REASONS WHY NEIGHBORS ARE RESPONDING

REASONS WHY NEIGHBORS ARE RESPONDING

1. Through the original gospel. If you think that all sons of Ishmael are violent fanatics unresponsive to the gospel, then you are living in the past, for God says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isa. 43:19)

2. Through the NT. Many Muslims are seeking and finding the truth in the Injil (Evangel or Gospel) of Isa al Masih (Yeshua the Messiah): “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32).

3. Through dreams and visions. Allah spoke to Mohammad through angel Gabriel in dreams and visions, but now Isa Al Masih is speaking to them directly through dreams and visions. Nearly 25 percent of Muslim believers have come to faith through dreams and visions.

4. Through manifestation of the power. Powerful miracles of God come through answered prayers. One imam (Islamic priest) complained that we cannot compete with Christians anymore, because they are raising the dead. According to Al Jazeera, nearly six million Muslims come to Christ every year in Africa alone.

5. Through media. The power of technology via the Internet, satellite TV, DVDs and radio is secretly reaching to the remotest parts of the Islamic world. Translation of Quran in some 200 languages is helping Muslims to understand its real content in their own languages. The Quran exalts Jesus more than anyone else.

6. Through heart languages. Every year about 10,000 came to faith in Isaa in Algeria, about 45,000 in Morocco, tens of thousands in Kyrgistan, and in the last decade nearly 50,000 in Saudi Arabia. In Cambodia Muslims have gone from 250,000 to none; Russia had 24,300 mosques in 1927 and 20 now. Iran, a hardcore country where conversion is punishable by death, is now saturated with the gospel in local languages through electronic media; with about 50,000 coming to Christ every week, Iran now has over one million believers. Ayatollah Khamanei, the Supreme leader of Iran has declared that the house church movement is their greatest enemy.

7. Through suffering. Muslims love religious rules (sharia) and are willing to die for their faith as suicidal jihadis. They are looking for salvation (nejat), and when they find it in Isa al Masih, many carry their faith with the same passion and willingness to suffer persecution.

8. Through Christian example. Raised on a blood soaked religion, many disenchanted Muslims are attracted to the life-style of Christian believers who love one another and forego revenge have a very powerful effect on them.

9. Through Wars. God is even using wars to bring Muslims into his fold. Many get confused when defeated in wars with Christians and Jews, for they had reasoned that Allah was on their side and they could not be defeated. Defeat translates in their minds to Allah being defeated.

10. Through the Quran. What prevents Muslims from coming to Christ? Their doctrines that God cannot have  a son; Jesus is not God; Jesus did not die on the cross; Trinity is impossible; the Bible has been corrupted; Christianity is decadent Western culture, and more. Interestingly all these objections can be readily answered from the Quran, by approaching it with fresh understanding and perspective.

11. Why are they then coming in unprecedented numbers?

(a) As an answer to an avalanche of prayers for the Muslims.

(b) Evangelism contextualized in their heart language.       

(c) Harvesters equipped with culture-specific disciple-making skills with focus on a few to reach many;

(d) Focus on disciple making, rather than on church planting in below the radar, invisible small gatherings (jamaats).

(e) Winsome love that does not vilify Islam. (Phil. 1:9,10)

12. Through discipleship. The challenge of making disciples of new converts is often greater than that of winning them to Christ. The focus must be on maturing them into disciple-makers so that, “They will spread everywhere the fragrance of His knowledge.” (2 Cor. 2:14)

13. Through worship. God is waiting for the 1.2 billion Muslims of the world, “all the flocks of Kedar and Nebaioth (Sons of Ishmael) shall come up on My altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory.” (Isa. 60:6-7)

14. Through promise: I will bless Ishmael and make him a great nation because he is Abraham’s seed. Arabs who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse will be cursed. Peace will come when Jews and Arabs, become followers of Yeshua Messiah. (Gen. 12:3; 21:13,18)