Ever been hurt for your beliefs? Assailed, perhaps not with stones or rocks, but even unkind words and barrages against your faith? Brother Yun knows all too well what it feels like. Acquainted with not only emotional pain and contempt, but also the most brutal and in-humane tortures known to mankind, Brother Yun, with all due respect, should not rationally be alive today. Though Yun is an amazing person with a mind-blowing history of ministry, he remains a simple man serving his Lord in one of toughest places to do so. Communist China.
Following our Lord fervently since the age of 16, Liu Zhenying, or “Brother Yun”, utilized what little materials he had, if any, to bring great numbers of people to Christ. In a time where anyone found with one of the few bibles in all of China would be publicly beaten and humiliated, Brother Yun cried out to the Lord, prayed, and fasted on only a bowl of rice a day, for one hundred days, all to gaze upon God’s Holy word. Miraculously, Brother Yun received his precious bible and immediately memorized entire chapters at a time. He then devoted all his time to the Lord and preached to entire congregations at secret home churches, simply reciting Bible passages from Memory. Moved by the great spirit of the Lord, his on-lookers fell to their knees and hundreds were brought to Christ.
But the gift that Brother Yun shared freely didn’t come without cost to him. Eventually the “Public Security Bureau” discovered the clandestine Church services which had been underway, and, at the age of 17, Brother Yun was, for the first time, arrested for preaching the Gospel. In the years too follow, Yun would be beaten a countless number of times, and followed constantly by the Public Security Bureau. ‘Though he had electric prods stuck inside his mouth, was kicked on the ground for hours at a time with steel toed boots, and was even used as a dummy for martial arts training when he was incarcerated, Brother Yun replied, “The more pressure there was, the more fire and love there was to preach the gospel.” Brother Yun persevered through severe tribulation for several years and continued to preach the Gospel and grow in faith.
Perhaps the most astounding of his achievements was Brother Yun’s time in prison. Far too many beatings to recount, and some of the most intense torture techniques of the time, such as having needles shoved under a victim’s fingernails, were conducted on Brother Yun. Despite all this he would never betray a fellow brother nor deny his blessed faith. Through some miraculous work of God, Brother Yun under-went a complete (and physically impossible) 72 day fast, eating absolutely no water or food while in prison. After being beaten and molested by mobs of prisoners, urinated on, and beaten repeatedly, he even led several prisoners and prison guards to Christ, and started a revival within the very prison gates. After several impossible prison escapes that could never have taken place without some heavenly intervention, such as jumping clear over a ten foot wall, the guards severely beat and broke his legs, too the point at which he was told he would never walk again. Brother Yun then proceeded to walk, un-contested, out of a maximum security through the front gate. This alone is a testament to God’s incredible and unstoppable power.
As stated in the Bible, it is every Christian’s goal to further their walk with the Lord, and become more like our Savior with every waking moment. Though all humans have their faults, and Brother Yun was no exception, he followed Christ through the valley of the shadow of death, and showed commitment and resolve that most Christians simply dream of. Yun notes how corrupt, and enveloped in materialism the churches of the West have become, but, living in China, this was not a big lure for him, and he dedicated his entire being to becoming like his Savior. As Christ-like as they come, Brother Yun is a worthy example to Christians around the World, and an inspiration to anyone who wishes to fight for their beliefs.
Ever been hurt for your beliefs? After reading Brother Yun’s inspiring story, I believe some of us don’t mind and may actually look forward to standing up for our Salvation. ‘Though we may never face such persecution as Brother Yun was forced to endure, there are always trial and tribulations within our own life, testing our walk with God. This incredible book gives us all a renewed look at the power and ability of God, and we must remember that no matter how big or small our trials are, with God on our side, we will never fail in furthering his kingdom.
Book Report. «The Heavenly man»
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