Friday, November 30, 2018

He was an average man. Yet, at a time of rampant sin, when wickedness had spread and everything people thought or imagined was evil (Genesis 6:5-6), Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:24). He lived a life that pleased his Maker and was commended for that (Hebrews 11:5). Further, his spiritual vision was clear. He was looking forward to the coming of the Lord with multitudes of his saints (Jude 1:14), although he lived many centuries before Jesus told us he would come again (Matthew 24:30-31).

So, one day he disappeared! He was taken from this life without experiencing death (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5). Later he had the honor of being mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3: 37).

We need men and women today like Enoch. Do you walk with God?

Prayer

Lord God, we praise you that the door to your throne of grace is always open to us. As we pray this week, we ask you to bring from among Muslims many people who will choose to walk with you, Lord, and who will be commended as pleasing you through faith in Jesus Christ. Your Word tells us that without faith it is impossible to please you (Hebrews 11:6).

Grant us to see many Muslims come to the Kingdom. May they become the light of the world, the salt of the earth, and channels of blessing to their own people to draw them to the love of God.

All glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Promise

This includes you who were once far away from God…. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. … he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it (Colossians1:21-23, NLT).

Friday, November 23, 2018

During this season Muslims around the world celebrate Muhammad’s birthday. Muhammad was born in A.D. 570 in Mecca, in what is now Saudi Arabia, and died in A.D. 632. His tomb is in the city of Medina, north of Mecca.

At age 40, Muhammad reportedly started receiving messages from God. At first, Muhammad was persecuted by his own tribe. But as he gained followers and Islam became stronger, he fought wars to conquer people for his religion.

Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last and most important of all prophets sent from God, that he brought the final religion, Islam, and the final revelation from God to man, the Quran.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the Almighty One and the Ruler over the kings of the earth. You are enthroned above the angels and all the universe. I pray that you will manifest your glory to many Muslims this week. Show them your mighty power. Come to rescue them! Deliver them, O merciful Lord, from Satan’s tyranny. Help them pledge their loyalty and allegiance to you, the only true Savior. Make your face shine upon them. May they set their fervent affections on the One who died for their sins and rose to give them life. I pray in a special way for the Muslims I know—friends, neighbors, colleagues. In the name of Jesus, break the power of the enemy in their lives. Bring them from darkness into the light of the Gospel.

Fill many homes with the joy, singing and celebration of lives transformed by the power of the cross of Calvary. Keep believers faithful and true to you to the end.

Promise

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NIV).

Friday, November 16, 2018

Europe and America are playing with fire as they dabble dangerously with Islam. In the United States, you cannot teach Christianity in public schools, but Islam is taught as a “culture.” In Europe, Islam is growing at an alarming pace.

This is not new! At the turn of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte was very fascinated with Islam while he was in Egypt as a conqueror. One of his French generals converted to Islam, was circumcised and married a Muslim wife. At the turn of the 20th century, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany indicated that if he had not already had a religion, he would have certainly converted to Islam.

These are only a few examples. We could cite present-day instances of individuals in high places as well as common people who are charmed and somehow enthralled with Islam. The Bible says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons (1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Prayer

Lord God, you have been patient with the peoples of Europe and America. They are rich in material goods, but poor in spiritual matters. They are advanced in technology, but backward in things pertaining to God. Save them from the slippery path they have chosen by turning their back on Christ. Have mercy on them. Help them to repent.

By faith I claim many Muslims in the West for Christ. May they become tools in God’s hand to bring many nominal Christians in post-Christian Europe and America to the cross of Calvary. I pray for a great revival for your Church in the West.

O God, Supreme and Mighty Potentate, Master of heaven and earth, you can do such feats! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Promise

Go back to what you heard and believed at first…. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life (Revelation 3: 3, 5, NLT).

Friday, November 9, 2018

There are many teachings in Islam that believers in Christ can use as bridges to help Muslims enter the Kingdom of God. The Quran states that God created Adam and Eve, that he sent the flood but rescued Noah, that he spoke to Abraham, that he gave the Torah (Pentateuch) to Moses, that he sent Jesus who was born of a virgin.

All these narratives, common to both Muslims and Christians, can be used as bridges to bring Muslims closer to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not all the details of these stories in Islam fully agree with the biblical accounts, but they can work as starting points.

It is also worthwhile to establish friendships with Muslims as you seek to share the Good News of Christ with them. Friends trust each other, depend on each other and desire each other’s well-being. Building bridges of common narratives and friendship pays dividends.

Prayer

Great God in heaven, because of your mercy and grace we come into your presence. We bow down in awe and reverence before you, our Creator and Redeemer. We present our needs to you. Anoint me and my fellow prayer warriors with your Spirit of wisdom and understanding (Isaiah 11:1-2).

Muslims need to come to Jesus, know his person and work, and receive his grace. Help me declare the message of the cross with love, clarity and effectiveness. Give me courage to tell Muslims about the measureless love of God at Calvary. Touch their hearts with your grace. Fill their minds with your Word.

Open my eyes to see and understand your plans and purposes for Muslims. Help me follow the example of Jesus who went about teaching, preaching and healing (Matthew 9:35).

In his mighty name, I pray. Amen.

Promise

Foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship him… these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer (Isaiah 56:6-7, NIV).

Friday, November 2, 2018

This Sunday is designated as a day of prayer for the persecuted Church worldwide. Christians are undergoing severe persecution in many parts of the world. It is estimated that during the 20th century, more Christians were martyred than in the prior 19 centuries combined! In Muslim countries, the followers of Christ are often mistreated, imprisoned and murdered.

The Islamic system does not allow freedom of religion. Religious, political and social authorities serve as guardians to protect that system. They have a long arm through the government and police, the mosque and sheikhs, work and family, friends and neighbors, and so forth. The Islamic system persecutes and disposes of people who leave Islam. Today untold numbers of our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering persecution.

Prayer

Sovereign God, just as Herod, Pilate and other leaders made plans against Jesus (Acts 4: 27), rulers and common people in today’s world are persecuting your children!

Brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering persecution do not love their lives so much as to shrink from death (Revelation 12:11). I may not know them personally, but I intercede for them. You taught us to “bear one another’s burdens,” so I want to stand alongside them. They are members of the Body of Christ; when one member suffers, the rest of the body suffers.

O God Almighty, be with those who are enduring a nightmare of mistreatment, beatings and abuse. I bring their plight to your attention, merciful Father. Visit them. Soothe their pain. Comfort their souls. Encourage their hearts. May your face shine upon them.

In prayer I ask you to wake up the Church around the world to pray for persecuted believers and come to their assistance. May Christians who occupy influential positions act to alleviate the pain of our suffering brothers and sisters. Help them, Father, not to remain silent. Move them to respond to the tragedy of the persecuted Church.

Promise

Your healing will quickly appear… the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. …you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. …your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD… will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail (Isaiah 58:8-11, NIV).