Arab World: The Holy Spirit is at Work

The Holy Spirit is convicting Arab Muslims of their need for a Saviour. When 58-year-old retired businessman Mahad’s beloved wife died, he became depressed. This led to heart problems and eventually the need for open-heart surgery. “The doctors told me my chances of survival were no better than five percent. As I went under the anaesthesia, I prayed but felt no peace. As I was losing consciousness, I called out, ‘Jesus,’ three times.” “Immediately, I felt peace.

While under the anaesthesia, I had a vision of Jesus and my wife, together in a beautiful meadow. They both looked so happy. The surgery was successful, but since that day my heart has been tied to Jesus.” Since coming to faith, Mahad has brought members of 70 households to Christ, and leads a network of secret believers in Bible study and worship.

Source: 30 Days of Prayer network

Bible Study: John 4:21-26

PRAISE God that He is moving Muslims of all walks to find Jesus. Pray for Mahad and for a great harvest.

Afghanistan: Seek and You Will Find!

Discipleship is a difficult and dangerous challenge in a nation where identifying as a follower of Jesus can make you a target for extremist violence. But one believer shared this story about how determined seekers are finding what they’re looking for.

“I met one of our young believers through a social media site. I was very cautious about meeting with him face to face, but I accidentally sent him my mobile number. He kept calling me… asking to meet me and for copies of the New Testament. So I prayed about it and agreed to meet him. I said goodbye to my family and kissed the children. I drove to his part of the city along with another young believer, and parked the car… I told my friend, ‘If you don’t hear from me in ten minutes, drive the car and all of you get out of the city immediately.’ When I met this brother, he gave me a big hug and was very happy to see me… but honestly I was still thinking of how to get away!

But he reassured me, so I gave him the two New Testaments and he was thrilled. He had found what he’d been wanting for a long time. He shared his story with me…” “He was seeking for Jesus and couldn’t find anyone in the city where he lives. So he decided to save some money and buy a second-hand computer. He borrowed an Internet connection, taught himself to use email and social media and started searching for other believers in our nation. He found me despite all those challenges!

He’s so excited to learn about Jesus and so is his family, and he is sharing his understanding with others. God does His work in ways we don’t understand…”

Source: Joel News International

Bible Study:John 1:44-46

PRAISE God that He is being found in Afghanistan.

PRAY that doors will open for many to find the teachings of Christ. Pray for peace in this nation and the safety and encouragement of those who believe in secret.

USA: Green Light for Gay Marriage

America’s churches have been reacting to the US Supreme Court’s decision to recognise same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. With a majority of 5-4, judges held that the 14th Amendment in the US Constitution enshrines the right of all to marry regardless of their sexuality.

Ronnie Floyd, the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, said in a statement: “I deeply believe in biblical and traditional marriage. The court has determined otherwise… This decision
shows one thing: Our desperate need for the next Great Awakening and the hope of the Gospel given to all persons. We must rise up like never before with great urgency, to forward the message of Jesus Christ to every person…”

However pro-gay bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, of the Episcopal Church, said in a statement: “I rejoice that the Supreme Court has opened the way for the love of two people to be recognized by all the states of this Union…” But many commentators expressed their horror at the Supreme Court’s reckless disregard for the democratic process and the spirit of the Constitution. Franklin Graham remarked that the judgement of God would fall on America and President Obama, warning US Christians of persecution to come.

Source: Premier Radio News; Revival Media

Bible Study: 1 Kings 19:9-15

PRAY earnestly for revival to sweep over the nations of the Western World.

Muslim Sheikh Released from His Sins

Elias was an East African missionary living in the crowded Somali
refugee camps of a large city in the Horn of Africa. One night he
was startled by the unexpected arrival of a Somali sheikh named
Abdul-Ahad. Elias wondered if this would be the night that Somali
militant group Al-Shabaab would choose to extract their revenge
on yet another Christian.

