Who's Doing the Talking?

 "On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Matthew 10: 18-20

    In recent years, there have been reports of people coming to faith in Christ through dreams and visions. Most come from "closed" countries, meaning they are not open to the saving gospel. In Iran, where it is illegal to leave the Islamic faith, there has been a rapid increase of Muslims converting to Christianity. Perhaps it may be surprising to learn that there are approximately 750,000-1.2 million Christian converts in that country today. 

    I recently read an account in Voice of the Martyrs magazine about an Iranian man named Shahrokh. He'd been a drug addict and a Muslim but encountered Jesus Christ on his journey and converted to the Christian faith. Now, it is his mission to reach out to other addicts, using a 12-step program to introduce them to Jesus. Having been discovered, a security official interrogated Shahrokh, forbiding him to share his faith. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Shahrokh courageously replied:

    "You cannot block the divine methods God uses to meet human beings. You can close Christian social activities and house groups or put Christian workers in prison, but you cannot stop people seeing dreams or visions. You cannot put Jesus Christ in prison. You cannot stop the work of the Holy Spirit. He is at work and in different ways He reveals the truth to people. Can you change the hearts and inner lives of people where the Lord dwells?"

    In the verses above, Jesus warned his followers that we will be persecuted. Christians in America have been afforded certain liberties that other believers in the world have not. However, that landscape is quickly changing as these freedoms are being challenged. When this happens to you, and it will if you are on fire for Jesus, don't worry about what to say. Boldness and courage will course through your veins at just the right time as the Holy Spirit within gives you power like that of Peter and Paul in the early church. Do not be afraid; He who is faithful has promised to be with us to the very end of the age.