In the Name of Jesus

Friday, March 1, 2019

His name was Abdel Azim. When I was a child, just to look at him filled my mind with images of the man from whom Jesus had cast out many demons: he was disheveled, sometimes bare-chested, and violent, as he roamed about in our town (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). He terrified me. Eventually, he stabbed and killed one of our neighbors.

Muslims, in general, dabble a lot with the underworld. I personally have encountered many instances of demonic possession and evil spirit activities among them. Once when I was preaching in an Islamic capital, there was a young Muslim lady in the meeting who clearly had an evil spirit. When the pastor and I prayed for her, the demons were cast out and she was totally changed. As the Gospel spreads among Muslims, the local church needs divine power to cast out evil spirits in the mighty name of Jesus.

Prayer

Almighty Christ, Son of God, Savior and Redeemer, come in your power and deliver many Muslims today from the grip of Satan. You love Muslims. You died to save them. I pray that you will empower your church among them to pray and fast and proclaim your victory over the evil one.

The church in Muslim lands faces the powers of darkness. We look to you, O Lord, and pray as one of the ancient kings prayed: “O LORD, only you can help the weak against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we depend on you, and in your name we have marched against this army” (2 Chronicles 14:11, SAB).

Give your church the faith and boldness to defeat evil spirits and cast them out of people and places they have long occupied.

Glory be to you, our God. You are able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to your power at work within us. Glory be to you in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Promise

God who gives peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20, SAB).

Friday, February 22, 2019

The book of Psalms tells us that the City of God is a holy place, where the Most High dwells. It is the place of the Great King, the city of the Lord Almighty (Psalm 46:4; 48:1-3, 8). In his book entitled The City of God, Augustine of Hippo defines that term as the society where the Holy Scriptures rule over the laws of men, and God is the Supreme Sovereign. In light of this, we understand that the City of God is the community of the redeemed, the nation of Christ, the Church, all those who believe in God through Jesus Christ the Lord.

Our hope in Christ is that many people from Islamic backgrounds will soon choose to live for Jesus and become part of the City of God.

Prayer

Almighty God, our Father, you are in control of all peoples, of all events and of everything. All powers are under your authority. You are the God of the impossible.

I pray that you will chase away darkness and bring the light of Christ to the world of Islam. Turn their mourning into joy and their despair into hope (Isaiah 61:3). Turn death into life. Many millions are lost. Only you can bring them home to the sheepfold.

I pray that you will look at Muslims all over the world and see their bitter state away from the cross. In many places, there is no one to help these unevangelized multitudes; or at best, only a few Gospel workers are available to share Christ and his love with them. O compassionate Lord, we know it is not your purpose for them to perish in sin. Save them, I pray.

Help us, your church, to give birth to many spiritual children among Muslims. Establish a powerful church all over the Muslim world.

And now, all glory to you our God. You are able to keep us from stumbling and bring us into your glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. You alone are God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to you, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen (Jude 1:24-25).

Promise

Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world (Matthew 25:34, NLT).

Friday, February 15, 2019

Belief in fate is one of the six articles of faith of Islam. The other five are: belief in one God, in the revealed books, in the prophets, in the Last Day, and in angels.

According to Islam, everything happens because “it is written,” that is, God predestined it to happen. Because of that, man has no control over his actions, future or destiny. The all-powerful, omnipotent God has determined all man’s actions in advance. So, he is the One who compels people to act the way they do (Quran 59:23). His will and power cannot be resisted.

Some Muslim theologians go further to say, “Verily Allah has fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in, and which he of necessity must commit.”^[1]

If that were true, what good would it do to pray? If God had already pre-determined a certain course for people, our prayers would be pointless!

Prayer

Kind and compassionate Heavenly Father, I praise you because you are full of goodness and love. I bring Muslims to you in prayer. They hold to a belief in fate, which is depressing. They think they have no liberty because their acts are controlled by divine decree.

Reveal to Muslims your sacrificial love at the cross. Thank you for the benefits of the cross. Jesus Christ our Lord was slain and with his blood he purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9). Help Muslims to open their spiritual eyes to see you in your love and sacrifice for them. Open their hearts to receive the benefits of new life in Christ: salvation, joy, peace, victory, liberty, love, purity, goodness, and so on.

Father, I ask all this, not in my own power, but in the powerful name of Jesus your Son, my Lord. Amen.

Promise

Since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it…. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Hebrews 4:1, NIV; Philippians 3:14, NLT).

Footnotes

^[1]Sahih Muslim, Book 33, The Book of Destiny “Kitab-ul-Qadr”, Number 6421.

To Intercede for Muslims

Friday, February 8, 2019

God has kept us by his power for yet another new year so that we can fulfill our divine purpose of interceding for Muslims. Yes, he has placed his mantle of protection over us for a purpose. It is our prayer that we will fulfill that noble plan and honor his design for our life.

Prayer

God our Father, Fountain of all life, light, faith and grace, in your presence there is peace, hope and joy. I approach your throne with gratitude and thanksgiving.

Help me to know, desire and do your will. Help me to surrender all to you that you may accomplish every good purpose in me. May I continue to be a part of your divine plan as I pray for Muslims that they will come to freedom and life in Christ. May I never become weary in serving you in this mission of prayer.

Make your face shine upon me (Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 67:1). Fill me with the Holy Spirit and power. Let your Word be the food I eat and the air I breathe. Sanctify me through and through. Keep my whole being—spirit, soul and body—blameless at the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

May I fear no one except God and seek nothing other than your glory. You are my Rock, my Shield, my Stronghold, my Banner, my Healer, my Shepherd. Arm me with strength and train me for battle (Psalm 18:32). Only you, my God, the God of peace, can “soon crush Satan under my feet” (Romans 16:20).

Glory and honor and praise to you, King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen.

Promise

I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you… plans to give you hope and a future…. you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you (Jeremiah 29:11-12, NIV).