to the executions of protestors charged with “waging a war on God.” In solidarity with Mahsa Amini, the protestors have adopted the foundational slogan “Women, Life, Liberty.” Pray for our Iranian brothers and sisters in Christ. Int'l Criminal Court issued arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of  Russian President Vladimir Putin who bears individual criminal responsibility for the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children which amounts to war crimes, reports The Mirror. It also issued a warrant for the arrest of Maria Belova, the Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation on similar allegations. Moscow has previously said it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and denied allegations of war crimes during the invasion. The large investigation also found crimes committed against Ukrainians on Russian territory, including deported Ukrainian children who were prevented from reuniting with their families, a “filtration” system aimed at singling out Ukrainians for detention, and torture and inhumane detention conditions. Euthanasia deaths rise by 10% in Belgium The Belgian Federal Control and Evaluation Commission on Euthanasia reported that 2,966 people died by euthanasia in 2022, reports Evangelical Focus. Government officials in Belgium said, “The number increased by 9.85% compared to 2021.” The majority of the euthanasia patients (69.9%) were over 70, with 42% older than 80. Even more tragically, the Commission said that 513 of the people killed in 2022 by euthanasia, or 17%, were “people whose [natural] deaths were not expected in the foreseeable future.” In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” To learn more about the debate over euthanasia, check out the website PatientsRightsCouncil.org. Library director fired for opposing Kirk Cameron's read-aloud Last month, Kirk Cameron, "Duck Dynasty" star Missy Robertson, and women's sports advocate Riley Gaines joined forces for a children's story time event at Hendersonville Library, about 20 miles northeast of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, reports The Blaze. Cameron and Robertson have both written children's books published by Brave Books, a patriotic and God-centered publishing company, which sponsored the event. Appearing on the Blaze TV show "Unashamed with Phil & Jase Robertson,” Missy explained what happened. MISSY ROBERSON: “When they scheduled to have this function at the library, there was so much outpouring, great response from the community, that the guy that was running the library could not believe it. He was like, ‘Whoever y'all are, y'all must be great because this is the most response we've ever had from a public event like this. This is gonna be awesome. Whoever this Kurt Cameron guy is.” JACE ROBERSON: “He didn't know who y'all were.” Not surprisingly, once the liberal library director, Allan Morales, discovered who they were, he became horrified by their stand for Biblical values. MISSY ROBERSON:  “So, Brave [Publishing] corrected him. Well, he finds out who Kirk Cameron is. And that's when the pushback began from them.  He started a campaign in the community to shut it down without officially canceling it because then he knew that wouldn't be good for their library.” Kirk Cameron tweeted, “Despite the rain and the unkind pushback (from one disgruntled librarian), an OVERFLOW crowd of families, mayors, county commissioners, and celebs welcomed and joined us at the library in Hendersonville, TN, praying and teaching faith in God and moral values to our kids.” Though the event appeared to be a success, many in the community were not willing to overlook the treatment that Cameron, Robertson, and Gaines received that day. Last Wednesday, the Sumner County Library Board voted 4-3 to remove Morales as library director. 81-year-old survives 6 days in snowbank with croissants and candy And finally, an 81-year-old man survived on croissants, candy, and biscotti after a snowstorm left him stranded on a desolate California highway alone for nearly a week, reports the Good News Network. Jerry Jouret, a former NASA employee, set off in good weather in Gardnerville, but never made it to his destination in Big Pine, three hours away when the blizzard descended. After his car fell into a ditch, he smartly conserved his car battery and gas for several days—only starting the SUV's engine periodically to warm up. Five days after he set out, both attempts to find him were unsuccessful. Appearing on CNN, his grandson, Christian, described the impact of his prayer in the search effort. CHRISTIAN JOURET: “The search team was supposed to go out days prior, but the weather was so awful they couldn't get a helicopter in there. Days were going by where they couldn't get to him. And finally, you know, I prayed about it hard, prayed that the weather would change. “The next day was the most beautiful day we've had in weeks. They were able to get a helicopter out there and rescue him.” In Jeremiah 29:12, God declares, “Then, you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” In God's providence, on March 2, a California Highway Patrol helicopter identified a cellular ping from his phone. Miraculously, the senior was discharged from the hospital later that evening, suffering only from dehydration. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, March 20th in the year of our Lord 2023. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In one of the most strict Islamic societies on earth, where the Ayatollah-led government enforces Sharia law and morality through the infamous Islamic Revolutionary Guard, an unprecedented movement to Christ among ordinary Iranian Muslims has been happening for the last 40 years.In this episode Matt interviews an Iranian lady called Mariam.She tells how, through dreams, through the Word of God, through satellite TV and through the people of God, she and several members of her family came to faith in Jesus.She shares about the remarkable growth of the church in Iran despite the persecution, the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Iran's 88 million people and some stories of the years she spent in Turkey sharing the good news with Muslims there.For more about the persecuted and growing church in Iran, do check out these two films, called Sheep Among Wolves. There are some amazing testimonies of Iranian believers in these films, but some harrowing accounts too of the suffering they have had to endure. https://www.faistudios.org/sheep

Borderlands is an experimental attempt to create space for people from within the Christian faith tradition and those outside. It is trying to be a safe place at a time when many people are looking for spaces of gathering, belonging and a faith that speaks of doubt as well as hope, of values as well as belief. Azadeh Sobout is someone we could describe as both an academic and an activist. But her words have a quality that leave the listener feeling that they are listening to a mystic. Azadeh is an Iranian Muslim who speaks here movingly on the theme of “Sacred Space” for our Belfast-based event Borderlands. Borderlands meets on the second Tuesday of every month, usually in the Pavilion Bar and is described as a Brave Space for Sacred Stories.

He was a Muslim commander in the Iranian army, full of hate for Israel, but the Jewish Messiah changed his heart to love God's chosen people!   Ladies 4 Jesus.org

On this week's episode of The FORBcast, we have an interview with Shirin Taber. Shirin is an international consultant, media producer and the author. With an Iranian Muslim father and an American Christian mother, she has lived in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Currently, she is directing the Empower Women Media and Middle East Women's Leadership Network, which help women create media for their mission. With a background in writing, non-profits and cross-cultural training, Shirin assists multiple organizations with media-based initiatives. The Los Angeles Times, Detroit Free Press, Fox News, Christianity Today and the NYTimes.com have featured her writing and work among Muslims and Christians alike. She has assisted the George Bush Institute Women's Leadership Initiative and the United Nations Office for Genocide Prevention with media projects focused on women and peace building. Shirin is a graduate of the University of Washington and speaks English, Farsi and French. Read more about Shirin in her book "Muslim's Next Door" and get involved with Empower Women Media by following the links below: http://empowerwomen.media/https://www.amazon.com/Muslims-Next-Door-Uncovering-Friendships/dp/0310255643/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=shirin+taber+muslims+next+door&qid=1633124309&sr=8-1https://human-rights-and-religious-freedom-training.teachable.com/p/homehttp://empowerwomen.media/film-competition-winners-and-finalists/"Empower Women Media helps women become world-class leaders by creating media for their mission. Launched in 2013, we gather women for networking, training, mentoring and collaborative purposes. We partner with United Nations, NGO and faith based organizations. We build relationships to leverage our talents and resources. We convene change agents and challenge them to create a practical plan for media engagement. As result of our network gatherings, trainings, mentoring and follow up efforts, several collaborative media projects have emerged for the Middle East and around the world."Thank you for listening to The FORBcast, presented by Bellwether International and hosted by Brenna Christen-Server. Please rate, review, subscribe, and send this episode to someone who you think would find it interesting. Send any questions, comments, or corrections to brenna@bellwetherngo.org. You can join us in the fight for freedom of religion or belief by visiting our website, https://www.bellwetherngo.org/

Culture shock - moved from Iran to Germany, then Austin, Texas over several of your teenage years. Relational shock - upon moving to Austin, you find your dad has set you up to marry his business partner who is 12 years older.Spiritual shock - a visit to your mom's where she has friends over, leads you to Christ without anyone directly evangelizing you, just the power of God's word.Listen as Lily Meschi tells her incredible story of God's redemption, and more! Lily Meschi, a former Iranian Muslim, now works as Director of Partners Relations with Dr. Shariat at Iran Alive. She strives to be a strong woman of God and help other women realize their identity in Christ and how to become an agent of transformation.https://iranaliveministries.org/

Ellie Cohanim talks with famed former Iranian political prisoner Ahmad Batebi and Iranian dissident Ben Tabatabai. Ellie joined the two as part of a delegation of Iranian Muslim dissidents traveling to Israel to express the Iranian people's solidarity with the Jewish state. In this heartwrenching conversation, Ahmad Batebi shares his harrowing experience of undergoing torture and solitary confinement at the hands of the Islamic regime. They also discuss Iran prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and their joint aspiration for a Cyrus Accords peace deal between a free Iran and Israel.

