"And he Jesus said to them all if any man will come after me, let himdeny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me'"
(Luke 9:23).
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Two persecuted Christian Missionaries MarziyehAmi rizadeh and Maryam Rostampour were thrown into Evim Prison in Iran known worldwide to legally torture and execute prisoners. Iranian authorities jailed them for sharing their Christian faith. But as faithful followers of Jesus,
these two young women did not allow the situation to hinder God's purpose in that dark prison cell. Through the grace of Jesus Christ, they turned the prison into achurch.
The two women kept praying every day and all the while sharing the Gospel with their co-prisoners. That's when
God started to change everything. Soon enough, the miracle of salvation started streaming in. The prisoners approached the women for prayer and saw those prayers answered almost instantly.
Everyone became interested in spending time with both of the missionaries. It came to the point the notorious guard of the prison began to take interest in what Jesus was doing with the inmates. One day, some guards came to apologizes to the missionaries for their callous behavior and asked for prayer.
Little by little, God changed the hearts of the people surrounding them. Most of the
prisoners and guards became Christians.
The worship and prayer sessions became too hot. Bible teaching went on in great order even when there was no copy of the bible in the prison. After mine months of interrogation and the attendant fear of life imprisonment or the possibility of execution, the prison finally became too hot for Marziyeh and Maryam and they were set free. When you move into action for the sake of the gospel, there is no guarantee that persecution will not come but when it does come, be sure that Jesus will not abandon you. He says; "Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20).
Christ lived and thrived in the midst of enemies, His followers should not expect less
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