Will Become Active in Bringing Muslims to Christ

Friday, January 27, 2023

The Middle East boasts a church that is more ancient than anywhere else in the world. Yet, because of the Islamic invasion of the area in the 7th century and the ensuing expansion of the Muslim empire, the Middle East population today is mainly Muslim.

Because of that invasion and the authoritarian Islamic rule, the divide between Christians and Muslims has been sharp and almost unfathomable. We know that only God’s love can change that situation.

Politics, religious and nationalistic affiliation apart, the reality that the people of the two religions speak the same language and understand each other’s culture and traits makes it incumbent on Christians to be more involved in bringing their Muslim compatriots to the cross of Calvary. This is what we need to pray for.

Prayer

Almighty God our Father in heaven, we praise you and honor your holy name. You have entrusted us with bringing others to your banquet house to magnify your name and enjoy your eternal blessings.

I pray that Middle Eastern Christians will go past mistreatment and persecution by Muslims to forgive them. May my brothers and sisters in the Middle East put that history behind them and ask you to help them to bring many Muslims to you.

Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, you died for Muslims too. They are ignorant of your love and oblivious to your sacrifice. Open their eyes, open their minds, open their hearts to see and accept the Son of God.

I pray that you will revive your church in the Middle East. Arm your people there with the mighty Spirit of God to go and bring in the ripe harvest of Muslims. In Christ’s precious name. Amen.

Promise

Love your enemies and pray for the good of those who persecute you, so that you will be sons of your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:44-45, SEB).

Among Muslims

Friday, January 20, 2023

Jesus promised us, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18, NIV)^[1]. In ancient times, a town gate served as a place where the elders of the town would meet to administer the affairs of their community (Genesis 19:1; 23:10; Ruth 4:1). The gates of Hades are where the enemy gathers his demonic spirits to formulate their plans against God’s people. We are claiming Jesus’ promise that the church among Muslims will be victorious and Satan’s plots against her will never succeed.

Wahiba is a Muslim who has put her faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. She has been diagnosed with advanced cancer. Her Muslim sister tried to convince Wahiba to allow her to approach spiritists to heal her. But Wahiba is a determined, strong Christian. She refused that absolutely. She told her sister that she will trust only Jesus to heal her.

May the Lord God raise among Muslims strong groups of believers like Wahiba.

Prayer

Great God in heaven, blessed be your holy name forever and ever. You are Almighty. You are our strong tower. In weakness we come to you, asking for a mighty triumphant church among Muslims. We thank you for the many Muslims coming to Christ in our time. But we realize that believers there need vibrant communities that are Spirit-filled, Christ-centered, Bible-based, and culturally relevant. I pray that such communities will spring up in every Muslim society as a witness to your glory and might.

Give the leaders and members of such groups wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment. Fill them with perseverance and courage. Reveal to them the deep mysteries you have in store for your children. Arm them with power and stamina to resist the enemy and do battle as is fit of soldiers of the cross.

In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Promise

No weapon forged against you will prevail… (Isaiah 54:17, NIV).

Footnotes

^[1] Gates of Hades or powers of death.

Friday, January 13, 2023

Close to one billion people live in slums in our world today. Hemmed in by squalid and often miserable conditions, people feel degraded and ruined—no running water, no sewage system except the road, and no bed other than cardboard on the ground.

The estimated number increases continually as years go by. While not all slum-dwellers are Muslims, a large number of them are.

Prayer

Lord God, you created humans in your image to honor you and bring glory to the name of Jesus. We pray for slum-dwellers, our brothers and sisters in humanity who have been reduced to live in unsanitary, dismal conditions.

I pray against the abuse that people in powerful positions inflict upon broken humanity. Awaken their conscience, O God of justice. Let them know that one day they will stand before your throne to receive their just recompense.

Send Gospel workers prepared to share the message of Christ’s love with those who are hopeless and distraught and who are on the path to eternal doom.

O compassionate Father, send some of your children with material and food gifts to squatters’ camps and refugee compounds where the destitute and outcasts have lost hope and dignity.

I pray for the poor and needy to receive your grace, be changed by the power of the Gospel of Christ and live for him.

I pray for missionaries working among the slum-dwellers. Continue to fill them with the Holy Spirit, with compassion and courage. Reward their efforts with a great harvest of souls. In the precious name of Jesus, amen.

Promise

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor (1 Samuel 2:8, NIV).

Friday, January 6, 2023

An imam is a Muslim religious leader who leads prayer in the mosque and performs other religious duties. He is also a community leader who gives counsel and direction to his people.

In the Gospels, Jewish priests were among those who staunchly opposed Jesus and antagonized him. Would anyone expect a large number of them to become believers in Jesus? Yet, according to the New Testament account, that is exactly what happened (Acts 6:7).

Let us believe together that through the mighty power of the Spirit of God, tens of thousands of Muslim imams will put their faith in Jesus Christ the Lord.

Prayer

Almighty God, my Heavenly Father, I come to you boldly because of Jesus who died on the cross for me. I have been forgiven because he shed his blood on my behalf. I bring to you the hundreds of thousands of imams around the world. They need Christ the Lord in their lives. Only Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can penetrate their hearts and bring them into your blessed Kingdom.

Reveal Christ to them in his glory and love, in his compassion and power. Help them realize that he is the Master, the Lord, and the Redeemer of all who come to him.

I thank you for the imams who have already placed their faith in Christ the Lord. Help them grow continually in the love of God and the knowledge of Christ. Give them wisdom by your Holy Spirit. Protect them and their families. Illumine their hearts and minds to know how to lead their congregations into the light of Christ. Teach them your Word. Help them depend on you.

Promise

Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you (Jeremiah 1:18-19, NIV).