As Elias opened the door, the sheikh abruptly demanded,
“Yes or No. Jesus’ blood paid for the sins of everyone?” Elias
nervously replied, “Yes.” The sheikh responded adamantly, “You’re
lying!” Then he hesitated before saying, “The blood of Jesus
cannot forgive my sins.” Abdul-Ahad told Elias of the violence
he’d committed in war-torn Mogadishu. Then the old sheikh
began to tremble and weep. “I need relief from that,” he said.
Elias told him, “If you and I agree tonight, then God will forgive you.”

The old sheikh prayed with Elias, and Abdul-Ahad was saved that
night. Before he left, he said to Elias, “When you look at me on the
street, you see my Muslim hat and my beard, and you are afraid
of me. But you need to know that inside we are empty. Don’t be
afraid of us. We need the gospel.”

Source: 30 Days of Prayer network

Bible Study: Hebrews 9:11-15

PRAISE God that the blood of Jesus can cleanse even the
vilest of sinners. Pray for those Muslims who know that
inside they are empty.

Will Pakistan Change Blasphemy Law?

In a move to prevent the abuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, the government has drafted a bill attempting to reduce false accusations. A mandatory death sentence for the crime of ‘defiling
the name’ of Muhammad makes false accusations a serious risk to non-Muslims; they are often used to settle personal grudges. The mob violence that sometimes follows an accusation poses a risk to whole Christian communities if one of their members is accused. If passed, the bill would impose penalties for false accusation and also make it necessary to prove that a person accused of defiling the name of Muhammad had done so intentionally. Pakistan has a secular legal system and an Islamic one based on sharia. According to the constitution, the Federal Shariat Court has the power to decide whether any of the country’s laws are ‘repugnant to the injunctions of Islam’ – the president must then ‘take steps to amend the law’.

Source: Barnabas Fund; Prayer Alert

Bible Study: Psalm 33:10-15

PRAISE God that there are at least moves in the right direction. Pray earnestly for a change in the law and that it may be upheld throughout Pakistan.

Following Christ Amid Family Hostility

A Christian convert who ran away from her Muslim family in Ohio says she doesn’t “live in fear because every day belongs to God.” Rifqa Bary spoke to Christian Today about her journey from Islam and her new book, Hiding in the Light: Why I risked everything to leave Islam and follow Christ.

Bary was born a Muslim in Sri Lanka but moved to the US in 2000. She said her father and brother beat her when they found out she had converted to Christianity aged 12 (keeping her faith hidden for four years). “I remember weeping and I had this experience where I felt as if God was breathing in my brokenness, and I was breathing in his grace, mercy and love,” she said. “That was the day that everything changed, where I felt the unconditional love of the Father.”

Eventually, as a teenager, she ran away to Florida, and then spent time in juvenile detention and foster homes as she fought a legal battle with her family to stay away from them. “I look back and I realize I was really traumatized by what had happened and I needed time to heal,” she said. “There was a lot of information that was construed in some way… people misunderstood some aspects, and so I really wanted to talk. My book has been my voice in expressing what happened behind closed doors.”

Source: Christian Headlines

Bible Study: Luke 21:16-19

PRAISE God that Christ revealed Himself to this young lady and strengthened her to face trials rather than deny her faith. Pray her book may bless many.

Faith Works According to UK Study

The public perception of Christianity in the UK is that “religion has a negative effect on society.” The reality could not be further from that perception. In 2015 a Faith Action Audit was undertaken in the UK organised by the Cinnamon Network. Its results, published in May revealed that local faith groups deliver 220,000 social action projects in Britain each year. These groups mobilise 2 million volunteers to serve 48 million beneficiaries (some benefit twice) and collectively this gives over £3 billion worth of social support. Today Eastbourne is publicising its own fgures in the presence of church and community leaders. It’s a wonderful opportunity to proclaim loud and clear that faith works.

Bible Study: Colossians 1:3-6

PRAY that in Eastbourne and throughout the UK, the world would see the good fruit that is produced by the good news and be drawn to Christ.

