Friday, May 26, 2017

During this season, Muslims start the month-long fast called Ramadan. The Muslim calendar is based on the lunar year which has only 354 days. So each year the month-long fast comes about 11 days earlier than the previous year.

Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day throughout this month. They abstain from food, drink, smoking, smelling nice odors, and marital relations. Each day after sunset, they break the fast, usually with a feast. They are allowed to eat until dawn of the following day.

According to Islam, this fast enables people to gain a right standing with God and an entry into paradise.

Some Muslims actually believe that during this month the devil is chained and cannot cause them harm, that the doors of heaven are open and the doors of hell are closed.

Prayer

O Lord Jesus, I pray with love and compassion in my heart for Muslims during this season of fasting.

You know, Lord, that most Muslims are sincere people. They are serious about their religion and beliefs. Help them realize that to approach you they have to go through Jesus and his sacrifice at Calvary. They cannot save themselves from sin by “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps”! They cannot lift themselves up to you by performing rituals and religious duties.

Help them, O God, discover during this season that we are saved, not through works of righteousness, but only by faith through your undeserved favor.

I pray that you will reveal yourself to Muslims during this month as the Savior who has already accomplished all things. May they know that on the cross “it is finished.” Amen.

Promise

It is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life” (Galatians 3:11, NLT).

Friday, May 19, 2017

Islam divides up the world into two camps: the House of Islam and the House of War. Muslims believe they belong to the House of Islam, the place where peace dominates. Non-Muslims allegedly belong to the House of War, a place where war is waged against “infidels” to subjugate them to Islam and convert them by force to the Muslim religion.

A Muslim writer who was educated in the United States says, “Islam knows only two societies [in the world], a Muslim society and a pagan non-Muslim society.”^[1]

The House of Islam is a community united by Muslim beliefs, Muslim laws (Sharia), and Muslim observances and goals. In that house there is to be no separation between state and religion. Rather, the state is the patron and guardian of religion.

Prayer

Merciful Father, your Word tells us that we, your Church, are God’s temple, that God’s Spirit lives in us (1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 3:6), and that we belong to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. However, Muslims view themselves as part of a different structure—a “House of Peace” that is at war with non-Muslims. Their “house” is not built on Jesus Christ, the sure foundation and chief cornerstone (1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20), the One who gives true peace (John 14:27).

I pray for Muslims, that by your Holy Spirit you will draw them to the cross of Jesus to place their faith in him and acknowledge him as their Lord and Savior.

Grant them, before it is too late, to abandon the house that the foolish man built on sand (Matthew 7:24-27). May they, through the power of the blood of Jesus, become “a holy temple… a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2: 21-22). “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in … [their] hearts” (Colossians 3:15). For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Promise

You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23, NLT).

Footnotes

^[1] Sayyed Qutb. Landmarks on the Road (Cairo: Shoroq, 1991), p. 150-151.

Friday, May 12, 2017

In a typical Muslim society there are two spaces: the home, and the public arena. The public arena is the place for men; it represents authority and religion. Home is the place for women and children; it is to be under the control and continuous supervision of the men who are to provide food, protection and direction. Hence, one group has authority, and the other is to submit to that authority. One group issues orders, and the other is to obey those orders. Briefly, there are two worlds: one for males and one for females.^[1]

This sociological dichotomy results mainly from seeing women negatively as a source of temptation, lure and seduction for men. This also helps explain some of the tension that exists in typical Muslim societies regarding women who work outside the home or go out of the home without a male chaperon. Their actions are viewed as an invasion of the male world and an encroachment on it.

Prayer

Righteous God, you created us all equal. You did not create two classes of humans. Men and women equally express your creative power and your divine genius. You made us all in your own image and meant that we would glorify you.

We acknowledge that all of us are sinners. We all, both men and women, are guilty of breaking your holy commandments. That is why I bring Muslims to your attention today. Have mercy on them. Bring them into the Kingdom of your blessed Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Help Muslim women recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Set them free from the belief that they are a degree lower than men.

Promise

The earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD (Isaiah 11:9; see also Habakkuk 2:14).

Footnotes

^[1] For more details, see Fatima Mernissi, Beyond the Veil, Arabic Edition, 1996, especially chapter 8.

Friday, May 5, 2017

Haman was the highest official in the royal palace, second only to the king. But he hated the Jews and planned to kill them all in one day, and he got the king to sign a decree to that effect. There were many thousands of Jews in the kingdom. That meant it was set to be a mass killing sanctioned by the authorities!

Before the plan was carried out, however, God orchestrated events so that the tables were turned. Haman, the official behind the plot, was executed, his children were killed and along with them all the enemies of the Jews. No harm came to the Jews (read the book of Esther). Terrorism is nothing new!

In recent years, various Islamic groups have engaged in terrorism by persecuting, abusing, raping and murdering Christians, other non-Muslims, and even Muslims who do not agree with them.

Prayer

O God of Peniel, you revealed yourself to Jacob and rescued him from the anger and revenge of Esau (Genesis 32:30; 33). You upset the plot of Haman and rescued the Jews from his evil intentions. You thwarted the plan of the Assyrians against King Hezekiah and his people. Glory be to you.

You still rescue and deliver today. We pray against the evil done by the “Hamans” of today. May they repent of their wickedness and rush to the cross of Jesus. May their lives be changed by your power.

Almighty God, change them from terrorists to saints. May the Holy Spirit dwell in them and anoint them to bring Good News to the poor, to proclaim freedom to the prisoners, recovery of sight to the blind, and liberty to the oppressed.

In the name that is above every name, the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, my Lord. Amen.

Promise

I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. But when I looked again, they were gone! (Psalm 37:35-36, NLT).