Born into War. Amir, Angel, and their Family faced series of unimaginable experiences that many will only see on television, but this was their Reality. The Internal war between Iranian Muslim Country vs Western Country damaged and divided them. Missiles, bombs, tanks, and gunshots were the norms in their world which they had to accept but one camping trip changed their lives forever. Amir waving goodbye to his sister, Angel, whom he thought would come back in a few days, did not return. Amir had a “bad feeling” when he saw his sister leave for what was a so-called “camping trip” with their dad. On the other hand, Angel, did not realized her father planned this long journey of no return; From traveling on a donkey from one place to another, to almost getting blown up and died, to getting imprisoned, how they got out of jail, how they arrived in America, what they had to go through living in the hood, and what amazing things they are doing now. You will hear it all on this episode. History is standing and speaking in front of us! We all have a journey we must go through, but we must remember you are the Creator of your own Destiny. Check us out on Anchor, Facebook, Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please Subscribe & Share with any one that you believe will enjoy and benefit from this podcast and show. We would be grateful if you would be willing to leave us a positive 5-star review. Your support and love will help us continue our journey. Thank you so much. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessed-boaters-show/id1565885695?i=1000521731583 —- Support our YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCz_QCJAisoWMeqI1-0Dtp6Q Rango Le Website: RangoDLe.com, Facebook Rango Le, https://www.facebook.com/rango.le Facebook page: Blessed Boaters https://www.facebook.com/groups/588918135844169/ Instagram: Rangoblaze, https://instagram.com/rangoblaze?utm_medium=copy_link TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMev4WU3o/ Email: rango@thepowernw.com MyLien Pham Facebook: MyLien Pham https://www.facebook.com/mylien.pham.1 Instagram: Ngylien https://instagram.com/ngylien?utm_medium=copy_link TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMev4WU3o/ Email: MyLien.Homes@gmail.com #BlessedBoaters #bornintowar #history #war #iran #iraq #revolution #journey #determination #appreciate #betterlife #destiny #thankful #uplift #amazingstories

I had the joy of interviewing Carolina Bravo-Karimi who is a partner at Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP. Carolina is bi-racial and half-Chilean Catholic and half-Iranian Muslim. She is a member of the firm’s employment law and class action groups with her practice focused on representing employers in a variety of employment disputes including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour litigation. She also regularly advises employers regarding diversity initiatives and provides implicit bias, equal pay, and anti-harassment training. We had a great discussion hearing about Carolina's cultural upbringing, integration v. assimilation, experiencing otherness in the law industry, and work she's done to bring great diversity, equity, and inclusion to the law industry. See complete bio below:Carolina Bravo-Karimi received her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Harvard University in 2002, Master of Science degree in Gender Studies with merit from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2004, and Juris Doctor degree, Order of the Barrister, from USD School of Law in 2008.Bravo-Karimi is a Partner at Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP. She is a member of the firm’s employment law and class action groups with her practice focused on representing employers in a variety of employment disputes including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour litigation.  Bravo-Karimi also conducts workplace investigations, including those requiring Spanish fluency.   She also regularly advises employers regarding diversity initiatives and provides implicit bias, equal pay, and anti-harassment training.  Prior to joining Wilson Turner Kosmo, Bravo-Karimi served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Louisa S Porter of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Bravo-Karimi is currently the Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for Just the Beginning, a pipeline program for underrepresented high school students.  She was President of the San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in 2018.  She served as co-chair for the 2017 San Diego Volunteer Lawyer’s Women and Families Resource Fair, and served as Chair of the Outreach Committee in 2018.  In addition, she is a Regional Deputy for the Hispanic National Bar Association and was named a “Top Lawyer Under 40” by the HNBA last year.  She has been named a “Rising Star” by San Diego Super Lawyers from 2015-2020.  She also received San Diego Metro’s 40 Under 40 Award in 2018, was named a 2019 Woman of Influence by SD Metro, was a 2019 Finalist for San Diego Magazine’s Celebrating Women Award, and was named a Woman Worth Watching by the Diversity Journal in 2020.Bravo-Karimi is actively involved with USD School of Law as a member of the Law Alumni Board since 2015 and is currently President-Elect and #HireUSDLaw program chair.  She is also a former Executive Moot Court Board faculty advisor and former adjunct faculty member.  Passionate about promoting student success and diversity in the legal field, she is a proud mentor to more than fifteen current and former USD School of Law students.  To recognize these efforts, she received the 2017 Rising Star Recent Alumni Award.Bravo-Karimi is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and Farsi and resides in San Diego with her husband Andrea and their two children Ana Sofia and Santiago.   Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/beyondblendingin)

In this episode, Dinesh exposes the alien invasion, a swarm of illegals who travel to the US border in caravans organized and subsidized by the international Left.  Taking up economist Larry Kudlow's statement that the federal government could get more revenue by lowering taxes on the rich, Dinesh explains the basic idea of the Laffer curve. Dinesh continues his discussion of the roots of "woke supremacy." An Iranian Muslim denounces the immorality of "The Great Gatsby," and Dinesh thinks he might have a point.  And Danielle D'Souza Gill comes on to talk about two very strange creatures: the Georgia Secretary of State and a group called Evangelicals for Biden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reza is the team pastor for the Denver Broncos. He is also lead missionary for athletes in action at Colorado State, University of Colorado, northern Colorado, University of Wyoming athletic departments.  Hear how this all started being born in Iran, a Muslim, and spent a summer with wonderful friends.

When Robert Aserian first prayed to Jesus, it was an atheist’s prayer: I don’t know if you are real, Jesus, but if You are please show Yourself to me. Jesus answered that prayer, and Robert has been following Him passionately – and encouraging others, including Iranian Muslims, also to follow – ever since. He even taught a class on Christian theology to Islamic clergy members. Listen to Robert’s story of coming to faith, then experiencing God’s call to ministry. Robert will share about different martyrs of the church in Iran he knew and learned from and describe how their legacy emboldened him to serve Christ inside the Islamic Republic, no matter what persecution he might face – including the day authorities came to his house early in the morning to take him to prison. Today, Rev. Robert Aserian is the Director for Training at Pars Theological Centre, training and equipping leaders for the Iranian Church.

When Robert Aserian first prayed to Jesus, it was an atheist’s prayer: I don’t know if you are real, Jesus, but if You are please show Yourself to me. Jesus answered that prayer, and Robert has been following Him passionately—and encouraging others, including Iranian Muslims, also to follow—ever since. He even taught a class on Christian theology to Islamic clergy members. Listen to Robert’s story of coming to faith, then experiencing God’s call to ministry. Robert will share about different martyrs of the church in Iran he knew and learned from, and describe how their legacy emboldened him to serve Christ inside the Islamic Republic, no matter what persecution he might face—including the day authorities came to his house early in the morning to take him to prison. Today, Rev. Robert Aserian is the Director for Training at Pars Theological Centre, training and equipping leaders for the Iranian Church. You can hear conversations with other leaders of Pars here and here. You can also hear directly from children of some of the martyrs Rev. Aserian was inspired by, including the son of Pastor Haik Hovsepian and the daughter of Pastor Hossein Soodmand. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe to the podcast!

