Gilad Shalit                Youcef Nadarkhani         Meriam Ibrahim

Pastor Saeed Abedini  Sgt Amir Hekmati   Pastors Michael & Peter

Pastor Kuwa Shamal
Screen shots: YouTube.com

OVERCOMERS BY THE WORD OF OUR TESTIMONY

Throughout the years, on this and other websites, I have requested prayer for those in bonds. We often hear of prayer requests, and we pray, although less frequently we hear about the answers to many of our prayers.

The Lord laid it on my heart to share the testimonies of these, whom the Lord has delivered from bonds, in direct answer to the prayers of the saints:

Gilad Shalit – Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Sergeant First Class taken prisoner by Hamas to Gaza 6/25/06; released by prisoner exchange – by the miracle-working hand of God 10/18/11!

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani – Christian pastor arrested in Iran 10/2009; sentenced to death by hanging for “apostasy” (for his Christian faith) 11/13/10; released by the miracle-working hand of God 9/8/12!

Meriam Ibrahim – Christian mother arrested in Sudan 8/2013; sentenced to 100 lashes and sentenced to death by hanging for “apostasy” (because of her Christian faith) 5/15/14; released 6/24/14; rearrested 6/24/14; released (second and final time) by the miracle-working hand of God 6/26/14!

Pastor Saeed Abedini – American Christian pastor arrested in Iran 7/2012; sentenced to eight years for creating Christian churches and “compromising national security” on 1/27/13; released after three years by the miracle-working hand of God 1/16/16!

Amir Hekmati – American Veteran arrested in Iran 8/2011 for allegedly spying for the CIA; sentenced to death 1/9/12; sentence overturned 3/5/12; later sentenced to 10 years; released by the miracle-working hand of God 1/16/16!

Pastors Michael Ruot and Peter Reith – Christian pastors arrested (Michael on 12/14/14; Peter on 1/11/15) in Sudan for “blasphemy;” released by the miracle-working hand of God 8/5/15!

Pastor Kuwa Shamal – Christian pastor arrested in Sudan for his faith 12/18/15; released 12/21/15; rearrested 5/24/16; released by the miracle-working hand of God 1/2/17!

To God be all the glory for the release of these.

The Word of God says,

“They overcame by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death” Revelation 12:11.

I published a call to prayer on 12/10/15 for the release of Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, American Veteran Amir Hekmati, American Bob Levinson and Christian mother Asia Bibi. After 37 days, on 1/16/16, Pastor Saeed Abedini and Amir Hekmati were released! This demonstrates the power of the collective prayers of the saints!

The Word of God tells us,

“Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” James 5:16.

“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you” John 15:16.

There are still those in bonds who need our continued prayers:

Asia Bibi – Christian mother arrested 6/2009 and sentenced to death by hanging in Pakistan for “apostasy.”

Bob Levinson – American abducted in Iran 3/9/07.

 

Pastor Hassan Abduraheem – Christian pastor arrested 12/18/15 in Sudan for his faith and faces the death penalty.

Pastor Andrew Brunson – Christian pastor arrested in Turkey 10/2016 for his faith (on trumped-up charges of “membership in an armed terrorist organization”).

Certain people hear of the names and plights of others who need our prayers. When their names cross our path, we need to pray for them.

Yes, there are many, many others that need prayer, but God will give the names of those we do not hear about to other Christians who will pray for them.

How do we keep up with all of the prayer requests? Personally, I print the names and stories of many people I have prayed for at least once, then I place their prayer requests on my makeshift “altar” before God. I may not call their individual names out every day, but I pray over them collectively every day, laying my hands upon the requests. This is one method of prayer, but the important thing is to pray in the manner God leads you to pray.

Prayer changes things, friends.

When Herod put forth his hand to vex the church, he killed James, the brother of John. He proceeded further to kill Peter also and the Bible tells us,

“Peter, therefore, was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him...And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the prison and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly, and his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird yourself and bind on your sandals, and so he did. And he said unto him, Cast your garment about you and follow me. And he went out and followed him and did not know that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and second ward, they came to the iron gate that led unto the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and passed through one street and henceforth the angel departed from him” Acts 12:5,7-10.

If you believe in God, do not limit Him. Nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37).

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him” Hebrews 11:6.

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled and those remaining shall surely come to pass. Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account of the life you have lived on this earth? If not, salvation is only a prayer away. Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page - your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.