Today I just finished reading a book entitled "The Heavenly Man" (天上人). It is a remarkable true story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun (云弟兄).
The title comes from the name by which Brother Yun was known amongst the house church networks. He gained that name from one night of interrogation when he would only answer "I am a heavenly man!", instead of revealing his true name, in order to protect other Christians from the police. This book is co-written and translated by Paul Hattaway and published by Monarch Publications. This book was awarded the Christian Book of the Year in 2003.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Yun
My friend described this book as the modern-day version of the Book of Acts in the Bible. Indeed, it is like the Book of Acts. Brother Yun came from the Henan Province in China and came to Christ and start to preach the gospel in the age of 16. Through out the book we can see how he and other christians in China suffered from persecutions in China. During that time China is ruled by Communist Party, under the leadership of Mao Zedong. So to say "I believe in Jesus Christ" or "Praise to our Lord" is like suicide. Christians in China are considered as counter-revolutionists and will be thrown into jail. All the Bibles are confiscated, all foreign missionaries are not allowed.
But in spite of all the persecutions, Brother Yun still eagerly preaches the gospel throughout China and leads many people to Christ. The persecutions force the christians to run from towns to towns in order to escape the pursue from authorities, but when they run from towns to towns, the gospel also spreads from towns to towns. Christians who are in prisons also bring the good news about Jesus Christ to other prisoners and lead them to Christ. Ironically, under such persecutions and harsh conditions, the gospel spreads quickly to many areas in China.
Not only so, through out the book we can see how God works in Brother Yun's and other christians' life. We can see how God performs miracles through Brother Yun, we see how Brother Yun received his first Bible, we see many people were healed, we see how Brother Yun fasted for 74 days without food and water, we see how he miraculously escaped from the prison, like what happen to Apostle Peter, and we see how God brings him to Germany.
After read this book, I appreciate all the things that given by God. Compared to Brother Yun, my life is so peaceful. He prayed for three months to get his first Bible, but my first Bible was given to me, even though I never demand it from God. I can bravely proclaim the name of Christ without entering the prison, but just because of Christ's name, Brother Yun was thrown into the prisons for many times and was tortured by the authorities. Now only I fully realised that how blessed I am, because I need not to go through what Brother Yun went through.
But everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). I can feel that there are many persecutions waiting for me in the future, but blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)
A quote from this book:
Jesus is truly worth knowing. He is worthy to receive our whole lives. If you do give him your life, you'll surely never regret it.
Will you follow him?
The title comes from the name by which Brother Yun was known amongst the house church networks. He gained that name from one night of interrogation when he would only answer "I am a heavenly man!", instead of revealing his true name, in order to protect other Christians from the police. This book is co-written and translated by Paul Hattaway and published by Monarch Publications. This book was awarded the Christian Book of the Year in 2003.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Yun
My friend described this book as the modern-day version of the Book of Acts in the Bible. Indeed, it is like the Book of Acts. Brother Yun came from the Henan Province in China and came to Christ and start to preach the gospel in the age of 16. Through out the book we can see how he and other christians in China suffered from persecutions in China. During that time China is ruled by Communist Party, under the leadership of Mao Zedong. So to say "I believe in Jesus Christ" or "Praise to our Lord" is like suicide. Christians in China are considered as counter-revolutionists and will be thrown into jail. All the Bibles are confiscated, all foreign missionaries are not allowed.
But in spite of all the persecutions, Brother Yun still eagerly preaches the gospel throughout China and leads many people to Christ. The persecutions force the christians to run from towns to towns in order to escape the pursue from authorities, but when they run from towns to towns, the gospel also spreads from towns to towns. Christians who are in prisons also bring the good news about Jesus Christ to other prisoners and lead them to Christ. Ironically, under such persecutions and harsh conditions, the gospel spreads quickly to many areas in China.
Not only so, through out the book we can see how God works in Brother Yun's and other christians' life. We can see how God performs miracles through Brother Yun, we see how Brother Yun received his first Bible, we see many people were healed, we see how Brother Yun fasted for 74 days without food and water, we see how he miraculously escaped from the prison, like what happen to Apostle Peter, and we see how God brings him to Germany.
After read this book, I appreciate all the things that given by God. Compared to Brother Yun, my life is so peaceful. He prayed for three months to get his first Bible, but my first Bible was given to me, even though I never demand it from God. I can bravely proclaim the name of Christ without entering the prison, but just because of Christ's name, Brother Yun was thrown into the prisons for many times and was tortured by the authorities. Now only I fully realised that how blessed I am, because I need not to go through what Brother Yun went through.
But everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). I can feel that there are many persecutions waiting for me in the future, but blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)
A quote from this book:
Jesus is truly worth knowing. He is worthy to receive our whole lives. If you do give him your life, you'll surely never regret it.
Will you follow him?
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