This is my final part from my conversation with Rosa Rad. We talked about growing us as an Iranian-American Muslim after 9/11, the treatment of minorities in the US; in Trump's Era. We also, chatted about religion, and being identified as a Muslim even if you weren't practicing Islam, and how the Muslim community there reacts to this, and what is the role of religion in our lives. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gazaguy/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/gazaguy/support

Shirin Taber is an international consultant, media producer and the author of Muslims Next Door(Zondervan/Harper Collins). With an Iranian Muslim father and an American Christian mother, she has lived in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Currently, she is directing the Empower Women Media and Middle East Women’s Leadership Network, which help women create media for their mission. With a background in writing, non-profits and cross-cultural training, Shirin assists multiple organizations with media-based initiatives. The Los Angeles Times, Detroit Free Press, Fox News, Christianity Today and the NYTimes.com have featured her writing and work among Muslims and Christians alike. She has assisted the George Bush Institute Women’s Leadership Initiative and the United Nations Office for Genocide Prevention with media projects focused on women and peace building. Shirin is a graduate of the University of Washington and speaks English, Farsi and French. empower women.mediaInterviewed by Lisa Jernigan, hosted by Julie Bean@amplifypeace.com/podcast

Dr. Hormoz Shariat was among thousands of Iranian Muslims marching in the streets of Tehran during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Today, he’s “The Billy Graham of Iran” with a vision to reach one million Iranians for Jesus Christ. He tried Islam, but says it didn’t work to meet the needs of his heart and life. Hormoz’s wife, Donnell, was born in America, yet she too was marching in those streets after moving to Iran — and converting to Islam — to marry Hormoz. Today Hormoz leads Iran Alive Ministries, one of VOM’s partners in spreading the gospel to the people of Iran. Listen as Hormoz and Donnell tell the story of how God changed their hearts—and saved their marriage—through the love of Jesus and the faithful witness of His followers. Hormoz’s new book, Iran’s Great Awakening: How God is Using a Muslim Convert to Spark Revival, releases this week.

Dr. Hormoz Shariat was among thousands of Iranian Muslims marching in the streets of Tehran during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Today, he’s “The Billy Graham of Iran” with a vision to reach one million Iranians for Jesus Christ. He tried Islam, but says it didn’t work to meet the needs of his heart and life. Hormoz’s wife, Donnell, was born in America, yet she too was marching in those streets after moving to Iran—and converting to Islam—to marry Hormoz. Today Hormoz leads Iran Alive Ministries, one of VOM’s partners in spreading the gospel to the people of Iran. Listen as Hormoz and Donnell tell the story of how God changed their hearts—and saved their marriage—through the love of Jesus and the faithful witness of His followers. Hormoz’s new book, Iran’s Great Awakening: How God is Using a Muslim Convert to Spark Revival, releases this week. As a VOM Radio listener, you can receive a complimentary copy when you make a donation of any size to Iran Alive Ministries. Donate online and request your copy here. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Omid Sabouki serves as the President and CEO of Jubal Band Ministries, helping reach Iranian Muslims with the message that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He loves us. Omid will tell us this week about the persecution of Christians by Iran’s government, including arrest, imprisonment and even assault at the hands of interrogators. He’ll talk about the importance of getting more Bibles to the church in Iran — a challenge VOM is helping to meet through various Bible delivery methods. He’ll explain how he and other Christian leaders are training church leaders, both inside and outside Iran, to serve the rapidly-growing number of Iranian Christians. Omid will share the pain he feels when one of his workers inside Iran is arrested, and how he prepares workers to face persecution without losing their zeal for Christ — including sharing stories from VOM about persecuted Christians in other nations, like North Korea. Finally, Brother Omid will equip listeners to pray for Iran and the ongoing Gospel work inside the Islamic Republic. Brother Omid shared his testimony of coming to Christ, including a dream, a taxi driver and a Bible, in the first part of our conversation.

Omid Sabouki grew up in a Muslim household in Iran. Today he is a follower of Christ and helping reach more Iranian Muslims with the message that Jesus is the Son of God and that He loves us. Listen to Omid’s story of finding Jesus, including a dream during which a man in white told Omid, “Stay on my way.” The next morning, the driver of his taxi gave Omid a package. Inside the package was a complete Bible. That Bible led Omid and his wife to faith in Christ — a decision that would cost him his relationship with his family. Listen to Omid’s story of finding Christ, then finding a spiritual family through a home church. Soon after, persecution forced Omid to leave Iran after the government closed his business and froze his bank accounts. But Omid says, “God had a plan for me.” Listen to Omid’s story of coming to faith and how God sustained him through persecution and trials. And hear how his ministry into Iran continues to lead others to Christ — including placing Bibles into letter boxes all across Iran. Omid serves as the President and CEO of Jubal Band Ministries.

Omid Sabouki serves as the President and CEO of Jubal Band Ministries, helping reach Iranian Muslims with the message that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He loves us. Omid will tell us this week about the persecution of Christians by Iran’s government, including arrest, imprisonment and even assault at the hands of interrogators. He’ll talk about the importance of getting more Bibles to the church in Iran—a challenge VOM is helping to meet through various Bible delivery methods. He’ll explain how he and other Christian leaders are training church leaders—both inside and outside Iran—to serve the rapidly-growing number of Iranian Christians. Omid will share the pain he feels when one of his workers inside Iran is arrested, and how he prepares workers to face persecution without losing their zeal for Christ—including sharing stories from VOM about persecuted Christians in other nations, like North Korea. Finally, Brother Omid will equip listeners to pray for Iran and the ongoing gospel work inside the Islamic Republic. Brother Omid shared his testimony of coming to Christ, including a dream, a taxi driver and a Bible, in the first part of our conversation. Never miss and episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe on your favorite podcast service.

Omid Sabouki grew up in a Muslim household in Iran. Today he is a follower of Christ, and helping reach more Iranian Muslims with the message that Jesus is the Son of God and that He loves us. Listen to Omid’s story of finding Jesus, including a dream during which a man in white told Omid, “stay on my way.” The next morning, the driver of his taxi gave Omid a package. Inside the package was a complete Bible. That Bible led Omid and his wife to faith in Christ—a decision that would cost him his relationship with his family. Listen to Omid’s story of finding Christ, then finding a spiritual family through a home church. Soon after, persecution forced Omid to leave Iran after the government closed his business and froze his bank accounts. But Omid says, “God had a plan for me.” Listen to Omid’s story of coming to faith and how God sustained him through persecution and trials. And hear how his ministry into Iran continues to lead others to Christ—including placing Bibles into mailboxes all across Iran. Omid serves as the President and CEO of Jubal Band Ministries. Never miss and episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe on your favorite podcast service.

I hear that Oprah something called a "book club," so I figured if it was good enough for Oprah, it's good enough for Snarky Faith. Join us today, as we talk about some interesting gems that you may have missed.  We'll talk about books, politics, and the Christian Crazy too. I'll even throw in a chat with author and artist, David Hayward, aka The Naked Pastor about his new book. Buckle up, it's going to be a wild and fun ride.   Books featured in this episode:   Til Doubt Do Us Part by David Hayward If changing beliefs are changing your marriage, you need to read this book where David Hayward speaks into the strain that deconstruction can cause in a marriage.  For those of us who have had huge faith shifts, this is like a roadmap to those tough, but necessary conversations that need to happen.    Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints by Daneen Akers "Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints" is an illustrated children's book about people of diverse faiths working for more love and justice in their corners of the world, even when that means rocking the religious boat. With original portraits from more than two dozen artists and engaging profiles of people from different faiths and different eras, these are stories that inspire, educate, challenge, and encourage. Some of the people featured in this book are well known, like the beloved St. Francis of Assisi (a favorite of Hufflepuffs everywhere for his love of animals), who gave up a wealthy inheritance to serve the poor, Rumi, the Sufi poet, and Thich Nhat Hanh the beloved teacher who developed the concept of engaged Buddhism. Some are well known, but the deep faith motivating their work is lesser-known, such as Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale, and Mr. Rogers. Others are less known such as Bayard Rustin, an American Quaker whose role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s is often downplayed because he was a gay man; Maryam Molkara, an Iranian Muslim transgender rights advocate; and Regina Jonas, the first female rabbi to be ordained whose story was almost lost to history.   The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix A 2018 Society of Illustrators Gold Medal Winner! Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party is gaining strength and becoming more menacing every day. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor upset by the complacency of the German church toward the suffering around it, forms a breakaway church to speak out against the established political and religious authorities. When the Nazis outlaw the church, he escapes as a fugitive. Struggling to reconcile his faith and the teachings of the Bible with the Nazi Party’s evil agenda, Bonhoeffer decides that Hitler must be stopped by any means possible! Come along for the ride as we skewer through life, culture, and spirituality in the face of a changing world. Www.Snarkyfaith.com

A Persian woman's healing in a restaurant leads to a night of healings, prophetic ministry and sharing all about Jesus at their home. They invited their friends! God broke in that night in a powerful way - PLEASE GO AND DO LIKEWISE!!!!