Charleston Church Forgives Assassin

On the weekend after 21-year-old, white supremacist, Dylann Roof had slaughtered nine of its members, at a Wednesday night Bible study, Charleston’s Emannuel African Methodist Episcopal Church reopened its doors and proclaimed forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Pastor Revd Clementa Pinckney was amongst those killed. Temporary pastor, Revd Norvel Gof, said: “The devil also entered – and the devil was trying to take charge.” “Thanks be to God, hallelujah, that the devil cannot take control of your people. And the devil cannot take control of your church.”

In an extraordinary example to the whole world the victims’ loved ones and fellow church members, in the midst of their heartbreak and personal loss, confronted the perpetrator and told him they forgave him and prayed for his soul. These black brothers and sisters are a profound witness to the transformative power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“We welcomed you Wednesday night in our Bible study with open arms,” said Felecia Sanders. “You have killed some of the most beautifulest people that I know. Every fiber in my body hurts … and I’ll never be the same.” “Tywanza Sanders was my son, but Tywanza was my hero,” she said. “May God have mercy on you.” Anthony Thompson, the grandson of victim Myra Thompson, told Roof, “I forgive you, my family forgives you. … We would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Do that and you’ll be better of than you are right now.”

Source: Los Angeles Times; Christian Post; Revival Media

Bible Study: Ephesians 4:31-32

PRAISE God that true forgiveness comes through the love of Christ. Pray that this witness may be a beacon of light to many.

Ex-Jihadist Starts 1200 Jesus Groups

Christian Raharjo (not his real name) was a school drop-out on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi looking for work, when he was recruited by a jihadist organization. Like many young Muslim men, he was paid to attack Christian villages with the aim to force the Christians out of the area. However, as a result of the increased ‘war on terror‘ by the United States after the 9-11 attack, his group fell apart and he lost his job. Raharjo returned to Jakarta, traumatized and depressed. There he joined a punk group and started to use heroin.

One night Raharjo had a dream. A person who introduced himself as Jesus (Isa) spoke to him in “bright and strong language” and told him to “Follow me!” In the dream Raharjo decided to follow this person. When he woke up, he found himself healthy, sober and without any desire to use drugs. Looking for someone to explain his dream Raharjo turned to Samiton, the pastor of a large Christian community in Jakarta, who had done a great deal for Muslims facing social diffculties. “I want to follow Jesus, but I’m not a Christian,” Raharjo told him.

Pastor Samiton put him in touch with Wira (not his real name). Wira developed a relationship with Raharjo, spent a lot of time with him and introduced him to the teachings of Jesus. His newfound faith struck deep roots in Raharjo and changed him over time. He introduced all his gang members to his new Christian friends, and one after another began to take an interest in Jesus. Wira noticed that the young men needed a meeting place and also a decent place to
live so he bought a house and called it ‘Father’s House’. Here they met regularly and discovered more about Jesus and his teachings.

The method they used to ‘discover Jesus’ was simple: they followed the instructions of the Quran to read the Gospels and also parts of the Old Testament. Questions that arose were answered cautiously. In this way the young men were able to discover faith in Jesus by themselves, which is very important for Muslims.

In the years that followed many of the young men in the community returned to their families in the countryside and shared their faith in Jesus. Most parents were happy that their sons had not been lost in the big city, but had found a good new life. This way more and more of these small Bible study communities started to emerge in Jakarta and throughout the country – always through personal contacts and along family lines. Like in the gospels it’s common for
new Jesus followers to be baptized in the context of their family. To date, through the life and witness of Raharjo alone, around 1,200 Jesus groups have been started among Muslims across the country.

Source: Joel News International; source withheld.

Bible Study: John 1:14-18

PRAISE God that He revealed Himself to Raharjo to make him an “apostle” to his people.

PRAY For God’s people in Indonesia, where believers in Christ are targeted by extremists. Pray that many Muslims, even jihadists, may experience the saving grace of the living Jesus.

© 2020 Speak Life at the Hour of Revival Association