Testimony to the Lamb - White Horse Inn Blog

It has been said that this brother has been sentenced to death by the Iranian government but I've not heard anything about his condition in recent weeks. I thought I'd share this letter he wrote to his congregation.

In thinking of him I thought about Stephen in Acts 7, as he was stoned to death he SAW the glory of God and Jesus STANDING. Oh the love of Jesus for His people; He shed His blood for us and as one was suffering and dying for His name's sake and the gospel's He stood from His throne and watched.

I'd like to think if Pastor Yucef Nadarkhani is put to death perhaps he too will be able to look and see the glory of God and Jesus rising to stand and watch. May the Lord give him grace to bear up.


"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."    Rev 12:11


Testimony to the Lamb - White Horse Inn Blog

Are you rich toward God?

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?


And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 


But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.                                    Luke 12:16-21





I fear some of us, maybe even many of us, will pass by this passage rather quickly, thinking, it's not for me because I'm not "rich". But I would caution you; don't miss the point. I believe the Lord Jesus is making the point, that we are not to get caught up in life, in our ambitions, our desires and the things of this world and forget we are souls. We are souls and we are accountable to our Creator.


I am not ignoring the thoughts here on riches. I'm attempting to emphasize the warning that whether we are pursuing riches, bigger barns, larger homes, better jobs or whatever else our hearts desire that we are foolish to ignore God and our souls. We are foolish to go on in life as if there is no God or as if there is no judgment to come. 


May He give us ears to hear in order that we may be found with those who are "rich toward God". True riches are found only in total surrender and submission to the One that God sent into the world, his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.



For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
                                                  Mark 8:35-37

Does anyone know what time it is?

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly(decently), as in the day; not in rioting (revelling) and drunkenness, not in chambering (sexual immorality) and wantonness (lustful acts), not in strife (quarreling) and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.   Rom 13:11-14

Psalm 72

Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.


 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.


He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.


He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.


He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.


He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.


His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.


Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.


The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

No fear, a mark of rebellion and defiance

Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah, saying, hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not:

Do you not fear Me? says the Lord.

Will you not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.

But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; they have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”

Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you.  Jer. 5:20-25

Here God commands the prophet to proclaim this message to all of Israel. They were considered foolish and poor because they did not know the way of the Lord nor the judgment of their God (see 5:4). The prophet, at the Lord’s command, points to His creation, the sea and its shoreline. In this thing set before their eyes daily he demonstrates His power, control and mercy and yet they depart from Him.

His power, control and mercy are demonstrated in the immensity of the size of the sea, its constant tossing and the roaring of its waves, and his absolute control of it at all times. His mercy is seen in the boundary of the sand, a perpetual decree that the water will not pass over this boundary and swallow up the people. Israel’s lack of fear and trembling indicates defiant and rebellious hearts. These are hearts that have departed from their Creator.

People are no different today in the 21^st century. Using the same picture that Jeremiah declared we see God’s power, control and mercy in the roaring of the ocean and yet we look right past it and right past our Creator and His goodness. Think of the boundary itself, numberless tiny sand particles used to hold back this powerful ocean. Yet, instead of saying, “Let us now fear the Lord our God” we instead rebel, defy and depart from Him going our own ways.   This we do because we do not know the way of the Lord nor the judgment of our God. The psalmist and later Paul put it this way; there is no fear of God before their eyes!

May God give grace to see for without it we will go on in blind stupidity to Him until we meet Him in the judgment.

Fear, a mark of a believer

There is a fear that marks a believer. A fear of God that resides in the breast of a born again soul. It is a holy fear, a godly fear and a healthy fear. It's a fear that I'm not able to explain but I do see it in the word of God as it relates to both believers and unbelievers. Not only is it plainly declared but it is demonstrated in several of the saints lives i.e. Jacob, Daniel, Job, John and others. As far as understanding this fear it seems to be related to our view of God. Search it out for yourself. Start with the passages I've listed below. Do not pass by them to quickly. 


May we take heed to Peter's instruction and pass the time of our sojourning here in fear!

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.   Pro 1:7

And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

                                                                          1 Pet 1:17-21

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. 

                                                                          Heb 12:28-29




On the other hand, unbelievers are characterized in the scriptures as those who have no fear of God before their eyes, see Psa. 36:1 &  Rom. 3:18. 

True Prophets Needed Now

I received this from a brother today.

True Prophets Needed Now

Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?

I Kings 22:7

Men who speak for God never merge into the fog around them.

True prophets are solitary people; eagles do not fly in flocks. It is not easy to be a Lone Dissenter. When the messenger was sent for Micaiah (I Kings 22), he must have said in effect, “The clergy have agreed, and you had better make it unanimous. It is quite an honor to speak before two kings and four hundred prophets. Why are you such an odd number? This is a good gravy train and you had better ride it. This is the mood of the hour and you had better get with it.” The same subtle pressure today would persuade preachers to get in step with the times and ride the wave of the future.

What we need are more preachers out of step with the times, more odd prophets like Micaiah. We are told that we must adjust. Adjust to what? What is there in this world setup to adjust to? God’s man needs to adjust only to God’s Word and God’s will. It is not the business of the prophet to harmonize with the times. “What concord hath Christ with Belial?” (2 Corinthians 6:15).

The Lord’s preacher is a soloist; he was never meant to play the accompaniment to anything. The pulpit is not a platform from which to boost the projects of men.  No matter how many false prophets bid Ahab go up against Ramoth-gilead, Micaiah will stand his ground and refuse to be swept off his feet by popular movements. The greatest need of the hour is a four-hundred-and-first prophet of the Lord "besides," that we may enquire of him!

Prophets are not popular at home; they are without honor in their own countries. They are not popular with politicians. Ahab hated Micaiah—but he feared him enough to disguise himself when he went to battle, lest Micaiah’s predictions [of his certain death] came true.

Prophets are not popular with Pharisees.  Organized religion hates the preacher whose headquarters is heaven, whose Superintendent is God. They are enraged when they cannot control him.

If you are interested in the prophetic ministry, get ready for trouble! You will be despised by Amaziah and all who want to preserve the status quo at Bethel. You will be hated by Jezebel and all who would set up the worship of Baal alongside the altar of Jehovah.  If you are a prospect, think it over. You had better mean business, else your ministry will be pathetic instead of prophetic. And remember that prophets are needed, but not wanted.

Extracts from Vance Havner, "The Four-Hundred-First Prophet," in The Best of Vance Havner, 1969, Fleming H. Revell Company

from The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Christian conversing with Pliable about the things in the Book as it relates to their journey to the Celestial city:

I can better conceive of them with my mind, than speak of them with my tongue.



Mr Good-Will instructing Christian regarding the narrow way:

But you may distinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow.

from a pastor's heart to one of his flock

Samuel Rutherford (Scotland) was removed from his pastorate in July 1636 for not conforming to the state religion. He was banished to Aberdeen, he was their 9 years.  These are excerpts from a letter to one of the men in his congregation, - a John Henderson


Loving friend, - Continue in the love of Christ, and the the doctrine which I taught you faithfully and painfully, according to my measure. I am free of your blood. Fear the dreadful name of God. Keep in mind the examinations which I taught you, and love the truth of God..........Let salvation be your care, night and day, and set aside hours and times of the day for prayer........This dirt and god of clay (I mean the vain world) is not worth the seeking......What I write to you, I write to your wife. Commend me heartily to her. The grace of God be with you.
Your loving Friend and Pastor,
S.R.                      Aberdeen, March 14, 1637


Good 'advice' for us all!

Psalm 148

Psalm 148

Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapor; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.