COVID-19 has killed a member of the clerical body that appoints the supreme leader, according to Iranian state media, the latest official in the country to die of the highly infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus. Ayatollah Hashem BathayiGolpayegani, 78, died two days after testing positive for the new coronavirus and being hospitalized. Golpayegani represented Tehran in the assembly of experts, an 88-strong body of Muslim scholars that appoints and monitors Iran's supreme leader. At least 12 Iranian politicians and officials, both sitting and former, have now died of the illness, and 13 more have been infected and are either in quarantine or being treated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID-19 has killed a member of the clerical body that appoints the supreme leader, according to Iranian state media, the latest official in the country to die of the highly infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus.Ayatollah Hashem BathayiGolpayegani, 78, died two days after testing positive for the new coronavirus and being hospitalized.Golpayegani represented Tehran in the assembly of experts, an 88-strong body of Muslim scholars that appoints and monitors Iran's supreme leader.At least 12 Iranian politicians and officials, both sitting and former, have now died of the illness, and 13 more have been infected and are either in quarantine or being treated.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/newscast-africa/support --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/africabusinessnews/support

Ed Saleh runs a satellite television network aimed right at the middle eastern Muslim world. He also helps Muslims who make their way to Canada; his church is filled with Muslim converts to Christianity. I sit down with him in his Toronto-based studio to hear about the persecution of Iranian Christians, and a story that will blow your mind!

