Friday, May 27, 2016

Sharia is an Arabic word that means “a path to be followed.” In its most common use, it refers to Islamic law. The inference here is that Islamic law is the path that should be followed in various decisions. That law covers the whole of religious, social, economic, political, domestic and private life for all who profess Islam. There are two primary sources for the Sharia: the Quran (the holy book of Islam), and the sunna (what Muhammad said and did).

Punishments according to the Sharia include lashes for drinking alcohol, amputation of a limb for theft, stoning for adultery and homosexuality, and so forth.

In some places (such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, parts of Indonesia, and the Gaza Strip), government-appointed religious police regularly patrol public places to enforce Sharia law.

One goal of fundamentalist Muslims is to impose Sharia law wherever there are Muslim populations. They have even succeeded in having it used in the legal system in Britain.^[1]

Prayer

Eternal Father, Holy Son, Life-Giving Spirit, blessed be your majesty in heaven, O God (Ezekiel 3:12, SAB). I pray that you will help Muslims understand that although the Sharia allows them to kill sinners, that will never uproot sin. Help them repent of their self-righteousness and come to Christ, the only true Savior.

May your light shine on them and give them a glimpse of your immeasurable and unfathomable love (Ephesians 3:18-19).

By the power of the cross, may they receive eternal life and be transformed to experience your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Instead of declarations of blame, judgment, condemnation, and verdicts of death, may their vocabulary be transformed into expressions of redemption, forgiveness, cleansed hearts, pure minds, grace, victory, crucified self, songs of joy, and eternal life!

May your holy name be praised for ever and ever. In Jesus Christ, your Son, my Lord, amen.

Promise

We know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law (Galatians 2:16, NLT).

Footnotes

^[1] The Telegraph, March 22, 2014.

Friday, May 20, 2016

Muslims believe in one God whose oneness does not allow for the doctrine of the Trinity, that is, three Persons in One. They mistakenly believe that Christians worship three gods. Islam claims that Jesus cannot be the Son of God, because God does not marry and produce children. Muslims believe that the Holy Spirit is just an angel.

Further, the loving relationship of God the Father with his people is missing in Islam. “The central claim of Christianity is that God has spoken. ”^[1] This means there is the Speaker (God the Father), the Word spoken (the Son) and the Interpreter of the Word (the Holy Spirit).

Although people are not saved because of a doctrine, the teaching of the Trinity reveals to us God’s person, his character and his work, and is essential for our relationship with him. An incorrect concept of God is at the core of many heresies.

Prayer

Lord God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, great in glory and eternal in love, I ask you to open the eyes of many Muslims this week to see your sacrifice, power and wisdom.

Forgive Muslims for rejecting Jesus Christ, your Son, and trying to box the Eternal God into the limits of their own logic! May they be reconciled to you at the cross of Calvary. Set them free from the darkness of Islam. May their hearts be touched by your love, O God our Father, by the grace of Christ your Son, and by the closeness and the gentleness of the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus, reveal yourself to them, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. You said: “I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me…. I came from God” (John 8:16,42).

Instead of trying to analyze the depths of God’s being, may they submit to your eternal love and worship you—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are the Almighty, the only living God, Maker of heaven and earth, and Redeemer and Sustainer of humans. Blessed are you for ever and ever. Amen.

Promise

Jesus said, “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father too. From now on you do know him and have seen him”(John 14:6-7, SAB).

Footnotes

^[1] Swiss Theologian Karl Bart, 1886-1968.

Friday, May 13, 2016

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).

Friday, May 6, 2016

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.”^[1]

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, NLT; Joel 2:21-22).

Footnotes

^[1] Eugene Peterson, Praying with the Prophets, January 31.