Friday, July 29, 2022

The Bible teaches that sin is rebellion, a state of the heart. It separates us from God. The outward symptoms of sin are the individual offenses we commit: lying, cheating, stealing, murder, adultery, and so forth.

Islam, on the other hand, teaches that people do not have a fallen nature and that there is no original sin. Muslims believe that Adam was not rebellious; he just forgot and ate of the forbidden tree. They do not see sin as spiritual wickedness or as rebellion against God.

So how do Muslims believe they can receive forgiveness of sins? By doing good works such as praying, almsgiving, fasting, and so on. They believe these and other charitable acts can secure them forgiveness and God’s favor.

Prayer

Eternal and Supreme Judge of all, King of kings and Lord of lords, have mercy on Muslims. Help them understand how serious sin is. Help them grasp the fact that sin is rebellion against you and that it alienates humans from you.

In your love, grace and mercy, bring many Muslims this week to Calvary. May they realize that their sin caused the Son of God to die on the cross for their sake. Help them put their faith in the only true Savior of all humankind and ask to be forgiven in the name of Jesus.

Save them, because you are the only God who redeems. Help them accept your grace before it is too late. In the precious name of our Savior and Lord, amen.

Promise

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt (Psalm 32:1-2, NLT).

Friday, July 22, 2022

Sufis are Muslim mystics who strive to abandon the world and its pleasures to find God. They seek to be absorbed into God. They worship, pray and fast to reach that goal. Some Sufis’ ultimate goal is to become God. Of course, this was Satan’s sin (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:2).

Here are some Sufi statements:

I am the truth … the only person under my hat is God… the only one inside my clothes is God.^[1]

Glory be to me! How great is my majesty!^[2]

To achieve a rapturous, ecstatic state, Sufis use several techniques and movements, swinging, recitations and repetitive words. Some engage in sex orgies and use drugs to attain a desired euphoria.^[3]

Prayer

Lord God, the only true God, our hearts ache for Sufis. They think they are devoted to God but have very distorted ideas about him and his love.

Only you can lead them to the cross of Jesus and save them. Only you can help them to be truly godly. Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit, convict Sufis of their sin. Save them by the blood of your Holy Son. Bring them into true fellowship with you. May they humble themselves, submit to you, worship Christ and accept his Word.

Help me to befriend a Sufi. Give me patience to know how to bring him or her to Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

In the midst of their darkness, shine upon their hearts with the light of Christ. Make many of them ministers of the Gospel to bring others to you. Amen.

Promise

I will pour out water to the thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your children, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in the fields, like willows on a riverbank (Isaiah 44:3-4, SAB).

Footnotes

^[1] al-Hallaj, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansur_Al-Hallaj, in Arabic: أنا الحق… ما تحت عمتي غير الله… ما تحت جبتي إلا الله
^[2] al-Bastami, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayazid_Bastami
^[3] Khalil Abdul-Karim, “The Problem of Sectarianism.” In Where Is Sectarianism Taking Us? Cairo, Egypt: p. 107.

Friday, July 15, 2022

Isaiah, prompted by the Holy Spirit, told his people to prepare for a great ingathering of nations to come and be part of God’s own possession. He said, “Go out… build a highway, remove the stones, raise a banner for the nations” (Isaiah 62:10). We want to use this verse to appeal to Christians to prepare the way for Muslims to come to Christ.

A few decades ago people were saying it was impossible to win Muslims to Christ. Now, in almost every country, we are seeing Muslims come to the Lord, one by one and two by two. Often this is the “Nicodemus” church, the secret church, the persecuted church. But one day, and I believe it will be very soon, Muslim converts will come in large numbers—by the tens of thousands—to take their place in the Kingdom.

Prayer

Lord God, our Maker, Savior and Father, I thank you for giving me this privilege to intercede on behalf of Muslims. We have been praying for them for many years. I believe you are about to answer our prayers and do something in our midst that will be amazing beyond all imagination. You will help us plant churches in every Muslim group and society around the world. By faith, I am full of hope and anticipation that you will do great things among Muslims.

Help us prepare the “highway” for them to come, Lord God Almighty. Give us the wisdom to be ready. May we never squander great opportunities to receive and disciple Muslims. Remove the veil from our eyes to see doors you are opening for us. Energize us to take up this challenge and be prepared to receive Muslims into the fold. Protect us from wasting this great harvest of precious souls. And as a prayer-warrior of old prayed: “Through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labor to bring poor souls to Jesus. O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards.”^[1] In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Promise

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills” (Amos 9:13, NIV).

Footnotes

^[1] C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Daily Readings, September 7.

Friday, July 8, 2022

During this season, Muslims the world over celebrate Id al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice (other names are used in different areas). This celebration commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son (Ishmael, according to Islam) in obedience to God’s command. But God provided a ram for Abraham to offer instead.

For the celebration, each family or group of families kills an animal, usually a sheep. Wherever Muslims are, whether in Mecca taking part in the hajj (pilgrimage) or anywhere else in the world, their religion requires them to slaughter an animal.

Prayer

Merciful and redeeming God, I ask you to open Muslims’ eyes during this season to see the Lamb you provided for the atonement of the sin of the world. May they open their hearts to Christ, who was led like a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7), who died on the cross, and who rose again to set us free from sin and condemnation.

Help Muslims realize that Jesus agonized, suffered, and died for them so that they could have joy, peace, and life in him.

May they accept your provision to redeem them “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Let them hear his cry on the cross declaring, “It is finished.” Then they will see how pointless it is to try to gain God’s favor through the millions of sacrifices they slaughter during this season.

Compassionate Father, reveal to Muslims the Lamb of God who now sits upon the throne in heaven. Draw them by your love to join saints and angels in singing the heavenly chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12).

Promise

Where is the lamb for the burnt offering? . . . God himself will provide the lamb (Genesis 22:7-8, NIV). There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, REB).