- SERMON TRANSCRIPT- Turn in your Bibles to Psalms 2 this morning, as we're gonna meditate on God bringing forth his Son. When it comes to Christmas, I think we Christians, especially older ones, the older we get, we know that things are not as they appear. The holiday, Christmas, has a surface feel to it, and it's there everywhere, everywhere we look. I, for one, enjoy seeing houses get decorated, I like seeing the lights, there are certain houses near us in North Durham that really roll out the red carpet for people. I mean, they put out lights, I don't know what their electric bill is. They even have dedicated radio stations where if you sit in front of their houses, you can listen to a presentation and it's pretty amazing. I'm not certain whether they take them down, I think they may be up year round, and then they just plug them in as though their neighbors don't see them, like in July or August, but there are other houses like us, we put up lights and we love to see it, our neighborhood is decked out and we enjoy that. We also see all the green and red in the malls and the different things, and that's all that kind of surface aspect, but appearances are deceiving. That's not what Christmas is all about, and we Christians know that. I think when it comes to appearances being deceiving, I think about Christmas presents and disappointments I've had over the years. I'm not gonna share them with you, but even quite recently, have you ever been part of a white elephant gift exchange? Alright, you know exactly what I'm talking about. For those of you that don't know what it is, you take something relatively worthless and put it in a very nice box with wrapping paper and ribbon and all that. What's really fun is when you see little kids who don't know the rules of the game, taking part. And so they frequently go to the largest, most spectacular box, and they'll rip off all of the wrapping paper and they'll open up and find a single shoe inside, or a pair of nail clippers, or some piece of lawn decoration like a gnome or something like that. I don't mean to offend those of you that love lawn gnomes, but those are the kinds of things that tend to show up at white elephant gift exchanges. And so, appearances are deceiving. Christmas is about far more than that. The real meaning of Christmas, we know as Christians, is about the indescribable gift I just prayed about, about the gift of the only begotten Son of God. The gift of Jesus Christ, and the gift of salvation, the infinite mystery of the God-man, the incarnation of Jesus Christ being fully God, fully man. Christians have wrestled with the theology of the incarnation from the very beginning when we try to understand. Really, Mary perhaps was one of the very first as she held her little baby boy in her arms, and she pondered the words that the angel Gabriel had spoken to her, how he would be both the son of David and the son of God. And it says in Luke 2, that she pondered these things and treasured them in her heart. When Jesus came into the world, it was a scene of amazing simplicity and weakness, and even poverty. Here was this young Jewish couple, so poor that they could not find decent lodging place in which Mary could give birth to her firstborn, there was no room at the inn, perhaps the most famous words ever spoken about an inn, or a hotel. So it led to Joseph and Mary finding a warm, dry place in a cave perhaps, or a barn or some place where animals were stored in the vicinity of Bethlehem. And she brought forth her firstborn and she wrapped him up with swaddling clothes as the scripture says and laid him in a manger. This's just a box filled with feed for animals. “The real meaning of Christmas, we know as Christians, is … the gift of Jesus Christ, and the gift of salvation, the infinite mystery of the God-man, the incarnation of Jesus Christ being fully God, fully man.” And so here, the only begotten Son of God was laid in a condition so far beneath the way most newborn babies are treated worldwide. This was a picture of weakness and poverty, and of obscurity. The halls of power around the world did not know anything about it that night. Think about the Roman Emperor who was on the throne of power, ruling over a quarter of the population of the world, he knew that Palestine, Judea was part of his domain, but he wasn't thinking much about it, was by his perspective probably a backwater. The Emperor Caesar Augustus had issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, and that moved populations around, and so his mandate determined the motions of the Jewish nation as a whole, and of Joseph and Mary in particular. But when Christ was born, Caesar Augustus knew nothing about it. It didn't mean anything to him, at all. The Son of God entered the world as an infant, weak, totally dependent. He needed His mother to wrap Him up in cloths, needed his mother to feed him, needed her husband to protect them both and provide for them. They were hardly the picture of omnipotence, hardly a threat to the thrones of the high and mighty. And yet from the beginning of his life to the end, Jesus had mighty enemies that hated him and fought against him and opposed him, that took counsel together, enraged against him. And this sermon is to show the heavenly perspective of that earthly opposition, is to lift all of us as believers in Christ up into the councils of the Almighty, into the throne room of God and see all of that opposition to Christ from that heavenly perspective. To hear Almighty God laugh at the opposition is good for us. It's delightful for us to hear that laugh and to understand how deep, and wise, and powerful that laughter of God is in reference to all of his enemies. Appearances can be deceiving when it comes to opposition to the Gospel, it can be seen that the human opposition to Christianity have the upper hand, that they're actually winning. That they're carrying the day, but appearances can be deceiving. The fact is, Psalm 2 teaches us, that the decree of Almighty God is for the final success of this kingdom of Christ, and nothing can stop it. And he's put his omnipotence behind the spread of the gospel. Psalms 2 tells you how it's going to be with Jesus, the Christ. Almighty God has decreed that he will rule the earth. And Psalms 2 is telling the human race to get with that program. To not fight, to not oppose, to not resist, but rather to find refuge in Christ, and for us to realize the richness of that refuge, and to come into that refuge and find safety in Christ. That's what Psalms 2 all about. So let's walk through it together. I. The Nations Rage Against God’s Son It begins in Psalms 2, verses 1 through 3 with the nation's raging against God's Son. "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain, the kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed one." That is the Christ, saying, “let us burst their bonds apart, and let us cast away their cords from us." So it's amazing how the Psalm begins with the rhetorical question, “Why?” It's like, "Why do they do it?" It's nothing but futility. It cannot succeed. So this is heaven asking Earth, "Why?" From the beginning, nations and rulers conspired against the Lord and against his anointed one, conspired against Christ. You remember that shortly after he was born, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple grounds, and there was an old man there named Simeon, a prophet, who had been waiting for the Lord's Christ. He had been assured by God in his own heart, in his spirit, that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. And now the time had come, and he took the baby Jesus into his arms and he said this, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel. And to be a sign that will be spoken against. So that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." In other words, the nations will rage against this baby, the rulers will take counsel against him, they will rage against him. This was immediately, these words were immediately fulfilled by King Herod, Herod the Great. Why was he great? He was great in wealth, he was great in power locally, but not worldwide. He was great because he made big buildings, but he was not a great man, he was an evil man, he was a tyrant, and he was zealous and jealous over his own throne. So much so that he killed his two sons lest they should grow up and topple him from his throne. As a matter of fact, Caesar Augustus heard about this and said of King Herod, "I would rather be Herod's pig than his son." It was this very man who conspired to have all the babies born in Bethlehem, all the boy babies that were born in Bethlehem and its vicinity, who were two years old and under slaughtered, lest this baby should rise up and topple him from his throne. But Herod did not realize how impossible it was to kill this baby. How Almighty God, God the omnipotent sheltered Jesus, the baby Jesus with the shadow of his wings. And did enough to keep him safe, didn't need to do any more, just spoke to Joseph in a dream, to tell him to take Mary and the baby and flee to Egypt until the danger had passed, that was all. He didn't send an angelic army, which he could have done. They were there the night he was born, he could have sent, but instead just did enough to keep him alive and that's enough. But it was impossible for Herod the tyrant to kill the baby Jesus. And so this conspiracy, this rage, this opposition against Christ came from the very beginning of his life. And it went throughout his public ministry, right to the end of his life as well, right to the end of his days. And in his public ministry, throughout his ministry, Jesus had opposition. He had people that rose up against him that actually even conspired to find out how they might kill him. For example, in Matthew chapter 12, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and the Jewish leaders that were in opposition then went out and conspired how they should kill Jesus. And so they took counsel together. And so these plots continued day after day throughout the rest of Jesus's life. And culminated, of course, in his trial, in which the Jewish leaders pressured Pontius Pilate, against his will, but conspired together with Pilate to the end that Jesus should be killed, that he would be crucified. It was exactly what these evil leaders had wanted to do throughout Jesus's public ministry. They wanted him dead, and now he was dead. But God raised him from the dead. And within a short amount of time, bold and courageous Christians, followers of the Christ, rose up in his place, filled with his Spirit, and began boldly to preach the gospel to the very same ones who conspired to kill Jesus. And Acts Chapter 4 tells about how Peter and John boldly said, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." What incredible boldness! Now, at that point, the leaders weren't quite ready to kill them, weren't quite ready to physically attack them or torture them, so they release them. And Peter and John went back to their own people, and they gathered the people together to pray and they quoted the same psalm, Psalms 2. Acts Chapter 4:25-28, they said in their prayer, "You spoke, oh God, by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of your servant, our father, David. Why do the nations rage and the people's plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed one. Indeed " they prayed, "Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had determined beforehand should happen." So even in their plotting against Jesus, they were just fulfilling the decree of Almighty God, even the decree in this Psalm. They were doing exactly what the Sovereign God had wanted them to do. So from the beginning of Jesus's earthly life, through to the end, and then after he was ascended and seated at the right hand of God, his followers, the same rage, and the same counseling together, and same plotting has gone on against the Lord and against his anointed one. So it is today. We Christians are aware, here in America of increasing rise of opposition to Christianity. We are learning more and more, and it's I think a good thing for us to know that we are aliens and strangers in this world, this is not our home. Our citizenship is not here, but in Heaven. And while Christianity has had a comfortable, generally positive relationship with the surrounding culture and with the government for centuries, generally positive, that it seems is a decaying orbit coming to an end. So we can see the aggressive secularization of our culture. I could reach for kind of low-hanging fruit on that and talk about how this or that nativity scene was forbidden in this or that locale. Or the things that Starbucks is or isn't doing with their coffee cups at this time of year. These things are minor. What's worse is the increasing rise of godless or unbelieving world views that are coming with teeth to force Christians to violate their consciences. I heard recently from a member of our church of, this particular man's mother was forced to sign a document that she would refer to transgender people by their preferred pronouns. And if she didn't, she would lose her job. Well, that's gonna bring people quickly to a fork in the road, isn't it? Imagine in a particular ward of a hospital that cared for anorexics, that you are forced to follow those individuals' delusions and tell them that they could stand to lose a little weight. And so we are surrounded, we are in enemy territory, and it's going to become more and more difficult for Christians to stand firm. I think back to the early days of the Roman opposition to the gospel, when the Emperor Decius in the year AD 249, forced Christians to burn a pinch of incense to Caesar, and get a paper certificate saying that it had been witnessed, that they'd done it. And they had to say, “Caesar is Lord” when they did it. And that brought people quickly to the fork in the road. And I wonder what kind of difficulties we're going to have, not just in that one issue, but in more and more issues living overtly for Christ. But the troubles that we American