"What Jesus Expects to Find"

Sunday's text is Matthew 25:1-13. The proper responsible is repeated in this video.

Ramadan Day 30

Today is the last day of Ramadan and the last day for these posts. Hopefully, you have learned something about Islam and have become concerned about praying for the salvation of Islamic people.

Only the gospel of Jesus Christ will bring lasting change to desperate conditions in our world. Muslims are sincere in their faith, as are most adherents to other religions, but they are sincerely wrong in the way they are seeking God. There is much bondage on their understanding, and only God can break through all of that.

Let's pray for ourselves, today. Pray that we will have the sensitivity and the passion to change our world by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ramadan Day 29

From the testimonies of Muslims that came to know Jesus, they expressed:
“As a Muslim I never knew God loved me.”

In fact Allah has 99 names, and not one of them is ‘Love’ or ‘Father’.
Islam is a work based religion (meaning they try to follow their religious rules and do good work to go to heaven), so they have no assurance of salvation.

Converts from Islam who genuinely wanted to please God knew that they could not be good enough, so when they heard that the reason Jesus Christ came was because He knew we will not be good enough to go to heaven, the light came on and they opened their heart and encountered God.

Ramadan Day 28

Islam is growing 21.2% faster than Christianity. Muslims in America already outnumber Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Mormons, and they are more numerous than Quakers, Unitarians, Seventh-day Adventists, Mennonites, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christian Scientists, combined. Many demographers say Islam has overtaken Judaism as the country's second-most commonly practiced religion.

By the way, Rosh Hashanah — a two-day holiday celebrated by millions of Jews worldwide — begins at sundown tonight. Rosh Hashanah also begins a 10-day period of reflection known as the Days of Awe, and ends with a 24-hour period of fasting on Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.

The coinciding of these two events remind us to pray for those who have not come to a full knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Ramadan Day 27

Muhammad said, "Anyone who stays awake for the Night of Power with belief and for the pleasure of Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven." This is call a Hadith or tradition. The primary scripture for Muslims it the Qur'an; however, this is supplemented by the Hadith or sayings of Muhammad.

The Night of Power (Laylatu-Al-Kadir) is the night in which Muslims believe that Allah sent down the Qur'an from heaven. It falls in the month of Ramadan, approximately the 27th day. Muslims believe if they spend the night reading the Qur'an and praying, God will forgive them or all their past sins and bless them. Some Muslims also believe this is the night in which Allah extends extra blessings and is more inclined to answer prayers.

Ramadan Day 26

Muslims believe than if you follow the rules, rituals, and regulations of Islam, this pleases God. The Bible proclaims that following rules, rituals, and regulations does not save, nor does it produce a relationship with God. This can only be accomplished through faith in Jesus who paid the price for our salvation through His death on the cross.

Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Romans 10:4

Ramadan Day 25

In Islam, the relationship between Allah and man is creator to slaves. In Christianity, God relates to His people as His children. Muslims have a hard time grasping the concept that we are God's children.

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:7

Speak to Muslims about the difference between a slave and a child. Emphasize how God wants us to be children, not slaves.