Why Should We Pray For The Muslim People ...

Pray because God loves all people!
The scripture is clear, God loves the world … all people.

The New Testament makes it clear that both Jesus and his Apostles reached out to all people regardless of race or religious persuasion. Jesus further commanded his followers to go into all the world and make disciples of all Nation.

Like all humans, Muslims too have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. (Romans 3:23)

Like all humans, God loved them so much that He sent His son, so that those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life (John 3:16). (For further study read: Ezekiel 18:23. John 3:16-18. John 1:12)

Pray because Muslims also have a hunger for God!
Someone said: That every person has a void in his soul/spirit/life that can only be filled by God. The "God-shaped hole" is the innate longing of the human heart for something outside itself ... something transcendent, something "other." It refers to God placing "eternity in man’s heart."

God made humanity for His eternal purpose, and only God can fulfill our desire for eternity. That includes Muslims. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Pray because of the promise of God to them.
Many Muslims look to 'Ibrahim (Abraham) as "our forefather" (Romans 4:1). Since those who follow Jesus call Abraham "the father of all who believe" (Romans 4:11) … that makes us ‘cousins’!

God made this promise to Ibrahim / Abraham: "As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and I will make him fruitful, and I will multiply him. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation" (Genesis 17:20). God fulfilled this promise, for there are over one billion Muslims in the world today!

When God gathers all His people at the end of time, there will be representatives from every people group on the earth, "from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes – crying out in a loud voice, 'Salvation to our God who sits on the throne"! (Revelation 7:9,10)

Please pray for the Church of Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Church may rise to the Challenge and become all things to all people, that it may … by all means … save some. (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)

Paul

Who Is In Control?

God controls the events of human history to accomplish his purposes.

God’s rule over human happenings is demonstrated many times in the Bible.

He removes and raises up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

The prophet Daniel prayed:

“I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known . . . the king's demand" Daniel 2:23.

When we see disturbing conditions in our world we should realize as Daniel did, that God "reigns over the nations, God sits on his holy throne" (Psalm 47:8; and Jeremiah 18:7-10).

He still rules in the kingdom of men. And while we may not know the extent of God’s rule, we should realize that God is working out his own purposes through contemporary human events.

Please continue to pray for the Middle East and all people in authority so that we may have peace and the Gospel would be preached to all Nations.

Paul

Your Heavenly Father Knows What You Need ...

In the light of the situation in the World today I was reminded of the following quotes:

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day."

"Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars."

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."

"Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!" Matthew 6:8

Yes your heavenly Father knew what you needed before you knew you needed it. Not just in terms of daily necessities, but also with regards to your eternal life.

While you were still a sinner, Jesus came to the earth and paid the full price for your redemption. (Romans 5:8)

He knew what He wanted and what we needed, so He did everything before hand … we could not have done anything for ourselves.

Think about it!

Paul

Pray for Egypt ...

As the difficult situation continues on the streets of Egypt, pundits and politicians are filling the air with their specific type of "knowledge" … demanding this and that; setting up this solution and that solution.

The Lord of yesterday, today and tomorrow had much to say about this:

God told Isaiah to send a message to the people in Isaiah … The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled) … The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. Isaiah 2:12, 17-18

And, in 1 Samuel 2:3 you read, "Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed."

If you read the story of Genesis 16 and 21:8-20 you will have some background into some of the troubles we face today in that region of the world … the story of Hagar and Ishmael.

There is definitely a war going on but it is God’s war … not ours. I doubt if God is going to put us in charge of a war if we haven’t even been able to complete the ONE task He has assigned to us ... that of spreading the Good News concerning His Beloved Son into all the world.

Unfortunately, this war has brought grief to millions of people in the Middle East, many who can trace their roots back to Ishmael, the son of Abraham. And, I know that God hears the voices of these helpless and needy people.

In the media, never once do you hear the one word that can mean everything in this tragedy … prayer! It is time we put aside our worldly arrogance, humble ourselves to God and pray!

And, pray for more than democracy … pray for the church to rise up and fulfill their commission … to proclaim the Gospel to the Muslims and Jews. We must pray that their eyes will be opened to the wonderful salvation of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Egypt, the church, all Christians and for all those in authority.

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:43-45

And finally from the words of James …

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:13-18

Larry Abele - Editorial Team