Christians have are as nothing compared to what our brothers and sisters are facing around the world. Many of our brothers and sisters know exactly what kind of counsel the rulers take against Christ in their country. I think about what happened in October in China, where the government sent bulldozers and backhoes and a large crane in a particular province where Christians were gathered together to worship and to pray and they began breaking the building down while the service was going on. This happened in October. The pastors were arrested and imprisoned for, "gathering people to disturb social order." And so we see the rulers of that most populous nation on earth gathering together and taking counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed ones. It's been going on for decades in that country. Or you could think of the leaders of Muslim nations that do the same thing and make life utterly miserable for people to cross over from the lie of Islam to the truth of Christianity, and then the laws are against them, they're incarcerated, they lose their freedom, they lose perhaps, even their lives, where their families are even encouraged to hunt them down and kill them and not prosecuted, because that's just part of their interpretation of Islamic law. Or it could be even at a lower level where governments like the Indian government will give a visa to a missionary wife, but not to her husband, and they know very well that that will keep that couple from going back on the field to continue their work. The government of Russia does the same kind of shenanigans. So those are lower levels of opposition, they're taking counsel together, they're opposing, they're trying to fight. Psalm 2 speaks to all of these situations, all of these circumstances. Behind all of this, we have to see a vast conspiracy. So, you're like, "Wow pastor, I didn't know you're a conspiracist." I actually am. I think there is a deep, dark, intelligent, wicked conspiracy at the highest level, to unify all of these efforts against the Lord and against his anointed one. And you know who's running it? Satan. And he is ruling over the dark opposition to the gospel. Revelation 12 talks about this, how that ancient serpent, the devil, Satan, stood ready to devour the woman and her child, and was unable to do so. So he turned his rage against the believers, the followers, the children of the woman. So it is. Revelation 12. This has been going on, and it continues, and it's going to continue till the end. II. God Laughs at their Rage... and Threatens Them with His Own Rage Well, God laughs at the rage, and he threatens them with his own rage. Look at Verse 4; "The One enthroned in heaven laughs, the Lord scoffs at them." This is for me an amazingly comforting picture of God. The reaction of all of this conspiracy and opposition is heavenly laughter. A laughter of derision. It is impossible to measure how infinitely above their plots and their power he is. It cannot be measured because it is infinite. AW Tozer in his book ‘The Knowledge of the Holy’. He said this, "Forever God stands apart in light, unapproachable. He is as high above an archangel as he is above a caterpillar. For the gulf that separates the archangel from the caterpillar is but finite. But the gulf between God and the archangel is infinite. The more we meditate on the infinite gap between creator and creature, the more we'll understand this laugh of derision, God's omnipotence.” God's throne does not experience the slightest tremor at this human opposition. Doesn't tremble at all. He's not alarmed. He's not at a loss. What to do? He just laughs. Now, you can imagine if every human being on the face of the earth were gathered into one vast plane, I don't know if there'd be one plane that would be large enough, but maybe somewhere in Central Asia, so 7.5 billion people, and all of them gathered in one place, and at a certain signal, they all jumped and landed back down on the Earth at the same time. Would the Earth crack apart? Would the earth shake and tremble? Would there be tidal waves all over the earth because of that? No, it says in Psalm 104:5 that God set the earth on its foundations. It can never be moved. But you know what something? Hebrews chapter 1 says, that Christ's throne is more eternal than the Earth. It's more eternal than the Earth. That's what it says in Hebrews 1:10-12. "In the beginning, oh Lord, you laid the foundations of the Earth and the heavens of the work of your hands. They will perish. But you remain. They will all wear out like a garment. Like a robe, you will roll them up, like a garment, they will be changed, but you remain the same, and your years will never end." That's what the psalmist says ultimately to Jesus, that's what the author to Hebrews says ultimately about Christ's throne. It cannot be shaken. All of the nations are as nothing before the sublime majesty of Almighty God. Isaiah 40:15-17 says, “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket. They're regarded as dust on the scales. He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor all its animals enough for burnt offerings, before Him all the nations are as nothing, they're regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing.” So God's laughter of derision is a measure of how threatened he is? Not at all. But it's more than that. There's a deep cleverness and in a fascinating wisdom to God's laughter at his enemies. What he does is he takes their opposition, specific details of their opposition, and turns it around on them and actually uses specific aspects of how they are seeking to stop the spread of the gospel to actually spread the gospel. The clearest example of this is Tertullian, famous statement, "The blood of martyrs is seed." The blood of martyrs causes more Christians to spring up. You can't fight it by killing the Christians. You just make more Christians when people who until that time were afraid to die, saw men and women who were not afraid to die, and they said, "Whatever those people have, I want. I don't have it, and I want it." So that's the laughter of God. You dug a hole, you're going to fall into it while I pass by in safety and I'm gonna actually use the aspects of what you have done to spread the gospel. I was speaking to a mission's leader recently, and he was talking about… I think in heaven, we're gonna find how many laughters of God there were in 20 centuries where specific aspects of their plans were turned around and God used them for his glory. We're gonna find out. But there's a remarkable story, so I was speaking to a mission's leader, and he told me about things, great things that are happening in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ayatollah Khomeini came in 1979, very famously took over the American Embassy. It was really a watershed moment in terms of the relationship between the West and Islam. And there's a lot of things that changed then in 1979, from that point on, it's like a hinge of history. But one of the things that happened is many, many Iranian Muslims became disenchanted with Islam and were looking for something, something else, not this, and they were open. And God, in amazing ways, began to infiltrate that country with the gospel, and it goes on to this very day. There's an explosion of Christians, of Christianity in Iran. Now, what's interesting is they have very significant health care needs, and they're not looking for missionary doctors to come from the United States. No, not at all. There's no way you could get in with a missionary visa into the Islamic Republic of Iran. So they actually strangely have a connection with the communist government of Cuba, and so they have asked for doctors to come from Cuba. Well, maybe you didn't know there's an evangelical revival going on in Cuba too. And God is doing an amazing work in Cuba. And who do you think is lining up to fill those slots, to go from Cuba over to Iran to serve the people of Iran? I'll just leave it to your imagination to figure out who it is that's going. But wouldn't it be amazing? Wouldn't it be the laughter of God for the communist government of Cuba to pay for missionaries to go to the Islamic Republic of Iran? Now, I'm not saying it's happening, but wouldn't it be amazing if it were? I'm gonna look forward to that part of our heavenly joy and looking backward at what God did to turn the whole thing around again, and again, and again, that's the laughter of God. Psalms 18:25-26, "To the faithful, you show yourself faithful, to the blameless, you show yourself blameless to the pure, you show yourself pure, but to the crooked, you show yourself shrewd." You wanna be crooked with God, He will be shrewed with you. And Psalms 2 just teaches that, God laughs at the plans and turns them around. God also, however, doesn't just laugh, he also threatens them with his own wrath. Look at verses 4-6 again, "The one enthroned in heaven laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 'I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.'" Now, at the end of this Psalm, this threat of God's wrath is made overt, is made plain. You don't have to wonder what he means. It says it. "God will not take the attack on Christ and on His people kindly. He will wait patiently, but at the right time, He will overwhelm all human enemies with His wrath and with His judgment." Psalm 110:1-2, "The Lord says to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, you will rule in the midst of your enemies.'" It's teaching the same thing as Psalm 2. Now, at the end of the world, I believe, scripture teaches us that the persecution against Christians will reach an almost unbearable crescendo. Jesus said, "Unless those days had been cut short, no one would survive." We're talking about, as I preach to you the Book of Revelation, the reign of the anti-Christ and his hatred of God and of His people. And so the antichrist will establish himself as God, and he will speak words of blasphemy against God, and he will attack the people of God, and he will kill many of them. Daniel 7 makes it very plain, what's going to happen. Daniel 7:21-22, it says, "As I watched this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them" and defeating them, that means killing them, "until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High and the time came when they, the saints, possessed the kingdom." A few verses later, Daniel 7, 25-26, "The anti-Christ will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit," that's the heavenly court, "and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever." So God is going to pour out his wrath on that final phase of human government, and the second coming of Christ will happen then, and at that point, there will be no refuge for those that up till that moment have rebelled. With the breaking open of the sixth seal in Revelation 6, we see the seeking for refuge, and they don't find it. Listen to what it says, "Then the kings of the Earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave, and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains." What are they seeking? Refuge, refuge, "They called to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand?’" They're seeking refuge from rocks and mountains and caves, and they will not find it. III. God’s Decree About His Son So appearances can be deceiving, right up to the very last moment, it will seem that the anti-Christ forces will be winning, they will have the upper hand, but it is not so. So look at God's decree about his son in verses 7-9, "I will proclaim the decree of the Lord. He said to me, 'You are my son today, I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter. You will dash them to pieces like pottery.’” So now we are listening to an inter-trinitarian conversation, a conversation between the Father and the Son, between the first person in the Trinity and the second person. Who is telling us about it? Well, first the mouthpiece, David, but he was just speaking by the Spirit. This is really Jesus telling us what his Father told him. Jesus is telling, I want to tell you what my father told me, he made a decree and so God's made an eternal decree about Jesus Christ. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to him. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The text speaks of a decree that's a settled ruling from a potentate, a law written down. Remember the laws of the Medes and Persians if written down, cannot be changed. This is more secure than that. This is a decision by Almighty God concerning Jesus. It's a settled final decision, a decree. And foundational to this decree is the identity of Jesus of Nazareth as the only begotten Son of God, “You are my son today, I have begotten you.” As the ancient Creed said, begotten, not made. Jesus is not a created being, but eternally existed as the second person of the Trinity. But a significant change happened concerning him, he became what he was not before, which was human. “Jesus is not a created being, but eternally existed as the second person of the Trinity. But a significant change happened concerning him, he became what he was not before, which was human.” Now turning around and we were created in the image of God, that is true, but until that point, he had not been human, he didn't have a body, but he was eternally pre-existent. For John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." But then in John 1:14, it says, "The Word," and here's a key word, "became flesh." So he wasn't flesh before, then he became flesh, and made his dwelling among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. So there was never a time Jesus did not exist. Yet the text says, "Today... Today I have begotten you." What does that mean? Today is a time-bound statement, it's a sequence statement, the Alpha and Omega, first and last, beginning and end. So today, something happened. Like there's yesterday, today, tomorrow. So today, something happened. Didn't happen yesterday. Happened today. So what does it mean? Well, when did it get said? Well it got said at Christ's birth. Hebrews 1:5-6, listen to this, "For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'you are my son today. I have begotten you?", that's Psalms 2. None. God didn't ever say that to an angel, he said it to his son, or again, "I will be his Father and he will be My Son." When did he say this, verse 6. And again, when God brings his first born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him.” So that's the today, when Jesus was brought into the world as human, when he was conceived, when he was born, when he became human. Today I've begotten you. But then it gets said again at his resurrection. Listen to what Paul said, at Pisidia in Antioch, the synagogue there. So he's preaching the Gospel to the Jews assembled in the synagogue. It's Acts 13:32-34, "We tell you the good news, what God promised our fathers, he has fulfilled for us his children by raising up Jesus from the dead. As it is written in the second Psalm, you are my son, today I have begotten you." God raised him from the dead, never to decay. So he says, "Today, I've begotten you," concerning the resurrection, "into an eternally human, glorified resurrected body." Both of these moments, his incarnation and his resurrection show the commitment of Almighty God to the second person in the Trinity being human, the Son of Man, and he still is, he will forever be the Son of Man, forever human. “Both of these moments, his incarnation and his resurrection show the commitment of Almighty God to the second person in the Trinity being human, the Son of Man, and he still is, he will forever be the Son of Man, forever human” I'm amazed the number of Christians, I'll ask, “Is Jesus still human?”, or “Does Jesus still have a body?” And they just, they look at each other and they're not sure. Cause I think I have a reputation as being a kind of a tricky Bible teacher, and they're not quite sure what to say. So let me tell you, if I should ever ask... Or anybody asks, "Does Jesus still have a body?" the answer is, yes. Is Jesus still human? Yes. Is he still the Son of Man? Yes, forever. He is human. But there's a decisive act of God to make him human to begin with, a decisive act of God again that he should be raised up in a human resurrection body. And then God gives an invitation to his son. Psalm 2:8-9, he says, "Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth, your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter. You'll dash them to pieces like pottery." So after Jesus Christ died on the cross as an atonement for our sins, God raised him from the dead. Then God lifted him from the surface of the Earth, moved him through the heavenly realms that we can't even understand and seated him far above all those heavenly realms at his right hand. And he said to him, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a foot stool for your feet." Along with that, he invites him, "Ask of me and I'll... " you know how the kings would say that, "Whatever you want. Even up to half of my kingdom." You know how kings would say that? So, this ruler of the universe, God the Father, Almighty God said to His Son, "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth, your possession. I'll give them to you." Well, we don't ever have an overt statement, by the way, Jesus has asked, but he's asked. He has openly asked, and God has granted it to him. And so we get it in the great commission. Jesus came to his disciples after his resurrection and said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been... " what? "given to me." I didn't usurp it, I didn't seize it, I didn't take it. It's been given to me by my Father. And that gives him the right to then build a kingdom. "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I'm with you always to the very end of the age." So that's the right that He has. IV. God’s Invitation to Joyful Worship As they celebrate in Heaven in Revelation 5, after Jesus takes the scroll from the right hand of God, remember that? And they're celebrating wave upon wave of celebration. One of the waves of celebration says this; Revelation 5:9-10, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood, you purchase people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." We are his plunder, we are his gift, we are part of his inheritance. We are his, we are his. God the Father gave you to Jesus. All that the Father has given me will come to me and I'll raise him up at the last day. You are a love gift from the Father to the Son if you're a Christian, and so you're part of that inheritance that Jesus asked for, and he's gonna get the whole thing, he's gonna get all of the elect, all of them are gonna come. Every one of them are gonna be standing around the throne and they're gonna be wearing white robes, and they're gonna be holding palm branches and saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb." Now, it says, "He will rule the nations with the rod of his power." He has the power to dash them to pieces like pottery. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But at the end of the world, at that crescendo of wickedness, he will dash his enemies to pieces like pottery. The first coming was quiet, silent night, holy night. A little town of Bethlehem. How deep we see thee lie. There's a quietness to the coming of Jesus, it won't be that way the second time. It's gonna be like lightning that flashes from one side and rips the heavens across to the other. No one will miss it. It ends everything. And what will happen? Revelation 19 tells us, "I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called faithful and true. And with justice, he judges and makes war. And his eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns, and he has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. And he is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God, and the armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses, and they're dressed in fine linen white and clean. And out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. [Psalm 2] He treads the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. And on his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Well, God gives us therefore an invitation to come and worship, that's how the Psalms ends. We go through verse 10 through 12, "Therefore you kings, be wise, be warned you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son." Christmas is an opportunity to worship. Come and worship. Come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king. We can come like the angels did that night, and the heavens were open. You see this angelic heavenly hosts, and they're saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rest." The shepherds took the counsel of the angel and they went to Bethlehem to come and see what the angel had talked about. And when they had seen him, they went home glorifying God and praising him for what they had seen, which was just what the angel had told them. When we think about the Magi, when they finally came, we don't know exactly when, but might have been a year after Jesus' birth, maybe two, no idea. But when they came, they did the same thing. They bowed down and worshipped. And they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. It's all about worship. That's what this is about. This is the purpose of Christmas. To call us away from our idols, to call us away from the idols of our hearts, which Christmas, the secular spirit of Christmas panders to and draws from us the idols of our heart. “This is the purpose of Christmas. To call us away from our idols, to call us away from the idols of our hearts…” V. God’s Warning to the Rebels Christianity, true Christianity causes us to kill our idols to turn away from those things in emptiness and find joy in worship in Christ. That's what the text is calling us to do, to come and worship, but it also gives a warning to the rebels. Look again at verse 10 and following, "Therefore you kings, be wise, be warned you rulers of the Earth, serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." Do you see at the beginning of the Psalm, how the wicked of the earth, the tyrants are taking counsel together? They're seeking advice from one another to what end? How can we stop Christ? How can we shut him down? You think about the Jewish opponents of Jesus, how they would counsel together and share advice on strategies on shutting Jesus down. Or you can imagine Nero, or some of the other tyrant opposers of the Roman emperors, getting their counsel together, "We have a problem, Christianity is growing, how can we shut this down? Or you can imagine Atila the Hun, and it's like he's bumping into Christianity trying to figure out what it is, and he's got counselors, he's like, "What do we do to stop Christ and to stop Christians?" or the viking plundering leaders, the pagans that were coming, "What shall we do with Christianity? What shall we do with Christ?" You can well imagine one of the 20th century, the tyrants there, you can imagine Joseph Stalin getting some counselors together, "What can we do to shut down Christ and Christians?" or Adolf Hitler? Gathering all of his Nazi cronies, "What can we do about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Confessing Church, and all of their opposition to our Nazi reign? How can we stop Christ? How can we stop Christians?" Or Mao Zedong thinking, "What can I do to humiliate Christ? To crush Christ and to oppose. What can I do?" Do you feel like you wish you could, in the spirit of Psalm 2, to just walk in there and say, "Excuse me, I have some advice to give you. Can I give you some counsel? It's good advice. Don't fight Christ. You will lose." You lose. And any specific thing you try to do, God will laugh at it and use it. So let me just tell you, you kings be wise, be warned you rulers of the Earth, serve him with fear and rejoice with trembling. That's what you need to do. And why? Because the sword of Damocles is hanging over your heads, o kings, that's an ancient story about a man named Damocles that was enamored by the trappings of a king, Dionysius in Syracuse, about four centuries before Cicero wrote about it. And he was like, "Boy, I would love to be a king." It turns out Dionysius was a wicked tyrant and had many people plotting to kill him. And he knew it, so uneasy lay the head that wore that crown, and he got sick of this flatterer, Damocles, coming and saying, "I wish I were king." He's like, "Fine, I'll let you be king. You can lay on this gold couch and I'll put you in royal robes, and I'll anoint you with aromatic resins and you can eat whatever you want." And Damocles enjoyed that for a day, but then he looked up and noticed that there was a razor-sharp sword hanging by a single horse hair over his head, what is that? And he realized at any moment that sword could fall. Now, Dionysius that put it there, was afraid of human assassins as most tyrants are. That's why the praetorian guard is around Caesar, that's... They're afraid of human... That's not what they should fear. Jesus said, "Do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more to you. I'll tell you who to fear. Fear the one who has the power to destroy both soul and body in hell, yes, I tell you, fear him." That's where the wrath of God leads. Not to a single sword severing a head or puncturing a heart, not at all, the judgment of God. And look what he says at any moment, his wrath can flare up in a moment. You could have a stroke, you could have a heart attack, you could have a sudden brain fever, you could go out in battle and stay well clear of the battle and surround yourself with the mightiest soldiers in your army, and some Archer will notch an arrow at random and fly it through the air and it'll somehow find a chink in your armor. It's happened before. So let me just give you some advice. Be wise, you don't know how much longer that you have. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way for his wrath can flare up in a moment. But you know something? That's true of all of us, not just the rulers and the kings of the Earth. That's true of every single one of us. James, chapter 4 makes it plain. “Now listen, you who say today or tomorrow, we'll go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money while you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It's a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live.’ And do this or that.” So it's really a warning to everybody, while you have the time, kiss the Son. While you have the time, believe in him, trust in him. If I could just say it, while you have the time, find refuge in him. Look at verse 12, the final phrase, "Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." The word is poignant, isn't it? It's like a hurricane is coming, and you go to a safe shelter that can survive a hurricane, a tornado is coming, and you go down into that root seller with the iron doors and you're safe from the tornado. It's a life boat when the cruise liner is about to go down in the North Atlantic after having hit an iceberg, it's safety in the face of imminent danger, that's the refuge, and there is no other other than the grace of God, it's the only refuge there is. So find refuge in Jesus, that's ultimately what Christmas is about. It's not about all the trappings and the colors and the paper and the lights. Behind all of that is an offer from Almighty God to give you refuge, refuge in Christ. Close with me in prayer. Thank you Lord for the time we've had to meditate in your word, thank you for Psalms 2. Thank you for how it tells us the truth. Thank you how it gives us joy that we have been delivered from the real danger that faced us, which was the wrath of God, thank you that it shows us that there is a life of joyful worship waiting for us in heaven and that we can experience and drink in now. That we can serve the Lord with joy and with trembling, that with our tears of thankfulness, we can kiss the Son, and with our faithful sacrificial service, we can kiss the Son. Lord, help us to worship him and find refuge in him. In Jesus name, Amen.

