This week we pray for Muslims to receive

DREAMS AND VISIONS FROM GOD

God sometimes speaks to us in dreams and visions. In the Bible we read about people who received direction, warning, blessing and encouragement through dreams and visions. Jacob, Pharaoh, Solomon, Daniel, Joseph the Carpenter, the Wise Men, and Pilate’s wife are among many who were given dreams and visions to comfort, encourage, protect and guide them. The Lord says, “I reveal myself… in visions, I speak… in dreams” (Numbers 12:6, NIV). A vision or a dream that comes truly from the Lord and is intended for guidance must be in accordance with God’s Word. There should be no contradiction.

Muslims often take dreams very seriously. A sizable percentage of those who come to Christ from Islam do so after having a dream or a vision of or about Jesus.

PRAYER

O Ancient of Days, sitting upon the throne, you are unsurpassed in majesty, glory and holiness. Yet you stoop down to touch us, to guide and comfort us.

We bless you for helping your Church spread the Good News and for coming to Muslims in visions and dreams. I pray that you will reveal Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to many Muslims and their leaders. Show them mercy and bless them. Make your face shine with favor upon them. When they are asleep, let their hearts be awake to receive a glimpse of the Lamb that was slain and a word from him. Grant them spiritual encounters with Jesus, the Christ, the Savior. Send them believers who will lead them by the hand into your Kingdom.

I pray that they will put their faith in Christ and be saved by his atoning power. May they be impacted by visions and dreams to change their lives and follow the Shepherd of their souls.

May what they experience with Jesus while they are asleep continue when they are awake and grow into a holy walk with him (Job 33:15-18).

Help them delight in your Word, build their new life in Christ upon it, and meditate on it day and night.

PROMISE

I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me (Isaiah 65:1, NIV).

This week we pray for the vision called

BACK TO JERUSALEM

The underground church in China is persecuted and abused even today. Yet, it has a desire to take the Gospel to the whole world. Leaders of that church believe that just as the Gospel originally came out of Jerusalem and went to the West and from there to China, now the Chinese need to take it back to Jerusalem through Central Asia along the Silk Road.

Their goal is to bring multitudes of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists to Christ. The movement lists more than 50 countries in Asia and Africa as its geographic target to plant churches. Their dream is to train and send 100,000 missionaries to the rest of the world.

PRAYER

O Christ, the Head of the Church and her Redeemer and Master, we thank you for the courage of the leaders and members of the house churches in China. We are grateful for such holy audacity and boldness! Thank you, Lord, for helping them to see and understand your plans and purposes for the lost.

I pray for these brave and daring brothers and sisters; help them to continue to draw strength and wisdom from you. As they themselves have experienced persecution, may they in turn be well-equipped to minister to the Muslims who come to Christ and suffer persecution.

Use them as agents of transformation in many nations and societies. Help them to be culturally sensitive as they move from their familiar customs at home to face a world with cultural traits and traditions that are strange to them. Help them to adapt gracefully and be effective messengers of the King of kings.

Grant them unity and love. In your name, by your Spirit, for your glory, amen.

PROMISE

In that day deaf people will hear words read from a book, and blind people will see through the gloom and darkness… Those in error will then believe the truth, and those who constantly complain will accept instruction (Isaiah 29:18, 24, NLT).

This week we pray that Muslim converts will be filled with the

HOLY SPIRIT

Before Jesus ascended to the Father, he promised to send the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and Guide and empower us to witness for him. His promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. This weekend we will celebrate Pentecost Sunday to commemorate the gift of God’s Spirit to the Church. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can draw people to Christ and enable Christians to accomplish great things in everyday life, in evangelism and in missions.

