Wake Up, Look Up

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hello everyone thanks for listening to

wake up lookup a podcast where we

connect events happening in real time to

the Gospel of Jesus Christ I'm Zach wck

and this episode we're asking the

question is this missing from your

prayer life and the this in that

question is what's going on with

Christians around the world I'm focusing

in particular with something that's been

in the news this week that's happening

in Syria a country that has just

undergone a major coup against the AL

Assad regime uh um not a very popular at

least on the international stage regime

that is now been overthrown by an

organization that is led by Islamic

leaders uh in Syria a country where

there are 200 to 600,000 Christians this

is leading to a state where Christians

aren't really sure where they land on

the one hand uh the terrorist

organization that has overthrown the

alassad regime is known for a History of

Violence towards anyone who's not Muslim

I use the word terrorist organization

because the United States and others

have labeled this new group a terrorist

organization at least from the

perspective of the West they are a group

that vilifies anyone that doesn't share

their religion and will pursue violence

towards them however the new group

that's come into power in Syria is

saying hey that's who we used to be in

fact their leader is saying I'm reformed

I I used to be that but now I'm more

open-minded and tolerant they're

promising that things will be good for

Christians that they can worship and

practice Christianity along with Muslims

who practice Islam are they telling the

truth who knows especially Syrian

Christians who are on the edge of their

seat wondering should they leave their

country and seek safety because this

group is lying and will eventually crack

down on Christians or should they take

them at their word and stay particularly

Desiring to be an influence and witness

in a country where there is not that

much gospel presence that's a real

problem I can't even imagine sitting at

the dining room table with my wife

trying to decide between leaving the

country for the safety of our family or

sticking it out for the good of the

Gospel that's a real problem and I use

the words real problem because sometimes

in America I'm tempted to think I have

real problems I I haven't experienced

anything like this which is why among

all the other things I'm praying for

praying for God's provision and blessing

for my own family and friends and church

I need to make sure I'm adding in

prayers for Christians in Syria and in

other situations around the world the

book of Ephesians chapter 6 tells us to

pray all the time for other belie

Believers in all places and that's

something that if you're like me you

probably fall behind pretty regularly in

doing so I want to encourage you towards

a couple of things number one can we

make our immediate reaction to headlines

prayer when I see an article about

Syrian Christians I should click on it

read it and turn that into a prayer I

wonder how often we interpret the news

in light of ourselves in light of our

political bias in of the candidate of

our choosing instead of reading it

through the lens of the Gospel our

hearts breaking for our brothers and

sisters in Syria and our desire for God

to protect them and bless them and for

the gospel to flourish let's develop the

reaction to reading international news

with an eye to how we can be praying the

other thing is if you have kids this is

a great opportunity to teach them about

the world and about how big the church

is get a globe put it in your dining

room spin it and stop on a country and

pray for the Christians there bring a

headline like this if your kids are

older to the dining room table and talk

about how hard it must be to follow

Jesus in Syria and in other places

develop in your kids a heart for the

Nations and for the gospel to advance in

a country where kids are growing up with

Heroes who are social media influencers

and musicians and ball players maybe we

could raise a generation of kids who at

least add to that the heroes who are

living out their faith in hostile

countries who are taking the gospel into

places where it is dangerous listen

we're in a season where you're probably

thinking about the new year and the new

you and how you're going to change let's

all commit to making 2025 a year of

intentional prayer for our brothers and

sisters in Syria and around the world

that God would keep them safe that God

would bless them and that the gospel

would Advance hey thanks so much for

watching this episode of wake up lookup

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