Our Guest: Lana Silk
Lana Silk is an advocate for seeing the people of Iran come to know the Lord. That is where she first encountered him. Born and raised in Iran, Lana later moved to the UK, where she earned an honors degree in computer engineering, followed by postgraduate studies in marketing communication strategy.
Her journey led her into a career in branding, fundraising, and nonprofit consulting, as well as ministry. She served as a church minister, worship leader, and college chaplain, focusing on youth mental health and safeguarding. Now living in Ohio with her husband and three children, Lana serves as the chief executive officer of Transform Iran USA. She’s committed to bringing freedom and hope to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Fluent in three languages, and deeply dedicated to advocacy, she considers it her life’s calling to be a voice for Iran in the West.
Key Thoughts and Scriptures:
Acts 17:24-28 NLT He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples…
- Lana’s parents invited her and her siblings as children into a life of adventure where God was exciting and active in their lives.
- Her parents modeled what it was to live in steps of faith.
- Just do the step in front of you.
- The truth of what Lana experienced in Jesus was so real that there was never any risk of that being compromised in her mind.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light
- We have come too far wanting to appease people in the name of tolerance.
- Jesus was offensive to the powers that be in His day.
- Understand that to go from death to life in the spirit is actually the most dramatic conversion that we can have.
- This is an all or nothing kind of faith.
- When we are baptized, we are dying to our own self and raising to a new life.
“Christians, we are dead men walking, we are dead to ourselves and we live for Christ. And whatever happens in our life, we know we’re alive for eternity, but we have to die to everything else.” – Derek Prince
Lana discovered there is freedom that comes in relinquishing our hold on the things that we don’t need to hold. Letting God be God.
- “It’s His story. If He wants me here, then it’s His responsibility to provide for me here.”
Isaiah 54:2 NKJV Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings…
- The actual process of stretching is uncomfortable, but it increases the ground that we cover. It increases our territory. Also it’ll increase our legacy, even our impact.
- Lana made a decision that she wouldn’t make any life-altering decisions without a prophetic confirmation from God.
- “Do I really believe that He’s good and He is a God of clarity? So then if I really believe this, then why wouldn’t He tell me what I should do?”
Psalm 16:6 NIV The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places…
- “‘I feel like what God is saying is ‘You need to go and I’m going with you.’” It was just not the right answer.”
- Obedience is dying to self. It’s that little bit, little by little, God shows us that part of you is now dead and you’re alive in Me.
- “But when I get in the middle of it, I realize God knows me so much better than I know myself.”
Isaiah 30:21 NKJV Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,”…
Ephesians 1:3-6 NLT All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms…This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure…
- It’s God’s pleasure to bless us and to lead us along the way.
- Often it is harder for parents to trust God with their kids than with themselves.
- If we protect them too much, then we protect them from the adventure.
Every nudge from the Lord that we hear has a plan and a purpose and an impact.
Psalm 119:105 NKJV Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
- We don’t know where our journey leads. And that’s His kindness as well.
- Sometimes we think we know the best way to get there. God has a much better way.
- Lana has learned to not get ahead of herself in her own ego, but also not get ahead in fear and paralysis.
- Our callings are unique. But our ability to fulfill those callings is also unique.
- God prepares us and gifts us and lines us up, so that our gifting and preparation collides with our calling all at the right time.
- And that can only happen if our obedience is in step as well.
- But when we follow God’s leading, when we just say yes, He’s not asking us to bring anything with us, but ourselves.
- And God may not be asking us to bleed for Him literally, but He is asking for sacrifice.
- “He wants me more than He wants my ministry.”
- God is the God of today.
- So what does He want from me today? Where is He stretching me today?
- Spend time with God so that you can learn to hear what His voice sounds like.
- And then when He does speak, no matter what it is, take that risk, do it with joy, it will be good for you.
Matthew 25:14-30 NIV The Parable of the Talents
Anna’s Story
- Anna was a simple woman who saw what God was doing right before her eyes that other people missed.
- It’s so important that we don’t miss what God is doing.
I Chronicles 12:32 NKJV …the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…
Matthew 24 NIV …Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near…
- You could walk by and carry on with what you’re doing, or you could engage with what God is doing. Don’t miss it. Because it’s a blessing for you.
- It was a blessing for Anna. She got to speak blessing over the Messiah before hardly anyone else knew that He was there.
- Partnering with Him becomes an adventure.
Ephesians 3:20 NLT Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
- It requires our “Yes.”
- God is able to meet every need, reach those who seem unreachable, work in us to transform us, and bring God glory.
Luke 1:37 NKJV For with God nothing will be impossible.
- God invites us into relationship with Him and has a vision for each of our lives.
- Are you willing to say ‘Yes’?
- If there’s any doubt, what’s the harm?
- Worst case scenario, you’d take a step into the unknown and if it was to share a word with someone, it would have given somebody a good word and that would be it.
- Best case scenario, you’ve obeyed God and somewhere in between you’ve shown God that even if you’re not sure, you’re willing to take that step.
Links:
- Transform Iran USA
- “I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin
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