Sunday, November 30, 2008

Make friends with Muslims

photo of illuminated Koran by mcost


Our church is doing a series on what the Bible says about the future. One factor in our world today that will influence the future is Islam.



We learned five impotant ideas about Islam:



  1. The prophets of Islam: most prominent prophets are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed.

  2. The pillars of Isalm: profession of faith, prayer, fasting, giving alms, and pilgrimage.

  3. The path of Islam in history: Jihad = struggle; two major jihads were stopped in battle (battle of Tours 732; battle of Vienna 1683), the possible last jihad will be stopped by the Messiah cf. Ezekiel 38:20-22; 39:21-22.

  4. The passion for Islam: Islam hopes to control the world and to receive the Mahdi/Messiah

  5. The problem for Islam: Tho' they say they believe the Bible, several things need to be understood:


Allah is not personal; but the God of the Bible is personal (Psalm 23:1)--the Lord is my shepherd; cf. Psalm 103:13, "The Lord has compassion (on people)..."

The true God has revealed Himself fully and completely in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-4). In fact, Jesus claimed that He made God Himself known (John 1:18). Allah is other--He is unknowable.

The true God has shown every person His love for each one through the death and resurrection of Jesus (I John 4:10). Jesus has paid for our sins through His death on the cross (I Corinthians 2:2). In fact, "God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (II Corinthians 5:21). God wants us to be with Him. Allah wants worship alone--Allah is all-powerful and capricious.

The true God wants everyone to be with Him. A relationship with God is possible because of what God did for us, not what we have done for Him! Read Ephesians 2:8-9.

Therefore, you must answer life's most important question stated by Jesus many years ago, "WHo do you say that I am (Matthew 16:15)?" Your destination for eternal life depends on your view of Jesus. If you believe in Him and confess Him as your Lord and Savior, then you get to spend life forever with God. If you choose not to believe, then you receive eternal separation from God forever. The choice is yours. But you must make that decision.

I made the decision to follow God as Romans 10:9, 13 says, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." You can trust God right now (go here). If you have decided to follow Jesus, then pray for God to make Himself real to Muslim people worldwide. Ask God to help you befriend a Muslim in your neighborhood.

You need to extend a spiritual jihad against the forces of Satan who blinds all nations from knowing the true God (II Corinthians 4:4). Let's join together as God's church to share God's love with all nations of the world so that each one develops into a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I don't understand, your church is promoting Target a Muslims for Jesus?
How about we stop trying to categories segments of people and love the entire world with the love of Jesus and let him do the saving! Stop trying to be the judge and jury on who knows him and who doesn't. We have one Savior and he alone does the saving. When is the last time this was spoken from your pulpit?
"Jesus love you right where you are at?"