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With Jesus through the Furnace. ( A translation )

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 10:19-20

Mehdi Dibaj Defends His Faith.

Mehdi Dibaj had been almost nine years in prison, when he had to apear in a court in Iran. In the court room, a defence statement was read which Dibaj prepared prior to his apearance.

The defence looks like a witnessing by the apostle Paul in the twenty first century. We want to share this defence in a shortened form. In doing so, we present the testimony as it is, i.e., without adding anything to it, because the testimony speaks for itself.

“With humility, I thank the one who Judges all in heaven and earth for giving me this valuable opportunity as I am in full expectation of him to free me from this ordeal as he promised. I also beg the honourable members of this Court to listen to my defence with patience and respect, in the name of Jesus.

“I am a christian. I am a sinner and believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins. Jesus paid the punishment for our sins with his blood and gave us a new life, so that we live for the glory of God. He has commissioned me to disown myself, to be his follower with complete devotion and never to be afraid of humans, even if they may kill my physical body.

“I am here, being accused of “Apostasy.” In the islamic law, an apostate is someone who don’t believe in God, in His prophets and in the resurrection of the dead. We christians believe in all the three.

This is the first part of N´Mehdi Dibaj’s defence. Full of courage and thrust, two qualities, which the Lord gives those who are not ashamed of him.


To be continued.

:heartbeat:

AR

MEHDI DIBAJ – Defence, part two.

They say; „You are a muslim and became a christian.” (In many Islamic countries, a muslim who is converted into christianity can be punished by death.)

I say; „no.“ Many, many years I had no religion at all. After searching studying and learning, I accepted God’s call and believed in our Lord Jesus christ. Humans choose between religions, but a christian is chosen by Jesus Christ. He Himself said: You didn’t choose me, it is me who choose you! (John 15:16)

They say; „You were born a muslim.“ God said; “From the beginning you were a christian.” To be a christian means to belong to Christ.

In this part of the defence, Dibaj confirms once more His relationship with Jesus and acnowledges him being the Son of the living God. Islam teaches that Jesus is just one of the prophets. According to the Coran, God has no Son. That is one of the main differences between the muslim and the christian faith.

Repeatedly, Dibaj witnessed Jesus being the Son of God. In Iran, such a testimony can be punished by death. Dibaj knew that. But he refused to disown Jesus Christ.

Regarding such people, Jesus said; "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32

To be continued.

:heartbeat:

AR

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35

MEHDI BIBAJ – Defence part 3

I would prefer to have the whole world against me and know that God the Almighty is with me, or be called apostate and know that I am recognized by the Glorious God. Who can destroy a relationship between the creator and one of His creation or break a heart that is loyal to God? This one will always be unharmed under the shadow of the Almighty! The throne of God is our refugee.

I know in whom I believe. And He is capable of keeping everything I laid in His hands safely. Until I arrive at the kindom of God. That is the place where the righteous are to shine ast he sun.

At the time of the interrogation, Dibaj had spent almost nine years in Prison. Had he disowned Jesus he would have been freed the next day. But Dibaj chooses to lose his freedom and possibly his life that losing his peace with God.

To be continued.

:heartbeat:

AR

"Lord, to whom shall we go? John 6:68

MEHDI DIBAJ – Defence part 4

They say; “return back” But where? Where can I return back rejecting the hand of God? Can it be correct to follow what men tell us instead of obeying the Word of God?

I live now 45 years with the God of wonders. His friendliness is for me like a shadow and I owe Him so much for His fatherly love and care.

The love of Jesus has filled my very being completely. I feel the warmth of His love in each and every part of my body.
.
The test of faith is not a game. The mercuful God prepares us all for the coming life. The God of Daniel, who protects Daniels friends from the furnace, has protected me the past nine years in prison. He had turned all the bad things that were meant to harm me to my benefit, I can’t thank Him enough.


To be continued

:heartbeat:

AR

Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

MEHDI DIBAJ – Defence part 5

The God of Job has tested my faith and my devotion to teach me patience and truthfullness. Throughout all the nine years in prison He had relieved me of all other responsibilities so that I could use my time in search of Him with a brocken heart- to spend my time in learning and praying and to grow in my knowledge of Him and His Son. I praise the Lord for this Unique opportunity. He watched over me so that He provided me with a room while under chains. All that what I experienced brought healing in me and I could feel His goodness every day. O what a great blessing God has in store for those who fear Him. People avoid and even attack me because of my „Evangelization.“ But as our persian proverb says; „If you see a blind person and keep silent, you have sinned.”

”As long as God lets the door of mercy open, it is our duty as christians to convince people to leave their sinful life and let themselves be drawn by Him, to Him, in order to escape His wrath and be saved from the coming terrible day of Judgement.”

To be continued

:heartbeat:

AR

Hi folks,

I had saved this story from a german website and had just today the time and mood to translate it so that you can read the story of your brother Mehdi from Iran. Hope it strengthens your faith. Here is the last part.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12


MEHDI DIBAJ – Defence part 6



Jesus spoke; "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ( Joh.14:6 )

Out of all the prophetes of God, only Jesus has been resurrected from the dead. And he is our living mediator forever. He is our redeemer. He is the Son of God. To acknowledge Him means to have eternal life!

I, a useless sinner, believe in Him. I have handed over my life to Him. The worth of this life for me is only the opportunity it offers to serve Him. And death is yet another opportunity, to be with Him. That is why I’m delighted not only to be imprisoned for His Glory and His name, but ready to die for my Lord. May be this way I will enter the kongdom of God earlier than I thought.

May the glorious shadow of God, His friendliness, yes His very Hand of Healing be upon you all and remain so forever. Amen.

With respect, your christian prisoner Mehdi Dibaj

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" ( Rö. 8:31 )

Two months after Dibaj read his defence, he was was freed from prison. But shortly afterwards, he was murdered in the street.

:heartbeat:

AR

An inspiring, faith-strengthening and very touching witness of our dear brother in Christ.:friends: Thank you for taking the time to translate it, Teshome, another brother in Christ! How very many brothers and sisters we have as part of God's family - awesome to think on!

2 Cor. 5: 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight--

8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

12 We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;

15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Good to hear from you - my love to you always.:love:

:peace: