Dreams and Visions

Friday, January 27, 2017

God sometimes chooses to speak through dreams and visions. The Bible tells us 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). 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. Many 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, you who sit upon the throne, all majesty, glory and holiness belong to you. Yet you stoop down to touch us, to guide and comfort us.

Thank you for helping your Church spread the Gospel, and for speaking to Muslims through visions and dreams. I ask you to reveal Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to many Muslims. Show them mercy and bless them. Make your face shine with favor upon them. When they are asleep, awaken their hearts to receive a glimpse of the Lamb that was slain and hear a word from him. Let them encounter Jesus, the Christ, the Savior. Send them believers to lead them by the hand into your Kingdom.

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

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. Amen.

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).

Antioch

Friday, January 20, 2017

Churches comprised of Muslim converts to Christ are often of recent origin, still young and fledgling in their development. With this prayer we implore God for a church in Muslim societies that is full of the Spirit and strong in the Word, missions-oriented, outward-looking, and very active in bringing the lost to the Kingdom.

According to Acts 13:1-3, the church in Antioch was such a one.

Prayer

Glory be to you, Lord Jesus our Savior, Bridegroom of the Church, her Redeemer and Master.

Stretch out your mighty arm, O Lord, and establish in Muslim lands a church that refuses heresies, shuns egocentrism, and stands firm in the face of divisions and rifts. May she be a church that preserves unity, lives in holiness, weathers persecution, and does not hesitate to sacrifice all for Jesus Christ, her Lord.

Yes, Heavenly Father, we pray for a church that has prophets and teachers, that accepts and encourages members of various races and nationalities, that includes people of high positions and lowly ones, people who are educated and those who are not, a church to whom the Holy Spirit speaks and declares God’s will.

May the church in Muslim lands be a worshipping, praying, fasting church that produces leaders and sends them out as missionaries to plant the church in various parts of the world.

By faith I see coming out of Islam a church that, on the last day, will be like a chaste, beautiful bride presented to her Groom (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:2).

Glory be to you, O God, in the Church and in Christ Jesus for all time and eternity (Ephesians 3:21). Amen.

Promise

I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.… you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere (Jeremiah 1:5; Acts 1:8, NLT).

Discernment

Friday, January 13, 2017

As we share Christ with Muslims, we need discernment to minister to the person to whom we are witnessing. God is able to grant us sensitivity to know people’s needs and minister to those needs. It is indispensable that we live close to God and sit regularly at Jesus’ feet, hear his Word and be filled with the Spirit. Only then can we offer help and comfort to others (read Deuteronomy 33:3; Luke 10:38-42).

Prayer

Almighty God, my loving Father, I ask you to give me discernment by your Holy Spirit. When I meet Muslims and open my mouth to speak, give me keen spiritual insight, right judgment, wisdom and good sense. May prophetic words come from my heart, along with ideas that speak to their spirit and draw them to Calvary.

O my God and Savior, guide my words. May they be a message of life to my friends and a source of joy and hope for them. May your Holy Spirit convict them and draw them to the crucified, risen Lord.

Hide me, and reveal Jesus to them. May he become more important, while I become less important (John 3:30). Let Muslims be awed by Christ’s love, mercy and grace. May heaven rejoice, as many who were once lost are being found.

Glory be to God, who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us (Ephesians 3:20). Amen.

Promise

Give me discernment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments (Psalm 119:66, SAB).

I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart (1 Kings 3:12, NIV).

Year of the Lord’s Favor

Friday, January 6, 2017

At the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read this passage from the prophet Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me…. to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:1-2).

The time is ripe for Muslims to come in throngs to Jesus and accept him as the only Lord and Savior. Some traits of modern Islamic societies will prove to be amazing catalysts to bring millions of Muslims to Christ. One such characteristic is staunch loyalty to their group, be it family, clan, tribe, or a social set. This will help bring large numbers to the Kingdom.

Another feature of Islamic society is all-out dedication to their religion. So when they shift their allegiance to Jesus, they will very likely become committed Christ-worshippers, willing to sacrifice their lives for the Savior.

Prayer

Great God, compassionate Father and mighty Savior, we bless your holy name. We pray that you will demonstrate your awesome power among the nations (Psalm 77:14). Prepare us, your children, to do our part and fulfill your Great Commission to take the Gospel to the whole world. Help us bring Muslims to the Kingdom of Christ.

Show Muslims your favor. As Abraham pleaded for the lost in Sodom and Gomorrah, we ask you to give Muslims a chance to accept Christ. You love them. Jesus died for them. Rescue them from the doom of sin.

Visit Muslim lands by your Holy Spirit. Send them a new Day of Pentecost. May we see them flock into your Kingdom by the millions.

We worship you alone, God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are yours before all time, and now, and beyond all time! Hallelujah. Amen (Jude 1:25).

Promise

In the time of my favor I will answer you… I will… make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritance, to say to the captives, “Come out,” and to those in darkness, “Be free!” (Isaiah 49:8-9, NIV).