Wake Up, Look Up

Hello, everyone, and thanks for listening to Wake Up, Look Up, a podcast where we connect events happening in real time to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm Zach Weihrauch, and in today's episode, we're asking the question, is your prayer life missing this? This is prompted by an article I read in the Wall Street Journal about the Iranian women's soccer team, their national team, which has been in the news a lot lately for really two reasons. The first is that the Iranians women team refused to sing the national anthem during an Asian cup match recently, risking retaliation from the regime. Of course, you probably know that, Iran, a, very conservative Muslim country, and that's putting it mildly, put, really restricts the rights of women. And the Iranian women's team, now seeing that their country's at war, hoping obviously for regime change, saw an opportunity to go public, which is really hard for a woman in Iran to do and to stand against the regime. They did that by refusing to sing the national anthem of a country that really views them as lesser citizens. Of course, Iranian state media was all over this, labeling them traitors. And with many people fearing that the women's team was going back to Iran to face retaliation and retribution. Which is why the second reason they've been in the news is that five of the team members have sought asylum. Meaning they're asking countries like Australia or the United States to allow them to become citizens of those countries so that they never have to go back. Recognize that taking this stand may put their lives in jeopardy. They recognize that these countries afford them freedoms that Iran maybe never will. Of course, the other half of the team, it isn't that they don't want asylum. It's that they're afraid that if they sought asylum, their families would be killed. President Trump has been at the forefront of this pushing for countries to take these women in, including welcoming them in to the United States. I bring all this up because the Bible has a lot to say about oppression. And oppression, of course, is when those in power use their power to subjugate those underneath them. the Bible is just rampant with references to God's disgust over oppression. Because of course, God has called leaders to serve, not to oppress. Think about Psalm 34:18. Listen to the emotional language here. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. You know, that's evocative language. God is moved by those experiencing oppression. He desires to come to their defense, to come to their aid, to go toe to toe with those who Oppress them. But it isn't just that God desires that. It's that he wants his people to desire that. Listen to what Proverbs 31:8 says. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. See, as followers of the God of the Bible, as followers of Jesus, who hates oppression, we must also join him in his brokenheartedness. For those who are struggling, those who are suffering under the weight of totalitarian regimes, we must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. And I'm not suggesting that your Facebook account or Twitter account or Instagram can somehow change the Iranian stance on women's rights, But I am saying this. We should be praying for this. We should be praying not. Not just for this Iranian women's soccer team. They're an example of a larger issue. We should be praying for places around the world where oppression is rampant. Places like North. North Korea, places like the Sudan, places like, West Africa. Places where different regimes, be them, Muslim or, Communist, are pushing down with their thumb onto people groups, forcing them to be something less than the, image bearers God has made them to be. It should first break our hearts. It breaks God's heart. By the way, we were ourselves once under oppression that the oppression of Satan, the oppression of sin. That is why Jesus came to set us free. But as those who have experienced captivity and the joy of freedom, our hearts should be broken for those who have not. And our hearts that are broken should drive us to prayer. And by the way, those prayers aren't just for political freedom, for social freedom, although those would be fine things to pray for. They're ultimately for the freedom of the gospel being preached. And in Iran, in North Korea, in the Sudan. Because what the Gospel of Jesus does better than any other thing out there is it sets captives free because it reminds the oppressor they will answer to God. It reminds them that Jesus Christ used his power not to crush them, but to rescue them from their sin and guilt and shame. It turns oppressors into blessers, but it says to the victim that God is a God who understands them as Jesus himself becomes a victim of oppression in order to promise an eternity of freedom. Oppression is an issue that should matter to Christians. And if now, right now, you don't know what else to do, pray. Pray for Iran. Pray for the Iranian women's team. Pray for their families. Pray that God would set all the captives free politically, socially, and spiritually through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hey, thanks for watching this episode of Wake Up, Look Up. If you enjoyed it. Please help us get the word out by sharing it with someone you think might benefit from it. And while you're here, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get further content or even download the CCC app, where you'll find even more resources to help you grow in your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Have an article you’d like Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!