Friday, April 1, 2022

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 in the previous year.

Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day throughout this month. They abstain from food, drink, smoking, smelling nice aromas, 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, the Ramadan 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.

O God, help them discover 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, March 25, 2022

When Jesus healed two demoniacs, the people in that area got upset and asked Jesus to leave their country (Matthew 8:28-34). Why? Because, as a result of the healing, they had lost thousands of pigs. They valued their pigs more than the healing and restoration of two poor humans who had been tortured by demons.

The Islamic value system is not very different from those people’s ethics and principles. Often the dictates of society are of more import than the value of a human being. Conforming to the letter of their religion is more essential than showing compassion towards a needy person. In general, the Islamic value system is there to direct individuals’ behavior and control their thoughts.^[1] If one steps outside the boundaries of traditions and customs, one exposes oneself to trouble. In other words, if one’s thoughts, plans, and actions are not aligned with those of the group, that person exposes himself to real danger.

Prayer

Christ, Lord, Master, Redeemer, and Savior, I pray first that you cleanse my heart from any dross or dregs. Look at my value system and reorient my convictions, behavior, actions, and decisions to be guided by the love of God. You desire of us mercy, not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13; 12:7).

I pray for Muslims coming to God through faith in the mighty Savior. Only you, by the power of your Spirit, can readjust their value system and their priorities to express the values of the crucified, risen Savior. May they, through rebirth by the Spirit, renounce old things and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14, ESV). Lead them to understand and act upon your precepts based on sacrificial love. May the Sermon on the Mount light their way and reveal to them a new constitution and a new way to live.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Promise

By uprightness the blameless keep their course (Proverbs 11:5, REB).

Footnotes

^[1] https://sy-sic.com/?p=8752

In the Life of Many Muslims

Friday, March 18, 2022

Muslims generally do not believe it is possible to have a close relationship with God. To them, he is not Father or Savior or Redeemer. He is unreachable and unknowable.

With such a vacuum in their soul, many Muslims seek to fill up their emptiness and try to cope with life’s crises through various occultic practices. They enlist the help of occultic practitioners such as mediums, spiritists, diviners, fortune-tellers, and sand-readers. The fact that the Quran has a whole chapter titled Jinn (which means “spirits”) apparently gives them license to get the help of such occultic practitioners. These are detestable practices in the sight of God (Deuteronomy 18:10-11).

And because of such emptiness, Muslims nowadays also increasingly resort to atheism or whatever social current or philosophical thought they might encounter. The vacuum in their lives is unmistakable.

Prayer

I bow my head in your holy presence to worship and adore you, the only true God, Three in One, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You alone can fill the emptiness in people’s hearts. So, I ask that you magnify your name to be crowned King, Lord and Savior over Muslims’ lives.

Wake up your Church, blessed King Eternal, to carry her responsibility toward this enormous segment of world population, 1.7 billion people! Muslims need you, but they are unaware of their predicament. They are in a dismal eternal quandary, and they do not know it.

Manifest your power and mercy. Give your children courage to open our mouths and declare the truth in love. Soften Muslims’ hearts. Bring them to the cross to receive forgiveness, life, purpose, and joy.

In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Promise

I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23, NIV).

Abas Surapranata

Friday, March 11, 2022

Sadrach was an Indonesian Muslim (1835-1924). His teacher and role model was the mosque leader (Imam) in his town. A humble Indonesian Christian evangelist publicly debated the Imam and defeated him. When that happened, the Imam converted to Christ. Sadrach, the young student, saw that his mentor and hero had been defeated by a Christian and decided to follow in the footsteps of his teacher and become a Christian.

Later, as he grew up and matured in the knowledge of the Gospel, Sadrach enthusiastically started teaching something new: that Muslims who come to Christ can retain their traditions that are not in opposition to the Bible, as long as they hold on to the pure teachings of God’s Word. For example, he taught it is okay to take off your shoes to pray as you used to do as a Muslim, as long as you pray to Jesus Christ the Lord.

The result of his teaching was positive, and staggering—many thousands of Muslims thronged to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Prayer

Great God, the only eternal Lord of all, pour out your Holy Spirit upon Muslim converts so that they have the zeal and creativity of Sadrach! Give them a divine call and purpose, sensitivity to people’s culture and traditions, and unflinching faith in the supremacy of God’s Word.

Almighty Savior, the report that 20,000 or so Muslims turned to Jesus because of this man’s ministry encourages us. Yet, I pray that modern day “Sadrachs” will bring millions of Muslims to the Kingdom, disciple them, and then train them to bring others to the Savior.

Help us, O Lord, and conquer our unbelief. You are more than able to bring about the salvation of millions of Muslims. Thank you. Amen.

Promise

God is able to accomplish far more than we might ask or imagine, according to his power at work in us. Glory be to him in the community of believers, and through Jesus Christ in all ages for ever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21, SAB).

Friday, March 4, 2022

The good church which we had been attending for many years changed pastors. The new leader thought it would be good to sell the expensive property and move somewhere else. I was concerned that the Muslim center across the street might buy the church building. Financially, they were capable. But they did not buy it.

However, the business that did buy it rented a good portion of it to a Muslim Training Institute. My bad dream became a reality. Next, the cross that had been erected on a tall pillar, visible from the freeway, came down.

I realize that buildings consist of only bricks and wood. But they are important symbols. We shall worship Christ the Lord with or without them. Yet, unchurched people who pass by are affected negatively since they are lost in sin and do not know much about any religion. Many of those who have no clues about their Christian heritage will think it is okay to become Muslim.

Prayer

Compassionate Father in heaven, although we do not hold tightly to symbols, we realize that a church turned into an Islam-propagating center represents a defeat in the eyes of the world around us.

I pray for all parties involved in this and similar transactions. Open their eyes to see Christ crowned King over all kings and Lord over all lords. May they run to you by faith.

I pray for all mosques and Islamic centers that were originally places of worship to Jesus. May we see the time come soon when the prayers lifted up in those churches years or generations ago are answered. May the name of Jesus Christ be glorified even now in these Islamic centers.

For the sake of Christ, your Son, my Lord. Amen.

Promise

Build me an altar… and I will come and bless you in every place where my name is honored (Exodus 20:24, SAB).