Over the centuries, the Holy Spirit has used miracles, visions, and dreams to reveal Christ to many Muslims in different parts of the world. The great influx of Muslims coming to Christ in Indonesia in the 1960s and 1970s, and presently in some parts of Africa, can be attributed mainly to the powerful work of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER

O God the Holy Spirit, come upon every Muslim convert to Christ, and fill him or her with your power and presence. Fulfill to them Jesus’ promise of Pentecost. Holy Spirit, sanctify them, guide them to the truth, and help them lead a victorious Christian life. The environment that surrounds them is very hostile to the Gospel, and they need the fullness of the Spirit to persevere in their commitment to you.

Help them pray for others and intercede for the lost world. Inspire them with zeal and power to witness for Christ, spread the Gospel throughout the whole earth, and demonstrate God’s majesty through signs and wonders.

I pray that the time will come when “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord’s glory as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).

PROMISE

I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions (Joel 2:28, NLT).

This week we pray about Muhammad’s alleged

NIGHT JOURNEY

Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, claimed that one night he traveled on the back of a winged donkey from the mosque in Mecca to the mosque in Jerusalem. From there he reportedly ascended to heaven where he saw several prophets and had an audience with God.  Afterwards all the prophets came to him, and he led them in prayer. Finally he returned to Mecca—all in the same night (Quran 17:1).

Let us note that, in fact, there were no mosques either in Mecca or in Jerusalem at that time!

PRAYER

Majestic God in heaven, blessed be your holy name. I bow down in your presence and worship you. Thank you for entrusting me with the task of praying for others and bringing them to your attention.  I appeal to you to set Muslims free, and I intercede on their behalf.

Lord God, for so long these precious people have sat in darkness and gloom. Show your mercy and grace to them, O God. Give them wisdom, intelligence and sharp insight to realize that it is pointless to build their
belief system on fables and traditions of humans. Rescue them from the grip of a merciless enemy that is plotting their ruin and doom.

Help them run to Jesus and live in the light of his Word. Grant them freedom through the cross of Calvary. As a fellow prayer warrior has prayed, give them “a desire for what is true, a hunger for what is righteous,
and a determination to refuse all substitutes, no matter how attractively presented.”

In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

PROMISE

The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things… The pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with luscious fruit; fig trees and grapevines will flourish once more (Psalm 118:16; Joel 2:21-22, NLT).

This week we pray for many to be like the

ETHIOPIAN OFFICIAL

The Minister of Finance in the government of Queen Candace
of Ethiopia believed in God who had revealed his Word to the prophets.

He went to Jerusalem to fulfill religious duties prescribed by his conscience and his limited understanding of God’s Word. When he was returning home, the Lord sent him Philip to counsel him and bring his faith to maturity through trusting and believing in Jesus Christ (read Acts 8:26-40).

Many people in the Muslim world are very thirsty spiritually. They go on pilgrimages and fulfill religious duties, attempting to please God. Let us pray that the Lord will send them light and revelation to bring them to the Kingdom of Christ, transform them to be his children and fill them with peace and joy.

PRAYER

Lord God, you came down on Mount Sinai where you spoke to Moses and gave him your laws (Exodus 19). You spoke to Elijah on Mount Horeb and gave him courage and guidance (1 Kings 19:8-18). I pray that you will speak from Mount Calvary to Muslims today. May you bestow the grace of Jesus Christ on the followers of Muhammad!

Help me to be a “Philip” for a Muslim seeker this week. Use me as I am, limited in my understanding of Islam and Muslims, and flawed and weak. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help me to say words that come directly from you. Please speak through me to answer their questions. In my weakness, manifest your power. Keep me from being argumentative. Fill my heart with love and compassion, my mouth with words of grace, and my soul with courage.

As the Ethiopian official accepted your Word, help many Muslims to open their hearts to your message and accept Jesus as their only Lord and Savior. Grant them to declare, as that man did, that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God.

And just as the official went on his way rejoicing, may their hearts be full of your joy. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

PROMISE

When you seek me, you will find me; if you search wholeheartedly, 29.14 REB Jeremiah 29.I shall let you find me (Jeremiah 29:13-14, REB).