Did you know that hundreds of thousands of Iranian Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus Christ? Our guest today is Dr. Hormoz Shariat, Founder of Iran Alive Ministries. You don’t want to miss Richard’s conversation with Dr. Shariat. But first, he shares from the book of Mark. Click on the audio bar below to […] The post Understanding Profit appeared first on Ministry in the Marketplace.

As tensions flare between the US and Iran, a picture emerges of an Iran few are seeing - revival in the church; and recent archaeological discoveries from the pilgrim road to the Temple from Jesus' day to ancient Ziklag where David escaped ... ...

This conversation with Shirin is one you do not want to miss.  We talk about everything from her book and life to  running an organization with her husband and how they balance success together. Shirin Taber is an Iranian-American and the author of Muslims Next Door (Zondervan/Harper Collins). She was raised by an Iranian Muslim father and an […]

Wayne Shepherd talks with "Brother Ali", a young man born into an Iranian Muslim family who now is a follower of Jesus Christ.

Wayne Shepherd talks with "Brother Ali", a young man born into an Iranian Muslim family who now is a follower of Jesus Christ.

Over the past decade, hundreds of Muslim migrants in Europe have encountered Christianity and embraced the gospel. In 2012, CT reported on the dozens of Iranian Muslims who had converted after moving to Germany. David Cashin, who has worked in ministry in Sweden and Bangladesh and taught courses in Islamic history, theology, and Muslim-Christian relations, believes something similar is also happening in Sweden. “The largest revival in the last 100 years is going on right now, and it’s primarily Muslims becoming Christians,” said Cashin, a professor of intercultural studies at Columbia Biblical Seminary. In recent years, as refugees have arrived in Western Europe from Iraq and Syria, some members of these communities have in turn become Christians. Yet, Christian communities in Germany and Sweden, comprising both those from the historic Middle Eastern church as well as recent converts, have been subject to abuse and harassment from radical Muslims. In 2017, Open Doors surveyed 123 Christian asylum seekers in Sweden. According to the report: More than half of all participants in the survey (53%) reported that they have been affected by violent assaults at least once, due to their Christian faith. Almost half of all participants (45%) in the survey reported that they have been threatened to death at least once and 6% reported that they have been a target of sexual assaults. Cashin joined associate editor Morgan Lee and editor in chief Mark Galli to discuss why Iranian migrants, more than any others from the Middle East, are drawn to Christianity, whether or not all these conversions are bona fide, and what the Western Europen governments must do to better protect migrant religious minority communities.

Iranian Muslim leader Ayatollah Khomeini issues death threat against British author Salman Rushdie. British author Salman Rushdie published his book Satanic Verses in September 1988, to critical acclaim and sales of more than 100,000 within a few months. It didn’t take long, however, for Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, to take revenge on the Bombay-born author of the controversial satirical novel, which Khomeini felt cast the Muslim faith in a less than flattering light. On February 14, 1989, Khomeini condemned Rushdie to death. During the Tehran Radio broadcast, the holy man declared a day of mourning and said, "I inform the proud Muslim people of the world that the author of the Satanic Verses book – which is against Islam, the Prophet and the Koran – and all those involved in its publication who are aware of its content, are sentenced to death.” This “fatwa” (an Islamic religious decree) sent Rushdie into hiding as Muslims around the world protested in the streets. He spent nine years in numerous secret locations in Britain before Iranian President Mohammed Khatami declared in 1998 that the state would no longer support the fatwa. Even so, one Iranian foundation put a $2.8 million bounty on Rushdie’s head. In June 2007 Queen Elizabeth II announced that Rushdie, the author of 13 books dealing with issues of faith, religion and culture, would be knighted. This announcement was met with condemnation and outrage by various Muslim religious and political leaders throughout the world. Not recognizing the importance of freedom of speech and the ability to speak and write about religious differences, some leaders suggested the knighthood would lead to suicide bombings. Sir Rushdie resides at an unknown address in London, where he continues to publish books and occasionally make public appearances. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is an exciting story about an Iranian Muslim who had an encounter with Jesus—and has led 1,500 other Muslims to Christ since then! Tune in to hear the details.

https://salvationisfromthejews.com/wp3/2017/12/23/dec-23-2017-dr-shariat-hormoz-iranian-muslim-convert-to-christianity/feed/ 0 Roy Schoeman clean 53:15

Afshin Javid | Ex - Hezbollah Iranian Muslim Saw Jesus by Peter Roseos

Dr. E. Michael Jones attended the 6th International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Intifada on February 21st and 22nd in Tehran . The theme was "Together Supporting Palestine." Dr. Jones discusses the importance of developing a "lingua franca" or common language between Catholics/Christians and the Iranian Muslims. He argues that the english language with its attachment to English ideology cannot free itself from its strong tendency to be more the language of business and war than theology and philosophy. The classical Greek concept of logos along with the new testament koine Greek concept of logos provides the lingua franca for dialogue with the Iranian Muslims because of their unique past history with sound philosophy. But for the last 1400 years the Muslim world has failed to find ways to achieve unity through dialogue. Instead they have been 'forced' to resort to force because long ago their Muslim 'philosophy' violated the law of non-contradiction and thus they believe and behave more on will and not reason. The title 'Apocalypse Deferred' refers to National Security Advisor Michael Flynn being fired by President Trump after misleading Vice-President Pence and for advocating for war with Iran.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is the home of the fastest-growing church in the world. Thousands of Muslims there are choosing to follow Christ. Dr. Mike Ansari leads a movement called Heart 4 Iran, a movement to reach more Iranians with the gospel message of Christ’s love. Mike was born into an Iranian Muslim family, but his mother came to faith in Christ and was radically transformed, ultimately changing her entire family. Today Dr. Ansari broadcasts the gospel message into Iran, where people are hungry to hear. He’ll share how Jesus is transforming Iranian hearts, and how new Christians are boldly witnessing, even at great risk to themselves. Mike will also help you understand how to reach out to Muslims around you, and he’ll share about a project VOM was a part of that delivered thousands of Bibles into Iran. Learn more about God’s work in Iran and how you can pray for our brothers and sisters there this week on VOM Radio.

Cyrus Sigari and his childhood best friend Ben founded jetAviva to help make people's dreams come true. They just happen to do that by selling executive jets--over a billion dollars worth! As an Iranian Muslim and an Israeli Jew, these two men have put aside geo-political differences to build a hugely successful company and remain best friends. Cyrus has an incredibly positive outlook on life and business that is not naively simple, rather, it's refreshingly candid. In today’s podcast, Cyrus shares some true wisdom about life as well as some insightful comments about building and running a successful luxury goods company.

An Iranian Muslim that is a naturalized American citizen joined Ron and Lucy to discuss his thoughts and concerns on Donald Trump's recent anti-Muslim comments, his experiences as a Muslim immigrant in America, and more.

Full Version - Testimony of what made a radical Muslim reject Islam and become a Christian

Find out how Silas, an Iranian refugee, converted to believing in Christ and not as a precaution for asylum. Hear his story now.

Dale shares his experiences with an animal Lodge. Iranian Muslims in Europe? Texas Cheerleaders: Let's hear it for God! Take a look inside a Mormon Temple Mitt Romney: fair target? Is there a hell?

Dale shares his experiences with an animal Lodge. Iranian Muslims in Europe? Texas Cheerleaders: Let's hear it for God! Take a look inside a Mormon Temple Mitt Romney: fair target? Is there a hell?

“Hafiz” goes to Iran where he helps an Iranian Muslim know Christ. He finds no Christians in China so he returns home, where Muslims cause an accident that leaves him disabled for more than a year. When he can walk and work again, he buys a mini-truck and works as a salesman for a food factory. Repeatedly he is beaten and driven out when his Christianity is discovered. He marries and has children. Burglars invade his home and steal, terrifying his wife; so he goes to the Emirates. Christian friends help him and his family escape to South Africa.