Friday, June 26, 2020

For many years, the children of Israel suffered abuse, cruelty, and exploitation at the hands of their taskmasters in Egypt. God saw their suffering and came down to deliver them (Exodus 3:7-8). What followed was the great exodus of a whole nation from slavery into freedom.

Today, I believe that more than 1.6 billion Muslims are in worse slavery to Satan. Yet, through the power of the cross of Christ, God is able to deliver them, set them free, and give them eternal life. Our part is to intercede for them and use every possible means to bring them to the Kingdom.

Prayer

Father in heaven, I ask you to count me worthy of your calling to pray for Muslims. By your power, fulfill your good purpose in me (2 Thessalonians 1:11; Philippians 2:13).

You, O Lord, see the misery and distress of Muslims because they are separated from Christ. They are in slavery, and they need to be set free. Yes, they are enslaved to a ruthless taskmaster, Satan. Let the groans of prisoners reach your throne. With your powerful arm, rescue those who are condemned to death (Psalm 79:11).

Hear my prayer, O God, and perform mighty feats against the enemy. Set Muslims free from his control and oppression. Split their “Red Sea” and help them cross over on dry land into Christ’s Promised Land, into the Kingdom of your beloved Son. May a modern-day exodus of an entire population take place by the power of the cross.

O Christ, our Redeemer and Savior, help Muslims to see the light and accept you—the way, the truth, and the life—and live for you.

Glory be to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Promise

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…. I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit…. Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope (John 8:32, NIV; Zechariah 9:11; Psalm 119:49, NRSV).

In Muslim Countries

Friday, June 19, 2020

In some areas of the Muslim world (such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, parts of Indonesia, and the Gaza Strip) the Religion Police or the Morals Police work to keep people in line with the religious practices of Islam. Usually they are bands of extremist zealots who, for the sake of enforcing “right” and forbidding “wrong,” commit horrendous atrocities. They harshly punish anyone who dares to challenge or assail Islam by words or by actions. They reserve the severest punishment for those who choose to follow Christ.

In at least one Muslim country the Religion Police have powers that sometimes surpass both civilian and military authorities.

Prayer

Almighty God, you are great in glory and infinite in majesty. I do not find it easy to pray for these people. They abuse your children. They torture those who do not believe as they do. So I seek your grace to help me forgive as I have been forgiven.

Lord Jesus, we are reminded of Saul of Tarsus who, in his misguided zeal, persecuted your children. The Religion Police agents act a lot like Saul. Manifest your glory to them as you did to Saul. Do with them as you did with Peter: Turn and look straight at them so that they can realize their sin and weep bitterly in shame, conviction, and repentance. May they place their faith in you. You alone can soften their hard hearts towards you and your followers. Break their resistance, O Jesus, with the love that brought you to earth and sent you to the cross.

Only you, Divine Master, can change their hearts and bring them to the Kingdom of Christ. With eyes of faith I see many former members of the Religion Police worshipping at the throne of the Lamb, singing his praises and giving him glory and honor (Revelation 5:6-10). In his name I pray. Amen.

Promise

It’s hard for a mortal like you to resist God…. Reform your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you (Acts 26:14, GW; Jeremiah 26:13, NIV).

Friday, June 12, 2020

Europe and America are playing with fire as they dabble dangerously with Islam. In the United States, public schools do not teach Christianity, 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 suggested 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 in 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, June 5, 2020

One day, Caleb reminded Joshua that 45 years had passed since Moses had sent both of them, along with ten others, out from the Desert of Paran, to spy out the land of Canaan which the Lord had promised to give them. The other ten had been terrified by the terrain and the size of the inhabitants! So, they brought back an unfavorable report. However, Caleb and Joshua gave a positive report and assured everyone that if God was pleased with them, he would give them that land (Numbers 13-14).

We believe the Lord is telling us today: “Wherever you set foot, that land will be yours” (Deuteronomy 11:24). And part of that land is the “fortified cities” of Islam.

Let us, in faith, claim those areas for Christ and his Kingdom.

Prayer

Holy Father, God Almighty, King of Glory! I bow down before your majesty and come humbly to your throne of grace.

Many cities in the Muslim world appear to be spiritually “fortified” against the spread of the Gospel.

But we will not allow the enemy to intimidate or discourage us. True, we are facing giants we cannot defeat in our own strength, heights we cannot scale, and a mountain that is impossible to cross.

Great and Mighty King of heaven and earth, all things are possible for you. Help us do what you have commanded us to do. Give us this mountain, Lord (Joshua 14:12).

Compassionate Lord, hear my cry and prayer in the name of Jesus, your Son, my Lord. Amen.

Promise

This is the… message of the Lord to [you]… don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit…. That mountain in front of you will be leveled to the ground (Zechariah 4:6-7, CEV).