Friday Prayers

Partakers Friday Prayers!

24th January 2014

We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray together!

Hello there. My name is David Combes. I have a passion for Muslims around the world, and also for the Christian believers who are living amongst them. I would like to talk about both of these groups, and then lead us in prayer for them.

Islam is a huge global religion, depending on your sources in 2010 it accounted for 23% of the world’s population. The nature of their religious beliefs makes it very difficult for them to understand or see value in other religions especially Christianity. Their god Allah is entirely transcendent from humanity and would never consider coming to Earth in human form like Jesus. For a Muslim their route into Paradise is via the shaky and insecure bridge of a life where good works outnumber bad ones. And even then, if Allah should desire it he will tip the scales against you. The concept of the Christian Gospel where a just but loving God came down to Bethlehem to take the punishment for our sins so we don’t have to, is like a fish trying to talk to an elephant at the local watering hole; they may share the same ecosystem but they live in completely different worlds. What we have seen in recent years as the most effective method of evangelism is local Christian friendship and direct dreams from God.

Map from Open Doors website

The first of these is entirely reliant upon the open Christian presence amongst the Muslim majority. These friendships are built up over time and it is only through this deep level of trust that a Muslim would risk reprisals by considering the Christian faith.

The second method of dreams might be surprising to us Westerners, but within most Muslim countries dreams are still regarded as a reliable source of revelation and guidance much like in Old Testament times. God knows this and there are more and more stories being told by converts from Islam that this was their turning point. So these two areas form a good foundation for our prayers for Muslims.

Secondly, let us think about the Christians who are living amongst the Muslim majority. Open Doors have recently published their 2014 World watch list for the persecuted Church and despite North Korea topping the list for the twelfth year running, all of the other nine countries in the top ten are Muslim majority nations. The Christian believers in these places are faced with terrible persecutions on a daily basis and really need our prayers for encouragement and practical support. Some of them are undoubtedly converts from Islam, and they face perhaps the hardest challenge as new believers. No doubt exiled from their families and local communities for committing the worst and unforgiveable sin according to Islam, they are left to scratch together a life amongst hatred and abuse. But despite these difficulties they do not give up their faith and God does not give up on them. We need to pray for all Christians living as a persecuted minority that they may find peace amongst the suffering, and practical support and encouragement where possible.

For more information about how you can help and pray intelligently  for Islam and the persecuted church, please do visit the Open Doors website by clicking here...

So let us pray.

Dear heavenly Father. We lift to you the Muslim population around the world. Many millions of people who do not yet know you, but you know them and you love them. Lord we pray that you would have mercy on them and break through the barriers which prevent them from seriously considering the validity of Christianity.

We pray that you would break into their dreams and reveal yourself as the one true God and their personal saviour which they need to turn to. Lord we remember in particular the Christians living in these countries.

We pray that they would be empowered by your Spirit to live lives that reflect your humility and love as shown by your son Jesus Christ.

We pray that you would be a very real presence to them during their times of need and suffering. That they would find peace and that their faith would not be shaken but only grow and strengthen.

We pray for practical assistance for those who need it. For food, clean water, and warm housing for those who have lost them or are prevented from having them because of their Christian faith.

Lord, we pray that you would bless them and empower them to be a blessing.

In Jesus name, Amen.

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